Miniature Building Authority Preps 28mm Modern Conflict for GenCon.

You can find the original blog for MBA here.  For your ease, I have reblogged it here. I know I've been away from the blog for a while, and apologize.  I've gone through a couple of life changes, mostly in employment.  I think things are settling now, so... well I can hope they are.




I was lucky enough to be asked to come over and help playtest the ruleset that MBA (Miniature Building Authority) will be running at Gen Con 2013.  There were four other play testers, and what a great time we had.  First, let's have a look at the table:

The table ready for Troop Deployment Iraq 28mm table, ready for troop deployment

And here is another shot from a different angle:

A bird's eye view of about half the table.

We were each put in charge of a different force including Americans, UN, IDF, Shia, and Sunni.  After falling in love with the table, we put out our forces.

Calm looking street? The red bus is full of pilgrims, and the surrounding buildings are full of Shia ambushers. It's about to go all wrong here.

And these:

The Mosque is the destination for the Pilgrims. The IDF escorts have quite the warm welcome waiting for them.

There was a ton of action, fires starting and troops dying.

28mm Humvee lights up a VW microbus, insurgents flee

The Americans and IDF held a base in the contested zone with little resistance.

28mm American compound, complete with porta potties

Whilst the Shia waited on Pilgrims that were to never arrive.

Courtyard around Mosque. Shia Forces readying for assault on Americans.

Things get hot quickly.  The pilgrims bus is Bus jacked, and the Americans attempt a heroic Helo based rescue.  The chopper is forced to land because of small arms fire and so that mission is aborted.

IDF and UN players watching to see what develops as Helicopter is forced to land in roundabout

The Sunni bravely ambush the rear of the American armored patrol, and the UN prepare to blow the wall and go after the guys who shot down the Helo.

28mm American armored vehicle takes a rocket launcher attack in the rear from Sunni troops hidden in convenience store. UN troops at bottom of photo preparing to breech wall and enter Mosque compound.

At the end of the game the Sunni player was declared the winner.    *I* think we were all winners.  The game was a ton of fun, the guys were fun opponents and willing to have a good time, MBA  put on a Phenomenal table in 28mm for us to play on and nobody got upset when the bad guys won.  Thanks so much for letting me be a part of this.

Day 3

This was the last game of ATZ I played, it was next in the series.  I got disgusted at not being able to load the pictures.  It was a good game, but then Zombicide arrived.  Afraid ATZ got pushed to the background as I started painting and playing Zombicide.  I've really enjoyed Zombicide, and so have my friends.  The figures are solid, and with the second kickstarter just finishing I have now a little over 300 models from that alone.  I've painted about 20 so far.  At this rate, I should start looking for more models to paint when I turn 80 or so.  I publish the story of my game out of a sense of completeness.  It has lain dormant in my blogger file waiting for pictures.  Not going to happen, so if you feel like seeing what goes on, read away.  Should I return to ATZ, it will be with the new ruleset, so I guess this was the last hurrah for these characters.  Maybe I will run someone less like me next time.  Dunno.  


 We got home with the help of LPD and the Road Disciples MC.  A quick beer, some of the extra armor and a couple of old shields later, they were on the way our the door.  Rusty, the talkative one seemed happy enough.  I told him if we could get together the metal I could help them build more  and better armor. I think:  Great.  I am making "Knight Riders" come to life.  How strange the world is.

             The two girls,  Tina and Dani were tired and scared.  Toni  put them through a shower (hot water still, running.  I wonder how long that will last?) and fed them and put them to bed.  We talked over our next move.  I wanted to check on Gunther's wife Kora and his two daughters.  I knew he had flown out to Texas for some Army training of some kind and had been gone for a week.  Toni convinced me that Kora and the girls would be okay.  Gunther keeps enough hardware to equip a light battalion.  We can check on them the day after tomorrow.  Our real responsibility is to the two girls.  We would try to get them back with family.  Phones weren't working.  Internet was down.  Great.

     Next morning we took  just the Truck.  All five of us loaded in.  I had Toni drive, as my armor makes it almost impossible.  Shotgun, Rifle, and 9mm pistol.  I carried sword and board, shotgun over my shoulder.  Toni would use the Mosin and carried an axe.  Tina was the smaller girl, so I gave her the 9mm and my other schlager style sword.  Dani was not exactly huge, but since we were out of guns I gave her the boar spear.  I needed more guns... and some real bolts for my crossbow.  Crap.  Can anything please be easy?

         Two and a half hours of insane driving later we arrived at Tina and Dani's subdivision.  In regular times, should have been forty minutes driving, tops.  We had to back up, go around, and in one case push through all kinds of craziness.  Zeds were everywhere, but there were plenty of signs of  live people too.  You saw cars driving.  Houses and buildings were boarded up.  One guy on a ten speed was zipping along, through any zeds before they could react to him.  They gave up pretty quick.   I hope he did okay.  

