GAMING NEWS: Playtest game - 15 November 2005

Hi Guys,

Today I ran a short playtest scenario earlier today (15 November 2005) using Planetfall through a game module for Traveller that I designed. My friend Dean and I playtested a short encounter between four Imperial grav tanks facing eight Zhodani warbots. It was fun and the game system worked out really well. We managed to play five turns in about an hour, which was remarkably good considering I was teaching him along the way.

I'm still mastering my digital camera (and a new computer as well), but I'll try to take photos for the gang.

The game is just shaping up wonderfully and I've gotten support from so many different sources... other gamers, my local community, my local gaming clubs, miniature manufacturers, science fiction licenseholders, etc., etc.

I think that I can have the game adequately playtested and published by April 2006 if not sooner.
I'll be concentrating my efforts towards finishing the "Planetfall" rules and developing the "Planetfall - Traveller" game module.

I'll be writing up a more detailed battle report for the playtester's forum and hope to have it posted before the end of the day on 16 November 2005.

Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.

GAMING NEWS: Becoming a "Planetfall" PLAYTESTER...

Hi Guys,

Several folks have been asking about becoming a "Planetfall" playtester... here is what is asked of prospective playtesters...

First of all, be aware of the requirements for a playtester:
- To run at least one playtest game a month or more and submit feedback and/or a battle report for your game...
- To keep up with the playtest forums...
- To realize that a rule set in development isn't done... it's being developed and that is a slow and steady process... you will be reviewing rough drafts and trying out an experimental game...

You may want to ask more questions about the game to make sure that you are really interested. The game might not be your cup of tea. However, if you're looking for a successor to Dirtside II or a simpler Striker game, then "Planetfall" is probably what you're looking for.

Once you're aware of that, you apply using three steps:

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Here's HOW TO APPLY to be a "Planetfall" Playtester:

PART ONE:
- Write these three simple things and either send them to me as a private E-mail or post them publicly on the "Planetfall" support group forums:

http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/Planetfall-TGUSFMWE/

Q1. Share what you expect from a good science fiction miniatures game in written form.

Q2. State what you are expecting from "Planetfall - The Generic Universal Science Fiction Miniatures Wargame Engine" in written form.

Q3. Share a little bit about your background as a gamer and what qualifies you to be a "Planetfall" playtester.

There is no specific quantity of writing required as long as you respond to the three questions/requests: Q1, Q2 and Q3. It would help if you put your responses into the form of A1 (Answer One), A2 and A3, but I'm not requiring this. Several people have already aswered these questions to me either publicly on these forums or a number of folks privately through personal E-mails sent to me.

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I will then read and respond to every "Planetfall" playtester application.

Successful applicants will receive a letter of congratulations and an E-mail invitation to the "Planetfall-Playtesters" E-group and have full access to all of the playtest material downloads and to the playtesting and game development discussions there.

Unsuccessful applicants will be sent an E-mail letter thanking them for their time and inviting them to reapply later.

PART TWO:
- At that time, I will ask all playtesters to electronically sign a NDA (non disclosure agreement).

PART THREE:
- I will then ask for a small honorarium, which every playtester will receive back as a discount of the game when it is published early next year (2006). The honorarium amount is $10.00 USD, the price of a single movie. In the case of the game not being published (Fat chance of that since I'm dedicated to this project and am investing a lot of time and money in it!), all honorariums to playtesters will be fully refunded to their owners. If the game requires more time to properly devlop, more time will be taken although the goal at this time is to publish by April 2006.

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Thanks for your time.

Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.

GAMING NEWS: "Planetfall" project is still up and well!

Hi Guys,

I just wanted to drop a line that the "Planetfall" project is still up and well. The playtesting team is currently 24 folks strong and there's plentyof room for more playtesters.

I will be running another "Planetfall – Traveller – The Fifth Frontier War: Zhodani vs. Strephonian Imperials" playtest game this upcoming Tuesday (15 November 2005).

Anyone interested in becoming involved should drop me a line or post on the support group for the game and we'll get you taken care of.

We're still working out some kinks in the game, but we're having a good time doing it!

Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.

GAMING NEWS: Planetfall Hoth Photos Posted from 10-17-2005 Playtest Game

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Hi Everyone,

I just posted some photos of one of my recent "Planetfall" playtest games in folders named: "Planetfall Hoth Playtest Game 10-17-2005"

On the two following E-groups:
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/Planetfall-TGUSFMWE/

And:

http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/SSSW/

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A short description of each E-group:

SSSW (Small Scale Star Wars) Wargaming:
- This group supports Star Wars miniatures gamers using pieces smaller than 25mm (The normal SWMB miniatures scale) including small scale starships and stub fighters, Micro Machines figures, 10mm AMT/ERTL/MPC Action Scene figures, 6mm sci-fi proxy figures and others. Several of the group's members are also designing their own rulesets so the list also functions as a playtesting house for them.

