Three Pages Shy

   That's all I need to finish up the next issue of The Aethergraph, plus a bit of editing.

   Help!

More Federated States and Aethergraph Update

   The enclosed photostats provide evidence of the great deal of work which has been going on behind the scenes, as it were. The LP delayed my issuance of these photos, although they have appeared elsewhere on the telephonic differencing web. 

   I'm beginning to think that I should, perhaps, roll this blog into my other, more general blog. I see that many of the subscribers are the same. It would reduce the amount of work, and probably therefore increase the frequency of posts. Posting has become a bit of a slog for me on VBIR lately.

   In other news, I am still working on the next issue of Aethergraph, after a lengthy hiatus for professional reasons. Upon returning, I saw that in fact, I had more to do than I had previously believed. This is causing additional delays, of course. Should any of you dear readers have ideas, articles, photos, or whatever that might be of assistance, I would appreciate it if you would contact me at aethergraph@gmail.com. I still need four or five pages, I think.

Back to it?

   Almost.

   The semester is almost over, and I am just about done grading term papers. Finally.

   This means I can start considering the final touches to the next issue of The Aethergraph (Vol. 4, No. 1, for those of you keeping score at home).

   This issue is somewhat free-form, as it does not have any specific theme. I'm hoping to see another article or two come in, or perhaps some photos or art. I may need to go raiding the blogosphere for something to write about. We'll see.

Mentioned in Wargames Soldiers and Strategy #76

  Okay, this is kind of cool. At least, for certain values of 'cool.'

  I just received my copy of Wargames Soldiers and Strategy (WSS), Issue 76. I purchased it because Issue 76 is dedicated to Victorian Science Fiction - "Adventures in the Age of Steam" as they put it. So there I am, just flipping through the issue, reading an article that serves as in introduction to VSF (or steampunk, if you insist) written by Gary Mitchell. And there, right at the end of the article on page 33, is a mention of The Aethergraph:

"The Aethergraph, for example, is a new online 'zine on the topic, complete with a mock Victorian-style newspaper presentation."

  There you have it, respectability from the press. Fleet Street chaps got it right for once, the flighty sots. I am a bit chuffed about it.

Aethergraph Vol. 3, #3 Now Available

   An issue mostly dedicated to In Her Majesty's Name, but I think, I hope, that any VSF fan can find useful information in it for their own games or settings.

   I'd again like to thank the gentlemen that helped me put it together. Paul, Craig, Charles, and Jim: I couldn't have done it anything like so quickly or so well without your help.

   You can go to the document HERE. I will be adding a link to the sidebar soon for future reference.

Verne's Quarterly and the Aethergraph Approaches!

   For those of you patiently awaiting the next issue of The Aethergraph, good news! It is almost finished - I hope to release it next week!

   Again, this issue is pretty well dedicated to In Her Majesty's Name. But I hope that anyone could find useful information within its pages.

Here's a tiny teaser:

 Maton's Gun Buggy, featured in Verne's Quarterly

(The miniature is from Bob Charette, available through Brigade Games)

(The photo is from their website)

Aethergraph 3/3 delayed until December

Sorry gentlemen. I thought i would have it all done by today, but life sometimes gets in the way of unpaid hobby stuff. In this case, my wife is having a surgical procedure tomorrow morning (yes, just how we all dream of spending Thanksgiving, but I am thankful she should be much better after the procedure).

Stay tuned.

Progress on The Aethergraph Vol.3 #3

   Progress is continuing. I have some really great articles that have been submitted for this upcoming issue. I am still hoping to have it out before Thanksgiving - I only have a couple of pages to fill.

   I may have previously mentioned, but this issue is dedicated primarily to In Her Majesty's Name. This set of rules has become my go-to for 28mm skirmish VSF. I still prefer GASLIGHT for larger scale battles, but for a very few figures, I have really gotten fond of IHMN. 

   Of course, I am also proud of the work I did on When The Navy Walked and the supplements. And I enjoy Dystopian Wars, too. I still don't get why they did Dystopian Legions in 32mm scale. Nice figures, but I haven't bought a single one. Just too darned big, and with four scales of VSF already, I don't need to add a fifth.

Volume 3, Issue #2 Published

   With a great many thanks to the contributors who made it possible, I have finished putting together the newest issue of The Aethergraph.

   The link to the left should be active. Or you can go to it here.

   As always, please let me know what you think. Work has already started on Issue 3, and I hope to have it out before the end of the year. This would be a record for me. Of course, if I keep getting more submissions, it could possibly stretch to four issues in 2014... but let's not get too ambitious just yet.

