Author Archives: Gavin Syme

Prometheus Movie 2012 – Review

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Space Jockey Alien from the back

I went to see Prometheus last night at the new Odeon cinema in Kilmarnock.  Due to work commitments I do not have a lot of time to spend just now on writing my normal longer posts but I will just say that the film was brilliant!

I knew nothing of the plot and nothing of the film beyond rumours and trailers so I went with an open mind to a late evening showing.  The film really is a forerunner to Alien and is very much set in the same universe with many nods to similar characters, technology, species and dialogue as well in the other films.  It helped that I re-watched Alien the night before and it was the ‘space jockey’ that I went to see the film as I have always wanted to know who the ‘big dude in the chair’ was.  Without spoiling it for those of you yet too see it I will say that it left my head battered and bruised as a viewing experience.  It was visceral, it was emotional and it went at a hellish fast pace too.  Many new questions are raised but you get to see the ‘origin’ of the ‘Alien’ and also to see something of the Jockey’s culture and abilities.  Visual effects are terrific but it is down to the director to deliver a first rate movie where plot and characterisation mean way more than CGI ‘bugs and ships’ and Ridley Scott did just that.

The movie also shot and featured Scotland and the landscape of Skye among other places.  Lovely to see it on the big screen.

Prometheus is a great movie which I highly recommend.  I do not agree with the 15 age certificate though, it should have been an 18 rating.  Go see it!

Oh and as always why do supposedly smart people not take care and precautions and insist on trying to touch everything with acid for blood… 🙂

GBS

Flintloque special scenarios for the big UK summer 2012 events

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Sharke Rides!

This summer the UK has two big events on the go for 2012.  These are the Olympics and the Queens Diamond Jubilee which take place on the 27th July to 12th August and the 2nd to 5th June with the Jubilee coming first.

I would like to do my part to celebrate these two fantastic events (as I watch them from all the way up here in Scotland) so there will be three brand new free Flintloque scenarios put up on Barking Irons Online.  These will be put up on or around the big days for each event and will be themed to those events.  Here is a little sneak peek at what to expect:

Diamonde Jubliees – The Goblin Queen is celebrating her ascension to the throne of Al-Garvey and her guest Kyng Gorge of Albion, upon visiting her, has given her a gift of diamonds. Now those diamonds are in danger. Can the Blacke Watchit protect two monarchs and the jewels?  A bonkers scenario for two players for Flintloque 3rd edition.

Visting a Kyng – Obidiah Hogswill is a nasty piece of work but sometimes he aids the Army of Albion indirectly by his actions.  The deserter general and his minions have found out that a deposed Elvish princess has become the lover of a Dark Elf noble allied to the Elves of Armorica who is promising to seduce Kyng Gorge III!  This princess is rumoured to have a sizable fortune in jewels among her baggage and Obidiah means to have them…after all Muvver says they is rightfully his!  A trecherous scenario for two players for Flintloque 3rd edition.

Sharke’s Olympnik – Captain Sharke has stolen the box of medals that Marshal Sault plans to give out to his best officers.  Now Sharke and his fellow Orcs must ride like the wind to escape not only a chasing squadron of Elf Lancers but also scattered troops from the Army of Armorica who bar their way.  An exciting two player ‘steeple chase’ moving table scenario for Flintloque 3rd edition.

Each scenario will be a full length and is designed for two players and or solo play too.

GBS

WIP – Diamonde Jubilees

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I am just about done penning a Flintloque scenario for Barking Irons Online.  Due to family matters this has taken me a lot longer than the normal four to six hours plus playtest.  But I do hope to have ‘Diamonde Jubilees’ over to Craig at BIO on Monday for use shortly afterwards.  As normal I do not want to give a lot away as it will spoil the surprise but I can tell you all a little bit about it.

Diamonde Jubliees
A Flintloque Scenario for Two Players or for Solo Play

“The Goblin Queen is celebrating her ascension to the throne of Al-Garvey and her guest Kyng Gorge of Albion, upon visiting her, has given her a gift of diamonds. Now those diamonds are in danger. Can the Blacke Watchit protect two monarchs and the jewels?”

—

‘Oh Gorgy porgy these sparklies are most delightful!’

Queen Maria, the ruler of the Goblin lands of Al-Garvey, danced around the knees of the towering Ogre king of Albion. He had only just arrived in the town of Peptiobisimol in the western part of the kingdom after travelling from Lisabone in pursuit of the Queen. Maria had been hard to find and while Gorge was happy to see her she was acting in rather an odd manner and this dancing was quite unseemly for a lady. He gazed down at her and spoke quietly.

‘Ma’m I am happy you like the gifts but why are we out here in the remotest country while the court resides in the capital?’

Maria stopped her dancing and beckoned for Gorge to lean down so she could whisper in his ear. The ruler of the biggest Empyre on Valon was not used to having to accommodate others but he agreed with a sigh and began to descend. This took him some time and he ended up sitting on the floor with his regal robes all around him. His dozen or so guards of the famous Blacke Watchit regiment remained impassive but he knew that they would be repeating this spectacle to every other damned Joccian they met. Even sitting he still had to lower his huge head so Maria could whisper to him.

