tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14482969077848743272024-03-18T07:48:52.145+00:00Frontline GamerFrontline Gamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110901356802705087noreply@blogger.comBlogger494125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1448296907784874327.post-20325437275415381952013-10-13T12:53:00.000+01:002013-10-13T12:53:17.127+01:00Sunday Sermon: Learning to say no! <br>
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We all suffer from varying degrees of what psychoanalysts call "shiny toy syndrome" (it's not actually a condition in the DSM V, but it should be). Be honest with yourself, and I'm sure at some point in your hobbying career you will have procured for yourself far too much crap. More than you could ever possibly need, or indeed paint in a reasonable time-frame. We've all done it. I know for a cold hard certain fact that I have. It's a curse most geeks will have to carry at some point, whether it be owning far to many collectible figurines (toys) or periodical graphic novels (comics). We have a tendency to want to hoard all the cool stuff and things we love. I'm not sure if I have an addictive personality or not, evidence would suggest I don't, but I certainly have a touch of the kleptomaniac about me. It's a terrifying thought actually the amount of "geeky" things I have hoarded over my life.<br>
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However, during 2013 I've learned a new word, a powerful word and it's one I wasn't aware existed when it came to buying new toy soldiers... and it's no. It's a simple word, it is really easy to spell and just as easy to say. Yet it can be quite liberating. I'm not really sure when it happened. But at some point this year I looked at the ever increasing pile of miniatures, and said enough is enough. I think the first thing that happened was I got a few Kickstarters sent through to me. Now don't get me wrong, some Ive been very pleased with, but others I've not been so happy about. The quality on some of the things has been utterly shocking. In fact had I seen these products on the sheves of my local hobby shops I would not have brought them. So the first thing that went out of my purchasing window was crowd funding.<br>
<a href="http://thefrontlinegamer.blogspot.com/2013/10/sunday-sermon-learning-to-say-no.html#more">Read more »</a>Frontline Gamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110901356802705087noreply@blogger.com174tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1448296907784874327.post-56218524306337101922013-10-06T14:43:00.001+01:002013-10-06T14:43:16.751+01:00Sunday Sermon: Finding the time <br>
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There are, I am reliably informed only 24 hours in the day. Despite the fact that of late it has felt paradoxically like there were too few hours in the day, yet it felt like there were far more than only 24 in a day. It has certainly felt that way at the end of many days recently. I'm not too sure whether that is a full on complaint or indeed just merely an observation. Simply put I've not enough time to ponder on where such thoughts come from nowadays. They pop into my head briefly, and I shrug my shoulders and just get on with whatever it was I was getting on with. Time it seems is a very scant resource round my house at the moment. Which in some ways is an entirely ridiculous state of affairs, but also given the state of daily flux in my routine isn't altogether unsurprising. In short I quite often don't know whether I'm coming or going.<br>
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This, as I'm sure you are all aware, is an absolute nightmare for our hobby. I can't just figure out that I might have a spare 3 hours this afternoon, and call up some friends for a game of Infinity or HoMachine. They too have lives, and more annoyingly their own routines. So you need to plan things more than that. Getting to play a wargame requires planning, dates, times and quite often I am unable to give firm answers, it seems, to many of those questions in advance, or more accurately enough in advance to ensure I have an opponent. As such my hobby has suffered horrendously of late. Just picking up a miniature to clean the mould lines and flash off of them has been all I've been able to manage recently. Seriously, I've cleaned five miniatures in 4 weeks. That has to be a new record in tardiness even for me.<br>
<a href="http://thefrontlinegamer.blogspot.com/2013/10/sunday-sermon-finding-time.html#more">Read more »</a>Frontline Gamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110901356802705087noreply@blogger.com56tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1448296907784874327.post-29842099619190699062013-10-04T16:51:00.000+01:002014-01-19T22:53:03.763+00:00Frontline Gamer fire sale!!!<br>
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OK so perhaps 'fire sale' is inaccurate. But yeah, I've got a lot of stuff on my hands that I'm willing to consider selling, because it turns out I'm not going to be able to take everything with me on my move to Scandinavia. If the Swedes and Danes built decent sized homes we wouldn't be having this problem... as they don't I'm looking to shift some stuff on to good homes. That's where you lot come in, and where you might pick up a bit of a bargain. So here's the list of stuff by type:<br>
<a href="http://thefrontlinegamer.blogspot.com/2013/10/frontline-gamer-fire-sale.html#more">Read more »</a>Frontline Gamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110901356802705087noreply@blogger.com43tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1448296907784874327.post-26189324377100301772013-09-29T11:05:00.001+01:002013-09-29T11:05:27.139+01:00Sunday Sermon: Do you know what the definition of insanity is? <br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCP8MZ41ywXxsVIHZiyIWI5mvVcPE4ObFRWtH0BpAk4cqNMo1j94yzUVMycDkKEtAyrzWBjGpkD50JbBoTbgT8fc9iTwmT-DIqnW9KOMBZUN0TTVTM379IdKQiQSJrhF20whOE51JxanIq/s1600/far-cry-3-vaas_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCP8MZ41ywXxsVIHZiyIWI5mvVcPE4ObFRWtH0BpAk4cqNMo1j94yzUVMycDkKEtAyrzWBjGpkD50JbBoTbgT8fc9iTwmT-DIqnW9KOMBZUN0TTVTM379IdKQiQSJrhF20whOE51JxanIq/s1600/far-cry-3-vaas_0.jpg"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you haven't played Far Cry 3 you really should. Just for Vaas.</td></tr>
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Any of you who have played the excellent Far Cry 3 will recognise the question posed in the title to this Sunday Sermon. In Far Cry 3 the rather unhinged and violent bad guy Vaas Montenegro asks the protagonist of this little adventure, Jason Brody, whether he knows what the definition of insanity is. It's actually a rather interesting exchange, and while it doesn't explain why Vaas is as clearly certifiable as he so patently is, it does explain some of his rather 'erratic' decisions. The definition Vaas is referring too is of course that is often thought to have been proposed by Albert Einstein, although it might actually have been coined by American born author Rita Mae Brown:<br>
