HEX Campaign, The Ruins Part one

Jenny was having the time of her life snapping off pictures of the ruins, when all of a sudden she stopped dead & let out a small scream for on the walls of one of the ruined buildings looking down on them were what she could only call Beastmen, no sooner had the scream left Jenny's mouth when 3 guns where pointing at the strange beings.

Roald"Please don't shot they mean use no harm." & with that he called up to them in a what could only be described as a guff kind of language to which the Beastmen replied in the same tone.
Turning to the party Roald"Its seems that the Germans are still here & are removing stuff from what these people think of as a hollowed place, they are now preparing to attack the Gemans in order to stop them as when they tried to approach them the Germans opened fire killing two of their kind"
Grace" That's terrible, ask them is there anything we can do to help?"
Before Roald could answer, Gregory"May I remind you Tom that this is not a military operation, I don't think we should be getting involved in other folks battles"
Seen the anger starting to rise in Grace,Tom replied quickly"Your right Gregory up to a point, part of the reason for this expedition was to see what the German interest in this place is so tagging along might not be a bad idea, but I've no intention to put any of you in danger, so when we get near to where the Germans are the four of you will stay put while Bob, Roald & I lend a hand to these folk"

Roald spoke again to the Beastmen & then explained to the party how the ruins were built by the Beastmens ancestors & how they considered themselves guardians of it, the party then followed the Beastmen until they came to a broad boulevard at the end of which  the Germans had set up camp beside what seemed to be some kind of entrance into a cave.
At this point they made a plan, with the Beastmen going over to the right hand side to work their way closer while the party took the left side.

The game, the Germans have 12 turns to get a crate off the table a the end where the party & the beastmen are, the crate needs to be carried by two people.

Tom"Right the four of you stay here while we work our way closer"
Grace"I've got an idea that might draw their attention & help you get closer unseen by the guards" & before anyone could stop her she walk out into the boulevard & spotting Helga at the mouth of the cave called out" Helga"

For Grace to move out into the open & call Helga required her to pass a guts test.

This had the effect she'd hoped with the German guards now focused on her.
Helga surprised to here her name called out looked down the boulevard & was amazed to see a person she'd last seen leaving a ship some month before, but always quick witted Helga over came the surprise of seen Grace & called out tauntingly  "Grace is that you ? so you finally worked out what might have happened to your friends, cleaver girl I didn't thing you had it in you"
Grace could feel her anger rising but manged to keep it in check & called back" These's a lot to me you wouldn't know about Helga & I see your still keeping the same bad company as when we last meet"
Laughing Helga replied" Ah dear sweet Grace I can't tell you how much I've missed your naivety

As long as Grace could stay talking to Helga (needing to past a brains test after each insult) the party & the beastmen would get free moves, as in a stand up shoot out they be totally out gunned so need to get close.

Von Barlow"Helga who is this woman & whats she doing here?"
Helga answering loud enough to make sure Grace could hear"She's Grace Simms the last member of the Society of the Blue Blooded, who's best ability is self preservation"
This was the last straw for Grace as her anger got the better of her "Bitch" she yelled as she pulled out her pistol & started shooting, but in her anger all she manged was to jam the gun. 

No plan survives contact with the enemy as the saying goes & so it turned out to be, with only Bob getting to make a move before Grace's anger boiled over, the 12 turns for the game stat now

As Grace's shots rang out it was like it marked the start of a race as people started running all over the place

The German force is Helga (Grade 3), Von Barlow (G3), A sergeant (G2),  2 (G1) soldiers carrying the crate, 2 (G1) soldiers as guards, & 2  (G1) five man squads, 1 in the large tent & the other the far side of the wall behind the 2 men with the crate.

The Party force is Grace (G3) Tom, Bob & Roald (G2) & 2 (G1) squads of Beastmen, the plan at this stage is for Jenny, Bill & Gregory to have no part in things.

As the Beastmen started to run forward,

one of the German guards opened fire.

This costed the squad to take a guts test which luckily they passed. 

killing one of them.