‘I just wanted a little private party Gorgy, you know. You, me, the furry ones and Crispin of course. I just love the rubies though. Makes me want to go out in the sun and show them off!’

As she spoke she hopped on to Kyng Gorge’s lap and threw her hands about his tree trunk like neck. He tried not to jump away in shock but he could see ‘Crispin’ the Queen’s aged riding dodo shambling towards them as if this was perfectly normal. Two of the Blacke Watchit now had half smiles on their faces but they went back to stony blankness when the Kyng growled at them. He got to his feet with Maria still dangling from his neck.

‘They ain’t rubies ma’m, them’s diamonds. Finest in the worlde for you on this great day. But perhaps a stroll would be in order. I am sure they will sparkle in the sun and these fine soldiers will keep us safe for an hour or two.”

The Kyng pulled Maria from his neck and gently placed her upon the old Dodo which grunted under the extra weight. Without a word the Queen dug in her heels and trotted for the chamber door and the sunshine. Kyng Gorge strode after her and then turned to his guards.

“Well don’t just stand there. Follow me. Sentinal knows what she will do out there on her own!”

 

This Flintloque scenario is my little contribution to the celebrations of the whole nation of Great Britain and the Commonwealth to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II upon reaching her sixty year milestone as monarch.  An achievement which has only once been equalled before and that was by Queen Victoria.  The Queen is an inspiration and a figure worthy of respect not only due to her station in life but as a person too.

God Bless You Ma’am!

GBS

Goodbye Grandmother

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This has been a sad week for me.  A week of loss and of reflection upon the passing of time.  My paternal grandmother has died and with that a permanent and towering fixture in my life has gone.

My grandmother was a quiet woman who held herself with a lot of dignity even in her declining years when she left her city of Glasgow and came here to Girvan to be nearer the family so that we could look after her.  That was nearly five years ago and in that time I saw her most days and got to know her far better than I had as a boy.  It also meant she got to meet her three great grandchildren and see them regularly as they grew from tiny babies.

Cathy Syme and Gavin Syme in the 1980’s

I will remember her as a strong person who held my hand all those years ago and learned me the manners that helped make me the man I am.  From her vantage point of a birth in the year 1919 she had seen the world change almost out of all recognition from when she was a girl in the roaring twenties.

Goodbye Grandmother Syme.

GBS

Sunshine Superstar

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Blazing Sun and Sand...Spain...no Girvan!

Come to Scotland and see the verdant green, the deep blues and the slate grey skies of a celtic land.  But not this week!

Due to a coincidence of  weather fronts the normal warming of May has given way to a much more intense heating that has given South Ayrshire, Scotland and actually Girvan in particular (my town was named the hottest place in the land at one point on Friday and I could believe it) temperatures of 25c to 28c across the middle of the week to this weekend.  While this temperature is not unknown here it is rare and it is even more rare to have happened in May.  In fact while attending my children’s school fete yesterday afternoon two of the kids actually fainted from heat exhaustion.

From the Promenade to the Beach on Tuesday. Volleyball Tournament on Sat 26th, see the net?

Promenade looking to the south at the Carrick Hills back on Tuesday afternoon

So the play park, the beach and the sea.  I took a few pictures so you could see what I mean.  Some people say to me ‘why live in Girvan, it is so cold and icy in the winter’…well its cold and icy anywhere in Scotland in the winter but in good weather…well you don’t get scene’s like this in Glasgow or Edinburgh!

The above images were earlier in the week when I took some time to walk the prom to have a thinks and a ponder on certain things while the kids played.   But moving on!

Today was also the Volleyball Tournament on the beach and it had a really good turn out.  No, I did not play in it but I did sit and watch for a while before heading home…bare foot…across the roasting tarmac.

Volleyball on the Beach!

A hundred plus cars and coaches in the beach facing car park and not a space left anywhere.

I just have to get all of the sand out of my pockets and put some aftersun on now. Scorchio!

Oh, and the tiddler in the top picture…that’s my little warrior!

GBS

Five Pounds for a Week – The End

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Well that is it.  Five Days on a Pound a day for food.  It is now over…

For the last five days I have had, to start with, a little bundle of golden pound coins in my pocket and nothing else.  No other coins, no bank notes, no cards, no cheques.  Refer to my last post.  I think I managed my aim which was to ‘feel’ how it would be to have so little to spend on food but I will be the first to admit that a week was not long enough for a proper experiment.   I find myself feeling hungry but more used to it.  However knowing that it would end made today easier and knowing it would end meant it was not ‘real’ either.  Plus the sheer amount of heat here today put me off eating!

Custard for 17p Excellent!