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<i>"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results"</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Rita Mae Brown, "sudden Death" (Bantam Books, New York, 1983) p.68</span></b></span></div>
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Yet still it is contested whether Rita Mae Brown was the individual who is responsible for this oft misquoted soundbite. <br>
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Truth is for my purposes today it doesn't really matter who said it first. Or even that it has become a cliché I myself have tired of hearing. Nope, what is important is that actually there is, as is often the case with these things, a grain of truth in them. For the past couple of years Dr Brainiac and myself have driven ourselves mad trying to make ends meet, and eek a living out of doing the same things again, and again. Telling ourselves things would get better. I've applied to countless jobs that quite frankly only a few years ago I was considered far too qualified for, and been knocked back again and again. Each time I've dusted myself off, put on a smile and carried on stoically because that's what us Brits do. It has though been slowly grinding us both down.<br>
<a href="http://thefrontlinegamer.blogspot.com/2013/09/sunday-sermon-do-you-know-what.html#more">Read more »</a>Frontline Gamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110901356802705087noreply@blogger.com53tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1448296907784874327.post-45942469273116742652013-08-25T11:00:00.000+01:002013-08-25T11:00:02.444+01:00Sunday Sermon: At what point should you concede defeat? <br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Capitulation of Kars, by Thomas Jones-Baker, 1855.</td></tr>
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This isn't something that I've had to deal with genuinely all that often in the recent past, mainly because I haven't played that many games. However, in the past few months I have been there to witness a number of interesting arguments and some etiquette issues that have gotten quite heated. It's not something that I for one have ever had that much negative experience with. I mean I've had people capitulate on me far too easily and early and just pack up because things haven't been going their way. That's fine I guess I don't mind that so much, although it's annoying that they don't want to play the game to its proper conclusion, I get that their heart isn't in it anymore and they just want to walk away. On the flip side I've never once waved the white flag unless my opponent has offered me that way out. I guess I realise that it takes two to tango, and I'm there just as much for my opponents enjoyment as I am my own. I feel it should be always the gamer with the upper hand who offers their opponent the chance to exchange handshakes, although it should always be by mutual consent.<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL5gE7o3ispGIvBY4Kgpkgfn7lK3obwi9ctGhO-LwyG_60UexBGERLTYfCDre-xdy2BNM3BSDRwasqlTAkbMnSFLIJfEW6HfHimmswUi_V-pbBN8K_PpXf7vp6_G-LLDR_1PbZwqe5Mi6H/s1600/474540.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL5gE7o3ispGIvBY4Kgpkgfn7lK3obwi9ctGhO-LwyG_60UexBGERLTYfCDre-xdy2BNM3BSDRwasqlTAkbMnSFLIJfEW6HfHimmswUi_V-pbBN8K_PpXf7vp6_G-LLDR_1PbZwqe5Mi6H/s320/474540.jpg" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Capitulation at Baylén, by Maurice Henri, 1895.</td></tr>
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So what have I witnessed? Well the first thing I witnessed that shocked me was a young teenager walking away from a game of Warhammer Fantasy because his opponent had got off Purple Sun to devastating effect. It was his opponents second turn and he's only had one turn. I could fully understand his frustration and angst, but the thing was the game was far from over. Yeah sure it'd have been an uphill struggle to bring it back on terms, but a hard fought draw was not out of the question and still seemed more than possible. Doing so would have been a moral victory unrivaled as well. He though, "couldn't be arsed" as he so delightfully put it. This left his opponent fuming. He'd turned up to play a game, and now he was having to pack his stuff away after roughly 45 minutes and give his table up to somebody else because his opponent had in effect thrown a hissy fit. I had to say I personally felt this was just utterly terrible form, and I felt the need to say so. The young lad gave a shrug of his shoulders and said "I don't care".<br>
<a href="http://thefrontlinegamer.blogspot.com/2013/08/sunday-sermon-at-what-point-should-you.html#more">Read more »</a>Frontline Gamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110901356802705087noreply@blogger.com49tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1448296907784874327.post-42219266890602343732013-08-19T09:00:00.000+01:002013-08-19T09:00:03.562+01:00Z War One Video and Kickstarter <br>
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It has been a fair old while since I updated this blog, and some of you have been getting a little restless shall we say. I'd like to make it abundantly clear that neither I nor this blog is dead. However, I do think things are likely to remain 'sketchy' round here for some time yet I'm afraid. You see other things are still having to take precedence, and even my gaming time has taken a significant battering of late. So I figured I'd best keep my trap shut until I had something worth saying rather than force out articles that quite frankly would have been page filler at best.<br>
<a href="http://thefrontlinegamer.blogspot.com/2013/08/z-war-one-video-and-kickstarter.html#more">Read more »</a>Frontline Gamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110901356802705087noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1448296907784874327.post-27725851189056396402013-06-20T14:37:00.001+01:002013-06-20T14:37:15.157+01:00Backseat Gamer <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh81ioY5vVpep2rOPXka8wehe1TvJhtIDhyphenhyphenAI-sdZ9m-ThpACu-YWwVXDWNkIKVXriUpH_q33DZ-WHvXfW1I5FJwJdnvo5epoMjVEUFWdxkVFaPzdidLe1w8Rd0XGTGaIBLn1qccL9VzsI/s1600/Favim.com-27018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh81ioY5vVpep2rOPXka8wehe1TvJhtIDhyphenhyphenAI-sdZ9m-ThpACu-YWwVXDWNkIKVXriUpH_q33DZ-WHvXfW1I5FJwJdnvo5epoMjVEUFWdxkVFaPzdidLe1w8Rd0XGTGaIBLn1qccL9VzsI/s400/Favim.com-27018.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Just a really brief update today, and I'm sure most of you won't be interested in it any way, but I've started writing a blog about my thought's on computer games. If you at all interested in what my thoughts are then please head on over to <a href="http://backseat-gamer.