Volume 3, Issue 2

Summer, 1887

The Æthergraph

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Clive’s Register

3

Paper Modeling

4

Reginald’s Regiment

6

IHMN Schutztruppe

8

TSATF Battle Report

10

Empire of the Dead Reviewed

12

Verne’s Armory

14

Sir Lindsay G. Poppycock First Briton on the Moon

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News of the Worlds By J Womack

Earth

Mars

London-- Fenian fanatics fling fiery death in the streets. Twice in the past month Irish seperatists, desperate in their doomed cause, have exploded bombs strapped under their coats in public markets. Thirty-five people have been killed, and over a hundred wounded in this despicable act of cowardice and desperation.

Professor Maton’s terroristic activities continue. A cylinder of Matoxin was discovered aboard a canal boat when agents of HM Government arrested two known Fenians for high treason, public intoxication, and crimes against the public peace. The cylinder contained a sufficient quantity of poison to contaminate a large portion of the canal port area in Victoria’s Landing. The owners of the canal boat denied knowledge of the cylinder’s presence aboard their vessel. The bill of lading lists the gas cylinder as “atmospheric test samples.”

New York-- Record numbers of immigrants are reported to be flooding into the United States from southern European nations, especially Italy and Spain. The American immigration control service reports mass quarantine measures. French Riviera-- A massive earthquake struck the French Riviera, killing thousands. Thankfully, most were French locals and not British subjects on holiday. Mexico City-- His Imperial Majesty Maximillian I died in January of complications from the yellow fever. His adopted son Agustin, Prince of Iturbide, ascended to the throne on his father’s death. The Coronation in May assembled many European dignitaries in Mexico. Honolulu-- King Kalakaua agreed to US proposal for rights to build a naval base in Pearl Harbor. The British ambassador to Hawaii resigned his post in protest. Tokyo-- The 123rd Son of Heaven, Emperor Meiji, announced that the Sasebo Naval Shipyards would begin construction of Takai Minato, Japan’s first national highport. Many observers of the Meiji Transformation of Japan see this as a first step towards the construction of Japan’s own fleet of aetherwarships.

Luna Progress on the first domed outpost on Luna came to a standstill earlier this week as workers were forced to seek shelter from dangerous meteorite strikes. No debris larger than a golf ball were located, but several pieces of machinery were damaged in the hour-long rockstorm.

Venus Texicans at Fort Houston report new life forms. Bizarre and previously unknown anthropomorphic creatures stole food from the dinosaur stables. A Marine on guard duty fired from a tower, killing one creature. It was clad in filthy rags that appear to have been European clothing at one point. The beast shared humanoid and goat-like characteristics.

Editor’s Corner

J Womack

Welcome back for another issue of The Aethergraph. I’ll start by saying “so much for our quarterly publication schedule!” As usual, life and other projects got in the way, and The Aethergraph suffered its usual fate, languishing on the back burner. It is rather a pity, because there is some good stuff in here. But the show is going forward, while looking backward at the same time to an alternate version of our humdrum reality. I think that’s the real appeal of Victorian Science Fiction, or Science Fantasy, if you prefer. Hopefully I can manage a third issue by the end of the year. Anyway, this issue is again mostly my own work, with some greatly appreciated help from Michael O’Brien in the shape of a new Adventuring Company. Thanks again for the great article, Michael! If anyone else has something they think would interest VSF enthusiasts, please share it with me. Until next time, may the natives lose your track and your Maxims never jam!

Volume 3, Issue 2

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C l i v e ’ s

R e g i s t e r

I s a m b a r d

o f

P r o m i n e n t

K i n g d o m

B y

J .

B r u n e l ,

W o m a c k

Isambard Kingdom Brunel was born on 9 April 1806 in Portsmouth. His father, Marc Isambard Brunel, was a French engineer who had fled France during their Revolution. His mother was Sophia Kingdom, daughter of a contracting agent for the army and navy. Brunel was educated at boarding schools in England and in France. A good student, he was denied admittance to the prestigious École Polytechnique because he was a foreigner.

In 1831, Brunel's designs won the competition for the Clifton Suspension Bridge across the River Avon. Construction began the same year but work was suspended following the Queen Square riots that drove off investors. The bridge was not completed until 1864. The work for which Brunel is probably best remembered is his construction of a network of tunnels, bridges and viaducts for the Great Western Railway. In 1833, he was appointed the Great Western’s chief engineer and work began on the line that linked London to Bristol. Impressive achievements during its construction included the viaducts at Hanwell and Chippenham, the Maidenhead Bridge, the Box Tunnel and Bristol Temple Meads Station. Brunel is noted for introducing the broad gauge in place of the standard gauge on this line. While working on the line from Swindon to Gloucester and South Wales he devised the combination of

P e r s o n s

F R S

gale sent a plea to The Times for the government to produce a solution. Brunel was working on the Great Eastern amongst other projects, but accepted the task in February 1855. He designed a temporary, prefabricated hospital that could be shipped to Crimea and erected there. In only five months the team Brunel assembled had designed, built, and shipped pre-fabricated wood and canvas buildings, providing them complete with advice on transportation and positioning of the facilities.

His Work When he returned to England in 1822, Brunel went to work for his father. His first notable achievement was the part he played assisting his father with the planning of the Thames Tunnel from Rotherhithe to Wapping, completed in 1843. Brunel narrowly avoided death in a flooding incident in 1828, but spent six months recuperating from his injuries.

