Bromley had until recently had only one dedicated games store. Yes you could get your Games Workshop fix at the Warhammer store and yes you could buy some of the most popular games at Waterstones, but if you wanted to buy anything that was remotely niche or you wanted some Army Painter or Vallejo paints then War Boar was the place to go. Unfortunately, they bit the dust just before the pandemic, closing their doors in late 2019.
Troll Trader Bromley is a new venture in association with Cornwall based miniature manufacturer TTCombat.com. The new shop is located at 3 The Mall, Bromley, BR1 1TS (directly opposite Iceland and Poundland).
Troll Trader Bromley
With the Lockdown still in effect, I sincerely hope that they managed to open physically as I'm running out of paint!!
Rege-Jean Page has officially signed on for the new Paramount Dungeons & Dragons movie alongside Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez and Justice Smith (Detective Pikachu). Slated for a 2022 release the movie is written and directed by the partnership of John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein (Game Night, Spiderman Homecoming).
There's scant details at the moment, but this is seen as a welcome 4th movie and a reboot of the Dungeons & Dragons movie series (Which I must rewatch) given the renewed popularity of Dungeons & Dragons.
After a 4 month hiatus YouTuber Wyloch's Armoury is back in the saddle and building cheap as chips scenery again. I have been waiting with baited breath to see the culmination of the Tomb of Horrors Dungeon Series (now on Part 9) and am so glad to see him return to D&D crafting. Keep up the great work.
Tabletop Gaming Magazine
I can't say that I've been into a Newsagents for quite some time and haven't bought a monthly magazine in even longer so it's no surpise that I missed the launch of Tabletop Gaming Magazine in 2017.
However, doing some promotional work for my Friday Night club Dragons Keep has meant that our paths have finally crossed.
They have recently launched a Tabletop Gaming YouTube Channel which is a refreshing addition to my subscribed list rather than than the plethora of American channels which seem to pump out let's play video after video ad nauseum. It's nice to hear an English accent with high production values for a change.
The Glenn (Ford) and Mike (Hutchinson) show is a particular highlight as the two hosts are responsible for my favourite tabletop game of car carnage Gaslands.
Sector 55 Blues is a Judge Dredd Campaign using the Savage Dredd
unnofficial Savage Worlds Expansion. This is an online only game with
members from Dragons Keep Roleplay Club.
With their shift at an end Judges Hammer, Teal and Uthred return to the sector house and turn in the scrap of hairy flesh. A persuasive Teal convinces Senior Pathologist Judge Quincy to run it as a priority job as lives could be at risk.
The team hit the changing rooms and meet up with Judge Cully who has been dealing with the GC Essexwood suicide all day. It's been a real long one and she is in need of some excitement so she agrees to go accompany them to Dapper John's apartment.
Hob Nobbing with the Big Cheese at Buck House
Dapper John lives at 72055 Buck House Block on the north fringe of the Eurozone. It is one of the more luxurious apartment blocks reserved for the sectors wealthy or famous elite.
The robo-knocker announces their arrival and the door is opened by Call Me Arthur, Dapper John's robo-butler, who shows the guests into the palatial living room dominated by a floor to ceiling window which opens onto a balcony terrace overlooking the city. John descends from a mezzanine floor via a sweeping synthi-marble staircase and immediately urges Arthur to serve the guests drinks. After taking the Judges requests he waddles into the kitchen to prepare the beverages.
Judge Cully goes upstairs on the pretense of a attending a call of nature and immediately heads for John's office. Accessing his terminal she is soon copying accounts documents and sending them to Sector House for forensic examination.
Meanwhile Judges Hammer and Uthred question Dapper John about the origins of the Trend Topper Toupee line and the manufacturers. John reveals that the owners Duncan Spivey and Melvin Why have been suppliers for some time although the Trend Toppers line is relatively new and a vast improvement on their previous wigalicious products. He gives them a business card with their contact details.