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Backseat Gamer</a>. Yes I know it currently looks as ugly as sin, but I'm working on that. For those of you who are wandering about updates on here, I have some reviews incoming, later this week, probably starting with the Bushido rulebook. So I've not forgotten this place at all. In fact over the past month or so I've actually been able to get some gaming in and I'm feeling re-energized. So keep an eye out for updates... oh and those of you waiting on my massively overdue Dark Age story competition, I have started moving on that today and am getting in touch with Cool Mini or Not over it again. Sorry for the delay, but with my head in the wrong place recently I didn't want to not judge things properly or fairly. I hope you can understand. Thanks. Peace out!Frontline Gamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110901356802705087noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1448296907784874327.post-27335376627378825932013-05-06T12:26:00.002+01:002013-05-06T12:49:11.558+01:00Monday Musing: Specialist Games<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjraR3363V6dDpWJXwvwqtdX4cbROjYCKmTXy2xxnCKicygpIAe_4SBDGKrx1K__woyjau18F9zBUJ-jgV3ptpiTuwTJsHndP4vgvU_qVnpPuWSsxbP2mJyUicfJ6JLJdXuguOw7nVleZU/s1600/200px-Specialist_Games_logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjraR3363V6dDpWJXwvwqtdX4cbROjYCKmTXy2xxnCKicygpIAe_4SBDGKrx1K__woyjau18F9zBUJ-jgV3ptpiTuwTJsHndP4vgvU_qVnpPuWSsxbP2mJyUicfJ6JLJdXuguOw7nVleZU/s400/200px-Specialist_Games_logo.png" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at how bad the logo looks... they stopped caring long ago.</td></tr>
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I'm going to try out a new idea for articles, you're all used to my Sermons, now I'm going to inflict my 'Musings' on you too. The idea is simple, rather than write about certain hobby 'hot topics' while they're 'hot' I'm going to wait until Monday morning, while eating my breakfast (scrambled eggs on toast today, brown sauce of course) to collect my thoughts on a topic. You know, let all the heat dissipate out of the topic first. Last weeks really 'hot topic' was Games Workshop yet again wading in with their massive size 11 shoes and stomping all over Faeit 212. Now I'm not going to discuss that, maybe Natfka totally deserved what happened to him, or maybe Games Workshop really did overreact; and as those of us with Blogs on Blogger know, Google always overreact. Moot points, and totally not interesting to me, and never were. Nope, what I want to talk about is Games Workshop finally putting a bullet between the eyes of their Specialist Games.<br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmZkm9S3IUqRZoDqK328GkqBEIlwDG1b5VpXSDROZ0qsOCe1S_4GDJeVsYjKCPW1m5OhEUkVGGoGuP3kDswo0d-inCVrrsaatwJlqt6HGXKxdZKOw9wXMqy_oz2wuZvTa0wHErcpLOvMg/s1600/No_GW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmZkm9S3IUqRZoDqK328GkqBEIlwDG1b5VpXSDROZ0qsOCe1S_4GDJeVsYjKCPW1m5OhEUkVGGoGuP3kDswo0d-inCVrrsaatwJlqt6HGXKxdZKOw9wXMqy_oz2wuZvTa0wHErcpLOvMg/s1600/No_GW.jpg"></a>I guess I ought to declare my 'interests' right off of the bat shouldn't I? I love many of Games Workshops Specialist Games, and some certainly way more then I do any of their core product. It's not just nostalgia either, some of these games remain real gems even to this day. Blood Bowl will always have a place in my heart, no matter what. Epic will always be to me what the 40k universe was about; huge titans and legions upon legions of ant like soldiers being squished to death in the endless wars that tear the galaxy apart. Epic's various incarnations have been some of the most tactical experiences I've ever had the pleasure of experiencing. It was also one of the game 'systems' that me and my father would play the most together, so what it represents to me as a lifelong wargamer is very, very personal... good father and son time with my dad. Then their is Battlefleet Gothic, a game I was so good at (until bloody Necrons) people used to fear playing me at it. That was the first game I knew I was really, really good at right after the first game, I just 'got it'.<br>
<a href="http://thefrontlinegamer.blogspot.com/2013/05/monday-musing-specialist-games.html#more">Read more »</a>Frontline Gamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110901356802705087noreply@blogger.com50tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1448296907784874327.post-40029130886557981632013-05-05T12:41:00.000+01:002013-05-05T12:41:50.710+01:00Sunday Sermon: Just what the hell is Crowd-funding supposed to be?<br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjroqQPODTGN5dbFO6UDKRLl1VGORedjIFFQ3jBpIQ4UPhnbXhnzGeFB0WilrIM_Lz6H2ssqatgIB_yRAgNohlgzDx-cHxJqlIZNP6Eyd4OGU7Bo9OxS5jVn53HeFYMvl_QVfLO8jhzoJYI/s1600/indiegogo-%252B-kickstarter-logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjroqQPODTGN5dbFO6UDKRLl1VGORedjIFFQ3jBpIQ4UPhnbXhnzGeFB0WilrIM_Lz6H2ssqatgIB_yRAgNohlgzDx-cHxJqlIZNP6Eyd4OGU7Bo9OxS5jVn53HeFYMvl_QVfLO8jhzoJYI/s400/indiegogo-%252B-kickstarter-logo.jpg" width="400"></a></div>
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Right well I guess this is overdue in some respects. Like many in our community I've spoken about this crowd-funding phenomenon that seems to have swept through our hobby, mainly in terms of the projects that are up and running on various crowd funding sites. Many of the projects that I see are genuinely interesting, and many more really exciting. I'm a terrible person for new shiny stuff, I'm a magpie at heart and I struggle to resist the allure of new miniatures and games. So this crowd funding phenomenon is a bit like a drug to people like me. The opportunity to help somebody else realise their dream and goal of producing their own miniatures range or game has been a very powerful motivator for me, and my currently quite limited spending power. I'm partly a contrary bugger who likes seeing odd ball indie games developed, and I've always sought out the weird and out of way stuff in whatever environment I happen to be operating in, be it comic books, music, films, computer games or hobby. Kickstarter is therefore right up my street.<br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQLF8-trdX3Wl8yc9po_22-3k8SNLBXMadezOm-_PZszXN-BZUDzF2QATVgXf0uf26zTrUKlrlOqMmkGIVieUo5dXzvF9AGgNSzi4DcU53m5VFzdqkVwBqKXJ8X0tUadKjhm_JfFiUcCh/s1600/8811431a1f464039fa1e514a96aebdf9_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQLF8-trdX3Wl8yc9po_22-3k8SNLBXMadezOm-_PZszXN-BZUDzF2QATVgXf0uf26zTrUKlrlOqMmkGIVieUo5dXzvF9AGgNSzi4DcU53m5VFzdqkVwBqKXJ8X0tUadKjhm_JfFiUcCh/s320/8811431a1f464039fa1e514a96aebdf9_large.jpg" width="320"></a>It also appears quite oddly to be up many other peoples streets too, which is great because it seems many products are getting the funding they require to made into reality. I have personally maintained my belief that Kickstarter and Indiegogo would go through a brief euphoria period with us hobbyists being enraptured and enamoured with it. Spending all of our cash on it, and then settle down. I honestly thought it might be a fleeting fad, and that people would start to get a bit annoyed with waiting for all their shiny miniature goodness to actually arrive. I still maintain this will ultimately be the case, but, I thought this process would actually take far less time that it appears to be taking. This is a boon and a bane in some respects for our industry. You see, I've followed crowd-funding for a little time, and from before our hobby cottoned onto it as a good idea. I've witnessed the collapse of computer game projects after they've received funding, and the inevitable recriminations that follow. I actually think that our industry on the whole has been significantly better than others at actually fulfilling there promises... which either proves as a sector we're awesome, or that these products didn't need crowd-funding in the first place.<br>
