NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #31/NN_1992_31.iso/spool/rec/games/board/12889

Internet Message Format | 1993-01-02 | 10.9 KB

Path: sparky!uunet!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!saimiri.primate.wisc.edu!ames!agate!agate!hcobb
From: [e-mail] (Henry J. Cobb)
Newsgroups: rec.games.board
Subject: GEV BBS: Alterative Minis, Bathroom tiles and Hoverblitz.
Date: 2 Jan 93 12:39:56
Organization: /rubin/hcobb/.organization
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In-reply-to: [e-mail]'s message of 19 Dec 92 06:43:22


    [As spotted on SJG's BBS [phone] -HJC]

 108: Variant Forces
  By: Pam/David Dotson  [201]
Date: 11:34  12/19/92

Has anyone tried using GW's epic scale plastic miniatures in an OGRE game?
Most of the models are at least a little out of scale, but they provide a
great change of pace.  Both sides have to agree on their characteristics, of
course, but if both sides have some of the GW models, this shouldn't be much
of a problem.  If you use some of the GW figures world background, it takes
OGRE to other planets and times, greatly expanding the types of scenarios
available.

Besides, it's just cool to watch a Mark V and Ork Gargant duke it out over the
command post.


 109: Yes...
  By: Doctor Z  [232]
Date: 20:42  12/19/92

Games Workshops epic scale work very nicely with Ogre...I've been using Rhinos
as APCs and Basilisk Mk. IIs as my MHWZs...(This was before Ral Partha
released their MHWZ, but I'll probably continue to use them...The gun's
bigger)...I haven't seen any others that really fit in with current rules,
(Maybe cruise missiles, but I prefer Partha's) But alternative rules would be
interesting. Gargants? C'mon...

When will the new miniatures (Fencer, combine stuff) be out?


 110: Maps
  By: James Hart  [618]
Date: 21:44  12/19/92

I don't have the room to set up 3D playing board for Ogre. So what kind of
maps should I use with minitures?


 111: Big ones :-) - a 1.5-inch hex
  By: Steve Jackson  [2]
Date: 18:06  12/20/92

is about right. The Geo-Hex mats are fine. Though if you've got room for that,
you might as well get some scenery too.


 112: THe best hex board I've ever seen
  By: C. J. Burke  [884]
Date: 13:03  12/21/92

...was back at Brooklyn College.  Very, very large hex map.  We couldn't use
it very much though because security kept chasing us away.   Normally it was
the promenade over the plaza building.  (It was made of hexagonal
cobblestones, and security wasn't amused by our games.)


 113: Yes, there's lots of hex tile
  By: Steve Jackson  [2]
Date: 20:49  12/21/92

around justthe right size for Ogres - 3" or so. Unfortunately, most of it is
on public lavatory floors. Life is cruel sometimes.


 114: Hex tiles in lavatories....
  By: Shockwave  [424]
Date: 01:49  12/22/92

So just hang a sign on the door that says:
                        "OUT OF ORDER"
People will assume that all the yelling and shouting going on is nothing more
than the plumbers working on the pipe.
Small problem though if security shows up >:)
                                    Shockwave

 115: Hex map generator
  By: White Noise  [664]
Date: 07:40  12/22/92

I've got a HEX map generator written in FORTRAN.  Wrote it some years ago.
It'll do any size hex's you want. It's written for a Calcomp Plotter but the
Plot calls are VERY generic so you could subsitute calls to any plotter you
want. I use it about once a year or so to regenerate a 10' by 3' map for our
gaming table. (It gets chewed up, burned, beer spilled on it, ect). Anybody
want it? Only a couple hundred lines or so. The only reason it's so big is
that I optimized it for speed in plotting. It even makes a second pass with
another size/color pen to plot Mega-hexs on top of the other hexs.
BTW I've found that covering it with a sheet of mylar lets you use the White-
board markers for drawing on it. Also helps protect it somewhat.
I'd be willing to put it into the G-files.


 116: Actually, the g-files already have
  By: Steve Jackson  [2]
Date: 18:47  12/22/92

at least one hex map generator, or did last time I looked, but if this one
works differently it would be good to give a choice. Want to stick it on the
upload board? You're cleared for that now.


 117:  A cool new miniatures range
  By: Keith Potter  [457]
Date: 01:00  12/24/92

     I just wanted to let everybody know about a British miniatures
manufacturer I've recently discovered.  They're called Ground Zero Games and
they make an extensive range of 1/300, 15mm, and 25mm SF vehicles and
buildings.  Their resin-cast 1/300 scale buildings range includes reactors,
factories, and office blocks (perfect for Shockwave-style scenarios), gun
emplacements, modular bunker complexes and city blocks, starport facilities
such as control towers and fuel storage tanks, communications facilies, and
model starships to have parked at your starport landing pad.  There's also a
slope-sided command post which would work great as an Ogre CP.  This buildings
range is really large, including over fifty diffferent designs.  They also
sell a range of white metal vehicles, aircraft, and riverene craft in 1/300
scale, as well as some of the best looking 25mm scale vehicles I've ever seen.
 The only drawback is that they don't sell their stuff over here--you've got
to send away to England for it (though this may change soon), and that gets
quite costly.  At any rate, I encourage everyone to check out their products--
they're really nice.