End of turn 1

Grace who has unjammed her gun heads for cover & spotting a German fires,

this time the shot is more controlled & the German drops dead.

From a doorway a German fires on the Beastmen but is off target.

End of turn 2

Helga moves close to the pyramid & fires at the approaching Beastmen,

her aim is true but only inflicts a wound but its seem to rattle them as they holt their charge.
Grace takes out one of the of the squad members.

Its not enough though, as von Barlow barks out an order for them to open fire on the Beastmen

Taking aim they unleash a hail of bullets,

dropping all but one of them.

Roald hurls his spear which buries itself deep into one of the Germans.

Tom fires at Helga but at this range his pistol is in actuate, a lucky ricochet however catches Helga in the leg

Muller opens fire with his machine gun  & even though its at long range,

he takes out the last Beastman of the gang.

von Barlow spots the heads of some Beastmen on the pyramid but his shots hit nothing but stone.

End of act 2

Tom & Grace watch in amazement as Roald draws out his knife & charges a squad of Germans,

hacking down one of them.

They haven't got time to admire his handy work though as the bullets are flying thick & fast

& another of the Beastmen fall.

This had an unsettling effect on the group.
Grace lets off another few rounds

& drops another of the Germans.

Helga moves along the first level of the pyramid & fires at Tom hitting him in the gut.

This makes Tom take a guts test as any wound to the head or body of a level 3 or 2 character means they've to test.

Bob nu-slings his rifle & fires at a German through the archway but is off target.

Muller opens up with his machine gun on the Beastmen

driving them back.

A squad taking a wound or a member been killed has to take a guts test, the Beastmen failed so had to fall back.

Roald is in the tick of it as the German squad close around him, but he puts his shield to good use avoiding their blows.

While the Germans with the crate push on, Tom & Grace can't but admire Roald bravery.

End of act 3

Grace & von Barlow exchange lead with both of them taking a hit to the body.

This force both of them to take a guts test, Grace passes von Barlow fails.

Helga ducks around the comer & fires at Tom only to hear a click as she's out of ammo.

Any role of a 1 when firing a weapon means its jammed or out of ammo, which are the same thing & has to be fixed before it can shot again.

Tom fires at one of the guys carrying the crate as Roald battles on,

taking him out.

Remember it take two to move the crate

Seen one of them fall Muller rushes in to lend a hand.

Bob is in a fire fight with the German in the archway having missed him earlier,

but comes out on top.

The other German who was carrying the crate now fires on Bob but only hits the corner of the wall.

Roalds takes out another one of the squad,

as the Beastmen find their nerve.

End of act 4

Intermission, you folk might want to grab some refreshments
As the two Germans with the crate advance Grace fires on them hitting one & while he stumbles a bit carries on.

Grace had fired on the guy on the left who's a G1 character, when a G1 takes a hit you roll a D10 1-5 he dead 6-10 he takes a wound, any other hit after that will then kill him

Helga doesn't like the way things seem to be going & works her way around to the back of the pyramid reloading her gun as she goes.

Tom notices his pistol is empty so draws his combat knife & charges the guys with the crate,

killing the out Grace had wounded.

But now he's looking down the barrel of Muller's machine gun.

von Barlow orders two of his men to fire on Tom as

he retreats away from the action.

Remember he'd failed a guts test earlier, so when he activated he'd to take another which he also failed so had to fall back. 

Bob with his knife drawn makes his way towards the action.

Just as Tom though his game was up the Beastmen come to his rescue, charging Muller from behind

End of act 5

Grace even at long range with her pistol,

prove her skill with a pistol & takes out yet another German.

For Helga its most definitely time to get out of Dodge & she makes her way off the pyramid & behind some of the advancing  jungle unseen.

Bob rushes from the archway & drives his blade deep into the German.

Meanwhile Muller is giving all he's got to hold off the Beastmen do are raining blow after blow down on him,

but there nothing he can do as Tom attacks him from behind slashing him across the back of his thigh.

End of act 6

Von Barlow has also decided it time to make for the exit.

in case your finding it hard to see him, he's in in the bottom left comer

With the sound of gunfire coming to an end Grace moves out of cover hoping to find Helga

Muller is proving that you should never give in no matter the odds.

