Random Bits of News and Commentary

Hey all,
 I wanted to check in and let everyone know this blog is far from dead, heck, it's just not as updated as "500 Miles..". That said, there is some news I'd like to relate:

 First off, a friend of mine has begun a blog, it's early, and I want to give him a good start, as he is a fellow wargamer, and Battlegroup player, so pay a visit to Panzer Mike's Miniature Gaming Place and let him know you'd love to see more from him. I will also be putting it up on "500 Miles..." as a way of letting folks know about him as he does Force on Force.

 Next, I went to Barrage in Havre De Grace, MD two weeks ago, and I got into two Force on Force games, and one Combat Patrol game. As always, I enjoyed FoF. The mechanics are solid, they make sense and while the action-reaction chain can get a bit wonky, it's not as bad as some might claim.

 As for Combat Patrol. Well, it wasn't for me. The game was far more card driven then I expected, and I spent a lot of time doing nothing, or having my plans frustrated by the cards. I get what Buck was doing, but as much as that is the friction of war...nobody wants to be the guy playing the guy who basically does nothing. The only bright spot in that game was my machine gun managed to pin down the Germans in the tower...so that was something I suppose. Lesson to myself in game design: Never design a game where a player will wind up doing nothing but twiddling his thumbs because his cards simply refuse to come up.

 I saw quite a few other games come up, and I was impressed, as Barrage seems to be becoming a nice, regional con that may give Williamsburg Muster a run for it's money. But, it's a hike from Fairfax. Next year? I am getting a hotel room with the guys.

 Here are some pics from the con so you can see what you may have missed:

 Also, I wanted to talk Dispatches. Right now, we have a theme, which is "Patton in Lorraine". We're going to do that period between September and December of 1944. While a lot of attention was to the north with the drama of Arnhem and Oosterbek, there was quite a bit of nasty fighting around Lorraine, with the encirclement of Nancy, the siege of Metz, and the ferocious battles of Arracourt, and Luneville. And..my grandfather had a ringside seat. So, I have an army list for the German Panzer Brigades of the period, and I have a scenario, but I'd love more contributions, so, if you've got something that fits the theme? Please send it along to: dispatchesbg@gmail.com

 I also attended recently the Americans in Wartime Open House which was absolutely packed this past year..and also had levels of mud that would have made Zhukov blanch. Cars were getting stuck all over and they had a duce and a half wrecker going around pulling cars out. It was...atmospheric.

 But the show was nice, plenty of reenactors, plenty of things to see and people to talk to..including the WWII Soviet folks, who put on a great show as always, including demonstrating the Red Army's "bayonet fencing" drill. I didn't do it myself, but it was neat to watch, and gives one an insight in how important the Soviets thought the bayonet was in the early part of the war.

So, it has been a very busy month for me hobbywise, thus far, and it does not appear to be slowing down, even with all the weddings and my anniversary coming up. I look forward to all of it with a big smile, and a bigger sense of joy. So, let's see where the future will take us, shall we?