Thursday 29 September 2016

The Lost World of Lemuria - Pulp Alley Expansion


I've just found out that the next Pulp Alley expansion is already being worked on...The Lost World of Lemuria! Now this is right up my street! Can't wait!

Talking of which...I had my first game of Pulp Alley using the Solo Deck a couple of days ago. Great fun. Just need to sort out the battle report and I'll go into a bit more detail!

Sunday 25 September 2016

She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed - Pulp Alley League

And here is the opposing Pulp Alley League to Lord Blackwood's Expedition...the immortal Ayesha or She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed!



Leader
Health Brawl Shoot Dodge Might Finesse Cunning
She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed d10 2d10 2d8 3d10 3d8 3d10 3d12
  • Inhuman (4) – Increase one of your starting d10 skills up to d12.
  • Regenerate (4) – You roll 1d8 for all recovery checks – rather than 1d6.
  • Unearthly (2) – When an enemy fights you, they must substitute their Brawl and Shooting dice with their Cunning or Finesse dice (their choice). Otherwise, the fight is resolved as normal. You can not shoot over 12”. You can not run except to rush an enemy.
Sidekick
Health Brawl Shoot Dodge Might Finesse Cunning
Captain of the Guard d8 4d8 2d6 3d8 2d8 2d6 3d6
  • Fierce (1) – Brawl is increased by +1d (included above).
  • Bodyguard (3) – Once per turn, when your Leader is attacked and you are within 3”, you may immediately move adjacent to your Leader and intercept the attack. You become the sole target of the attack and the fight is resolved as normal.
Ally
Health Brawl Shoot Dodge Might Finesse Cunning
Tribal War Leader d6 2d6 2d6 2d6 1d6 1d6 1d6
  • Agile (1) – Dodge is increased by +1d (included above).
Follower
Health Brawl Shoot Dodge Might Finesse Cunning
Tribal Warrior x3 d6 2d6 1d6 1d6 1d6 1d6 1d6
  • Fierce (1) – Brawl is increased by +1d (included above).
League Perks
Dominion (0) – Ancient Sect (2) – see p.6 and p.26 Pulp Leagues

Friday 23 September 2016

Lord Blackwood's Expedition - Pulp Alley League

I've been wanting to try out Pulp Alley for months...years, even, but other shiny new toys always seem to have distracted me. Well, that's about to change! I recently picked up the Pulp Alley Solo Deck with a view to trying the game out while the kids are at school...hopefully sometime next week! 

I don't have many 1930s Pulp figures (something I shall have to remedy!) but I do have quite a few Victorian and Colonial ones...as well as a good selection of Lost World figures. So my Pulp Alley is going to be more H Rider Haggard than Indiana Jones. 

I put together my first League a few days ago and it was easy, straightforward and lots of fun! I love how the Perks and Abilities give a real feel for each character and the League as a whole. 

So, without further ado, may I present Lord Blackwood's Expedition...



Leader
Health Brawl Shoot Dodge Might Finesse Cunning
Lord Blackwood d10 3d8 3d10 3d10 2d8 2d10 4d10
  • Clever (1) – Cunning is increased by +1d (included above).
  • Nerves of Steel (4) – Once per turn, you may discard a card to cancel a -1d penalty affecting you.
  • Shrewd (3) – Dodge and Cunning dice-type are not lowered due to injuries.
Sidekick
Health Brawl Shoot Dodge Might Finesse Cunning
Joshua Boro d8 4d8 2d6 3d6 3d8 2d6 2d8
  • Bodyguard (3) - Once per turn, when your Leader is attacked and you are within 3”, you may immediately move adjacent to your Leader and intercept the attack. You become the sole target of the attack and the fight is resolved as normal.
  • Fierce (1) – Brawl is increased by +1d (included above).
Sidekick
Health Brawl Shoot Dodge Might Finesse Cunning
Sir Harry Drake d8 2d6 3d8 2d8 2d6 3d6 3d8
  • Deadeye (3) – Not limited to shooting the closest enemy.
  • Eagle-eyed (2) – Your close range is up to 12”, and long range is over 48” - instead of 6” and 24”.
Ally
Health Brawl Shoot Dodge Might Finesse Cunning
Professor Karl Magnus d6 0d6 1d6 2d6 1d6 2d6 3d6
  • Brainy (1) – Add +1d to your Dodge and +1d to your Cunning. You have no Brawl skill.
League Perks
Company of Heroes (2) – see p.7 Pulp Leagues

Tuesday 20 September 2016

Copplestone Ngoni


I recently got my latest batch of figs back from Matt of Glenbrook Games...and I finally managed to take a few pics of them with the ones I already had. Here are a few more pics...






Great to see all my Copplestone Ngoni together...though half a dozen were missing as they were hiding in another box! There are a few Foundry witch doctors in there, too. Who doesn't like a good witch doctor? Great for many a genre and they just look brilliant!

Anyway, I definitely have enough for an African Kingdoms column for Congo...but I think I may need some more for The Men Who Would Be Kings. Luckily, I shall be getting some more back from Matt next month!

Monday 19 September 2016

Congo Dice Bag

I got my latest batch of figs from Matt at the weekend...more Copplestone Ngoni to add to my existing ones. Not had a chance to take any pics yet but I hope to do so tomorrow and will post them up as soon as I do.



