Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => VSF Adventures => Topic started by: Thunderchicken on 22 August 2009, 03:38:33 PM
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Some friends of my other half came to stay with us earlier in the week and made the mistake of showing a glimmer of interest in the world of wargaming. Not missing an opportunity I threw a game together, naturally it had to be VSF!
The scenario was set in 1880's England. While diplomatic efforts to avert a threatened Prussian invasion of France and Britain appear to be failing, Professor Zoltan Pepper steps forward and announces he has built a machine which will tip the balance of power in Europe.
Naturally there is great international interest in Professor Peppers invention but on the eve of its revelation to the world there is a fire at the profs Sussex Villa. Suspecting possible foul play a contingent of armed constables is dispatched to investigate the fire.
The constabulary cautiously approaches the ruins of the villa:
(http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/1788/holiday053.jpg)
Withering rifle fire erupts from the villa killing all but one of the police detachment who makes a hasty retreat:
(http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/6739/holiday054p.jpg)
Reinforcements are requested and the surviving constable relays the details of the attack to Captain Brighton-Early of the Guards and Major Lee Small of the Surrey Regiment. There is no doubt the Prussians have a hand in this dastardly business. Are they atttempting to kidnap Prof Pepper?:
(http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/5202/holiday055.jpg)
No time is wasted in attacking the villa, here the Guards advance with the support of a Brunel class heavy tank together with automatons:
(http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/7293/p1010102e.jpg)
The Prussians quickly retreat and make their way towards a small industrial building located in the grounds of the villa and defended by a stout brick wall:
(http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/7710/p1010106d.jpg)
The Surreys also begin their advance supported by the R.N.L.S Titan and an Impervious Suit:
(http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/9287/p1010104b.jpg)
Suddenly the doors of the industrial building swing open and Professor Pepper appears driving his mighty invention:
(http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/3456/holiday056.jpg)
To the dismay of Her Majesty's forces the treacherous professor turns his weapon on them, wreaking havoc and destruction in the ranks. As one witness later described "The huge gun on that machine seemed to emit an invisible energy that crushed men and smashed machines like an invisible fist." Despite this the Guards and the Surreys continued their advance with the Guards attempting to rush the Prussain defences:
(http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/3236/p1010109x.jpg)
Things get messy as Prussian reinforcements arrive in the shape of a tunneling machine. At this point the heavy tank takes a direct hit:
(http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/8716/holiday084.jpg)
In the nick of time H.M.A.S Nimbus arrives and brings her 2-pounder to bear on the Prussians:
(http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/3291/holiday066j.jpg)
A picture taken from the decks of the Nimbus shows the moment the 2-pounder scores a direct hit on Prof Peppers deadly apparatus:
(http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/4296/holiday072.jpg)
As Her Majesty's forces mop up any remaining Prussain resistance it becomes apparent the tunneling machine has gone, leaving nothing but a hole in the ground. But so too has Professor Pepper, along with the plans for his devastating invention:
(http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/3171/holiday079.jpg)
The game was good fun and I think we might have a convert to our hobby!
Hope you enjoyed the report.
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I certainly did enjoy the report. Thanks for sharing. :D
Great looking game!
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Excellent report! :-*
You have some seriously nice toys there!!! Looks like it was a lot of fun.
Thanks for sharing.
PM
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Will the Prussians show up again???!!???
Will the Prof survive and make another devastating invention???!!???
What about the crime rate now that the police force is virtually non existent???!!???
All these questions need answers!
Great job on the Report, Pics, Scenery, Miniatures, and wine glass usage! :)
Mac
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What about the crime rate now that the police force is virtually non existent???!!???
lol lol
Thanks for the encouragement chaps, much appreciated
Some credit has to go to Svennn, he scratch built the flyer and the professors deadly apparatus.
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Top stuff - that'll teach them to be polite and feign an interest! lol
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All rather splendid stuff. :)
I must get around to putting a coat of paint on the Nimbus's sister ship the "Lady Winifred" and then launch her... ;)
She too was built in the midlands factory of that mechanical genius Svennn whatshisname. :)
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Beautiful stuff there. Just the inspiration I need to get back to the workshop. Thanks
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Fantastic stuff :-* :-* and a great plot :D
Looking forward to the sequel *thumbs up smiley*
Got my copy of G.A.S.L.I.G.H.T today and am starting to chomp at the bit somewhat ;)
cheers
James
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Lovely looking game TC! A marvellous collection of well-painted figures, contraptions and scenery and the wine-glass idea is very effective.
