I’m so tired and replete! Sunday I was in Canino (VT) for a wargame convention organised by Narciso, my wargame club mate who lives there. The opportunity was a countryside festival about asparagus. The municipal authorities gave us a building in the town centre to place our tables. So some demonstration games ran all the day.

The Napoleonic rules by Di Bartolo in a mastered battle. Only for grognards.

The Clan Conan of LuccaGames fame was there. Romans versus late Macedonians with easy rules: Battle of Cynoscephalae (364 BC).

The best demonstration table. Diego has got a real feeling for children. So he took Song of Blade and Heroes, mastered and simplified the rules to baby level, and a lot of fun were spread.

Vlad the Impaler always by Clan Conan. Playable by common men.

Another preview for Of Gods And Mortals. In these days I’m studying the rules to build a new mythological pantheon expansion.

This is a demonstration game season. So I was there with my Ferrum et Gloria. Now I’m writing the rules, at last! In this phase I’m editing all the game mechanics to add more fluency to the play and to clarify some situations. The goal is to have the published version in the late 2013.

Narciso is an artist too. His first attempt to make something about miniature sculpting: two 75mm gladiators that he sculpted with Milliput and realised with resin. I think that they are great! Remember, his first attempt…

And now, back to the countryside festival. Part of the long historical parade. Sorry, I didn’t captured the feeling of the thing, it was better than what you can see here. There were three horses too. Canino is a little town, so it is a big effort to have a lot of people with medieval costumes.

Asparagus, oil and artichokes, sold at bargain prices, especially the asparaguses, something like one euro for one bundle! This place has got an agricultural vocation, and they are famous for high quality oil and early production of asparagus.

All wargamers together for the lunch. And a multi courses menu exclusively based on asparagus recipes: with oil and vinegar, with pasta and fish, with potatoes and meat, with calamari, au gratin. Two hours and half for this duty. The ladies around the table (girlfriends, Andrea’s mother and Di Bartolo’s wife) went in the morning to visit an ancient Longobard stronghold in the surroundings, in a trip leaded by Narciso among tuff rocks and high grass. Narciso is the chap with sideburns.

In the main square of the town, the traditional Guinness omelet with asparagus, the topic moment of the festival. An eggs massacre for the joy of people.

And here a close-up on my slice of omelet. A great day, fun with friends and some dices rolled around. Later, after the greetings to the wargamers, we reorganised the place and the materials. After we take the dinner with some Narciso’s friends, again asparagus, but on pizza this time.

The right thing to do is the privatization of the state funeral, that would be more according with her school of thought!

Vikings strike back again! Tiger is a sort of Ikea from Denmark. They have got lots of stores around Europe, maybe you can find someone around you. However I live 400 meters from one of them. Well, they sold all those sort of things that could be useful at home, as boxes, decorations, spices, St.Valentine gifts, candies, toys, stationery, toothbrushes and so on… Among these items I found an adhesive magnetic tape. A little thin but I try it with miniature bases and it has a considerable attraction power. It is cheap, 3 euro each tape. Everyone is 3 meters long per 2 centimetres wide, as almost equivalent to a full A4 surface. I’m thinking to use it as magnetic strips on the bottom of the cardboard boxes where to store miniatures with metallic bases. Try it!

Before my current lead addiction I spend my days following my local hardcore punk community. This is true especially for the years 1988-1995. Before them I was a metal-head but of black and thrash fringe. As my most relevant activities of that period, I realised a couple of fanzines, was a regular writer for a magazine, and helped with a record label. Nowadays I still hear a lot of music: hardcore punk, oi!, black metal and power electronics. I was very involved with hardcore music. Well, it is more than music, it was my life, because hardcore is not a form of music but an aptitude. A young movement, but a strong one. You cannot understand it if you are used to mainstream music, it is a matter of live in a unconventional way hearing unconventional music. And “music” is not the right word, “noise” is better, because it is the sound of rage.

A couple of years ago, a young veteran of my local community (when I was around he was just an adolescent) thought to film a documentary on that world, realising various interviews with crucial people from Roma hardcore community of that years, with a focus on the 1989-1999 period. After a lot of time he edited the material and now it is a film.

I went to a modern art museum (!!!) to see this documentary, screened for two months during an art exhibition. It is weird to go to a museum to see a piece of your life! And it is an institutional art museum, as if my life and that of my mates were involved in some art project. I wasn’t interviewed but I hoped that some part of me or my work was present in the pit (the name of the place below the stage) among other faces. Nothing, I wasn’t there. Pity! I saw only some group photos that I took: I was the “official photographer” of the community, so I was always behind the objective! Those photos were in the official catalogue of the show too, obviously without my name. This is the sad way of the photographer…

This documentary is not for commerce. I didn’t repeat this nostalgia moment with another screening session. But I wish to buy a copy to search better my face among the crowd…

More informations about the film on the website www.rmhc-film.com.

Then a photographic book was edited about these years in the left fringe of the Roman skinhead community. This time I can find myself in the pit. But only by shoulder and a little of my face. However maybe it was the last live gig that I saw, a couple of years ago. Time flies.

Some days ago I was thinking about a way to storage my new 28mm miniatures. Now they are hidden in a lot of spare boxes without order and disciple. I need a new solution. So I visited IKEA catalogue to find ideas. Then I wrote to TMP board to start a brainstorming. This the dialogue:

---

mass mosc – 15 Feb 2013 2:48 a.m. PST

I’m looking for something small to storage some 28mm miniatures. Something to put inside a closet. I find this one from IKEA:
ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/70198031

Calculating an occupied area of about 2cmx2cm per each miniature, with this storage form I could found space for almost 825 miniatures. Not the definitive solution, but almost something…

It is in metal, but can it stand my heavy miniatures? What do you think?

