Update on Hobby Plans and Budget for 2024-2025

"Edited post as I learned both my hobby stores have rechargable gift cards" 

 Our move to Atlanta, cost us lot of money, and despite having now two incomes we will be a bit under pressure for two years (after care costs for Zoe, a car for Ceren, double rents in September, health costs etc).  This requires a realistic re-assessment of the budget for 2024-2025. First of all I sold a couple of things

1)      Sold my Tau Combat Patrol. While it gave me good games at Elko, I felt I had played it enough. The money from the selling were used to buy paint supplies and the BattleTech Clan Invasion Boxed Set

2)      Sold the still in box Space Marine Scout Team and Sentinel. Used the funds to buy BattleTech A Game of Armored Battles boxed set.

Second, I closed all my Patreons, Crunchyroll, and even my support for the Wargames Website. While this hurts me, I need to prioritize the hobby.

I essentially have three gaming opportunities. Once a month BattleTech (ongoing campaign), once a month Warhammer 40k (Incursion level games), more infrequently historical gaming. Considering this I decided to just focus on each of these three areas.

For 2024-2025 my projected budget and plans are

1)      Warhammer 40k, Death Guard. Add a Rhino for my Incursion level lists (65 USD). My existing collection is now fully painted. I have more than enough for the Incursion level games I will be playing.

2)      BattleTech. BattleTech Universe Book (50 USD), paint my remaining miniatures from the existing two box sets. These are more than enough for games of Classica Battle Tech and Alpha Strike.

3)      Historical.  Finish my 28mm 15^th Century Western European Generic force. This will require buying movement trays (20-30 USD). No action on the rest. If my mother in law brings me my 10mm ACW I will need to decide whether I sale them for hobby funds, or rebase for Altar of Freedom. If I rebase I might still sale as a Altar of Freedom complete package (rules, scenarios, armies). We will see. I do have my Battle of Gribomvo 1897 set up and miniatures. I do need to get mats for To the Strongest (60 USD) and want to buy War and Conquest (50 USD)

4)      Other hobby matters: Money to spend at the stores when I got to game (5-10 USD, twice a month 120-240 USD a year minus the stuff I buyt from them). This will cover hobby supplies.

5)      As much as I want to go to a convention, and Atlanta and the area are rich with them, I will have to decide on the fly. I probably would go to Siege of Augusta (so assume another 150 USD for a same day visit)

Total: 385 to 535

Progress on projects: Death Guard and Battletech

 I reached a couple of mlistones since coming to Atlanta. First I finished my first Battletech Lance. The "Evzone" Scout Lance of the "Hellas Heteriea" Company of the Free Worlds League. 

And I finished the last (for now ) of my Death Guard from Immatierium Gods , giving me a second squad. 

Second game of the year in Atanta: Warhammer 40k! Sisters of Battle vs. Death Guard

 My second game in Atlanta was at Challenge Comics and Games, were I played an incursion level game of Warhammer 40k with Drew. Drew fielded Sisters of Battle and I fielded my Death Guard. My first two turns were rather bad, as I lost my Plague Marine squad to the firepower of the Sisters. But once they were close, I was able to get my blood back. My Hellbrute for the first time did great, killing an immolator and a sisters squad. But by turn four I was left with two units to his remaining five. My Hellbrute died and exploded taking with it my Deamon Prince. Thus a defeat, but a good game! 

Assorted pictures in more or less a correct order from deployment to turn four. 

First game of the year at Atlanta: BattleTech!

 I got my first game in Atlanta. I was lucky to be permitted to participate in an ongoing BattleTech Campaign that meets once a month at Level UP-Duluth. I played my Shadohawk (pilot Yang Tomaras) and were part of a mercenary company that was seeking to liberate a certain item, and capture a certain person from the enemy. We were quite successful and won with no mech losses, and with two kills to our group. All in all a great experience, and a big thank you to our GM and my fellow players. BT is definitely a different animal than 40k  or my usual historicals, but playing it in this form was quite fun and a good way to get the hang of it. 

The campaign included three maps, and I played in one of them. Pictures below 

The map I played on. 

Inaugural Meeting of the Atlanta Eastside Light Irregulars: Wednesday, October 23 at Challenge Comics and Games

 We will hold our Fall game sessions at Challenge Comics and Games (Northlake Mall, 4800 Briarcliff Rd NE suite 1011, Atlanta, GA 30345 ).

The date is 23 October, Wednesday.

Time will be 17:00 to 19:00

Game Theme: Davids vs. Goliaths  

Games: I will bring the following board-wargames

Brave Little Belgium 

Rule book

How to play video 

White Eagle Defiant

Rule Book

How to play video 

Feel free to bring any other game you want, that a) is historically themed, b) about a weaker side fighting a stronger side, c) can be played in 1 to 2 hours. 

A Call to Arms: The Atlanta Eastside Light Irregulars

 After surveying the historical wargaming scene in my area I decided that perhaps it is worth organizing a new group. There are strong communities at Marietta (centered at Gigabites Cafe-25-28 minutes from me through interstates, which really does a great job fostering a community), and meeting a local houses, but it does feel most of the action is in the west-side of the Metropolitan area of Atlanta. 

Since I have to drive to work 50 minutes to one hour, I would rather not drive too much to hobby stuff. I also want to patronize the local gaming stores (Challenge Games and Comics, and LevelUP-Duluth).

So let me put out a call for arms for people interested to join me in the Atlanta Eastside Light Irregulars. 

Atlanta since we are interested in serving the Atlanta historical wargaming community. 

Eastside since we aim to patronage mainly Challenge Games and Comics and LevelUP-Duluth which are on the east-side of the metropolitan region. 

Light since the aim is to provide a space for those who do not have a lot of game time and focus on historical wargames (both miniature and boardgames) that provide a quality game experience in a short amount of time (1 to 3 hours)

Irregulars since we aim to provide gaming opportunities for those that really cannot make even monthly sessions. The aim at this point is one event per quarter , for a total of four events per year. 

I also would like to organize battlefield visits for participants. One a year. I have a chevy traverse and thus can accommodate 6 to 8 people and our region is replete with national and state battlefield parks within comfortable travel distance. 

So that is the idea, four sessions a year, 1-3 hours each, perhaps multiple games running at the same time, and one battlefield visit a year. 

If interested please email at atleastlightirregulars@aol.com . Depending on the interest, I will make a Discord Server for us. 

More information below 

Stones River Battlefield

 During my four day move from Elko, NV to Atlanta, GA, I decided to take a break and visit the Stones River National Battlefield. While I knew about the battle, I had never researched it, but it was on the way, and I had visited Kennesaw in the past. A fast visit, to what is a nice, compact battlefield with a small museum. Was not able to walk the grounds (did the car tour) but will definitely visit again.

Here is a video 

Here are some pictures