Also, as a devotee of humorous word-play, three cheers for the splendidly-monickered Professor Zoltan Pepper lol 8)
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Also, as a devotee of humorous word-play, three cheers for the splendidly-monickered Professor Zoltan Pepper lol 8)
Christ, I'm fick. I never saw that until you pointed it out. lol lol
Top show, Thunderchicken!* I love the armoured mobile bath tub. Do the Jolly Jack Tars constantly bicker about who has to be at the taps end?
*I always feel Thunderchicken! should have an exclamation mark. The name just warrants it.
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Fantastic. But then, I wouldn't expect anything less...
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I see the quest to apprehend Professor Pepper as an ongoing series. This villain must be brought to justice!!
Great looking game, and an excellent write up Neal.
:-* :-*
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Most excellent!
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Thanks so much chaps.
After so many large scale battles I forgot how much fun it is to run a simple scenario on a small table. It was all over in a couple of hours.
Looks like there'll be a sequel then. :)
Gluteus, glad you spotted the subtle word play, there's a few thrown in there. Many of the names come about as a result of chuckleworthy telephone converstions with Malamute.
Plynkes, what about a question mark instead of an exclamation mark, or both? :)
Jimbibbly, I used GASLIGHT for this game. Once you've got a handle on the rules (and probably added a house rule or two) games can be quick and quite a laugh. I'm curious about the Valour, Steel and Flesh rules though.
Sterling, I wonder if Prof Pepper will head the Tsar's way. ;)
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*BEGAAAAK* !! Thunderchicken! (Insert appropriate music)
Sorry just reverting to my Midwestern US youth when Super Chicken along with Under Dog were two of my heroes. Great game and glad to hear that you may have recruited another to lead adventures!
LB
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Splendid as ever.
Where did the buildings come from ?
Will the next episode feature Prof ZP trying to board a steam packet at the docks ?
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Great stuff Thunderchicken. That looked like a lot of fun.
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Splendid as ever.
Where did the buildings come from ?
Will the next episode feature Prof ZP trying to board a steam packet at the docks ?
The ruined villa is by Conflix, picked it up at a car boot sale for £4! In perfect nick too!
The industrial building is a OO scale locomotive shed. Because of the large windows and doors they work fine with 25/28mm as industrial units. I've got a few more units stashed away for a VSF project I'm putting together. I got the idea from one of Admiral Benbows games.
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A Wonderful looking game. :-* :-* :-*
An inspiration to all us potential VSF players.
I love the colour scheme on the Aeronef, very VSF and I think you have solved my problem of how I am going to paint mine. :D
Some cracking figures, vehicles and terrain. :-*
The names gave me a good laugh. lol lol
Keep up the good work
Looking forward to the sequel :D
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Thanks Gamer Mac, I used Vallejo Hull Red on the flyer.
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Nice report TC and an interesting looking game. You need to post more often.
Also nice to see the flyer with some paint - its only took you six months :D
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Also nice to see the flyer with some paint - its only took you six months :D
Yeah, what a slowcoach ;)
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Yeah, what a slowcoach
Ahuh........
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Ahuh........
shuuush, keep quiet, I'm waiting for a reaction ;)
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I'm waiting for a reaction ;)
so was I
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A great looking game...particularily liked the shot of the Nimbus destroying the mad profs suit. Good to see that Ramshackle machine making an appearance as well and get some good idea of scale next to the figures. Larger than I thought!
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Splendid stuff TC old chap, its brightened up a dull and depressing day here in Darkest Rawnsley.
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Yeah, what a slowcoach ;)
Keep it up and I'll post those pictures of the night you met Ronnie Corbett in the Blue Oyster.
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Keep it up and I'll post those pictures of the night you met Ronnie Corbett in the Blue Oyster.
Dont wait for him, just post it.
