Armchair Dragoons Forums

Wargaming => Sci-fi & Fantasy Warfare => Topic started by: Marc Gacy on February 10, 2021, 05:47:01 PM

Title: A Billion Suns, Stargrave
Post by: Marc Gacy on February 10, 2021, 05:47:01 PM: Anyone else jazzed as I am by either of these Osprey offerings?

https://ospreypublishing.com/store/military-history/upcoming-books/available-this-month/a-billion-suns
It's by the same author as Gaslands, which I thoroughly enjoy.

https://ospreypublishing.com/store/military-history/upcoming-books/preorder-2-months/stargrave
It's by the same author as Frostgrave and Ghost Archipelago, which I also thoroughly enjoy.
Title: Re: A Billion Suns, Stargrave
Post by: bayonetbrant on February 10, 2021, 06:27:31 PM: Never heard of either, but I'm interested now
Title: Re: A Billion Suns, Stargrave
Post by: Marc Gacy on February 10, 2021, 06:51:22 PM: OK,
I can tell you about the current games (don't know enough about the ones that aren't out yet)

Frostgrave/GA -
Approximately 10 minis per side - A leader, a second, up to 4 specialists, and the rest standard fodder, er, crew.
Two different books/setting - Frozen cities being revealed after 100s of years and a series of islands that surface after 100s of years
Exploration-driven as opposed to just head to head clash, nice scenarios and campaign rules

Gaslands
Kit bash hot wheels with weapons! Need I say more?
Also, this from the rulebook:
"In Gaslands, if the rules are unclear, choose whichever option results in the most carnage for all concerned. This is The Rule of Carnage"
Title: Re: A Billion Suns, Stargrave
Post by: bbmike on February 10, 2021, 06:52:00 PM: Yes, I came across this a couple of days ago (either here on the forum or Mentioned in Dispatches or ?) and ordered it. 8)
Title: Re: A Billion Suns, Stargrave
Post by: bbmike on February 10, 2021, 06:52:56 PM: Now that I think about it I believe Cyrano mentioned it on the last podcast.
Title: Re: A Billion Suns, Stargrave
Post by: Cyrano on February 10, 2021, 06:53:06 PM: Tried to order ABS only to be told Amazon didn’t have it yet.

The multi-table thing is mechanically very interesting.
Title: Re: A Billion Suns, Stargrave
Post by: bbmike on February 10, 2021, 07:11:43 PM: Quote from: bbmike on February 10, 2021, 06:52:56 PM
Now that I think about it I believe Cyrano mentioned it on the last podcast.

Yep, he did around the 28:30 mark. Cost me $20. :doh:
Title: Re: A Billion Suns, Stargrave
Post by: Marc Gacy on February 10, 2021, 07:17:10 PM: A Frostgrave GA pic and a Gaslands pic
Title: Re: A Billion Suns, Stargrave
Post by: Cyrano on February 10, 2021, 07:17:48 PM: Quote from: bbmike on February 10, 2021, 07:11:43 PM
Quote from: bbmike on February 10, 2021, 06:52:56 PM
Now that I think about it I believe Cyrano mentioned it on the last podcast.

Yep, he did around the 28:30 mark. Cost me $20. :doh:

Where'd you get it?
Title: Re: A Billion Suns, Stargrave
Post by: bbmike on February 10, 2021, 07:24:47 PM: Ordered it directly from Osprey. No shipping notice yet but it says 'In Stock'.
Title: Re: A Billion Suns, Stargrave
Post by: Cyrano on February 10, 2021, 07:26:44 PM: Huh...

Amazon says 2/23...

There is, however, already a TTS mod :).
Title: Re: A Billion Suns, Stargrave
Post by: bbmike on February 10, 2021, 07:30:34 PM: Really?!? (https://www.aarcentral.com/emoti/love2.gif)
Title: Re: A Billion Suns, Stargrave
Post by: Cyrano on February 10, 2021, 07:37:32 PM: Oh, yes...

(https://i.imgur.com/Ce7MWSo.jpg)

This kind of goes to Brant's question from some months ago about how aggressively developers would embrace TTS. It's remarkably furnished with ships, arcs, markers, CRT, &c.
Title: Re: A Billion Suns, Stargrave
Post by: bayonetbrant on February 10, 2021, 08:37:37 PM: I've seen Gaslands before. It was the new ones I didn't know
Title: Re: A Billion Suns, Stargrave
Post by: Steelie on February 10, 2021, 09:57:49 PM: Stargrave and Frostgrave are actually cousins of mine. Just sayin' :bigthumb:
Title: Re: A Billion Suns, Stargrave
Post by: Marc Gacy on February 11, 2021, 12:13:08 AM: Quote from: bayonetbrant on February 10, 2021, 08:37:37 PM
I've seen Gaslands before. It was the new ones I didn't know
Really I just wanted to share my pictures!
Points for anybody who recognizes what the green bus is.
Title: Re: A Billion Suns, Stargrave
Post by: Martok on February 11, 2021, 04:35:43 AM: Quote from: Steelgrave on February 10, 2021, 09:57:49 PM
Stargrave and Frostgrave are actually cousins of mine. Just sayin' :bigthumb:

I actually thought your name was in the thread title until I looked at it a little closer. ;D
Title: Re: A Billion Suns, Stargrave
Post by: bayonetbrant on February 11, 2021, 07:12:13 AM: Quote from: Marc Gacy on February 11, 2021, 12:13:08 AM
Points for anybody who recognizes what the green bus is.