3

Isambard Kingdom Brunel, FRS tubular, suspension and truss bridge to cross the Wye at Chepstow. This design was further improved in his famous bridge over the Tamar at Saltash near Plymouth. As well as bridges, tunnels and railways, Brunel was responsible for the design of several famous ships. The Great Western, launched in 1837, was the first steamship to engage in transatlantic service. The Great Britain, launched in 1843, was the world's first iron-hulled, screw propeller-driven, steam-powered passenger liner. The Great Eastern, launched in 1859, was designed in cooperation with John Scott Russell, and was by far the biggest ship ever built up to that time, but was not commercially successful. When Britain entered into the Crimean War, an old Turkish barracks became the British Army Hospital in Scutari. Due to poor conditions there, injured troops contracted a variety of illnesses, including cholera, dysentery, typhoid and malaria, and Florence Nightin-

Brunel had been working Gloucester Docks-based William Eassrie on the launching stage for the Great Eastern, a man who had designed and built wooden prefabricated huts used in both the Australian gold rush, as well as by the British and French Armies in the Crimea. Using wood supplied by timber importers Price & Co., Eassrie fabricated 18 of the two-50 patient wards designed by Brunel, shipped directly via 16 ships from Gloucester Docks to the Dardanelles. The Renkioi Hospital was subsequently erected near Scutari Hospital, where Nightingale was based, in the malaria-free area of Renkioi. His designs incorporated the necessities of hygiene: sanitation, ventilation, drainage, and even rudimentary temperature controls. They were feted as a great success, with some sources stating that of the approximately 1,300 patients treated in the hospital, there were only 50 deaths. In the Scutari hospital it replaced, deaths were said to be as many (Continued on page 14)

“By his death the greatest of England's engineers was lost…” -Daniel Gooch At Brunel’s funeral

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Paper Modeling

Building Victorian Style Without Going to Debtor’s Prison By J Womack

Two of the most expensive items that gamers buy are buildings and vehicles. If there were only some way to inexpensively create entire city blocks of Victorian buildings. Or to quickly put a steamtank on the table that looks nice, doesn’t cost a fortune, and can be replaced when it gets damaged. But wait, a moment. There is a way: paper. Or, more precisely, cardstock. There are several sources of readyto-print images on the internet that are Victorian in theme. Some are free, while some cost a relatively small amount. Listed below are several sources of both sorts.

 X-acto or other hobby knife.  Steel ruler.  Self-healing cutting board.  Band-Aids.  Binder clips. Useful for holding pieces together while

adhesive dries.  Glue. PVA (white glue) can be used for most models.

Some designers recommend CA (superglue). Pen applicators are handy. Tips for Beginners  Use a sharp knife blade. Replace it often, as it will get

dulled quickly.  Score the reverse of your folds. Dull knife blades are

good for this.  Use a steel ruler or similar as a guide when folding

straight lines.  Fold all parts before gluing.  Thinner paper folds more sharply and leaves fewer Curufea’s Steam Tank

A Few Notes About Scale Most of the models are in 28mm scales. I can hear you saying, “But I game with 15mm figures! These are no good to me!” Nonsense! For most models, changing the scale is simple, straightforward, and should cause few if any problems when you build Just reset the scaling when you print the file. How small? Well, if you are going from 25mm to 15mm, set the scaling at 60% (28mm to 15mm is more like 54%). Tools You Will Need  A computer and color printer. Inkjet is fine.  Varying grades of paper and cardstock.  Scissors  Tweezers, hemostats, small needle-nose pliers or

similar device.

gaps, but is more fragile.  If attaching paper facades to foamcore structures, use

spray adhesive.  If using foamcore, buy yourself a rabbeting tool.

Free Sources (A Partial List) Ray Keim’s Haunted Mansion: http://www.haunteddimensions.raykeim.com/ index305.html

Miniatures in Paper: http://www.mmiparchive.papermakeit.com/11%20 -% 20Steamtanks.html

4th Era: http://www.mmiparchive.papermakeit.com/4th%20era% 20showcases.html

Curufea: http://www.curufea.com/doku.php?id=art:computer:papermodels

Avalon Games, Leviathans Preview: http://www.wargamevault.com/product/87421/Leviathans-FreePreview

(Continued on page 5)

Volume 3, Issue 2

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Not Free Sources Stoelzel’s Structures, Historic Olde Towne, $12.00: http://www.wargamevault.com/product/103613/Historic District--Olde-Towne

Stoelzel’s Structures, Victorian Townhouse, $5.00: http://www.wargamevault.com/product/103243/Victorian District--Townhouse?term=victorian+building

Mayhem in Paper, Cog Land Torpedo, $1.99: htt p :/ / w ww . w arg a me v au lt . c om/ pr od u ct/ 1 10 80 7/ C og CruiserLand-Torpedo

Arion Games, Victorian Characters, $3.00: http://www.wargamevault.com/product/20161/Victorians-Set? term=victorian&it=1

Avalon Games, Leviathans, $6.99: http://www.wargamevault.com/pr oduct/87227/ Leviathans Clockwork Soldier Revisited By J Womack

Following several additional test games of the Mechanickal Menace Company (published in our last issue), it has become clear that the Clockwork Soldier is just too powerful a unit, dominating the battlefield. Therefore, I have re-worked his abilities and statistics, and limited the Company to just one unit.

