Gaming on a budget – The Challenge (Part 1)

Some time ago I reviewed Tabletop Gaming’s first issue of its magazine and whilst discussing this review with Hairy Gamer Tris we decided that an article about gaming on a budget would be a great idea.  Tabletop Gaming hadn’t done it so we resolved to set a budget and start a new project.

I had also spoken to some old LARPer friends of mine Andy Bridgwater and Andy Thomas who had just invested in Guildball from Steamforged Games.  This game appealed to me because it was a low fantasy american football style game.  It was to Fantasy Football as Game of Thrones is to Fantasy Fiction….no Elves, no Dwarves, no Orcs or Goblins.  It also fit quite nicely with my project to game on a budget as it wouldnt take a huge investment to get involved.  With all this in mind I asked around on the Guild Ball Supporters (Gu.B.S) page on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/669287583117414/) and spoke to the Andy’s and took advice from Alex Cairns who all affirmed my belief that it might be the project I was looking for.

Andy Thomas was kind enough to write a review to give me some idea what it was all about:-

“So it’s Sunday, I’m sitting at a table and looking back is my best mate and we are about to kick the living bejesus out of each other!

I’ll explain… At the UK Expo we met up with the creators of a fantasy football game called Guildball and we liked what we saw. I really wanted Dreadball but when we asked for a demo… Mantis weren’t keen so we decided to go back and chat a little further… £60 each later and 4 of us now have full teams and a rule book.

Forward wind to our first game, a 3 on 3 between the Brewers guild and my Butchers! I’m having a strange feeling like I’ve been here before and it’s awesome, but ask me what the something is… I have no idea. I’ve read the rules to death and been mostly confused, tried to learn what my players can do and chosen the three that I’m sure can get me to the 6 victories points I need for a win! At this point I’m still confused how stuff works but armed with my rule book and cheat sheets… I’m ready as I will ever be! 6 points later, I’ve put his leader off the board and his quick player off twice and it’s taken around 30 minutes of non stop action where neither of us had to watch the other move 11 players, resolve 11 actions…fall asleep.

The rules I thought were complicated are actually streamlined and easy to follow, allowing the game to flow like a game should. Because of the turn system where 1 player activates a model then it switches to player 2, you never feel like you are in downtime and for someone with the attention span of a gnat, this rocks!

The players I chose had abilities that complimented each other and by knowing what each could do and how that can buff my other guys or rebuff the opposition I had a range of interesting plays I could bring to the table. Again, my non existent attention span is pleased that it has lots to do but at the same time not get overwhelmed. Then it hit me… That feeling I had been here before, I recognise it as the first time I played Bloodbowl. That little child inside me who loves the idea of fantasy football but doesn’t have 2 hours to play a game just got the cake and ate it.

That cake is called Guildball and if you love Bloodbowl or Dungeonbowl, there’s a new cake you should buy and eat…. It’s called Guildball”

 

Well anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE Blood Bowl and have done since it was first released by Games Workshop many many years ago.  I have complete and untouched copies of 1st Ed, 2nd and 3rd ed plus multiple teams.  I also all love all things contact sports.  This sounded just like the game for me.  Having spent many years playing Blood Bowl and primarily the Humans, Skaven and Elf teams I knew I’d favour a team that were fast and agile and quick to score.  I’m not so much of a bash’em’up sort and like flair and speed.  Reading some reviews online and the article in Tabletop Gaming it sounded like the Fishermens Guild would be the guys for me.  So it would be my “gaming on a budget” project.

Fishermen Guild

Having made the decision I went to my FLGS in Coventry to grab a Starter set.  When I enquired the store volunteer hadn’t ever heard of the game and had no idea what I was talking about, which left me rather at a loss.  I would have to go online to try and find what I was looking for.  I try to support my FLGS whenever I can but on this occasion the Internet would need to come to my rescue.  I asked the members of the Gu.B.S. group on Facebook about where was best to buy from and the general concensus seemed to be Element Games, based in Stockport and the same building as Steamforged Games:-

http://elementgames.co.uk/wargames-and-miniatures/cult-steampunk-other-miniatures-games/guild-ball

Looking at the website I had a budget of £30 a month which I would need to buy at least a Starter set.  So I picked up:-

Fishermens Starter Set Season 1 (Shark, Siren & Angel) – £19.76

Fishermans Guild Starter Set.

