Author Archives: Gavin Syme

Planning two more HOTT Armies for 15mm.co.uk

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Today I spend a few hours planning out two more HOTT 2nd Edition 24AP Armies for 15mm.co.uk.  A follow up to the HOTT1018 Empyre Army that came out last week.

15mm.co.uk has many different HOTT armies and they have proved really popular over the past five years, indeed they were one of the first sections on the fledgling website way back when.  In fact almost all the miniatures in the HOT 15mm Fantasy range appear in these armies and with these new codes so will the majority of the classic TTF 15mm Fantasy range.  Anyhoo…

Here are the listings I have worked out using my old copy of the vintage A5 book…now rather rare as even 15mm.co.uk cannot get stock of it to sell!

I think these will appear in a few weeks time; more on it nearer the time.

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HOTT1019 Army of Evil 24AP Army

God @ 4AP 1 (One Arch Demon) (C1)
Behemoth @4AP 1 (A Balrog) (B1)
Sneaker @ 3AP 1 (Three Gargoyles) (D1)
Lurkers @ 1AP 1 (Three Liches and Ghouls) (C1)
Knights @ 2AP 2 (Three Chaos Knights on Horse) (C2)
Blades (General) 2@ AP 1 (Three Chaos Lords) (E1)
Blades @ 2AP 2 (Four Chaos Knight on Foot) (E2)
Spears @ 2AP 1 (Four Human Spearmasters) (E1)

This Army Pack contains the following miniatures from the TTF range.

535 Arch Demon (1)
526 Balrog (1)
548 Gargoyle (3)
542 Liche and Ghoul (3)
537 Chaos Knight (6)
538 Chaos Lords (3)
539 Chaos Knight (8)
MDA22B Human Spearmaster (4)

HOTT1020 Orc Tribe 24AP Army

Artillery @ 3AP 1 (Catapult with two Orc Crew) (B1)
Magician @ 4AP 1 (Orc Shaman with two Guards) (B1)
Warband (General) @ 2AP 1 (Orc Hero with two Followers) (C1)
Beasts @ 1AP 1 (Four Manticore Young) (B1)
Riders @ 2AP 2 (Three Orc Boar Riders with Sword) (C2)
Riders @ 2AP 2 (Three Orc Boar Riders with Spear) (C2)
Spears @ 2AP 2 (Four Mountain Orcs with Pike) (E2)

This Army Pack contains the following miniatures from the HOT and TTF range.

HOT90 Orc Catapult with crew (2)
HOT91 Orc Magician with two HOT91 Guards (3)
HOT91 Orc Hero along with Standard, Drummer (3)
550 Manticore Young (4)
HOT89 Orc Boar Riders with Sword (6)
HOT89 Orc Boar Riders with Spear (6)
MDA20C Mountain Orc with Spear (8)

GBS

At the end of Troll Month on Alternative Armies

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January 2012 was Troll Month over on Alternative Armies.  Its intent was to introduce the brand new race of Trolkin to the World of Valon, setting of Flintloque.  It went rather swimmingly truth be told.

The release of Trolkin Line (Lergo Line) in six poses along with a great limited edition pack LE045 Bange & Oafson set the ‘little trolls’ off to a flying start.  A Trolkin is the little cousin of the massive Trolka, biggest soldier in the Mordredian Wars, but each miniature still stands 30mm tall making them bigger then High Elves.  Above you can see the Trolkin, they are all on their own page at Trolkin.

A big part of Troll Month was the release of the free PDF download booklet that provides a whole background, formations, characters, profiles, scenario for the Trolls.  This free booklet was downloaded over four hundred times in two weeks and by the feedback I have read made a lot of players rather happy.  You can get your hands on the booklet by clicking on the image above or going to this page on the Alternative Armies website.

Lastly the sculptor who took the Trolkin into white metal life, Rob Alderman, has posted a couple of videos in which he explains his own way of painting up Trolkin.  This is a really nice video and well worth a watch.

LE045 Tutorial on YouTube

Enjoy!

GBS

One book for the Napoleonic Wars…surely not!

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I personally own more than one hundred text books and over ninety military books and several period original books on the Napoleonic Wars.  This has taken me many years to assemble and in the case of some titles a lot of begging and bartering to acquire.  Those I have told of this collection have said to me ‘its impossible for me to get this amount of material, its beyond my scope, my budget, my sanity to collect it and anyway I need it right ruddy now!’.  So with that in mind I am recommending one title for the Napoleonic Wars, one book, that if you need it now and cannot get many others then it is the only one you really need.

The Napoleonic Source Book by Philip J.Haythornwaite 

This is a book that I picked up in a second hand shop for less than a pound in Paisley a few years ago,while on the scrounge with my best buddy Jim Brittain, and while it is out of print there are many copies around that you should be able to find using the normal means for less than ten pounds.  It is a superb big paperback with about four hundred pages divided into several big sections.  While I will not list contents at length, here they are by section and intent:

The Campaigns – A history of the period from the French Revolution to the Hundred Days including Battle List and the War at Sea.

