Calling all Irish Oldhammerers

[ardyer]

Of course he had a huge English Shepard with him, do that might be why he was concerned about space

I presume you mean a dog and not some gnarly auld fella he'd nabbed off a hillside and locked in the back of his van.

Haha, yea. Definitely, the dog. Although I started talking to him because I ran into him in already at least 3 different towns. He looked like Alex Ferguson to boot!

 

[theottovonbismark]

Of course he had a huge English Shepard with him, do that might be why he was concerned about space

I presume you mean a dog and not some gnarly auld fella he'd nabbed off a hillside and locked in the back of his van.

Either option seems as likely with a Scotchman.

 

[Just John]

Is anyone planning on going to Warpcon at the end of the month? Never been to one but I'all be in Cork that weekend and was thinking of dropping by.

 

[theottovonbismark]

Cheetor and myself were considering it, especially since he is based in Skibareen in Cork but in the end we decided our time would be better served by us just meeting up the following weekend and trying out some 2nd Ed RT/Necromunda narrative based skirmish games that we could blog about without the maddening press of sweaty gamers .

I enjoyed being involved in running the Gaelcon figure games events for a number of years back in the 90's and part of me misses that. As there is a complete lack of any Oldhammerness on the Irish scene, when you think about it, it falls to us lads to promote the ideals of Oldhammer as nobody else is likely to do it. In the olden times we had competitions like now but we also had a lot more other fun stuff such as participation games using a variety of systems - not just GW ones.

Competition figure gaming with something as wooly as Warhammer makes me want to get sick into my own scorn. The current competition styles put me in mind of battery farms. Players are on punishing schedules to get an unreasonable level of unsatisfying games played. The best thing you can do in a modern competition is to throw your first games so that you end up in the bottom end and might have some fun with the less competitive individuals rather than having to deal with the cheezmongerz at the top tables.

The ideal would be to get some dedicated table space at a convention and to run some participation games and spend the time extolling the virtues of the Oldschool approach to gaming - nothing like leading by example. It we wanted to expand the Irish playerbase by bringing back some of the players of yore then this would be the way to go I think. In the medium to long term perhaps we should be thinking about organizing an Irish Oldhammer "thing". Perhaps we could make a proposal to the Irish Games Association to run a table at Gaelcon this year - I might still have some small influence with them. Getting a table at an event can be a contentious issue though but I think an argument can be made that they have to support figure games in a more mature fashion - I have no idea really as I have been out of the scene for a long long time now.

Anyways I would love to see us pull together something either of our own creation or at an established convention, it's high time we came down from the mountain like an old testament prophet, to preach the old ways.

 

[Just John]

I have never gamed competitively but I have watched a few recently at some local cons and it just leaves me cold. I was wondering if there is a mix of games at Warpcon or is it all the usual suspects. There used to be some variety at Gaelcon but its close to 20 years since I went to one so I don't know if thats still the case. I put on a couple of games at the firsat one in Kilmainham. One was based on Sky Galleons of Mars and I loved it. I even scratch built 2 Cloudships in 28mm and my mate brought along his Mighty Fortress. It gave me a taste for putting on games and I'd love to do it again.

An alternative to Gaelcon would be Conclave here in Limerick. I think it would be easy enough to get a table at something like that. We could do it as a trial run and if it went well we could always move the game on to Gaelcon.

Food for thought anyway.

 

[theottovonbismark]

...I put on a couple of games at the firsat one in Kilmainham. One was based on Sky Galleons of Mars and I loved it. I even scratch built 2 Cloudships in 28mm and my mate brought along his Mighty Fortress. It gave me a taste for putting on games and I'd love to do it again.

An alternative to Gaelcon would be Conclave here in Limerick. I think it would be easy enough to get a table at something like that. We could do it as a trial run and if it went well we could always move the game on to Gaelcon.

Food for thought anyway.

I was there and I remember your game even though it's about 20 years ago now. I didn't take part in it but I had a feckin' good look. Redcoats, martians and cloudships tend to make an impression.

Conclave (in June I assume) might be a better idea and would be a good mid point for preparations for Oldhammer day. Logistics would be key here. It would have to look like the dogs bollox so scenic considerations are important. To make sure people aren't confused it would be good to have a big ass OLDHAMMER banner to show we mean business. I would lean towards a 3rd Edition WHFB game of some kind, perhaps even a Realm of Chaos event using the template laid out at the last Oldhammer shindig?

 

[Just John]

Ah shucks Conclave is on the 21st & 22nd of June so a little over 6 months away. A banner is a good idea, I must talk to the guy who organises the local boardgame con - he got a banner done locally for that and it was fairly inexpensive IIRC. I'm all for impressive scenery, its one thing that I feel let down with at cons here. I'd even suggest terrain boards if required, always fancied trying to make one.

