Login |  Register |  FAQ
   
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 1843 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1 ... 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94 ... 123  Next

Maksim's Blog:

 Post subject: Maksim's Blog:
PostPosted: Mon Jan 02, 2006 7:57 pm 
Brood Brother
Brood Brother
User avatar

Joined: Sun Feb 16, 2003 4:43 pm
Posts: 7258
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Hi Luis,

Quote (Cuban Commissar @ 02 Jan. 2006 (16:57))
Quote (MaksimSmelchak @ 01 Jan. 2006 (16:12))
However, the whole "fantastical, bizarre, utterly horrifying and sinister 'religion' of the Imperium" may be a keystones of the 40k mythos, but I wish they would deemphacize it a bit. That's all.

Hey Maksim,
I agree with you on this. I was never comfortable with the whole "dead" leader on a throne that "life drains" other poeple to stay alive.


I understand wanting to have a little "shock value" for the background to liven it up a bit, but you'd think that somewhere someone would cry "space vampire" and be done with it.

The whole idea of the "space vampire" being the "beacon" doesn't seem plausible to me. That's probably the propganda the Eclesiarchy uses to justify itself.

I really think that Traveller has done a better job of creating a viable background.

Quote (Cuban Commissar @ 02 Jan. 2006 (16:57))
The Techpriest also give me a freak me out, Sorry Vanvlak, being to much machine.


I kind of like the Techpriests. They make sense as cyborgs, but servitors seem a bit callus even for a "dark and grim future."

Quote (Cuban Commissar @ 02 Jan. 2006 (16:57))
But what Abnett novels have really done for me is to reveal a more human, down to earth, aspect of the people in the 40K universe. ?
He shows a view of the common citizens that has allowed me to really enjoy the 40K background much more than before. Mostly because it shows that while there are the extremes most of them are just trying to survive and make a life. ?
There are warriors, but there are also families, farmers, craftsman, businessmen, doctors, etc.


I also like that aspect of the Abnett novels.

Having said that, give me David Drake anyday.

Quote (Cuban Commissar @ 02 Jan. 2006 (16:57))
Most citizens are "faithful" but not all are fanatics. Most have a very realistic view.


I'm not sure about that. I often get a cartoonish vibe from the depictions of folk in Abnett novels. I guess that's OK though since we're talking about fiction.

Quote (Cuban Commissar @ 02 Jan. 2006 (16:57))
So I think the Gaunt's Ghost books have really added a dimension to the 40K universe that wasn't there before by giving a face to the faceless masses.


I agree with you there.

Thanks for posting on my mini-blog, Luis!

Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.

_________________
6mm Sci-fi:
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/6mm ... nWarGames/
My Personal Blog:
http://6mm-minis.blogspot.com/


Top
 Profile Send private message  
 
 Post subject: Maksim's Blog:
PostPosted: Mon Jan 02, 2006 8:06 pm 
Brood Brother
Brood Brother
User avatar

Joined: Sun Feb 16, 2003 4:43 pm
Posts: 7258
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Hi Ralph,

Quote (Legion 4 @ 02 Jan. 2006 (01:31))
I have to agree for the most part with Maksim... as usual... the 40K religious fanatacism does not work for me either... I prefer the Slammer Universe... gritty and more realistic than G/W fluff, IMO. :;): ?


I like soft sci-fi or science fantasy, but prefer hard sci-fi in the end of ends.

Quote (Legion 4 @ 02 Jan. 2006 (01:31))
And we see what happens when we try to "wish away" Terrorism.


We just get more of it because terrorsits are emboldened when we turn a blind eye to them.

Quote (Legion 4 @ 02 Jan. 2006 (01:31))
And anyone who doubts that if UBL had a Nuke and wouldn't have used on NYC or wherever, does not ?understand how Islamic fanatics work...


Some folks don"t understand that there terrorists crazy enough to use the bomb out there. They're real.

Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.

_________________
6mm Sci-fi:
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/6mm ... nWarGames/
My Personal Blog:
http://6mm-minis.blogspot.com/


Top
 Profile Send private message  
 
 Post subject: Maksim's Blog:
PostPosted: Mon Jan 02, 2006 8:34 pm 
Brood Brother
Brood Brother
User avatar

Joined: Sun Feb 16, 2003 4:43 pm
Posts: 7258
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Hi Ralph,

Quote (Legion 4 @ 02 Jan. 2006 (01:31))
As far as Munich, it appears to me to be as much Hollywood as History.


I wouldn't even say that, Ralph.

It isn't as much Hollywood as history, but is almost ALL Hollywood (which is to say fabrications or lies) with just a fragment of history (which is to say the truth or what really happened).