There was one other thing packed along with my figs...and this I did manage to take a quick photo of...my brand new and totally brilliant Glenbrook Games dice bag! Just the job for Congo!

Tuesday 13 September 2016

Tomb of the Serpent - Pulp Alley Campaign Available to Pre-Order


The new Pulp Alley expansion...Tomb of the Serpent...is now available for pre-order from Sally 4th here with a release date of October 13th!
The blurb...
"Strange visions fill your dreams each night. You see deserts, pyramids, serpents, and more. It is as if the ancient gods of Egypt are sending you a desperate message from far across space and time…"
This Pulp Alley 44-page expansion book includes optional rules for Horror and Solo play, plus a thrilling multi-scenario campaign for 1 to 4 players.

Exciting stuff!




As well as the book there is a Campaign Deck which can be bought separately or in a bundle with the book. 

I shall have to pick this up...though I have yet to actually get a game of Pulp Alley in! Soon!

Friday 9 September 2016

Colonial Wars




I was wandering around my new home town of Thornbury recently when I came across this monument to a local man, Lieutenant Hector Maclaine of the Royal Horse Artillery, who was captured at the battle of Maiwand in 1880. The inscription reads:

Erected by public subscription in addition to a window in Thornbury Church to the memory of Lieut. Hector Maclaine, Royal Horse Artillery, who was taken prisoner while trying to get water for the wounded, after the battle of Maiwand, and was afterwards murdered in the camp of Ayoub Khan, near Candahar, on 1st September 1880.



After a little searching on the internet I came upon the excellent Thornbury Roots website which gives a little more detail:

Hector Maclaine, born on 24th November 1851 at Murtle, Aberdeenshire.  He was educated at Eton and Woolwich and commissioned into the Royal Horse Artillery on 6th January 1872.  He served for many years in India.  In December 1879 he volunteered for active service under General Roberts in Afghanistan where the English forces were fighting a claimant to the Afghan throne, Ayoub Khan.  On Christmas Day 1879 Hector was sent to the Khyber Pass.  He held the rank of lieutenant.  At the battle of Maiwand, fought on 27th July, 1880, Hector distinguished himself by his bravery.  After three hours of fighting his guns ran out of ammunition and he was attending to wounded men who had gathered at the guns.  He was captured and taken to Kandahar where he was treated badly in the first few days of his captivity.  Then a nobleman leader arrived in the camp where Hector was prisoner.  This leader had known Hector previously and he was given better treatment and held in the nobleman’s own bungalow.  Shortly after Hector was moved by Ayoub to another camp, but he was still treated well.  The English demanded Hector’s release and offered Ayub Khan an exchange of prisoners, but this offer was dismissed.  Thereupon General Roberts executed the famous march from Kabul to Kandahar, 313 miles over the worst country in Asia in 23 days in an attempt to save Hector. He managed to destroy Ayoub Khan’s large army with the loss of 40 men, but on the point that his army were breaking into the camp where Hector was held, a guard took it upon himself to slit Hector’s throat.

Although I have read a little about the battle of Maiwand and General Roberts' famous march, I confess I cannot remember reading anything about the unlucky Lieutenant Hector Maclaine. Fascinating.

In other news...my copy of The Men Who Would Be Kings finally arrived today! Hooray! Very much looking forward to sitting down and having a good read of this. 




Talking of which...I also recently picked up a few secondhand books on the Colonial period. First of all...



...The Colonial Wars Source Book by Philip J Haythornthwaite. I've seen this mentioned a few times on various blogs and forums recently and as it can be picked up quite cheap secondhand I grabbed myself a copy. Looks like an excellent resource book for the period.

Next up...



...The Blue Nile and The White Nile by Alan Moorehead. I'd also seen these recommended somewhere and again they can be picked up quite cheap secondhand. I've already dipped into these and they are very well written. Looking forward to reading them properly once I've finished my current book. 

What with The Men Who Would Be Kings and Congo, it really does seem to be all about the Colonial period at the moment!

Monday 5 September 2016

The Army Lists in The Men Who Would Be Kings



Dan Mersey has just posted up the army lists for The Men Who Would Be King on his blog...

Anglo-Egyptian War and The Sudan
1. Beja
2. British
3. Camel Corps 1884–85
4. Egyptian
5. River Arab

Anglo-Zulu War and the First Boer War
6. Boer
7. British
8. Zulu

Darkest Africa
9. Explorers
10. Naval Landing Party
11. Slavers
12. Tribesmen

French Africa
13. French Foreign Legion
14. French Armée d’Afrique
15. Arabic
16. Dahomey

Italian Invasion of Ethiopia, 1896
17. Italian
18. Ethiopian

North West Frontier and The Great Game
19. Honorable East India Company 1840s
20. Khalsa Army 1840s
21. Afghan Regulars 1879
22. British 1879
23. Pathan 1879
24. Great Game Theoretical Russians

The Old West
25. Apache
26. Plains Tribes
27. US Cavalry

The Pig War Gone Hot
28. American
29. British

And Finally…
30. Danny and Peachey’s Private (Kafiristani) Army

Can't wait!