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Miniatures Adventure => Pikes, Muskets and Flouncy Shirts => Topic started by: Operator5 on March 10, 2008, 01:27:13 PM

Title: Morgan Comes to Porto Bello Wins Theme Award
Post by: Operator5 on March 10, 2008, 01:27:13 PM
Pete Murray's Gloire game on Friday afternoon won the Friday PM theme award for Cold Wars 2008. The theme happened to be pirates and Pete had his best "salty dog" impersonation going.

Pete was thrilled with the award and even more surprised when he received the Overall Cold Wars Theme award on Saturday evening.

If you have not gotten a chance to play in any of Pete's Gloire games, you should try to at Historicon 2008.

Congratulations Pete.

And here are a couple of photos from the game.

(http://www.rattrapproductions.com/Gloire/Images/Conventions/ColdWars08/PeteCW1.jpg)

(http://www.rattrapproductions.com/Gloire/Images/Conventions/ColdWars08/PeteCW2.jpg)

(http://www.rattrapproductions.com/Gloire/Images/Conventions/ColdWars08/PeteCW3.jpg)

(http://www.rattrapproductions.com/Gloire/Images/Conventions/ColdWars08/PeteCW4.jpg)

We'll get more pictures up of all the Rattrap games within the next day or two. Everything from .45 Adventure to Fantastic Worlds.
Title: Morgan Comes to Porto Bello Wins Theme Award
Post by: Malamute on March 10, 2008, 01:46:11 PM
Great looking game, lovely table. I especially like the sea effects. Well done Pete. :)
Title: Morgan Comes to Porto Bello Wins Theme Award
Post by: Westfalia Chris on March 10, 2008, 03:02:21 PM
Hear hear! :o

Jolly well done, Captain Pete, I say! Avast! Arrr! :lol:
Title: Morgan Comes to Porto Bello Wins Theme Award
Post by: Hammers on March 10, 2008, 04:20:00 PM
Congratulations, Pete! I can't say it comes as a great surprise given how well you do this era.
Title: Morgan Comes to Porto Bello Wins Theme Award
Post by: Plynkes on March 10, 2008, 05:41:56 PM
I suspect gerrymandering or some other form of jiggery-pokery was involved. But until it is proven, a provisional 'well done, Pete' is called for.

So well done, Pete.
Title: Morgan Comes to Porto Bello Wins Theme Award
Post by: Operator5 on March 10, 2008, 06:01:03 PM
I told Pete that the only reason he got it was because the power went out at the convention center and the better games could not be run.  :D

That was of course not the case (the power did go out but must gamers ran with flashlights over their boards until it returned---now that is hard core gaming!) and Pete's game was as deserving as the rest of the excellent competition he faced.
Title: Morgan Comes to Porto Bello Wins Theme Award
Post by: twrchtrwyth on March 10, 2008, 06:34:45 PM
Nice. 8)
Title: Morgan Comes to Porto Bello Wins Theme Award
Post by: PeteMurray on March 12, 2008, 01:26:34 PM
Thanks very much, ladies and gentlemen (this is the first time I've been online since last week and thus am late to my own party.)

I have to say that a game is ultimately only as successful as the players make it. I was lucky enough to have amazingly enthusiastic players, who managed to have a good time even when the dice were breaking badly for them.

Winning Friday's award was an unexpected honor, and the Overall Theme Prize was something I never anticipated.  But thank you for your felicitations. Without Lead Adventurers goading me to better and better work, I suspect I would not have placed. Thanks to you all for inspirational work of your own!
Title: Morgan Comes to Porto Bello Wins Theme Award
Post by: PeteMurray on March 12, 2008, 01:36:02 PM
I will share stories: Saturday morning's game went well for the pirates, despite a forceful attempt by the Spanish to wrest control away (the die were merciless against the Spanish, though). The Pirate faction in that game made off easily with the Skull, with Randy the Buccaneer player screening Young William, whose models had recovered the skull and kept Don Armando at arm's length.

Then Randy, sensing the importance of the moment, turned on his partner, attempting to steal the skull and win on his own!

The game came down to a single Brawn test, with Young William succeeding and having only 1/4" movement to spare to reach the exit and win the game! That was dramatic. The silence was palpable as that die was cast.

On Saturday afternoon's game, the Spanish had found the Black Skull, but were down to only Don Armando and I think a wounded Grade 1 character. Young Paul, who was at most 12 or 13, decided that the situation was thus unwinnable for the Spanish, and the sensible course of action was to hurl the Black Skull into the lagoon. It was certainly the dramatic gesture - I declared the game over at that point, unwinnable to any side (the point had been to exit the board with the Skull.)