"Munich" is based on a book named "Vengeance : The True Story of an Israeli Counter-Terrorist Team" by George Jonas.

And the book "Vengeance : The True Story of an Israeli Counter-Terrorist Team" is based on the story that an El Al security guard told to George Jonas.

The story told by the El Al security guard told to George Jonas is widely regarded by thye intelligence community and international relations scholars as a fanciful creation that enrichened a security guard out of George Jonas' pocket.

In other words, "Munch" is based on a sorty that is widely regarded as a fabrication.

Bret Stephens:
Maybe it has something to do with the historical liberties Mr. Spielberg takes in telling the story. "Vengeance," the George Jonas book upon which the film is largely based, is widely considered to be a fabrication.
The book is based on a source named Yuval Aviv, who claimed to be the model for Avner but was, according to Israeli sources, never in the Mossad and had no experience in intelligence beyond working as a screener for El Al, the Israeli airline.


And then it became even more rich when Spielburg hired a known anti-Semite to rewrite his screenplay.

Bret Stephens:
Spielburg hired Tony Kushner, a man known to believe that the creation of the state of Israel was "a historical, moral, political calamity" for the Jewish people. He believes the policy of the government of Israel has been "a systematic attempt to destroy the identity of the Palestinian people." He believes that responsibility for making peace between Israelis and Palestinians lies primarily with the Israelis, "inasmuch as they are far more mighty." He believes Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is an "unindicted war criminal."


The whole rationale of Spielburg's distortion of REAL history bothers me. It wouldn't be hard to either make a documentary or put the story in context of REAL history, BUT... that wouldn't send the message that Spielburg wants to force upon his audience.

Rabbi Benjamin Blech:
Spielberg explains why he feels the need for an even-handed approach to the aftermath of the Munich massacre: "Because the biggest enemy is not the Palestinians or the Israelis. The biggest enemy in the region is intransigence." What chutzpah!
Does Spielberg mean the intransigence of Israel which has continued to offer land, peace and compromise to its Arab neighbors after every war meant to annihilate it?
Or the intransigence of a people which has decided its national policy will not be the cowardice of Chamberlain but rather the determination of "the greatest generation" -- the Allies who fought iniquity head-on to the victory that saved mankind from universal barbarity?
And yet another irony: The Spielberg so conscience-stricken by "Golda's list" of Palestinian murderers designated for execution is the same man who, in Schindler's List, alerted the world to the horrible consequence of passivity in the face of evil.

And perhaps the biggest problem I have with "Munich" is that Spielburg fabricated lines to put into his "Bizarro-Golda's" mouth:

Rabbi Benjamin Blech:
Perhaps the greatest perversion of truth in Spielberg's Munich is the line he claims is the key to the entire film. In a scene that never actually happened, Golda Meir justifies the mission of the agents she sends to carry out justice with the words, "Every civilization finds it necessary to negotiate compromises with its own values."
Golda never said it because she understood that holding mass murderers responsible is not a compromise with civilized values, but the only way to insure that civilization survives. It is only a world that abdicates the need for a Golda's list that ends up with a Schindler's list.


Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.


P.S.
There was a 1986 film called "Sword of Gideon" that told the same story:

http://www.amazon.com/gp....e&n=130

P.S.S.
Both "Munich" and "Sword of Gideon" are based on this book:
"Vengeance: The True Story of an Israeli Counter-Terrorist Team" by George Jonas.
http://www.amazon.com/gp....=283155

P.S.3.
A few more books and films about Munich:

"One Day in September (1999)"
Starring: Michael Douglas, Ankie Spitzer Director: Kevin Macdonald.
http://www.amazon.com/gp....e&n=130

"Striking Back : The 1972 Munich Olympics Massacre and Israel's Deadly Response (Hardcover)"
by Aaron J. Klein.
http://www.amazon.com/gp....=283155

"Massacre in Munich : The Manhunt for the Killers Behind the 1972 Olympics Massacre (Paperback)"
by Michael Bar Bar-Zohar, Eitan Haber.
http://www.amazon.com/gp....=283155

"The Quest for the Red Prince: Israel's Relentless Manhunt for One of the World's Deadliest and Most Wanted Arab Terrorists (Paperback)"
by Michael Bar Bar-Zohar, Eitan Haber.
http://www.amazon.com/gp....=283155

_________________
6mm Sci-fi:
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/6mm ... nWarGames/
My Personal Blog:
http://6mm-minis.blogspot.com/


Top
 Profile Send private message  
 
 Post subject: Maksim's Blog:
PostPosted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 12:01 am 
Brood Brother
Brood Brother
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jun 14, 2005 8:56 pm
Posts: 1113
Location: barcelona
Hello Maksim-Smelchak,

I was reading about your ideas for 2006, I can say that for the Adeptus Mechanicus the answer is Red and Grey, it's a cool combination (that it's my rebel chapter colour scheme) and ?as I give you an answer, then I give you a question. Well, I will launch a question to all...

