Newsletter Febuary 2003

Saturday Febuary 8^th 2003, at St. Johns Church Hall, Norrie St., Drury, starting at 9a.m.

If you can't make any of these games let me know - Kevin 2670319

Copy for the Newsletter

Booking Games

Each month we organise the next month's games during the day. This usually happens between the Morning and Afternoon sessions when I, your Club Secretary (I prefer P.A. but the rest of the club executives dont appreciate my secretarial uniform of a tight black skirt - I do so have nice legs) will be going round trying to fill in slots for the next month. Now the rules are that fully paid members will be given first preference - we have limited space and those members who have paid for the year will have priority. At the meeting you can organise games amongst yourselves and the tell me or simply tell me what you want to play and I'll try and find an opponent for you. If you are not at the club meeting and you want to organise a game for the next meeting you can contact me by email at arthur.young@whitcoulls.co.nz, and I will see what I can do. Remember - if you cannot make it to a meeting and you have games booked, contact Kevin as soon as possible - we need to be able to find games for your opponents. Now if you have a game booked then you will get a table, if you have not organised a game with me then you will have to make do with whatever is spare (if there is anything spare).

Calling all Dark Elves

MISSING:

ACHTUNG BABY!!!

Important Information YOU MUST READ

Hello one and all

Starting out in year 2003, and there have been some slight changes.

Most notable of course, is the appointment of a new Club Administration.

The first position is that of the Club Editor

Once more the inestimable Mr Carberry steps up to the job.

This is the guy who runs all, errr, editorial type stuff in the club.

Basically, writing Newsletters where vital information reaches YOU, the gamer. All manners and aspects of club contributions go to him, he is responsible for menacing you until you write a Battle Report for him also.

He is 4th in Command within the Club Officials Heirarchy, and guards the gates to the dreaded Seventh Circle of Hell, with four massive leathery wings...

Next up is the Club Secretary, Arthur Young, who describes his methods elsewhere in this publication.

He keeps track of the details of our club members, and is responsable for keeping track of and organising games for later meetings. He may also have some authority in the events that take place from time to time, but I'm not entirely sure about that as yet. He has Authoritaah! to enforce the Club rules, and handles club corrospondance in consultation with other club Officials. He is 3rd in Command, and bears the deadly flaming sword of the archeangels... and, apparently, nice legs and a girl scout uniform... don't ask.

The Club Treasurer, Bryan Orsbourne, holds the purse strings, and is responsible for budgetting for the club, distribution of wealth, and lining my chests with gold taken from the Imperial Levy...

He's the one responsible for extorting your membership fees out of you so that you may have the privaledge of gaming here, pays the bills and other financial aspects involved in keeping a club running.

He is the 2nd in Command, and burns with a heavenly radience, and commands the seraphim and cherubs, and stands watch at the pearly gates.

And finally, the South Auckland Miniature Games Club President

Newly appointed to the position, is ME, el Presidente Peter Colson

My responsabilities are to keep the club running without a hitch, enforcing the rules, keeping order, handling disputes and so on.

I'm also to act as a role model to the other members (this means it's time I painted my armies) and am to welcome new members to the club, make them feel welcome and so on.

I am 1st in Command, i.e. The Boss, and sit upon the Gilded Throne of the Heavens, commanding my mighty and awe-inspiring array of divinities and Club Officials, and generally being the Great Benefactor, casting great blessings upon you all, such is my awesome power.

Well, that was half true anyway.

We're here to be used (some, to be abused) so if you have any queries about anything, just see the respective Club Official, they'll get back to you as quickly as possible and be as helpful as they can. We're here to make Games Club as enjoyable as it possibly can be.

Our contact information should be appearing at the end of this and every further Newsletter.

Tournament 2003

Okay, the Tournament was a bloody shambles, due in part to a lack of concrete organisation and laisez faire leadership, and in part due to a resounding lack of co-operation on the part of all and sundry.

Things will need to improve on both ends next time, this was an incredible failure compared to last years tournament.

Buuuuuuuut, the moment you've probably been keenly waiting for...

THE RESULTS!

There were four categories, rather than three as previously mentioned.

Game Score, Sportsmanship, Painting and Appearance, and Army Composition/Theme

The Composition/Theme section is yet to be judged because I'll be needing unbiased opinions to judge MY army, and await work from one or two of the club members for final judging, but that isn't a problem.

Game Score

The Winner of the Game Score section was Glen Orsbourne with his Khorne mixed army, with 600 points.

The Second Place goes to John with his Chaos Khorne army. He was 30points off with 570.

Third place goes to Rion, whose Orcs and Gobbos walked away with 500 points.

Sportsmanship

Bryan picked up the Sportsmanship award, quite deservingly I feel

Painting/Appearance

Barry took out the Painting section with his beautiful Dwarf army.

