GROG in the snow

There hasn't been a GROG (Gloucestershire Retro Oldhammer Gamers) winter game for some years now. Even the Halloween game that was our most regular has been paused for a bit. Hopefully life for all members is a bit more settled now and we can get back to some good ol' quarterly wargaming!

This February's game (it's always half term week for the winter game as Christmas is so busy) was a cross-country skiing challenge Alpine Dwarf style. Harry introduces the game-

According to Dwarven History, the Alpine Dwarf challenge is rooted in the skiing traditions of the Norse Dwarves.

Early inhabitants revered the God Ullr as both the god of skiing and the hunting god. Historical research suggests that Ullr was a very ancient god, with ties to magic.

The Alpine Dwarves compete every year for this title and the honour of wearing these runes on their uniforms.

The activity that developed into this annual contest were initially training exercises for the Norse Dwarf Alpine Rangers as an alternative training to the regular Dwarven army. Norse Dwarf skiing regiments organized training into: shooting (Standing and prone), shooting at mark while skiing at top speed, downhill race among trees without falling! … and a long race on flat ground while carrying rifle and military pack. They also train in rock and ice climbing.

More recently the Alpine Rangers have been training with ice skates. Ice skates were first developed by Finn Mcswift  from shank or rib bones of elk, oxen, reindeer to make traveling in icy winter conditions easier and faster when hunting around the northern lakes. 

Many years ago during a particularly harsh winter the Goblins raided the dwarf Kings court and stole the Christmas presents. The rangers went after them and recovered most of the presents and saved Christmas. To celebrate this event the King came up with an annual challenge for the rangers to compete for the highest honour given to a ranger.

The challenge consists of a ‘race’ in which the best Alpine rangers are chosen each year to compete against each other. They set out from the Kings court and find as many presents as they can and return them to the king in the fastest time possible. They ski a cross-country trail divided into four sections with shooting rounds. Depending on the shooting performance, extra time is added to the contestant's total skiing time. The best shots get to head out on the next stage first and then they are followed by the rest after they have spent their time penalties based on their shooting performance. They gain time bonuses for each present they return with. The Ranger with the shortest total time wins.

For each shooting round, the Ranger must hit five targets or receive a penalty for each missed target. (They must miss a turn for each missed shot).

So, they Ski the first part of the course, then, on reaching the first check point the shoot at prepared targets. They then head out on the next stage at intervals based on their shooting… and shoot again upon reaching the next checkpoint. During the next stage they shoot on the move without stopping before reaching the final checkpoint for the last shoot before the climb back up to the king's Mountain. 

The King proclaims the great race on!

Beardy ones line up at the starting line... to place their dwarfs!

After a first round of target shooting they're off down the slope, with barely a turn between them.

Until Mike uses some crafty dynamite to bury everybody whilst the steep slope offers some serious speed for him to grab a head start.

A slight detour over the meltwater rapids yields a hidden present.

At the bottom of the slope the first river section must be jumped... or crossed with the help of a lumberjack and handy pine tree.

Once across the first checkpoint is reached for another round of shooting.

Whilst they wait to hit the target a sabretooth tiger lopes out of the crags to see what all the noise is about. Mike's up in that cleft because he somewhat misjudged a ski jump, but at least he's the other side from the tiger!

Meanwhile, up the back, a yeti breaks cover. He's mad at being disturbed by the explosion! Too slow for those pesky skiers, he will nevertheless hang around for their return!

Father Christmas gifts some new toys whilst the mountaineer helps them to the top of the next slope and the marshal makes sure there's fair play. The sabretooths keep on coming...

For those with skates the frozen lake offers a fast route around the mountain.

Up top there are presents galore waiting. Enough to tempt the dwarfs into yeti country where the abominable snowmen are waiting.

Chris takes a fast run down the steep slope and barely manages to avoid flying striaght off the edge of the table.

Paul picks up presents galore as he takes to the rails.

Luckily they're just close enough together for his skis to slide over the rickety bridge.

Heading off on the third stage of the course past the trading post, Mike comes face to face with a lurking sabretooth and completely fails to hit it with his blunderbuss.

The race up the final slope begins. Thanks to a long run up and some good shooting I was out in front, but a lack of snowshoes left me trudging painfully slowly up the incline. Would the sabretooth and yeti hold off the others long enough?

No. Falling easily to blunderbuss fire the last obstacles were out of the way and those with snowshoes and cramp-ons made it up both the snowy rise and the icy cliffs.

A mad dash for the finish across the last stretch, a tight finish once points for shooting in the last stage were added in.