*** What do you think about a rebellion against the emperor in the 40k? ***

It's possible that the emperors corrupted corpse fall in the chaos hands and only a few chapters commanders, but not the legendary commanders 'cause they are under the control of the imperial forces, know the true, maybe the ancestrals are tired of the emperor's play and they want a change...

It's a possibility...

P.S.
If you need help with the Necrons let me know what I can do for you. Maybe I can help you! :)

_________________
Riau!!!!! O_o!
http://elbansblog.blogspot.com/


Top
 Profile Send private message  
 
 Post subject: Maksim's Blog:
PostPosted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 12:21 am 
Brood Brother
Brood Brother
User avatar

Joined: Sun Feb 16, 2003 4:43 pm
Posts: 7258
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Hi Bans and Gang,

Quote (bans @ 02 Jan. 2006 (23:01))
Hello Maksim-Smelchak.
I was reading about your ideas for 2006, I can say that for the Adeptus Mechanicus the answer is Red and Grey, it's a cool combination (that it's my rebel chapter colour scheme) and ?as I give you an answer, then I give you a question, well I will launch a question to all...


Thanks for reading my ideas and responding.

Red and grey definitely make for good Adeptus MEchanicus colours. I'm been very inspired by Warmaster N. and Vanvlak's AM examples and am tempted to take a go at it myself this year in 2006.

My ideas for 2006 modelling can be found here (Page 133 of my blog):
http://www.epic40k.co.uk/epicomm....st=1320

Quote (bans @ 02 Jan. 2006 (23:01))
*** What do you think about a rebellion against the emperor in the 40k? ***


I think that would be a great plot twist for the 40k universe.

Ultimately we all want to see humans make it on their own... it worked in Babylon V.

I would guess that the "space vampire" is a creature of the warp and as such is just as corrupted as the daemons he's fighting. Cast him off and humanity can stand on its own.

Quote (bans @ 02 Jan. 2006 (23:01))
It's possible that the Emperor's corrupted corpse fell in the chaos hands and only a few chapters commanders, but not the legendary commanders 'cause they are under the control of the Imperial Forces, know the true, maybe the ancestrals are tired of the Emperor's play and they want a change...
It's a possibility.....


Cool.

Quote (bans @ 02 Jan. 2006 (23:01))
P.S.
If you need help with the Necrons let me know what I can do for you. Maybe I can help to you. :)


Thanks.

My biggest hold-up right now is that I need to find more plastic Necron Scrabs and finish my Monolith sculpt.

Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.

_________________
6mm Sci-fi:
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/6mm ... nWarGames/
My Personal Blog:
http://6mm-minis.blogspot.com/


Top
 Profile Send private message  
 
 Post subject: Maksim's Blog:
PostPosted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 4:09 am 
Brood Brother
Brood Brother
User avatar

Joined: Sun Feb 16, 2003 4:43 pm
Posts: 7258
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Hi Guys,

I finshed reading Dan Abnett's "Double Eagle" and I give it a 4 out of 5 rating.

It was a good novel and carried a number of themes throughout it's chapters: exposing the common man in the 40k universe, air combat, the Imperium vs. chaos, comtempt for leadership and a very strong "Battle of Britain" theme near the end. I found the ending a bit anti-climactic as well.

Overall it was a jaunty little read and is a worthy comrade to the "Gaunt's Ghosts" series.

Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.

_________________
6mm Sci-fi:
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/6mm ... nWarGames/
My Personal Blog:
http://6mm-minis.blogspot.com/


Top
 Profile Send private message  
 
 Post subject: Maksim's Blog:
PostPosted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 6:45 am 
Brood Brother
Brood Brother
User avatar

Joined: Thu Feb 13, 2003 5:13 pm
Posts: 36989
Location: Ohio - USA
Yes, I guess I'm stuck in the Slammer Uni frame of mind! :8):
I can identify with it's realism more than I can G/W's Sci-fantasy...
I could see myself in a Slammer's Combat Car or Skimmer...
Not in any form of G/W machination, maybe in the IG Infantry or Stormtroopers? :o0 ?:;):

I'm sure you are correct about "Munich" and I saw "Sword of Gideon" years ago. There is NO excuse for what the terrorists did at Munich. And IIRC, it was one the things that made the Germany form the GSG-9... I believe the History Channel did a show on the Isreali mission, and that IMO was well done and accurate.

The German Gov't is now thinking about releasing a terrorist that killed a US Sailor on a hijacked airliner in the 90s IIRC?
That is crazy!

The "Free World" took on Imperialism, Fascism, Communism and now Islamic Terrorism... I believe we will prevail...
But the first time a city in the West (or Israel?) gets Nuc'd by the Islamic Fanatics... that still won't change some peoples minds...
Let's hope it never happens... and it is clearly going to be a very long war...

_________________
Legion 4 "Cry Havoc, and let slip the Dogs of War !" ... "People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."


Top
 Profile Send private message  
 
 Post subject: Maksim's Blog:
PostPosted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 4:16 pm 
Brood Brother
Brood Brother
User avatar

Joined: Sun Feb 16, 2003 4:43 pm
Posts: 7258
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Hi Ralph and Gang,

Quote (Legion 4 @ 03 Jan. 2006 (05:45))
Yes, I guess I'm stuck in the Slammer Uni frame of mind! :8):
I can identify with it's realism more than I can G/W's Sci-fantasy...


I know how you feel.

Quote (Legion 4 @ 03 Jan. 2006 (05:45))
I could see myself in a Slammer's Combat Car or Skimmer...
Not in any form of G/W machination, maybe in the IG Infantry or Stormtroopers? :o0 ?:;):


They are definitely two different kinds of beasts.

*** Have you read any Jerry Pournelle? ***

Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.

_________________
6mm Sci-fi:
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/6mm ... nWarGames/
My Personal Blog:
http://6mm-minis.blogspot.com/


Top
 Profile Send private message  
 
 Post subject: Maksim's Blog:
PostPosted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 4:19 pm 
Brood Brother
Brood Brother
User avatar

Joined: Sun Feb 16, 2003 4:43 pm
Posts: 7258
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Hi Ralph,

Quote (Legion 4 @ 03 Jan. 2006 (05:45))
I'm sure you are correct about "Munich" and I saw "Sword of Gideon" years ago.


There both very obviously based on "Vengance" by George Jonas, which is in turn based upon a made-up story by an ex El-Al security screener / guard.

The sad part is that so many of these Hollywood movies carry the disclaimer (usually at the end) that they are "based on truth," which is equivalent to saying "based on fantasy" or possibly "based on lies."

I went to see "Troy" awhile back and my girlfriend and I lamost died laughing when they put up the "Based on Homer's Illiad" at the end. "Troy" was remarkably ahistorical. I exoplained it to friends who asked about it as:
"Troy is the Illiad as if it were written by the Trojans and not the greeks. The Greeks are criminalized while all the Trojans were heroified."

I imagine myself saying the same thing about "Munich":

"Munich is the tragic story story of the Terrorist murder of innocent Olympic athletes as made by Steven Spielburg and some of his politically correct cronies who weren't aware of the real hsitory of what actually happened in the 1970s. Munich is a lame apologetic film trying to somehow justify the unuustafiability of terrorism and encourage the idea of "turning the other cheek" instead of the Jewish idea of bringing about justice.
Munich is the story of the murder of innocent Olympic athletes as if retold by terrorists instead of the history that shocked the world in the 1970s. Munich would have you beleive that Neville Chamberlain was a bigger peacemaker than Winston Churchill. It was Chamberlain's disasterous policies that led to human being being murdered by the Nazi regime... not Churchhill's actions. Spielburg's Munich tells a different story."

Quote (Legion 4 @ 03 Jan. 2006 (05:45))
There is NO excuse for what the terrorists did at Munich.


That's how I feel about that action.

I do feel that the Palestinian-Arab people have a case, but I don't think that rewriting history is the wat to argue their case any more than violence against innocents AKA terrorism is a way to argue their case.

The Palestinian-Arabs would do far better to either use a cncerted policy of non-violence or reclaim the Palestinian-Arab homeland in Jordan where a majority of Palestinian-Arabs continue to live under a king from another place that the British placed there.

Quote (Legion 4 @ 03 Jan. 2006 (05:45))
And IIRC, it was one the things that made the Germans form GSG 9...


The Germans are good soliders and engineers, but, in the end of ends, they are still willing to make deals with terrorists, which encourages terrorists to commit more acts of terrors to get new deals.

Quote (Legion 4 @ 03 Jan. 2006 (05:45))
I believe the History Channel did a show on the Isreali mission, and that IMO was well done and accurate.


I haven't seen any History Channel programs about the Munich Olympics in the 1970s.

