Martians invade NOWSCON

I ran my Victorian Science Fiction game at NOWSCON back in September.  Northern Ohio Wargaming Society runs a small convention every year.  They are a diverse group of gamers who enjoy playing all sorts of games.  The scenario I ran, Aristotle Down, is the same one I have run before at other events.  It is a large battle based on John Carter of Mars. I use Black Hat's wonderful 18mm Martian Empires range along with some trusty Old Glory Brits! My friend and constant opponent, Rusty was there helping me run things and taking pictures.  It seems we are only ever on the same side if we are the ones running the game! It was an intense battle full of surprises, and everyone had a good time!

Carl Scheu, president of NOWS (far right), plots a devious move while I go over things with other players.

Things get deadly around the downed HMSS Aristotle!

The British end of the board empties out.

Carl's Green Martians overwhelm some Imperial Martin cavalry. In the meantime, his Calots had gone ahead and overrun the British supply column giving his faction a victory!

The Steam Tank Project

Prussian improvised steam tank.

This is one of my latest WIP for the new Martian scenario.  My Prussians just did not have enough support vehicles so...  The chassis  is a Black Hat Martian Empires wheel kit for their steam tanks.  The super structure is card stock with some wood and  plastic bits added.  The gun is simply a Krupp field piece.  When it is finished I will get some better photos of the boiler side, and interior. Right now she needs a little more paint to be ready for action.  The plan is to use flags instead of hull markings so I can switch nationalities if I want.

Prussian steam tank with panzegrenadier option.

Here is the steam tank with troop carrying capabilities.  I was deliberately trying for as rough an appearance as possible (read poor modeling skills here), since this was all cobbled together on Mars far away from the European halls of industry!  The trailer wheel was cut from the core of a roll of receipt paper and the body  from card stock and various bits.  The rivets were an experiment with a seam marker from the sewing my basket (yes, I sew too). This is a handy device which has a handle and a small spiky wheel that I used to perforate some card stock in nice (somewhat) straight lines. Then I simply cut strips and glued in place. 

Sorry I don't have more photos yet.  I'm still getting used to this recording everything I do step by step thing.  My rather chaotic, completely unplanned, methods for this type of project are not really conducive to my recording them.  My engineer friend Rusty cannot believe I can make things like this without so much as a concept drawing.  I think it shows in the extremely rough, some might say crude, finished product.  My aim in this type of modeling is to get a reasonable representation of the object, for not much money or time consuming procedures, on to the game table.  I like to make terrain, models, and love to paint figures.  However, I also like to come up with scenarios, write rules, run games at Cons and our RPG campaign (Middle Earth...another whole topic), and just plain game...a lot!

The Martian Frontier

I have been working on my 18mm Martian game lately.  I'm testing a new scenario right now, but have not got the canals finished yet so no pictures.  When I get it all finished I will post some pics, and maybe a tutorial if I can manage it.  Anyway, here are a couple pics from one of the games we ran using my first scenario "Aristotle Down".  The rules were my own home rules Her Majesty's Martian Expeditionary Force or M.E.F for short.

The situation: The transport "Aristotle" went down in Syrtis Major.  The troops, and her cargo were relatively untouched, including the two new Gardener MGs.  The British have hastily fortified their camp, but there is a large force of Imperial Martians heading straight for them.  The Brits have cobbled together a relief force out of various elements of the M.E.F. , and is on the way as well.  However there are other interested parties.  The wild Green Martians and the Prussians are also very interested.  Where is John Carter when you need him?

HMSS "Aristotle" assaulted by red Martians.  Will they hold?

Part of the British relief force.

Imperial Martian artillery takes the high ground and opens up.

The British artillery answers.

Green Martians thunder in from the wasteland attacking anyone in their path.

Imperial Martian flyers at work.

The battle is joined in earnest by all sides as the Prussians arrive only to side with the Green Martians!

Imperial Red Martian Cavalry supports an infantry Utan.

The John Carter Brigade comes to the rescue.  On the side of the Red Martians!

 In this game the Brits squeaked out a victory, but it was very close.  Especially since everyone else basically ganged up on them!  Every time I have run this game it somehow turns into a bloody free for all!