I then proposed to distribute the prize money among the players in equal shares. Two of my players gave their shares to Young Paul, out of the generosity of their hearts and the desire to see people stay in the game. I was deeply touched, and when I offered to replace the donated funds, they declined. Such virtue! Such players! This is why I love to run games at the cons.
Title: Morgan Comes to Porto Bello Wins Theme Award
Post by: Aaron on March 12, 2008, 04:43:28 PM
Congrats Pete. I wish I could have gotten out of the dealer hall for long enough to see it in person!
Title: Morgan Comes to Porto Bello Wins Theme Award
Post by: Driscoles on March 12, 2008, 05:17:35 PM
I´ll make my congrats a bit more international.

Herzlichen Glückwunsch aus Deutschland lieber Pete.
Das ist eine ausgezeichnete Spielplatte.

Beste Grüße
Björn
Title: Morgan Comes to Porto Bello Wins Theme Award
Post by: Yggdrasil on March 12, 2008, 06:00:26 PM
I could only say:

Quote
Herzlichen Glückwunsch aus Deutschland lieber Pete.
Das ist eine ausgezeichnete Spielplatte.

Dem kann ich mir nur voll und ganz anschließen ;)

It´s a very nice gaming table with much of atmosphere!
Title: Morgan Comes to Porto Bello Wins Theme Award
Post by: Aaron on March 12, 2008, 06:10:24 PM
By the way, are those the resin buildings Brigade sells? They look like very nice kits. Chris hughes picked one up for his Mexican-American War gaming and I saw them in use at Cold Wars in a Penninsular War game. Very versatile buildings!
Title: Morgan Comes to Porto Bello Wins Theme Award
Post by: Operator5 on March 12, 2008, 06:15:18 PM
They are indeed Brigade's buildings. Excellent pieces and there are more planned.
Title: Morgan Comes to Porto Bello Wins Theme Award
Post by: PeteMurray on March 12, 2008, 06:41:04 PM
Buildings: (with the exception of the gray stable, made by Conflix) are all Brigade. Painting directions:
1. Spray paint building white.
2. Brush on walnut-colored wood stain.
3. Wipe off walnut-colored wood stain.
4. Paint roof Burnt Sienna.
5. Drybrush roof.
6. Sealant coat.

Total elapsed time painting buildings: 3 hours.
Total elapsed time waiting for building paint to dry: 12 hours.

Water: Envirotex Lite, faintly stained blue. I poured it too thick, it got too hot, and if I hadn't had it outside to cure, I'm sure I would have gassed myself out of the house, or set the house on fire. Consequently the rippled effect and the shimmery finish in the liquid is completely unintentional. ALWAYS READ THE DIRECTIONS ON ENVIROTEX LITE FOR GOD'S SAKE.

Bridges: Craft sticks and basswood.

Flagstones: Wallpaper! A gift from Deathwing, leftover from one of his projects. Cobblestones are lentils glued into place. I didn't have enough flagstone to completely cover the board.

The Statue: A Dreamblade prepaint, Dremel'd off its base and glued to a painted laundry detergent cap. I painted it a patina of bronze, and it looks pretty nice.

Vegetation: One Grimmtschungel based on a CD.

Encounter Markers: Wooden "Mini Apple Barrels" from the craft store, now no longer stocked. :(

Figures: Brigade buccaneers and swashbucklers.

Mr. Murray's wardrobe courtesy of Mo, marking the first time in nearly a year and a half where I didn't wear my blue Gloire polo shirt.

I also nearly wrote about the Copplestones on the board. This would be the miniatures equivalent of rap video-style conspicuous consumption.
Title: Morgan Comes to Porto Bello Wins Theme Award
Post by: Prof.Witchheimer on March 12, 2008, 07:55:35 PM
Yuhu! Pete is the man! Really glad to hear that, mate, well done  :D

Btw, who is the random guy, standing around and looking right... :mrgreen:
Title: Morgan Comes to Porto Bello Wins Theme Award
Post by: Helen on March 12, 2008, 08:36:05 PM
Great work Pete 8)

Did you wife join in on the adventure?

God Bless

Helen
Title: Morgan Comes to Porto Bello Wins Theme Award
Post by: vikotnik on March 12, 2008, 10:07:43 PM
Herzlichen Glückwunsch, Pete!