Quote (Legion 4 @ 03 Jan. 2006 (05:45))
The German Gov't is now thinking about releasing a terrorist that killed a US Sailor on a hijacked airliner in the 90s IIRC?
That is crazy!


If they do, that same terroist group will commit more acts of terror to get new and better deals.

Quote (Legion 4 @ 03 Jan. 2006 (05:45))
The "Free World" took on Imperialism, Fascism, Communism and now Islamic Terrorism...
I believe we will prevail...


People have changed though... in some ways better and others worse. The "Greatest Generation" was able to make decisive moral decisions. Our generations tends to waffle and try to paint both sides of any battle as villians and especially the side on the "right" side of things.

The concepts of "right and wrong" are no longer clear for many.

Stalin was wrong. Hitler was wrong. Osama Bin Laden is wrong. Saddam Hussein is wrong.

These shouldn't be tough conclusions to draw. Men that torture their own people and run dictatorships are not just and moral men.

*** Do the ends justify the means or the means the end? ***

Everyone of those men beleived on some level that their actions (the means) were justified by their the end (whether it be Soviet Communism, the Third Reich, Jihadist fanaticism or a neo-fascist dictatorship).

People like the Soviet private farmers, the Jews of Germany, the common Arabs oppressed by their own and the Kurds tell a different story.

Quote (Legion 4 @ 03 Jan. 2006 (05:45))
But the first time a city in the West (or Israel?) gets Nuc'd by the Islamic Fanatics...
That still won't change some people's minds...
Let's hope it never happens...
And it is clearly going to be a very long war...


I really hope that it doesn't take a nuke for the world to wake up.

And I don't think the war would take that long if more of the nations would realize that terrorism (the murder of innocents to try and draw attention to political cuases) is in NONE of our best interests.

One of the biggest blows we could strike at terrorism would not involve weapons or violence at all. It would be to have the media stop giving free publicity to terrorists. It's not hard to say that we'd have many less acts of terrorism if the terrorists knew they couldn't get free media coverage and publicity from their heinous acts of murder.

The problem is that I don't beleive in censoring media and I don't think there are enough moral media people to make that decision on their own.

Media is in its' way a check on the excesses of government. I beleive in that. However, the problem is that we don't have a check on the media. That's the role that blogs (free media by the public for the public) is beginning to fill. The Internet is beginning to erode the traditional media forms of radio, newspapers and television as more and more of us can see that those media forms are not about reporting what happens but about forwarding political views and causes.

The true value of a democracy is that it can acknowledge that it has done wrong, take steps to correct its mistakes and move on, better than before. Democrcies are remarkably stable when they mature and while they don't have the capacity for decision that a dictatorship has, they certainly have more moral authority than any dictatorship has.

A dictatorship can't do that. If a dictatorship makes a mistake, it kills those who have made a mistake or changes regimes through coup or evolution. This makes for an unstable government that persecutes its own people, always looking for others to blame.

Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.

_________________
6mm Sci-fi:
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/6mm ... nWarGames/
My Personal Blog:
http://6mm-minis.blogspot.com/


Top
 Profile Send private message  
 
 Post subject: Maksim's Blog:
PostPosted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 4:54 pm 
Brood Brother
Brood Brother
User avatar

Joined: Thu Feb 13, 2003 5:13 pm
Posts: 36989
Location: Ohio - USA
Yes, I have always wanted to read Jerry's works, but up until a few years ago with the Slammers, I was just reading history... :D ?May try Jerry next!

I'm a Slammer at heart but would serve in the IG if I had to! :laugh:

Yes, when Hollywood says "based on"... it's a "Field Marshal's sweep" or broad brush rendering...
Troy though entertaining, was Hollywood, too! :;): ?

The problem is with movies like Munich, Sword..., etc., the mass media makes it seem like fact and it morphs into accepted "truth"...
The News Media does it all the time... say it long enough and it will be believed, regardless.
Truth as is beauty is in the eye of the beholder...

_________________
Legion 4 "Cry Havoc, and let slip the Dogs of War !" ... "People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."


Top
 Profile Send private message  
 
 Post subject: Maksim's Blog:
PostPosted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 4:57 pm 
Brood Brother
Brood Brother
User avatar

Joined: Sun Feb 16, 2003 4:43 pm
Posts: 7258
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Hi Ralph,

Quote (Legion 4 @ 03 Jan. 2006 (15:54))
Yes, I have always wanted to read Jerry's works, but up until a few years ago with the Slammers, I was just reading history... :D ?
May try Jerry next!


I recommend Jerry Pournelle. Start with "The Mercenary" and work your way up.

