Dream On
Wouldn't it be nice to actually complete all my modelling projects instead of just starting and then abandoning them part of the way through?
If serious enough to undertake it however, understanding that it will take years is probably the first sensible step to even contemplating such a project. Planning is the easy part; dedicating several years to completing it is the hard part. Given one's track record for completing such tasks, then the hard part becomes nigh improbable. Sir Walter Scott said, "To the timid and hesitating everything is impossible because it seems so." And Nelson Mandela also said, "It always seems impossible until it is done."
Year One
- Full inventory of the items (take several weeks, possibly months)
- Dividing everything up into specific groupings, ie GW, historical, other projects
- Beginning the project (where to begin?)
Every Year thereafter
- Complete specified tasks
- Repeat process
Of course, if you're as messy as I am, then there's nothing wrong in just starting at a start point and slowly working one's way through the numerous piles of shame.
Final question: once a pile of shame becomes a work of art is does one sell it off? Of course the answer clearly relates to the quality of the work done, and the need to recoup something for the time and effort spent.
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Phantom Leader
Played a couple of revival games tonight of an old favourite solo boardgame. Took a while to set up the board and pieces, then remember how to play it. But once squared away, gamed without trouble.
Chose one of the short campaign missions - the Cuban missile crisis of 1962. First two games proved underwhelming for the Americans as their approach was surmountable - good and resolved, but the actual target itself proved virtually indestructible. Bombing was either off-target or ineffective in both cases.
The second mission - trying to destroy a rail yard - was worse: it was so poorly executed the Americans scored a -1 Victory Point score. That's pretty sad really.
There is still one day left in the three-day campaign and all they're playing for now is pride. Even if the entire squadron of eight aircraft were to involve themselves, there is little chance they can attain adequate.
The third mission parameters state up to four aircraft can perform this mission, and the most VPs they can score is three. An adequate success sits at 5 or 6. Currently the squadron's tally of VPs is at -1.
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Well, I played the third mission. VP score: 0. It started so well, sites and bandits that posed a threat were swiftly neutralised. Yet when it came to the bombing of the target, the results proved awful. What's worse, one of the Skyhawks was shot down and the pilot killed.
Post-campaign saw the squadron take R&R for a few days. Upon their return, they found new pilots, by way of replacement and reinforcements, awaiting them.
Determined to improve on this absymal first outing, I've begun the next campaign which is rated medium. Meant to last six days this time, it began well with the first mission (a command post) taken out. This netted the squadron it's first VPs - 3. Their fearless leader skill level increased to Veteran status prior to the mission and he led by example downing a MiG-19. And the newbie knocked out a gun site. An E-1 Tracer even joined the action and eventually proved helpful.
Will post batreps of the other five mission outcomes in the next few days. Cheers.
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World of Warships
So the swap a ship trade is currently happening. Sounds great but only if you have a hoard of doubloons. And the trade is set up so that you still have to make up for any differences in doubloons between the trade-in and the ship you're after. That's the WG way. As I have so many ships in port nowadays, I'm going to skip this event. Yeah, there are new ships out but I'm after ones that are either rare or of particular interest to me, ships like Smaland or Mainz (I have the Mainz B). Besides, I am going to wait until this Christmas' Santa crates season. No rush on my part therefore. I will therefore continue to grind my specials captains up to 21-point - Lisboa and Swirski. And a few others that I am focusing on - G. Doe, von Jutland, Charles-Henri Honore, F. Druzhinin.
The Summer Festival is also beyond my buying interest; happy to just play for whatever tokens offered daily (pittance really) as I'm not going to reach the Tier VIII ship crate in time before event ends in two weeks time.
Same approach with the Legacy event. The Johnson I already have from an earlier event. And the GQ Johnny I'm not interested in while the Nanning or Cambridge do not inspire a rush to spend money for. What has interested me are the huge amounts of Free XP, coal, and Elite Commander XP on offer. But they cost tokens which cost money. However, the Free XP bundle and the Elite Commander XP bundle on offer right now I will purchase eventually - just not both in one session.