5

Mini Review

Heroes, Villains and Fiends A Companion for In Her Majesty’s Name

If you have been following my blogs, you will know that I am a fan of the Victorian Science Fiction skirmish gaming ruleset In Her Majesty’s Name, by Craig Cartmell and Charles Murton. Beyond some slick production values, including lots of glittery eye-candy, the core rules provide a relatively straightforward mechanic. I like it a great deal, as it gives enjoyable results without a lot of bother. Heroes, Villains and Fiends (HVF) adds several new Talents, Mystical Powers, Beasts, Weird Science gadgets, and vehicles to those provided in the core rulebook. Twenty-six new Adventuring Companies from all corners of Europe, Africa, and North America fill the bulk of the book’s 64 pages. These include the Templars, Boer Commandoes, and the Texas Rangers, among a wide variety of others. Good attention has been paid to providing each Company a little bit of individual flavor. A feature that is really appreciated comes last in the book, “Section 10.0 Backward Compatibility.” The original Companies from the core rules have been provided with additional options based on those presented in HVF. This means that you don’t have the Games Workshop-style new army list issues, where the newest lists tend to overpower the older ones. One complaint is that this Companion piece lacks the plethora of full-color artwork inside that graced the In Her Majesty’s Name rulebook. The authors argue that this gave them far more space to include more written content in the same number of pages. While I love some good eye-candy as much as the next gamer, this was certainly the right way to go. Gamers have imaginations, and can usually visualize the figures they have or would need to obtain in order to field each force. Having a balanced force structure, on the other hand, makes the task of preparing for the game much easier. If you like IHMN, you want this Companion. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED Publisher: Osprey Publishing Contents: 64 pages, softback, color cover. Authors: Charles Murton and Craig Cartmell Price: $17.95 (USD), often less online.

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Reginald’s Regiments of Renown:

Royal Special Weapons Ordnance Research Division By J Womack

Unit History In 1872 the QuartermasterGeneral of the Forces, General Sir Charles Ellice, under the direction of Viscount Cardwell, then Secretary of State for War in Mister Gladstone’s government, created within the Royal Regiment of Artillery a Special Battery. In conjunction with the Master-General of the Ordnance, this Special Battery of the Royal Artillery was tasked with testing new weapons under “During the engagement, Private Jones, 32nd Reg’t, somehow got his rifle wet. On Mars. This caused a severe malfunction in the weapon’s galvanic power supply, which exploded on Jones’s next shot. His remains were gathered and buried at the site.”

- Field Efficacy Report, 1883 consideration by the Army under field conditions. The idea was to prevent jeune ecole thinking from wasting funds on weapons and equipment that, while new and intriguing, did not meet the War Office’s requirements. In 1877, the War Office renamed the Special Battery the Royal Artillery Research and Development Company. Their function and structure were unchanged. In 1885, the War Office again reorganized the Research and Development Company, which had expanded into a combined arms force of cavalry, artillery, armour,

and infantry. The new, current designation of Royal Special Weapons Ordnance Research Division (SWORD) reflects the special nature of the Division’s organization. SWORD recruits from volunteers in the Regular Army (many involuntary volunteers are seconded to the Division). Cavalry and infantry regiments contribute the majority of the troops, with smaller numbers recruited from the Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers. Currently, the Division consists of three squadrons of cavalry, four companies of infantry, and three batteries of artillery. The cavalry squadrons operate mechanickal walkers and flying contraptions (including the mechanickal dragonfly cavalry). The infantry companies rotate amongst the three planets, with one company refitting at the SWORD depot outside Brighton or travelling to a new post while the other three are attached to various British colonies.

Combat Record The men and officers of the Royal SWORD have not officially taken part in any major battles. Unofficially, small units have been attached to various British expeditionary forces and punitive columns. As expected, they maintain the British soldier’s record of staunch bravery in the face of the enemy. Their special weaponry has been both beneficial and detrimen-

SWORD Troopers with Galvanic Rifles

tal in those conflicts. Beneficial in that extended range and penetrating or explosive power can often turn the tide against a foe. Detrimental in that sense of random explosions within one’s own ranks caused by experimental weapon malfunctions imperils both the physical and moral health of the men. The propensity for SWORD’s experimental weapons to explosively malfunction ensures that Regular and sepoy officers keep a healthy distance from SWORD formations.

Uniforms SWORD troops wear a uniform very similar to regular British infantry. Scarlet tunics are worn over dark blue trousers. The trousers have a scarlet stripe along the outside seam. The tunic sometimes has a fringed white epaulette. Boots are black leather. Headgear is typically a standard white pith helmet in the field, although a Glengarry cap is sometimes worn. Officers may wear either style of headgear, often wear privately pur-

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chased brown leather riding boots, and sometimes wear aiguillette cords or frogged patrol jackets. SWORD cavalry wear lancer uniforms. Scots attached to SWORD from a Highland regiment may retain their kilt. Being a Royal regiment, their facings are blue in accord with the uniform regulations of 1881.

Equipment SWORD arms their troops with an increasing variety of weapons. The whole purpose of the Division is to develop and test new military devices, after all. The most common weapon is the galvanic rifle. It fires a thumb-thick beam of incredibly focused light, capable of burning through a man’s torso. Smaller versions, known as voltaic pistols, are a common sidearm for officers. Officers also carry experimental swords.

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Diary of a Texican on Venus By Gny. Sgt. Seamus Cox, RTMC (ret.)

