4AD After Action Report

After several walks on a beautiful day I decided to play the solo dungeon game Four Against Darkness with some modifications from the Stronghold website here and here.

The adventure didn't start well as my party of Borz (with a Z) the warrior, Croix the Cleric, Filch the Rogue and Winks the Dwarf were immediately met by 3 Trolls, that were dispatched at the expense of Borz (with a Z) losing 1 life point.  Next 7 goblins were encountered and defeated yielding a scroll of lightning.  In the next room, Borz (with a Z) discovered a "clue". Heading North and to the East, the party next fought 7 zombies with Filch losing a life point. An Ogre fled the party after a fight and Borz leveled up. Another "clue" was found in a corridor. Next the party found a piece of jewelry (90 GP). Venturing onward, the party defeated 4 Orcs before meeting a nasty Minotaur, that fled the battle. Croix successfully level up. The party backtracked and manage to avoid any wandering monsters. 5 snakes were defeated.
   Then the party encountered an Ooze. Filch proved his value by lockpicking a level 5 door lock. Six orcs were defeated. Backtracking, the party next encountered 2 Orcs that were quickly dispatched. Another Ooze was found as a Wandering Monster and vanquished. Borz found his third clue (Someone will pay Big money for that) and leveled. The next room contained a Meditation Chamber and Filch healed up. Back to the entry room went without incident.
    The party headed north and discovered a Storage room that yielded 2 bandages. The party continued North and fought  3 Kobolds that were easily defeated.  "Discretion being the better part of valor", the party decided to return to the Inn. The South east corner of the dungeon will be explored later.  

    What a fun couple of hours revisiting a time 45 years ago when Role Playing games were a big part of my professional life and I was working on solo approaches to RPGs. Take a look at the DM's Guide appendices that include solo AD&D.  
    Andrea Sfiligoi has done an excellent job with his design and the gaming community at Board Game Geek and  the Stronghold website have also added some exciting and free game aids. There is also a 4AD group on Facebook where you can get your questions answered by Andrea, himself.
 

Modified Lion Rampant (Osprey)

General LaPorte (top) defends the keep against the invading Germans under the command of General Ichweissnicht.

 French archers protect the keep

 French mounted men at arms defeat their German counterparts

 Battle lines reform as the German archers pick apart the French men at arms

After refusing to duel with the French general, the German commander drives General LaPorte from the field.
                                                Final Glory points: German 7,  French 5

Help a Flying Buffalo

                                                            GoFundMe for Rick Loomis

Rick Loomis has been an important part of the game industry for almost 50 years, and now he is in the fight of his life with cancer. Even though he is a US army veteran and qualifies for medicare, Rick's share of the medical bills are now in the tens of thousands of dollars. Please help his family through this terrible time and help keep the  legacy of Flying Buffalo going strong. 

On August 24th, his birthday, Rick Loomis passed away.  RIP Rick.

Goblins, Orcs, and Kobolds, oh my ....

When Life and the gaming gods conspire to ruin Gaming night (don't ask)… it's time to turn to the Granny Grate armies and Rick's Really Simple Rules. And, once again a fun time was had by all.

The premise: A warband of goblin/orcs and kobolds attacks a small Dwarven mine. 

 Orcs and Goblins prepare to attack, Kobolds in reserve

 Dwarves prepare to defend

 Orcs & Goblins at top of photo

 Early action. Red indicates hits, white are shaken and need to rally

 Close combat between Dwarven Crossbows and Goblin Spears

 Dwarven commander attempts to organize his declining forces

 Orc/Goblins press forward with their attack

An Orc/Goblin victory  

Race to the Potomac

Playtesting Rick's Simple rules with a brigade size scenario based on the insurgents retreat from Gettysburg with the very generous donation of goods from the farmers of central Pennsylvania.

Union deployment

The Confederacy

                                      Dismounted cavalry fire on each other on the flank

Confederate brigade supply train is turned back from their effort to reach the Potomac.

Rules need some fine tuning and the scenario needs additional work. But, a very enjoyable evening !

Will be using playing card activation next time, as all that rain and mud caused a lot of Regimental failure to activate.  

$6.99

"Les sanglots longs
Des violons
De l’automne
Blessent mon cœur
D’une langueur
     Monotone."    Paul Verlaine

In Memory of the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops

                                                   23rd Headquarters Special Troops

To those who served and to the power of imagination !!