Wednesday, August 14, 2024

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

Thursday, January 11, 2024

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."

Wednesday, December 27, 2023

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 !!! 

Wednesday, November 15, 2023

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.



Wednesday, September 6, 2023

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

Wednesday, August 9, 2023

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 

Wednesday, June 28, 2023

a Risky ACW crossroads Meeting engagement

                       

Union on left, Confederates on right


    Victory for the Union after Confederates lost their cavalry (on right) unit to artillery fire

OoB: Union and Confederates each have 2 units infantry, 1 unit of Cavalry & 1 unit of Artillery.

Unit activation was using a deck of Risk(tm) cards. Rules were latest edition of WARG rules.