Other new ships introduced earlier include Blyzkawica '44, Provorny, Nanning. Somehow scored the Provorny in some event but haven't sailed her out yet.
The ship rotation will be happening in the upcoming Update 14.5 (July). Not fussed as I've got all the coal ships I was chasing; and doubloon ships are out of my current doubloon price range; while steel and research ships will eventually be obtained but they remain long term goals. A whole passle of news ships are being introduced - Royal Sovereign, Arkhangelsk, Barfleur, Laffey, Sibir, Amiral Lartigue, Marcantonio Colonna, Zarya Svobody, I-56 '44, Le Havre.
A new German heavy cruiser line is being introduced in Update 14.6 (August). Starting at Tier VI - Deutschland, Admiral Scheer, Knesebeck, Manteuffel, and Prinz Aldabert. Other stuff are largely cosmetic changes. There will be Early Access to a new US destroyer line - Hughes, Osborne, Christopher, Burrows. Elsewhere, two more new other ships - Kiberpankov, Tempesta Nera. Both are Soviet fantasy ships. The Japanese cruiser Kushiro and the Italian super battleship Affondatore also make their debut.
I forgot to mention the addition of the next line of Experimental ships - Protector, Hotako, Varese - were introduced in the current Update. As stated, all the Experimental ships are loan ships (they will be withdrawn when the Experimental event ends) so don't count in the total ship tally.
There are other new ships that I don't know much about other than sighting them in the WOWS Development blog or hearing of them with YT streamers. Not sure what Update they're attached to so will simply lump them all in this listing - Willem de Eerste, Irresistible, Alberico da Barbiano. There are others that I am not aware of at the moment.
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As I thought, the trade-in event is not worth it. The ships on offer are not worth it as I already have them anyway. Plus the ships that I am after are not on the list of exchange ships. And the event does not increase my ship tally at all so why bother.
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Gaming Events & Conventions
With BRISCON 2025 done and dusted, there's quite a long wait until CANCON 2026. Or so I am thinking. But scratch the surface and you will find various events being held interstate (I'm in Brisbane) that fill that void.
Future Events are listed below:
- MEGA 25
Saturday 29 November 2025
Kensington Town Hall
34 Bellair Street, Kensington, Melbourne, VICTORIA 3031
Running this new event (for me at least) from a large centre like a town hall makes it fairly easy to locate.
Start time: 9 AM Friday 28 November. End time: 5 PM Saturday 29 November.
Tickets: Cost range from $10 to $50
Although listed as a single day event in their promotion, the above start and end time makes this a two day-one night event. Held over the weekend.
Format is fairly similar to BRISCON although offering a cash prize POOL for those conducting participation game is something new and sure to appeal.
There is a AUD50 returnable deposit on those conducting Participation, Demonstration Games, Displays, and Tournaments.
Ttables are limited to a 3' by 3' dimension which gives the impression that space is tight and therefore the venue is small and possibly cramped.
Hobby vouchers are also being offered.
Organised by: The Gentleman's Wargames Club Inc. - PLAY CON AUSTRALIA
Friday 11 July - Sunday 13 July 2025
South Sydney Event Centre
2 Crofts Ave, Hurstville NSW 2220
This 3-day event (Friday to Sunday) is devoted to boardgaming so will be well attended. A quick look at the events on offer and I can see that there are at least 60 games being promoted. Usual trade stalls and exhibitors as well as a games library. Standard fare for such an event.
Start time - all three days: 10 AM. End time - all three days: midnight.
3 day Pass costs $110
Single day (FRI & SAT) costs $45 each
Single day (SUN) costs $35
Merchandising includes Play Con Pins (money goes to charity) - AUD45 for PLAY CON 2025 pin, AUD10 for PLAY CON coloured yellow, blue, orange or green.