   Enjoy!

Yet Another Cry for Help!

   I am about one and a half pages shy of finishing the next issue of The Aethergraph.

   I could sure use some help with an article or two. I already have the following features:

• Clive's Register (Teaser: it's a famous engineer.)
• Reginald's Regiments
• Diary of a Texican
• Verne's Armory
• plus an Adventuring Company for IHMN

So, the sorts of things that I would love to see would be

• Short Fiction
• A new creature or alien race with stats for any game system you like
• VSF Adventure Hooks
• House Rules - again, for whatever system you prefer
• A Battle Report, preferably with photos
• Artwork
• Game Reviews (Dystopian Wars? Dystopian Legions? Empire of the Dead?)

So, anything you have - throw it at me!

New Issue of The Aethergraph!

   At long last, I have published the new issue of The Aethergraph. You can find a link to it on the left hand column, right at the top there, or simply click here. I would like to thank my contributors, and the gentlemen that offered me submissions that I didn't have room for this time around. I'm hopeful that, especially with more submissions, I can produce another issue this spring - perhaps in April or May.

   I hope you enjoy it. Please let me know what you think, and if you are interested in helping to produce The Aethergraph, email me at aethergraph@gmail.com.

Nearing Publication of The Aethergraph, Vol. 3, #1

   I have just about finished putting together the next issue of The Aethergraph, after almost 2 1/2 years on hiatus. I could definitely use some more submissions, though! So, I'm asking for some help. If you've seen other issues of the magazine, you know the sort of thing I want: house rules, reviews of products, fiction, art, battle reports, pictures, interesting classified ads (not for real products, please - I want to keep things noncommercial at this point), historical articles, or whatever.

   Any submissions will be copyrighted to The Aethergraph, but I would be happy to release any rights back to the author if he or she found an outlet to sell their submission. I just want to be sure that I won't be sued by someone who obtains the rights from you later on! The e-zine is free, so I can't pay you, but heck, think of all the people that could see your work. Dozens, at least. Eternal glory and fame. Sort of.

   If you have anything you would like to submit, please email it to me at aethergraph@gmail.com. Even if it doesn't make this issue, more submissions means I have to spend less time working up my own material, and thus I can fill new issues more quickly - that means more issues for all to enjoy!

   Those of you who are actually professionals (Frank, Rob, Eli, and so on... you know who you are), I would LOVE to get some material from you. A page or two would be great. And if you have any suggestions on any legal IP issues, I'd appreciate the help.

   Anyway, enough begging. Thanks for your support, and I look forward to seeing some fantastic Victorian submissions.

2013: A New Dawn for VSF?

   I am sitting here, having just finished a paper for my professor about the failure of the Mau Mau revolt in 1950s Kenya, and the thought that comes to my mind is this:

"Man, 2013 looks like a great year for Victorian Science Fiction gaming."

Hear me out on this: 

1. Empire of the Dead, which though marketed more as Gothic Horror is arguably still VSF, as it is certainly Victorian and has many science fiction elements in it, is doing well. The Requiem expansion's Kickstarter success shows that. I bought 54 (or so) minis and the rules.
2. Dystopian Wars/Dystopian Legions seems to be going strong still. I bought some Dystopian Wars minis and the rules, plus a fleet for a friend. I would buy Legions minis if they were in 28mm scale. May still get those Prussian armoured infantry.
3. In Her Majesty's Name is being released, and seems to be successfully racking up the Nickstarter pre-orders. I have not yet put in my $140-ish, but I plan to in the next week or so. That's another thirty odd 28mm figures and a set of rules. Hurry! April 18 is coming soon!
4. Victoria Miniatures in Australia is producing some fantastic new minis that are very suitable for VSF gaming, though designed for proxy Imperial Guard in 40K. I need to order some more from her, and one of those cool t-shirts.
5. Curious Constructs in England is also producing some new stuff, and I am supporting the Kickstarter for a trio of heavy weapons that are very steampunk/VSF, although again, intended originally for proxy IG.
6. The Aethergraph. I hope to have a new issue of "the best free VSF gaming e-zine ever published" ready to read by mid-May. School, work and family permitting. I have some great stuff that has been sent to me. I would still like information on any VSF setting you are using. The theme is "Many Worlds of VSF."
7. One downer: When the Navy Walked is no more. You can still purchase PDFs, I believe, but no additional supplements are planned at this point, and Rob (great guy, by the way) has announced the company is ceasing active operations. I enjoyed working with Rob on these projects, and I am rather proud of some of the mechanics for fleet and sailing that I wrote.