Bob puts another German to the sword.

End of act 8

Grace climbs on the pyramid calling out Helga's name,

but Helga has no intention for answering the call & heads into the jungle.

But while Helga is nowhere to be seen Grace does notice out of the corner of her eye von Barlow sneaking behind a wall,

& turning fires hitting him in the shoulder.

Roald now joined by Bob finish off the last man of the squad.

Which means Muller is on his own,

but hes no push over & downs one of the beast men.

With the blood pouring from his wounds von Barlow climbs a wall & starts running across it,

only for Grace to send another round into his gut, sending tumbling off the wall.

this hit is enough to take von Barlow out of the action, but unlike G1 characters G2 & 3 can't be killed only ko'd

As von Barlow crawls into the cover of the jungle Muller is finally overwhelmed by the greater numbers,

 the Germans have been thwarted in their goal.
With the Germans defeated the party set about searching through their camp while the Beastmen bring the crate back into the cave to unload it.

It seems what the Germans where after were tubes about 3 feet long with some kind of green liquid inside them.
Gregory" What do you make of  this Bill ?"
Bill" My guest would be its used as some kind of power supply Gregory which would explain the Germans interest in it, but how its used I've no idea" 

To be continued

Designers note,
In hind sight I should have added the intro into the last post so as we could have gotten straight to the action, from an over all point of view this played out well for me & has giving me some ideas on how to move the campaign forward as hollow earth is a big place, to give you an idea of what I mean, Grace & the party entered from the Northpole while if their still alive her friends came from an island in the South Peciffic.

As always my thanks for dropping in & if you'd care to be a movie critic your comment would be welcomed :)

HEX Campaign, The Stranger

"Hold your fire" said the stranger in perfect English but with an accent "I mean you no harm"

Tom "Who are you & are you from these parts ?"
Stranger" I'm Roald  Amundsen & from Norway I came here by plane a few years  back I'd guess, I can't be sure for how long I've been here because there's no night or day but it was May 2sd 1930 when I arrived"
Grace"So it was your plane we found ?"
Bill"That couldn't be the case Grace, judging by how overgrown it was, that is"
Roald"Its mine alright, things are different here, don't make the mistake of judging things here from the world above as it won't work out"
Bill" But after 6 years it should have been a lot more overgrown, isn't that right Gregory ?"
Gregory"In the world above us you would be correct Bill, but we can't like Roald said take it that thing work the same way down here"
Roald" 6 years can it really be that long, I would have though it was only about 3 years at the most judging from the growth of the kids in the village"
Grace"Is it the same village that Fraenkel wrote of in his diary ?"
Roald"Yes indeed it is & him & his friends are still talked about & even remembered by some of the elders"
Grace" Tell me has anyone else from the world above come to the village ?
Roald" Not that I know of, the only others from the world above that I know of are the Germans that I've spotted lately at the old ruins."
Tom" Germans, have you been in contact with them ?"
Roald"No, they seem like unfriendly types"
Tom" You've not come across anyone else today by any change have you ? as one of our friends is missing" 
Ronld" No I've seen no one else, but if you come with me to the village I'm sure they would help you look for you friend, it's about a half days trek."
Tom"Tanks & we'll take you up on that, but first we need to rest up as we've had a busy day"

After they all had a meal they talked around the fire for awhile, Roald told them more about his time here, while the group told him of how they came to be here, Roald said he keep watch so they could all get some rest.

6 hours later they broke camp & headed for the village with Roald leading the way, as they neared the village the villager's started to gather around them wondering who it was that Roald had brought back with him.

Day 2 Ultima Thule

To their surprise & delight they found that Bill was there alive & well & after they were introduce to the village elder's Bill told them his story.

