The Saga of the Exploding Wolf (Part 1)

A short but fascinating tale of a lone Wolf Scout assigned to the Deathwatch. A Deathwatch RPG adventure Narratus.

"....and thats is when Froyd lifted his lightning claw. With its blades sharp as the Fenrik's fangs, and blue energy crackeling like the roughest Fenrisian storm. He stabbed into the 4th Eldar Howling Banshee's chest, the blow so mighty it caused filthy alien blood to spray like a leaked promethium can from the Eldar's back and the blood covered the 5th Eldar's visor," recounts Brother Sorgen.

He pauses and extends his hand clad and grey power armour for a pint of frothy Fenrisian ale, and chugged it down sloppily. Huge ammout of ale spills from his mouth to the his unkempt grey beard and fur pelts slung around his chest armour.

Sorgen then stares into the eyes of the ten Space Wolf blood claws. "The last Eldar horrified what Froyd had done to his begotten brethren that he turned to run away in terror! Ha!" Sorgen continued. "No alien can best the fury of Space Wolves! They run, all run, like the cowards they are!" replies one of the blood claws. Then the table bursts into a laughter which covers the entire empty hall.

"Then Froyd goes to chase this coward down and delivered him the coward's punishment. No glory in that," says Sorgen
"Wait, tell us the Saga of the Exploding Wolf Brother Sorgen!" requests one of the blood claw.
"Aha! Tis A tale of extreme stupidity and extreme glory!"
"I heard it is a glorious sacrifice!"
"That it maybe, he is probably the stuff of nightmares in any traitor's mind!"

A large armor clad hand swings and smacks Sorgen in his bare skull, the blow knocks him down his seat. "We do not encourage foolishness to our young ones, brother," speaks the Space Wolf who delivered the blow. Sorgen looks up to see a black armored Space Wolf wearing a helm shaped like a wolf skull. He has apparently entered the hall unnoticed. "Sorry Wolf Priest, I thought it a tale to rouse a beating heart after a drink!" Sorgen replies.

The Wolf Priest turns to look at the blood claws. Then he sits down at the table and removes his helmet. He too takes a pint of ale and starts drinking. "Sorgen will tell you a tale of a wolf's heroic sacrifice. I will tell you a tale of a wolf who could not belong in a pack............
___________________________________________________________________________________
"I am sending you to the Deathwatch, Erikson," announced the Wolf Priest to Erikson alone in his the Wolf Priest's chambers. Erikson was stunned beyond belief. He thought a heroic feat was going to get him rewarded or at least a praise even if those that would mean very little to Erikson who rather wonder into the wilderness of Fenris alone.

"Was I not the one who hunted down a Squiggoth on Culis III? Was I not the one who killed of the biggest beast in the greenskin's ranks? I do not deserve to be sent off from Fenris!" retorts Erikson in a tone close to barking.
"You disobeyed an order!"
"I followed the instinct to hunt the biggest threat!"
"You were supposed to assist two packs of blood claws and a pack of grey hunters to hold the west flank, but you manage to sway the two packs of blood claws into abandoning the flank and join your little hunt! Do you know what happened to the grey hunters?"
"They should have followed me."
"They followed their orders, and if the blood claws did too, they would have survived!"
"The Squiggoth would have crushed us all in the end."
"Not if the Warboss is dead! and it would have been if we did not need to send reinforcements to drop pod into the west flank and hold the mechanicus forge."
"I do not care! I have hunted a great prey and the halls shall sing my name!"

Pushed to his limits, the Wolf Priest lifts his right arm and swings his unpowered Crozius into Erikson's chest. The swing knocks the wolf scout Erikson off his feet and he lands just a few feet away. "Lord Bjorn is not pleased with you. Because of the missing reinforcements to block the Warboss's escape, the Warboss is on on the loose again. Your little shenanigan caused Lord Bjorn a chance to end all major Waaaghs in the subsector," explains the Wolf Priest.

