winterbadger: (ASL)
Most of my friends know that I am a collector and a completist, which is probably something found in the DSM somewhere. I am also a wargamer, a military history aficionado, and an Anglophile.

The nexus of these traits resulted some years ago in my getting involved in a very complex, detailed, brain-hurting World War Two wargame called Advanced Squad Leader (ASL). It's practically a hobby in and of itself. It's also like a habit that you know isn't going to do you much good, but you can't give it up. :-) I think about selling all the bits I've acquired for the game from time to time, but I can't bear to, even though I don't play that often (and one needs to play often so as to keep one's understanding of the rules fresh).

Well, one particular module, a HASL or Historical ASL Module, has eluded me for many years. I got a copy when it first came out, but I then loaned it to a friend who somehow not only forgot he had it but forgot he had ever borrowed it. It's never been reprinted, so it's as rare as hen's teeth.

I finally got a line on a copy at a game reseller who helps me :-) recycle games I've played into ones I haven't (at a healthy markup of course). It took turning in all the Flames of War and all the Warhammer Historical army books I had (plus a little extra cash), but I now have a handsome, unpunched copy of A Bridge Too Far. And I seem to recall a certain friend of mine expressing some cautious interest in ASL recently. It didn't cost quite as much, but I think that finally punching out the counter on this baby will be even more satisfying than cracking open a bottle of Chateau Lafite Rothschild 1870.
winterbadger: (birds)
Had a nice weekend. Went to Catonsville Saturday to help playtest scenarios for an upcoming Advanced Squad Leader product and met a chap who lives nearby who may be up for regular ASL matches.

Sunday I was supposed to ref a CCSL match, but once again the rain closed the field I was supposed to be officiating at. I loafed about a good bit of the day, then N (who has been busting her @ss finishing papers and other projects for her final term of grad school) and I went to the Birchmere for dinner and music. We saw Jeremy Fisher (curiously enough, no fly-fishing frogs were in evidence), who was quite excellent and was opening for The Proclaimers who were WONDERFUL! I love their music and--of course--my heart swells when I hear Scots voices. N said she had a bit of trouble understanding what they were saying on breaks, but all I heard was a pair of Fifers (very briefly) chatting as they moved swiftly from one song to another. Their roadies were busy tuning guitars so that at the end of each song there was always an instrument ready to swap out for whatever each of the guitarists had been playing. We spotted a number of very Scots-looking people, both in the hall and outside afterward; N bet me $10 I wouldn't go up and ask them where they were from; yes, normally I would never go up to people I don't know and start talking to them ( that's *her* gig! ;-) but when it's Scots I will make an exception. They were pretty amused, and happy to win me the cash. :-) N also got to interrogate Mr Fisher about his musical style, his places of residence,t he other members of his band (we talked tot he drummer after their set) and a number of other topics. He was very pleasant, and genial, quiet Bob-Dylany pint-sized Canadian.

Last night I missed out my regular game of Flames of War with my buddy Frank, but I did get the distinct pleasure of seeing a (somewhat) new-to-me bird! Our neighbor and new buddy Mary-Sue came to let us know that the local herons were around, and she and I tromped off through the muddy park to spot them. Spot them we did eventually, and although I hadn't brought my camera, I did get a long, very agreeable look at one of a pair of yellow-crowned night herons.

Work has been going OK lately. I think tonight I'm for an early evening, maybe a little telly with my sweetie, and bed before 10. Or, at least, 10.30...

Oh, and I continue to flog the cullings of my game collection successfully. Noble Knight Games is helping me clear space in the spare room and giving me very reasonable funds on account. I'm trying to decide whether to sink part of the resulting credit on this imposing looking boardgame...
winterbadger: (ASL)
Lord Peter Wimsey says something fairly witty at one point about the dangers of riding two hobby horses--if only I had only two! I think one of the reasons "modern" life is so hectic is because we all have so many "leisure" activities (or, in the case of the less fortunate, too many jobs to allow for *any* leisure...) Read more... )

wow...

Apr. 7th, 2006 02:57 pm
winterbadger: (ASL)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8787769997

I have all but one of those modules, though not the shirts. OK, so they're not mint, but those puppies have been out of print and unavailable for so long that I'm sure they would be worth at least half of that.

*sigh* I can barely *give* away teh stupid Warhammer stuff that was so expensive when I bought it, but a $15 module that I want to keep can go for a couple of hundred dollars?

WOO HOO!

Mar. 20th, 2006 09:46 pm
winterbadger: (ASL)
The game I've been waiting for for 20 years arrived in the mail today. Read more... )
winterbadger: (small haggis)
While chatting with other Advanced Squad Leader players about the state of the game in Scotland, I was introduced to Inversnecky Cafe which sounds like a smashing little place for a nosh. Its being founded by a misplaced Italian chap makes me think of Comfort & Joy, which chronicles a fierce internecine war over the ice cream trade amidst a family of Italian Scots in Glasgow. :-)

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