Planetfall-TGUSFMWE - Planetfall Support Group:
- Purpose: This group supports fans of "Planetfall - The Generic Universal Science Fiction Miniatures Wargame Engine."
- Game Description: "Planetfall" is a new set of generic gaming rules for ground combat using any science fiction background. The recommended figure scales are 6mm, 10mm and 15mm although the game mechanics will work in any scale. "Planetfall" is not a skirmish game and individually based infantry are not required, a common feature of squad-based skirmish games. "Planetfall" games are organized around squads grouped into companies up to battallion-strength task forces. Smaller or larger games can still be played, of course!
- Latest News: "Planetfall" is currently undergoing playtesting and development and is scheduled to come out in late 2005 or early 2006. "Planetfall" is a professional project.

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I played three playtest games that day with 3-5 players a side.

The Hoth gaming set I made is in 10mm scale with the following toy & miniatures pieces:

10mm REBEL SNOWSPEEDERs:
- Galoob Micro Machines & Ertl/MPC Battle of Hoth diorama model kit
10mm REBEL ATGAR ANTI-VEHICLE BATTERY/s:
- Galoob Micro Machines & Ertl/MPC Battle of Hoth diorama model kit
10mm REBEL GOLAN ARMS LASER TOWERs:
- Ertl/MPC Battle of Hoth diorama model kit
10mm REBEL INFANTRYMEN:
- Ertl/MPC Battle of Hoth diorama model kit

10mm REBEL TRENCHLINE PIECEs:
- Ertl/MPC Battle of Hoth diorama model kit kit-bashed by Maksim-Smelchak
10mm REBEL POWER GENERATORs:
- Custom-made by Clevella of San Francisco from bubblegum (Bubbletape) packaging
10mm REBEL BASE STRUCTUREs:
- Custom-made by Mark Carper of Sacramento from I-pod (mini-computer) packaging

10mm IMPERIAL AT-ATs:
- Ertl/MPC Battle of Hoth diorama model kit
10mm IMPERIAL AT-STs:
- Galoob Micro Machines
10mm IMPERIAL AT-PTs:
- Ertl/MPC Battle of Hoth diorama model kit
10mm IMPERIAL SNOWTROOPERS:
- Ertl/MPC Battle of Hoth diorama model kit

- The AT-ATs are based on 2"x4" bases that have custom diorama elements added by me (snow, ice and AT-AT foot prints).
- Most of the other pieces are based on fender washers that have a custom ice/snow diorama added.
- I used a combination of junk to build up snow piles, putty, bathroom caulking, Vallejo's Piedra Pomez and Snowtex to make snow and ice.
- The Snowspeeders were used with a combination of Galoob Micro Macines flying bases and the transparent plastic flying bases made by GW.
- The infantrymen are individually based on 3/8" washers and were then placed on "movement trays" made from larger washers with magnetic sheeting fitted on top of the washers.
- The infantrymen were then magnetically attached to the "movement trays" (large fender washer with magnetic sheeting) and removed as casualties were inflicted.
- The white die by most of the game pieces represents Action Points, a command game mechanism used by my "Planetfall" rules.
- Some pieces have a small green die by them which represented Supression Markers which lowered the amount of Action Points available to a unit, and made it hard for supressed units to execute orders and take any kind of action.

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I had a lot of fun both hosting and playing "Planetfall" and will play this Hoth game again including at an upcoming local gaming convention, where I'll host an expanded version of this game. All of the players of the game enjoyed it and asked to play it again the next time I host it.

I am working on a set of "Planetfall - Traveller: The Fifth Frontier War - Zhodani vs. Strephonian Imperials" rules to playtest soon.

I hope to playtest the next game on 12 November 2005.

I will be using 6mm sci-fi miniatures for the "Planetfall - Traveller: The Fifth Frontier War - Zhodani vs. Strephonian Imperials."

If I am able to, I will post photos of that game as well.

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Thanks for your time!

Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.

P.S.
Happy Halloween!

Notes regarding photos / pictures / videos: These are not all my images and videos. I am using various images and videos from around the web, mostly from public sources and/or private sources used with permission. I have tried to include only images and videos under public domain, creative commons, or fair use. If I have inadvertently violated any copyrights, please inform me and I will remove your image/s (if it is indeed an infringement).

GAMING NEWS: HOW TO APPLY to be a "Planetfall" Playtester...

Hi Everyone and especially potential "Planetfall" playtesters,

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Here's HOW TO APPLY to be a "Planetfall" Playtester:

Write these three simple things and either send them to me as a private E-mail or post them publicly on the "Planetfall" support group forums:

http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/Planetfall-TGUSFMWE/

Q1. Share what you expect from a good science fiction miniatures game in written form.

Q2. State what you are expecting from "Planetfall - The Generic Universal Science Fiction Miniatures Wargame Engine" in written form.

Q3. Share a little bit about your background as a gamer and what qualifies you to be a "Planetfall" playtester.