In meantime I found this blog where a girl utilise it for inks:
itsascrappylifeforme.blogspot.it/2012/04/kvissle-bless-you.html

Your opinions, please…

---

The Editor of TMP – 15 Feb 2013 3:17 a.m. PST

Won’t keep out the dust, will it?

---

Chrixter2 – 15 Feb 2013 3:28 a.m. PST

To temporarily store stuff while working on them it may work. However, as a more permanent solution you want to keep dust away so any open solution is a no-no. Furthermore, if you fill it with miniatures and then want to move it somewhere, well, that will not have a happy ending!

---

johnpreece – 15 Feb 2013 4:37 a.m. PST

I have used these and like them.
http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/00107874/
they take the weight of cavalry and are deep enough for standards etc. they are fairly sturdy and incredibly cheap.

It is a more bulky option where space is at a premium and the paint does flake a little when the sides of the drawer are bent into shape so not for a damp envionment where rust could be a problem.

---

Mick in Switzerland – 15 Feb 2013 5:33 a.m. PST

I also use the Ikea HELMER metal drawer unit on castors as John Preece recommends. I have six of them.

---

DColtman – 15 Feb 2013 5:39 a.m. PST

Another vote for the Helmer, I have one and would like to have more. Bonus if your bases are magnetized.

---

Extra Crispy – 15 Feb 2013 7:39 a.m. PST

I buy nice cardboard boxes in bulk then apply nice labels. Attractive, cheap, easy to replace, lightweight.

---

TMPWargamerabbit – 15 Feb 2013 7:58 a.m. PST

I use Apple boxes cut down and painted a common green shade with nice pictures on box lid ends. The boxes come from the local store by asking the produce manager. Some of them are now almost 40 years old and stack nicely since they are the same size. The excess cardboard material is use to double line the bottom and create “separation walls” grid in each box for the units.

WR

---

mass mosc – 15 Feb 2013 12:21 p.m. PST

I’m waiting the spring to reorganise all my little boys… I’m still confuse about where to put them… A big space problem for little things.

---

religon - 15 Feb 2013 12:43 p.m. PST

I too use Apple boxes, but mine are the ones laptop computers ship it. They are deep enough without being overly so. They also have a tough plastic veneer making them very strong.

---

Brandlin – 15 Feb 2013 5:42 p.m. PST

825 minis is over 12kg of weight. Those shelves will certainly bend, but I doubt they will fail.

---

bsrlee – 16 Feb 2013 2:07 a.m. PST

It would actually make a good core for a transport case for magnetically based figures if they weren’t going too far. Airline baggage handlers would destroy just about anything – DAMHIK.

If you are worried about the shelves bending it would not be too difficult to glue thin ply or hardboard (masonite) to the shelves – even underneath works it you want the magnetic effect to remain. Just use a rubbery glue like contact cement not PVA or a wood-to-wood glue.

---

Rogzombie – 16 Feb 2013 8:37 a.m. PST

The Helmer looks nice. I am very limited on space now and this might be a great solution. I think several of these would even fit in my gaming closet. I live 2 miles from Ikea, I should go have a look.

Thanks for the ideas. I have come into a very tight living condition and forgot how Ikea specializes in this. A shopping trip is in order…the only problem, no money!!!!

---

Rogzombie – 16 Feb 2013 8:40 a.m. PST

Uh, just for the record, dont buy Ikea stuff else where such as amazon they hiked an extra $30.00 USD on the damn thing plus a bunch of shipping

I looked because amazon often has free shipping and lower prices. Not on Ikea stuff apparently…

---

Gokiburi – 16 Feb 2013 11:50 a.m. PST

I just picked up a Helmer a few days ago, I really like it so far. (I’m hoping that the flaking paint issue that johnpreece mentioned doesn’t become a problem)
Those long drawers hold a suprising amount of figures, and they’re also very attracted to magnets: my Yu Ching are hard to remove without damaging them. (I may have to figure out a way to swap out some of their magnets for weaker ones)

---

Rwphillipsstl - 16 Feb 2013 11:53 a.m. PST

Really Useful Boxes have various sized boxes that are strong and are stackable, and come in various colors. Perfect, though can get more pricey if you have a large collection.

---

johnpreece – 17 Feb 2013 5:28 a.m. PST

Goiburu

I have had 5 for about 18 months, as I live 500 yds from the sea and every thing rusts I was worried about the bare metal.

I gave the corners and runners a light spray of silicon lubricant and they are still absolutely mint conditon. The drawers also glide perfectly with heavy figures inside. In fact there is so litle resistance you have to be careful not to give it a tug ad send the contents over the floor. Fantastic stuff and about £3.00 GBP-4 a can.

Young women protested against Silvio B., but maybe they could obtain only a Minister position from him. Almost 1 person on 3 people voted for Silvio. It is sad, it is Italy. 20 years of regime and still going…

Today is Giovedì Grasso, one of the two major Carnevale days. So I want to propose this extravaganza about half naked gladiatrices! We are speaking about a comic by JulianApostate. Fighting women are a classic kinky topic and this comic about gladiatrices is setted in the Roman world. You can find the comic here.

From the paper to the screens. If the Avengers and superheroes have got their films so even Ultimate Gladiatrix have got a flick! This one is a 18 minutes production by Amazon Warriors, a photographer and film maker web based and specialised on fighting girls. This time his models staff fight and kill in the arena. You can buy it here. Below some screenshots to admire the technical fighting skills of these young girls.

Only a brief note to communicate the creation of a new blog dedicated to the Flashing Steel rules published by Ganesha Games. If you like pirates, musketeers, sword and gun action, these rules are for you. So go to: http://flashingsteel.wordpress.com/