Weapons and Practise of War – All the weapons of the period, diagrams, usage, formations, medical, at sea, artillery.

The Nations of the Wars – By alphabetical listing from Anhalt to Wurzburg all nations with history, regiments, service arms, uniforms.

 Biographies – All the famous and less so commanders of the Napoleonic Wars.

Sources – The titles the author used in his research.

Miscellanea – Calendars, Equipment, Expenses lists, Measurements, Artillery Tables, etc.

My own copy has about five hundred hand written notes on it linking it to other titles I own.  I used my copy as my primary tool in the writing of the background of the fantasy black powder World of Valon for Flintloque 3rd edition’s new titles.  I recommend this book most whole heartedly…get it!

GBS

Typhon Hoplite added to my collection!

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This week I made the first addition to my personal wargame collection for quite a while.  I had been really busy with getting the latest three USE ME titles out and onto the market and as a result my own hobbying had taken not only the back seat but really the boot (or trunk if you prefer).

So with this in mind and with me own paint brushes gathering dust from inactive use I went along to Painted-Miniature.com and got my hands on a 50mm scale Typhon Greek Hoplite, code TY03 (only 9.00GBP).  You can see the fellow above in this post and lovely he is too.  Stood on a 40mm wide round plastic base he was delivered to me totally finished so I am able to get him right into play against my Hydra, Shades and other mythological goodness.  Painted with acrylics and with a matt varnish (I do not like silk finish if I am honest, makes photos a bugger to get right) he is armed with a Spear and a Shield (Hoplon).

I think I might be getting more pro-painted as requests for my time in writing have meant less and less gaming.  In fact if you take out playtesting it comes down to almost nil since last summer.

GBS

 

Rim Mercenaries Concepts – 15mm.co.uk

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Way back in the way back when…well 2009..a new pack of miniatures was added to the HOF 15mm Science Fiction range over on 15mm.co.uk.  This pack was HOF54 Rim Mercenaries and though fairly plain it has many uses and has been a good seller for the company.  You can see a picture of this pack below (the pack contains ten pieces mixed from three poses).

15mm.co.uk and I choose which new miniatures to make based on the main upon customer requests.  I get many messages saying ‘can we have variants of this’ or ‘some new that’ or ‘this would be cool’.  So I tote them up and the top two or three get commissioned and become white metal reality!

This time has come again in time for April 2012 releases and this time it is the Rim Mercenaries who are up for expansion with a possible eight new poses being considered.  Here an an extract from a conversation between myself and O.G.Joel (author of UM003, UM004, UM007 all in USE ME ).

One thing I’d love to see in 15mm.co.uk’s miniature range is some expansion for the Rim Mercenaries and Post-Apocalyptic Survivors (my second and third favorite ranges, respectively, after the Greys of course). They’re excellent figures, and I could very easily fit them together with my QRF BTR-70’s (the Mercs look Russian, after all), but what they’re missing are good command and heavy weapon packs to spice them up. I think that their expansions should be relatively conservatively armed with low-tech weapons – RPG-type rockets and heavy machineguns for the Heavy Weapons pack; a Merc Commander, Comms Officer and maybe a few Squad Leaders for the command pack.

By the end of this chat we had all decided upon a Command and Support Pack to be designed the sculptor who created the original three, Elton Waters.

I will keep you all informed of progress.

GBS

The Blues Addicts 1970

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It has been said to me that my taste is music is rather ‘special’, indeed my good lady does not often allow my tunes to be played while we are driving for fear of upsetting the children!  But what does she know eh…I know I have fine taste.  With that in mind here is the first of my little reviews of music from an age before the internet, the CD, the tape when vinyl was king!  A Vinyl from my collection now though converted to mp3 format for easier listening on the move.

The Blues Addicts put out one album, one only, it was in 1970 and bore the same name as the band.  I do not know much about these fine fellows but what I do know is that album is from Danish psychedelic blues-rockers. Similar in feel to early Blue Cheer, Hendrix or Cream this album is heavy. Killer acid guitar riffs power this beast as demonstrated on the stunning ten minute ‘Hailow’. Psycadellic blues from the flower-power age. Lead figure is vocalist and guitarist Ivan Horn. He later joined C.V. Jorgensen amongst many other “big” Danish bands. Freak Emporium & Karma.

I adore fuzz guitar and blues and this album has both of these.  Its not kind on your ears at a high volume but track ‘Ba-Ba-Dar’ is awesome with rending lyrics and soaring axe work.  You just don’t hear music like this live any more.  There are a few links for video and you can see Ba-Ba-Dar on YouTube.

This album is not easy to find but its well worth seeking out if only you can find it.  Versions exist on CD these are easier to get.  Possibly around 20.00GBP or more.

GBS

What about a Renaissance Era in 15mm?