A strong adherance to an overall colour theme helped tremendously here, and the painted Movement Trays with a simple viking-esque design just pushed this one out in front. The only failing I could pick out was the eyes of one of the war machine crewmen was badly done, but that's it. Excellent work Barry.

As mentioned earlier, Army Composition and Theme is still being worked on, but I must compliment some people, especially Wade, who brought an army of Dark Elves almost entirely consisting of Core, and themed on being 'outcast' elves rather than the standard fare theme you get, excellent work there. Matt (I think) one of the Tomb King players, was theming his army around cats, and is going to some extensive measures to convert most of his army into a cat feel, which fits the theme (cat heads for Bone Giant/Ushabti, giant skeletal cats instead of skeletal steeds, and so on) which would've put him in the front running had it been completed by the tournament day.

Concrete completed results, with the Theming/Composition award, will be finalised soon

Now, as far as the Prizes go, we're actually implementing a new system this year, which brings me to my next point...

The Points Ladder System

A system concocted by Club Treasurer Bryan Orsbourne, which was also suggested to me by Rion, and one that I'm fairly excited about.

Basically, instead of awarding a cash sum to the winner of last months tournament, we award 'points'

Further events in the year, which there most likely will be from the mutterings I've overheard from the other Club Officials, will add more 'points' to your total, and so on.

This will spread further than merely winning games, and can encompass all the diverse aspects of our hobby, like painting/converting and your general army appearance, themes, sportsmanship, and so on

At the end of the year, prizes may be presented to club members who obtain the high scores, and this system is designed to encourage a consistent effort in all areas of wargaming, rather than just awarding someone who may turn up once to a tournament, and not be seen the rest of the year. It's to reward our great gamers and gain them the prestige they deserve for being the all round good blokes that they are.

There are many, many implications with this sort of system, and a lot of ideas to explore, so The Administration would be glad to hear any ideas you guys might have on the subject, feel free to e-mail either Bryan or myself (Peter) as Bryan raised this idea, and I've been volunteered by him to handle this project.

We hope to have a basic framework in place by the march meeting, and will undoubtedly refine this through the months to come until we have a top notch workable system in place.

Any and all feedback welcome.

The Old Gripes return

Well... Rubbish.

You guys are sick of me going on about it. Likewise, I'm rather sick of going on about it.

But, here's the way things will be run.

Rubbish is YOUR responsability. You bring it onto the property, you are responsible for making sure it is disposed of properly.

I will probably be bringing a rubbish bag to the club meetings from now on, but it is still YOUR responsibility to ensure your rubbish goes into the rubbish bag, NOT left on the seats/tables/floor for others to pick up.

Undoubtedly, there will be the odd occasion where I simply forget to bring the rubbish bag, as I normally have a million and one things to keep in mind for each games club meeting, and in these situations, if no-one else has brought a rubbish bag, you must take your rubbish with you when you leave the premises. You do NOT leave the rubbish for others to take away for you!

You all know this now, and it is also your responsibility to ensure that anyone you bring to Games Club that is as yet unaware of the rules is informed on this.

Yes, rubbish is a yucky business, we don't enjoy anything about it, but it's something we have to manage properly if we're to continue to have access to the hall.

Note that kicking rubbish under the hall is NOT properly disposing of it, and disciplinary action may follow if anyone is seen doing this.

Also, before you leave, if the table you were using is no longer likely to be used, and you are able to pack it away without too much trouble (i.e. there's no other tables in the way being used) then please pack away the table and give the area cleared by doing this a quick sweep, to make the clean up job of whoever's last to leave just a little bit easier.

We can end this problem rather quickly, I'm sure

But I must make an Official Warning here, that if the situation does not see improvement within the next 3 months, I will watch those causing this problem very closely, and disciplinary action WILL be made, barring those who cause this problem from playing games at the hall, banning from meetings, or even being stood down until the next enrollment if the problem persists. We simply cannot let a few people get the rest of us chucked out of the hall, and if improvements aren't seen, this will be the course of action I must regrettably take.

Okay, enough Rubbish griping.

Now, onto the OTHER common gripe... actually, it is part of a much bigger topic, which I will discuss... now

The Newsletter!

Okay, well, the Newsletter is the staple feature of our Games Club, and in its own right should be a somewhat entertaining read, as well as informative.

The Newsletter notifies all members of the games arranged for the next Club Meeting, makes us aware of any planned events to take place, keeps us up to date with campaigns and so on, and also contains contacts for the club officials, and occassionally may even include a club Members List

However, apart from my half-mad ranting, of late, the newsletter has been somewhat thin on content.

The first thing we actually require for the Newsletter is Battle Reports.

Now, they aren't as much a chore as they sound. All you need to do is write five lines or so about what the big events in the game were, any particularly brilliant ploy you might pull, who you played against, and so on.