<a href="http://thefrontlinegamer.blogspot.com/2013/05/sunday-sermon-just-what-hell-is-crowd.html#more">Read more »</a>Frontline Gamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110901356802705087noreply@blogger.com87tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1448296907784874327.post-83147117177190323422013-05-02T12:45:00.001+01:002013-05-02T15:01:00.339+01:00MoFaux second edition!!!<br>
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This was actually the article I was planning on posting up yesterday... but you know me. I can't resist a good whinge. The news that <a href="http://www.wyrd-games.net/content.php?220-Malifaux-2nd-Edition&s=a25cc356ee7b1431ff49bc0fc68c55be" target="_blank">Wyrd are about to launch the second edition of Malifaux</a> upon us though is actually quite exciting news for me. You see I've been with MoFaux from the start, right at the very start when they were just releasing nifty looking 'Wyrd' miniatures, but of late I've somewhat <a href="http://thefrontlinegamer.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/does-malifaux-need-to-take-pause-for.html" target="_blank">struggled with how they've 'developed' the game</a> and their product line. I've definitely been critical of rules bloat and the distinct lack of streamlining within their ruleset. There are also massive issues with power creep. I know fans of Games Workshop grumble about the new sickness syndrome that often afflict their releases, but trust me they've got nothing on Wyrd Miniatures and what they've done for Malifaux.<br>
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So for me a fun little game that my other half and I often enjoyed together became something neither of us were really willing to invest the time in anymore to keep on top of. Partly because the exceptional Freebooter's Fate arrived in our household and was more fun, but mainly because I think Wyrd let Malifaux get out of hand. In essence I think Wyrd have been a victim of their own success. From a standing start they have shot from being absolute nobodies to actually being a very recognisable and highly popular brand within our hobby. I guess growing pains were inevitable for them as a company. Those pains though seem to have finally resulted in them looking to release a fully realised second editions, thank God we're not going to have to suffer another ver1.9999999 or whatever.<br>
<a href="http://thefrontlinegamer.blogspot.com/2013/05/mofaux-second-efition.html#more">Read more »</a>Frontline Gamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110901356802705087noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1448296907784874327.post-34010971994183230402013-05-01T15:34:00.001+01:002013-05-02T10:26:53.129+01:00How can you tell when a business is in trouble? <br>
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It starts counting pens! It's an old joke that organisations normally start looking at the little picture when times start getting a bit rough for them; and they start doing stupid things in a desperate bid to stave off the wolves at their metaphorical, and sometimes real, doors. 'Counting pens' is a joke often told by consultant types, but if any of you have ever worked at a place where the stationary cupboard has been locked, and a guardian appointed to protect it, you'll be aware of how depressingly true the old joke about counting pens truly is. I've seen companies implode in this way from the outside, and indeed from the inside. They start attributing their woes to external sources, or not enough micro-management. When the going gets tough in the corporate world, quite often it's the stupid that get going.<br>
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Companies do dumb, counter-intuitive things when times start getting a bit tough for them. Rather than asking serious questions about why it is the case that the companies bottom line sucks, or the KPI's are going in the wrong direction, because that would be wise and sensible, they plough ahead, just faster. Nope, they tend to assume that if they do more of the same, just better, things will improve. Rarely will someone ask the sensible question "hey, guys, is trying to sell fridges to Eskimos such a great business idea?". Nope, they appoint stationary cupboard guardians, and set researchers off to assess KPI's in minute details, everything becomes too close to view properly and nobody can see the bigger picture anymore. When that happens companies start making rash decisions that are counter-productive and expose themselves to even more risks.<br>
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I think it is part of human nature when in such a company to never want to ask whether actually you are doing a good job yourself. Not if you are working hard enough, just asking whether what you do is needed, or indeed efficient. Everyone is on edge, and people do feel besieged and vulnerable; people put their heads down and motor on, thinking blood, sweat and tears will win the day. So where am I heading with this. Well I'm going to talk about our hobbies favourite topic again, Games Workshop. Over the past few months they've done some pretty dumb things haven't they? I might not have <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=EnPpfs120DA#!" target="_blank">commented on the online sales embargo</a>, or their restriction on free trade for independents; and despite sharpening my pen over their claim to own all literary uses of the words 'Space Marines' I've stayed silent.<br>
<a href="http://thefrontlinegamer.blogspot.com/2013/05/how-can-you-tell-when-business-is-in.html#more">Read more »</a>Frontline Gamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110901356802705087noreply@blogger.com93tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1448296907784874327.post-90463694357490965622013-04-21T13:38:00.000+01:002013-04-21T13:38:06.425+01:00Sunday Sermon: You catch more flies with honey! <br>
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One of the many sayings my Grandmother used to tell me, normally when I was being horrid to my little sister over something or other. to be honest with you, as a young whipper snapper I used to sit there dumbfounded as to why on earth anyone would want to catch flies? Seriously, why catch flies. As I grew older I took the wisdom from those words and realised that you often get more things done, and command more respect from others if you are civil, polite and treat other with respect you wish to receive yourself. However, the words of one of my bosses also ring in my ears "flies also like shit, so what do flies know?". It's not a difficult concept this honey pot thing though; simply put are you more likely t respond positively to someone who insults you, shouts at you and generally acts like a complete asshat... or are you more likely to respond positively to a person who treats you with respect, communicates in an open and fair way and is generally a good person? Just think about your own experiences for a moment, who have you been most likely to respond positively too in the past in your social interactions?<br>