Judge Teal is surveying the room and notices that of all the objet d'art and curios that Dapper John has decorated his apartment one looks out of place. On the mantelpiece under a huge mirror stand 3 Maneki Neko (Chinese fortune cats) two are lazily waving in sync but one is out of phase. He is joined by Judge Cully who returns from her investigation upstairs.
"One of these cats is not like the others, one of these cats just doesn't belong..."
Despite the protestations of a very anxious Arthur Judge Teal picks up the out of sync cat and turns it over to reveal a sticker which reads "Good Job, You caught us - COVID-55". Peeling off the sticker reveals a plastic twist bung which when pulled out reveals a complex surveillance device.
COVID-55 Surveillance Device
An embarrassed Dapper John, reaches for the TV remote and pulls up COVID-55 on the 15ft wide Tri-D screen which dominates one wall of the apartment. The screen is filled with a fish-eye view of Judge Teal inspecting the device. The screen is filled with snow and a graphic explaining that COVID-55 is experiencing Technical Difficulties.
My John apologises profusely and assures that he will get his PR team on it right away. He wasn't aware that he was a person of interest but then he is one of the most eligible and fashionable bachelors in Sector 55 so he has always suspected that he was in their sights.
" They do like to dish the dirt. Why only yesterday evening they exposed GC Essexwood for her romantic involvement with her robo-butler!"
The hour is late and the judges need to catch up on their regulation sleep chamber time if they are going to be an effective team in the morning.
Another Glorious Morning Briefing
The morning starts with Judge Belloch's customary and compulsory briefing
"OK ladies, we had an incident at Buck House last night which has put the city on edge. The COVID-55 surveillance of Dapper John has unleashed the Justice Department Legal Eagles. They swooped in last night and shut their operation down. The citizens are melting down. COVID-55 was one of their favourite shows and now they're out to get us. Be extra vigilant out there and expect some retaliation.
The anti-gang and loony squads have been doing some great work taking out key gang members and keeping that powder keg from exploding.
Weather control reports that it is still on the fritz with a reboot expected at 14 hunderd hours so expect a cold front to move in from the east. Cully!, you're with Hammer. Teal and Uthred for the time being."
A Moloko Droog
As they peel out of the sector house they get a call from despatch
"There's a problem down at Resyk, sewer droid says they've seen
something that's put the willies up them. Asked for you personally."
Alex - a Molok Droogs Gang Member
On their way they spot a citizen in all white overalls and a bowler hat admiring a freshly scrawled "Droogs Roolz" in red paint. As they approached he runs. Cully shouts "Freeze Punk" and gives chase firing off a burst of GP rounds blowing the saps legs clean off at the shins. Uthred spots a bulge in the punks overalls and reaches into a pocket pulling out a recently used can of red spray paint.
Judge Scully asks the perp if he has anything to say in his defence. The perp can only manage "AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGG" as he screams in pain. A meat wagon turns up moments later and bundles him into the back. Judge Teal retrieves the punks legs and hands them to the Med Techs commenting "Hey punk you nearly got 5 years for littering".
Trouble at RESYK
When the Judges get to resyk they are met by Ro-Jaws who recounts seeing several small furry creatures matching the description of the wigs that the Judges gave yesterday. He says there was a lot of them offers to show them to the spot in the sewers where they encountered the creatures. Sadly Harry didn't make it out alive.
Descending to city bottom Ro-Jaws leads them to a manhole in the middle of a street in a rough part of the sector close to RESYK. He flips the manhole cover open and drops down into the darkness below.
Following the fetid stream of waste as it follows the tunnel the judges hear a horrifying bellowing animal roar.
Uthred goes down a 5ft wide side tunnel into a cistern in which a giant alligator is being attacked by a tiny hairy creature. The alligator is in obvious distress and lashes out at Uthred who returns fire with an armour piercing round. The hairy creature leaps into the tunnel and begins to attack Cully. Teal fires an AP round through the alligators head as Cully stabs the hairy monstrosity with her boot knife.