    There is a tow truck hooked to a car blocking the street for the girl's subdivision.  We hop out, and that is when the trouble started.   A group of zeds, one still wearing the tow truck drivers uniform shirt, comes around from the truck's back.  I don't want to start blazing away with the shotgun.  It is loud!  The ladies go to work and put a couple down, and Dexter and I step in and get the other two.  Not so bad, I think....

      Famous last words, almost.  I hear a lot of shuffling and groaning coming from the part of the subdivision  we are headed to.  My high school English teacher called this foreshadowing.  Another group of zeds has obviously responded to the shots and heads our way from further down the street.  I realize we need to MOVE if we are going to get to the girls home.  

       Heading up the street we see the house on the corner has a fire that burned part of it but went out.  Why so many fires, I think?  The zeds aren't running around with lighters...

       Out of the back door of the burned house stumble a pair of zeds.  I step up, confident in Dexter's help.  He declines to move forward.  What the heck?  I have no time to think, as the zeds both attack me!  The ladies are busy shooting the larger group of zeds that we saw moving at us.  I fought and killed the first one, but was thankful for the armor when the second one bit me hard on the vambrace.  Thank god for that.  After a further brief struggle, I put him down.  That louder shuffling was getting closer.  The ladies were anything but ladylike as the cursing was coming from them in steady stream.  The rifle and pistol were firing away, but the zeds seemed to be little affected.

       I yelled to the new girls "Aim for the head!" and turned to Dexter.  He seemed very afraid.  Must have been the fire that spooked him.  I soothed him, and he seemed reassured.  Good.

       The ladies finished off the last of the smaller group from down the street.  Dexter and I step into the burnt house to look around.  There is a guy in there, breathing heavy.  He has a knapsack and a rifle.  He is standing over the corpse of woman.  She is naked.  She also seems much less bloody than the other corpses that have been running around. 

     "Hey there" I say to him, taking in the scene.  Last words we ever spoke.  He starts bringing the rifle up to shoot me, but pulls the trigger too quickly.   I drop the sword and shield, grabbing my shotgun.  So much for keeping somewhat quiet.  I miss the first time, the shot booming into the afternoon and raising a flock of crows from nearby.  Fortunately it is a pump model, and I don't worry about conserving shells.  The difference between killing a zed and this guy?  He screamed for a while.  What a sick guy!  That female corpse was strangled....

     I step back outside to disaster.  Dani is laying on the ground, Tina and Toni desperately backing away from her as, if from nowhere, about 8 zeds pour out of the house behind us and onto her.  Tina is useless, screaming and crying.  While the zeds are busy eating, I jump in and start swinging.  Dexter comes as well, and Toni adds her rifle to the fight.  Before they realize what happened, we finish them off.  Toni comforts Tina, but to little avail.

        She looks at the house, and the knapsack I am carrying.  I shake my head.  No need for the girls to see *that*.  I walk in quickly and grab the thirty ought six rifle, and rummage through his clothes. Nothing.  The knapsack has a couple of bottles of high end scotch, three boxes of ammo for the deer rifle and about 30 boxes of Kraft mac and cheese.  

    I hand the rifle to the still sobbing Tina, noting the broken scope as I do.   No amount of comforting is helping her get it together immediately.  We need to get her to her off the street and now.   We head for the house next door, hoping to go in the back door.  

     Around the corner comes what seems to be a hundred zeds.  Tina completely loses it, and in her screams I can make out one word.  Mom.  Fan fucking tastic. This couldn't much worse I think, but refuse to tempt Loki by voicing it aloud.  I fire the shotgun dry, and Toni is banging away. It helps but  god, where there a ton of them.  I wade in, Dexter with me this time, and Toni continues to bang away where she can.  It is all I can do to stay upright, and I am thankful for the years of shieldwall bashing.  I bring my sword down over and over, my shield being yanked and pulled.  Dexter goes after one and another from the edges, but I am in the middle, fighting for all I am worth. Suddenly, there just are no more.  I stumble back for a second.  Toni checks quickly around.  Down the street, a few have come out of houses and head for us, but they are a ways off.

     Toni smiles and tosses me a water bottle.  "Looks like you could use this!"  I drink about half in one go.  I pour the rest down my face and savor the cooling effect.  Armor in July... warm indeed.

    We open the backdoor of the house.   It is empty.  Tina has quieted.  "They are dead.  Mark and Lisa lived here.  They are in the backyard with Mom.   Everyone is dead." She is still useless, but more coherent.  I will take the little victories.  We quickly go over this house, Toni spotting some canned vegetables and bottled water.  Dexter, always on the lookout for  a handout, scratches at a closet door.  Inside is a bag of dog food.  I pour him a bowl from the open container, scanning the street. Only two zeds, and they are headed for the back door.  