Is it supposed to be the EM-50? B/c it looks a little too rounded off at the ends for the model in the movies.
Title: Re: A Billion Suns, Stargrave
Post by: bbmike on February 11, 2021, 08:01:35 AM: I received the shipment notification this morning. 8)
Title: Re: A Billion Suns, Stargrave
Post by: Dalinore on February 11, 2021, 08:26:21 AM: ABS sounds interesting Definately have to check it out.
Title: Re: A Billion Suns, Stargrave
Post by: bbmike on February 11, 2021, 10:59:47 AM: And...it's here!?! :o Looks like it shipped from Gordonsville, VA and that's about 130 miles away. A shipping notice and package received the same morning!

(https://www.aarcentral.com/pics3/IMG_4788.jpg)
Title: Re: A Billion Suns, Stargrave
Post by: bayonetbrant on February 11, 2021, 12:50:30 PM: Quote from: bbmike on February 11, 2021, 10:59:47 AM
And...it's here!?! :o Looks like it shipped from Gordonsville, VA and that's about 130 miles away. A shipping notice and package received the same morning!

well that will make everyone else's shipping seem antiquated....
Title: Re: A Billion Suns, Stargrave
Post by: Cyrano on February 11, 2021, 01:10:16 PM: Infuriating.

Amazon still shows it as a 2/23 release and Osprey's website seems to be down...

Some people just don't seem to want money.
Title: Re: A Billion Suns, Stargrave
Post by: Marc Gacy on February 11, 2021, 01:29:23 PM: Quote from: bayonetbrant on February 11, 2021, 07:12:13 AM
Quote from: Marc Gacy on February 11, 2021, 12:13:08 AM
Points for anybody who recognizes what the green bus is.

Is it supposed to be the EM-50? B/c it looks a little too rounded off at the ends for the model in the movies.

No, it's older than that.
Title: Re: A Billion Suns, Stargrave
Post by: Marc Gacy on February 12, 2021, 12:45:23 PM: Quote from: Marc Gacy on February 11, 2021, 01:29:23 PM
Quote from: bayonetbrant on February 11, 2021, 07:12:13 AM
Quote from: Marc Gacy on February 11, 2021, 12:13:08 AM
Points for anybody who recognizes what the green bus is.

Is it supposed to be the EM-50? B/c it looks a little too rounded off at the ends for the model in the movies.

No, it's older than that.

Spoiler: Show Hide

OPEL BLITZBUS LUDEWIG AERO (1937)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EREUZ7C
Title: Re: A Billion Suns, Stargrave
Post by: bayonetbrant on February 12, 2021, 01:37:04 PM: wow! :o

that's crazy
Title: Re: A Billion Suns, Stargrave
Post by: Steelie on February 12, 2021, 02:30:02 PM: Double wow! Very cool!
Title: Re: A Billion Suns, Stargrave
Post by: Marc Gacy on February 12, 2021, 05:53:39 PM: I saw that model in a HobbyTown and just knew it would make the perfect bus for Gaslands.

Also, to bring it back around to the original topic, I just ordered my copy of ABS from Blackwell's (free U.S. shipping)
Title: Re: A Billion Suns, Stargrave
Post by: bayonetbrant on February 12, 2021, 07:11:51 PM: Very cool!
Title: Re: A Billion Suns, Stargrave
Post by: Marc Gacy on March 03, 2021, 12:07:04 AM: Got my copy of Billion Suns yesterday. Reading through it now. I think I like the premise.
Title: Re: A Billion Suns, Stargrave
Post by: BanzaiCat on March 03, 2021, 08:59:17 AM: You got me excited mentioning the EM-50 Urban Assault Vehicle. Disappointment was had. :(
Title: Re: A Billion Suns, Stargrave
Post by: bbmike on March 03, 2021, 10:40:38 AM: (https://i.pinimg.com/originals/16/01/f5/1601f55dcb8de2ef8b15dbea9fa8c957.jpg)
Title: Re: A Billion Suns, Stargrave
Post by: Cyrano on March 03, 2021, 11:22:45 AM: Quote from: Marc Gacy on March 03, 2021, 12:07:04 AM
Got my copy of Billion Suns yesterday. Reading through it now. I think I like the premise.

You;d have to ask the test crew that tried it to be sure, but I think we liked it overall.

It REALLY needed a re-editing, but part of that is how strong the boardgame piece of it is. That layer, it's central conceit, will get missed by people (me) who are looking for a straight-forward space PEWPEW game like Full Thrust or SFB.