Salute etc.

I want some ships to try "For What We Are About to Receive" (FWAATR, a naval game by John Armatys). Created some profile ship designs from Tom’s Milpics. Three different sizes for different rates. Will need to mark rating and nationality on them.

Salute - Usual team on the WD stand. This year we had more games than we needed (unlike last year!). Used TTT a couple of times but the mainstay game was Bob’s “Relief of Jakdan Wells” using his SCWaRes rules. Players definitely got into the “spirit” of this game! We also ran “Stalingrad - the Matrix Game” with great success. There were several spectators at one point. A good day was had by all and Bob even signed up a new member. Bought the river system from Marbeth Designs and the new version of DBA. Found out how Bob gets his FIMO models so neat - he uses a pasta making machine!

DBA2.0 has some interesting changes. Camps are now a reasonable size and BUAs are included. Several small changes to the army lists (presumably as a result of more accurate historical research?). Worked out a list of camps to make. Biggest change is actually the renumbering to correspond to the DBM army list books. Applying the changes to the armies I have has resulted in some minor rebasing and a few extra figures are needed.....

As it happened, I needed to go to Castlepoint on the Wednesday.... how handy, Essex Miniatures are only 4 miles away in Canvey Island! Had a nice time browsing their displays, a vast range of miniatures and the staff are very friendly. Bought 8 25mm archers for the WOTR armies, some extra troops to allow Seljuk Turks to morph into Syrians, a war wagon for the Pechenegs and 2 Bedouin style tents. Browsing around Canvey Island (an uninspiring little place) I found a shop that was selling the “Weapons & Warriors” pirate game by Pressman for £5-99. Two brigs for six quid plus half a dozen palm trees, 20 25mm pirates and sundry other bits and pieces can’t be bad. Improvement work will be needed on these.

When I got home I discovered that the last figures I bought for WOTR were also Essex, so that was rather nice. Started painting these figures and two of the river sections.