Bill" As we came closer to the triceratops I was over come with fear & turned & fled, by the time I returned to my senses I was deep in the jungle, turning around I thought I'd be able to find my way back, but soon realized I was hopelessly lost, that's when I got a lucky break in a strange kind of way,
looking around me I noticed what I thought to be two gigantic birds coming towards me through the jungle,

as fast as I could I head for a big tree & started to climb & I only just made it up high enough to be out of  reach, but as I looked down I was amazed to see that it was not a pair of them but in fact a single one with two heads, after a short time I guess it realized it had just missed dinner & wander off.

When it had gone I climb higher up into the tree to see if I could see the clearing but to no avail but I could see a high plateau in the distance & thought to myself if there are people living around here that's most likely where they be.

So I climb out of the tree & set off towards it climbing a tree every so often to get my bearings & finely found my way here"
Tom" Well its great to see you safe as I think the odds of us finding you out there would have been slim"
Tom then told him about the T-Rex & how they'd returned to the Scorpion only to find it gone so they were stuck here for the time been.
Bill" But if it was gone where did you get all of the stuff you have was it in the plane ?"
Tom" No fearing that such a thing might happen Bill I'd a ranged with the Captain before we left Scotland that any time we where out of the Scorpion that he should leave provisions close by in case he had to take off, I didn't mention that to any of you as I'd didn't want to alarm you guys "

Grace"I'm glad you had such foresight Tom, but whats our plan of action now ? I don't intend to just sit around here until the Scorpion returns, my friends maybe out there somewhere & I'm going to do my level best to find them if they are."
Tom" Pull in on the rains a minute please Grace, this is an expedition not a rescue operation, at this point we don't even know that your friends are here, but what we do know is that the German Gloup is here & that there are other Germans here as well, now what I'd like to do is head for these ruins & see what they are up to."

Seen a look of anger come to Grace's face, Tom"If your friends are here Grace then the chances are their with Gloup & as Gloup has sent a message he'll be hoping that von Barlow found away here & be trying to link up with him, so the best chance of finding your friends at this point might be the Germans, Roald how far is it to these ruins & would you be willing to take us there ?"
Roald" The ruins are less then a days hike from here Tom & I'd be glad to lead the way"
Grace" Sorry Tom I hadn't thought of it like that, its just if there here I want to find them as the not known is so hard"
Tom giving Grace a smile" That's ok Grace, loyalty is a great thing in a person, so that's settled then we'll rest up here for a couple of hours & then head to the ruins"

With Roald who knew the land around here well the party arrived at the ruins without any incidents.

To be continued.

Designers note, I guess this episode was what you might call a bit of a filler one, as we got the party all back together & got them to the ruins for the next episode which will be played out as a game :)

As always my thanks for dropping in & if you'd care to be a movie critic & leave a comment it would be welcomed :)

Movie Tone News August 2019

Welcome to this months news & its a bit of a strange one I think as while I've not done much hobby wise I have a bit to waffle about, you've been warned :)

So where to start ? I guess out of the shoebox & on to the breadboard is as good a place as any, now as most of you know I've built a couple of what I call sets in a shoebox & I've even started work on a 3rd one, but what will be news to you guys will be what I'm calling a set on a breadboard.

The breadboard size 3"x2" apox

This is the first one & as you can see I filled in the underside using insulation form, this stiffens the board up & also allows you to cut into the board if required. 

Now these are a bit of a u-turn for me as for a long time I tried to make the stuff I did be flexible & that was important for me when starting up N&D as I didn't have much stuff & I use to make a lot of movies but over time things change, now days I don't make as many movie's but I want to try & up the standard of those I do make, so its a trade off between quality & flexibility.

Unlike the one above I didn't fill the underside in completely as I want to have a waterfront, so this one will be used with the form side up which I then covered using formcard

Let me explain what that means, most games are played out on a gaming-mat/board with the terrain placed on it, this gives great flexibility as things can be changed around from game to game, then you have what is called modular tables, these give you better quality but no real flexibility but as I don't play many games these days that's not a problem & I still always have the gaming-mat way.

The parts not cobbledstoned will be where the buildings will be.

I've already completed my first breadboard set which I hit upon in last months news but didn't give much away but will be seen in the second next episode of the HEX campaign, now why a breadboard & not just a piece of MDF Frank ? good question, there are a couple of reasons for this that I'll explain at another time.