Bread is very expensive compared to other staples

So in conclusion my previous post on this gave my thoughts on how I felt eating a lot less with the short answer being not good and also having to spend a lot more time and effort finding affordable items and getting to the reduced items in the evenings in supermarkets.  However it can be done assuming you can put about ten pounds aside before you start to get bigger value packs of eggs, grain and so on.  Also it assumes that you do not need alcohol, cigarettes or caffeine as these are just too expensive.

Oddly enough though overall I actually feel physically better after doing this.  Lighter on my feet so to say.  Detoxed and Trimmer.  It could be the heat talking though.

Taking back to the start the notion that in this day and age working families and children in Scotland are going hungry is just not funny and its just not on.  I think now I can identify with that a little more and it makes me just a little bit more angry too.

GBS

Article for Irregular Magazine

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After my look at the great free Wargame title Irregular Magazine I struck up a conversation with Dave Barker from the mag and after a chat I offered to write an article for the summer edition (yes, I talk myself into all kinds of things!).  But to my credit when I learned the theme of the issue was to be ‘Mysteries of the East’ it gave me a chance to make use of my knowledge of Japan and Japanese culture.  So I put forward an idea and it was accepted!

More on this when its time but my good friend Sam Croes has agreed to create a piece of art for use with the article.  And what is the article…well did you know that in the 23rd century all disputes in Japan are settled by the use of giant robotic sumo?  I shall say no more.

GBS

Blood and Badges

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Ten Good Deeds

Good deeds are their own reward and that is the case for my good lady wife.  But I feel the need for more, the need to sing her praises.  For you see she cares greatly for not only her own family but for the welfare of others too.  This care is shown many ways with her volunteering at the local school and nursery and playgroup whenever help is needed and also raising funds for charity but what impresses me most is her insistence in giving blood.

The Scottish Blood Transfusion Service comes to Girvan every now and again and my good lady is always near the front of the que.  This is despite not being able to donate for several years due to being pregnant and being a new mother too three times in the last decade.  She donated last night and came home with a little certificate and badge that you can see above.  She did not want a fuss to be made but I insisted and here we are.

Love you!  🙂

GBS

Five Pounds for a Week – Half Way Point

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This week I am trying to live on five pounds for a week (monday to friday) for food.  You can learn about this by going to my previous post.  We are now at the half way point so what am I thinking.  Well mainly I am thinking…hungry, hungry.

I have managed to stick to the budget but I do have some thoughts about this which you should be able to hear over my rumbling tummy!

46p for a week's cereal choice

  • Finding and choosing food takes quite a while.  Instead of a bank note and ‘give me that please’ it is a matter of scanning the shelves looking for the tightest price you can.  This often means really bad value as the only packs I can afford are the smallest ones so I can buy something but the amount I get is tiny compared to what  could get if I had more money for the same item such as Pasta.
  • Variety.  I am already bored of a meat free diet of mainly bread and pasta.
  • Vices.  I do not smoke or drink much alcohol which is great since I can afford neither.  The lack of caffine is getting to me too.
  • Size Matters.  I am not a small fellow, at about six foot and two eighty pounds in weight it needs more fuel for my engine!
  • Reduced Rack.  Major supermarkets reduce the cost of food in the late afternoon and evenings and you can get some really good deals with items dated that day for consumption being some 80-90% off their normal prices.  I just have to time it correctly and get in first!
  • Work and Temper.  I am starting to feel a bit cold while sitting at the computer and I have a lot less desire for complex tasks than normal plus my mood is not great as I am constantly hungry.
  • Avoid the urge to eat once a day.  Spread the food, do not eat it all at once.  Made that mistake!

Jamming for 35p. Taste's fine!

More on Friday…roll on the weekend!  🙂

GBS

Blogger and Wargaming

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Over the last week or so I have watched with  interest some messages posted on The Notables Yahoo Group about why the majority of the wargames I have created or maintain do not have ‘a big presence on the net’.  You might think this strange what with this blog along with the official company websites and Barking Irons Online plus Orcs in the Webbe and other websites all having our material but that is not what the posting was really about.  To me the posting which kicked off this discussion (and confirmed by those who replied to it) was about Blogger.

You see the vast majority of wargamers who are online in their own right use Blogger, a simple and free tool provided by Google, to get their hobby across to the world.  Blogger is a community unto itself in that it links up among its own blogs and its users.  In fact in order to post on blogs like Tony Harwood’s I had to create a ‘Blogger ID’ even though I do not have a blogger blog.  So if you are on Blogger and you search for the wargame products I produce then you will not see them as none of the current online presences we have are part of Blogger.  Makes sense eh!

I had been thinking of putting up my own wargaming experiences, my collection, my terrain and my methods in the form of photos and perhaps video too and this is decided me.  I will do it and I will use Blogger as the platform for it. Separate to my online personal presence here.  When its done you will see all you want to see of my wargaming including the play testing and concept gaming for new games and scenarios.  This will take some time as I am as always ruddy busy with many things but more on this when I have it.

GBS