Weekly Digest #8

Online PC Games

World of Warships. Several ships of interest for purchase are available this Update. These include the Karl XIV Johan (for doubloons), Anhalt (now a coal ship), Los Andes (released from Early Access and now part of the tech tree line). So it will be a combination grind alternating between playing both the Dupliex and Ipiranga with their appropriate Unique commanders who will also be upskilling. Multi-tasking is still a new prospect for a single-minded individual such as myself. Will probably get all three ships anyway.

Finally jumped into the Star Trek mode tonight (3rd). Played the Vulcan battleship T'Pau, adding upgrades along the way as I slowly made my way to the end of the available mission sets. Quickly got the hang of playing it aggressively and fared well enough. Have not touched either the cruiser or destroyer versions yet; no intention. Played this mode only because I'm chasing the resources (Free XP, coal, etc) for the new ships sought. 

This mode is exactly like the D-Day missions around June/July where you gamed one series of missions to its series end then wait for the next series to unlock. And so it goes until the entire mission series is completed. Next one for Star Trek is due soon; in the meantime, you continue to play for tokens to help unlock upgrades until the next mission series is unlocked. 

Today (4th) I played both grind ships and ended up getting the Alabama B (Black Friday container), Los Andes (tech tree), Anhalt (coal), and Karl XIV Johan (doubloons). The Alabama B has its own mission where the reward is 2500 doubloons so will likely grind for that. 

Used the doubloon rewards from the Alabama B mission to pay for two stages in the Black Friday event today (5th).

Today (6th) got pleasant surprise. Been bagging Supercontainers a lot because what made them unique has been severely nerfed to the point that it's not worth anything any more. For every one hundred standard container, you get a Supercontainer. Today was different from the usual norm of nothing when opening a supercontainter however. I actually got a ship, and one that I'd been wanting for some time - the US Tier VI Arizona. Also upskilled Auboyneau who is now 19-pt using surplus Elite Cmdr XP; will continue to grind him toward 20-pt.

Every Black Friday ship obtained comes with a quick mission - earn so many Base XP. The reward, depending on the ship, is a quantity of doubloons. With the Alabama B it was 2500 doubloons if my record-keeping is correct. With the Dunkerque B it is 1500 doubloons. 

Today (8th) I fast tracked (spent dubs) the last three levels to finish the Black Friday Event Pass, and thus obtain the Dunkerque B. Arrangement of guns means it's a forward firing tank. Precursor to Jean Bart, most likely so I have categorised it. Nothing great but did okay with it in the games to earn dubs back in fairly short time (earn 4000 Base XP).

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Tabletop Gaming

English Civil War. Opened up the Royalist package over the weekend (2nd) but haven't fully gone through all the pieces. First thing I noticed was that the artillery pieces actually look like they belong to the period unlike the artillery pieces for my New Model army list (see earlier blogpost). Will send pics to the retailer for an explanation. 

Reviewing the Royalist list as finalised 16 July 2024 prior to posting as an order. Note: it may undergo further changes until fully assembled because nothing is firmly set until the last painted figure is done, more or less.

Prince Rupert (field commander) + dog
    Prince Rupert's Lifeguards (bodyguards) = 6 figures (2 stands)
    2 couriers (may be more - to be decided)

Left Wing cavalry (Langdale)
    "Northern Horse" = 8 figures (4 stands)
    Cary's Horse = 8 figures (4 stands)

Centre Wing infantry (Lord Astley)
    Lucas' tertio
        Lord Hopton's Foot (blue uniforms)
        "Shrewsbury Foot" (green uniforms - dull or dark)
    Astley's tertio
        Duke of York's Foot (white uniforms)
        Page's Foot (grey uniforms)

Right Wing cavalry (Prince Maurice)
    Prince Maurice's Lifeguards (bodyguards) = 6 figures (2 stands)
    Prince Rupert's Horse = 12 figures (4 stands)
    Queen's Horse = 9 figures (3 stands)

Reserve (King Charles I)
    1 courier
    King's Lifeguards (Stuart) = 6 figures (2 stands)
    King's Foot (red uniforms)
    Prince Rupert's Foot (blue uniforms)

Artillery (tbd)
    1 Saker + crew
    2 Falcons + crew*
    Firelocks (Legge) = 12 figures (4 stands)

Both sides will share the following items as scenario or campaign needs dictate:
    1 Mortar + crew
    Baggage train (6 donkeys carrying assorted baggage)
    Powder cart + horse team
    Wine/water cart + horse team

* The other two Falcons (plus crews) will go to the New Model list. One of the NMA demi-culverins will transfer over to the Royalist list to complement the solitary saker. 

Going with different coloured uniformed units in keeping with making each force fairly distinctive and distinguishable tabletop-wise. Thus the NMA will be known by their standards while the Royalists will be distinguished by their uniforms. 

Total cost (including postage and packaging): over AUD1100.

Today (6th) continued cataloguing the Royalist package. Confirmed the NMA artillery pieces are demi-culverins. Enough firelocks for both sides. Extra artillery commanders are mounted.

Finished unpacking the Royalist package (7th). More or less all there. More because there are some "overs" but not much. Less because I am shy 4 cavalry figures but probably need to check this shortfall against final list above. 

Initial shortfall has ballooned out to several packets of horse so I learned today (8th). My fault: I did not double check the order listing. Which means another order for despatch, probably in the new year. I have enough on the painting board to keep me busy till then.