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I've often thought about this, because being a 'nice guy' we're consistently told in slightly saccharine American rom-com's means we always finish last, except you don't because the cooky guy with the curly hair seems to get the girl in the end. Puke! Society though does put it out there that if you're nice you become a doormat; that people will walk all over you. A certain Iron Lady certainly believed in this selfish and self centered attitude, and as a society we've brought into this mantra far more than the 'be nice mantra'. You see, for every saying there is an equal and opposite saying. It sucks! Why can't things just be straight forward? I guess though if they were it'd make life a little bit boring wouldn't it? I mean, we all have to work this stuff out for ourselves, find out who we want to be. I've tended to go down the route that I much prefer being a decent person, true I'm likely to get quite vicious if you try to attack or otherwise harm my own, but I'm not the sort of person who views every social interaction as a confrontation. A chance to prove I'm 'better' or I'm 'right'. I'm just not like that, I don't assume anything, I think long and hard about what it is I believe.<br>
<a href="http://thefrontlinegamer.blogspot.com/2013/04/sunday-sermon-you-catch-more-flies-with.html#more">Read more »</a>Frontline Gamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110901356802705087noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1448296907784874327.post-80929970629810259402013-04-20T11:58:00.000+01:002013-04-20T11:58:04.686+01:00Salute 2013 is upon us!!! <br>
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But... I'm not attending this year, not that many of you will be reading this I'm sure. Last year I did a series of articles around Salute, and what I thought if the various stands, stores and games; you can read the start of my articles on salute <a href="http://thefrontlinegamer.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/salute-2012-part-1.html" target="_blank">here</a>. What I think really hit me though about last years event was just how short, rushed and cramped the entire day felt. In short I really didn't enjoy traipsing down to London from my neck of the woods, and then trying to get out to the ExCeL site in a reasonable time frame. Because then you have to rush around all the stands and not really spend enough time, or as much time as I would have liked, at any of them. So I was left with a sense of frustration and disappointment in the main that I wasn't able to fully check out what I wanted to. Plus I think the hectic nature of the day also caused our otherwise placid nerdy brethren to act more like a bunch of humourless dicks than normal.<br>
<a href="http://thefrontlinegamer.blogspot.com/2013/04/salute-2013-is-upon-us.html#more">Read more »</a>Frontline Gamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110901356802705087noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1448296907784874327.post-45618328778974459912013-04-15T11:07:00.002+01:002013-04-15T11:07:54.526+01:00Sometimes it takes someone else to show you why... <br>
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My life is still a bit f a chaotic mess, and despite my best efforts to get back on top of everything, it's not going too well. I keep thinking I'm getting on top of things and sit down to write an article when something else pops up!!! Still that's life I guess, and we have to put up with it until we die. I've been doing writing of different varieties, mainly non-blogging stuff, and maybe one day you might get to see it, especially if I can figure out what to do about self publishing stuff. But I digress.<br>
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This morning I received an email from a chap I had an email conversation with over a year ago now. He stumbled across my little corner of the Interwebs while searching for anime images and stuff to inspire his own work. He was a non-wargamer, and the sight of some of the Infinity models and artwork got him all hot and bothered... in way only us nerds can get hot and bothered. He's never really heard of this wargaming hobby, living in the cultural backwater that is Australia.<br>
<a href="http://thefrontlinegamer.blogspot.com/2013/04/sometimes-it-takes-someone-else-to-show.html#more">Read more »</a>Frontline Gamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110901356802705087noreply@blogger.com63tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1448296907784874327.post-90301115186913573802013-03-17T16:41:00.001+00:002013-08-19T08:43:59.297+01:00Sunday Sermon: Where was I? <br>
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I've obviously been a little reticent of late (I'm sure you've all noticed). My productivity levels have certainly been 'low' when it comes to output on this here Blog. I've not been sitting in a darkened room rocking gently backwards and forwards though... OK... so maybe I have done a little bit of that, but mainly after attempting to do things like wallpapering and other DIY tasks. Have any one you ever attempted to lay massively uneven natural stone tiles on a floor that resembles the Himalayas? Well I have, and let me tell you, I have a new found respect for tilers. Quite often we look at the stuff other people do from the outside looking in and we think 'I could do that'. Sometimes we're right, we almost certainly could do that, but I think we all too often like to underestimate the difficulties associated with other peoples work.<br>
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As a researcher / consultant I often here all the jokes about giving consultants watches so they can tell you the time. They bring a wry smile from me, and I understand some of the hostility towards 'outsiders' coming in to tell people either A) what they already know or B) how to do things. It's a difficult line to tread and get right. Quite often if you are asked to do something for somebody else the reasons are very similar. The most common reason I get asked to do something is because there is a lack of resources at an organisation to get a short term piece of work over the line. This can be the most challenging environment, mainly because the organisation will almost certainly have people who are capable of doing the task themselves... it's just their day job is getting in the way. In these situations I find it is best to acknowledge that fact, and work with those people, keep them informed and pick their brains.<br>