    I gather everyone and head for the front door.  We move quickly to Tina's home, but the door is broken off the hinges. I can hear her whimpering behind me.  No good will come of this, I think.  But she has to know.  If we just run now, she will wonder about her father.  

    As we go through the front door, 4 zeds come from the living room.  Tina goes from whimper back to full sob.  I am guessing one of these her Dad.  Poor kid.  Dexter accounts for one, I hammer two, and Toni decides to axe one.    "Tina, grab some clothes and whatever keepsakes you want.  Does you family have any guns?"  She shakes her head, and Toni and she go into her room to pack.  The trailing Zeds have made it to the front yard, but there seem to be no others.  Taking a chance, I head out with Dexter to finish them off quickly.

     A couple of minutes later Toni and Tina come out the front door lugging a suitcase, a jewelry box, and dragging a cooler.  With the knapsack and other food, it is too much.  I hunt around the garage for a second and spot a wheelbarrow.  We pile in lots of stuff and head back the way we came, quiet. As we load the stuff in the bed, Dexter is nuzzling Tina.  She seems to be responding to it.  I hope it will be okay.

Zombicide Arrives Today

My postman is a hero today.  No bills, but a package from VampiFan and from CoolMiniOrNot.  I was unusually lucky and won VampiFan's contest a little while back, so he sent me a wrecked car by Armorcast.  I am looking forward greatly to putting it together and fielding it. 
     I also got my Kickstarter copy of Zombicide, by CoolMiniOrNot and Gullitine Games.  I am quite pleased with it.  For some reason, my dashboard did not come up with the photos link.  The whole dashboard is different and I can't put up pics. I will add them if I can figure it out or the old style comes back.
  The game itself is a rather beer and pretzels affair. You can see the whole rulebook yourself.  It has no mechanics for a campaign.  Each game is stand alone, and has a definite start and stop.  I'd think it would be fun with some friends, but is not the tabletop skirmish game that ATZ is.   The rules are simple, and fairly quick to learn. I played the tutorial and then game 1.  The system has a mechanic that makes the zombies more numerous and meaner as the game goes along.  I played with four survivors.  Two made it off the board.  Your mileage may vary.
     The minis are fantastic.  There are tons of them.  There are 4 sculpts for the walkers, 2 for the ragers, 1 each for the fatties and Tank.  The survivors look good too.  I look forward to painting them all.  They are all built on pretty skinny lines though.  These are all supermodel thin.  Except the Fatties.  I want to paint Gaming logos on those guys shirts.  At least one.
  Guess that's it for now.  I will post pics as soon as it will let me.

Model Tech Studios Review

Hello again-

    I am going to review an accessory pack from Model Tech Studios.  I was looking for some things other than buildings to flesh out my board for Zombie gaming, specifically for ATZ (All Things Zombie).  I have some zombies and some survivors, some o scale buildings, and some 1/43 scale cars.  I wanted some stuff, you know stuff.  Model Tech seemed to fit the bill.  I ordered the Alley Trash pile.  I also got the jersey barriers (everywhere in Atlanta it seems) and the Industrial Shelving.  I will probably do those later in another review, I have to paint them first.  The Trash pile came painted.  Here are the pics.  On the right is a VF zed, and on the left a swat team member for size comparison.

What I liked about the product:  It give an area of difficult terrain that is spot on for a suburban/urban environment.  It came prepainted.  The sculpting was pretty good.  The ease, in short.

 What I didn't like so much:  It has to back up to a wall, as it is not sculpted on the back side.  It is a bit on the large size for the items in question in some cases, and not in others (scaling isn't consistent). The paint job is of slightly less than tabletop quality as far as I'm concerned.  I will have to touch up or just repaint in some places.  My painting skills are not wonderful, but this is worse than what I would accept to put on the field. 

I will order more from them.  I will not pay the extra for prepainted stuff though.  It doesn't cost much more for the paint job, but I will end up doing it over anyway.  They shipped quickly.  It came well packed.  Overall, I am pleased with my experience and would recommend them to other hobbyists.  The one thing I'd like to see from them is a size comparison.  The industrial shelving is too tall to fit in a one story O scale building.  I will just use it for outdoors, but I wouldn't have bought it on that basis.

On a completely different note, I just got my tracking number for my Zombicide Kickstarter. We'll just say I'm excited.  Hope to be able to show it off to you guys in all it's glory. 