Still trying to regain his footing, Erikson stares up as the Wolf Priest moves closer to him. "If I keep you in Fenris, the other Space Wolves would only sing praises for every foolish bravado you commit. No, you will go to Jericho Reach, you will join the watch. Perhaps with a new pack made of placid Space Marines from other chapters, maybe you will learn the value of patience, and if I am lucky a little respect," explains the Wolf Priest. "Also the Deathwatch is charged with dealing with the worst of the Xenos threats. I'm sure you would not miss the chance to hunt the biggest aliens the universe has to throw at the Imperium now would you?"

Erikson paused and wonders at his predicament. Now it seems like less of a curse.

Wolf Scout Erikson

How to start Warhammer 40k?

So, you are into Warhammer 40k and you want to start an army. But how? What do you need first? Which army should you start? So here is a little guide on how do you start Warhammer 40k.

Step 1: Know How to Play The Game.
Although it seems fun when we are playing 40k, we also spend a lot of time bickering over rules. The more we remember the rules, the less we have to bicker about. 40k just like any other tabletop wargaming, has many rules governing how your army can move, shoot, attack, or just about anything else. When you first start playing, other players are more than happy to show you the basic rules. But it's up to you to read up on the rest.

There are two books which you will need:
1) The Main Rulebook

All praise the holy bible of 40k. What is written, is the almost immaculate truth.

The main rulebook contains all the basic rules for all armies and a must have for all players. However, the problem is this book is big, bulky, and expensive. 50% of it is just back-story, and 50% of it is the real rules. But trust me, you NEED the main rulebook because you will be referring to it very frequently.

PROTIP: Get "Dark Vengeance" starter set and you can a smaller copy of the rulebook which is cheaper, lighter, and contains 100% rules.

2) The Army Codex

Discover the Greater Good, Greater Guns, and Greater Mechas

The Codex is a supplement rulebook to your main rulebook. It focuses on an army and tell what that army can do, what weapons can it take, and how to create your own army. Its a must have so you can create an army, and defend yourself if your opponent accuses you of playing cheating. Relatively cheap, light, this should be the next thing to get (after getting the main rulebook) if you want to start an army. The models can wait.

Step 2: Create an Army List.

Now that you know how 40k works, it's time to form an army of your own. First select an army you want to play. (More information on how to pick an army will in later posts.) The if you look at your Army Codex's "Army List" page, it will include the units you can get, and how much points do they cost.

When you start a game, both players agree on how many points each player can use to build an army. Then you have that many points to build an army for the game. Each unit you include into your army cost points. The more powerful, the more upgrades, the more expensive. So the more powerful you units are, the less units you have in the game.

Try and create a 500 points list first. (Your army must have at least 1 HQ and 2 Troop choice.) If you are unsure about anything, check the forums, check the codex, or ask any other players.

PROTIP: If you are unsure, play Space Marines. Most people know how to play them so you can ask for help. Space Marines army is versatile and more forgiving on mistakes for beginners.

Step 3: Get the Models.

 

Comes with pointed sticks for that evil chaosy feel.

 

Now that you have a list of what to get, go get the models. Sometimes if you buy a package of units, you may get it cheaper.

PROTIP: 

1) Get "Dark Vengeance" starter set and you can get a 500 point-ish Dark Angel and Chaos Space Marine army at a very cheap price. Just sell of the other army that you don't want.

2) Play Space Marines. They are a very common army and it is easier to buy 2nd hand models from other players or eBay.

Step 4: Assemble the models (and Paint them)

It doesn't get any easier to paint than this (unless you love undead things)

 

Assembling models is easy and fun. You need a clipper and modeling glue which is easily obtainable from any hobby shop. 

Painting is another matter, but we will leave it for now. Unpainted models (although not nice looking) are still playable.

Step 5: Get Equipment to Play

You need: 1 Tape Measure, 1 set of 40k Templates, lots of 6-sided dices, 1 40k Scatter Dice

If you have nice miniature scenery to set up your battle field, that's great! If you don't, make do with cups and boxes, they'll do fine

 

PROTIP:  "Dark Vengeance" starter set also includes 1 set of 40k Templates, and 1 40k Scatter Dice.