<a href="http://thefrontlinegamer.blogspot.com/2013/03/sunday-sermon-where-was-i.html#more">Read more »</a>Frontline Gamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110901356802705087noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1448296907784874327.post-33208311394321427232013-02-03T12:20:00.001+00:002013-02-03T13:15:00.792+00:00Sunday Sermon: Toy soldiers vs Joypads <br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9CigI85CQ9zqjok_lWoHMd-npjdFDjasI6iXL0iFFDGVNDOTxrUKCR1Qpj-KwSftiLwR-lIpduMz3zSevzBp6jcPhEUlS3LCXW4sX4swaL4j5k48ugs3bJ2ck-zAHpRAvSzTKOSU7TB-z/s1600/borderlands_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9CigI85CQ9zqjok_lWoHMd-npjdFDjasI6iXL0iFFDGVNDOTxrUKCR1Qpj-KwSftiLwR-lIpduMz3zSevzBp6jcPhEUlS3LCXW4sX4swaL4j5k48ugs3bJ2ck-zAHpRAvSzTKOSU7TB-z/s400/borderlands_2.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love it to bits.</td></tr>
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This is a topic that has been done to death in our hobby, the idea that computer/console games will ultimately mean we're all doomed Captain Mannering! When I was a whipper snapper in the 80's I heard that arcade games and these new fangled console thingies were going to be the end of our hobby. The same was said of the ZX Spectrum, the NES, the SNES and Megadrive (Genesis for you yanks) and the PlayStation. It seems many in our hobby have an irrational fear of our digital brethren. That they are somehow gunning for us, and that there is this inevitability about our impending demise. Part of me can understand that fear, but it has been 30 years already, and yet still computer games haven't slaughtered our industry, and killed off our hobby. If anything our hobby is the strongest it has ever been. This raises a few questions, firstly why hasn't it killed us off? More specifically why haven't computer games done for wargames, traditional pen and paper RPG's and boardgames? Secondly, were they ever really a threat in the first place, or are they ever going to be a threat? Thirdly and finally, why are so many in our hobby so concerned, and are they right to be?<br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I still love the rattle of dice in my hands</td></tr>
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I'm not really too sure, which question to tackle first. You see my recent hiatus on this Blog has been down to real life 'getting in the way' as it were. During this down time I haven't really had the time or indeed the energy to sit at my painting table and paint scenery or miniatures. I've not felt so inclined to set up a table, invite some friends round and play a load of Warmachine or Infinity. I was planning on trying to convince a few friends to try traditional RPG's, that new Star Wars one and Iron Kingdoms for starters... mainly because a few of you have asked me to do so, but I've lacked the will and drive to make it happen. True I've played boardgames, and I've played some card games during my break, but at the end of the day when I was a bit tired and worn out I've tended to turn my PS3 on instead. I might have turned my Xbox 360 on, but the fear of a 9th RROD stayed my hand. So why did I turn to my consoles for entertainment? Because it takes so little effort to keep me entertained, and a little effort is all I had left in me. It all started with downloading Okami HD off of the Playstation Store (great game by the way).<br>
<a href="http://thefrontlinegamer.blogspot.com/2013/02/sunday-sermon-toy-soldiers-vs-joypads.html#more">Read more »</a>Frontline Gamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110901356802705087noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1448296907784874327.post-64101380335470385172013-01-27T16:53:00.000+00:002013-01-27T16:53:15.825+00:00Sunday Sermobn: Long overdue update <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjArbLsTfHmq4ZUmOzLT6571sUWgNH0aRuBV0deTWq1QJqvjRx2pUQHyl4Kg9N_GmoTzVQgw8R0kBKD29SFk4c0C14oBlv0WP6aKmMvGXeVLrfE3dmteLgXLpiyRVZ95zfYZL4ODlPm8yNs/s1600/update.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjArbLsTfHmq4ZUmOzLT6571sUWgNH0aRuBV0deTWq1QJqvjRx2pUQHyl4Kg9N_GmoTzVQgw8R0kBKD29SFk4c0C14oBlv0WP6aKmMvGXeVLrfE3dmteLgXLpiyRVZ95zfYZL4ODlPm8yNs/s320/update.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Firstly sorry. I haven't exactly been regular with my updates lately, and the tail end of December and the start of January have been... well... sparse. Actually that's being ever so slightly kind on myself, there's been nothing. I've also not been answering emails, which for those of you who have communicated with me in the past will come as a bit of a shock I'm sure. I'll be honest here, I've had a lot of shit to deal with over the last few weeks and I've had neither the time nor the inclination to update this Blog. There has just been too much real life *bleep* I've had to be dealing with, and a fair few disasters have befallen my little world. It is fair to say that I feel bad about not responding to the literally hundreds of emails I've seemingly received (sorry I've not really been checking) I'm not going to beat myself up about it.<br />
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In some respects I'm sure I've found my absence more frustrating than most. You see I'd got a whole heap of stuff planned and ready to shoot out onto the Blog prior to the month from hell happening. I've also got a few products I want to talk about, namely Dreadball, Sedition Wars, Gruntz and Star Wars the Card Game. There are plenty of other things too that I want to chat about, but I've not had the energy or felt I've had the time to sit down and do them. Hopefully I'll be starting to get back into the swing of things shortly and I'll be able to put a few more articles up. But, I'm not going to be as prolific as I have been for a while I think, there's just too much going on, and too many things I need to sort out. This sermon is just to say that sometimes things come out of the blue and there's nothing you can do about it, and that's what has happened to me. Any way, I'm not dead. Peace out!Frontline Gamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110901356802705087noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1448296907784874327.post-73373550732509871682012-12-09T12:30:00.000+00:002012-12-09T15:30:09.978+00:00Sunday Sermon: A year of Sermons <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNj3QAN9O6T8zWmq67xO3MTR5D6vV4kmeyteqGKFOTZ2Qz2YYLek-V9VTdgpImhIlUQSnFwCJqoutQO_4rV6jJvra5oA3-wtNwqiG1NCh7lxGBf0JO2sxPPh941Fxs56_gTU9KvapfYD0/s1600/william-holman-hunt-her-first-sermon_i-G-61-6168-15OG100Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNj3QAN9O6T8zWmq67xO3MTR5D6vV4kmeyteqGKFOTZ2Qz2YYLek-V9VTdgpImhIlUQSnFwCJqoutQO_4rV6jJvra5oA3-wtNwqiG1NCh7lxGBf0JO2sxPPh941Fxs56_gTU9KvapfYD0/s400/william-holman-hunt-her-first-sermon_i-G-61-6168-15OG100Z.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">William Holman Hunt, Her First Sermon.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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A little over a year ago now, on the 4th December 2012 to be precise, I started an experiment of sorts and wrote my first Sunday Sermon article. That <a href="http://thefrontlinegamer.