30 November 2012

Mechanik's Heaven: An Online IKRPG Campaign

When it comes to my 'lifeblood' it's the IKRPG side of things, rather than the wargame. (though I'll post later on my thoughts on starting a Trollblood army, something I'm getting ready to do.) I also used to enjoy a very regular gaming session with friends before my move south. I've been missing that and the friend of mine that got me into IKRPG and I have been talking about doing a game online. Play By Posts just don't have the social aspect and the speed which we wanted. It all finally crystalized together after my wife complained about not being able to get her gaming/social fix in either. When the wife comments I know I need to do something.

And so was born the Mechanika Campaign. Played weekly I will give you a sense of where this campaign is going and how we do it. This will be an ongoing series on the Mechanika Campaign.

But first the tools of an online game. Two key features, one is voice and video. You need that around the table feeling where you can laugh at each other, etc. For that we've used a variety of tools. For small numbers of people we've used Oovoo, a great free video chat that we still use to chat with family with the kids all the time. We've found it to be great for providing the chat component, especially when it's hosted on a TV in the living room with the videos hanging out to one side. You can do your main view in the rest of it and have a quick 'table' view of who else is playing. Worked out great.

28 November 2012

Trollblood Scrum's Painting Exchange!

We here at The Scrum love to give back to the community.  We have contests and giveaways but now we want to help the community give back to itself! That's right, we are doing a painting exchange! Check out the details below.



RULES
The rules are simple folks:
1. International shipping is possible and those who enter will say if they are wiling to ship international.
2. Must submit PRIVATELY, your name, address and faction(s). Example pictures welcome for continuity purposes.
3. No price or model count limit on exchange so give as much as you want!
4. Please, if you want to participate send a model to someone else and make this a happy holiday.


DISCLAIMER
The Scrum is in no way, shape, or form responsible for the delivery of models to participants.  We are merely the vessel with which you folks spread holiday cheer.  There is a small possibility that you will not receive a model during this exchange. If so, we are sorry and we love you no matter what and you should take solace in the fact that you made someone else's Holiday truly magical by painting something.  Trollblood Scrum will not in anyway divulge your information to anyone but the recipient of your painting exchange model.

If you wish to participate send the following information to our submissions email at submissions@trollbloodscrum.com by Dec. 7.

Full name
Address
Faction(s)
Willing to ship international
Example Pictures if you choose

27 November 2012

The Doctor Is In

Welcome and well met! This is James Kilbride, known to some as kilbrj, and to others as The Doctor. New to Trollblood Scrum, and excited to be here. A little bit about me, I am a long time gamer, having started roleplaying games around the age of 11 when I first convinced my grandfather to run the basic D&D module for a friend of mine and I. Though long before that my father had introduced me to the concept with Playmobile, d6's and board game style rules for fights/etc. In fact, gaming has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, longer in some ways.

And so that brings me to Warmachine/Hordes and really IKRPG. I've always loved role playing games and war games, in equal basis. And the mixture of the two, which is the miniature games of today, has always held a fascination for me. I was acquainted with Warmachine/Hordes years ago by a friend that moved from Warhammer to that. I myself, having bought very little at full price, didn't feel like picking up another game that I didn't get to play all that often, but I did find it intriguing, for it did take a different approach to the models. I got back into it a little over a year ago when another friend of mine started transitioning over to Warmachine. But again, my investment in it is sparse.

On the other hand the new IKRPG holds my interest a great deal more. And in that I am true to form. While my miniature collection for wargaming doesn't get used often, due in part to not having a lot of time for long games or people to play against, my miniatures for RPG's (which are sometimes the same ones) get used quite frequently and I am an avid role player. From pen and paper to MUSHes even to sporadic MMORPG's(when I have random time on the computer to splurge). It is here that the wonderful folks at Trollblood Scrum found me, for the release of IKRPG filled a niche that I had been longing for for some time. With the grit of a world war 1 style combat, and the delight of steam punk married to fantasy races IKRPG had me hooked. I bought the rule book the day it came out and had 12 characters built in 3 days. I started to have questions though so came to the PP Forums to look at what people were doing about some of the 'uncertainties' in the book and there you will find me. Lurking oh so.. oh who am I kidding, a man who has done 1000 posts since September isn't lurking. I'm there, playing and running Play by Posts, giving my not so humble opinions on rules questions or character creation or how to run the gaming group and even tools you can use to run the game remotely.

And that is what I will bring to you here. Generally put, IKRPG related 'stuff'. Whether it be NPC's for you to borrow for your own campaigns, settings to use, or even some adventure/plot stuff(sorry folks Blackwoods will not show up here till the PBP is finished) that is what the Doctor(and yes I hold a PhD in computer science, along with an MBA) will bring you.

26 November 2012

The Scrum Painting Challenge II: Week 2

Well folks things keep on rolling her at The Scrum and the painted models keep rolling in. The themes are really starting to show and and the painters have started to show some really great work.  Bellow I have detailed some of their themes for the contest.



Anthony Winter sends us photos of his "Badlands" themes Mountain King and Whelps.

Batma will be sending us a list of "Blockade Runners" for his theme.

Crashwest has sent us the beginnings of his lave based red Trolls. Don't worry Brian your Bouncer is on the way!


DocSmith42 with his blue themed Trolls.

DocEther with yet another Borka theme.  We'll just call this one drunk...

ObsidianLily sending in her Tarot Card theme. Nemo here is the Magician.

Quelg give us his Reaching for the Keg" theme. There are kegs on there, we swear.

Svirfneblin bring us his Azul trolls and their very pretty tartans.

Taodark's theme is Celebration gone wrong.  So far it's off to  good start, can wait to see what's next.

That's it for this week folks, stay tuned for more awesome models next week!

21 November 2012

The Scrum Painting Challenge II Week 1

Week one down as our intrepid painters begin their short odyssey towards loot and glory! Keep a sharp eye as this contest unfolds.  Each set of models has a theme and not all are specific to faction!  Check out this weeks entries below!


Week 1 Entries








20 November 2012

Rocksong Family Mercenary Clan

The IKRPG Full Metal Fantasy has captured my attention.  In the spirit of the Scrum we have started a Play By Post in the Privateer Press Forums featuring our own creation, The Rocksong Family Mercenary Clan' located on the edge of the Glimmerwood.  The Clan has felt call of the United Kriel and vowed to assist them in any way... at a discount of course.  We have homebrewed rules for a War Wagon and a Pygmy Troll and even have longriders already.  Come Check it out.

Rocksong Family Mercenary Company PBP
PlayersKillbrj - Gunnar Foxface Trollkin Fell Caller/Investigator
Tooze - Bergthor Ulfar Trollkin Long Rider/Fell Caller
Stevenart74 - Xhamuul Kholt Trollkin Gun Mage/Solider
Tuttleboy - Boxus the Pygmy Alchemist/Field Mechanic
Chip - Wild Bil Gobber Cutthroat/Explorer
AluminumFalcon - Grunk Stormborn Pygmy Ranger/StormSorcerer
Geist - Brothan Bloodborn:Trollkin Ranger / Investigator.

Read More over at BEYOND THORNWOOD