"Cold Wars 2018 Game: A Usual Night in Elizabethan London" Topic

I posted a a report of my Frostgrave/Ghost Archipelago variant I ran at Cold Wars – A Dead Man in Deptford, a tale of magical shenanigans in Elizabethan London.

link

I should note that William Shakespeare was even more successful when he had the ability to cast explosive runes.

I've also included pictures of some of other games that caught my eye.

Grace O'Malley, eh?
Did she come over the sea, with Armed warriors as her guard?
Only Gaels were they, not French nor Spanish?
And did they rout the foreigners?

Sorry I missed it.

I wasn't able to play, but I came and watched for a bit. The photos don't do justice to one of the most beautiful wargame tables I've ever seen.

With a view toward Historicon, how friendly is it to the not-Frostgrave set?

Seconded, Robert; that table was FANTASTIC looking… so many little vignettes and treats to look at. Just amazing. Thank you for putting on such a great looking game!!

Great idea for a game
Looked great
Thanks
Clif

Wow! Gorgeous looking game!
Some really great looking games there. Thanks for posting.

Anyone know what the massive ship photo is about in the fourth from end photo? Might be an aeronaut steampunk ship.

Like the Samurai table, nice terrain. A little too much table clutter but nice.

Of course our hosts table was fabulous. Were the buildings mostly paper? mdf?

I walked by and watched your game in action.
Outstanding effort, as usual.

I've noticed your games in the past. I know you are not in it for the awards, (especially because your games have won in the past), but if this game wasn't recognized by the judges for your time slot (I didn't see an award when I walked by), it was overlooked.

Sadly, not the first time a great looking, well played, highly enjoyable game at an HMGS convention has failed to receive the recognition it deserved.

Thanks for all kind comments, I appreciate it! Robert, Frostgrave has fairly easy mechanics to pick up (but gives a great game). For the convention, I simplified things just a little, like giving fewer spells/special abilities and smaller warbands. We only had two players with previous experience with Frostgrave and most picked up the mechanics pretty well by the second or third turn.

Dragon, the big ship was a pulp zeppelin game put on by Buck Surdu. It was a thing of beauty and my picture doesn't do it justice. The buildings are mostly paper, Dave Graffam and a brand called Clever Paper from a company called Russia's Best. There are a couple of Sarissa and 4 Ground MDF and the theater and bear-baiting ring are scratch built.

Winston, Grace O'Malley did have a couple of gallowglas, one of whom was done in by an angry barmaid with a pewter mug. In addition to three groups of English spies/assassins, we had two troop of actors, The School of Night, helmed with fearsome fanaticism by Howard Whitehouse, that is, until he blew himself up, Spaniards, the Scottish Weird Sisters, and Solomon Kane. I had 11 players and could have had up to 16 – we never got to use Blackadder, Robin Goodfellow (Puck) or Falstaff – maybe we'll see them at Historicon!

Looks like you ran another fantastic game Jeff. Looks like I'm going to miss out on Historicon this year, otherwise I'd be looking forward to playing it there. (But hopefully I can use up my gold coins in 2019)

-Ray

Dammit, I was in such a hurry to make it to the game, my calcified cranium lost a lot of the Elizabethan colloquialisms I had studied up on. Never got to use "poxy maggot-pie" in polite conversation.

Ray, sorry you won't be at H-con, your presence will be sorely missed – this year's musical is going to be a mash-up of Into the Woods and Shrek. And, by the way, I got a new style of gold coins

Capncarp, how couldst thou forget, thou globe of sinful continents, leathern-jerkin, crystal-button, knot-pated, agatering, puke-stocking, caddis-garter, smooth-tongue, Spanish pouch!

'Swounds, Maistre Geoffrey--thou has ne'er spake so sweetly afore!

WOW!!! Thanks for posting the pics.. I missed this.

Amazing. That looks and sounds like so much fun. Thanks.

Absolutely stunning. As I mentioned on another thread, the Frostgrave games seem to be setting the standard of table top presentation.

Your link shows some excellent games at this year's Cold Wars. Thanks for the pictures.