Skuliver

Skuliver

@imhal.bsky.social

History geek, RPG and miniature wargaming fan, GM for hire, parent. GNU Terry Pratchett Let's talk nerdy, history, horror, movies, gaming and myth. Happy to run a session for you. https://startplaying.games/gm/skuliver Demi, Neurodivergent

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54mm WW2 USMC (in green) for wargaming. Models are painted in Army Painter Speed Paint. Army painter acrylics for camo areas. Models were given a wash of "strong tone" as well. paints. Playing card in picture for scale #Miniatures #Wargaming

Pulled the 54mm Gladiators I have from the "someday pile" and into the "next up" queue. This will involve more skin tones, variety of fabrics, vibrant color and use of metallics. There is something engaging about 54mm and I think they would be great for display games for new players.

My WW2 Pacific USMC squad in 54mm is painted. I have three bases to finish. I'm really happy with both the Japanese and USMC figures in this project and doing a "glow up" on bagged toy soldiers. I've learned some history as well as new techniques and materials. Good to change it up, you know?

Good lord, current affairs seems to have added more rabid raccoons to the diaper fire dumpster. I tell you, bronze and iron age history reading is a breath of fresh air by comparison.

FWIW, I am really enjoying working with Army Painter's Speed Paints 2.0. I have been using GW contrast paints since 2019 and while I have had good results, I don't think I would repurchase or invest further in the line after using Speed Paints. I love the dropper bottle, the flow and drying time.

The 54mm US Marines are coming along nicely. I have goen over a few rule sets and one has a detailed island hoping campaign geared for solo and co-op play. Taking 54mm plastic toy soldiers and zhuzh-ing them up versus trying to go full "Golden Demon" has been liberating.

54mm plastic toy soldiers are not anywhere near the clean sculpts of most 28mm modern plastics. The proportions and anatomy of the ones I'm working on from BMC tend to make up for that. 28-32 mm tends to feature big heads and chonky fists. It takes a little getting used more proportioned models.

Anyone else having extra trouble with priority? We're 5 years out from going into Covid lockdown and convicted criminals are in power. I'm trying really hard to engage with the old LARP of society but it's just not sustainable. If it's going to be BS, we can make it fertilizer and plant something.

Sometimes a session is just therapy. Sometimes it's a breakthrough. Sometimes you are just trying out a bit to see if it plays well. Before therapy, I usually go through a plan of what I think I'll say like I'm preparing for an audition. If I put this much effort into a set I'd have a tight 5.

Skuliver reposted

A hero

CNN@cnn.com

James Harrison, a prolific Australian blood donor famed for having saved the lives of more than two million babies, has died at age 88. Harrison, whose plasma contained a “rare and precious antibody” known as Anti-D, donated blood more than 1,100 times, according to Australian Red Cross Lifeblood.

I'm enjoying working in Contrast / Speed Paints on 54mm figures. I have had some Gladiators in the wings for a while. Does anyone have a favorite set of historical Gladiator miniatures rules they care to shout out?

Once more, the OST to Mechanicus is the Umami of getting painting done. So many projects of mine have been pulled along by this music. It's hard not to feel inspired.

Finished the painting on 8 more Japanese infantry for my 54 mm project. Still need basing on them. First long session of painting after a gnarly cold. I did not pivot to a new project in full ADHD hobby mode. Very tempting to do so but, seeing the unit painted is rewarding.

A thing I miss about the FLGS of yore was that you could hang out, shoot the shit in community and get a game on the fly. Seattle had a number of good "third places" that felt less like they needed you to shop and GTFO so they could turn the table like a busy restaurant.

I like Nordic Weasel and recently picked up "History Dad" it's geared towards Platoon level games. I realized I am Totally a "History Dad" when, lacking info on US Marine and Japanese units in the game, I went and figured them out with some searching and cross referencing.

I don't often get to wargame, for that reason, I'm glad to play weird little indy things or "dead" games. I don't chase tournament meta in costly games which discourage tinkering and have reboots every 3 years. It's nice. Historicals are too. I mean, WW2 marines are not going to get retconned away.

Started playing Boltgun again today (40k FPS in the mode of Doom). The child made grabby hands for the controller and said "may I". It's fun to see the child rampage and their room clearing and planning is coming along well. 40k does not really encourage too much reason, given a chainsword mode.