Day 2 Episode 1 Hair of the Dog

What a first day.  We'd been beaten, shoved and watched people eaten by zombies.  My dogs had become another casualty.  I had taken them in the back yard while Toni watched with the rifle.  I dug a hole for each of them, used the shovel the smash the head, and then buried them.  I cried the whole time. 
     We boarded up the doors and windows on the ground level, and I had to kill three more zombies that were attracted to the noise.  I am pretty sure that 2 of them were from the family down the street that I played basketball with sometimes.  Only pretty sure, they were fairly well chewed.  We loaded all those corpses onto the back of the truck.  We took them to the back of the subdivision where the houses were still being built and dumped them.  I didn't want them decomposing in the yard.
     Dark was coming when we backed the truck into the garage.  I shut the garage door and shook for a while, unable to stop.  I can do okay when the adrenaline is running, but there is always a price to pay later.  We closed all the curtains and only used a couple of low lights.  I didn't know if light would attract them, but tonight wasn't the time to find out.
       I was in the shower getting clean when I realized how screwed we were.  Water, electricity, the internet were all still working now, but for how long?  We would need water, food, medicine.  Gas?  Probably.  Crap.  We were going to have to go out into that mess again tomorrow.   We fell asleep watching the world falling apart on the little 7" t.v. I keep for bad weather.
     When we woke in the morning everything seemed okay at first.  I had forgotten what was going on in the fugue of sleep.  I stumbled into my closet, putting on some shorts and a tee shirt so I could take the boys out too pee.  That's when it hit me.... Yeah, Dexter would need to go out, if he could.  If the yard wasn't covered in what used to be my neighbors. 
     It wasn't.  I didn't see any as I looked through all the windows.  I put Dexter on the leash and we went outside, me holding my sword.  I didn't care how silly I looked, this was scary.  Dexter sill had to take care of business though.  I'd have to figure out a long term solution for that. 
    Coffee was brewing when I went back in.  Everything looked like a normal day, except for the Axe and Rifle by the door.  Toni and I sat down and made an inventory.  I approached it like a hurricane.  We filled everything that would hold water with water.  We put candles and lighters in every room. I drug the grill inside to the garage.  I broke out all the camping equipment we had.  Not nearly enough.
    "We have to use the frozen stuff first" I told Toni.  I tossed a couple of coolers in the bed of the truck as I talked, in case we found more.  "We are going to need more food, medicine, and water.  Ammo would be nice, but we are okay for now.  What else?" I asked my sweetheart.  She surprised me a bit.  "People.  We can't just let them die alone." Well, okay then I thought.  Big damn heroes it is.
     We loaded Dexter into the truck, and after making sure no zeds were in sight, opened the garage door.  As it was going up,  I saw a couple of slow moving forms coming down the street towards us.  I pulled out of the garage, Toni hit the remote, and we drove off.  I went slowly down the street away from the zeds.  I could see others ahead of us, but there was plenty of driving room right now.  I wanted to draw the ones near my house away from it.  I was also looking for any other signs that people might be in one of the houses.  The zombies followed us, and more and more were coming from between houses and out of homes.   I sped up, going all the way around the block almost, but leaving the subdivision instead of going back to my house.
      I felt brave enough to try the corner store near the Publix where I had been knocked down last night.  As we drove up, I could see that the Publix had burned down last night. It was still smoking when we parked.  Several zeds were stumbling around.  Toni said excitedly" Look!  That guy is pumping gas!  We can get some too."  Right.
        We started to walk over there.  The zombies around the parking lot decided we looked a lot like lunch and headed for us.  As they did, the man who'd been pumping gas hopped in his car and sped off.  He even waved.  What the hell? 
      One of the zeds comes for me, but I cut him down with my gladius.  I want to be as quiet as I can, but Dexter is barking his fool head off.  I see a couple of zeds coming out of the 7-11. It isn't yet nine in the morning and the street is crowding up with zombies. Great...
      Then it hits me.  This is funny.  It is horrible, to be sure.  It is scary.  But there is plenty of room for humor.  I have always been a trash talker when I fight.  Some of it makes me feel better. Some of it gets into the other guys head.  Not much of a worry in the current situation, but what the heck? 
       As the next zed comes for me, I realize he'd been a big guy when he was alive, probably topping 300 pounds.  Dexter goes at the zed closing in on him, growling and tearing him.  I push my foe around, in something like a dance move.  I am getting into it. 
     Toni is worried.  There are three zombies closing in, and I am playing with the one in front of me.  "What are you doing?" She asks "This is crazy!"   I answer "Wrong. This.... is.... SPARTA!' I shout and kick the zed in the chest, then bring down my sword, cutting off his head.  I neatly riposte into the next one, putting my point through his ear. 
     Dexter ignores us, rushing past the one he killed earlier to grab another by the throat and begin shaking it.  Toni asks "The world is coming apart at the seams and you are quoting movie lines?"  "Yup!" I answer helpfully.  The last of the zeds is closing, and she shoots it in the chest, knocking it down.  I reach back, pause dramatically, and say "There can be only one."  His head comes off.  Toni giggles.  It is silly, and suddenly not quite so scary.
     The street is empty for a second when it gets serious again.  We hear noise from the house we've been fighting in front of.  Toni raises the LR9 while I open the door.
      Not at all what I expected, a pair of Bikers in the middle of going through the house suddenly stop.  They turn to us, and they are obviously very dangerous men.  At the same time, we have the drop on them.  Nobody says anything.  Dexter begins a deep rumbling growl in his throat. 
    "Are you wearing armor?" The larger of the two asks me.  "Yeah...." I answer slowly.  I am always ready to take offense when someone makes fun of me in my kit.  I figure it's about to drop in the pot when he says. "Cool!  I wish we had some.  One of them zombie bastards bit me on the ankle and my boot stopped it cold.  I'd like some armor too."  He is eying me, so I point out the obvious.  "Mine is made to fit me.  You couldn't move in it, it would be too big."
     He nods thoughtfully.  "True.  True. Well, see ya round."  He has moved us from prey to predator at least.  A thought strikes me.  "Hey, I've got some extra pieces of  armor at the house.  Give us a hand grabbing some stuff, and I'll fit you out as best I can."