It seems that you have managed to incorporate as many scenic elements as possible on the table: Houses, paved streets, a statue, plants, water and what have not! What really sets the whole thing apart is the large, wooden base!!! :love:

Great execution of ideas, the mood of the setting even comes across the photos!


This is a well-deserved award! :)
Title: Morgan Comes to Porto Bello Wins Theme Award
Post by: PeteMurray on March 13, 2008, 12:17:43 AM
Viktonik, the principle is very similar to what you did with your musketeer boards - it protects the edges of the insulation foam used for the base and gives the players something nice to look at. It is actually my Board Transportation Frame Mark 1. The Mk. 2 has a lid that latches on to protect the scenery inside.

Everything on the board did something in the scenario. Each one of the buildings held clues, important people, or red herrings. Even the jungle had a mysterious surprise inside!

Helen, my wife was very pleased on my behalf, but she isn't really interested in participating in the cons. She has come to visit, to walk around and look at the games, and she is very supportive of me, but it's not really her thing. Which is okay, really.

Alex, the random guy was some kid whose father must have been in the dealer room. And he was there all day Friday and Saturday, chatting up the Rattrap people. You could tell they were tired of him.
Title: Morgan Comes to Porto Bello Wins Theme Award
Post by: DFlynSqrl on March 13, 2008, 04:07:59 AM
Congrats!

Quote from: "PeteMurray"
I then proposed to distribute the prize money among the players in equal shares. Two of my players gave their shares to Young Paul, out of the generosity of their hearts and the desire to see people stay in the game. I was deeply touched, and when I offered to replace the donated funds, they declined. Such virtue! Such players! This is why I love to run games at the cons.


Great story!  That is the great thing about gaming at Cons.  It seems like I always get to witness some great gaming spirit and comradery in these types of games.  (tournaments not so much! ;) )
Title: Morgan Comes to Porto Bello Wins Theme Award
Post by: Greenline on March 13, 2008, 09:59:18 PM
Title: Morgan Comes to Porto Bello Wins Theme Award
Post by: dinohunterpoa on March 17, 2008, 11:10:17 PM
CONGRATULATIONS!

 :mrgreen:
Title: Morgan Comes to Porto Bello Wins Theme Award
Post by: Gluteus Maximus on March 18, 2008, 09:29:38 AM
Quote from: "PeteMurray"
Buildings: (with the exception of the gray stable, made by Conflix) are all Brigade. Painting directions:
1. Spray paint building white.
2. Brush on walnut-colored wood stain.
3. Wipe off walnut-colored wood stain.
4. Paint roof Burnt Sienna.
5. Drybrush roof.
6. Sealant coat.

Total elapsed time painting buildings: 3 hours.
Total elapsed time waiting for building paint to dry: 12 hours.



Remarkable!

Presumably this technique would work equally well on home-made wood & card models?

I must try it, as spare time is very rare - & this certainly seems to be a very quick method  :)
Title: Morgan Comes to Porto Bello Wins Theme Award
Post by: PeteMurray on March 18, 2008, 11:21:56 AM
Quote from: "Gluteus Maximus"


Remarkable!

Presumably this technique would work equally well on home-made wood & card models?

I must try it, as spare time is very rare - & this certainly seems to be a very quick method  :)


I would suggest caution - the wood stain works well because there is well-defined detail engraved into the building. As card and wood models tend to be flatter and have less deep detail, this might end up making a sodden mess of the whole thing.

Still, I don't want to discourage you because you aren't experimenting on my buildings. :)
Title: Morgan Comes to Porto Bello Wins Theme Award
Post by: Gluteus Maximus on March 18, 2008, 12:08:52 PM
Quote from: "PeteMurray"
Quote from: "Gluteus Maximus"


Remarkable!

Presumably this technique would work equally well on home-made wood & card models?

I must try it, as spare time is very rare - & this certainly seems to be a very quick method  :)


I would suggest caution - the wood stain works well because there is well-defined detail engraved into the building. As card and wood models tend to be flatter and have less deep detail, this might end up making a sodden mess of the whole thing.

Still, I don't want to discourage you because you aren't experimenting on my buildings. :)



I laugh in the face a sodden mess!

Good point, though, but I was thinking of giving the wood parts a good undercoat of white emulsion first & using some sort of filler to cover & texture the card.

You would be very wise to keep me away from your buildings - my experiments tend to end up in the "blackened face, with hair sticking up & wearing a bemused expression" category.

So far I've managed to avoid the "pair of smoking boots" outcome :lol: