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Looking for Players - Battleground: Fantasy Warfare
Submitted by DC on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 11:14. ()

I was introduced to a great game at last month's Total Confusion convention: Battleground: Fantasy Warfare (BFW).  The manufacturer, Your Move Games, is a Massachusetts company, and they were onsite to showcase their game.

BFW is like a miniatures game, but the cool innovation is that your units are printed on 2D cards. You can have a whole army's worth of units in single deck of cards in your pocket.  Aside from the nice presentation, the rules are very good too.  Annother innovation is that casualty hits are marked right on the card with dry-erase marker; at the end of the game, wipe your cards clean and you're all set for the next time.

There are currently eight fantasy armies/factions: The Men of Hawkshold (feudal humans), Orcs, Undead, Ravenwood Elves, High Elves, Dwarves, Lizardmen, and the Umenzi tribes (like Zulus with magic).  There will be more armies in the future, and historical earth sets are in development (Roman Punic war is coming soon).  Each army has at least a dozen different unit types, and their unique special ability.  For example, Orc generals can "lash" their troops to move faster and fight harder.  The Undead can heal their units by creating new troops from the battlefield dead.  Good stuff!

You can learn a lot more about the game at the official BFW web site:
http://www.yourmovegames.com/battleground_index.html

This site includes lots of detail on each faction, discussion forums with hundreds of posts, and even a Flash animation showing how game play flows.

I was so impressed with the game that I contacted Your Move Games to ask how I could help promote BFW.  They would like us to be one of their Beta playtest groups for the new Campaign system they're developing.

Just from showing the game to a bunch of folks around the SWA, we've already got over eight potential players lined up.  But there's always room for more.  We'll be starting some time in the month of April, and we'll probably be meeting on Saturday and/or Sunday afternoons.  Location will probably be Zombie Planet game store, or the Studio of Bridge and Games, or a mix of the two.  We'll see who's playing and what works best for the group.  If we get enough players, we may even have more than one group, for better flexibility with scheduling and such.

If you'd like to give the game a try, some of us will be getting together this Saturday.  Newbies welcome!

If you're interested in either this weekend or the Campaign idea, please contact me directly.

Dave Cheng
dave@swa-gaming.org
(518) 464-1977
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Close Action (Age of Sail) on Saturday, May 3rd
Submitted by DC on Sat, 03/08/2008 - 07:32. ()

Close Action is an Age of Sail miniatures game, and has been one of our most popular events at Council of Five Nations for years now.

Dan Bostwick will be coming to Schenectady to run a large game for us on Saturday, May 3rd.  This is open to veteran and beginner players alike.

Please check out Dan's invitation below.  Contact him directly if you'd like to reserve a spot for yourself.

- - -

Fellow Captains and Admirals,

On Saturday May 3, I will be running a Close Action fleet game in Schenectady, NY, at the Studio of Bridge and Games <http://www.swa-gaming.org/node/45> , a facility kindly provided by Schenectady Wargamers Association.  The scenario we play will be based on the number of people that commit, with total seating limited to fourteen players. 

Please plan on arriving a little before 1000.  A rules refresher will begin at 1000, with command conferences starting about 1015 or so.  The game will end by 1900 at the latest. 

Send me email at wazdakka@twcny.rr.com to reserve your seat.  Please also give me indication of your experience level with the game, and preference (or tolerance) for a command rank position.  Something like "Yes I'll be there, and I would just love to be fleet admiral, please, oh please, oh please" would be fine. 

Firm commitments regarding attendance are required by 04/19, in order to give me time to setup a scenario, pick the Admirals, assign ships, and email the scenario information out.  Admirals can expect to have one week to plan, and will be given 20 minutes for command conference on game day.

Dan Bostwick

- - -

You can read more about Close Action at the Clash of Arms web site.
Link:  www.clashofarms.com/close-act.html

You can read even more about Close Action on Board Game Geek.
Link:  www.boardgamegeek.com/game/3553

Dan Bostwick has created a software package to custom print the ship log sheets.  This greatly speeds prep and play time.  If you like Close Action, you'll love this software.
Link:  www.thenavalregister.com/
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In Memoriam: Gary Gygax
Submitted by DC on Wed, 03/05/2008 - 17:25. ()

Gary Gygax died this past Tuesday. As one of the co-creators of the original Dungeons & Dragons in 1974, Gygax is indesputably one of the founding fathers of the entire Role Play Game hobby. Here are some top story links:

New York Times:  Link
Associated Press:  Link
Gamespy:  Link
Salon:  Link
Ars Technica:  Link
CNet News:  Link
Wired News:  Link
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Flights of Fantasy has Moved
Submitted by DC on Wed, 02/06/2008 - 00:32. ()

Maria from Flights of Fantasy writes...

Hooray!
We've Finally Moved!

Flights of Fantasy Books & Games is now located at
381 Sand Creek Rd (across from Colonie Central High School)
Albany, NY 12205

www.fof.net
(518) 435-9337

From Feb. 1-15, 2008
20% all new in-stock Books*
30% off all used Books*

Bring a copy of this email to take advantage of the sale.
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RPG Superstar™ Will Find the Next Great RPG Designer
Submitted by DC on Wed, 10/31/2007 - 10:00. ()

Competition starts October 31, 2007 on paizo.com


Paizo Publishing, LLC® is proud to announce a new RPG design contest: RPG Superstar. Starting at the end of October, paizo.com will host the first adventure game industry design contest voted on by the fans, aimed at finding the newest talent in RPG design.

"With the end of the print editions of Dragon and Dungeon magazines, Paizo has lost a conduit to find new designers," said Lisa Stevens, CEO of Paizo Publishing, "We're launching a RPG design contest to give unknown talent a chance to get noticed!"

Starting at noon Pacific Time on October 31, 2007, any eligible person will be able to submit an entry into the contest. For the open call, that entry will be a wondrous item using the 3.5 SRD. Each entry needs to be 200 words or less, and must include all of the proper mechanics and flavor. Judges will announce the top 32 entries on November 28; those contestants will advance to the first round of public voting, where they will be assigned a new design task and their entries will be posted on paizo.com for the public to read, critique, and vote on. The designers garnering the most votes will continue to subsequent rounds, and the ultimate winner will earn a paid commission to write one of Paizo's upcoming GameMastery Modules!
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SWA is recruiting new Officers
Submitted by DC on Mon, 10/29/2007 - 16:39. ()

As we bask in the warm afterglow of Council of Five Nations XXX, it's time to turn our focus to the future.

We currently have a team of eleven guys who bring you the monthly SWA events. While these guys are doing a great job, we're always looking to recruit new blood.

We've got a page on the SWA web site that outlines all the different offices we're looking to fill.  Please check it out here:
     http://www.swa-gaming.org/swaleadership

If you're interested in any of the positions listed, please email us at admin@swa-gaming.org and let us know. Even if it's one that's not currently listed as "Open", that's OK. If you're willing to volunteer, we'll find a way to work you in to the group.

What's the commitment?
  • Most of us only put in an hour or two per month. It's a commitment very easy to work into your other gaming activities.
  • Receive emails via our private SWA Planning email list. Share your opinions. Help us make decisions.
  • Attend a few meetings a year, if you can. Share your opinions. Help us make decisions.
  • Volunteer onsite at Council of Five Nations each year.
If you have specific questions, please email us at admin@swa-gaming.org, or call Dave at (518) 464-1977.

Thanks.

The SWA Leadership Team
of the Schenectady Wargamers Association, Inc.
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Looking for Exalted or Mage players
Submitted by DC on Tue, 10/16/2007 - 09:42. ()

Looking to start a new Exalted or Mage group in the Albany area.  The Exalted game will have a swashbuckling theme and will feature the characters as either pirates or explorers depending on game developments.