Jerry Pournelle reminds me a lot of the early Heinlein.

http://www.kentaurus.com/troopers.htm

Quote (Legion 4 @ 03 Jan. 2006 (15:54))
I'm a Slammer at heart but would serve in the IG if I had to! :laugh:


You wouldn't have any choice. A commissar would shoot your otherwise... grim future, indeed.

Quote (Legion 4 @ 03 Jan. 2006 (15:54))
Yes, when Hollywood says "based on"...
It's a "Field Marshal's sweep" or broad brush rendering...
Troy though entertaining, was Hollywood, too! :;):
?

I can deal with Hollywood's entertainment. My beef is that I want Hollywood to separate their entertainment from their documentaries. One if about fiction and the other should be about non-fiction.

Quote (Legion 4 @ 03 Jan. 2006 (15:54))
The problem is with movies like Munich, Sword..., etc., the mass media makes it seem like fact and it morphs into accepted "truth"...


The truth is much more palatable when it is told.

[/quote]The News Media does it all the time...
Say it long enough and it will be believed, regardless. [/quote]

Himmler said that in the days of the Third Reich and it still holds true today.

I dont blame this entriwely on the edia though. Each and everyone one of us is responsible for educating ourselves and fact checking what we learn. Noone else can do that for us.

The problem is that too many are apathetic and refuse to verify or check what they learn. This gives the media ?an irrational leve l of control over sheepish people.

Quote (Legion 4 @ 03 Jan. 2006 (15:54))
Truth as is beauty is in the eye of the beholder...


I've never liked that pithy quote.

We all have differences, but we can all agree that murder is wrong... or slavery... or child sacrifice. We've come that far.

In other words, as much as we can all disagree, we can all agree on some fundamental thoughts.

Sayings like one man's terrorist is another's freedom fighter are bogus.

You kill innocent people, you're a terrorist. Target a mall instead of a military base and you're a terrorist.

Real freedom fighters fight against other soldiers, not civilians.

Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.

_________________
6mm Sci-fi:
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/6mm ... nWarGames/
My Personal Blog:
http://6mm-minis.blogspot.com/


Top
 Profile Send private message  
 
 Post subject: Maksim's Blog:
PostPosted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 7:11 pm 
Brood Brother
Brood Brother
User avatar

Joined: Fri May 20, 2005 8:45 pm
Posts: 11149
Location: Canton, CT, USA
Quote (MaksimSmelchak @ 03 Jan. 2006 (15:57))
You kill innocent people, you're a terrorist. Target a mall instead of a military base and you're a terrorist.

Real freedom fighters fight against other soldiers, not civilians.

Well stated, Maksim.

_________________
"I don't believe in destiny or the guiding hand of fate." N. Peart


Top
 Profile Send private message  
 
 Post subject: Maksim's Blog:
PostPosted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 11:43 am 
Brood Brother
Brood Brother
User avatar

Joined: Thu Feb 13, 2003 5:13 pm
Posts: 36989
Location: Ohio - USA
I agree with you on all points, Maksim ! ?And thanks for the site, and will have to check Jerry's works out, too !  The article/site about Heinlein's book vs. the movie is very well done ! I recommend everybody read it !  It a good example of Hollywood vs reality, even if "reality" is a work of fiction !  I'll have to reread it, as it is information dense and full of the kind of details I like !              ?People always/tend to take the easy way out ... whether in their beliefs or soft targets. ?Man is inherently weak or evil ... we may never truely know ...




_________________
Legion 4 "Cry Havoc, and let slip the Dogs of War !" ... "People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."


Top
 Profile Send private message  
 
 Post subject: Maksim's Blog:
PostPosted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 6:01 pm 
Brood Brother
Brood Brother
User avatar

Joined: Sun Feb 16, 2003 4:43 pm
Posts: 7258
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Hi Guys,

I wanted to type in a link to our 2006 New Years Resolutions (Mine are on page 3):

http://www.epic40k.co.uk/epicomm....4;st=20

Hi Guys,

I'm still thinking about the New Years resolutions I want to make for 2006, but here are the preliminary ones:

1. PROFESSIONAL:
- Get the new job I've been wanting and move on from the bad experience I had with school administrations in 2004-2005.

2. PERSONAL:
- Finish developing "Planetfall," my sci-fi rule set, and publish the game in 2006.

3. HOBBY:
- Paint lots of minis and work on gaming terrain. I really want to get my 6mm city metropolis board done.

I take my New Years resolutions seriously and I met almost everyone of the resolutions I made last year.


Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.