     If you want a cataloge, you can send five international reply coupons
(available at your post office) to Ground Zero Games, "Finzo", Barking Tye,
Needham Market, Suffolk IP6 8Jb, Great Britain (yes, that's their address, and
don't ask me what a "Finzo" is).

     Lastly, I'd just like to point out that I have no connection with GZG
other than as a very satisfied customer.

          --Keith Potter

    [118 was a crosposting from rec.games.btech  -HJC]

 119: ASCII OGRE - I like it!
  By: Steve Jackson  [2]
Date: 19:00  12/28/92


Thanks to Henry Cobb for arranging the rec.games.board crosspostings!

Comments on recent threads:

Henry asks (in e-mail) whether infantry can ever be hit "stacked" with the
vehicle they are riding, since they can dismount at the end of every movement
and re-mount at the beginning of the next turn. Answer: The infantry can't
move on their own on the turn they dismount; ergo, they're standing there
beside the vehicle and are stacked with it. Should I make this wholly explicit
in later editions?
      "Can Infantry mount at the start of a movement phase, or just at the
start of a turn?" Rules intention was "only at the start of a turn." I think
this is valid, as otherwise INF could move their full movement and then be
picked up by a GEV-PC as it begins its second phase.
      "When INF rides a vehicle into overrun combat, can the surviving INF
re-mount and continue on to further attacks?" A definite NO. They can mount
vehicles only at the start of a turn, and overrun occurs in the middle of
movement. (I like this answer from a reality standpoint as well. The INF are
assumed to scatter as they dismount. It will take more than zero time for them
to regroup and mount up, especially in the aftermath of combat.)

How much would it cost for a basic Mark III scenario? Okay, using Partha's
suggested retail:
      $7.95 for the Mark III itself.
      $4.00 for a pack of infantry (contains 24 figures; you need 20)
      $16 to $24 for 12 armor units, depending on which ones you want -
            GEVs are 3 to a $4 package, HVY and MSL are 2 to a package,
            HWZs are 1 to a package.
      It's still, unfortunately, almost impossible to find the Command
Post and other DCP structures in stores, though DCP will sell them by
mail order: for catalog, write DCP, PO Box 1063, Kelso, WA 98626.

So worst case for the Mark III setup is $36 worth of lead, plus whatever you
do for a CP.

What if there are small children in the house? Well, obviously, if the
miniatures can't be stored safely, and if the children can't be prevented from
swarming onto the table and eating the armies during the game, then something
must be done. I'd suggest finding a gamer who does NOT have kids, and getting
him to volunteer as Keeper of the Miniatures. (Note also: It would be prudent
to treat the lead-shavings produced when you clean up your miniatures pre-
painting like any other toxic waste. Don't just let them sift into the rug,
and don't throw them into your lawn. I save mine for a friend who casts his
own ammo . .. )

And for those who have been having trouble finding really small brushes, Pam
Dotson advises me that Loew-Cornell, Inc. (201-836-7070) makes them down to
18/0 size. She sent me a couple of samples, and they look wonderful. I will
call the company tomorrow and request a catalog. (Another tip: manicure
scissors can be used to remove the wild hairs that appear as a brush ages,
extending its life and making it smaller and smaller.)


 120: "Unofficial" minis...
  By: Vecna  [697]
Date: 22:17  12/31/92

Yes, FASA does still make miniatures for Centurion.  They're out of plastic
now, and come in sets.  The only Ogre figures that they really look like,
though, are GEVs.  That's what I use them for and they look very good.

                                    Vecna


 121: We overlooked something...
  By: Vecna  [697]
Date: 22:18  12/31/92


back a while ago when Steve posted those new units.  Several people (including
myself) had reservations about the Missile GEV because of its move + fire
range.  I just realized that you can do this already by putting Heavy Infantry
on GEV-PCs!  It costs a few more points . . . but it's there.

                                    Vecna


 122: Ground Zero stuff available in the US
  By: Ted Arlauskas  [37]
Date: 17:56  1/1/93

     Ground Zero's line of resin 1/300th scale buildings and 25mm vehicles
are available in the U.S.  Stan Johansen of Stan Johansen Miniatures sells
them.  His address is: 128 Barberton Road, Fort Worth, FL 33467.
     Stan doesn't sell Ground Zero's lead micro-armor but I'm sure he would
start if enough people expressed interest.  Stan does however sell a line of
1/300th scale sci-fi armor that's relatively inexpensive and seems to be all
OGRE type units (GEVs, LtGEVs, MHWZ, etc.).  The castings aren't nearly as
nice as Ral Partha's but they are a bit cheaper.
     Write to Stan for information on the buildings and miniatures.  Buying
them over here from Stan would be a lot easier than getting them from England
I'm sure.  Oh yea, I don't represent this company either, but Stan's a pretty
cool guy by the way.
 /ex


 123: Johansen miniatures
  By: Steve Jackson  [2]
Date: 20:57  1/1/93

I've seen these. "Not nearly as nice as Ral Partha's" is, unfortunately,
an understatement. They appeal mostly to the "save fifty cents now, have
an ugly miniature forever" market. Which DOES exist.
--
    Henry J. Cobb    [e-mail]    SFB Tyrant
    "A const pointer is a steady reference,
    while a pointer to const is a pledge not to tinker."