What do you think? Have I missed anything so far this year?

Apologies

  Apologies for the lack of posting lately. Things have been a bit hectic on the personal side. The words school and hospital are involved.

  However, work has continued on When the Navy Walked supplements. Keep an eye out on the Armchair General's website for more on that.

  Also, I have been given an article for the next Aethergraph. Anyone else that would like to contribute, please let me know! More contributors means a faster turn around on the next issue!

Aethergraph Vol 2, Issue 1 is Done!

   You can find it here, or by accessing the link in the left hand column.

   Enjoy!

   Oh, and many thanks to the folks who helped me with submissions, especially Eli Arndt, of I See Lead People fame, who provided me with the final piece of art - a dead cool parrotman on the attack!

Calling all Submitters...

The Aethergraph needs you!

   I need about three more pages worth of material to finish the next issue. If you have anything, please, let me know!

Email me at aethergraph@gmail.com.

Snow Day, 2011

  Wow. I have a day off because of 'snow.' In Houston, Texas. Heck, south of Houston. And no snow at all fell around my house. There was some ice overnight and early this morning, so probably a good idea to keep the school buses off the roads. And since I am a school teacher, that meant I have the day off, too! So what to do with an unexpected day off? Well, let's see...

  For those of you who are unaware, I am involved in helping to develop When the Navy Walked, a set of rules for VSF games.

50164: XAIRobots (3) ($9.99)

Kevin Williams

   I found a pack of these guys in the half-price bin of a dealer at OwlCon. They are from the Chronoscope line produced by Reaper. I thought they looked just perfect for some giant walkers to go with my 6mm forces for When the Navy Walked. I like the rules best for bigger battles, and that's why I am doing a 6mm setup for them.

   Anyway, they aren't painted yet because it's too cold to prime them at the moment - I am afraid the spray would freeze before it hit the mini, it being only about 28 degrees in my garage at the moment. Haven't quite decided what kind of paint scheme I am going to go for with them. I thought I might make them for at least two of the different European empires, probably Great Britain and Imperial Germany. But do them in something like national colors, camouflage, or metallic? The really big one might be fun for Russians, but I haven't decided if I am going to try to reproduce them in 6mm. I do want to do them in 25mm, at least partly because of some really inspirirng work by Sterling Moose on the forces of His Imperial Majesty, Tsar Nikolas II, on Lead Adventure Forum.

The Blue Regiment

  I'm also trying to get some painting of my own accomplished today. I can't work on the Whirlifliegers remaining to be done, because I can't prime them. I am working on some Empress British figures and trying to finish off the ten RAFM Martian archers.

  I also ordered some more minis from Scale Creep, the Black Hat Prussians, mostly. Needed more 15mm Germans. A platoon of Aetherbattalion is nice, but I need some regular Line troops. I've also been on eBay, the black and dirty shame of it all...

   I also have to get to work on some editing, and do some work on the Aethergraph. Speaking of which - I NEED SUBMISSIONS! I'll take anything you have VSF related. Even if its just a character description. Or some odd techno-device you use in your VSF universe.

The Aethergraph, Vol 1, #2

   The second issue of The Aethergraph is now available!

  This issue is all about things that fly through the air, be they mechanickal, bestial, or human. It's even a bit longer than the first issue, a trend I would love to continue. Enjoy!

  And, as always, I am looking for new submissions! Especially anything roleplaying related or artwork, but battle reports, minis or rules reviews, anything that is steampunk or VSF-y would be appreciated!

  Look for Issue #3 sometime around Thanksgiving, hopefully.

Aethergraph Update

   The long-awaited and eagerly anticipated second issue of The Aethergraph is almost done. Still only twelve pages in length, this issue does include material from a few readers/contributors. What's in it?

• Popular Mechanicks
• Clive's Register
• Aerofauna
• Texican's Diary on Venus
• and more!

   This is our first themed issue as well, being dedicated to all things aerial! Naturally, there will be aerial articles in other issues as well, but this one is jam packed with the stuff! So, if you like to dream about steam in the sky, don't miss out on this one!

   Look for it in the next week or two, coming to a sidebar near you!

Aethergraph, Issue 2

...is in the works. I think it is going to be the "Aerial Issue."

   According to the recent poll, it looks like I'll be keeping the sepia tone. I may also do a black and white with color photos version, which is not that difficult to change over. No promises on that at this time.

   Keep an eye out for more info about the issue, and I still desperately need submissions. Even if they are not aerial in nature, I can use them for future issues. Send them along to me at aethergraph@gmail.com.