Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Summer Trip 2015

I have been away to Minnesota again this summer to visit with my wife's family.

Again I brought out a set of troops for my two nephews, I was most pleased that they had actually kept the other sets I have given them in good condition (some bayonets broken and a flag pole gone - all in all really well kept for a 5 and 8 year old).  When the younger one saw the four red boxes he knew instantly what they were and inhaled with excitement, what a joy to give to someone like that!

During our time there we played many games with the boys, the usual battleship and asked for monopoly (though the younger one was really not up to using the money, so we 'faked it' with just the cards and houses.  He likes to count the dice anyway.  I also played a few games of "Tower" defense (?), with orcs and goblins and rolling boulders in a team effort.  The young ones like it and it was silly fun.

We also traveled to a few craft places and some game/comic stores.  Since time was available on the return trip I made a stop at Imperial Hobbies, where I picked up the next book in the English Civil War series.

In Minnesota I finally got to handle the new Ares Games sailing ship models for Sails of Glory.  They are a good size in plastic, yet the coloring seemed off for what I was expecting, also there did not appear to be any way to switch out the masts to show damage to sails or no sails or striking of colors.  I am still torn on attempting to follow the game for just the models, I am sure that the system has its fans, yet the problem will be getting the ships I want, beyond the usual ships of the line and frigates, Xbecs and sloops or ketches and any other barges or inshore craft are what are needed to do justice to the other than main naval forces of the era, for it was near inshore waters where the SOL were vulnerable and not enough Frigates could be made to keep then all safe at all times...

Summer 2015 loot
More humble in budget for such things right now, so only a book and much needed Molding Paste along with a silver paint to replace the one that dried out a few months ago, the last tube lasted 10 years, maybe this one will also!

No comments: