GNN exclusive: Free Company repels incursion

Galactic News Network has learned that a Free Company star force has repelled a Hishen incursion into Terran space.  Although government sources deny any incursion, GNN has obtained images of the as yet unidentified Free Company in combat with the alien ships.

GNN military advisers estimate the mercenaries are using surplus Entomalian starships against a Hishen force disguised as Avarian United Worlds vessels.  Galactic News sources confirm three alien vessels were destroyed, with no loss of human ships.  This is the second outbreak of space combat in as many weeks.  GNN has learned this most recent battle is relat^^&#^^##^#^##

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EDITED BY GAIA PRIME INFORMATION DIRECTORATE

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Playing D&D at NTRPG

I decide to go to the game convention without preregistering, so I don't have a spot reserved for any of the games on the schedule.  Still, when I get there Friday, they tell me that there will be some open spots.  Most of the games are full, but I see that Jimm, DM of the Skull Mountain campaign in Austin, is running an OD&D game--and he has room for me.

The scenario is "Tomb of F'Chelrak" written by Jennell Jaquays and edited by Jimm, and it's a revised version of the adventure published as "F'Chelrak's Tomb" back in the old periodical The Dungeoneer (Jimm has placed it in his own world). 

We have a full table, and quickly roll up starting characters from levels 5-8 (although I think we were all 5 or 6), take lots of men-at-arms (who are quickly lost) and end up reaching the objective.

Unfortunately for me, my cleric misses a crucial saving throw near the end and turns against the rest of the party.  I'll avoid spoilers other than to say I wish I had done a better job communicating how I wanted to play out the treachery--if I had done so, I might have taken out some or all of the party.  Still, everyone else's character makes it out of the tomb, and Jimm gives us all a copy of the adventure. 

I had a great time playing, and I need to get back to Skull Mountain!

Aliens game setup at NTRPG Con

I didn't get to play this, but I had to share pictures of this setup for a large-scale version of the Aliens boardgame at the North Texas RPG Convention.  The game was put on by the renowned Greyhawk scholar and OSR publisher known as grodog (Allan Grohe), who constructed this huge 3-D map (based on the Aliens gameboard) for use with 25mm figures.

Allan also ran an AD&D adventure set beneath Castle Greyhawk that was a sold out event; I didn't get to play in that one either, but I did have a very pleasant conversation with the grodog, who is a very friendly person.  When he wasn't running his games, he was manning a vendors table, which had publications from several OSR publishers (and where I picked up Anomalous Subsurface Environment).

Talking with him on Sunday, grodog said that the last game of Aliens he ran ended in a total party kill.  Of course, he added that the boardgame results in a TPK about 40% of the times he and his friends play, so that was pretty typical.  It was also true to the source material.  I'm sorry I missed out on the game, but I'm glad I got to meet grodog.

Back from NTRPG Con

It was an eventful weekend at the North Texas Role Playing Games Convention in Bedford this weekend.  I played a couple of games, met some fellow gamers, and bought a couple of products people have been talking about.

Highlights include an OD&D game run by Austin Jimm (of the Skull Mountain campaign), a marathon game of Battletech, a conversation with the very personable creator of Metamorphosis Alpha and Gamma World, Jim Ward, and the drunken antics of my traveling companions, Jason and Brad.

Look for more details later this week.

Sunday Starships: On the workbench

(or at least on the kitchen table)

As I travel back home from the game convention, gaze upon the latest starships I'm working on.  In addition to the Star Frontiers Federation battleship and destroyer, I have a number of new Stardate: 3000 vessels.

The ships with the triple engines are Scorpius-class hyperspace submarines from the human faction of the Valiant miniatures line, and the ones in the middle are Pegasus-class h-space subs.  The other SD:3K ships are Draco-class destroyers.  Not sure if I'll paint these as cargo vessels or as some other faction, such as the Vogon Construction Fleet.

Off to NTRPG Con!

I'm doing it!  I'm going to the North Texas RPG Convention in lovely Bedford, Texas.  I'm headed up there with Jason Braun and Brad the Skullcrusher.  Should be a fun weekend.

Because I'm lazy and a procrastinator, I waited to nearly the last minute to make the decision.  I'm looking forward to a weekend of gaming and browsing vendor tables.  I plan to play some Dungeons & Dragons or whatever else I can find that interests me, and I'm bringing some starship miniatures in case anyone wants a game of Starfleet Wars.

If you're gonna be at the con this weekend, look for me.  I'll be the geeky looking guy with the spaceship game.

New telemetry

A Gaea Prime Information Directorate probe has transmitted the following images of two Free Company forces contesting an Artificial Transit Point in the Tannhauser sector.