Okay, it's not that bad. I could play Full Thrust right now, I've got enough scratch-built vessels and stands for it, bits to use for counters, dice, and a star field battle map with hex-grid (optional). It's just that can't feel like it's finished enough to play until I've played it. Other games I've built for a set of downloaded rules I have played solo to get a hang of how it's played. For some reason, I keep balking at setting up FT to do the same, even with the modification I use to get around the secret movement orders aspect.
Recently, I added another title to my list of games for which I have rules, but for which I need to gather/build components. This time the game is called Silent Death, only what I downloaded was a special Star Wars themed version of the rules that was originally printed in a magazine. This I did after buying some packs of Micro Machines Star Wars star fighters that were on sale with the sole intention of using them in gaming. There's a few more things to be done to make it playable (some stands for the models being foremost).
No real update on Pulp Alley. I think my daughter would like it, but I still wait.
Mostly I wait for the time that I have a table where I can leave a game set up. I've got lots of wood (from the dump) with which to build a table plus a piece of MDF for the playing surface. I no longer have a nicely heated and wired garage in which to run a table saw or work in after the daylight is gone. I also have had, and now have, other projects to finish first. It will happen, though.
But, enough of that. The real reason I wanted write something, besides the fact it's been a month since my last post (Happy New Year, by the way), is some inspiration I had from a video I happened across. I happened to have some styrofoam, not the kind he used in the video, but the kind more commonly used for packing. Also had a couple game boards from games that were picked up especially for their components only. Of course, there's all those craft paints from my sister too.
Yes, I made islands for use with the sailing ships acquired in April! And here they are! Enjoy!
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| Searching the islands for pirates. |
The sandy bases are cut out of a game board. The back side is facing up, which has a texture that shows through the paint, looks a bit like sand. The rest of each island is made of the styrofoam. Dark brown or black was used as an undercoat all over. Then paint layered and dry-brushed: two or three layers, dark to light, for the rocks, grass, and sand. Worked out pretty good though!
