Triplanes in the afternoon

Using the map from Blue Max: World War I Air combat (2013)

And homemade mini clothespin aircraft

                                                                               

       Following the Brits sudden Immelmann maneuver the German plane was ablaze 

    But, the German pilot flipped the script and performed his own Immelmann turn and through the smoke hit the Sopwith Tri's gas tank causing a deadly explosion killing the pilot and destroying the plane. Oberleutnant Frank then succeeded at putting out his plane's fire and returned home. 1 down, 4 to go.

  

Remembering Dungeon & Dragons (tm)

At the corner of 7th and Broadway in Rockford, Illinois was the original home of the Toad Hall Fantasy Horde, where I first played D&D in 1975.  

On the right is Steve Brown. Dungeon Master extraordinaire. You may have seen his miniature Orc Castle & Dungeon at the early Gen Cons in Lake Geneva. Steve is also the reason I don't own a 1st edition of D&D (woodgrain). Who would think the game would become collectible ? 8-)

I only played one Magic User in D&D. We played what we rolled. Benjamin lasted 3 minutes and was of course immortalized by our resident artist, Robert Garcia. 

And in 2024, USPS releases stamps commemorating the 50th anniversary of Dungeon & Dragons (tm)

My original Boot Hill town at Toad Hall in 1974

the Role Playing Game Cosmos

 "Some people can read War and Peace and come away thinking it's a simple adventure story. Others can read the ingredients on a chewing gum wrapper and unlock the secrets of the universe."

Out of the Vault

 Santander Bank is getting rid of safety deposit boxes in the new year, forcing me to empty out my secure repository of dusty documents. Among my game contracts and royalty check stubs was this signature page...

It is hard for me to believe in 2024, we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the publishing of Dungeon & Dragons (tm). May all have a Happy & Healthy New Year !!! 

Construction of a mill along Turtle Creek

Starting a series of games using the theme of "Incidents along Turtle Creek" and set in the age of Black Powder in North America (Seven Years War and Rev (AWI) War). We will be using slightly modified rules from Song of Drums & Tomahawks. 

Frontier Builders armed with Muskets and Pistols

 Native Americans armed with Muskets and Tomahawks

Opening assault

Native American warrior grabs a lit torch 

                                          

The partially built mill is engulfed in flames

The Native American raid is a success with the mill in ashes and the taking of the scalp of Amos Berger.

Mongols to the right and Eastern Romans to the left

Mongols to the right and Eastern Romans to the left

Roman shields

Mongols command

Mongols overwhelm Roman forces

 

CV=  Combat value

Granny defends the Bridge

Mauchunk on the left and Shickshinny on the right

                                                     Mauchunk dismounted cavalry and artillery.

                                                           Shickshinny regular infantry

 

                                                                Half way in the battle

                                                                      Order of Battle

             Decided to use some old granny grate armies on an experimental new board.

                                                     Board made with these from Amazon