    Not even a second goes by.  "Deal.  We clean out the area, and you give us some armor. Let's go."
Dexter is in the kitchen near an unopened cabinet, tail going a mile a minute.  "Wonder what's in here?"  I pop open the door, and it's loaded with Dog food and his favorite, several boxes of Milk bones. "Damn Dusty, all I found with this Tuna fish.  It looks like the dog is a good idea."  "Yeah, whatever"
     We head out into the street, and dump the food into the nearby truck.  "Let's check out the strip centers and the church.  After that, we'll head back and I'll help you with as much armor as I can."  I figure that having a Motorcycle gang that feels at least a little bit friendly is a good idea.
    We open the door to the dry cleaner, and suddenly time just stops.  I picked the wrong friends to have with me now, as three of Lawrenceville's finest are in the dry cleaner's lobby.  Everyone is staring at everyone else, and the tension is solid. 
     "Can't we all just get along?" I say, cracking a smile.  The tension eases a bit, and one of the Policemen recognizes Toni.  "Don't you work at the cornerstop?"  "Yeah, I'm pretty sure I've served you all before."  The police are easing down, as are the bikers when one of the start to say "Hey, don't we have an A.P...." and is cut off by another "Stow it, Davis. That was then, this is now."
    "We are just trying to get some food, and help anyone that needs it.  We are holing up at home, but Toni is worried about kids out in this."  That struck a cord with the Police.  There was nodding going on.  Dusty, one of the bikers spoke up. "Yeah, helpin' the kids.  We're all about that."  Perhaps it sounded a little false, but it was enough of a pretext to let everyone save face.  We rapidly checked the laundry and found it empty but for clothing.  Not wanting to take just to take, we moved on. 
    "The 7-11 next, I think, then across the street.  We save the church and daycare for last."  Back on the street, we move to the door of the 7-11.  We open it and almost gun down a pair of teenage girls who have been hiding in the store.  "Oh, thank God...."one is sobbing, they both run to the police.  "We've been so scared"  We calm the girls, and Toni tells them we will take them home with us, and check on where they live later. They nod, seeing the sense in that.  We quickly check the store. In a smear of blood is a set of car keys on the counter.  One of the girls grab them.  Toni stuffs her knapsack with some canned food of questionable quality. One of the cops grabs the stores' first aid kit and passes it over.  I reach up and behind the counter, and pull down a couple more cartons of smokes, passing one over to the silent biker as he looks up.  He nods and sticks it away.
     We head across the street to the liquor store.  Before we get there I decide to send one of the girls to try the keys in the car we parked next to.  "Okay mister." She say hesitantly.  The senior policeman speaks up "Davis, you go with and protect her."  "If you find a car that works, drive it to the gas station and fill it.  I saw the pumps working  a minute ago.  When we finish looking for people, we will do the same with the truck, then we will get out of here." The pair of them took off at a jog. 
      We went to the liquor store door, and I could tell it was already looted.  I opened the door and had barely a chance to yell as a pair of zeds came out.  The other girl who had not gone with her friend, the talkative biker and the junior ranking policeman all just ran. Really?  Really? 
  The Biker takes off after this group, yelling "You Idiots, get back here! Are you really going to run off alone?" (does he have to yell?  It's loud and I know the zeds are attracted to sounds) for them to stop.  I and the other policeman are left to deal with the zeds.  I push mine around a bit, trying to get a good opening for a head shot.  The policeman shoots his in the chest, and Toni puts one in his head.  I can see a couple more zombies coming out of the trash heap near the Church, attracted to the sound.  Great. Well, they are a long way off right now.  A quick look see says that anything worth taking is already gone.  We move next door to the bakery.
          We open the door, and a Man and Woman in Camo carrying shotguns are eying us.  They have been gathering supplies as well, and it is obvious that they want nothing to do with us.  "What's ours is ours!" Says the hefty woman. "Right" I answer.  They move slowly past us into the street, eying the dead zeds and us with a new respect.  "We are just lookin' after our own."  The man says.  "Got no problem with that" I shoot back.  Nods all around, and they head off down the street.  I can hear a car door shutting.  "It won't start" comes faintly to my ears, and I see the pair looking for a car move up the street. As we are moving to check the bakery, a pair of zeds round the corner and charge after one of the cops.  He drops one with gunfire, but the other charges him.  I start to run over, but he neatly sidesteps and drops it with his nightstick.
     A fast look around the bakery and we grab a huge sack of flour and another of sugar. We head for the Citgo, where the gas pumps are working.  We drop off the heavy bags of flour and sugar.  I am getting nervous about being out in the open so long and shooting so much.   I can see more zeds coming down the street in the distance.  They don't move fast, but there sure are a lot of them. 
   "Toni, Grab the truck and fill it up.  We will check the preschool and the church.""You bet sweetheart" She jogs off, pistol at the ready. We move away to the church, and as we do, I can see the policeman jumping in the car the teen has started.  They drive past us to the gas station. "Fill it as quick as you can and grab those bags.  We'll be right there.!"
    I can see that Toni has jogged right past a zombie who is pacing after her.  She didn't even notice it.  God, that woman...
    We get to the church and find the canned food drive stuff in the church office.  We grab it and head out. As we get to the door, another policeman comes around the corner.  He sees we are with his friends, and one of them has a quick conversation with him.  He nods and comes over.  We start towards the preschool.  I can see more zeds getting closer, fast.
   The doors to the preschool are open. There are blood trails and body parts everywhere.  No one alive is inside, and we just run.  Toni has started the truck and driven to the pumps.  We are moving in a group, and it seems like everyone is shooting at once. Zombies are coming in droves.  We are gunning them down, but the engines going and the shooting is drawing more and more of them.  Sure would be a good time for some napalm... 
     We pile into the back of the truck and the teen and cop into the car.  We swerve around several zeds, shooting at them, and drive off.   We give the police a ride back to their cars, and bring the bikers and teens home with us.  I know the bikers are leaving soon, but I want to honor our bargain.