Sharing 70-80's conceptual art with the kiddo and explaining the wonder of paintings which spur the imagination. There is little "lore" to cue up and image. It's not Star Trek or Star Wars, just "cool shit is happening in space. What do you make of it, viewer?" Kid digs it.

I run kids RPG camps. I am working hard to move from WotC content. I'd like to offer more diverse ranges of games to adult #ttrpg folks looking to try new games. I'm thinking of doing open 5.00 sessions. Funds are tight for many, so this is a token ask. 100% free games have higher no show rates.

In 2015, I joined KIVA.org. I needed a way to help, somehow, even as part of "the working poor" in America. All told, I think in 10 years, 300 USD has gone into my lending account. With repayments, I have managed to lend that many times over. I've funded 3,185.00 over 126 loans in 62 countries.

kiva.orgMake a loan, change a life | KivaKiva is the world's first online lending platform. For as little as $25 you can lend to an entrepreneur around the world. Learn more here.
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Not only empowering to those in need. Expressing agency through compassion is empowering for the lender. I am not alone. Scores of other people helped those in need pay medical bills, start businesses and rebuild after disaster and war. As loans are repaid, the funds go back out to do good work.

There are Kiva user groups who coordinate to pick loans in need of direct mass support and together, the members help individuals and collectives to get over the line and on with their dreams which would be unreachable without this goodwill. There are days where that keeps me going.

In 2015, I joined KIVA.org. I needed a way to help, somehow, even as part of "the working poor" in America. All told, I think in 10 years, 300 USD has gone into my lending account. With repayments, I have managed to lend that many times over. I've funded 3,185.00 over 126 loans in 62 countries.

kiva.orgMake a loan, change a life | KivaKiva is the world's first online lending platform. For as little as $25 you can lend to an entrepreneur around the world. Learn more here.

Sometimes, what you can do to help in your own part of the world seems futile. You can't fund everyone. You are barely making it yourself. With interest free micro lending to other parts of the world, you can be part of transformative funding to those who have no other access to loans. #Empowering.

I just reread Guards Guards by Terry Pratchett and it is so ON THE NOSE for the situation in the USA right now that it nearly hurts. I admire the Vimes / City Watch books for that central thread of "No Kings", tearing down both belief in "one's betters" as well as overconfidence in saviors.

One of things I need to do for my RPG summer camp is incorporate movement breaks for the kids. Rather than just break for PE, I am looking for 5 or so different activities which could represent something in a campaign. I have some ideas but would love to hear what you might suggest.

Look, if anyone wants to move to some abandoned mountain town in, oh I dunno, Italy and build it into a TTRPG and LARP destination site with year round residents, I am fully on board and would love to join.

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I honestly believe that we can think up ways to share, to ensure needs are met and that nobody is forced so suffer for the comfort of others. We can get to not needing scapegoats and villains in society, but we're going to have to ostracize some cruel and greedy people, not make them goals.

Summer D&D camps went well enough that the parks department want more and are willing to expand it RPGs as a whole. Also looking at spring classes.

This was great. I would love to game with more elders. Shadowdark and EZD6 spring to mind as great options to try out too. It's neat how Ginny was able to trim down to the core experience she wanted to get across and the use of player table props as aids to memory was great.

Jesse Jerdak 🐻 has your back!@jessejerdak.bsky.social

Well @ginnydi.com did it. She made the best DND video ever. We can all go home. youtu.be/Sb6CFkAsfmQ?...

Hey job seekers, How is it going, particularly "older workers"? Personally, I feel like I have been in a shoddy waterslide full of gasoline. Please feel free to say something uplifting, or gripe as needed. I like to hear wins, but knowing I'm not alone in getting my ass kicked is also a help.

Great news, The GFA is a fantastic resource. Part of what makes Goodman Games fandom so great is the community. Everyone seems fully engaged with "Yes and-ing" creativity and that makes for an awesome mental playground.

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I adore Sybil Ramkin. Pratchett is very good at skewering class and concepts of empire. For all that, Sybil is a deeply empathetic, caring and decent person; hereditary wealth and position aside. She is written like the best of the Wooster aunts along with cast iron pratical kindness. #discworld

The Superb Owl Bloodbowl game The kiddo and I played with Amazons / Wood Elves was a blast. 1:1 score and so many "ooo almost" totally redonk plays. Very classic Blood Bowl lunacy. This child is picking up the game well.