It's been a really good week for vintage RPGs this week. My total haul comprised: Mint Star Frontiers first ed  £15 Mint books, damaged boxes Star Frontiers 2nd Ed and Knight Hawks Very good Zebulon's Guide for Star Frontiers £14 (a real bargain) Ringworld RPG in excellent condition £40 (foolishly cheap) Mint Warhammer 1st edition Mint Forces Of Fantasy Quite an eclectic haul for under £200 and it's very difficult to choose a favourite from them all. It's almost like 1984 again both in terms of the games and the prices paid.

Now, whilst I have been gaming for a little over 35 years, and in that time having played a LOT of RPGs, I confess that I was never part of an 'Empire Of The Petal Throne'  game. EPT as it is known by it's fanatical followers was the second RPG system but the first complete game world, being set in the world of Tekumel, the creation of on Professor M.A.R Barker. To me it always seemed to be something of an urban legend, and I had never actually known anyone in my city who played it. So, I dutifully went through the various games; D&D, AD&D, Runequest etc, gaining my 'gaming cred' and having a lot of fun along the way. Fast forward to 1995 when I am head hunted to manage the Sheffield branch of Dungeons & Starships, the details of which I will not bore you with here, but rather would direct you to my gaming memoir 'Real Life's A Bu**er!'   (ISBN10:1471643875). Around that time Theatre Of The Mind Enterprises released a Tekumel based ...

A busy Monday with plenty to do in the studio. However, just as I was starting to wane a little, Pete at Standing Stone Studios sent me the 'approval shots' of the mask I commissioned for my Death Eater costume. It just needs the leather ties and then it will be on it's way to me. The rust effect is so stunningly done that you'd think it was metal and not fibreglass resin. It may have cost me £175, but the craftsmanship makes it worth every penny.

The sweaty palms, heart beating in your chest and trying to climb your throat.  The giddy, light-headed feeling as your eyes bulge and you bite down on your lip, anxious that your Mum doesn't come upstairs and ruin that most important moment in a young man's life - that initiation into a wider sense of existence, filled with it's previously unknown pleasures. You hum 'Feels Like The First Time' by Foreigner and gently take the wrapper off and then y ou're in. It's the ultimate high and it will never be quite as good ever again, no matter what you do. Yes, opening that TSR box and seeing the crayon and dice is something you never forget!'

Under the ownership of Andy Kirk, Heroics & Ros is going from strength to strength with all the classic ranges and an ever increasing number of new ranges and models which give GHQ a run for their money. You may recall that earlier this year I gave you all a sneak peak of the amazing Taliban models? Well, now I can show pictures of the first painted examples of the very latest H&R WW2 release of Germans in Winter clothing. These are superb, with tons of detail and variety which would even make skirmish gaming possible in 6mm - Really!  As you may have also hear H&R purchased the old Davco 1/300 and Skytrex 1/600 Coastal Warfare ranges. If the rumours I hear are true, there's some really great stuff in the pipeline. (Pics courtesy of Conflict In Colour and H&R)

Well, after doing some number crunching and reading up, as well as speaking to the very helpful Howard Fielding at 'The Tekumel Project', 2015 will see me taking forward my planned 28mm project to pitch two large forces from M.A.R Barker's sci-fantasy world of Tekumel. I just need to get Xmas out of the way  and then I'll be ordering the first 500 models. Watch this space...

A few pics from the latest uploads at  www.conflictinclour.com Conflict In Colour is a singe artist, U.K based studio offering a consistently high work in all scales. With many magazine and product packaging 'appearances' as well as taking part in a Discovery Channel programme on wargaming; coupled with over 20 placings in major competitions, Conflict In Colour offers a full spectrum, ready to play service for the discerning gamer. Those of you with large collection may like to note that they can book regular monthly 'slots' with an agreed budget and output rather than having to wait in a queue. Anyway, here are some pics including I believe the forthcoming H&R Winter German infantry in 6mm.

I am seriously considering a long term personal project as I've given up on other 'large army' projects. After all, I paint professionally for 40-50 hours per week so I get little time to paint my own stuff. Add to the mix, the fact that I am working on my second book, and you'll see why I have to really think the logistics of this project over. I am simply not interested in any more historical stuff for personal use and traditional 'European' fantasy has been done to death. But, to play Devil's advocate, I need something to get really involved in (folk dancing is out) so immersing myself on a Tekumel trip using the wonderful 'Tekumel Project' miniatures. 'Tekumel? What's that?' you say... Professor M.A.R Barker has been called 'The Forgotten Tolkein' and justly so. His fantasy world of Tekumel is much richer than Middle Earth in terms of background; A world with unique races, tons of background and a non-european mytho...

Hi ho! Two weeks away from my studio has left me pretty refreshed mentally and physically and ready for that mad dash up to Xmas Eve and another 2 weeks without having to pick up a brush to earn a crust. Over the last fortnight I've had the company of my wonderful wife and have also seen some of my oldest friends again at Fiasco. Fiasco was as mundane and moribund as ever, much like the majority of shows these days. They offer no scintillatingly fresh content, bring and buys are on the decline and the wares on offer are just plain drab for the most part. At Fiasco, my total bill for the day was a measly £48.50 with my purchases being the 'In Her Majesty's Name' rules, a section of 11 British Infantry in Home Service Dress for said rules and a copy of 'Stalagmites' from Midlam Games. This is a wonderful little 'home grown' board game with a distinctly retro feel. For me, the day was 'made' by the attendance of some really great friends f...