I started this game by figuring the first thing in the morning, Toni, Dexter and I would head out for supplies.  We would need food, gas, and whatever else we could gather.  I start the game by using the Suburban rules (we are going down the street about 3 miles to a corner with a couple of gas station strip malls, a church, and a house on it.  I modeled it after what is actually found at the corner of Simonton Road and New Hope Road.  (minus the Publix supermarket, it would not have fit on my 3x3 table).  First thing in the morning, so daytime.  I rolled 6 zombies, and placed them.   I don't like the ATZ system for initial placement, you end up with a very rigid placement of zeds. 

I used a scatter dice and 4d6 to put them on the table.  The average roll is 14.  They are not grouped very much but they are certainly more organic looking than ATZ way.  Any input on this?

     I also used a bit of an underhanded mechanic to start the game.  I figured that gas will be a premium, but in the first few days the electricity and internet would probably still be at least partially up.  I would just drive around in my truck looking for a gas station that had the lights on.  I'd then drive up to the pumps and see if the pay at the pump was working.  I'd keep looking for that until I found one or was convinced that it was not going to happen.  So I also penalized myself.  I started the game with a civilian filling his car while the engine was running.  I figured as soon as he could activate, he would drive off, leaving us to deal with the zombies he attracted.  Any thoughts on this?

   

 Turn 1 z5 m6 c2.  Civilian gets in car and drives off the board.  His car attracts 2 more zeds coming out of the store across the street.

Turn 2 z 3 m4 I am charged by a single zed. I don't want to attract any more, so I wait for it to close and kill it in HTH.  I am the STAR. so I can pass at whatever D6 I want on that test.  Reading.  Good for what ails you.

Was that a car engine?  Dunno, let's check it out!

Turn 3 z6 m1 I kill one zed in hand to hand. Toni shoots twice, missing both times.  No zeds generated with the shots.

Turn 4 z 6 m 4... a lot of staring going on

Turn 5 z4 m6 Dexter and I are both charged.  We both pass the being charged test 1d6.  Dexter kills his while I lock in combat.  All those dice and I need the armor not to go down.