Step 6: PLAY 40K!!!!

Now you have all it takes to start playing Warhammer 40k with your friends. You will make lots of mistakes at first. But once you get the feel of the game, you can now expand your army to play games with higher points, customize your army to suit your playing style, or even get another army.

Beta Test: 'The Peides Curse: Earth' Boardgame

So I had a chance to beta test a boardgame by Game Design House a boardgame designing company based in Kuala Lumpur. The game is called 'The Peides Curse: Earth'. This game is the first product to be created by them.

One of the peoples from Games Design House came to Penang to let us test the game. I haven't managed to finish the game because the rules explanation took so long, and understanding it took a bit longer. But since it's a prototype, guess they'll smooth out the rules to make it easier in the future. Here's a quick look into 'The Peides Curse: Earth'

Theme: There is a great formless evil unleashed upon earth causing great havoc. The heavens knew this evil will come and prepared a machine to free the light back into the earth. However, the codes to activate the machine is scattered and hidden in airports around the world (for some reason). You play as one of the humans who receives the heaven's call to retrieve the codes and activate the machine to destroy this evil. The theme reminds me a sort of Da Vinci Code morden day detective game where you are supposed to race to figure out clues to unlock secrets to the celestial universe.

Design: The boardgame's design looks decent with a futuristic feel to it. Cards look rather plain but manageable. In this prototype, the models/tokens were not ready yet. Who knows, maybe when this game is in production, hopefully the look will improve.

Gameplay: This game is a competitive type boardgame. All players have the ultimate goal of solving the clue to the heaven machine but the first to get there wins. Each turn you get to move closer to different airports and from there you get clues to solve and once you solve the clue, you get a part of the code and points.

This game is a puzzle solving game, it is unique as I have never see a puzzle solving game yet. To top it off, everything in the boardgame is a clue, the tokens, the names, the cards, all of them. The game won't tell you the boardgame itself is a clue, you have to notice and figure it out.

However, the problems of a puzzle boardgame became apparent after a few rounds. For starters, not many people like puzzle solving games, and since it is a competitive game, other players cannot help you except to wait until you solve the puzzle or until the time is up which is a buzz kill.

The rules for this game is immensely complex, with plenty of different rules governing different game mechanics that make up the entire game. Understanding the game and solving puzzles on the beta-test just drained all the brain juices left in my cranium. But maybe if I played it a few times, perhaps the game will be easier to understand.

This review is just a short breeze through. When the game is available for purchase with all the components ready and errors sorted out, maybe I'll do a full review. I heard they are planing to put this game up for kickstarters somewhere in September 2013. So if you are interested, you can check it out.

A Time Before Computer Games

When I was young (that was the time before the internet, that was the time before Windows. I'm talking of the time when computers run purely on DOS.) I remember when my father would type random sentences (or commands as they are called) into the computer, then the computer responded with more sentences. It was plain, it was confusing, it was boring.

However, on occasions my father would stick a floppy disk into the computer and the words disappear, and lines and shapes appear which is more appealing to my young brain. He had just introduced me to a world of computer games. But that time the only games I had were PAC-MAN. Although, it was entertaining at first, in the end it was still plain, and boring.

And it looks like this for all levels

Just like all games that runs on DOS, though it was amusing at first, it still lacked what a child look for in a game. To fully experience its fun, I had to invite my friends over or go to the arcade and play PAC-MAN, it was just much more fun that way. So how does it fulfill my male adolescent needs?

1. Challenging - VERY! Early games don't come with easy mode. To beat a game is as if slaying a dragon, glorious.

2. Visually Simulating - All games were in 16-bit those days. Watching TV or read books was much more fun.

3. Story - I still don't know why is PAC-MAN chomping on the dots. I'd read or play board games for that.

4. Competitive - Being able to be better than somebody in almost anything is fun for a boy. That's why its better to play with my friends around so i can show off. Then they'd play just to challenge me.