This is the easiest way to gain credit and notoriety when you expound upon your fearsome tactical prowess and talk yourself up to be an unstoppable threat to crush all opponents before you, MUAAAAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAA!!!!!

Not only this, but, at the club, we have a lot of games going on, and some of us would actually like to know what happens in them, yet are unable to see for ourselves because of OUR games, and the Battle Reports are the only way in which we can see what has happened in the months gone by.

Just jump onto the Games Club website http://www.profax.co.nz/samwc/ and take a look at the Newsletter Archive, and note the Heroes of olde and their great campaigns of conquest... unfortunately the Archive doesn't really reach that far back, but you can see a lot more battle reports going on in the early editions than you do these days.

Battle reports may be awarded points in the Points Ladder system also, so there is a creditable gain to be had for writing said reports. I am in talks with our Treasurer to see if he's keen to go with my master plan on having a Best Battle Report competition each year, in which the best battle report gains its author a free renewal of club membership for the year, so there's definately plenty of good reasons to write up your reports

But undoubtedly the best reason, is it enables you to point out the fact of your vastly superior tactical ability and how you are the greatest at everything, the best there is, the best there was, and quite likely, the best there ever will be... ahhhh how I love Trash Talk

So, we'll be hoping for a bumper batch of battle reports this time round

Also, I'd be very interested in anything that can expand the content of our monthly Newsletter

Anyone willing to help contribute can talk to Kevin, or to myself in the hopes that I can twist Kevin's arm until he relents and gets me to shut up by agreeing to include some submitted content

Possibilities include News and Rumours for the various games that we play, like upcoming campaigns and developments for Warhammer and 40K, some newly released Late War armies for Flames of War, the re-release of certain archived games, and so on. Anything like that, that our club members may find interesting.

Or an editorial column, giving your opinions on certain aspects of the games etc.

Tactics articles or conversion workshops

Newly created House Rules for Scenarios, units, and so on

A serialised novel or series of short stories, or even submitted artwork.

A report on a lesser-known game you consider worth playing

A Campaign diary for one of the campaigns about to be launched (see later for details)

One thing I'm keen to see done, is Players Army Profiles, where you get to tell us about the really cool stuff about your army, the background and theme, the story behind it, the motivations, arch nemises, past glories, about your really cool conversion ideas, and so on. This can apply to any army from any game system, and it gives you a chance to show off your awesome army, and finally let the club know about the story behind it that's been tucked away in the back of your head for some time

It would be nice to somewhat bulk up the Newsletter, to get a nice decent read out of it

And as there's no advertising, we can make it even better than White Dwarf!

HAH!

Oh, and one other thing I'd like to see, for sheer novel appeal, is a Trash Talk Page, where you get to let your machismo ramblings run wild... anyone that's even distantly aware of Wrestling or Boxing, knows about trash talk ("If he talk a little jive, I'll drop him in round five! He talk a little more, I'll drop him in round four!" Ahhhhh the great one, Muhammed Ali... trash talk is goooooood)

Any ideas or suggestions should go to either Kevin or myself, so I can further direct them to Kevin with some added comments and encouragement.

NATcon 2003

Natcon 2003, also known as The National Wargaming Convention 2003, will be happening on the Easter Weekend

Basically, it is a set of tournaments, including Warhammer Fantasy, Rapid Fire, DBA/DBM, Napoleonics, Flames of War, and possibly 40K if they can find an Umpire for it.

The Official Website is http://natcon03.cjb.net/

I'm hoping we can put together a Club Team, and to do this, we need 4 players, to play at least 3 different games (i.e. someone plays in the Fantasy tournament, another in Rapid Fire, and third in Flames of War, and a fourth plays whatever they want) and I would be very interested in getting a proper Club team put together for this, and will help anyone wishing to take part as much as I can to enable them the chance to get there and take part, and over all enjoy themselves. Anthony, I know you're keen on the World War Two recreation games Rapid Fire and Flames of War, perhaps we can lend you a painted army if yours isn't ready, and bundle you into the tournament, and we can get someone that placed prominently in last months fantasy tournament to be our game-winning gimp, shouldn't be too hard to find someone to play Rapid Fire, DBM, or Napoleonics, and I'll jump into the Fantasy Tournament, be a generally good bloke, and lose a few games so everyone knows that us guys here at Souths are all good blokes and not cheesy bastids who win all the time... sound like a plan?

Anyway, Club team or no Club team, you can all enter individually into the tournament, if you need any help, undoubtedly we of The Administration can get something sorted

The Inquisition

NOBODY expects the Spanish Inquisition!

Our weapon is suprise, Suprise and fear, fear and supri-

Our TWO weapons are Fear and Suprise and a ruthless efficiency...

Our THREE weapons are Fear and Suprise and a ruthless efficiency, and an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope- AH!