The Mage game would initially be focused on exploring a large haunted house that would eventually develop into their sanctum.  Depending on player interest the game could then develop into either a politics focused game based on the location, or else a treasure hunt or ghost buster themed game where the players focus on exploring new locations.

In either case I tend to run very free form games and will adjust the plot of the game to fit player preferences and character builds.  I tend to prefer to have a large amount of player input on the game and encourage well developed character backgrounds that I can work into the main plot.

I can be reached either by e-mail, bf1453 /at/ yahoo.com or by phone at 585-319-6541.  I'm easiest to reach Friday - Sunday, I'm currently a graduate student so between an internship and evening classes can be difficult to reach during the week.

I'm looking to play on the weekends, preferably Sunday afternoon.

Ben Fifield
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The Naval Register: Support Software for Close Action
Submitted by DC on Mon, 07/02/2007 - 23:56. ()

Many of you have seen Daniel Bostwick running Close Action games at Council of Five Nations for years. He has now developed some custom software to greatly streamline game play. We're happy to help get the word out.

Announcing the release of the first commercially available computer support product for Close Action
"The Naval Register: Support Software for Close Action"
 
The Naval Register is PC-based software that makes it easy to play Close Action whenever you want  to.  Simply select the scenario that you want to play, and print all of the required ship logs with the click of a button.  Gunnery numbers, turn modes, victory points per section, and more are all calculated and filled in automatically.  From small, two ship duels, to massive fleet battles, you will be ready to play with almost no effort.
  • Print ship logs in two different styles, each of which can be customized to suit your tastes.
  • Print a "GM Summary Sheet" to assist in setting up and running large games
  • Compose After Action Reports to document your battles
  • View ship data by rate, by nationality, by scenario, or even view a chronological history of a particular ship by name
  • Design your own scenarios
  • Registered owners can stay current with official scenario updates
  • Includes a bonus scenario from the unreleased expansion "Years of Victory: the Age of Nelson, 1803-1805"
  • More features are highlighted on the website.  Download the complete user manual to see application screen shots.
Never create another ship log by hand... give your Close Action games the support they need!

For more information, or to purchase your copy...

Email - the_naval_register@twcny.rr.com

Web - www.thenavalregister.com

Origins
I will be running a Close Action event at the Origins convention on Friday at 0900, and I will have copies of the software with me.

"The Naval Register: Support Software for Close Action" is an officially licensed product.
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Students play FREE at SWA Game-a-thons
Submitted by DC on Mon, 05/14/2007 - 20:47. ()

Big news!

We did well with Council of Five Nations last year. And we've just received a nice grant from the Historical Miniatures Gaming Society (HMGS, www.hmgs.org). HMGS helps clubs promote the gaming hobby, and historical miniatures gaming specifically.

So, we are finally able to implement a program that we've had as a goal for years...

Full-time students will now play FREE at our monthly Game-a-thon gaming days.

For our purposes, "full-time students" are people in Kindergarten through college. Our intent here is to help allow younger games to participate at SWA events, and the gaming hobby in general. The student discount does not cover working adults who happen to be taking a Continuing Education class. Please help us fulfill the spirit and intent of this policy.
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Signs Of Life
Submitted by john on Tue, 05/08/2007 - 15:22. ()

While this website has remained a source of useful information over the past few months, some of the functionality was destabilized by an upgrade of the platform the site was built upon.

As of today (5/8/2007), the SWA website is now running over a new platform and efforts are underway to restore prior functionality and build new functionality.

Past users of the website can login using their old username and passwords. Forum content has been retained, so forum discussions should continue unabated. Spam comments have been removed from throughout the site, and the new platform is significantly more spam resistant.

A couple of new features available immediately:

- Users have blogs. Any users wishing to write their own web log as part of the site can do so through the 'My blog' heading in the navigation on the left side (only visible when logged in.) Blogs are accessible through the top menu.

- Points. Various activity throughout the site will earn points for users. We will, no doubt, find a use for the points system down the road, but for now, just know that it's there.
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