_________________
6mm Sci-fi:
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/6mm ... nWarGames/
My Personal Blog:
http://6mm-minis.blogspot.com/


Top
 Profile Send private message  
 
 Post subject: Maksim's Blog:
PostPosted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 6:32 pm 
Brood Brother
Brood Brother
User avatar

Joined: Sun Feb 16, 2003 4:43 pm
Posts: 7258
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Hi Guys,

I've been thinking about my New Years Resolutions.

I think I have some bad news to announce:

I need to make a new #3 resolution:

3. PERSONAL:
- Buy a new wardrobe this year.

I was cleaning out my closet and trying on older clothes and... they no longer fit.

My days of having a slim 34 waste are no longer. Bummer.

I hate shopping for clothes too. My girlfriend said she'd help, but even the idea of that chore is daunting.

Oh well, we all get older.

My old #3 will become #4:

4. HOBBY:
- Paint lots of minis and work on gaming terrain. I really want to get my 6mm city metropolis board done.


I haven't decided where to focus with my hobby resolution. Last year I made a resolution to run a "Star Wars: The Battle of Hoth" game and I did.

I think that this year I want to concentrate on building up my 6mm city terrain in anticipation of running some "Monster Island" games. I'd also like to use the city terrain to run "Planetfall - Traveller - The Fifth Frontier War" games.

I haven't decided though.

I brainstormed ideas back here on page 133 of my blog under this title:
WARGAMING: Brainstorming 2005 Hobby Projects!

http://www.epic40k.co.uk/epicomm....st=1320

Hi Guys,

I've been thinking about my 2005 New Years resoutions and brainstorming ideas for my hobby resolution. I can't do them all and after I brainstormed last year, I chose just a few from the list. Here goes:

=======

EPIC Ideas:
- Adeptus Mechanicus (Red or Grey):
I have plenty of Titans, IG and Knights just waiting to be given attention. Warmaster Nice inspires me. I already have the better part of a Mars Forgeworld board built.

- Eldar - Exodites (Green):
I can't wait to get to these guys. I love the old Exodite minis. I'd love to work out some Dino conversions too.

- Imperial Guard - Baran Siegemasters (Brown):
I have a ton of 1/285 military fortifications and plenty of raw IG. Dafrca tarded me a ton of wheeled GZG transports and I think they'd look good with a Baran Siegemasters unit.

- Imperial Guard - Catachan Jungle Force (Green):
I like these guys. They also provide an excuse to make jungle terrain, a long-term goal for me. Riverine forces are fun as well. I'm also interested in building a 6mm Vietnam force for "Lock 'n' Load."

- Imperial Guard - Jopalli Indentured Legions (Green):
I already built the nucleus of this force almost entirely out of proxy models. I want to build Thud Guns next for them. I also have a snazzy conversion planned for gunships.

- Necrons (Red):
I have the better part of a Necron army built... it just needs painting. I also need to finish my sculpt of the Monlith Necron Pyramid unit. I also have a bunch of cool Armorcast terrain that I acquired to make some neat Necron terrain for them.

- Orkz - Feral Orkz & Gargantz (Green & Brown):
I haven't touched these guys for about two years. I have all kinds of great bitz to build some really cool Steam Gargantz. Feral Orkz should be fun to build.

- Space Marines - Blood Angels (Grey):
I have a standing BA force, but it needs some vehicles attached to it. I have some Scotia 1/285 modern mortars and I wanted to build some for the BAs when the time comes. I have a long-term plan to convert all of my BAs over to an Ash Wastes (grey) basing style.

- Space Marines - Crimson Fists (Green):
I built the nucleus of a Crimson Fist force and started painting it. I like their colors and they're fun to paint.

- Space Marines - Dark Angels (Beige):
I traded for some very nice DA units which add nicely to the stuff I built in the 1990s. Like most of my SM forces, they're very short on vehicles with the exceptions of Rhinos. And speaking of which, I have a number of converted Rhinos POL, Radar, Cargo, etc. that need paint. I have a long-term plan to convert all of my BAs over to a desert (beige) basing style.

- Space Marines - Silver Skulls (Brown):
I built some of these guys almost two years ago. I sent photos to Jimbo. Like most of my SMs, I'd like to build up their numbers. My Silver Skulls force is my smallest standing SM force. My Silver Skulls are all based with a (brown) basing style that goes well with my Mars board (Red) or on temperate "agriworld" boards (green).

- Space Marines - Space Wolves (White):
I don't need to do much for these guys. I traded Dalton for many of these and added them to what I already had built and painted. I do need to repair some of the infantry stands though. My Space Wolves are based in white for Winter / snow / ice world actions.