Organised by: Boardgame BBQ Podcast. - CANCON 2026
Easily the premier tabletop and wargaming event in Australia. Been going strong from year to year. Held over the long weekend in January (celebrating Australia Day).
Well organised by The Canberra Games Society
Dates: 24 January 2026 - 26 January 2026. Setup on 23 January.
Current website is bare with a few dead links that will no doubt will become activated closer to the event and therefore updated.
Events: wargames, card games, boardgames, RPG
Location: EPIC (Exhibition Park in Canberra). Several venue sites: Budawang, Coorong, Fitzroy, Quokka, Snowy, Mallee and the Link/Convention areas.
- BRISCON 2025
Been the premier gaming convention for Brisbane for a number of years. Stable and popular.
Overpriced for the value but still a meeting point for local gamers to renew acquaintances and friendships. And perhaps game their heart's content away.
For me, this event caters primarily to the modern tabletop wargames crowd, games that have proven popular over the past ten or fifteen years. Old school historical is still present but in more palatable form that attracts the modern 21st gamer.
Non-refundable deposits.
Now homed at Mt Gravatt Showgrounds.
There are also many local events that range from tiny and small to moderate. Most are unknown to the wider audience and public. Here are several I've found by doing a cursory interstate search. Note: these are individual or groups that popped up first. No doubt there are others but many do not have a visible presence online that may or may not take time to locate. - TableTop Con (QLD)
Run by an individual and based on the Gold Coast, Queensland. Recently held a two-day (weekend) event in late May catering to tabletop RPG, wargames, boardgames and tabletop card game, No knowledge if it happened, or the level of success. - Table Top Games Club (SA)
Run by the City of Charles Sturt, these fortnightly games are meant for those with an interest in any form of tabletop gaming. The next meeting at West Lakes is for the 6 July. - Tasmanian Wargaming (TAS)
Facebook presence that pertains to a collection (at least 700+) who play various game modes. This would make a good start point to branch out and look for something more specific to your needs. Or at least they will know someone who might help you. - Wonderful Wargames (WA)
At first glance, it looks to be a series of events regularly held by a wargaming group operating under the guidance of a local council (City of Cockburn) from a primary school based at 73 Gerald St, Spearwood, Perth Western Australia 6163. Entry fee: $10 per person, $5 per minor (accompanied by an adult). Games look to be mostly Games Workshop in origin.
At least two of these events are sponsored by the local council which is really a good thing as it helps newcomers wanting to stage events.
Been the premier gaming convention for Brisbane for a number of years. Stable and popular.
Overpriced for the value but still a meeting point for local gamers to renew acquaintances and friendships. And perhaps game their heart's content away.
For me, this event caters primarily to the modern tabletop wargames crowd, games that have proven popular over the past ten or fifteen years. Old school historical is still present but in more palatable form that attracts the modern 21st gamer.
Non-refundable deposits.
Now homed at Mt Gravatt Showgrounds.
- TableTop Con (QLD)
Run by an individual and based on the Gold Coast, Queensland. Recently held a two-day (weekend) event in late May catering to tabletop RPG, wargames, boardgames and tabletop card game, No knowledge if it happened, or the level of success. - Table Top Games Club (SA)
Run by the City of Charles Sturt, these fortnightly games are meant for those with an interest in any form of tabletop gaming. The next meeting at West Lakes is for the 6 July. - Tasmanian Wargaming (TAS)
Facebook presence that pertains to a collection (at least 700+) who play various game modes. This would make a good start point to branch out and look for something more specific to your needs. Or at least they will know someone who might help you. - Wonderful Wargames (WA)
At first glance, it looks to be a series of events regularly held by a wargaming group operating under the guidance of a local council (City of Cockburn) from a primary school based at 73 Gerald St, Spearwood, Perth Western Australia 6163. Entry fee: $10 per person, $5 per minor (accompanied by an adult). Games look to be mostly Games Workshop in origin.
