Do you remember where I took this photo? I was in the Ancient History museum in Trieste this May. And this is a bas relief with Pontiarii.

While we are preparing the English translation for Ferrum et Gloria, something new is on the arena sands. I’m laying down and playtesting new kinds of gladiators for the second book. This time I have better player sheets and rules summaries from the book. More stylish and handy than notes made with simple wordprocessing.

Pontiarii is a peculiar combat set between retiarii and contraretiarii utilising a bridge. Who hold the bridge win the fight. You can throw stones from the top of the bridge. And all is more three-dimensional because gladiators can fight from top to down or from down to top. And the bridge is a peculiar terrain. A lot of situations that were clarified during the test.

In the same session we had a combat between velites. Other situations, other rules. And more things to play with gladiators.

The last part of 9. So, after some aspects of Lucca C&G, now I’m going to speak about our small experience as Ganesha Games.
This year the available space was very small, only a large table divided in three parts. Andrea presented a small set-up with super-heroes for Power Legion. And another one with the same factory scenario but for Harder Than Steel.

Andrea games, in this small space in the huge space of the fair, were almost invisible. So I changed the cloth with the black side. Over, my large arena. Yellow on black, as bees, something more visible.
However in Crazy Factory vendor stand, a better set-up was ready for Harder Than Steel. So some demonstration games were played there. They will sell a custom edition of the rules for their sci-fi universe. They are miniature makers and a full miniature range is in development to be played with these rules. All will be ready for Lucca 2015. We are developing this since Lucca 2013, when we met these people and had the idea to work together. Lucca is even a meeting of creative people to build something new.

Andrea almost lost his voice after only a day. For his dead time I suggested to draw some sketches for upcoming Fighing Fungi miniature kickstarter.
I presented the printed copies of Ferrum et Gloria, my gladiatorial rules. Ready at last! One of the best things that you can live is when people appreciate your work. Here a mother explain to her children what were gladiators.

After 5 days, I and Andrea with official Lucca C&G caps. This is the end of the fair. Another great and good experience. We will remember these moments. Then on the road to home. We reached Terni at the 4 of the morning. Than a brief sleep, the train to Rome, home at the 5 of the afternoon. Ready for the next time.

I’m back from the official presentation of Ferrum et Gloria. I was in Lucca, you know. I’m tired, very tired. So a full report only in the next weeks. In the meantime I present you the Ferrum et Gloria website, the resource to understand better what are these wargame rules. The website is in English language but the rules are in Italian. The translation will be ready and sold for Christmas, I hope. Ask Andrea to be quick!

Ferrum et Gloria, the website

An expedition of the Ganesha Games team (I and Andrea) towards Rufina, a wargame convention on the hills at the east of Firenze. Inside a villa.

Our vendor stand.

My display game.

This is my biscuits tin arena with cork walls. Small but very beautiful. And with a little of drama added.

On the right side of the villa the open area for wargames.

From Macerata this scenario with Englishmen versus Indians.

Fight on the sands to determine the right name of God.

Italians in Africa to build an empire.

The theme of Salute 2015: Agincourt.

A radio controlled tank in 1/6 scale.

A model of Italians in Africa in 1942. During this convention there was even a modelling show.

A diorama with Russians.

Naval modelling.

A beautiful German ship.

A german submarine with interiors. Have you ever watched Das Boot?

With Autumn, Romics came. This is the second annual edition of the Roman convention about comics and cosplay, with games added. We haven’t a table because people is not interested in wargame but cards games as Magic. Sometimes you can spot Warhammer. Cultural issues are not contemplated, all is about comics and gadgets vendors. Cosplay is the only thing that provides huge hordes of people (more than 100000 presences?) in this far land outside Rome. But to be free from the crowd we visited the fair only the first day, Thursday, so we couldn’t see lots of naked girl around.

Japan is worshipped in every form. Here one of stands with Japanese blades (but made in China and sold though San Marino state). At the end a ramen shop. However this Romics edition will be remembered as the one with 28 people intoxicated by rotten sushi sold in the fair.

A vendor specialised in coloured wigs. Yes, we are in a comics fair…

“Mommy, I want the RedSkull bust!”. And the vendor eats a panino with roasted pork (porchetta).

Some toys prototypes. Ma.K.s!

This time was present the local 1/6 action figures maker called Kaustic Plastik.

A new gladiator set in the box was presented as preview.

Their 1/6 real metal helm collection. I bought the secutor one and one of the legionary types.

And now another kind of action figures. Big breasts here.

Other fine imports from Japan.

And if you don’t understand, more Japan porn for you…

We met our friends of Elara, sci-fi editors. And after we visited the film area, where we viewed a trailer of the upcoming Doreamon film. It is like the anime but in 3D. I want to watch it!

In the late afternoon, under a raining sky, we proceeded toward the Ikea near my house to buy a new large bookcase for Andrea’s miniatures.

I’m very happy 🙂 Today is arrived the paperback at Andrea’s house. This is the first printed edition of the rules. Tomorrow Andrea will in Empoli in a wargame convention and people can buy the book as preview. Official presentation will be in Lucca, the games and comics event of the year here in Italy (230000 participants). Sorry, at the moment only paperback edition in Italian language. The pdf in Italian will be available after Lucca. The translation in English language will be available before Christmas.

We started a new products line for Ganesha Games. We are utilising the international vendor called Zazzle to produce merchandise using graphics from our games. We opened a store with Ganesha Games products. Shipments are from various nations in the world at bargain prices. Every purchase on this site support Ganesha Games and helps us make more games. More merchandise is on arrival.

We have an entire line dedicated to Ferrum et Gloria. As this mug with scissor vs retiarius. Toast to your victories, or have your opponents for breakfast with this two-tone mug (maroon interior – the colour of dried blood!).
Moreover buttons or magnets with the book cover. Wear this button before entering the arena! The crowd will cheer and you will look stylish. And place the magnet on your fridge to keep fresh your meal for champions.

And a t-shirt with the logo. The dark red colour will hide your wounds allowing you to deal the final blow to your opponent.

Direct links: mug, buttons, magnets, t-shirt.

Sunday and Monday I went to Terni for another editing session on Ferrum et Gloria. I reread all the rules four times tweaking some parts as language and content. I stole the computer for almost two full days, so Andrea could only draw a couple of illustrations, for a game scheduled for 2016, and prepare something for RomaGioca, the Rome wargame convention that will be held this Saturday. With my OGAM scenario called Ragnarok an a preview of FeG.
So now I think this is the final edit session. Andrea is working on the new cover. Here a draft preview on the screen.
On a printed draft copy a dry blood sign near the logo. It is my and Andrea’s blood mixed on the paper: another mosquito splattered. This time I killed 7 mosquitoes. I gave my blood for these rules! There is blood on the arena! Blood for the Blood God!