Shark, Angel & Siren.

Kraken – £12.10

Kraken

Total – £31.86

I was a little over my original intended budget but I figured I could recoup this next month by spending less.  Once shipping of £2.95 was factored in then I was at a total of £34.81.

For a similar price I could invest in many similar skirmish level games that I had considered in the past such as Judge Dredd by Warlord Games, Batman by Knight Models, a new Corporation for Warzone Resurrection (I already have Cybertronic, Imperial and Mishima) by PRODOS Games Ltd.  I was happy with my final choice.  Now all that remains is for the postie to drop a box of goodies from Element Games through my letter box and for me to get them assembled and painted ready to bring some fishy hurt to the Andys (Thomas and Bridgwater), Pam aka Mrs Andy B and Jason W who had all invested at UK Games Expo.

I should only ever need 7 models to play the Fishermens Guild and once my package arrives I will have 4 of those so I’m a happy, little, lazy painting, budget gamer!

Im now off to download the free Rules PDF so I can read up before my team arrives.  That was another selling point.  Whilst I like a glossy shiny looking rulebook on the shelf in the Mancave the fact that I can get free rules and put off that purchase for another month was a huge advantage for me.

http://guildball.com/Guildball_QPR_Public1.0.pdf

I can also go onto the Guildball Forums to pick up tactics and general Guildball advice.  Here is a link:-

http://guildball.com/forums/index.php?/index

Thats about all for now.  Thanks to the Gu.B.S guys on Facebook, Alex Cairns, Andy B & Andy T for the inspiration and ideas.

Jase

The Deadites vs The Green Machine (Blood Bowl @ NAGA 20-05-15)

So last night at NAGA Wayne Phillips returned the favour for last weeks demo of Star Wars X-Wing by bringing his Blood Bowl stuff along for a game.  It had been quite some time since my last game, at least over a decade, and when I last played Games Workshop were still running the show.  Now the game is in the hands of the players and is using the Living Rule Book (LRB) which has some key changes made to both the Teams and the game rules.

We decided we’d run with League rules so following the full pre-game procedure and post game procedure but whilst playing we both realised we were treating the game as a 1 off and going for broke.

Wayne opted for an Undead Team called “The Deadites” and I lumped for an Orc Team called “The Green Machine”.

Waynes team “The Deadites” were set-up as follows:-

2 x Mummies – 240,000gps (3-5-1-9 Regenerate, Mighty Blow)

2 x Wights – 180,000gps (6-3-3-8 Regenerate, Block)

3 x Ghoul – 210,000gps (7-3-3-7 Dodge)

3 x Skeleton – 120,000gps (5-3-2-7 Regenerate, Thick Skull)

1 x Zombie – 40,000gps (4-3-2-8 Regenerate)

3 x Re-Rolls – 210,000gps

My team “The Green Machine” were as follows:-

3 x Black Orc Blockers – 240,000gps (4-4-2-9)

4 x Orc Blitzers – 320,000gps (6-3-3-9 Block)

2 x Orc Throwers – 140,000gps (5-3-3-8 Sure Hands, Pass)

2 x Orc Linemen – 100,000gps (5-3-3-9)

3 x Re-Rolls – 180,000gps

2 Fan Factor – 20,000gps

The teams setup…..Orcs playing up and Undead down.

The Undead inflict a single casualty on the Orc Team sending a Block Orc Blocker to the Dead and Injured Box.

The Orcs leave only 6 payers on the pitch for the Undead.

Having tossed the ball downfield the Undead play at damage limitation as the Orcs start to turn the screw and put even more players in the Dead & Injured box.

The intended pass is missed and drops just wide of the Blitzer receiver. Double coverage from a Wight and a Ghoul make it difficult to reclaim the ball.

The Undead swarm around the thrower as he desperately tries to throw the ball away downfield.

Having just decimated his Wight partner the ex-Reikland Reaver Zombie faces a block from the same Black Orc. The Black Orc stumbles and falls.

The Orc Thrower in the backfield is looking for a free receiver to pass the ball to.

The Undead pack the backfield to stop the Orc Blitzers from creeping through. The Black Orcs do what they do best and put the hurt on the Undead.

Orcs Line up to receive the ball again. Now they outnumber the Undead team.

