Work is incredibly busy at the moment and what with the public examinations about to get into full swing there is little sign of this drain on my hobby time abating anytime soon. Fortunately I have a series of posts prepared and, taking a leaf out of Simon's 'Fantorical' blog, I have decided to cobble them together into a loosely themed month of ‘Bushido’ goodness. So to get things underway a brief introduction and some terrain pieces.
In a bid to offer a little more variety to our afterschool activates schedule, I decided to put on a Table Top Gaming Club at school.* This has proved a great escape for me and an opportunity to get a little midweek gaming in. Now it would be fair to say that this has not been the most popular of clubs, but my little band of enthusiasts initially started out playing some of the Kickstarters that I had backed including ‘Rum n Bones’ and ‘Space Cadets’. This was all well and good, but when one of the chaps said that he had been playing ‘GCT Studios Bushido’ it seemed only right to encourage him to introduce it to the group.
The mere mention of the word war, let alone wargame seemed problematic, but we managed to side step that one!
Initially we just played on one of the tables having used masking tape to define the edges of the board, but I desperately wanted to enhance the experience for them and set about gathering together a few bits and pieces that could be used. I knew I had my board that could be made serviceable with a couple of running repairs and I already had some bamboo groves that I had made to represent the Burmese jungle with the addition of the Silver Birch trees that I had put together things were starting to take shape.
Further inspection of the bits box unearthed a Buddha aquarium ornament that didn’t even need painting and a couple of ‘Ainsty Castings’ Foo Dogs that for the life of me I couldn’t remember why I had initially bought! To these I added a couple of ‘Sarissa Precision’ MDF kits in the form of a bridge and Torri gate. By the time that they had all been assembled and painted the board was really starting to look the part, but what I wanted now was my own band of miniatures!
Some lovely pieces there Michael, a fine boards worth!
ReplyDeleteI'm really looking forward to this series of posts :-)
Thank you Andy, I hope you will recognise your influence in a couple of them.
DeleteNice work there. You'll have to let us know how it goes. I kind of like the idea of playing games like this. I have looked at this an Malifaux but never actually played a game as I don't know anyone else interested in playing them.
ReplyDeleteIt is a fun game, but I have been struggling with the amount of different modifiers. It is important to really get to grips with what your characters can do.
DeleteWhat a lovly terrain stuff Michael!
ReplyDeleteThank you Michał.
DeleteVery nice Michael. The Foo Dogs are great
ReplyDeleteThank you Kasper, I was really pleased with them.
DeleteWell done that man. Minimal terrain, maximum imagination and inspiration! I’m sure the young gamers in training will remember playing these games well into their adulthood.
ReplyDeleteThat's a lovely thought Matt, thank you.
DeleteNice terrain pieces Michael and great that you have eluded the censors at your school to get a wargames club going :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Tamsin, our numbers are small, but we are growing! :)
DeleteBeautiful terrain to grace any table.
ReplyDeleteThe term "miniature gaming club may be useful"
Thank you Joe and great turn of phrase too.
DeleteLovely stuff Michael. Your students are lucky to have you putting the effort in to make the games look great.
ReplyDeleteThank you, it has been great seeing other pupils pass as by and give approving nods.
DeleteI would have loved to play on such nice terrain back when I was in school.
ReplyDeleteThank you Brian, what a lovely thing to say.
DeleteGreat work Michael. For a good cause too. Even a few converts make it worth while.
ReplyDeleteThank you Mark, I'm hoping for a couple more before the end of the year.
DeleteMr Da Gobbo Grotto has a lot to answer for! ;D
ReplyDeleteHe most certainly does!
DeleteI am also skirting Bushido! I desire to get involved so will watch your endeavours ferociously. I have already decided on that I would collect (No mention by me here) but will wait and see what else come along.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant stuff.
Thank you Clint, the next post will introduce you to my new faction, but they are proving a little tricky to master.
DeleteGreat job!
ReplyDeleteIn years to come, those kids are going to remember what started their wargaming hobby.
I do hope so Mike, it certainly is a lovely thought.
DeleteMy very first Bushido force is on the way right now! Such a cool little system. Your board looks very nice, and I'll be watching eagerly to see what forces you go after.
ReplyDeleteHopefully the big reveal next post for my starter set Christopher and likewise looking forward to seeing what you come up with.
DeleteBeautiful terrain! Very evocative and helpful in motivating me to paint something Japanese themed too. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Mr. Nimrod and glad to be of service. ;)
DeleteAwesome terrain...Awesome!
ReplyDeleteThank you Phil.
DeleteI like those foo Dogs (shishi ?) The buddha ..what make is he?
ReplyDeleteThank you Paul, the Buddhas were aquarium ornaments that I have had for such a long time now, almost certainly from Pets at Home.
DeleteNice stuff have found with youngsters it is very much the spectacle that draws them in so making it look good helps enormously. Another option for evening events would of course be LOTR ! Linking gaming to reading ! Ps like the foo dogs !
ReplyDeleteYou are absolutely right Matt, I have noticed one or two favourable glances from others as we were setting up. Great shout on the LoTR too.
DeleteAbsolutely love those foo dogs.
ReplyDeleteCheers Roger.
Great initiative, perhaps I could start one at our school too...hmmmm
ReplyDeleteYou must! The only problem we have found is getting any sort of conclusion in the short space of time, but still great fun.
DeleteTerrific stuff Michael, and many thanks for the shout-out!! :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you and you are more than welcome.
DeleteVery nice pieces Micheal!
ReplyDeleteChristopher
Impressive scenery Sir and you remind me I have the same foo dogs hidden away.
ReplyDeleteThank you Dan, you never know when you are going to need a brace of Foo Dogs.
DeleteYou can't imagine how happy I was to read this post. I've been looking EVERYWHERE for foo dogs at the right size and price and you've solved my problem!
ReplyDeleteIf you're happy, then I'm happy Millsy. :)
DeleteSome excellent looking terrain, and good luck with the club. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you on both counts.
DeleteNice!!
ReplyDeleteFoo dogs look amazing, great stone work!
ReplyDeletenice to see a very different project
ReplyDeleteExellent school project!
ReplyDeletelovely painted terrain !!!
These are some lovely terrain pieces and very appropriate for Bushido.
ReplyDeleteGood for you - bringing war games to the young'ns is a great way to encourage the new blood.
ReplyDeleteSo far, this bushido project looks really good.
Excellent work Michael. I'm sure the kids will appreciate the extra effort.
ReplyDeleteLovely stuff Michael! I need to get me some of those FOO dogs, they are excellent!
ReplyDeleteLovely looking scenery.
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Beautiful terrain that certainly looks the part!
ReplyDelete