Sadly bringing up the rear dwarfy-me decided to open the present he'd carted all the way around, hoping it wasn't the snow shoes that would have given him the edge. It wasn't. A collapsible wheelbarrow would have made no difference at all. At least it gives him something to ride home it.

Thanks to Harry for hosting (and freeing up my studio of the big snowy boards!), to all the GROGgers near and far who joined in and to Jamie Loft at Old School Miniatures who got John Pickford to sculpt a full set of Alpine Dwarfs! Go get yourself some right now.

GROG in the snow

Gaming with actual people!

 

I got to play some games with people 

in person

in a wood

its was great. :)

Better late than never, here are my selection of photos from The Woods in the woods, the first Oakbound games day. After such a long time painting in solitude and trying to make games work on a digital platform is was excellent to get some friends together in a Covid-safe (and beautiful) environment at Wild Woodland Celebrations near Nailsworth and play some tabletop adventures.

The players gather around their rulebooks... This was the first, second and third time playing for most players! It's very satisfying as a publisher to see lots of copies of your own books floating around. 

Whilst they figured out the rules there was a little 'shrine' of Oakbound past and future to look at. The first edition books alongside WIP future releases and John Sibbick's original cover art.

Roddy's huldraugur were the bane of many players' bands. Those armoured buggers with glaives are bad enough but the boars did more than their fair share of brutalising. They got their comeuppance though, at the end of the day a barguest went on a spree and gobbled down quite a few little piggies.

Mike considers his options and makes his play...

One of my favourite moments of the day was when Harry's speedy bucca almost swiped the objective at the end of turn 1 only for Mike's sneaky tricksy leprechauns to nab victory from his fishy grip! 

Sneaky owl positioning allows the leprechaun to drop to safety on top of the beehive hut, then levitate off with the prize.

The fishmen are none too pleased!

Andy's gnawloch muskets proved as deadly as predicted, but after a long struggle backwards and forwards Matt's myeri managed to pull off the win.

Harry deliberates- spooky fish or shouty fish skills?

Richard's piper was messing with people's minds, allowing an allied kelpie to run amok amongst its foes.

There was a photo booth on hand for showing off warbands. I was running some tuatha boars for the day, but I'm afraid they didn't manage much success against the demons of the fens!

Harry's bucca raiders, speedy, slimy, grippy fish!

There were two myeri clans present. Here are Matt's, with a kelpie from Bears Head Miniatures and a lovely Drao mystic converted from a Tiarna.

Richard's clan featured Oakbound and Krakon models alongside a Citadel classic, a unique take on a kelpie and (later on) a hungry barguest. Lovely raven familiar for the Draoi.

Gnawloch muskets of the lookout for prey. They earned the badge 'ratling guns' after a series of devastating orders!

Richard's myeri attempt to catch the slippery fish! The Scotia Grendel and Fogou Models terrain really gave the boards some excellent character.

So many shrooms! Matts' myeri make it very clear the tuatha attempts to seize some of their land is not welcome.

The terrifying Peru Peru dance! All together now lads, "Ka mate, ka mate! ka ora! ka ora!"

Gnawlochs put their objective safely behind the firing line.

War Pigs!

Harry watches his shoal caught in a pincer movement. 

Matt's Kelpie holds the ancient temple by scaring off all-comers.

Last game of the day- a 4-way fight on a double-size board.

Much deliberation over the best way to abduct fae. 

Plus fire! 

and Barbeque! 

Lovely way to end a really fun day.

Gaming with actual people!

Into The Woods part 2: The village in the valley

Last night saw another instalment of the campaign we're playing using the setting and rules from Secrets of Shandisholm. Sadly I forgot the decent camera, so the photos are awful, dark and blurry from my piss poor phone camera.

The little party of gnomes and tuatha had reached a steep slope down into a sheltered valley. To continue on their way to join the Old Lowland Road they would have to descend and follow the track along the Duskwards edge of the Heart Forest. Dismounting and leading their horses gently down the winding path they reached a gap in a long, low stone wall which marked the entrance to a settlement.

Although the central fire was still burning under its mantle the rest of village seemed totally deserted. It was evening and the sun was sinking low in the sky but no fires were lit in the small round houses clustered inside the walled enclosure. The group made their way from house to house, checking to see if anyone was about, but the round houses appeared to have been emptied of all objects except the occasional bedding roll. Ravenclaw summoned up courage to call out and ask if anyone was around, but apart from a faint clucking of hens in one of the distant huts there was no reply.