5. Achievement - Having a high score record helps. Nothing like telling my friends that the high score was mine.

6. Socialize - PAC-MAN can't do that. You'd have to go mix with friends.

7. Accessible - No way. Games technology were big and bulky, you can't be playing games everywhere.

8. Money - You can't make money from that. I have to wash my dad's car.

9. Girls - Taking a date out to play games is a risk. Not many girls like games.

So you see games don't fulfill all the needs. They are like little gimmicks to have fun for a while. You'd still have to socialize to have the most fun out of the game.

These days, digital (PC/Console/Phone Applications) game companies have a better understanding of what digital gamers want in a game. With advances in technology and the birth of the internet, all good games has one way or another to fulfill these wants. How they do it?

1. Challenging - They know that some people do not like really challenging games. Adjustable difficulty was born.

2. Visually Simulating - Amazing visuals that capture the imagination well and its the only aspect we can expect it to constantly improve.

Teaching history better than textbooks with old photographs

3. Story -All good games come with a plot. Great ones have very imaginative and intellectually stimulating ones.

4. Competitive -Multiplayer modes over the internet helps players to play with not only their friends but people they never met before.

5. Achievement -Levels and achievement medals helps boasting your success over the internet.

6. Socialize -Massive Mutiple Online Role Playing Games allows for complex socializing system so you can play, chat, hang around with your friends even those you never met like in real life.

7. Accessible -Very. Portable Consoles, Smart Phones, and Wireless Internet makes it all possible.

8. Money -You can convert money you earn in some games into real money and vice-verca. Some could sell characters they played for thousands of Ringgits.

9. Girls - Read here (Article yet to be written)

So what you have is a games that fulfill most of an adolescent male's wants by just playing them. Sounds great? My answer is no. Here is what we end up creating.

The games are so entrancing and portable, it sucks the attention away from the gamers even in social settings and with games being so fulfilling, there is not much incentive for them to get their attention away from these games. As an adult now, it does not affect us much because we grew up in an age where virtual games were at an infancy. We just socialize less often now. 

But, what of our children? What happens when we bring them up in a society where there is so much stimulus from TV, games, and the internet? We do 2 things:

1. Grow children with weak willpower. (Read more in Article yet to be written.)

2. Grow children who has problem socializing. (Read more in Article yet to be written.)

There's a reason why I support the return of non-virtual games (Boardgames and the such). They are fun, weakly addictive and don't take the socializing out.

Games in Penang and How to Start Playing

So, if you are interested in gaming and want to join the gamers community. You can go into any gamer retail shop or gamer clubs and the people there are more than willing to introduce you to the wonderful world of gaming. However, if you want to know what exactly do we play and how to start, here's a breakdown of the type of games played in Penang.

1. Boardgames
What is it?
Counters and/or cards on top of a piece of board. Some card games count too.

Examples of Boardgames I might have known?
Risk, Monopoly, Snakes and Ladders, good ole Chess.

What game/s is/are played often in Penang?
There's so many boardgames out there! We just play whatever suits us at that time.

Why is it fun?
Boardgames are typically easy to understand so you can start playing in no time. (If you don't you can always check Youtube, forums, or even your friendly retailers.) Games are cheap and ranges around RM50-300. Chances are you'll get bored of playing one game only so you will get more and each is different. Boardgames can either be competitive, co-operative, sneaky which adds a variety to your game nights.

Downsides?
None really. This is a great place to start gaming

How do I start?
Go join a game club and join into games. Great if you are going alone. You can check out Penang War Gamers Group
Go to a games cafe and pay by the hour. Great if you are with a bunch of friends and just wanna play one session. You can check out Funbox Cafe, heard Games Outpost Penang does them too.
Go buy a boardgame. Great if you have a group of friends who will frequently play. You can check out Paradigm Infinitum, Games Outpost Penang, or Borders Bookstores. (And yes you can use 1Malaysia Book Vouchers to buy in Borders.)

