My son, the composer

Our local newspaper posted an article on my son today.  It's about his love of music and how he ended up on a path to becoming a composer. He's been studying under one of the great composers of our time, Libby Larson.  This spring, he won the prestigious ASCAP Young Composer's award.  He's had a number of pieces played and performed, and he even had his first commission.  I used to worry that a career in music would be a tough road but I've seen enough that I don't worry any more.  That in spite of the fact that I'm a worrier by nature!  Enough of me talking about him; here is his story.

In August, he's off to Indiana University where he'll major in composing with an oboe concentration at the Jacob's School of Music. We'll miss him dearly but he's so ready to move.  I can't wait to see what the future brings. Oh, and speaking of the future, he's helped me put together a list of classical music to game by so you've got that to look forward to!

Gall-Gaedhill, the Sons Of Death

The Sons of Death were lawless warriors of Norse & Gael blood, mentioned in the Irish annals of the 9th century. These looters and marauders joined the Vikings in their plundering expeditions. That speaks volumes about them because clearly, you had to be a tough SOB to run with the Vikings!  

While you'd never invite these nasty fellows to dinner, you should consider them for your Saga warband.  As mercenaries, they're available to any Saga faction for 2 points.  While pricey, they bring loads of abilities to the table.  Rather than list them and bore the non-SAGA readers, I'll instead point you to the rules for their use at this Studiotomahawk link.  You do have to be a member of the forum to access the .pdf, so keep that in mind.

Once again, these figures were a joy to paint and once again, the Gripping Beast sculptor is killing it in the Dark Ages.  The leaping Norseman with the sword might be my favorite. The baldies pushed me a bit  in getting skin tones right on their chrome domes! I used a touch of gold for sword hilts and bits, given that this lot is all thieves and looters.

One more Saga post-up from this commission and then it's on to Hundred Year War knights by Perry Miniatures.  That will be a treat!

Angry Monks for Saga!

Angry Monks can be included in any warband in Saga except ones that use Viking dice.  After all, how would it look to have monks fronting a pagan warband?  Unlike other levy troops, Angry Monks have a God's Shepherd's ability which allows them to generate a Saga die.  Martyrdom means each time a Monk is killed during an enemy's turn, the owning player gets to take a Saga dice, roll it and place it on his Battleboard.  They'll make an ideal screening force for non-pagan warbands.

These Gripping Beast figures are the first batch of a new commission. As soon as I got these, I pushed my 15mm projects aside because I couldn't wait to start in.  Loads of character in this crew; two thumbs up to the GB sculptor!  

I've been eyeing another Dark Age ruleset, Dux Britanniarum. Two Saga-sized warbands is all you need to run a campaign in the Age of Arthur as a Saxon Lord or a Romano-British Tribune.  In the campaign, you gain fortune and reputation on the battlefield as you fight to defend or conquer the British kingdom. I'm really drawn to the chrome DB adds to what is otherwise a one-off game.  To make the leap, I'll  need to paint up Romano-Brits and Saxons.  I've heard great things about TooFatLardies rules, so I'm really looking forward to giving this a spin!