Weird Expansion

 My reading has remained fixed on the subject of weird fiction. I find the genre very enjoyable - although a little hit and miss - perhaps due to the nature of the writing (ie: to fit into a regular magazine with a fixed audience.) 

Of all, Lovecraft and Smith I enjoy the most with Howard producing some fine tales ... many of which almost leave the horror genre and become action stories. Howard did revisit stories several times, this includes ideas or themes, but these did get better (I'm thinking about the development of the degenerate underground race best illustrated in 'Worms of the Earth.) I can detect Machen's view of fairy creatures here. 

I'm looking forward to reading the critical analysis of Joshi and the horror fiction of Bloch (I would like to read more of his stories later - I've listen to a few and very much enjoy his style and humour.) I have also found Blackwood to be excellent - but due to his writing in an earlier period style, a modern reader needs to persevere. 

Postcards from the Lagoon

 I have posted images of my ADLG 15mm late medieval Venetians before but I wanted to show off some better images. Now I'm on hols, I can take photos in the day more easily and natural light makes for better images with my crappy old phone. In any case here they are. I'm very pleased with the results.  

(My beloved Captain General ... and what a banner! Pete's Flags ... what a champion!) 

(Medium cav XB, Hungarian LC Bow and knights aplenty in rear)

(LF - XB, Handgun, Bow ... and the main battle line behind.)

(My beloved mercenary pike and MF - or HF - 2HW - with that superstar = heavy artillery.) 

The miniatures were Mirliton - who were a bit hit and miss. When the miniatures are good they are very good BUT there is a little too much size variation in regard to the longbow and some weakness (too thin) around weapons - especially lances. I particularly liked the Italian crossbow, pikes, stradioti and all the knights. I do like the longbowmen too but they are just head and shoulders larger than the other foot miniatures.

(Knights and stradotti - a single bases of LC XB far left)

(My XB line - Italian and Dalmatian) 

All up - I do really like the army - I'm just going to have to be very careful in handling it. 

(Hand gunners, Longbow, Knights and stradotti) 

(Medium cav XB - magnificent troops - more knights and Hungarian LC Bow)

I must say that the Condotta army in ADLG is AWESOME!!! 

It has ALL the toys with some wonderful options. I love the medium foot 2HW for operating in, and charging out of, rough terrain. These are deadly. Two bases of elite longbow are very powerful especially included in a cavalry command. The amount of light foot is very dangerous for other western medieval armies - and these are very well protected by the stradotti who are a significant threat. Once maneuvered through the enemy line they can sack the camp or attack a flank or rear wonderfully. Pike and dismounted knights are a VERY powerful combination and that single heavy artillery to plink away at the enemy forces the opposing general to make decisions - and the result is usually not a good choice for them. 

I love to take a shooty army with knights and pikes to clean up once the arrows finish flying. The sheer amount of hits this army can put on will seriously stack up and push the opponent toward the break point very quickly. Then the pressure mounts as they will snap with not too many routs.

What can I say? The Venetians move well, shoot well and fight well. A great army that involves you in all phases of the game ... and it loves to ambush too (and doesn't mind fighting in some terrain too.) 

(Another image of my XB line ... with dismounted knights bases behind. I have four and am yet to experiment with choosing to dismount my knights. A great addition to a heavy battle line.)

(That's a line of significant heavy hitters ... and boy do they punch on when they do! If my missile line can put a few hits on the target first - its serious trouble when these boys go in.) 

Shadow Deep ... better late than never!

 With this year closing down soon ... I looked at my pitiful amount of posts for 2021 and my cheeks reddened with shame. 

So, with an hour or three up my sleeve this arvo, I decided to play a Rangers of Shadow Deep scenario solo. I have much wanted to see how this game played. It was certainly straight forward, logical and enjoyable - although I do think the first scenario is made to create an easy introduction to the game. 

Below are some photos ... in the end my little group mowed down 10 zombies and 2 giant rats. They found all the secrets (but failed to solve the mystery of the tracks) and walked away with some treasure, herbs, a dead body, a living one and a slightly magical sword. 

My little band gathered near the well in the centre of the deserted hamlet. It was at that moment groans and loud squeeks communicated something was awry. We had been surrounded by enemies with the mystery still afoot! 

An overview of the hamlet. 

The giant rats were quickly killed by the decisive action of Peregrin, my ranger, and the swift arrows of my two archers - Lena and Reynard. The zombies shambling toward out little group would provide a greater challenge.  

With the small board size the zombies closed quickly. 

Sigurd, the barbarian, proved to be worth all the ale he guzzled as he slew all the zombies to arrive in his portion of the table. He protected the archers who then had the opportunity to look for clues. 

Fighting and missile fire erupted in the central area with foes falling without wounding my ranger band. Special events saw another 4 zombies enter the table. These would regularly arrive for much of the early turn replenishing their numbers as swiftly as we could slay them. 

As the game went on, the initial flurry of zombies began to wane and the ranger band had more time to secure the clues - largely unmolested by enemies. 

The great surprise was when my rouge, Ruprecht, thought he had gathered treasure but instead a rotting corpse (once named Franz) rose from the earth to assail him. Luckily, my ranger was not far away. He quickly downed the Fondler and dashed to the rescue ... the rogue was in the party of other reasons than marital skill. 

Peregrin dispatched his foe then ran to engage in several turns of combat against the strongest zombie of the day. Eventually he fell and the two giants rats which arrived late in the game did not reach combat. Peregrin's band had secured all they needed - especially the body of Aventine and a survivor - to aid their further investigation of the dread lurking behind these rotting minions. 

Overall, the game was enjoyable but left me thinking I'd been guided to learn the rules ... not face a challenge. But I'm pretty sure that will be amended when Peregrin follows his leads into the depths of the forest where the spider webs cluster in a most remarkable and chilling manner.