Baldy, an ageing midget with a modicum of a sense of humour and some locale going by the name of "The Blue Oyster" sounds like at least the beginnings of a 30's CoC scenario. As it was a reference to a "slowcoach" that prompted your threat I am now imagining Mr Pointy Head being outsprinted by said Corbett to the ice cream seller in the isle of an old flea pit and missing out on the last cornetto. Somehow I think your tale will be less flattering. :D
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Dont wait for him, just post it.
Baldy, an ageing midget with a modicum of a sense of humour and some locale going by the name of "The Blue Oyster" sounds like at least the beginnings of a 30's CoC scenario. As it was a reference to a "slowcoach" that prompted your threat I am now imagining Mr Pointy Head being outsprinted by said Corbett to the ice cream seller in the isle of an old flea pit and missing out on the last cornetto. Somehow I think your tale will be less flattering. :D
Someone take the Absinthe away from Svennn.
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Keep it up and I'll post those pictures of the night you met Ronnie Corbett in the Blue Oyster.
Was this the night you had in mind?
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/3/86_24_08_09_4_51_44.jpg)
If so please don't do it, not for my sake but for Ronnie's, he doesnt need any bad press at this time following those allegations about that incident involving Cocaine parties and Moria Stewart the newsreader. :o
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Great stuff Thunderchicken. I must get back to painting up more of my stuff.
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Was this the night you had in mind?
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/3/86_24_08_09_4_51_44.jpg)
If so please don't do it, not for my sake but for Ronnie's, he doesnt need any bad press at this time following those allegations about that incident involving Cocaine parties and Moria Stewart the newsreader. :o
I do not know the show etc, but does anyone make figure like the lady with the gun (in 28mm) ???
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I'd rather a figure of Diana Dors when she looked like this...
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y40/Plynkes/dianadors4.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y40/Plynkes/dianadors7.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y40/Plynkes/dianadors2.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y40/Plynkes/dianadors1.jpg)
Mostly remembered today as a large middle-aged comedy lady, but she was damn foxy in her youth! ;)
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Englands answer to Ms Monroe, and boy, did we get it right :D
cheers
James
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Now I see!
[maybe I am too young to have known her!]
BTW I have found a couple of very interesting photos of her, one in long dress and pistol, another with machine gun and the third in nice exploreres outfit. Good for inspiration. I think that sculptors of figures should portray her in several poses!
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Great report and piccies! I love the wine glass aerial support.
We use gaslight, but have recently also bought Valour Steel and Flesh to try out. The one house rule we use in gaslight is that units can "move and shoot". We found that with the "move or shoot" rule the game becomes very defensive as units do not want to advance towards the enemy and lose the chance to shoot. The advantage is with the defender so we get static battles.
Once we made the change the game became a lot more fluid.
Cheers
Fuzzy
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Great report and piccies! I love the wine glass aerial support.
We use gaslight, but have recently also bought Valour Steel and Flesh to try out. The one house rule we use in gaslight is that units can "move and shoot". We found that with the "move or shoot" rule the game becomes very defensive as units do not want to advance towards the enemy and lose the chance to shoot. The advantage is with the defender so we get static battles.
Once we made the change the game became a lot more fluid.
Cheers
Fuzzy
Do you have a shooting penalty with "move and shoot", or does it work well enough without one? I assume magazine rifles will be more effective in this mode than muzzle-loaders etc.
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Do you have a shooting penalty with "move and shoot", or does it work well enough without one? I assume magazine rifles will be more effective in this mode than muzzle-loaders etc.
Was thinking exactly the same thing. Will be interesting to try this out.
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Was this the night you had in mind?
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/3/86_24_08_09_4_51_44.jpg)
If so please don't do it, not for my sake but for Ronnie's, he doesnt need any bad press at this time following those allegations about that incident involving Cocaine parties and Moria Stewart the newsreader. :o
By the way, is that you in the rather fetching blonde wig and powder blue uniform combo? If so you scrub up quite nicely lol lol
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No penalty for move and shoot. Now that I think about it we probably should have some sort of penalty like calculating casualties on a lower column on the battles by gaslight charts.
However it hasn't really been an issue in our games since in gaslight you can't really hit anything unless you get real close i.e. less than 12" anyway.
Move and shoot favours aggressive tactics and produces a quicker game. Move or shoot favours the defender so produces a much longer game.
Cheers
Fuzzy
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Fair enough! If it works in practice and encourages offensive tactics, that's the main thing :)