18 January What an interesting day today! We held the first known chariot races on Venus. Sergeant Garcia and Sergeant Cromwell’s crews each built a design for a chariot during their off watches, and today we had a race to see whose chariot is the best design. There was much toasting and carrying on and there were many side bets up and down the chain of command both Army and Marines. The course was about three miles long in two laps. Men were piled in every good vantage point from tree to towers and fort walls. Lance Corporal Daniels was triumphant, driving the Team Cromwell chariot. That means a week off of latrine duty for Cromwell's team, thanks to Sergeant Garcia and his crew.

Other personal weapons include caloric ray emitters, flameguns, bomb Drs. Caruthers and Palmer are throwers, portable rocket launchers, making some progress with their and explosive lances. research at the Blue Temple, as SWORD fields a variety of experi- they uncovered another tablet and mental and secret heavy weapons as well. These include galvanic cannons, heavy rocket launchers, Tesla cannons, and auto-loading cannons.

pictographs depicting another temple. This one, according to the pictograms, would seem to be located somewhere to the north of Fort Humid, up in the Highlands. I still wonder how the good scientists will be able to decipher what is written as there is no one that speaks the lizard man tongue, much less has any written history. It has been almost three weeks since we were attacked by the plant people and we still have no idea of why they attacked us that day, unless we just happened to stumble upon a scouting party. LT Armstrong is anxiously awaiting the return of the RTS Santa Fe, as she is hopefully bringing some lab equipment. Still, it will be at least another week until she arrives. I only hope that we can wait that long. Gunnery Sergeant Seamus Cox, of the Republic of Texas Marine Corps, kept a diary of his adventures in the new colony on Venus. It was printed in 1882 as “Diary of a Texican on Venus.”

Lonely Hearts Adverts

Professor Seeks Talented Soulmate

SWM, 32, £12000per annu, holding advanced degrees in biology, medicine, and galvanic sciences, seeks suitable woman with an eye towards matrimony and creating new life. Ideal candidate would be German, Austrian, or Swiss, with education in both ladies’ matters and the sciences. Latinate a must. Must be willing to relocate to Venusstaadt. Box V104. Living God Seeks Consort Akhenaton, God-Pharoah of Egypt and All the World, seeks a suitable consort from the modern world to rule by his side, eternally. Must be pure, descended from royalty, attractive, and willing to be mummified immediately following the wedding ceremony. Serious offer of immortal life; you be serious, too. Must love cats. Qualified candidates , please contact Professor Abir, Chamberlain to His Supremacy, at Box A0001. Mk. I Galvanic Cannon

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Erkundungskommando Schutztruppe

An Adventuring Company for In Her Majesty’s Name By Michael O’Brien

Schutztruppe: A History 19th

Early in the century, German missionaries and commercial interests established footholds in Africa, the Pacific islands, and China. In 1884, German first chancellor Otto von Bismark announced a new policy of colonial annexation by granting charters to commercial enterprises to establish “protectorates” under Imperial control. Because of a surge of “assertive patriotism” in Germany, and inadequate administration provided by the original companies, the protectorates became crown colonies, controlled by governors appointed by a new Colonial Office in Berlin. Conflict inevitably followed, as native peoples quickly lost their enthusiasm for new trade in light of the heavyhanded control of their Imperial masters. In the 1890s, Germany established Schutztruppe (“defense troops”) to protect its colonial interests. Controlled by the Colonial Office, not the Army, the Schutztruppen were one of the smallest colonial military forces in the world, but were highly effective. Led by officer and NCO volunteers from the Imperial Army and Navy, German soldiers who volunteered for the Schutztruppen were generally first-class fighters, attracted by the adventure and higher pay offered by colonial service. Native troops, the Askari, made up the bulk of the rank and file (except in German Southwest Africa, where German soldiers predominated), and were excellently trained and highly motivated soldiers. Note: The names for the ranks of PremierLieutenant and Sekonde-Lieutenant in the Imperial German Army and the Schutztruppe did not change to Oberleutnant and Leutnant until 1 January, 1899.

Erkundungskommando Count Friedrich von Strӧheim, Grand Master of the Society of Thule, had a problem. Certain operations conducted by his Tod-truppen and Totenkopf Sturm-truppen had resulted in considerable collateral damage. By itself, this was certainly no problem, but the deadly excesses were unfortunately attracting unwanted attention and inquiries which could uncover Thule’s heretofore hidden hand. General Lothar von Trotha, newly appointed head of the Schutztruppe in German Southwest Africa, offered a partial solution for conducting operations abroad. Fresh from ruthlessly crushing the HeHe (Wahehe) rebellion in German East Africa, von Trotha proposed the formation of a compact, mobile force of Schutztruppe, highly trained and proficient in precise surgical operations. He had the perfect person in mind to lead the group: his son, Premier-Lieutenant Ernst von Trotha. Von Strӧheim concurred, and the innocuous-sounding Erkundungskommando, or Reconnaissance Patrol, was born. Based in German Southwest Africa, the Kommando consists of German mounted infantry, trained on horse and camel, assisted by Askari scouts. The mounts provide mobility, but the Kommando fights on foot, although they are fully trained in cavalry tactics if needed. They stand ready to instantly deploy anywhere that the Society’s interests may demand. Premier-Lieutenant Trotha