 

[theottovonbismark]

Good thing about the banner is we would only have to pay to make it once. The more eye candy the better for this kind of thing and the more public participation the better again. I feel that figure games at conventions are at their best when its about giving people the opportunity see what it is you are into and to get involved if they like. When gamers make fantastic display games and then spend the weekend playing among themselves incestuously looking at charts it comes across as at best aloof and at worst elitist.

Who knows perhaps some of the other guys on the forum might enjoy a weekend in Ireland pushing the lead around, the more the merrier. If we put on a good show it would be worth the trip I reckon.

Have to get a few practice games of 3rd edition under our belts before then!

 

[Just John]

Perhaps we should look at some of the participation games played at other cons and convert the scenario ideas. I remember one in last years mags of a Viking raid type game.

First things first though. I'll get in touch with Gary at The Gathering and see about getting us a table.

 

[cheetor]

Is anyone planning on going to Warpcon at the end of the month? Never been to one but I'all be in Cork that weekend and was thinking of dropping by.

...and...

Cheetor and myself were considering it, especially since he is based in Skibareen in Cork but in the end we decided our time would be better served by us just meeting up the following weekend and trying out some 2nd Ed RT/Necromunda narrative based skirmish games that we could blog about without the maddening press of sweaty gamers .

I will be at Warpcon in fact, but not in my Oldhammer capacity: I will be running a DreadBall tournament. Its the weekend after Warpcon that theottovonbismark and I and getting our Oldhammer on in my place.

DreadBalls boardgame-that-uses-painted-miniatures nature makes it straightforward and satisfying for me to run or play in at conventions. I prefer to keep my miniature wargaming as something that I engage in with my mates at home in the mancave. That said, if some of you were planning to run an Oldhammer thing at some of these cons then I would consider pitching in. I could easily manage to bring some silly unit to some sort of Bring and Battle.

I have never gamed competitively but I have watched a few recently at some local cons and it just leaves me cold. I was wondering if there is a mix of games at Warpcon or is it all the usual suspects.

The usual suspects Im afraid. 90% crappy looking 40K armies on equally neglected terrain playing what I regard as idiotic min/maxed meta games. A token contingent of WHFB guys are usually shoved into a corner somewhere with whatever other miniature games that are trying to get traction at the moment usually appearing in some form or another (Im assuming Warmachine, Malifaux and Infinity will feature in some fashion).

Its grim (and not in the "darkness of the far future" way). Smelly and uninspiring.

Its all tournament stuff. Occasionally Donogh "Land War in Asia" McCarthy runs participation games that look nice, but its usually in the main hall, away from the wargaming area. Which says a lot if you ask me

An alternative to Gaelcon would be Conclave here in Limerick. I think it would be easy enough to get a table at something like that. We could do it as a trial run and if it went well we could always move the game on to Gaelcon.

I went to Conclave last year (playing DreadBall again). They like Battletech up there, so there was a fair bit of that in addition to the other stuff. Wee Gamers had some inviting looking participation games of Bolt Action, Zombicide, Kings of War, Heavy Gear that I remember.

Definitely no Oldhammer type things. I will be attending Conclave again this year to play DreadBall for a few hours on Saturday. I would be happy to check out any Oldhammer stuff that was going on if you guys were running it, but I couldnt commit to being involved in the organising of it just yet. I dont play fantasy 28mm anyway.

 

[theottovonbismark]

From what you say Cheetor the gathering might be more apt than Gaelcon - although I haven't been to a Gaelcon in years at this stage so who knows. Whatever we do you will be able to join in whenever you feel like it what with the participatory nature of the endeavour.

John, if you can get us a table then I am definitely willing to commit to this. It would be great eye candy if we could get Mr. Saturday to come along with his Fimir (and he would have an excuse to work on his Fianna Fimm). Might make sense to pick a theme which supports that which we intend to work on over the next couple of months - for me it will be Slann primarily, although I have a fair whack of other WHFB units in various states of finish.

 

[Just John]

Well Cheetor you do paint a lovely grim and bleak picture of the state of Irish wargaming Perhaps this is all the more reason to spread the word of Oldhammer.

Occasionally Donogh "Land War in Asia" McCarthy runs participation games that look nice, but its usually in the main hall, away from the wargaming area. Which says a lot if you ask me

Donagh - is he the guy that runs the Little Wars games?

I might call in to Warpcon anyway, but maybe I'll leave it till the Sunday when we'll be passing through Cork on the way home.

 

[Mr Saturday]

Okay, right yes, I'm in. All in.

I live in Galway, but tend to stalk the Limerick lads. Conclave sounds good. The fimir are always looking for new blood. As it were.

 

[Just John]

Excellent so we're all set. Now all we need is a scenario, miniatures, terrain and a table. Oh and turn WFB 3rd ed into a fast play rule set

 

[cheetor]

Well Cheetor you do paint a lovely grim and bleak picture of the state of Irish wargaming

Yeah, that was a bit of a downer alright. My outlook is a bit "January" at the moment and it possibly came through in that less than encouraging post.