2. Tabletop Wargames
What is it?
Tiny plastic soldiers killing each other

Examples of Tabletop Wargames I might have known?
Warhammer 40,000

What game/s is/are played often in Penang?
Warhammer 40,000, Warhammer Fantasy

Why is it fun?
You leading an army to crush your enemy's army? Whats not fun!? However, the game is incredibly complex with lots of options to customise your army, and lots of different types of soldiers and tactics you can employ so it requires a lot of tactical strategy, which is pretty fun. The plastic soldiers (called models. Yes gamers play with models all the time, haha) is often very nicely modeled and painting/modifying/collecting it can be fun for the right type of people.

Downsides?
Them plastic soldiers are really expensive! Seriously, the smallest army can cost you RM300 and above and we often spend much more than that. Some people just wanna buy, take out the models and start killing, having to assemble and paint can be a hassle. Also being complex, the games requires a few days before you start grasping the gist of the game.

How do I start?
Go join a game club and watch them play and get a quick tutorial on how to play and how to build an army. You can check out Penang War Gamers Group
Go buy the models, (WARNING: Only do it if you know at least how to play, the retailers might help.) play with friends or take them to a game club. You can check out Paradigm Infinitum, World Hobby Miniatures.

3. Role Playing Games (RPG)
What is it?
Create a character and go on a adventure as the character

Examples of Role Playing Games I might have known?
Dungeons & Dragons

What game/s is/are played often in Penang?
Warhammer 40,000 Black Crusade
Warhammer 40,000 Dark Heresy

Why is it fun?
If you love the universe a fantasy is set in (its called fluff. We like Warhammer 40,000's fluff), Role Playing Games allows you to explore that universe further. Its allows you to do anything, you just tell the Game Master (GM) what your character is doing, as the GM tells you what happens, (though stupid actions come with consequences and GM loves dishing out said consequences.) that means you get creative with ways of accomplishing your mission and that creates good stories. We had quite a few memorable missions playing Role Playing Games.

Downside?
You need to know the universe you are going to play in or you will pay by doing stupid things (such as surrendering to Dark Eldars, selling a 8 pointed star artifacts to imperial traders, using a starship with a damaged Gellar Field to travel across the galaxy) and that requires a lot of reading. But you could learn it by playing a few games and see more veteran players deal with these challenges.

How do I start?
Go join a game club and join a RPG party, they'll teach you how to play and create a character. You can check out Penang War Gamers Group
You can go buy RPG rule book and play with a bunch of friends. However it takes a player with experience to be a good Game Master. You can check out Paradigm Infinitum

4. Trading Card Games
What is it?
Like Tabletop Wargames but replace plastic soldiers with cards

Examples of Trading Card Games I might have known?
Magic: The Gathering, Pokemon Card Game

What game/s is/are played often in Penang?
Magic: The Gathering, others too occasionally

Why is it fun?
All the fun of Tabletop Wargames minus the painting, assembling. Plus it is much cheaper and lots of people in Malaysia plays them.


Downsides?
Not as visually simulating as a Tabletop Wargaming. For a lot of the Trading Cards Games, in general, more money you spent on the deck of cards, the more powerful your deck is no matter how good your strategy is (remember paying lots for that foil Charizard card?). That being said, you still need to have strategy to win with a powerful deck, just saying that you might lose just because your opponent can get more super rare cards.

How do I start?
I do not play Trading Card Games so I don't know where you should start. Ask around, there are plenty of people that sells or plays Magic: The Gathering in Penang.

First Post

Welcome to my Blog!

Dice and Philosophy is a blog about me, a casual gamer and my insights into the world of games in Penang and maybe Malaysia. When I say games here, I mean the traditional ones, not the computer games that keeps people stuck to the computer screen all day all alone before they wonder what on earth are they doing with their life.

Before I go on, note that this blog is purely independent. I know there are a few retailers in Penang's game community but this blog is not affiliated with anyone of them.

So? Whatcha waiting for? Go to the next post and read now. Go on!