Ernst

von

A superb soldier and leader, the youthful von Trotha is fanatically dedicated to Thule and country. A master of small unit tactics and utterly ruthless, his fierce warrior spirit and complete disregard of danger are constant inspirations to his men. Feldwebel Adler Adler is a hardened veteran, equally as ruthless as his leader, and runs the

day-to-day operations of the Kommando with a fair but iron hand. He tries to keep his sadistic tendencies under control, but that sometimes proves impossible in the heat of battle. Sekonde-Lieutenant Theodor Brandt Born to be an engineer, not a soldier, Brandt nevertheless provides invaluable services to the Kommando. He has turned his analytical mind to the mastery of explosives, training himself to effectively wield the ungainly Congreve Rocket Gun. Nasibah No one knows her real name, but von Trotha’s exotic Egyptian mistress goes by the name of one of Islam’s most famous female warriors. Possessed of fearsome Mystical Powers and accompanied by her fighting falcon Rana, Nasibah is a formidable presence in battle. There are rumors that her loyalties are, at best, mixed, and that she may be associated with the elusive Asadullah, but von Trotha, perhaps blinded by love, gives her his full confidence. Reiters The Reiters, or German mounted infantrymen, are carefully screened volunteers proficient in all aspects of the combat arms. Their enthusiasm for combat is enhanced by their share of any booty that the Kommando acquires. Askari scouts The Askari, native troops enlisted to aid the Schutztruppen in the defense of the colonies, are well trained and motivated. The Kommando’s Askaris provide invaluable service as scouts and guides.

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Erkundungskommando Schutztruppe By Michael O’Brien

Name/Type

Pluc k

FV

SV

Spd.

Cost

Premier-Lieutenant Ernst von Trotha

3+

+4

+3

0

64

Leadership +3, Duelist (Sword), Fanatic, Inspirational

Chain Shirt, Mauser C96 (Carbine), Sword

Feldwebel Adler

4+

+3

+3

0

41

Leadership +1, Bayonet Drill, Tough, Marksman

Brigandine, Military Rifle, Bayonet

Sekonde-Lieutenant Theodor Brandt

4+

+1

+2

0

17

Engineer

Magneto-static waistcoat, Pistol.

Nasibah

3+

+3

+1

+2

48 plus Mystical Points

Intervention, Medic, may take up to 25 points of Mystic Powers

Spear (may be thrown), Rana the Falcon (see below), Veil of Allah (see below)

Reiter

5+

+2

+2

0

22

Bayonet Drill

Military Rifle, Bayonet, Brigandine

Askari Scout

5+

+1

+2

+1

24

Stealthy

Military Rifle, Lined Coat, Fighting Knife

Rana the Falcon: Nasibah’s raptor companion works exactly like a Clockwork Hound. All attacks against Rana are at a penalty of -3 because of her size and speed. 8 points. Veil of Allah: Nasibah’s clothes are imbued with Mystical protection, giving a rating of 9 against any type of attack. 4 points. OPTIONS  Any Reiter may be given Marksman (+5 points) and/or Tough (+5 points).  Any Askari Scout may be given Marksman (+5 points). Two Reiters may deploy together as a Machine Gun team: they keep all their equipment but pay the cost of the Machine Gun (26 points).  The Company may deploy a Light Field Gun (22 points), which must be manned by Feldwebel Adler and a Reiter whom retain all their usual equipment and must have desert horses.

Talents

Basic Equipment

points) with up to four Rocket Grenades (7 points each). He may purchase a Bomb (+7 points).  Any named figure may add a Talent (up to +10 points). However, only von Trotha and/or Adler may be given Iron Will.  Any figure may carry a Breath Preserver (+2 points). Schutztruppen Miniatures

Command (Askari Miniatures)

Infantry (Askari Miniatures)

Field Artillery (Askari Miniatures)

Mountain Artillery (Askari Miniatures)

Askari (Askari Miniatures)

(Desert Wings, Dark Sword Miniatures)

 Any Company member may take the Cavalryman Talent(+3 points), and/or a Desert Horse (+9 points) or a Camel (+7 points).  Any Reiter may carry one Explosive Grenade (+6 points).  Theodor Brandt may carry up to three Grenades of any kind (+6 points each). He may carry a Congreve Rocket Gun (+7

Nasibah

More Miniature Options on Page 15

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The Skirmish at Pipe Hill Creek A Sword and the Flame Battle Report By Mark “Geo” Gelinas

The Story

The Battle

Professor Dumas, a rather eccentric archeologist trained at Oxford, had been doing some research in the northwest region of the cape colony. Finding some ruins which he believed supported his hypothesis that ancient Romans had built a city in the region, he drifted into the neighboring kingdom of Mogumbaland.

Sergeant Sanders sent two scouts in advance of the company, Private Smith and Private Jones. As they approached Pipe Hill Creek, the scouts spotted Professor Dumas, dressed in what he believed were native clothes, waving to them from the top of Pipe Hill.

When he had not returned after a week, Tessa, his daughter, contacted the local garrison and requested that a search party be sent out to find him. When the professor’s trail crossed the border to Mogumbaland, Captain Remington-Smythe declared that they could go no further. After a tearful appeal from the young Tessa, a small group of the soldiers volunteered to proceed into Mogumbaland to continue the search. The soldiers led by Sergeant Sanders crossed the Mogba River and continued the search. As they approached Pipe Hill, they were set upon by some local Mogumbans who had been alerted of their presence. The eccentric old man they could tolerate, but the presence of soldiers, they felt was an affront on their sovereignty and an opportunity to obtain advanced weapons.

As the detachment crossed the creek, the two scouts approached some patches of jungle that might conceal enemies. In those trees, the waiting Mogumbans adjusted their position to give the mercenaries a good field of fire.