There is no specific quantity of writing required as long as yourespond to the three questions/requests: Q1, Q2 and Q3. It would help if you put your repsonses into the form of A1 (Answer One), A2 and A3, but I'm not requiring this.

Several people have already aswered these questions to me either publicly on these forums such as Andy Skinner or a number of folks privately through personal E-mails sent to me.

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I will then read and respond to every "Planetfall" playtester application.

Successful applicants will recive a letter of congratulations and an E-mail invitation to the "Planetfall-Playtesters" E-group and have full access to all of the playtest material downloads and to the playtesting and game development discussions there.

Unsuccessful applicants will be sent an E-mail letter thanking them for their time and inviting them to reapply later.

A small honorarium may be asked for at that time, which everyplaytester will recive back as a discount of the game when it is published later this year or early next year. In the case of the game not being published (Fat chance of that since I'm dedicated to this project and am investing a lot of time and money in it!), all honorariums to playtesters will be fully returned to their owners.

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Thanks for your time.

Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.

GAMING NEWS: "Planetfall" Sci-fi Game E-group Opened!

"Planetfall" Sci-fi Game E-group Opened!

Hi Everyone,

The E-group for my new upcoming sci-fi miniatures game "Planetfall - The Generic Universal Science Fiction Miniatures Wargame Engine" is now opened.

Anyone interested is invited.

The "Planetfall" E-group can be found here:

http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/Planetfall-TGUSFMWE/

Thanks for your time.

Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.

GAMING NEWS: Two Successful Playtests of Maksim's Sci-fi Game!

Hi Everyone,

I would, first of all, like to thank everyone who made suggestions for the name of my new sci-fi game. There were some incredibly clever, humorous and dramatic name suggestions. I've put them together into a document and will post it at a later time for everyone's enjoyment.

For those of you who have no idea who I am or what I'm talking about, I'm a gamer, somewhat well-known in the community for my actions helping to restore the 6mm_miniatures E-group, my participation at the TMP site and for other things.

I'm a big fan of miniature wargames and love games like Dirtside II, and Striker II, which have unfortunately not seen sequels for a long time. I tried to get involved with these companies at different times to be a part of seeing newer better versions of these classic games come out and nothing seemed to get done. Fans organized projects and wrote great house rules, but I wanted to see a new version of the game come out, not the old game juryrigged with house rules. So...

I decided to design my own game for sci-fi minis. I wanted a system with the greatness of Traveller and Striker II, the ease of play inherent to Dirtside II, the fun factors I associate with GW's Epic series and the versatility of GURPs. I wanted a game not tied down to any cannon or specific background. I wanted a game that had sophisticated but not overly complicated game mechanics for leaders, command and control, morale, unit experience, suppression, combat engineering, air support, armor, force fields and many other things. So... I made it!

My game is currently in playtest and I've already found three manufacturers who have expressed an interest in publishing it. Several other game retaillers have expressed an interest in stocking and selling it.

The basic game is designed as a game engine, sort of like GURPS, that can be adapted to any sci-fi canon or background a player desires. Want to recreate modern units who have gone back in time? Want to have WWII armies face "War Of the Worlds" invaders? Want to see if Star Wars can give Star Trek a black eye? My game system is designed to do just those things. It can pit armies of various technological sophistication against each other.

I plan to sell the main book for $15.00 USD, which will come with a game module that has the engine adapted to one science-fiction background. Further game modules will be available for different science fiction backgrounds. The modules will cost $10.00 USD each.

And thanks to the dozens of suggestions from fans, I now have a name for the game:

"PLANETFALL: The Generic Universal Science Fiction Miniatures Wargame Engine!"

I plan to start an E-group for those interested soon and already have an E-mail mailing list for those interested. If you would like to be on the E-mail mailing list to receive news of the game, when it goes on sale or possibly become a playtester for the game, please send me your E-mail. I am selective with my playtesters though so it is possible that you may not be chosen to be a playtester although I plan to enroll as many playtesters as possible..

I have been playtesting the game myself, but am formulating a simple version of the rules to give to playtesters soon. I playtested a final form of the game this past Thursday and again today on Saturday (8 October 2005). Both playtests went smoothly and rules performed very well. Thursday's playtest was with an adult and I ran two playtest games today both with a combination of young children (8-10 years old) and adults. The game was easy enough to learn that one of the children taught his friend how to play in about ten to fifteen minutes and enrolled him on his side (...to help the Empire defeat the Rebel scum!).

The sci-fi background I've used in recent playtests has been "Star Wars: The Battle of Hoth," but I don't think I could ever afford to buy a license for that franchise so when the game gets published, I will offer those rules for free on the game's web site. We had a great time playing "Planetfall" and I can't wait to try out other adaptions of the game I've created for other sci-fi books, movies and television series. Of course, I can't publish any of those without a license (...I've made inquiries with a number of my favorite sci-fi license holders...) so I'll offer any game modules for backgrounds I can't afford to buy a license from... for free.

Thanks for your time!

Shabbat Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.