RPG: The Curse of the GM PC

Ahoyhoy internets, DaveHowitzer back once again with something a little different. Something gaming related.

Yes, dear readers, today we shall be delving into the world of the RPG, more specifically the pen and paper RPG -even, even more specifically, I'll be discussing this from the standpoint of a Dark Heresy GM- and to be really specific I'm going to be talking about the man we all love to hate. The GM.

Now, being a GM is tough business, I know, I was a Dark Heresy GM for 2 years until teenage stupidity, gossip and the insatiable need to smoke weed of some members broke the group up, which was very sad. I think it kinda gets to good GMs who have an excelent story planned out if they don't get to bring it to a conclusion -but I digress, that's for another article. The GM has to come to the table each week with at least a rough plan of what is going to happen; even if it's a sandbox game; has to balance the power of the players against the foes they face and most importantly juggle the real life personalities in the room and make sure people get with the proverbial program. -which trust me...is never easy-

EDITORIAL: Suit Up, Win Games, Be Awesome

Ahoyhoy internets, it's your favourite lifestyle guru and mixology extraordinaire; the one, the only, the Howitzer here once again, wishing you a very happy first annual International Suit Up Day. To celebrate this momentous occassion in our history, I felt that today should be all about the debonair, the successful and the down right awesome. So with that in mind my dearest readers today we will talk about The Gamer.

-disclaimer: This article is tongue in cheek, so please don't take it too seriously.-

We all know or have been "that guy" in the gaming group. Sweaty, unclean band tee-shirts, the unwashed 2ft long hair, the famous "gamerstench" following you around in a kind of teenage green cloud. Why is The Gamer like this? I think we can pinpoint it down to three main reasons:

1) A lack of self esteem or confidence

2) A lack of ethic to change or make things better in his/her life.

3) A lust for knowledge about their own certain gaming pursuit in the hope that through that they can attain the prestige/acknowledgement that they crave and probably deserve.

So internets, I know I make a bit of a song and dance about the HIMYM -praise be Saint Stinson- lifestyle but that is both tongue in cheek -to raise the kind of campness/undeserved sense of achievement of this blog - and a serious statement. As I have said in a previous article, we gamers are mostly categoriesed socially as smelly metalheads who will grow up to live in their mother's basement and never feel the gentle touch of the opposite sex .-or rough...you know- So in writing CSNS I consciously made the decision to promote the "opposite" idea of the gamer, a successful, well dressed, finely refined human being. So in honour of this tremendous day let's explore that side of what a gamer can be.

IHoP Response: Drinking a Man's Drink #1

Ahoyhoy folks, DaveHowitzer here with another drink related post here! First of all, I give MASSIVE plugs to Lauby and all the chaps over at Int'l House of Paincakes for allowing me and my particular brand of insanity into their network.  -and Lauby I LOVE the fact that you dig the theme.-

Now to the task at hand where I shall spin you a disasterous and tragic yarn of horrible nasty times. Browsing my new blogging home I came upon a STARTLING discovery. Now readers, those of you of a tender age look away now...

EDITORIAL: Getting back in the game.

Ahoyhoy internets, DaveHowitzer here once again asking for a little advice this time.

I dunno if I've mentioned it, but I've not been back to a GW or to a club for a game in...phhh....ermm.....hmmm....

-Well you get the picture, a while-

So, recently the only games I've managed to get are Vassal games with some buddies or the occassional tabletop game with a mate from Uni, which I now no longer attend. So it seems to get my fix I really, really, really get back into the old social scene of playing this game. But that for me seems a bit daunting for several reasons;

1) It's like being a new gamer again. By this I mean remember when you got into the hobby? Maybe you were an older guy who saw these guys your age or a bit younger playing with SUPER COOL SPACE DUDES and thought to yourself, "Hmm me, to alleviate myself of this chocolate and Honey-Nut Cheerios addiction I have here, perhaps I should indulge in that spiffy looking hobby." 

-Alas dear reader, the chap in the above example swapped gluttony for plastic crack. An all too common case of GW Syndrome, or "Adeptusastartesitis" -

40k: I Got Char-grilled Dragon Beef

Ahoyhoy internets, DaveHowitzer here with just a quick little post whilst I'm at work. Browsing the internet in my lunch hour I've noticed a very disconcerting trend in the Eldar lists I've been seeing on the Blogsphere: the maxing out of Fire Dragons in the army Elite slots.