Amongst our weapons, are Fear, Suprise, ruthless efficiency... Amongst our weapons, are such elements as Fear- uh, I'll come in again

I didn't expect a kind of Spanish Inquisition...

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOBODY expects the Spanish Inquisition!

Amongst our weaponry are such diverse elements as Fear, Suprise, a Ruthless Efficiency, and an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope, and a night out with the neighbour- OHHhhh Ghrrgh! damnit!

Club Secretary and Girl Guide Extraordinairre Arthur Young is intending on running a sort of map/narrative campaign set in the 40K universe, involving such diverse elements as 40K, Inquisitor, Battle Fleet Gothic, Epic 40K, potentially Necromunda/Gorkamorka, and an almost Fanatical Devotion to The Emperor.

Look to further publications for more concrete details.

Mordheim:

The Awakening

FIRE!

Fear, pain, burning, heat, melting steaming, blistering bubbling boiling

Skin, charred, melted, PAIN!

Lucious awoke in a burning sweat, choking off a scream in his throat.

He knew what he was screaming. The same as last night. The same as tomorrow.

'Mutter'

Words hung on the edge of his consciousness, dancing around his inquisitive mind. Trying to recall them would be much like trying to catch mist in your hands.

A poem, he knew it was a poem. He'd recalled only the first verse, and at times, was sure there was something important, further on. There was more. Oh yes, there was more, of this he was sure, as surely as the sun would rise tomorrow.

He looked out from the small copse of trees he and his men were encamped in, a bowshots distance from the road, to the dark city in the distance. Mordheim. They called it The Cursed. He felt that was justified, and, looking at it, realised he was no longer as sure that the sun WOULD rise

Blood runs in the gutters

Waters of the womb

Nurturing the darkness

Forshadowing the doom

The poem, floated into his head again. He KNEW there is more to it...

Strange, though, whenever he recalls the poem, it always reminded him of his grandmothers...

In the year 2000 by Imperial reckoning, implacable fate wove tragedy into

the tapestried histories of Man.

Mordheim, shining jewel of the hardy people of the Talabec, capital of now

bleak Ostermark, was crushed utterly and without recourse. Some say it is

the judgement of the Patron of Man himself, finding the debauche peoples of

Ostermark wanting, that smote so mightily this once wonderous town. Others

say it was bitterest curse from the Dark Powers who took this city for their

own, and in doing so brought a hell on earth, much as they later did to

fallen Praag. A few, with suprising and unbeknownst clarity, figure that

there are places of shadow in this world, irrespective of the wishes of the

powers that be...

Dark tidings await men, in the twisted streets of a twisted city

Fortune can be gained, by those who would lose everything

Starting in March, the Cursed City of Mordheim opens up to the predation of mercenaries, in a campaign that shall remain unrivalled until the next time we run one like it...

Barry Cavanagh, with my assisstance, is running an intuitive Mordheim Campaign, starting from March

This will be far more than just a game. This will be a world for you to explore, and your curiosity can and will be rewarded.

Mark the days, my friends, and contend within the horrers of the Fallen Capital of Ostermark, for it is a rewarding experience you'll not soon forget...

-Peter Colson, Club President and occassional Evil Garden Gnome

colson@xtra.co.nz

deathloveswar2@hotmail.com (for e-mails with attachments only)

monday-thursday, and all day friday and saturday (09) 298-7293

Club Information

This newsletter is edited by Kevin Carberry so anything you would like included in the newsletter should be sent to me at 48 Beaumonts way, Manurewa, South Auckland. Phone 2670319, kevin@profax.co.nz

Peter "Evil Gnome" Colson is the Club President so any queries, problems, issues or suggestions about the club should go to him at colson@xtra.co.nz or deathloveswar2@hotmail.com (for e-mails with attachments only), monday-thursday, and all day friday and saturday (09) 298-7293

1	Bryan, Glen, Kevin, Arthu	25mm Napoleonics
2	Robert v John	Bloodbowl
3	Anthony v Damien	WHFB	2000pts
4	Wade v Marcel	WHFB	2000pts
5	Michael, Hamish, Graeme, Daniel F.	Mordheim
6	Pete v Barry	Mordheim
7	Demo game	15mm Napoleonics

1	Bryan, Glen, Arthur, etc/Ivan v Kevin	DBA/Warmaster
2	Robert v Barry	WHFB	2000pts
3	Anthony v Wade	WHFB	2000pts
4	Pete v Marcel	WHFB	2000pts
5	John v Damien	WHFB	2000pts
6	Michael v Graeme	WHFB	2000pts
7	free for others

South Auckland Miniatures Wargames Club

If you can't make any of these games let me know - Kevin 2670319

Copy for the Newsletter

Booking Games

Calling all Dark Elves

MISSING:

Club Information

South Auckland Miniatures
Wargames Club