Cricket, WAB and eBay

A couple of non-gaming posts coming up, mainly because gaming and painting time is getting pretty squeezed by all the packing for moving home.

One of the year's big time thiefs arrived a few days ago, namely the Indian Premier League.  Now I know that I've instantly turned off a load of people reading by mentioning cricket, but the IPL is one of the highlights on my sport (watching) calender.

In my humble opinion, the IPL is almost the perfect TV sport.  Lots of action (and its not all batting, despite what many people say) and tension, exactly what you want.  The coverage also makes a refreshing change from other sports, in particular the commentators remotely interview players and umpires whilst they are still playing, and the video replay/analysis is usually excellent.

I've just finished watching my adoptive team, Kings Eleven Punjab, put a terrible Pune Warriors side to the sword, but its only another hour until the next match.  The Kings XI are a bit of a Dads Army team (the captain Adam Gilchrist is 41) and it always makes me feel better seeing people older than me still playing professional sport (dreading the day I see the first footballer younger than me retire!)

Being a cricket fan in Scotland, cricket is presented to me in a very England-centric way (not a complaint mind you,) but the IPL gives a glimpse of the wider world of cricket; aussies, kiwis, saffers and, er, windiers(?) are all present.  In fact, the only cricket nations you won't see much of are England (who haven't adjusted to the IPL yet) and Pakistan (politics.)  There are another five weeks of games, at least one per day for the next four weeks.  If you've a free afternoon or evening, you could do a lot worse than sit through a match.

Not played WAB in a couple years, don't remember the Romans being this crap!

Not that gaming has completely ground to halt.  I sat in on a game of WAB at the club last week, Syracuse against Republican Rome.  Despite an impressive number of legionnaires on the table, in proper manipular formation too, they didn't make much of an impact once they eventually got into melee with the Phalanx.  Great fun and a real blast from the past, although, I'd forgotten most of the rules; I was chided early on in the game for pre-measuring!  Thanks to Sholto and Carlos for providing the armies and Adam for whining a lot.

Carlos' Syracusian army (left) was built using two boxes of Immortal Hoplites
and one box of Wargames Factory Numidians - Bargain.

Lastly, the last of my eBay auctions go live tonight and tomorrow.  Mainly Warhammer 40K stuff (seriously, why do I still have this, haven't played in years,) but some rulebooks and some bits and pieces too.

Climbing Clachnaben On A Winters Day

Next to no painting or modelling this weekend as it was the Mrs birthday on Saturday.  She fancied going for a walk somewhere so we went up and around Clachnaben, taking the in-laws for company.  There's been snow lying on Deeside for a week or so, and it made for some very picturesque views.  Gave me some great inspiration for my Easy Company "Bastone" army, although the troops in the Ardennes certainly didn't have to put up with our north-east wind!  It was bitter.  Officially we were at 2º but the wind meant it felt much colder!

If you've ever wondered what a hunk of granite looks like, well here you are.

True story, a few years ago, Aberdeen were playing Lokomotiv Moscow in the Uefa cup and at the time I was managing a mobile phone store.  On the day of the match a group of Muscovites were in the shop and we all got talking.  They particularly wanted to know where they could get hats and scarves.  I said that as they were from Moscow, surely they could cope with a chilly day in Aberdeen?  They replied that they were used to a normal, dry cold at home, even though it was -20º, all you had to do was wrap up.  Here however, the cold just ripped through you, the wind and the drizzle came from every direction and seeped into your bones!  It wasn't even that cold for our winter at the time!  Great guys though, gave us some Roubles as a souvenir!

Doesn't really look as cold as it was.

Walking with the in-laws is a hell of an experience.  They took up "serious" walking a couple years ago and they're the kind of couple who throw themselves into something wholeheartedly.  Consequently they have every kind of gadget and piece of paraphernalia available; sun glasses, snow glasses, thick gloves, thin gloves, portable seats, snoods?, poles, some kind of Asian wool base layers, removable spikes, countless clips, straps and bags.  Everything.  Watching them unload themselves for lunch and load up again was a bit of a spectacle!

Yours truly, hiding from the in-laws...err, I mean the wind!