Rules This engagement was fought using The Sword and the Flame 30th Anniversary rules. Because part of the intent was to become more familiar with the basic rules, the optional Sword in Africa rules were not used. The Forces British - A detachment of the British 23rd Highland Regiment under the command of Sergeant Sanders. (10 Troops - 42 Points) Mogumban - Two groups of warriors led by Iklwa M’Bossi and his brother Iwisa M’Bossi (14 Warriors 35 Points) with four mercenary gunmen hired to provide some firepower for the Mogumbans. (10 Points) (Total 45 Points)

Mogumbans wait in ambush. The scouts discovered the Mogumbans waiting in ambush. As they started back to warn the main body, Iklwa M’Bossi on their right got impetuous and moved out of the brush. An initial exchange of gunfire caused no casualties on either side.

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Aftermath Sergeant Sanders and Private Richards alone remained unwounded. Another two, Private Smith and Private Johns, were alive, but wounded. They convinced Professor Dumas to return to his daughter. Further research would reveal that the ruins that the professor believed were Roman were actually part of a pipeline constructed but later abandoned by the Maas Mining Corporation.

British scouts crossing the creek. The scouts reached the main body of the detachment and Sergeant Sanders had them withdraw back across the creek. He reasoned that, although it would not have any effect on gunfire, being on the far side of the creek would give them some advantage in the melee that seemed inevitable.

Figures All figures used in this battle are from the Ral Partha Colonials line, purchased and painted long ago. I do not know what line the professor is from, having obtained it from a grab box of uncarded figures.

As Iklwa positioned his men for a charge, the continuing exchange of fire began to register casualties, with the mercenaries seeming to be more effective per rifle than the British. When Iklwa’s forces charged and clashed with the British, the casualties started to mount quickly. The British disposed of Iklwa’s forces, but his brother’s forces were still fresh. Seeing his brother fall, Iwisa charged forward towards the reduced British detachment. Only one of the Mogumbans fell to gunfire before they clashed with the detachment. A furious engagement ensued. In the end, the British detachment was victorious, but with a loss of six of the ten men that had crossed the Mogba River.

Professor Moran waves to the British Troops Lessons Learned 1) I don’t have much to offer in the way of lessons learned about TSATF. I will have to watch morale a bit closer in future games, but everyone passed the few morale checks that were made. This produced a high casualty rate on both sides. 2) I really need to obtain some rifles for my Mogumban/Zulu forces. When initially painted, they were intended for use in fantasy battles, therefore no rifles were included (although they were supplied in the set). 3) I should obtain figures of an archeologist and his plucky, but attractive, daughter.

Mogumban Second Wave

I have since obtained and painted the figures.

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Empire of the Dead: An In-Depth Review By Alexander Kawczynski http://anatolisgameroom.blogspot.com/2012/05/empire -of-dead-rules-review.html

Empire of the Dead is a 28mm campaign driven skirmish game which takes place during the last years of the 19th century (1888 to be exact). It comes with Gothic Horror and Steampunk influences and the story is telling about troublesome times plaguing Europe ever since the discovery of a new metal called “Infernium.” “Infernium” could be compared to Uranium in that very tiny quantities of this material contain huge amounts of energy which is used by the people in this universe to propel the technological advancement of the late Victorian era. The hi-tech advancement has reached the stage where such oddities as gyrocopters, steam powered constructs and tesla technology among other things are present.

You also add a set number of modifiers such as long range, firing at someone who moved, is in cover etc. You basically add the negative numbers to your grand total and see if you reach the threshold to achieve your desired action.

The balance of power has shifted with this discovery, the largest deposit of Infernium is located in England and there is a lot of cloak and dagger activity involving secret societies trying to manipulate and control governments going on. Furthermore the technological abominations has led to an upswing in unnatural beings emerging, werewolf sightings are now commonplace and the ancient Nosferatu haunt the lands leaving a trail of corpses in their wake.

 Combat phase—Simultaneous hand to hand combat is resolved one fight at a time.

In this world players take control of a small band of characters belonging to one of the 4 factions; “Gentlemen’s Club”, “The Lycaon”, “Nosferatu” and “The Holy order”. Each such band is made up of a leader, supported by lieutenants and backed up by regular members (minions). A band is roughly 6-7 members strong on the outset of the campaign and may grow or shrink as the campaign progresses. Members start out with basic attributes, skills and powers but may grow stronger and accumulate various abilities in between games. Let’s first talk about the rules before going into details about the factions and the campaign.

Empire of the Dead uses D10 dice combined with stats

numbers to generate results in an interesting way. Interesting because you have modifiers and opposite rolls but also a threshold that has to be reached in order to succeed with an action. For instance a model that wants to shoot combines its Marksmanship stat number with 1D10, if the combined number is 10 or more the shot has hit the target. This is an easy and elegant way of making things a bit more sophisticated and to really press home the difference in skill between different attributes or characters in a gang.