Score to the Deadites!!! 2-0 on the whistle of halftime.

After twice fumbling his pick up roll the Orc Thrower is forced to chase back and attempt a blitz to recover the ball from the Ghoul. He slips whilst going for it and falls over leaviing the Ghoul free to trot in an easy touchdown.

First blood to the Orc team…..a Mummy is permanently removed from the field of play courtesy of a Black Orc. Almost the end of the first half.

After a bad kick-off result the receiving Orc team are caught flat footed and the Undead break through their lines.

The Ghould dodges away and scores for a 1-0 lead. The teams setup again.

The Ghoul escapes and runs for the line. the Orc Thrower goes back to try and slow him as the Blitzer Blitzes him. Double Skulls! After a re-roll….Double Skulls! Unbelieveable!!!!

The Undead build a loose cage but the only Blocker capable of getting back and putting coverage on is a Black Orc who will be outnumbered.

The Orcs scramble back to provide coverage but their slower players struggle to get back leaving their most potent blockers upfield.

The Undead swarm forward in numbers pushing the Orcs aside as the Ghoul gets up, grabs the ball and retreats into the safety of the Undead cage.

An Orc thrower and Blitzer chase back to bring the Ghoul down.

The Undead break the cage and escape downfield with a Ghoul carrying the ball.

With one Mummy down and another not in contact with an opposing player their threat has been negated. The Orcs roll onwards with Thrower 9 carrying the ball inside the cage.

The Green Machine rumbles upfield slowly causing carnage with its 3 Block Orc Blockers smashing everything in their path.

The Ghoul is knocked down and the Orc thrower carrying the ball advances upfield over the LoS.

A ghoul and a Wight roll around the right flank to attack the cage.

After turn 1 a mini-cage has formed in the back field. The Undead need to choose between blitzing with Mummies or going for the ball carrier.

The defending Undead team set-up conservatively to Kick-off to the Orcs.

The receiving Orc Team lines up looking to form a cage down the left flank.

The Line of Scrimmage.

Final Scores are in:-

The Deadites 3 – 0 The Green Machine

Casualties 1 – 5

Competions 0 – 1

A resounding and thumping victory for “The Deadites” with the Ghouls showing their real worth and stealing the show.  Clearly the Ghoul with 2 Touchdowns would be MVP.

For “The Green Machine” it was difficult to choose a single MVP as all three Black Orcs caused carnage throughout, one of the Throwers remembered his worth in the end with an amazing collection of rolls and the Blitzers were a serious impact.  In the end for the casualties alone I gave the MVP to the Black Orc that removed a Wight and a Mummy.

This was my heaviest ever defeat at Blood Bowl with a team im somewhat unfamiliar with but it all came flooding back.  There seemed to be some interest at NAGA for a game or two here and there so Wayne and I may look at setting up a once a month league with a few teams.  The dice did not favour me tonight and thats not an excuse because I was beaten by a better team coached better.  I enjoyed myself and will definitely be playing more.

Right I had better go as I have teams to paint and LARP gear to pack ready for Empire this coming weekend.

Welcome to 2015

Uuurrrggghhhh…….so alarm clocks are ringing all over the country to signal a return to work for the masses.  Christmas and New Year are over and I sit here trying to formulate the first talesfromthemancave update of 2015.

Firstly I hope the Christmas holidays brought you all happiness and cheer and that Father Geekmas and his Elves (no not the High, Dark or Wood varieties) delivered you all sacks bulging with geeky goodness.  It certainly brought me more work to get cracking with over the next few weeks.

Starting with Necromunda…..well after a good rummage in the loft some 18+ year old scenery was discovered loitering in a stack and store box so I resolved to clean it up and take stock.  I now have 82 original Plastic Bulkheads and the scenery from two Necromunda boxes and an Outlanders box.  This should be enough to get a decent sized game going.  I do need to flatten out some of the cardboard components as some have warped slightly over the 18 years.  Not a huge problem though!

This also meant that other goodies were found.  A whole heap of older miniatures which will need a good clean up but can be used or will fetch a few pennies via Evil-Bay.  A 11 player Naggaroth Nightmares Dark Elf Blood Bowl Team, a full 5 man squad of Adeptus Arbites for Necromunda, three Catachan Imperial Guard troops which will sub in as Orlocks and join the Orlock Heavy with Heavy Bolter.  I also found some very badly painted Skaven Blood Bowl players, an original Commissar Yarrick model, two Eldar Warpspiders and some Dark Angel models (a Captain and a Deathwing Terminator).