After that, I took the Mrs out for dinner and a few drinks.  That should keep me in the good books long enough for her to ignore the box of figures due to arrive this week.

Halo 4 - Two Minute Review

This weeks free time has been dominated, of course, by Halo 4.  Unfortunately, our landline broadband hasn't been installed yet, so I haven't been able to devote hours to the online game.  As a result, I've probably spent longer on the campaign section.

After a couple uninspiring efforts (neither ODST or Reach were really authentic Halo games,) Halo 4 sees the return of Master Chief to centre stage, up against both the Covenant and the newly revealed Forerunner forces.  343 have managed to provide a proper Halo experience - the game feels like a Halo game.  The level design, enemies and weapons are all have that authentic and the difficulty is scaled almost perfectly.

Sadly, the plot and pacing of the game are well below what was expected.  The campaign starts off well enough, with a number of engaging set pieces and cut scenes.  The big reveal a third of the way through is well handled and the framework is there for a great experience. Instead, the game trails off to a rather numb conclusion.  No grand set piece, no panic, oddly, there isn't even much of a challenge.

Now I understand that the story in Halo 4 is revolves around the relationship and dependency between the Chief and Cortana, the conflict simply being the setting, but the sheer sense of anticlimax Halo 4 leaves you with is overwhelming.  Think back five years ago to the first time you finished Halo 3; the soundtrack, the effects, the drama, the immense Warthog drive across the collapsing landscape.  Halo 4 gives you the exact opposite experience.  In a generic sci-fi shooter, I would have said the story was average.  In a Halo game, extremely disappointing.

And another thing.  The Warthog noise is all kinds of wrong.  Reminds me of my first car - and that's not a good thing!

Still, the campaign is only part of the game.  I've heard the online modes are classic Halo action, so I'm looking forward to that.  In the interim, I may go back to the Halo 3 campaign for a more satisfying single player experience.

BenchVent Competition.

A quick post to highlight BenchVent's competition for a fume booth.  All you've to do is get them a pic of your painting area.  Check out their website.

It also gives me an excellent excuse to post this picture:

Although it's been tidied a bit since then.

The Rejects 20 Questions

In a move that is bound to spread across the internet like a plague, two of the Posties Rejects have put up one of those "interview yourself" lists. 20 questions, some about gaming, some not.  Considering the rain is tipping it down and that I'm stuck inside waiting for some prospective buyers to come look at the house, I've not really anything else better to do!  Make sure you read the answers Ray and Fran gave.

1. Favourite Wargaming period and why?

Punic Wars, first period that got me interested in history, not to mention wargaming!

2. Next period, money no object?

When I was younger, we played a massive campaign for a sci-fi planetary assault.  Invasion space battles with Battlefleet Gothic, Massive land/air battles with Epic 40K and smaller skirmished with regular 40K.  If money was no object, I'd go for something on that scale; Africa WW2, Japanese invasion of Korea, Moderns maybe, but something BIG.

3. Favourite 5 films?

In no particular order
Empire Strikes Back
Terminator 2
Big Trouble In Little China
The Jungle Book
Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark

4. Favourite 5 TV series?

In no particular order:
Futurama
Battlestar Galactica (newer series)
Star Trek TNG
A-Team Blackadder
Simpsons (Seasons 3-7, before and after are all crap)

5. Favourite book and author?

EEEAAARRRGGGGHHHH!!!! Not a chance I can narrow it down to one.  Gun to the head I'd have to go for The Count of Monte Cristo as the favorite book.  No idea of favourite author.

6. Greatest General? Can’t count yourself!!

Scipio.  Or, to give him the respect he deserves Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus.

7. Favourite Wargames rules?

No idea, probably Warmaster, considering all the variations it has spawned.

8. Favourite Sport and team?

Chelski.

9. If you had a only use once time machine, when and where would you go?

Serious answer:  Go back to about 1988 and give myself a list of things to do differently!

Non-serious answer:  Eleventh or Twelfth century BC, ancient Greece, see Helen of Troy and have a shot.

10.  Last meal on Death Row?

Chili nachos with the works, all washed down with a couple bottles of Peroni!

11. Fantasy relationship and why?

A completely juvenile answer: Sophie Howard.  Not only would she be dynamite in the sack, but she'd give you a great big hug afterwards!