The turn sequence in this game goes like this:  Maintenance phase—Checking scenario effects, victory points and resolving wound recovery rolls.  Initiative roll—Winner gets to activate his faction first.  Action phase—Players move and perform the actions of their entire faction, one model at a time. When one player has completed his actions, the other player goes on to do the same. [IGOUGO]

 Turn ends. Actions in this game include all kinds of movement, such as walking, running, sneaking, hiding, climbing, flying etc. It also includes shooting, casting spells and declaring charges. The action phase is combined of two steps, players choose what type of movement their models are to perform – and then what type of other action they are going to do when movement is done. The rules really cover a lot of various situations; models can help each other climb fences and walls, jumping gaps and so on. There are 9 stats in this game that each character has; Movement range, combat, marksmanship, strength, fortitude, attacks, wounds, bravado and arcane. Most of these are self explanatory. Bravado is the “morale” stat of this game and used when a model is exposed to something scary and to test the force morale. Your models have to test their morale once your gang is reduced below 50% of its starting members (either "Down" or removed from play). Each miniature remaining has to test morale individually (leaders are useful here to boost nearby models). Wounds are also self explanatory, but the effect of dropping to 0 wounds has a twist. You roll on a small table which includes “flesh wound” (nothing happens) and “removed from play” (casualty). But it also features a stunned effect where the model is dazed and cannot do much next turn except for staggering around – and – “Down”. Down is

Volume 3, Issue 2

pretty serious business as you have been so badly injured that you have to roll “wound recovery” at the start of each turn. Unless you roll a 1 you will remain in your own pool of blood, crawling about – or even bleeding to death. Becoming down is pretty much being neutralized and it has a penalty effect on you once the game is over if you play a campaign. More about that soon. Results are as mentioned generated by using a D10 and adding a stat and possible modifiers. There are no “save rolls” in this game. Some rolls have a threshold requirement to succeed, other rolls such as “to wound” once you have hit your enemy only require a roll of Strength vs. Fortitude. Casting spells works in a similar way to shooting in that you use a D10 and your “arcane” stat combined. When casting passive spells you only have to reach the casting threshold for the spell, when casting offensive spells you use the target models “arcane” stat as well – adding it as a negative modifier to your own casting roll. So there is stuff going on with the stats beyond the usual standardization. The campaign rules are really the heart of this game. You can play standalone games, but just like in games such as Legends of the Old West, Strange Aeons, Gladiator, Mordheim and other skirmish games, the fun lies in progressing with your gang of characters and see them accumulate injuries and new abilities. Players of mentioned games will be familiar with much of the campaign mechanics – mainly the “post game sequence”. However Empire of the Dead tweaks the familiar features with a couple of innovations. First of all, the game revolves around money – the currency is “shillings”. Each faction starts with 150 shillings which they spend on recruiting members for their faction and supplying them with weapons. Players proceed to play scenarios that include various victory conditions. Fulfilling victory conditions in a satisfactory way and for killing enemy models players earn more money. Now the usual campaign rules would have player automatically upgrade all survivors of their gang. In Empire of the Dead however you have the choice of paying for “advancement rolls” for your models. You may thus spend or save cash for other things – such as recruiting more members, buying more weapons or buying “influence”. If you want to buy advancement rolls you are free to choose between either a random increase of your stat line, a random generic ability or random faction related ability. Models that ended the game removed from play have to roll on a chart to see what happens – it includes all types of physical injuries and may also lead to being arrested by the

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peelers, captured by the enemy faction or going temporarily insane. Each result branches out even further. Being arrested may end with just paying a fine, serving time or being deported/enlisted in the army. Going insane is a continuous effect that you roll for after each game – where your character may either regain his sense or completely loose it and be locked up in the insane asylum. Being captured by the enemy means that you can play the “rescue the hostage” scenario and try to free your friends – it may also end with the captured character being killed and robbed by the enemy faction. It may even lead to the enemy faction converting your character to their side! Beside spells, which are limited to but a few characters at the start of the campaign and which you receive by rolling on the faction table, there is another thing called “Unusual occurrence” which players may trigger by spending “influence” points. Influence points are purchased in between games, and may be used to affect the day/night of a scenario, create mobs of angry bystanders, raising zombies and other such things that affect the gameplay. The gameplay as weird and tech savvy as it may sound in the fluff is actually on the outset based around regular modern and medieval weaponry with a few spells and the occasional “Unusual occurrence” thrown in. It is when the campaign progresses and factions start to buy really high end technology and accumulate more spellcasters and spells that the game adds a feeling of a world moving away from the normal. The 4 factions are compact in their roster, each includes a leader, a subleader and minion profiles. No faction is over the top in any one department, the differences are more subtle like starting with a slightly higher statline, starting with some spells or abilities. The overall feel of the game and the factions is a lot more controlled than compared to Malifaux which really is all over the place and so over the top in every department that it becomes fatiguing trying to cope with it. No, Empire of the Dead, despite including Werewolves, Vampire and regular humans have factions that begin the game rather close to each other and goes on to specialize as the campaign progresses. (Continued on page 16)

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Verne’s Armory Quarterly

Havington’s Patent Impenetrable Fence By J Womack

Æ t h e r g r a p h

(Continued from page 3)

as 10 times this number. Nightingale referred to them as "those magnificent huts". The practice of building hospitals from pre-fabricated modules survives today, with hospitals such as the Bristol Royal Infirmary being created in this manner.

With the danger of saurian incursion into human-inhabited areas of Venus, a call went out for some means of protecting these outposts of civilization. Stout wooden palisades, though effective, rot quickly in the wet ground and required a great deal of time and money to install and maintain. The Texican Mr. Gillette’s Barbed Wire fencing proved too weak; the large carnivores pushed through effortlessly, and the barbs were too small to penetrate their scaly hides.

though utterly invisible to the naked eye, is also utterly impenetrable from a lateral axis. That is, if you press against the side of the force Brunel was also responsible for the beam, it does not bow, flex, or redesign and construction of many of break. Britain's major docks, including Bristol,

Enter Professor Calvin Havington, chair for the Grantley Professorship in Aetheric Sciences at the University of York. Professor Havington is a world-renowned expert in aetherial science, specializing in theory and applications of galvanic transmission. In the course of his research towards the development of a new aether propeller, Havington’s produced a beam of concentrated force. Further experimentation showed that this ‘force beam’ extended in length in relation to the amount of galvanic power applied to the focusing apparatus.

