I'm going to play more actual games / First Game of 5 Parsecs!

[Oldben1]

Okay,
After contributing to another thread on this forum called 'I'm a Lead Hoarder' I've realized I have become a hoarder.  I am recently new to the war game world (8 years or so), and I have amassed a huge range of miniatures.  Most of the miniatures I have are painted, so that's not the problem.  The issue that I have is the same issue that a lot of collectors have-I own too much stuff that sits unplayed in copy boxes.  This will be the thread where I'll sort it all out and actually play some games!

Here are my issues:

1.)  I need to mash up the genres are currently play.  I mainly like sci fi, with a little dash of historical. After a lot of research and careful thought, I've decided on a Serenity / Firefly / Star Wars game.  What rule set you ask?  Good question in the back.  I'm going with 5 Parsecs from Home.  It satisfies enough of my interests and can be played Solo.

Found here:  http://www.wargamevault.com/product/132176/Five-Parsecs-From-Home

2.)  I'll need miniatures.  I have some but I'll need some more sci fi types.  As this is a mash up, I am going to go with some familiar sculpts with different obviously different paint jobs.  15mm is cheap to buy and easy to store.  This might help with some travel games as well.  I'm going to get Calimero to paint up a few as he works quick and does an excellent job!

3.)  I need terrain.  I can build it now as I have to wait for the miniatures to be painted and shipped.  I think I'll need:

-Dessert terrain - have some already
-jungle terrain - have some already
-Ice Planet (I love Hoth)
-Some generic sci fi modules or huts that can work on any of the boards
-Crates, sci fi scatter
-SOme fun terrain.  I would like a crashed Trek shuttle and some alien plant life.

Step 1.  Finish off some Sci fi modules.

Ideas are welcome.
-

[Warren Abox]

Good on you - I'm trying to do much the same thing these days.  Tried Five Parsecs, but it just didn't grab me, so I'm giving Osprey's Black Ops a shot.  My strategy is to find a game where you've got one small team running up against a changing roster of opposing forces in a series of linked missions.  Sort of a "Captain Mal and His Sci-Fi Friends Power Hour".  That way I can get a narrative campaign going, but still have an excuse to use a lot of different miniatures.  For example, I have a number of different teams of security forces (Sharkmen from Khurasan, Space Mercs from GZG, NBC suits from Rebel, and Octopods from 15mm.co.uk), not to mention a growing pile of random characters, civilians, and general ne'er-do-wells.

Here's the question I have for you - asked in the hopes of helping you refine what it is you're trying to do.  You open by stating that you want to game more, but then offer up a long list of terrain building to-do.  You may want to consider picking one set of terrain (either jungle, ice, or desert) and getting that done to your satisfaction. That way you can focus more on prepping for actual games.  If you have a big pile of unpainted lead, you probably have the typical gamer-ADD, and that means you're likely to go chasing after the next new thing.  What I've been trying to do lately is keep my next new thing more within the boundaries of the game table, and less within the boundaries of the craft table.

Full disclosure:  I'm not doing a very good job of that - last night I started a whole new table of themed terrain, despite promising not to do that until I get the last dozen unpainted figures completed.  And that's not including the shipment from 15mm.co.uk that's on its way.

Just some thoughts.

[Oldben1]

Good questions.

I've decided to rid myself of my 28mm sci fi.  Most of it was Star wars.  I'm keeping the miniatures(wotc) to play on the flat maps.  This will free up some room and I ve given myself two small bins to keep my sci fi terrain.

As for building stuff, I have a lot of it in stages.  This project will get me going.

My boards will be small.  1 and a half feet by two.  Since its a solo game I'm going to use a two sided bulletin  boards.  I'm going to be less critical with my terrain as well.  Spending hours on terrain is fun, but if it's just me playing on it a few rough corners won't kill me.

All the terrain I'm building is to compliment.  A few small pieces to round out what I already have.
I'm going to try and buy miniature archetypes so I can use them over and over.

I've also decided not to buy anymore miniatures for a year to give this project a full year to develop.

[Elbows]

I think it may be worth looking into something I saw Beasts of War talking about...sci-fi dungeon crawls.  Why not?  Why not a game about a deep space salvage crew (or traders...or mercs...) constantly exploring new derelict outposts, floating space hulks, new planets etc.  Throw in some developmental tables, a huge random roster of baddies.

No reason that kind of game couldn't be pulled off.  And if you throw in some tables, or activation cards you could even play it solo. 

[Oldben1]

New domiciles. by oldben1, on Flickr

first set of generic buildings.  A little crude but better than a shanty.  These are supposed to be some prefab buildings.  Made from a dollar store race car toy.

[Napalm Backflip]

I feel your pain, and applaud your project plans! I've got the same problem, and always keep an eye out for solo rulesets to try out. Lack of terrain is a big issue for me as well...

[Michka]

Those prefabs are really cool. What were the toys called? I feel the need to get some of my own.

[Oldben1]

Sorry, I can't help you with the name.  They are still there though, and at multiple locations in Canada.  They are the bellow system for a toy car.  Hammer on the plunger and off the car goes.  Neat little hunks of plastic and only 2.00 each!

[Warren Abox]

Yeah, those look fantastic.  Looking forward to seeing more.

[Oldben1]

Hey Warren I really like your blog.  Good stuff there.

[Warren Abox]

Hey Warren I really like your blog.  Good stuff there.

Thank you, I was looking through your flikr stream and you've got some great looking terrain.  Do you have any more information posted anywhere on those sci-fi tiles?  They look great, I'd like to read more on that game and what the red icons mean.

[Oldben1]

They are 3d printed tiles from thingverse.  I printed them in black, added little details on them and dybrushed them.  You can print them yourself if you have a 3D printer.  I could find the link.  The creator also sells stuff on etsy as well. 

I wrote a quick aliens game up to play on them.  Not entirely pleased with the result.  The red tiles are the different rooms on the Nostromo.  Cabin, medbay etc.  I have a thread about them somewhere.

[Ockman]

I will follow this thread with great interest!

[Oldben1]

Some new stuff, really simple hovels for a small desert board.
15mm desert hovel by oldben1, on Flickr

Here is the stuff mixed together with the desert terrain.  Sort of space cowboy.  I pasted some cool posters on the back.  Star Wars mixed with Samurai and Clint Eastwood.  It just domes, glue, sand and paint.  Finished in 3 short sessions.

Mixed with desert terrain by oldben1, on Flickr

[Oldben1]

I needed some vegetation to go with some terrain I had finished early this year.  My work was ditching these ugly Thanksgiving arrangements.  I thought they looked like some of the odd set pieces from Star Trek.

Star Trek terrain by oldben1, on Flickr

I also made a crashed shuttle to accompany.
Star Trek terrain 2 by oldben1, on Flickr

Finally the finished board.  After receiving my minis from Calimero I might have time for my first game this weekend!
Terrain 3 by oldben1, on Flickr