Map of the Sewers
Uthred calls Ro-Jaws into the tunnel and orders him to open up his trash bin and stash the dead wig. Reluctantly he agrees but demands that he wait outside for their return.
Exploring further down the tunnel Hammer and Cully are ambushed by a pair of wigs who lay in wait in side tunnels. Uthred assists Hammer and attempts to bash the wig with his day stick. Teal aids Cully and tears the thing off her helmet and whips it against the wall until it stops squeaking. Cully fishes out an evidence zipper from her utility belt and bags the evidence for the boys back at forsensics.
The Dungeons and Dragons movie is 21 years old this year and after a 9 year hiatus there is 4th movie in production. Hollywood does love a reboot.
However, The thing that has been bugging me for the last two decades is...
What the hell is Phil Cornwell supposed to be?
Phil Cornwell as uncredited Purple Humanoid
Obviously someone spent a whole heap of effort to design the prosthetics that Phil wore (you can't disguise his voice though) but I don't know of any civilised humanoid race which matches his description. I do think he is kind of cool though.
Is he supposed to be a triclops? Perhaps he is supposed to be some form of demi-beholder? What is the purpose of the third eye? what is that vestigial fin on his head? why is he purple?
Answers (and any homebrew builds) in the comments box below.
My favoured explanation is that he is the product of some ill conceived magical experiment fusing the DNA of Mick Jagger with Xanathar?
What if Mick Jagger and Keith Richards ran a corner shop?
Of course this comes several months after the sad passing of John Sessions who was a long time partner of Phil during the 80s alternative comedy explosion. Mick and Keith's corner shop on Stella Street holds a very dear place in my heart. He is sorely missed but I will immortalise them both in my RPG campaigns. Mick & Keef's Magical Emporium & Shoppe of Convenience.
Phil Cornwell (Mick Jagger) John Sessions (Keith Richards) - Stella Street
Every now and then Netflix has a bit of a stonker on its hands and Tribes of Europa feels like it's going to be another one.
Pitched Like a Young Adult Novel
Tribes of Europa art reminds me of 80s Chocky
I was a little wary going into this series as I knew absolutely nothing about it except for the teaser photo and the trailer. It came across as another Hunger Games / Scorch Trials style post apocalyptic YA novel. I've been burned before with the sanctimonius "Kids save the future" mantra but I'm a glutton for punishment and so I fired up the Netflix and gave it a go.
Older Cast Members Show the Kids How It's Done
Whilst the 3 main protagonists we follow through the series are all young performers in their teens or early twenties, the cast is made up of some heavyweight older actors who put meat on this stories bones. I dont want to sound dismissive about their acting talents, they do a reasonable job, but they pale before their much more experienced co-stars.
Perhaps that is exactly the point. Liv (Henrietta Confurius), Kiano (Emilio Sakraya) and Elia (David Ali Rashed) are supposed to have led a sheltered life as forest dwelling Origine, protected by the forest and their elders non-confrontational philosophy.
When they are exposed to the other tribes and the world outside their tiny microcosm their naivete, like their acting, is laid bare.
The standouts for me are Moses (Oliver Masucci) sporting a moustache that would make Nikola Tesla proud. A grifter and con man who befriends Elia (pr. El-e-ya), he is a pre-collapse survivor and a necessary tool of exposition filling in the blanks about how the world got to where it is.
Sebastian Blomberg steals every scene as the menacing Kapitan Yvar of the Crow gang. He looks like he has just stepped off stage supporting Danzig or The Sisters of Mercy (Flood period). Cutting an imposing figure he rules a post apocalypse Berlin with a studded leather fist and demands undying loyalty from his subjects or, you guessed it, you die horribly.