electrical armour, but the diameter of the beam was too thin to effec- Professor Havington, describing tively utilize. Attempts to refocus his idea. And thus, the impenetrathe beam into a wider area have so ble fence was born. far proved fruitless. Six months of development in Another boffin at SWORD then the construction of focusing pylons considered the effect of thinning and compact galvanic dynamos the beam to a blade’s width, creat- took place. Havington called on his ing an immensely sharp sword. At brother-in-law, the assistant to the this time, it is unknown if these deputy minister of the Cytherean attempts to create a man-portable Bureau of the Home Office. A ‘force sword’ have proved success- government contract was issued ful, but the intense power require- for a test purchase of the system which was installed around the airments make it seem unlikely. ship landing pad at Fort Gordon, Finally, a Texican rancher and Venus. A herd of Triceratops stamkeen amateur scientist named Sean peded not two weeks later, and Patricio Garcia learned of the inabsolutely failed to pass the barrier. vention while reading the American Since that time, Havington and Journal of Galvanic Science on his veranda. Serendipitously, his ranch Garcia have been flooded with orhands were at that very moment ders from several Venusian constringing new barbed wire fencing. cerns as well as the Government. It Garcia put the two thoughts to- seems the Havington Patent Imgether and dispatched a telegram to penetrable Fence is here to stay.

Sadly the linear force applied by the force beam was less than Professor Havington that estimated by his calculations. It was useless for propulsion. One incidental property of the force beam could be— and has been—put to commercial use. It seems that the beam,

Monkwearmouth, Cardiff and Milford

Engineers at SWORD attempted Haven. to weaponize this property into an

Brunel’s genius in engineering inspired a generation of English builders and designers to boldly experiment and plan audacious machines. Brunel, a heavy smoker for years, suffered a stroke on 05 September 1859. He died ten days later.

Volume 3, Issue 2

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Regular Schutztruppen Askari (Tiger Miniatures)

Notes on Schutztruppe Miniatures Lines:

 Askari Minatures (see page 9) do not offer a machine gun, but they do have a Gatling gun.

 Pulp Figures offer a full line of Schutztruppen, but no Askari, and do have a

Maxim with crew, but no field gun. They also have Marines (Seebattalion), whom often supported colonial operations. [Ed.: I have the Seebattalion, and love them!]

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15

The Æthergraph XCIV Publishing J Womack, Editor Email: [email protected]

NEXT ISSUE… Dedicated to In Her Majesty’s Name! XCIV Publishing

(Continued from page 13)

More Adventuring Companies! Our Regular features!

Worth mentioning is that the “Gentleman’s club” has the option to specialize a bit at the start of the campaign by spending money on belonging to one of 4 distinct clubs. Each club tweaks 1 (but significant enough) stat in a positive way while reducing another to keep the balance.

All this and more, coming soon(ish)!

The campaign includes a lot of ranged and close combat weapons, gear, special weapons, skills and features to give you a detailed and rich campaign experience.

miniatures. West Wind really learned their lesson from the Secrets of the Third Reich game, and this time around the release of the rules already have all the factions covered with new and old sculpts, no need to wait for anything. The layout is also good, fluff and backstory comes first, then the rules. You won't have to flip through fluff to find the rules. All core rules are in one place, all campaign features are in another.

A lot of things in this book look and feel familiar, but it really feels like a “best of” compilation of features that blend and work very well together to give a smooth gaming experience. The rules are written clearly, the rules are easy to follow, easy to learn but have enough going on to be beyond the “roll 4+ to hit” formula. It includes Day/Night features that affect vampires in and human visibility, it includes "the public" (bystanders) and locations that have their own special features and impact the gameplay or after action phase. I think the design choice is actually clever when it comes to the restricted unit roster. For one, it sure makes it a lot easier to balance the factions, and two – you really go on to create your own unique characters with the help of the campaign rather than buying specialists for standalone games. The design choice of IGOUGO is a bit strange for a skirmish game but it has been done before albeit on a smaller level (Strange Aeons) and in a hybrid form (Legends of the Old West). In Empire of the Dead it works as a straight IGOUGO sequence but it does work and keeps the game flowing fast. It will take a few more games for me to really tell more about my impression about this decision – but it only feels strange for the first couple of turns and then you get used to it.

Check out the discussion of the game and to download the additional special characters PDF for free over at the West Wind forum here: http://westwindproductions.co.uk/forums/index.php Publisher: West Wind Contents: 152 pages full color Authors: Nigel Atkinson, Sam Catterall Format: Initiative based IGOUGO Dice used: D10 Price: £30 (includes limited edition miniature)

The rulebook is absolutely stunning, the artwork is wonderful and for those familiar with the work of West Wind’s Andy Cooper will be familiar with its style, but it is a lot better and dare I say inspired than in Secrets of the Third Reich. The rulebook is in full color and hardback and beside the great artwork it features a lot of pictures of the new Empire of the Dead miniatures which add to the already vast Gothic Horror/Vampire Wars range of West Wind Disclaimer: All material not original to this publication remains the sole property of the author, sculptor or photographer unless such copyright has been transferred to the editor. Care has been taken to establish permission to use items from the internet, and no challenge to ownership is intended in cases where no response has been received. If you own any of the images used in this publication and wish to have your image removed from it, please contact J. Womack at [email protected]. All original material copyrights are claimed.