I fairness, I have met many friends and had many good times via games conventions. I do find that convention games hold less appeal to me now, but I think that its an age thing. For a number of years I havent really wanted to play these sorts of games with complete strangers any more: the rules are too woolly and imprecise. Playing the same games with old friends like theottovonbismark however is something that I relish, but I dont need cons for that if you see what I mean.

Perhaps this is all the more reason to spread the word of Oldhammer.

If you build it, they will come I guess. An Irish Oldhammer meet up seems like the obvious way to begin. A single table at Conclave sounds like a solid start, although it is a full six months away...

Donagh - is he the guy that runs the Little Wars games?

I dont know. It may be. He is quite an active gamer I think and has been on the Irish gaming scene for many years (I first met him in 93). Little Wars sounds like the sort of thing that he might be interested in.

 

[theottovonbismark]

Excellent so we're all set. Now all we need is a scenario, miniatures, terrain and a table. Oh and turn WFB 3rd ed into a fast play rule set

Well movement trays will help there! If we use enough man manglers and cannon it will be pretty fast play.

...wait a second my army hasn't even invented the wheel!

In terms of preparation I am going to press on with getting units finished using WA as a kind of bounding/grounding framework. Hopefully I can get about 1500 points of rank and file done by then. I am not really going to think about the character model and magical side of things for the moment as that stuff can get bananas - I remember that any higher than level 2 magic becomes very nasty indeed.

A single table at Conclave sounds like a solid start, although it is a full six months away...

We will need about six full months to get our figures painted. Deadlines are great catalysts for getting figures painted

 

[Just John]

I am in the process of filing, snipping, grinding, basing, filling and priming my entire collection of Halflings, gnome and associated hangers on. My aim will be to have them finished for this meetup. I was hoping to get into the Gathering this week but the wife has stolen my (her/our) car for the week so It'll be next week now. I did mention it to one of the lads in there before Christmas so here's hoping.

If we do get a table I reckon we have 2 choices - a pitched battle with large forces, a warband type affair or a senario with smaller points but more story. Well ok thats 3 choices but who's counting. If we want to hold a participation game the latter is probably best. There was a viking raid scenario done a few years ago at a number of conventions in England which might give us a starting point.

Whatever happens if we can get a table that has Halflings, Fimir & Slann on show thats proper Oldhammer.

 

[theottovonbismark]

I think if we can manage it a big table is the way to go preferably along the lines of 6' x 8', that way we will visually stand apart from the 6' x 4' standard Warhammer games and therefore should get us the attention we crave.

I think it makes sense to frame it as a warband type affair with some kind of simple perhaps GM led scenario. I am in favour of fielding as much lead as we can get painted up, we are not going to impress anybody with a Mordheim level of figures.

I am thinking along the lines of halfling and gnome settlers who have moved to Lustria in the hope of a better life free from the persecution of the Old World.

Lord Mazdamundi, the Emperor of the Slann, has thus far been happy to turn a blind eye to the settlers on account of the fact that that the Pygmy race has provided so much light entertainment to him - he had declared it against the will of the emperor to capture for sacrifice any of the shortest dryskins as it is likely to offend the Demonic entities which must be placated with blood sacrifice to ensure that the world does not end any time soon. This has enabled the small community of settlers to thrive in the new world where others would have been crushed by the army of the Jade Throne.

The Queen of the Fimir who lives in the Fimir capital has scryed the location of the settlement and senses easy pickings which will help to expand the numbers of the Fimir. The Fimir capital (basically a mist shrouded island that can teleport to anywhere in the old world - kind of like on Lost, or the movie Krull) has thus magically materialised off the coast of Lustria disgorging her elite Fianna fimm and their retainers who are expecting as they say in Aliens "just another bug hunt".

Obviously Mazdamundi is a dab hand at the magic himself and so when a magical Island suddenly appears off the coast he knows that trouble is brewing. Wasting no time he summons the mighty Bull Slann Drulandribble and bids him to muster his troops and prepare to move out....

 

[Just John]

Great stuff, I'm sold

 

[Mr Saturday]

Oh yeah, now this sounds like warhammer. The floating isle idea sounds good.

Warband sounds good, smallish points value and that so we can be sure to have it all done in time. If we're promoting oldhammer everything needs to be pretty. We should settle on a value soon so we can prepare the forces. This is the kick up the arse I need to paint my fianna fimm.

It just so happens I have an full set of terrain for the vampire coast/Lustria including tropical trees, a ziggurat and a coastline complete with wrecks, if ye fancy? I might even dig out the BIG wreck,which rarely sees the table due to it's immensity. Only thing is the coast tiles only make a just under a 6x4 table.

Now to figure out how to use fimm on 25x25 bases as 40x40 3rd ed fimm. Oh, and John, I've been looking forward to sacrificing your halflings to Fimul for some time now. Well, the lucky ones, anyway.