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/sunday-sermon-doing-things-privateer.html" target="_blank">first Sunday Sermon</a> seems a very long time ago now, but it wasn't really, I just guess it feels like that because I've written so many of them, that it seems such a long time ago. When I first started out writing these Sermons they were as I said an experiment, primarily to see if I could somehow increase my then meager and paltry hits on a Sunday's. At first they seemed to have little to no impact, but you know what, 12 months on and my Sunday readership has gone through the roof. Indeed some of my Sermons have even snuck into the top 10 most viewed articles on my all time greatest hits list. I'm not going to tell you which ones, because today's Sermon isn't going to be a sermon at all really. After writing these for a year (although I did take a brief break around July / August time) I'm going to take a rest from preaching... instead I'd like to hear from you lot as to, which of my Sermons over the past 12 months you've enjoy the most. Hell, I'd even like to hear about the ones that annoyed you, made you angry and even made you want to rip my head of. In short I just want to know what you all have made of them, some general feedback would be nice and highly useful to me. Also, are there any topics you feel I should have covered in my sermons, if so what are they? Peace out!Frontline Gamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110901356802705087noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1448296907784874327.post-37079768122123153322012-12-07T13:00:00.000+00:002012-12-07T13:00:11.009+00:00Some of my crowd-funding swag has turned up! <br>
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This week a bit more of my crowd-funding swag has turned up. Obviously just over a month back now my <a href="http://thefrontlinegamer.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/tentacle-bento-is-here-oishii-o.html" target="_blank">Tentacle Bento stuff turned up</a>, which was the first of the projects I'd supported and backed on my Blog to deliver the goods. But, on Wednesday I had the first major bunch of swag turn up from the Bushido Ito Indiegogo campaign, and then a day later the first batch of stuff from my DreadBall pledge turned up. So stuff has begun to roll in. It's actually quite bizarre to see packages turn up and not really know what they are, so it's like a lot of mini Christmas's. Although I totally knew that the DreadBall package was DreadBall. So it's pleasant to get these little presents you've brought yourself months and months ago suddenly turn up. Obviously I'm still waiting on any of my Gruntz and Sedition Wars stuff... plus Relic Knights, Freebooter's Fate and some other stuff I'm sure I've long since forgotten about! Hopefully though I will remember what the hell they are and make sure people do actually deliver my swag.<br>
<a href="http://thefrontlinegamer.blogspot.com/2012/12/some-of-my-crowd-funding-swag-has.html#more">Read more »</a>Frontline Gamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110901356802705087noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1448296907784874327.post-19907100984940893892012-12-05T12:30:00.000+00:002012-12-05T12:30:02.588+00:00November 2012 was officially my best month <br />
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Well I think the title says it all really. November was my best month ever for hits (62,197) and comments (867), actually aided by that interview I did with Adam Poots and the exclusive reveals I did for the Southern Faction stuff for Heavy Gear Blitz, plus there were some quite hot topics of conversation in November. Any way, I just wanted to say a big thanks to everyone who reads my waffle, and continues to comment in a sensible, mature and convivial manner on my blog. You guys really help make this place what it is, so thanks a lot. I really do appreciate it. Peace out!<br />
<br />Frontline Gamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110901356802705087noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1448296907784874327.post-90056056748755609982012-12-02T17:00:00.000+00:002012-12-02T17:00:03.726+00:00Sunday Sermon: Getting my s*** in order! <br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikgFEP7AfI7vrcTokZ7OPCLZqJmgUsrzbyc5v4QO-fVmNPEIw42peSbrpI1JMg-yN0EZbILlpO1Q4dow0HAFSk_bX1UyGoqVR-Nj3ggViHPEoVSC9Bhgv8JoebS5vc3MCP_ThLVAKxtAD2/s1600/reconditioned_agas_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikgFEP7AfI7vrcTokZ7OPCLZqJmgUsrzbyc5v4QO-fVmNPEIw42peSbrpI1JMg-yN0EZbILlpO1Q4dow0HAFSk_bX1UyGoqVR-Nj3ggViHPEoVSC9Bhgv8JoebS5vc3MCP_ThLVAKxtAD2/s400/reconditioned_agas_3.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No, that's even too pink for me!!!</td></tr>
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Sorry that this Sermon is bit of a late one. But the last few days have been very productive in terms of hobby and writing actually. I've got a fair bit of scenery on the go, got close to finishing some long-term projects off and also managed to crack on with some things I really wanted to do. However, there have been real life issues:<br>
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<ol>
<li>I've really been suffering quite badly with debilitating headaches again</li>
<li>I've really fallen behind with responding to everybody's emails. Sorry I'm about 7 days behind on most of them.</li>
<li>The element on my electric fan assisted oven went kaput and is apparently so old I can't get a replacement part,</li>
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So I've been rushing around trying to finish this and that off, while trying to sort out getting a new oven. It's not been the most calming period of the year that's for certain, plus unlike everyone else it seems I have a massive aversion to Christmas.<br>
<a href="http://thefrontlinegamer.blogspot.com/2012/12/sunday-sermon-getting-my-s-in-order.html#more">Read more »</a>Frontline Gamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110901356802705087noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1448296907784874327.post-92046997085669973742012-11-30T12:30:00.000+00:002012-11-30T12:30:04.308+00:00Last few days to pre-order your HGB Southern Forces <br />
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This is only a very brief article today to remind people that this weekend is the very last time they've got to pre-order any of the Southern faction stuff for Heavy Gear Blitz. Yes Forged in Fire is on its way and Southern players heads must be close to exploding with excitement. I just want to get my hands on the rulebook and see what the hell it is like. I've already got pretty large NuCoal and PRDF armies and going for a third is just out of the question! Must... resist... third... faction...<br />
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Any way there are three bundle deals available:<br />
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<a href="http://store.dp9.com/product_info.php?products_id=704" target="_blank">Southern Reinforcement Deal</a><br />
<a href="http://store.dp9.com/product_info.php?products_id=703" target="_blank">Southern Super Bundle Deal</a><br />