Some old school boardgames were found in various stages of completion and to be honest the only salvageable ones were MB’s Battle Masters and Waddingtons Key to The Kingdom.  I’m going to try and get the kids to play these at some point.

Santa (courtesy of my girls) brought me some Star Wars X-Wing Minitaures to add to the Mancaves collection.  I was lucky and received a Starter/Core Box, an A-Wing and an E-Wing for the Rebels but knowing me very well the bulk of my goodies were Imperials.  I got a TIE Bomber, a TIE Defender, a TIE Phantom, a TIE Interceptor and the Imperial Aces Expansions.  So I was a very happy geek.  I also received some pennies to go and get a good deal on some other ships so I managed to add a Decimator (£23), a Lambda Shuttle (£18) and a further TIE Fighter (£9.50) expansion.

It seems that every geek who didn’t already own a copy got a copy of the game of 2014 left in their stocking too….Cards Against Humanity.  My stocking was no exception as it contained a copy of the core game and the first expansion.  Lessons have been learnt.  Played a couple of games and my only advice would be never play it with your parents and definitely never play it with a recently remarried parent.  I am going to need therapy.  Cheers Dad!

I didn’t manage to get a great deal done with regards to advancing the many projects I currently have but I certainly managed to expand existing collections and start new ones.  Courtesy of an Amazon Wishlist and relatives who cant decide what to get you I managed to end up with some X-mas pennies and some Amazon Vouchers.  Knowing that 2015 will bring me some PRODOS Crusading to be getting on with I invested some of these pennies in a Warzone Resurrection Starter Force Boxset (Cybertronic) and a rulebook which over the coming months I shall be adding to and bringing you reviews and more information on via this blog.  My aim is to add a unit every month until I have a well rounded force to use in demo games and against more experienced players who will be teaching me to play along the way.  More about this in a later entry.

I received a 3ft x 3ft gaming mat from Gale Force 9 from my better half and kids too.  So I will now be able to take some better pictures of the items I receive and update my Star Wars and Star Trek collections with so look out for that!

In terms of games played well we visited friends and had family visit so we managed to get a few games in.  The game of the moment Cards Against Humanity was played lots and provided me with a therapy inducing insight in my fathers private life.  We also managed to teach my Dad and his new wife Smash-Up.  We had Bear Cavalry Spies vs Magical Monstrous Creatures vs Vampiric Ghosts vs Zombie Ants.  After 4 hours of playing the Vampiric Ghosts came out on top closely followed by the Zombie Ants and leaving the Bear Cavalry Spies trailing in third with the Magical Monstrous Creatures in last place.

I attempted to teach my daughter (and Step-Mother) Family Fluxx and Munchkin.  Whether the gin made this prohibitively difficult or she genuinely didnt get the premise I dont know but Munchkin was a disaster.  Family Fluxx was easily taught and small enough to carry other places and take on holiday etc.  So that was successful.

Overall a happy restful and enjoyable Xmas break at Hairy Gamer HQ.  I feel refreshed and ready for the assault on my various gaming projects.

Bring on 2015, bring on AvP, bring on Warzone Resurrection, bring on the Necromunda and bring on Star Wars & Star Trek.  Happy gaming guys and gals!

Updates

So this is just a little update for you all.  Things at the Mancave have been hectic recently but in true “biting off more than I can chew” fashion I have a plethora of projects all on the go at the same time.  So here goes, in no particular order:-

Blood Bowl v2 pitch construction and painting

Complete building and paint my Blood Bowl teams (v3 Skaven, Human. High Elves, v2 Elves and Dwarves)

Reading my AvP:The Hunt Begins beta rules in preparation for the KS Drop

Reading my Necromunda LRB rules ready for any campaign with the guys

Building Necromunda gangs

Building some more of my Battlesystems Sci-Fi terrain

Make some jungle terrain for a Predator themed gaming table…think aztec temple surrounded by jungle

Building and Painting my Colonial Marines APC ready for the AvP minis

Finish building my folding gaming table for STAW

More battle reports from the recent STAW series of taster games at NAGA

I must find more time to do things.  Bad geek no biscuit!