Mekika Faroutan (Lord Varvara) oozes seduction and machiavellian schemery with every graceful step. She craves power and position among the elite Crow but you get the distinct impression that Yvar knows that she is a threat and keeps her subdued with promises of elevation dangled in front of her like a ball of string to a cat.
As the series progresses we are gradually introduced to the other tribes and the tone shifts to something much darker. Some of the scenes are distinctly adult in nature and the series carries a 15 rating for a good reason. I guess that the TV landscape has changed since Game of Thrones. Now every show has to have its fair share of bloody gore and nudity. There is also a strong drug reference with the Crows being fueled on some strange inhaled narcotic much like the war boys from Mad Max: Fury Road.
This makes for engaging adult viewing and to be honest is a refreshing
change from the usual Young Adult glittery vampire or schoolboy
scorceror nonsense that we had to put up with in the noughties. I for one think that you should let Young Adults watch things which challenge them rather than shield them from adult themes and concepts.
To the writing crews credit, they've managed to make a believeable world in just six episode short series and I now now eagerly anticipate a second.
A sad and sorry tale has finally come to an end...
I have been without a 3D Printer since November 2020 when my something got fried on my CTC i3 Pro B motherboard. I blame the operator carelessly backdriving the extruder motor when extracting filament although it didn't help that the printer was equipped with an early Mk3 extruder with no way to disengage the drive wheel.
Geetech i3 Prusa Pro W
I took delivery of my new printer last Thursday, but opening the box revealed a kit of parts which filled me with dread. My previous printer came partially assembled and I had no motivation to get stuck in to what could possibly be the larget single meccano challenge I have embarked upon.
Two days later and the printer was built.
My New Geetech Prusa i3 Pro W
What were my initial observations?
No Manual - I am no newbie to 3D printing and this printer is essentially the same as my last one. I knew I would find a comprehensive guide to building the printer on the Geetech YouTube channel and lo and behold there it was. What I wasn't expecting was getting to the final stage in the build process, wiring the control board and there being no final step!!!
Luckily the printer uses the ubiquitous GT2560 control board so finding a manual and a picture online was no problem. However, by following the manual I did manage to connect all the limit switches incorrectly which meant the printer didn't home properly (cue horrible motor clunking sounds as the x-carriage refured to recognise the limit switch).
In addition this printer differs in one respect from my old printer in that the x-axis limit switch is set considerably further back and so the home position is actually off the print bed by about half an inch. I could have fixed this by updating the printers firmware and setting an offset, but I've been here before.
Half an inch makes all the difference
My old printer had a similar problem in the Y-axis which meant that it would home too far forward. The solution now as then was to print off an extension finger which would press the x-axis limit switch that half an inch early.
So off to thingiverse I went and lo and behold someone had made a model and bish bash bosh my printer was off to the races printing out its first part. Given that the Prusa design is derived from the Rep Rap project itself I think this is quite fitting.
First Part Printed - An x-axis trigger extension
Upgraded Parts - The reason I bought this particular printer was that it was one of the cheapest I could find with a Mk8 extruder. However, this was not the only upgrade that the printer came with. No siree, I got proper lead screws for the z-axis instead of plain old threaded rod, proper flexible couplers not pieces of rubber tube and a significantly better x-carriage assembly with threaded holes for mounting a second hot end fan. The hot bed was also an upgraded version without the annoying brass rivet in the middle like my old printer. The borosilcate glass platter now sits perfectly flat on the hot bed ensuring no distortion in z height and no hot spots.
Laser Cutter Dust - I could not believe how dirty I got when handling the laser cut plywood panels which make up the frame. Every edge of the printer is covered in a thin film of wood ash which comes off on your clothes and hands. If I were ever to build another laser cut framed printer then step 1 would be to wipe down all the wooden parts with a damp rag.
Jessie Will Be Chuffed
Now I have a working 3D Printer I can return to blogging about the things that I print in my Jessie's Prints series. Jessie has been on a severe no PLA diet since June 2020 so he will be chuffed to bits.