As they crossed the centre of the village a sudden ruckus started up on the edge of the clearing. Two wild boars careered out from the trees. The party took cover in the nearest hut doorway to see what was going to happen. Close on the heels of the boars a pack of white dogs with red ears and glowing eyes appeared from the dusky wood. Their attention fixed entirely on the boars they did not notice the party in their hiding place, but the boars were running directly towards it. Cornered by the faster animals, the boars turned to make a final stand. One of the dogs was gored horribly, but the rest set upon the boar and brought them down with ease. As she stood watching Winifred noticed a small figure emerge from one of the other huts. Dressed in a cloak and carrying a sword much too big for her the young girl shouted fiercely to the dogs. They turned slowly, prowling menacingly towards the girl, who struggled to raise the large sword in defiance.

Winifred frantically gestured to Ravenclaw and the others, fearing for the child's safety. Ravenclaw swiftly pulled out his bow, notched an arrow to the string and let fly at the nearest dog. Snarling with rage it turned and came running towards him, but before it could cross the distance Winifred's sling had put a rock between its eyes and fell unconscious to the ground. The gnomes had taken short bows from the Shandisholm armoury, but they were struggling with the unfamiliar weapons. One of the arrows met its mark and a slingshot from Ran Rauko felled the wounded animal. The last dog bounded across to the party and managed to sink its teeth into Athalwolf before Ravenclaw's axes dispatched it.

Winifred went to tend the fallen Athalwolf whilst Ravenclaw approached the girl with the sword. She didn't seem to realise the party had saved her life and haughtily demanded to know what they were doing in her village. No amount of reasoning seemed to change her attitude and she insisted they leave immediately. This was her village, she was the chief and she and her younger brother who was inside the hut were the only people allowed to live in it.

As the older tuatha were losing patience with the brattish teenager the sun finally sank below the horizon. A deafening splintering crash omitted from the largest and most distant hut, accompanied by a raucous bleating and grunting as pigs and sheep dashed from the doorway. It looked like the roof was caving in. At the sight the young girl dashed across to where the animals were breaking for the settlement walls. "The flocks!" she cried, "We have to get them back inside!"

Her dash was cut short as a massive figure emerged from the shattered door of the hut. Roofing straw matted in its clothing and a sheep under one arm, the Spriggan gleefully trotted towards the other animals. It must have crept into the hut during the day and nightfall had transformed it into its giant form.

Ravenclaw was close behind the girl and shouted to the Spriggan to drop the sheep it was carrying. The giant just laughed and reached for another creature nearby.

Meanwhile, unnoticed by the party, a shadowy figure had appeared on the slope above the village. It raised a hand towards where the silhouettes of the gnomes could be seen clustered around the fire. Athalwolf, recovering on the ground by the fire, suddenly clutched at his head, agonising pain screeching across his scalp and down his spine. He fell back unconscious.

By this time Ravenclaw and the girl had been joined by Ran Rauko and he called out to the Spriggan once more, commanding it to release the sheep. Seeing there were more enemies arriving the lone Spriggan decided to cut its losses, dropped the stunned sheep and capered into the night with a shrill cackle.

It was now fully dark, and the party spent the next hour rounding up as many of the animals as possible and making their enclosure fast. The girl used a shrill whistle to herd the sheep and pigs and had great skill in gathering them together. Her brother also emerged from the hut to lend a hand. Working together to retrieve the livestock seemed to soften the girl's attitude to the party and as they retired to the huts to cook meat from one of the boar it emerged that she and her brother had not eaten for two days. A few days ago a stranger in purple had visited the village and talked with the elders. The children had overheard something about goblins but had been sent away from the meeting hut and knew nothing more. They had gone off to play in the woods and when they returned the village was deserted. The girl's name was Jinni and her brother was called Glenn. Jinni told them her mother had once mentioned that there was a safe place they could go to in times of need, a hidden refuge just inside the Heart Forest. They thought this might be where the rest of the village had gone. Ravenclaw told them of the quest they were on, the task of defeating the goblin horde. Jinni at first laughed at him speaking so seriously of the Fae and goblins, make-believe creatures grandmothers used to warn naughty children to behave. As the tale unfolded though she became more wrapt and was determined to follow them to stack the goblin horde. First though, they had to find the other villagers to make sure Glenn was safe with the other adults. The party secretly hoped Jinni's parents would take her off their hands as well!

The following morning they packed their bags, loading the second boar carcass onto one of the horses, and set off towards the Heart Forest in search of the missing villagers.

Into The Woods part 2: The village in the valley