In-Store Game After Action Report

As mentioned previously I’ll be running a monthly Leviathans game at the Wishes: Toys, Books and Games store at: 1402 SE Everett Mall Way #335, Everett, WA (it’s in the Everette Mall, where the old Borders bookstore used to be, for those that know the area).

For those with access to Facebook, check out the Wishes’ page.

The first game was this last Saturday, the 12th. A humble beginning, to be sure. Then again when I ran the first in-store game at Games & Gizmos a year ago it was pretty humble as well and we grew it into a nice little crowd each month. Hoping to do the same again here.

The game in the photo was a standard Core Box Set set-up of 4 vs 4 on two maps, though I substituted in some of the British Fleet Box ships on my side to mix it up a little. It was great fun, as usual, but despite hammering the French to the point I only needed to roll a 14 on 2DRed to destroy their battleship, I simply couldn’t sink a single ship and the French carried the day.

For those wondering, Bryn and his friend were playtesting the Germans vs. the Italians next to my game. I’m hoping Kristian’s impatience was at fault as the Germans easily swept the Italians from the sky; the Italians are paper tigers and require a lot of finesse. The Italians have done pretty well against the British and French, but I’ve always known the true test would be the Italian finesse against the brute armor and powerful Bracketing Crew Slots of the Germans; Bryn and I will be playtesting that set-up again, naturally.

Next month I’ll be running games again:

June Date: Saturday the 16th
June Time: 1PM to 5PM-ish

I sure hope to see you there!

Till next duty shift!

Randall

Intrépide: Part 5

By Blaine Lee Pardoe

Thirty days later…

Aviation Board of Inquiry
La Borget Field
France

Sous-lieutenant François Moreau sat alone at the table for the defense, as was the tradition. The board of inquiry into the events of the previous month was necessary. He had assumed command of the Intrépide, and the French Admiralty had questions that must be answered. While it was standard procedure after an incident such as this, he did not feel comfortable about the situation. More than one officer’s career had been broken in this room. And while he felt his actions throughout the engagement were justified, he also knew the Admiralty might have other ideas and perspectives.

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Monthly In-Store Games in the Seattle Area

Last Spring/Summer I ran a once-a-month Leviathans game, which had a nice turn out each time; thanks to all those that came out to those games. For various reasons that fell off the radar for long months, but it’s back on my radar and I’m super excited about it.

I’ll be running a monthly Leviathans game at the Wishes: Toys, Books and Games store at: 1402 SE Everett Mall Way #335, Everett, WA (it’s in the Everette Mall, where the old Borders bookstore used to be, for those that know the area).

For those with access to Facebook, check out the Wishes’ page.

May Date: Saturday the 12th
May Time: 1PM to 5PM-ish

I’ll be running multiple Leviathans games, from demos to larger scale games, so regardless of whether you’ve never played, or you’ve several games under your belt from various conventions, there’ll be a game there for you. You don’t need to bring a thing…just show up ready to toss dice.

For all those that can’t attend, just as I did last Spring/Summer, I’ll take photos and share after each weekend.

To those that might be able to come, hope you’re able to make it!

See ya next duty shift.

Randall

Origins Game Fair 2012 Leviathans Events

Origins Game Fair 2012 is just a few weeks away! And of course, we’ll be running a bevy of Leviathans’ events to slake your thirst for metal monsters in the sky!

All games are in D Hall/Catalyst Area.

Shakedown Cruise

A “Shakedown Cruise” is the first time a leviathan is tested under its own power. Come learn to play under your own power as well! This extended introduction is a complete experience to learn and play Leviathans!

Thursday
10:00 am – 11:00 am (1119)
11:00 am – 12:00 pm (1130)
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm (1138)
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm (1152)
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm (1164)
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm (1174)
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm (1183)
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm (1189)

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Leviathans Further Update

At the end of the day I’ve received numerous boxes of Leviathans during this long process…don’t know how many inner trays I went through as we constantly banged on it to make it what it needs to be.

Yet today was the very first day where I received a Core Box Set that was shrink wrapped…meaning the box I open is the box that should appear on your store shelves in the not-too-distant future!!!

Since I have to unwrap it and go through every last piece one last time to make sure it’s all good, thought I’d take you along the trip (many of you have seen a lot of photos similar to this, but this showcases the un-boxing of what you’ll hopefully be doing yourselves relative soon).