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It might not be the flash and bang of the second world war or the steady ranks of a Greek phalanx but there is great wargaming potential in the period often referred to as ‘the Renaissance’.  While you can study the period for yourself, the Renaissance, has been the subject of many sets of rules along with many ranges of miniatures since in the 1970’s.   Its not the most popular period but it has many charms not the least of which being the infamous Landsknecht’s of the Germanic states and the Swiss cantonments along with the varied forces of the Italian City States including the jewel in that crown; Florence.

I have had a number of emails and messages from USE ME players who think that a version of the engine suited to quick play massed formations in the setting of the 15th to 17th century Europe is more than possible when the likes of USE ME American Civil War and USE ME Fantasy already exist.  I have to agreed.  Formations of pike, of great swords, plate armoured cavarly, archers, crossbow and more led by lords carrying mighty banners are very appealing.

15mm.co.uk has a great many 15mm scale miniatures in the Altuous range from this period.  I have some images too of a tiny number of these, see below.  From the top MR6 Swiss Light Pike in full then close up, MR9 Swiss Crossbow and then MR11 English Billman.  All super stuff and painted by David Sheppard.

MR6MR9MR11

I have decided that there is most certainly scope for a ‘USE ME Renaissance’ title in the range.  As to what it will contain…who can say at this time but with my project deadlines tied up until this summer any work on this would have to be after that.  As always if anyone reading has notions for what to include then do contact me here or at 15mm.co.uk.

GBS

USE ME Fantasy AAR

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My good friend Bob Minadeo over in the USA has kindly taken the time out of his hectic schedule to write an ‘After Action Report’ or AAR on my title UM002 USE ME 15mm Fantasy.

USE ME 15mm Fantasy

The UM002 set of rules has been out for more than a year now and it plays really well in skirmish and full blown battle (yes, I would say that but it does!).  Head on over to Bob’s blog and read the AAR to see for yourself.

MC Monkey Dew AAR of UM002

GBS

An Alien Safari

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For those who know and who do not a few years ago I created a gaming series of titles called USE ME which stands for ‘Ultra Simple Engine for Miniature Engagements’.  This series now has nine titles written by four authors including myself and a couple of its titles are now in their second print runs as well as being in download format too.  More on the latest titles elsewhere but here I want to fill you in a little on my idea for another USE ME.

I have told the trade and several gamers who are friends that there will be three more USE ME releases in April 2012 in time for Salute 2012 in London.  I am committed to penning one of these titles.

So left to my own devices (I have a total free hand this time to create a title that I want to see out there) I thought and thought…what to do.  It came to me that solo gaming is more popular now that it ever has been and that though the USE ME range has many war settings it has no speciality settings.  So it would be solo and it would be special.  I have always liked the notion of hunters and dangerous prey plus when you add in science fiction another of my personal favourites it took me to something great:  Alien Safari.

Artwork for AS*

This USE ME title will therefore concern itself with several facets of being a human being or an advanced alien on an dangerous world. Firstly the notion of a Death World where the planet itself will try to kill your characters by use of its own flora and fauna. The second is an Alien Safari where a group of hunters will attempt to flush out and capture or kill alien creatures for a reward or sport. These combine into a rules set that focuses upon a small group of characters who enter a gaming area that is Unknown containing threats that act Solo according to a developed engine of mechanics.  Take your party onto an alien world full of mystery and peril. Walk the surface not knowing what the next step will bring. Death or Fame. Compete for fame, bring back trophies by collecting them in play.

I have had a lot of feedback on this so far as an idea (thanks to Bob, Omer, James, Craig, Rob etc) and intend to begin work on the manuscript for it really soon.

So keep ’em peeled for more information on this website.  If you have input let me know too, my virtual door is always open.

GBS

* This piece of art was created by Edward Jackson based on a chat about this idea.  I like it so much it will be the cover art for the title!

New HOTT 24AP Army soon at 15mm.co.uk

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This one snuck up on me with not a lot of warning.  I was asked to design another Hordes of the Things (HOTT) 24AP army for 15mm.co.uk.  These 15mm scale armies, each one self contained with all the miniatures and element bases required for play are very popular with wargamers and this new one is the first one for a couple of years.  I actually forgot I had created the army listing as I was wrapped up with USE ME developments so the photo of it today took me by surprise..thanks Alex!

HOTT1018 Empyre Army

This army pack will be out on 15mm.co.uk on or around the 3rd February 2012.  Pricing will be about 15.00GBP and it should also be available painted and based.  There will be a full listing of contents upon release but it includes a Fire Giant, mounted Knights, a cannon with gunners, foot soldiers with two handed swords and with handgunnes too.  I do not play HOTT any more so I most likely will not be getting this pack for myself but I know that there are a huge number of players out there especially with HOTT now being a free download so I wish them victory!

HOTT1018 takes miniatures from the Tabletop range and the Altuos range too.  I think it look lovely and that it should not have much trouble kicking Elvish butt!

GBS

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Update!

The pack is now out!  Get along to the HOTT page for full details.