<a href="http://store.dp9.com/product_info.php?products_id=705" target="_blank">Southern Epic Bundle Deal</a><br />
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If you pre-order these bundles you get some extra gubbins, and I think a Diamondback a few months before they're actually released. Sweet! There's also a new re-configured <a href="http://store.dp9.com/product_info.php?products_id=706" target="_blank">Southern Starter Army</a> boxed set as well. I suppose we shouldn't forget the Southern Faction Field Guide as well, <a href="http://store.dp9.com/product_info.php?products_id=708" target="_blank">Forged in Fire</a>, as a bare minimum I'd suggest all HGB players will want to pick that up. Any way this is my last warning about this topic, this stuff is launched on Monday the 3rd of December and if you don't pre-order, you don't get the extra free gubbins. So consider yourselves warned. Peace out!<br />
<br />Frontline Gamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110901356802705087noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1448296907784874327.post-77549625754177292972012-11-30T10:21:00.003+00:002012-11-30T10:21:53.318+00:00Quirkworthy on the Dreadball launch <br />
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As always I try to be as balanced as I can be about things. In my article about the <a href="http://thefrontlinegamer.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/dreaball-launch.html" target="_blank">Dreadball launch</a> I pointed out I'd heard Mantic had, had some supply / manufacturing problems, and that it was good they were getting things out before Christmas. I also applauded them for moving the January pledges forward, however I also questioned the wisdom of Mantic giving certain stores preferential treatment and shipping to them first, whether this is a 'pre-release' or not, whatever the hell one of those is. I fully accept that I am now firmly in the slightly miffed camp, and as such I'm more than aware I'm not going to be as impartial or as even handed as I normally am... so if you want the other side of the coin can I suggest you go and take a look at <a href="http://quirkworthy.com/2012/11/30/its-not-really-my-place-but/" target="_blank">this article on Quirkworthy</a>, Jake Thornton's Blog in the interests of balanced reporting as it were, and getting a more rounded picture. Peace out!Frontline Gamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110901356802705087noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1448296907784874327.post-71209867699195512592012-11-29T16:00:00.000+00:002012-11-29T16:00:10.096+00:00Through the Breach up on Kickstarter<div style="text-align: center;">
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Well Wyrd have plonked their <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1334239018/through-the-breach-a-malifaux-roleplaying-game" target="_blank">Through the Breach RPG up on Kickstarter</a>. Now I'm sure I've mentioned on here before that I'm not exactly the worlds biggest fan of RPGs, well maybe that's not fair. I just have never found an RPG group, or game I found sufficiently engaging for me to want to invest the time necessary to get the best out of the experience. However, I have had a number of people ask me if I'd look at some RPG's, namely the FFG's 40k based stuff, their Star Wards RPG and the Iron Kingdoms RPG from Privateer Press. I'm not sure I'm the best person to be talking about RPG's, but it is under consideration. I guess although I'm not an RPG aficionado I would be able to write up stuff from the point of view of a wargamer dipping their toes into the RPG water as it were.</div>
<a href="http://thefrontlinegamer.blogspot.com/2012/11/through-breach-up-on-kickstarter.html#more">Read more »</a>Frontline Gamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110901356802705087noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1448296907784874327.post-48170049291390900742012-11-28T16:30:00.000+00:002012-11-29T16:17:28.590+00:00The Hobbit<br>
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Well the worst kept secret since the last worst kept Games Workshop secret is out... yes, they're doing a game based on the Hobbit. I can hear the gasped shocks at the back of the room, and yes, I know, I didn't see that one coming either. OK, so I'll turn the sarcasm down a notch or three, because actually I'm not feeling all negative Nelly about it. True I'm not over the moon, frothing at the mouth and salivating like a starving man staring at a juicy T-bone stake cooked medium-rare, with peppercorn sauce... mmm. I'll let you all into a secret though, despite my floppy Finecast Gandalf I'm actually quite a fan of the Lord of the Rings range of miniatures. Arguably the painter in me feels it was the best range of miniatures Games Workshop have done so far. There were certainly some startlingly good miniatures amongst them... as well as some duffers... yeah I'm talking about the wonky faced Legolas from the Mines of Moria boxed set. However, I did pick up a few pieces and paint them from time to time simply for fun. So the prospect of new miniatures being added to the range is at least appealing to me on some level.<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaHssexISfbx7lf6iWflEXHFIX0B6Zk-JiFVsSeOUi-ZiQtHFe73qy3Rud5rMJpOT1HwpV2Qy_0Xl_NDQX7qu0gL5CVoBtteohtl6fWdkrvCRFCdljT0RzFiK9UY_ejhxSxCP2NWw-Nsk/s1600/m2230288_P4Mb1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaHssexISfbx7lf6iWflEXHFIX0B6Zk-JiFVsSeOUi-ZiQtHFe73qy3Rud5rMJpOT1HwpV2Qy_0Xl_NDQX7qu0gL5CVoBtteohtl6fWdkrvCRFCdljT0RzFiK9UY_ejhxSxCP2NWw-Nsk/s400/m2230288_P4Mb1.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LotR's wasn't as rubbish as many people made out.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The bigger shock though, I'm sure for many of you, will be that I actually quite liked the Lord of the Rings game when it first came out. No, I wasn't duped by 50% off staff discount (although it helped) and being force fed White Dwarf. Nope I actually felt the game was quite good fun when it was played as it was clearly intended, as a small narrative based skirmish game. Honestly when playing things like the Attack at Weathertop missions et al, the game was actually really entertaining. I actually enjoyed it so much I was insane enough to volunteer being the intro games guy on launch day... and you know what? I enjoyed it despite not getting a lunch break due to the never ending queue. Where I personally think the game went wrong for me was the over saturation of LotR product that they brought out, and the fact they started trying to treat the game like one of their normal wargames, with factions and army lists and... blah. Didn't work for me, and I'm not sure the universe, or indeed the 'factions' lend themselves that well to a typical wargame product. Hence I think the reason they went for a narrative game the first time round.<br>
<a href="http://thefrontlinegamer.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-hobbit.html#more">Read more »</a>Frontline Gamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110901356802705087noreply@blogger.com22