Well, many things are happening at the Lion's Den camp in the coming weeks. This issue of the Penny Whistle includes an article that will let you get a jump on the soon to being released aerial combat game known as FIGHTER COMMAND. If you happened to be at the 1994 Call To Arms convention sponsored by the Heart Of Ameria chapter of the HMGS, you were able to witness the first playtest of this game in a public setting.

Several people were able to "fly" their aircraft in a scenario that was based on the Battle of Britain. It was quite a surprise to me when the convention awards were presented at the end of the event and FIGHTER COMMAND was voted Best Of Show! Not bad for a first time outing!

Now its three years later and FIGHTER COMMAND has been refined beyond that first outing and is ready to publish. The basic idea is to make available the main rules with the inclusion of two scenarios that the buyer can jump right into without much research. A section on modeling the aircraft and terrain features will also be added, as well as various options on playing indoors or outdoors.

Aircraft will be grouped into certain models, for instance, the Spitfire Mk. I to IX or the Me-109E to G. Each pack will contain each design model plus some of the most popular variants that were used. If you have an affliction to aviation combat, then this is for you!

Theatre of Operations

Another project that we have been working on is based on our THEATRE OF OPERATION rules for WWII. However this game is set in more modern times. The premise to the game is that each player may run a team of up to four figures. Weapons restrictions are simple, if you have a weapon's technical readout which can be converted to the game mechanics, then you may use it. This applies to any weapon up to now! There are certain weapons that we hve banned (sorry Ken, NO PHOSPHOROUS!), but all and all it is run what you bring! Now if my .50 cal. Sniper can get a clean shot at Doug's Super-gattling chain-fed hyper-deadly grenade cannon blaster, that will rule!

Scale for the game is 54mm or 1/32 figures based on a 1 and 1/4" washer. Any equipment or weapons that you want your figures to have must be molded on the figures. The exception to this rule only covers grenades. Everything is wntten down on a record sheet to keep things the way they should be. There are several high-quality kits out there for you to purchase, DML in particular offers several troop options and most of their kits include four figures.

Games are run on the same terrain for the evening's play, the more obstacles the better. A time limit of one hour is given and is more than sufficient to resolve a garne. It has been interesting to see how each of the players have tackled the organization of their troops. You have teams that are high-tech, stealthy and quick, and loud and explosive. We have had tons of fun with this one so far and we want to share it with you when we get the bugs worked out. The Black Watch Guards will take on all challenges!

Down at Twistercon

This past March Lion's Den joined our Oklahoma friends down at TWISTERCON '97. Tomado Alley HMGS sponsors the event and it is always a good time. The TA guys are fun to be around and they have quality games to be played.

We ran three events, well actually the second was in theory a continuation of the first. Ken's Roman Gladiatorial combat scenario was held on Friday night. If you have never seen 54mrn gladiators duel in a scale version of the Coliseum, then you have definitely missed a truly fine game. Combat is brutal to say the least, but one instance I witnessed a combatant with a trident and net hurl his spear and nail another figure from an almost impossible distance! To bad the others surrounded the spearrnan and, well let's just say he didn't make it to the next round.

Saturday morning brought AURIGAE to the convention hall. This is in my opinion one of our classic games! The terrun, built entirdy as a dub project, consists of the arena floor and the center spina of the Coliseum, complete with spectators and the Emperor! It really is a beautiful display! Anyway, not to blow my own horn, but after several close calls and numerous crashes, the purple chariot driven by Jonus Marcus Haworthicus of the Lion's Den faction handily won the chariot race. "Never push the envelop to much", my trainer said, "for if the bubble should break, you will spill the water you have collected."

Our third event was a 20mm scenario of the relief of Bastogne using Theatre of Operation rules for the scale. A company of U.S. troops and vehicles ran up against a platoon of German infantry partially dug in with a platoon each of Tiger Is and Panthers rolling in as reserves. I must commend the U.S. on their exquisite use of smoke rounds! Never had I seen smoke used with such precision as I did in this game.

By the time the Gaman infantry could react to the advancing U.S. tanks, most of them had been suppressed or wiped out. When the Tigers and Panthers arrived, the U.S. had units over the bridge and were pushing forward. Oh, but lo, the cats snarl and men and machine are turned asunder. This game went back and forth, and if we'd had the time, I would have liked to have played this one to the end.

Anyway, thanks to Jeff, Jonathan, Jeff, and and the other TA guys (sorry fellas I'm really bad with names) for extending their hospitality to us and making us feel welcome. Looking forward to seeing you at the con in Branson.

The metal of man's worth is not measured by the possessions that he has or the amount of money he is worth, but by the deeds that he does and why he does them.
--Anonymous