My first go at brick work.

Right the the pictures you seen of these are from both sets at different times but the basic starting points are the same as to how I do these, also a first for me is the use of formcard as before this for building I always used cork-tiles which I find to be more robust but are not great for getting detail on which formcard is great for, but as these building will be made into the set the robustness will not be a problem (I hope).

Outsourcing, another first as I've decided to outsource the costume & make-up department (fancy that Ivor :) as its the part of the hobby I find the least interesting tbh & with so much other stuff to be done I know I'll just never get through the lead pile, so the first set of stars have been sent off & I'll do a post upon their return.

Finds in the petstore or just going nuts ? I picked up these in the petstore, their coconuts shells & I think will make nice huts, I also came across these wicker things that I think could also be turned into some kind of huts with maybe a moss type covering, if any of you guys have any ideas as to what to cover them with please let my know in the comments.

I've got a lovely bunch of coco huts :)

In other news A invite form a Vampire, sounds like a movie title doesn't it ? now in the last post I was shocked & a bit bemused to find in the comments an invite to become a Vampire, when looking into this I found that it was on a couple of posts & not only that but was also on a lot of you guys blogs, now while I'm sure been a Vampire is wonderful I'm having way to much fun been a Werewolf to take up the invite but if any of you guys did take up the offer I'd be interested to know how your getting on with it.

Mrs O D & me in our wolf forms :)

Well that it for this months news so its a blood sucking goodnight from him & a howling goodnight from him :) as always my thanks for dropping in & if you'd care to leave a comment it would be welcomed.

HEX Campaign, Where's Bill

The start of this story can be found here.
https://nickelandimeproductions.blogspot.com/2019/04/hex-campaign-knock-on-door.html

Day 1 Ultima Thule 
Just as Tom entered the cockpit a slight shudder ran though the plane, paying it no heed he started looking around for anything that might tell him who it belonged to & where it had come from, another shudder of the plane grab Tom's attention & looking out from the cockpit window Tom seen the biggest creature he even seen in his life walking upright on its hind legs heading straight for the plane.

Another shudder ran through the plane this time a lot more forcible, Tom took another look around the cockpit & spotting what he was looking for grab up the plane's logbook before stepping back to where the others were.
 As he stepped back out of the cockpit a large head appeared across a couple of the windows its nostrils flaring. 

You might want to click on this picture John, award winning shot right there, well if it's good enough for Spielberg :)

Tom" I think its time to be going as I'd guess that thing could open up this plane like a tin-can.
Grace" I couldn't agree with you more, but I think its best if we duck under the wing as we exit to try to keep out of its sight"
Good as the plan was it didn't work, with Gregory coming within a whisker of been flattened as an enormous foot came down where they just exited.   

It was probably only the quick thinking of Bob that save them, seen what was happening he let off a few shots into the air to get the creatures attention, before turning & running across the rest of the clearing as the T-Rex bellowed a roar & charged after him.   

Seen Jenny just ahead of him & the terrified look on her face he singled to her to stay put & not to make  a sound, having lost sight of it pray the T-rex stopped its charge, sniffed the air a couple of times & then walked off into the jungle.
As soon as the T-Rex gave chase to Bob the other 3 made their way around to the other side of the plane in case it should turn around & come back.

Grace" I think we might have been in trouble if it hadn't been for Bob, that was a brave thing to do"
Tom" Yep, Bob is one of the bravest men I've ever known"
They left it for a few minutes after the T-Rex had gone before making their back across the clearing to the other, but when they joined up there was a nasty shock in story.

