Mentioned in a Magazine!

  Okay, this is kind of cool. At least, for certain values of 'cool.'

  I just got my copy of Wargames Soldiers and Strategy (WSS), Issue 76, which was dedicated to Victorian Science Fiction - "Adventures in the Age of Steam" as they put it. So there I am, just flipping through the issue, reading an article that serves as in introduction to VSF (or steampunk, if you insist) written by Gary Mitchell.And there, right at the end of the article on page 33, is a mention of The Aethergraph:

"The Aethergraph, for example, is a new online 'zine on the topic, complete with a mock Victorian-style newspaper presentation."

  Geek-out frenzy ensues. I'll be back later.

New Issue of The Aethergraph

...is available via Google Drive in PDF format. You can get the link on the post on my VSF-dedicated blog, Victoria's Boys in Red. Or just click on the link below if you don't want to visit my pretty VSF blog. *sniff*

   Volume 3, Issue #3 is pretty much dedicated to In Her Majesty's Name, a great set of VSF skirmish rules published by Osprey and written by Craig Cartmell and Charles Murton. But, there are ideas in it that I think you can use with any set of rules.

Highlights:

• New official rules from Craig and Charles about using mercenaries in IHMN
• A biography of Lord Ronan Curr by Craig Cartmell
• Paul O'Grady's Armoured Naval Landing Party
• A brief history of Otto Maton's Minions
• New Mystic Powers
• Venusian Saurian Tribe Adventuring Company
• Some thoughts on adapting IHMN for Extraterrestrial Adventure

   Plus some photos, adverts, classifieds, a little fiction... 16 pages of totally free VSF fun. Please let me know what you like, what you don't like, and any constructive suggestions to improve the magazine would be greatly appreciated. As would submissions! Always looking for art, battle reports, house rules, unit histories, biographies, reviews, classifieds...

The Aethergraph, Volume 3, Issue #2 Available

   Early this morning I published the newest issue of my VSF e-zine, The Aethergraph. Most likely, those of you who are heavily interested in VSF saw the announcement on Victoria's Boys in Red. However, just in case you missed it, I am repeating it here, and providing a separate link to the new issue.

   As usual, it is a PDF file in my Google Drive (used to be Google Docs) folder. It can be accessed HERE.

   This issue has more content from contributors than any before it. This is a trend that I would love to see continue, as it would mean I would be able to publish more frequently. I already have a few submissions and ideas for the next issue. It is themed for In Her Majesty's Name, but artwork or fiction would certainly not be put out of place by a rules set. Also, items for other settings or rules would be welcome for future publication. 

It... is... ALIVE!

   The Aethergraph, that is. I just posted a new issue online after a brief two and a half year long hiatus. It's 16 pages of VSF-y goodness. It's free. And it has no (real) advertising, just content. You can find it here: 

The Aethergraph, Vol. 3, #1

   I would like to thank the gentlemen who offered up articles, and apologize that not everything could make it in this issue. I am already slowly working on the next issue, squeezing it in between grad school assignments and painting and family and... well, you get the picture. I'm trying for a quarterly format, but to do it, I will need submissions! So, keep them coming to me at aethergraph@gmail.com.

Summer Gaming Plans, Ver. 1.0

   We all know how 'buggy' a version 1.0 can be, right? So don't hold me too strictly to these plans. But in a few weeks I will go on summer vacation, and have significantly more time for gaming as a result. The thought occurred to me that some sort of plan might help with gaming productivity in my slow time. Thus, the following:

• Send 20 Kroot to painting service for Venusian Parrotmen.
• Send the boys' frogs to painting service.
• Obtain and paint about 15 Victoria Miniatures "Ood-like" figures.
• Paint eight 25 pdrs plus crew and staff for FOW.
• Paint an Indian mortar platoon for FOW.
• Obtain and paint more Cygnar figures ( a unit of trenchers and at least 2 warjacks).
• Finish painting Dragonfly Lancers.
• Finish painting 10 Empress Miniatures British.
• Obtain and paint replacement VSF British from Victoria Miniatures.
• Finish 5 German VSF figures.
• Obtain 10 more Prussian infantry. Paint all 20.
• Paint 10 more Aetherbattalion figures.
• Complete Volume 3, Issue 1 of The Aethergraph.
• Play some Star Frontiers RPG with the boys.
• Attend Historicon.
• Obtain a lot of terrain for 15mm desert and city.
• Obtain a lot of terrain for 25mm desert, jungle and city.

Ummmm... I think that's probably it. Look for updates, though. This is only v. 1.0, after all...

Aethergraph Issue #2 Now Available!

  In case you don't follow my VSF-only (well, pretty much only...) blog, I thought I would repeat here: the second issue of my little VSF e-zine is now available, and still totally free! Which it will continue to be for the foreseeable future, as I see no real future in trying to make a professional publication out of what is essentially a niche fanzine.

  At any rate, you can get it directly here, or from the link on Victoria's Boys in Red.

  As always, I am seeking submissions for the next issue, which I hope to have out by Thanksgiving. I am especially interested in artwork or roleplaying submissions, but miniatures reviews, battle reports, fiction... pretty much anything steampunk or VSF-inspired would be appreciated.

  Thanks again for your support!

The Aethergraph Reviews

Reviews are pouring in... and the crowd loves it!

No, really. The reviews of my new VSF-themed PDF fanzine are pretty good. You should check it out.
The Aethergraph, Vol 1, #1

And if you'd like, you too can put stuff in it! Just send me your idea at aethergraph@gmail.com.

Look for Issue #2 in August/September - unless I get a lot of submissions that just won't wait!

"Blimey! Quiet around here, innit?"

Sorry guys. Real life has a nasty habit of getting in the way sometimes. End of school craziness. Only one more week to go!

Little progress. We have been playing a bit of Labyrinth Lord lately, for an hour or so in the evenings. The boys are still slowly working their way into the Caves of Chaos. In fact, I need to re-populate parts of it, as they were down for a month with a nasty infected rat bite or two... So those caves they thought were clear... aren't any longer. I wonder if they go back over there?

One beef I have with LL is that it is way too easy to kill off a first level character or five. Even in what is supposed to be an introductory module, the boys are either having terrible luck or just not enough healing. We frequently play one encounter, then have to go back to the castle to heal up for a day or two. Their tactics seem sound (fighter and dwarf in front, then elf and cleric, then wizard and two hirelings). But with only one 'cure light wounds' spell, the cleric runs out fast.

I did finish the black smoke projector and the four heavy BattleMechs, plus a couple of trucks for BattleTech. I need to finish work on the Aethergraph. It is looking pretty cool, I just wanted a little more content for it. Again, if you have any... email me! aethergraph@gmail.com I especially would like artwork or reviews of rules sets or even fiction... plan to publish what I have on May 31, God willing and the creek don't rise.

What was lost...

...has been found! I lost one of the wheels for my Masked Minions' Black Smoke Launcher. This meant that I could not (obviously!) finish the gun and crew last month. The crew is done, but the gun was set aside until I could obtain replacement parts.

Found it on Friday. So I will hopefully have the gun done by tomorrow night. So why is all of this a big deal? Well, it is one of the things that is keeping me from publishing The Aethergraph. I wrote up the devilish device in GASLIGHT terms for an article in the first issue, but it really needed a photo. Now I can add that. Woohoo!

Just thought I would let you know. By the way, I am still hoping to get some more stuff for the fanzine. Send it to me at aethergraph@gmail.com.