What should I work on next?

31 May 2010

Royal Xenological Society, Issue #6

Crotalus venusica giganticus

(Photo lifted from Four-Color Figures - w/o permission)

The Venusian Giant Rattlesnake is a rightly-feared predator of the Venusian highlands. Named by Texian marines for their superficial similarity to common terrestrial vipers (they are serpentine, and venomous), the Venusian Rattlesnake is much more aggressive than its namesake. A bite from this enormous beast will kill a human in a matter of seconds as the hemotoxin bursts blood cells throughout the entire body. The Giant Rattlesnake appears very fond of horseflesh, and responds quickly to the sound of hoofbeats they can feel through the ground.

Notice the lack of an obvious eye structure. The Deathrattler is, in fact, blind. However, it is still able to hunt by means of vibratory location.The spines protruding from the scaled skin can detect very faint vibrations in the air - sound, essentially - at close range, acting similarly to a bat's echolocation but without using a shrill cry. The same organs also detect ground impacts from a great distance, leading the serpent to its prey.

[Editor's Note: This is a Razorspine Rattler from Wyrd Miniatures' Malifaux line. Beauty, ain't it? I have not bought one yet, because other than an interesting and dangerous random encounter, I can't justify it for wargaming. I keep trying to make it work for Vardu's biological monstrosities, but... it just doesn't seem as if it could possibly be controlled well enough. Still, it is a beautiful figure and may make its way into my collection regardless of utility.]

12 May 2010

Upcoming Game [TSATF]

Scale: 15mm.
Rules: The Sword and the Flame/20th Anniversary
Figures: Mix of OG and Stone Mountain

Scenario: Not much story here. Lieutenant Hiram Bigg-Botham is leading a platoon of infantry through the savannah of Zululand. A supply wagon is along. And a troop of lancers, for protection. Suddenly, a hundred Zulus appear from nowhere. Stand and fire or die at the end of an assegai (iklwa)!


Okay, so the question I have is this: do you think this will give a decent game for two to three players plus a referee? Some of the guys down here in Clear Lake and I are looking at getting a colonial game together for our June gathering. I've never set up a TSATF game, though I have played in a few. I have twenty British infantry, twelve lancers, a supply wagon and a field gun (if needed) ready to play, and forty Zulus done, with (hopefully) sixty more to be done by game time. I would like to have one British player and one or two Zulus. All Zulus are spear-armed (no rifles).