As Bill was missing.
Grace" When was the last time anyone seen him ?"
Tom" He was with me as we headed towards the plane just after we'd smeared the dung on ourselves"
Jenny" So that's what that smell is"
Tom just shot her a glance & said "I remember him been just behind me as we crossed the clearing, but in all the excitement & the rush to get into the plane I never noticed if he wasn't still with me at that point.
Gregory" Well it looks like you should have left him here to babysit Jenny instead of me"
Grace" That's not helpful Gregory, we'll have to go find him" & she made to move off.
Tom" Not so fast Grace, we're heading back to the Scorpion"
Grace out raged "What ? I've come here to try & fine some friends not to lose another one"
Tom" Grace please hear me out, my job is to keep you all safe &
Gregory" Well your not doing a very good job of it so far sir, we've only just got here & you've already lost one of us"
How Tom didn't land a punch on Gregory there & then Grace could not for the life of her understand, but he carried on as if he'd not heard a word of it.
Tom" We're not geared up to go searching for him as we've no supplies & apart from a few pistols no weapons to defended ourselves, you've seen that thing over at the plane & there's no knowing what else is out there., we standing a much better chance of finding Bill from the air in the Scorpion then we will tracking around the jungle looking for him, & Bill is a smart man & will figure that out & find someway to single us"

With that he walked over to a tree he'd marked when they'd got here, took out his notebook looked at his watch, pointed in a direction & sent Bob on a head, after a couple of moments Bob called out & they set off after him, the same thing was done at every marked tree until they got back to where the Scorpion should have been

Gregory" You must have taking the wrong way Tom the Scorpion is not here"
This was the last straw for Tom who replied "If you'd use your eye's instead of your big mouth Gregory you see that this is the spot we landed in, you can see how the grass is all blackened from the trusters"
Tom"Right all of you stay put while Bob & I have a look around"
As Tom & Bob walked off Gregory under his breath" I don't know what he thinks he going to find, a 4 star hotel perhaps ?"
Grace" Put a sock in it will you Gregory ? I'm sure Tom knows what he's looking for"
After a couple of minutes Bob re-appeared & called the rest of them over.
There hidden in the jungle not far from the edge of the clearing was a load of supplies, which Tom had already started going through, taking something out he handed it to Bob before removing something else.

Tom" Grab yourselves something to eat & drink we'll be back in a sec.
Before long they returned but were now wearing what looked like uniforms, but not like any grace had ever seen before & they had no markings of rank or insignia's.

Grace" I knew you two were military"
Tom" Ex-military Grace, now its time to load up & start looking for Bill"
Jenny close to tears as the reality of things came crushing down on her "But shouldn't we just wait here until the Scorpion returns for us ?"
Tom" I'm afraid that it would be pointless Miss, as if the Scorpion was to land again it would never be able to take off again"
Jenny" What you mean we're all stuck here ?"
Smiling kindly at her Tom "Only for a little while Miss, the Scorpion will have to return to Scotland & refuel before returning for us"
Gregory was just about to say something but a look from Grace made him thing better of it.
Without instanced they made their way back to the clearing & from there to where Tom & Bill had found the dung, once there it didn't take Bob long to find Bill's trail.
Bob" As you's got closer to the beast at the plane he must have panicked & fled Tom there are clear signs that he followed you out in to the clearing & then turned & headed back into the jungle"
Grace " You can track him right Bob ?"
Bob" I can try Grace' but it is not easy tracking somebody through jungle & the going will be slow"
After about an hour or so for following Bill tracks Tom called a holt.
Tom" We'll make camp here & get some rest"
Grace" What, you can't be serious Tom ? it's still bright we've got to keep going"
Tom" & will be for ever Grace don't forget it never gets dark here, & besides Jenny & Gregory are out on their feet"
Gregory" I'm sure Jenny needs a rest but I could keep going for hours yet"
But just the same he way glad to rest up & found a fallen log to sit down on, just then they heard movement in the jungle up ahead & then a strange looking man appeared only to find 3 guns pointed at him.

To be continued

Designers note. Unlike the last episode this one wasn't played out as a game, as its one thing to have the characters inter-act a Triceratops but as I know from experience a T-Rex is a whole different matter & having the whole cast eaten at this point isn't what I want :)
So with the Scorpion gone & Bill missing things are building up nicely & what about this stranger ? guess you guys will just have to stay tuned to fined out :)
 

As always my thanks for dropping in & if you'd care to be a movie critic your commend will be welcomed :)