Turn 6 z1 m6 Dexter and I are both charged again.  I kill two zeds in melee, a bit of a vindication. Dexter continues his spree, killing another.

Turn 7 z 2 M1 zombies close in.  Toni shoots the one near us, knocking it down.  I melee it on the ground, killing it.

Turn 8 Random event.  We are not driving, so nothing happens. Z 4 m 6 The zombie way off in the distance staggers around a bit confusedly.

Turn 9, z 5 m1 we enter the house.  There are two gangers rep 4 in there.  They get a total of 6 dice, rep 4 plus 2 for us not being gangers.  We get a total of 4 dice, 3 for rep and 1 for outnumbering by 1.  Here is the turning point of this game.  They blew this dice roll.  We end up getting one more success than they do, so they join our side for the game.

Turn 10 more staring
Turn 11 more staring
Turn 12 z4 m3 The lone zed in the corner continues to wander about.  We search the house, finding two food units, one of the bikers and Dexter doing the finding.  I figure that food is the only thing Dexter can find, but he is excellent at locating that.  You just have to know the dog.
Turn 13 more staring
Turn 14 z3 m2  The zombie in the corner decides to sit down.  We move across the street to the Chinese laundry service, ready to go in next activation.

Turn 15 z 3 m 2.  The zombie stands back up.  He wonders why.  We open the door to find 3 policemen in the laundry. (Rather an odd find, but okay.)  Again, the outnumbering wins the day.  We win by 1 again.  They join us for 1 game.

Turn 16 still more staring
Turn 17 z6 m3 we all search the laundry, finding nothing of value. I suppose I could collect clothing, but see no need for it right now.
Turn 18 z5 m2  We move to the 7-11, getting ready to go in
Turn 19 you guessed it, staring
Turn 20 z 4 m1 There are two rep 3 civilians in the 7-11.  We meet and greet them so charmingly they decide to join on the spot.

Turn 21 z 1 m6 zed wanders
Turn 22 z 1 m5 still more wandering
Turn 23 z4 m1 We all search the 7-11. we find a set of keys, some first aid, some food, and a luxury item.  (figure it has to be smokes in the 7-11)
Turn 24. z3 M2 We split up, I send the civilian who found the keys and one of the cops off to try and start the cars in the area with them. The rest of the (huge) gang goes across the street. 
Turn 25 z5 m3.  The civilian tries the first car, no start happens.  We move into the right place to open the doors for next turn at the liquor store.

Turn 26 z3 m2 We open the door, 2 zeds inside waiting for us to open door.

Turn 27 z 6 m 5

Turn 28 z4 m 1  one of the cops, a ganger, and a civilian all retire after being charged.  I stand my ground, and tie in combat with my zombie.  On my activation, cops knocks down the other one and Toni pops the Weasel.  On the other side of the board, the car they tried refuses to start again.  The shooting generates a new zed, and interests the other one. The ganger also runs over and rallys the other ganger and the cop, but the civilian decides to hunker down.

Turn 29 4 m 1 we all search what must be a looted liquor store, no one finds anything.
Turn 30 z2 m1.  One zombie turns the corner.  Policeman gets in sight test right, Shooting and killing the zed.  We then open the door to the bakery. There are 2 rep 4 survivors in there, and they refuse to join us. The shooting draws 2 new zeds to table.

The other couple move up the street toward some more cars, intent on using the keys.

Turn 31 z4 m6.  The zombies get closer.  We drool.
Turn 32 z4 m1 Two Zombies charge a cop, who passes 1d6. He kills one and ties one in melee.  Our activation comes, and the other zed goes down. We search the bakery and find some food and a pistol.

The couple near the church parking lot looking for a match to the keys.

Tun 33 z3 m6  The zed closes in. 
Turn 34 z1 m4 The zed rounds the corner and goes down in a hail of bullets.  No zeds are attracted.
Turn 35 z2 m3  The survivors who did not join get off the board.  I send Toni for the truck.  She fails the Zed no zed test.  I cannot believe I let her go alone.  crap.

Turn 36 z6 m1 We open the door to the preschool and find two civilians who will not join the group. Toni runs past zed to truck.

Turn 37 z1 m4 c3 The zed chases after Toni.  The civilians leave the board.
Turn 38 z5 m2  The car couple finds a car with the keys inside.  It does not start on the first go.  We search the pre school and find 2 food units
Turn 39 z6 m1 The car starts (good and bad) and they drive over to the gas pumps.  We move on foot to the church.  Toni gets into the truck. 4 zeds show up due to noise.  Rut Roh Raggy....