Ok guys, I know Dragons are good; really good at what they do but is it just me or does having 3 "disposable" anti-tank not make sense. Ok, they WILL kill their designated target, but then you have the rest of a leafblower or a BloodWolves army to eat them for breakfast. And to me that doesn't make sense when you can only knock out a max of 3 transports with them. 1 unit, I'm more than happy with, I employ one myself; 2 ok personal choice but you're cutting it fine. When we get to three, I just say, "Dude, what you are doing." OVERKILL. We already have a metric ton of S6 for light armour and Prisms/Falcons to mop up what that doesn't kill.

All of the Eldar CC goodness is in our Elites slot and to not use one unit at least of them, we leave ourselves open to assault with little or no countermeasures in place.

What's wrong with 2 Dragon units and a unit of Harlies with a Shadowseer and kisses? Maybe a couple of fusion pistols in the mix?

Come on internets, you know it makes sense. We aren't the best army around right now, but don't pansy out with so many Dragons. Grab life by the balls!

Love, Dave.

40k: Tidy Gamer is Happy

Ahoyhoy internets, DaveHowitzer here once again! I must apologise for lack of hobby posting recently, between work and Reach my hobby time has been limited in the last week. However this week I did have time to re-locate my hobby operations one level up. Literally.

I got the chance this week to get some space in the loft of my building to put some gear so I jumped at the chance at getting a better area for my modelling and painting. The area of the loft is well lit and ventilated and with a little...ok a lot of elbow greese and a new table from a certain mainland European furnature company I now have an excelent area for hobbying.

EDITORIAL: So why the smeg should you listen to me computer man?

Ahoyhoy internets, DaveHowitser here with my first real post on any blog ever! First of all I'd like to say, I don't claim to be any wargames genius (though, GW is my area of expertise and I must say I do know my stuff) but I am a man of strong opinions. Maybe occassionally I'll come up with some gem for you all, but on the whole this will be a place to post my thoughts and army progress along with some input from my mates.

So in the spirit of progress let's get down to business! This afternoon I'd like to talk about how the internets (that's you people!!) have effected the way wargames (specifically 40k and Fantasy) are played globally. Back when I started playing 40k at the tender age of 13 at the arse end of 3rd edition the local metagame was everything! You had to tailor your list aways for what you knew was coming at you in your gaming group everyweek, and certainly in my mind the "all comers" list didn't exist in my area (west of Scotland). Whenever you went to a tourney you would be genuinely surprised at what would be there.


As time progressed into 4th so did technology, and the internet became much more of a household product in mainstream culture. This is the time when we saw the advent of forums and blogs dedicated to niche markets one of which would be miniature wargaming. Now we all know the big boys of the forum and blogsphere; BoLS, FTW, Warseer, B&C, DakkaDakka and many more, but in the new wargaming society we have made do we realise fully how we have changed the landscape of our hobby. As an example, let's take our tourney play as an example. With the coming of blogs and forums the "local" gaming community expanded somewhat into being a worldwide gaming community. Ok, you can't pick up your little plastic men and play some guy in Arazona if you're in Ayrshire -I guess unless you are amazingly committed- but that sense of fellowship with other gamers seems to have transcended the local gaming group wouldn't you say? We share our lists with others though the online personae we build up, we talk tactics, we listen to opinion, news, rumours, tips, tricks, hell all the things we usse to do with guys who are a 10 minute drive away we now do with guys a 10 hour flight away.

And who would say that's a bad thing? I like the fact I can see some guy in Chicago's FootDar list and compare it to. I like the fact I get to see Goatboy's Orgy of Blood List when I go onto BoLS in the afternoon. I like -with the advent and huge success of hobby podcasts- that I can listen to Romeo talk about Battlefoam and curse the fact that being a Brit, I can't get my grubby little hands on any. 

I guess the reason I'm writing this article is in response to the guys who in my own gaming group have become the naysayers against our new global wargaming community; "Oh you see the same lists at every tourney now," "Who are these guys to tell me how to play," "What's the point in listening to these guys talk crap for 2 hours." I say this is balderdash based on common sense! Let me explain: You don't HAVE to read blogs. You don't HAVE to post on forums. If you do they are not there to dictate how YOU of anyone else plays their game. Ok so at every tournament from Victoria to Brighton there are a few Leafblowers and Razorback spams and the interwebs in all likelihood played a large part in that. But does the internet determine the quality of the player playing it? The same list at every tournament played by mediocre players should be a godsend to those who know how to counter attack well.

Come on haters, be groovy about our worldwide community.

I'd really like to hear your thoughts on this new age we live in, haters or lovers so don't be afraid to comment =]

Love, Dave