Opening a box and seeing the treasure lying beneath…man there’s something so awesome in that.

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Leviathans Update

Right up front, because I know it’s the first question that’s going to be asked, no, we STILL do not have a Street Date. However, we have the best news I’ve heard concerning Leviathans in long months.

For those that haven’t followed the travails of the HML Leviathans as closely as others, when last we checked in with our intrepid crew, we’d run into a complete inability to crack the miniatures free of the plastics manufacturer and get them into the hands of the paper manufacturer.

After a ludicrously long struggle, the miracle has finally occurred. Not only has the plastics manufacturer told us they turned over the plastics for the Core Box Set, but the paper manufacturer has verified they’ve received them!!!

What’s more, they were kind enough to allay concerns by forwarding on a series of photos showing the un-boxing of the plastic miniatures, their flight into the waiting cradle of a box set, and its transition into a finalized box set waiting for the bottle to smash into its keel (or in this instance, get a shrinkwrap).

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Intrépide: Part 4

By Blaine Lee Pardoe

Heavy Cruiser Intrépide
North Sea
8 September 1900
1425 hours

Capitaine Rivenburg of the Python was not taking the bait. He coolly angled his ship the opposite direction, firing another salvo at long range. One shot whizzed past fire control, missing by a matter of twenty meters. The other slammed into the mangled armor belt at the aft of the ship. Smoke rose out of the hole—not a lot, but enough.

This one is crafty, so I must be as well. “We need to lure him in,” François said to the crew as he leaned into the mouthpiece again. “Engine room, I need you to create a 10-degree list to port.”

“Sir?” came the answering voice in the ear-tube.

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Intrépide: Part 3

By Blaine Lee Pardoe

Heavy Cruiser Intrépide
North Sea
8 September 1900
1425 hours

It took a long, painful two minutes for the Intrépide to arc around 180 degrees. Halfway through the turn, Lieutenant Miller entered the makeshift bridge. His uniform was torn, but he was alive. Where he had been for the last few minutes was something to be learned later. Part of François was happy to see his commanding officer, but that changed the moment Miller spoke. “What are you doing, Moreau? I was in the forward turret and heard you are in command?”

“Qui. Capitaine Guisarme turned over the ship to me,” he replied, not lifting his eyes from the enemy ship. He saw flashes of light from cannons firing just as shells hit his own ship. The Intrépide vibrated violently under the impacts from the Renown, so hard he almost fell over, but still the old mademoiselle was in the air…still in the fight. Read the rest of this entry »

Intrépide: Part 2

By Blaine Lee Pardoe

Heavy Cruiser Intrépide
North Sea
8 September 1900
1425 hours

François saw that the binnacle had been torn asunder. Along with the scent of cordite was another smell, awareness of which he fought to suppress: the odor of cooking meat. Through the haze of thinning smoke, he could see the helm was twisted by the impact of the shell; the giant wheel was no more than broken pieces of wood scattered around the remains of the shattered bridge. There was no way to steer the ship from the bridge, not now. The ship quaked again, followed by the boom of British cannon. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw that the British cruiser was now moving. Cutting in the other direction from behind it, masked by the smoke of her engines, was a destroyer. Two ships!

He grabbed the Enseigne and shook him hard to get his focus. “Get him to the infirmary!” he yelled as he made his way to the staircase. François was now in command of the Intrépide—but how long could they last against two enemy ships? Read the rest of this entry »

Working on Minor Powers PDFs

While we’re working on several different concepts that we pitched a while back to you guys, one that I’m most excited about right now is the Minor Powers PDFs (plural, because there’s no way to get them all into a single PDF).

We’ve been kicking this concept around for a while, and I’ve got an internal discussion that emphasis that there’s numerous ways to proceed on this. Ultimately I’ve decided that since these are for you guys (especially the PDFs), that I should go ahead and tap the community to get your opinions on this.

With that in mind, here’s an excerpt from that internal discussion:

So been thinking a while of different ways to put these together. My initial concept was to try and pair things up like we’re doing the major factions, but it’s just too funky…you go from Brazil which is close to a major power and then Greece or Peru or Spain with anemic fleets.

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