Turn 40 z1 m4 Zombie goes after Toni, and she passes the being charged and kills it.
Turn 41 z1 m4 The zeds close in.
Turn 42 z5 m4
Turn 43 z3 m5  The zeds are really closing in now.
Turn 44 z4 m3  Toni is charged, and again guns down the zed on the way in.  In the Church there is a rep 4 policeman who joins for this game only. 
Turn 45 1 m 4 zeds close in
Turn 46 z3 m1 As the zeds close in, a hail of bullets mows them down.  One of the policemen runs out of bullets.  Two new zeds come in.

Turn 47 z1 m4  The zeds wander closer, but do not cause any reaction tests.  We just let them come, secure in our firepower.

Turn 48 z6 m1 Policeman near car refueling is charged, retires. Civilian stands ground and puts zed out of action in melee. Toni drives truck over to gas pump and starts filling.  3 more zeds are coming. We find 3 food in the church.

Turn 49z1 m6  The zeds are building into a wave that is coming for the gas island. It should reach there next activation.

Turn 50 z3 m1 civilian knocks down one when she is charged.  Toni does the same.

Turn 51 z5 m1 Toni kills one zed, Rep 4 policeman accounts for 2 more, rep 4 policeman knocks down another.  We draw 3 more in with noise.

Turn 52 z5 m3 We load into the vehicles.

Turn 53z1 m5 The zombies charge the cars, and are mowed down.  I am rolling 19 d6 for zombies this turn, two cars running and gunfire.  8 zombies show up.

Turn 54 z3 m1  The zombies close in, but are not close enough to charge.  We drive off...Whew.

There were only three places that were tense at all in this game.  The first meeting with the gangers went better than I had any hope for it too.  I should not have sent Toni to get the truck alone.  If the activation rolls had gone bad after gassing the vehicles, it could have been ugly.  This game was still pretty much a cakewalk.  I guess a good roll at the beginning made the difference.  I will not look a gift horse in the mouth.  We ended the game with 9 food, first aid, a luxury good, keys and a vehicle, gas, a pistol, and two rep 3 civilians.  A solid win, I think.

Reading is Tech

Wow, am I an idiot sometimes.  I was preparing my next bit of zombie killing and going over the rules for buildings and such.  I was reading the rules.  You know, the game system I just spent a week playing?  And screwing up?
      Zombies only get one dice in combat.  One.  Only.  I have been giving them two.  Don't ask me why.  I only gave them one in the very first game I played with Kelson.  Zombies move six inches, not four.  I read those rules.  Really I did.  I think I confused them with the panic stricken citizens. Still, it was screwed up.  I was wrong.  Happens.  I guess the one plus and one minus makes up for each other.  I hope so anyway.  I am going to leave the campaign the way it stands, except for the fuel.  I think there looting chart says I got fuel, but then kind of falls down when it says how much.  I also wonder about the loot food.  1 food unit is good for 1 survivior for 1 month, with rules for having less.  It seems that food will be highly prized quickly.  Are there rules for growing any?  I got some great rules from the guys at The Board of the Living Lead.  I will be able to use my sword (machete) and my crossbow now.  Thanks guys.  I think I have it all read now.
        It's the first time I've played a solo wargame.  Usually have someone to walk me through the first couple of games.  Now I have to figure it all out on my own.  I expect I will be screwing it up more as I go.  I hope I catch them as I do.  Feel free to let me know in the comments if you see something I tanked. 
     Well, Toni, Dexter and I are off to the gas station.  I need to get Day 2 underway.

Day 1, Episode 5. A funny thing happened on the way to the market

I am only posting about this for the sake of completeness.  I started my last day 1 scenario, the supermarket.  I set it up, put together a parking lot, rolled for zombies and got four.  I rolled on the getting there table and did not pass at all.  Should have been a clue, I think.  I placed my truck and my miniatures on the board.  I rolled for the number of frantic civilians.  There were five.  I was pleased.  I could not get past the the third.  He ran me over.  That location was done for me.... Blah.  I was really hoping to pick up some more food in that location while still under the day 1 protection.  The state of my group is as follows:
Me, rep 3 civilian. Brawler, Slow  Armor, sword, shield, shotgun
Toni rep 4 civilian cold as ice (she passed her roll) Rifle, pistol
Dexter rep 3 civilian
2 units of food. 
1 unit of fuel, plus what is in the truck and car.
1 suit of armor Toni sized she won't wear.
2 units of luxury goods (smokes)
The truck and pt cruiser. 
Various hand weapons, and a crossbow.
 I was thinking about the crossbow.  How does a 12 inch range with an impact of 2 and target of 1 sound?
  Are there rules for molotov cocktails?  How about grenades? I only find them for flash bangs.
I will move onto day 2.  I plan on playing a game each day for the first week now.  I plan on trying to take over the Sam's club distribution center on the last day.   Several  Find scenarios.  Probably no raids unless I need to.  Well, the gloves are off.  On to day 2.