FSA-occupied Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
The attack on Miami was swift and brutal. Despite the best efforts of Wales’ men the damage to done to the infrastructure would take months to repair; the civilian casualties were the most devastating.
MacCannon was reviewing the reports from their most recent exercise when he heard a rapping at his door.
“Sir, urgent communique from CINCCARR. Miami has been razed, and Fort Pierce destroyed.” Continue reading
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Attention all hands, Episode 34 of the MBS podcast has arrived! This month, Greg and Andy discuss the changes that come with game editions, focusing on X-Wing 2.0 and Dystopian Wars 3.0. Later, they discuss a few of their favorite naval history books in a new segment called the MBS Bibliography!
Edition Changes: 32 Min
MBS Bibliography: 1 Hr 23 Min
=Links Discussed In the Show=
This was a joint display board for several players.
A full year after Spartan Games went under, the open Beta test for Warcradle Studio’s new version of Dystopian Wars has finally arrived! There has been a lot of discussion and rumor surrounding the changes that are coming to the game, and now we get a chance to see just what they are in detail. In this first post, my main goal is just to provide a summary of the changes made to the core rules. I’ll provide a few initial thoughts at the end of this post, but more detailed impressions and analysis will probably have to wait until I’ve gotten this new edition to the table a time or two. And, as this is a beta version, keep in mind that the rules are not set in stone so any of the specific rules I discuss below could change depending on the feedback Warcradle receives. Onwards! Continue reading
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Greg and Andy are back with Episode 33 of the MBS podcast! This month, our hosts return to the Naval Game Mechanics topic to discuss Critical Hits and their role in Naval Games. Who doesn’t like a good, old-fashioned Magazine Explosion now and then? Later, they do a review of the Solitare/Co-op board game Nemo’s War by Victory Point Games, which is based on the Jules Verne novel 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
Critical Hits: 45 Min
Nemo’s War Review: 1 Hr 32 Min
=Links Discussed In the Show=
20000 Leagues Under the Sea at Project Gutenburg
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Better late than never, it’s Episode 32 of the MBS podcast! In this episode, Greg and Andy sit down with Derek, the creator of Sky Relics. Derek provides some insights into the full story on the game’s creation, some background on its setting, and the pros and cons of running a successful gaming Kickstarter. Later, Greg and Andy discuss the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of their own experiences as Kickstarter backers
Sky Relics Interview: 34 Min
Kickstarter Experiences: 1 Hr 30 Min
=Links Discussed In the Show=
Miami Harbor, Federated State of Florida
Jenkins Approached Commander Wales. “Sir, systems nominal, the Portsmouth is running as smooth as the day she completed sea trials.”
Danny nodded. “MacCannon took good care of her, and it seems the shipyard did as well. I especially like the red paint they added to the turrets, because they didn’t look dangerous enough. I’m glad he put his trust in me.”
He heard the thunderclap and looked down at his chronograph. “Ahh, must be time for Miami’s 1100 thunderstorm.”
It was then the Tesla shot struck the rail, causing his hair to stand up. Sadly, Ensign Jenkins was grasping the rail and this would be his first and only report to his CO.
Prussian Airship SZ8, High Above the Florida Coast
Oberst Ewald Bruning, commanding officer of His Imperial Prussian Majesty’s Luft-Fortress SZ8, removed his brass-framed protective googles as the hum and the brilliant flash from firing the airship’s massive forward Tesla weapon faded. Bringing his scope up to his eye, he was gratified to see that his gunners had succeeded in scoring a hit on the largest of the American warships in the harbor. “A hit!” he proclaimed, as the watch standers in the control gondola let out a short cheer before turning their full attention back to their duties.
Swinging his scope around, Bruning surveyed the scene around and below the SZ8. To port, the lean, lithe shapes of the Speerwurfs that comprised Luft-Escort Squadron 5 were preparing to launch their own attacks. To starboard lay the bulk of the Prussian surface forces committed to this operation, centered around Vizeadmiral Hans Von Koester’s imposing flagship, the heavy battleship SMS Brandenburg.
Koester had always been a very aggressive commander, almost to the point of recklessness. However, he also had a cunning streak and a gift for operational misdirection, which had resulted in the Prussian task force arriving off Florida in apparent total surprise. However, as yet Koester’s surface forces, including the Brandenburg, had not yet joined the fray, though that would soon change as the gap between the coast and the Prussian task force rapidly dwindled. No doubt, the wily Vizeadmiral was prowling the bridge of his flagship like a caged tiger, eager to enter the fray; Brunning had to suppress a smile at that mental image. Continue reading
Greetings! It has taken much longer than I had intended, but the judging for the 2018 Man Battlestations Painting Contest is finally complete! Before we get to the winners, I’d just like to say that this was the best year yet for the painting contest, both in terms of quantity and quality of the submissions. There were a grand total of 28 submissions, a significant increase from last year’s number. In addition, many of these entries were very detailed diorama-style presentations, which is an exciting trend. Of course, the downside of having so many excellent entries is that the voting and judging process was even more competitive that it was in previous years; please do not be discouraged if you were not one of our winners this year! Continue reading
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Episode 31 of the MBS podcast has arrived! This episode, Greg and Andy discuss the pros and cons of “defined” movement systems (i.e. using a grid of hexes or other shapes) in naval games. Later, they talk about some of the amazing miniatures that are being produced that are not tied to a specific game or rules system.
Defined Movement: 33 Min
Games-Agnostic Minis: 1hr 14 Min
Links Discussed:
http://www.brigademodels.co.uk/
https://www.ravenstarstudio.com/
http://www.alnavco.com/index.htm
Port Stanely, Falkland Islands
The days dragged, it had been a month since the Falklands incident. The pain had dulled, but the memory of his failure was still sharp.
“I’m not a prisoner here, but this isn’t exactly the Park Hotel. I know the Brits love their tea, but considering the amount I’ve seen flow through here, they blew that whole Boston thing way out of proportion…”
His thoughts were interrupted by a rapping at the door. Continue reading
Stanley Harbor, Falkland Islands
FSS Hampton, Flagship of the FSN Falkland Islands Squadron
As he approached the bridge, Captain Wales drew his coat tightly about his person. His breath formed smoky clouds not unlike the sturginium fueled exhaust of the FSS Hampton. Normally, he appreciated the biting wind; reminding him of the winter mornings at his family’s ranch in Deadwood, but today felt different.
“I still can’t believe they took the Portsmouth north for refit with the Prussian and Blazing Sun coalition encroaching from the east. We gave them one hell of a black eye off of Good Hope, but those nations have willpower to spare.”
“Ah well, another beautiful day in the South Atlantic…now, to find something to be rid of this chill.” It was then the first barrage of incendiary rockets blackened the sky over the Hampton.
INBS Furutaka, Strike Force Falklands
Kaigun-Chusa Tanaka traced the high arcing trajectory of the rockets fired moments before by the squadron of destroyers ahead of his own ship through his binoculars. As those rockets bore their incendiary payloads through the air towards the American battleship that lay in the heart of Stanley Harbor, Tanaka judged their trajectory to be straight and true. He had no doubt that his comrades had done their duty to the empress, but now it was the Furutaka’s turn.
“Have we re-acquired the target through the smoke of the destroyer’s rocket launch?” he demanded of the young officer manning the tactical plot. “Hai!” replied the officer, “We are ready to launch at your command.” Tanaka turned his gaze forward once more, ordering “Rockets Away!” as he did. Moments later, the Furutaka shuddered as the launchers studded around the ship loosed yet another volley of deadly rockets towards the American ship. Continue reading