12. If your life were a movie, who would play you?

Edward Norton.

13. Favourite Comic Superhero?

The Punisher.  Frank Castle is the man (except when he got beaten up by Daredevil. Git)

14. Favourite Military quote?

Not one for remembering quotes, so I'll go for the timeless "Veni, Vidi, Vici."

15. Historical destination to visit?

Rome, nuff said.

16. Biggest Wargaming regret?

Sold a heap of stuff a few years back when I wasn't gaming much.  Instantly regretted it.

17. Favourite Fantasy job?

Ooohh, any kind of professional sportsman.  Lower league footballer, county cricketer, domestique cyclist, anything like that.

18. Favourite Song Top 5?

In no particular order:
Fire Woman - The Cult
The Rain Song - Zep
The Chain - Fleetwood Mac
Enter Sandman - Metallica
Live It Up - Mental As Anything

19. Favourite Wargaming Moment?

Few years ago, few mates round at the house for the weekend, lots of games, pizza, crisps, good tv, banter, tunes, beers.  Perfect nerd weekend.

20. The miserable Git question, what upsets you?

Big government, small minds, straightforward things being complicated, people who don't do their jobs, media speak, Liverpool fans, celarrrrbrities, waste, broadcast news, the idea that everyone's opinion is somehow equally valid, vegetarian versions of proper food (veggie sausages? Get stuffed.)

London 2012 Adieu

One of my rare non-gaming posts today as, with the end of the marathon, my interest in the 2012 Olympics pretty much comes to an end.

Despite fighting against the erratic BBC coverage over the last couple weeks, I managed to keep up with the sports I watch year round (athletics, cycling, football and tenis,) the sports you watch because they are on (the swimming, canoeing and the rowing) and the freak sports you get hooked on every four years (handball, weightlifting and gymnastics!)

Scenes from the games will surely be replayed again and again over the coming years and I think that London can be justly proud of hosting a great games.  The array of great victories (and occasional great defeat) make this easily an equal to the earlier games I've seen (I vaguely remember Seoul, but clearly recall Barcelona.)

I could happily spend hours writing about the highlights from my point of view, but this isn't a sports blog, so I'll just put some pictures up from my favorite events.

Right now, I hope the country is bracing itself for a bit of an Olympic backlash.  Certainly, most criticism of London's hosting of the games has been all but ignored since the opening ceremony, but I strongly suspect that it will return to prominence over the coming weeks and months.

Fundamentally, most criticism was aimed at either the cost and at the location of the games, and I agree with much of what has been said.  In terms of funding, the London Olympics has been very successful in that, with only a couple alterations, it has stuck close to budget.  However, if you look at some of the funding sources (namely, charities, lottery and sponsorship,) how much funding has been diverted from other beneficiaries.  Funding from corporate sources comes with implicit tax benefits, would you rather Lloyds had paid more in general taxation than they gave to the Olympics?

Secondly, something the Lord Coe and others seem blindingly oblivious to, is that these are the London Olympics, not the Great British or English or United Kingdom(ish) Olympics. Although I have some faith the legacy of the Olympics will be felt across the whole country, there will be diminishing returns the further from the Southeast you are.  The vast, vast amount of benefit the games generate will be felt in London.  Throwing the football around the north and having the sailing on the south coast does nothing to mitigate this.  Saying that individuals will "get out of the games as much as they are willing to put in" struck me as a rather elitist and arrogant statement by Coe (does he know how much a week in London costs?)  I'd have liked to have had a bit more honesty from all parties, broadcasters included, on this.  So far, all announced post 2012 events are taking place in London.

For all that, I'm by no means down on the Olympics.  I made a concerted effort, once the games started, to enjoy them and watch as much as I could without grumbling.  I certainly see no contradiction in being generally positive about the games, but having some fundamental problems with their organisation and presentation.

Still, an hour after watching Stephen Kiprotich's fantastic marathon effort, the proper football season starts (I know I'm Scottish and our season started a couple weeks ago, but shut up) and  that's a different kind of enjoyment.  I've got plans for a couple trips to Stamford Bridge this season - with the Olympics finished, maybe I'll even be able to afford it too!