Awesome Fiddlin' (or Violinin')

Check this out.

(Thanks to Damn Cool Pics).

Mini-Review: Eslo Terrain

I recently had some Paypal funds burning a hole in my pocket, so I finally decided to try out a couple products from "Eslo", a German company, distributed in the US through the Tin Dictator. The two pieces I ordered are discussed below. Both are 25/28mm scale.

Woods with Log (also here): This seemed like a decent piece, a good wilderness item. For the most part, it's nice - it looks like it does in the picture. The base is nice and sturdy as well and sits flat. The biggest problem is that the trees ship apart, which makes sense. However, the bases for the pine trees are glued not to the bare base but on top of the static grass. And there is no flat place to glue the deciduous tree that isn't covered with small "rocks" or grass. I suspect the trees are going to fall off after a little use; I'll need to figure out a better way to secure them. I'm a little disappointed in that, as well as the fact that it could have been packaged such that the trees could have already been assembled, given that this piece cost $23. But otherwise it's nice.

Monolith (also here): This piece is nice, looks pretty much exactly like the picture. No further assembly required. It'll look good on the gaming table once I find something to use it for.

Would I buy Eslo again? Very likely, at least for pieces without trees. With trees, I may look elsewhere. On the other hand, I plan on getting started on some of my own scenery soon, so there may not be a need.

I have some more money from selling some D&D miniatures (~$58 for Driz'zt? I can't believe people will pay that...well, more than that because I sold it to a dealer and I know they'll resell it for more than that), so I picked up a couple of 15mm pieces from Crescent Root. I'll post about them when they arrive.

Mini-Review: 300

Awesome movie. Had a couple of very minor quibbles, but otherwise, it was great. Go see it.

And, no, I don't feel like taking the time to give reasons as to why I liked the movie. Just go see it. You'll enjoy it. And if you don't, well, then I guess you have no soul.

Reaper Pre-Paints and Gamer Elitism

Found out today about this: Reaper is going to be doing pre-painted plastic figures, similar to DDM from WotC, but non-random. I think it's great. I don't feel like going into details, as people in the thread are doing that quite well enough. Basically, if it gets more people into the hobby (or keeps others there), that's great.

Will I be buying any? We'll have to see about the quality. I have to admit that I recently have turned sour on the DDMs. Personally, they're a little too much like toys for me, versus decently-painted metal figures. Other people don't think that way and are very much in the DDMs, which is great. Does it make sense to have a prejudice against one guy of little monster guy versus another kind? No, not really. But as I said, that's my personal feeling. I'm not going to condemn someone else or lament the "death of the hobby" because Reaper is doing pre-painteds.

Unlike some of the commentary I've seen about this announcement. It's akin to the old "RPGs will kill wargaming" grognard elitism, or D&D edition wars, or "CCGs will kill RPGs", or "MMORPGs will kill RPGs", etc.

First of all, get with reality. If this is where the hobby is going, it's not because an evil corporation has it out for you. Times change, trends change. There's no indication Reaper is getting away from metal, regardless of how people want to spin this. And if they do? They presumably would do so because it's in their best interests. Unfortunately, the elitists would rather see a company go under than change to do something they don't like.

Second, get off this attitude of "Well, I put the time into painting and basing my figures, so I shouldn't have to play with someone who just cut corners with pre-painteds." Games are about having fun. If people want to play that way, that's their preference. If you don't want to play with them because they're not as "hardcore" as you, then don't play. But don't condemn other people for not liking the same things you do. Or waiting to dedicate the time you do to your hobby. Besides, if someone can paint half-ways decently, they're almost always going to have better-looking minis than someone who's using pre-paints. If nothing else, you can mentally gloat about how superior your miniatures are.

The real question to ask if you're concerned about the future of unpainted metal is this: How many people who currently buy miniatures will move their dollars over to Reaper's pre-painteds? For the most part, I don't think we'll see an exodus of the painters to buying pre-painted plastics. If you paint miniatures, you do it because you want to, and those people will continue.

Remember: games and hobbies. Some of these people treat them like they're life or death.