- Space Marines - Ultramarines (Green):
This is my largest SM force. Almost everything has a nice blue coat on it, but they need some detailing. I have left them with a green basing style and plan to add static grass to them when I get around to it. Tas started a project to build photos of Heresy-era forces and I am pulling out my original four to work on inspired by him.

- Space Skaven (Brown):
I traded for this army and it's very cool. I need to photograph it.

- Tyranids (Brown):
My 'Nid army grew a lot last year. I have a ton f new proxies to assemble and paint for this army. The 'Nid army sort of combines with my 6mm Starship Troopers army when needed. I'd like to build some of the cool conversions for the larger 'Nid bio-beasties.

======

15mm MINI Ideas:
- 15mm Sci-fi Game Set - The Awful Green Things From Outer Space:
I've been tempted for years to build a 3D set of minis for AGTFOS. Sculpting green things or funky aliens wouldn't be that hard. The ship could be done as well. Ainsty makes great terrain tiles.

- 15mm Sci-fi Skirmish Set - Robot Forces:
I bought a number of 15mm robots this year. The cool thing about robots is that they are scale-less. They look just as fine in 6mm or 10mm as they do in 15mm. I'm tempted to play HOTT with them or Alien Squad Leader. There is a local gamer (Aron Clark) who loves ASL. Dafrca is also an ASL fan.

- 15mm Traveller Skirmish Set - Imperial Forces:
I built a large force of sci-fi humans for sci-fi skirmish use in 2005. These go well with Battlestations or a Traveller RPG game.

- 15mm Traveller Skirmish Set - Zhodani Forces:
I built a large force of sci-fi Zhodani for sci-fi skirmish use in 2005. These go well with Battlestations or a Traveller RPG game.

======

OTHER 6mm Ideas:
- 1/285 Arab-Israeli Missile Boats:
I have all of the materials for these. I've been collecting boat hulls and ship bitz over the years for them. It would be fun to run this game.

- 6mm Autoduel / Car Wars:
I'm tempted to brush off these minis and replay this old classic. I already have a ton of painted automobile minis and used them to play Formula De this year. I can also use Autoduel / Car Wars minis as inspiration to work on the city board.

- 6mm HOTT/DBA/Warmaster Ancients (Fantasy/Ancients):
All I need is 40mmx15mm bases for blade and spear units. I have three shoe boxes full of H&R, Irregular, Inferno and other makes of 6mm fantasy and ancients.

- 6mm Human / Posleen Wars (John Ringo Sci-fi) - Human forces:
6mm human sci-fi forces are easy to come by. And the humans are mostly using modern equipment anyway. My Starship Trooper power armor would do fine for the humans.

- 6mm Human / Posleen Wars (John Ringo Sci-fi) - Posleen forces:
Gladiator games makes some neat 6mm sci-fi centauroid figures. The cool thing is that Traveller has it's own Centauroids as well... the K'Kree.

- 6mm Napoleonics:
I think I'm going to let these guys sit in 2006. Nappies don't excite my that much but there are a number of locals that enjoy Napoleonics so I've snapped some up at bargain prices over the years.

- SJG OGRE - Arab Forces (Paneuro):
They just need decals. They're already painted in a nice mustard/beige scheme. the catch is that noone makes good decals for Arab forces. I'd have to come up with graphics and get some custom-made. I already have preliminary graphics that I designed.
- SJG OGRE - Israeli Forces (Combine):
I haven't got this force going yet. I have modern Israelis, but I don't have sci-fi Israelis built.

- SJG OGRE - Chinese (Paneuro):
I have the old ugly Irregular 6mm sci-fi infantry to use for Chinese infantry and have a Chinese Dragon cybertank just about converted. I used an Irregular sci-fi piece as the base for the Chinese Dragon.
- SJG OGRE - Japanese (Combine):
I figure that I can use a mixture of GZG and Swedish minature company figures to get a Japanese army with style. I still have no idea how to get Japanese OGREs to look distinctive. I'm thinking of simply going with Combine OGREs and adding some Japanese symbols or anime mecha bitz to them to give a different look.

- 6mm Spacecraft:
L-4s painted spacecraft have inspired me. I have most of the same vehicles (GZG) as him and want to make a cool spaceport scene. Converting 6mm spacecraft is fun. I should order that one anime kit that he built so well.

- 6mm Star Frontiers - UPF Forces:
Any old humans would work for these guys. I'd love to run a "Battle of Volturnus" game. The real complication is how to get all of the alien allies. There are some weird ones too. I could use H&R 6mm sci-fi for the Mechanons. The Octopi-looking fellows are considerably harder. So are the monkey/Ewok/bear fellows.

- 6mm Star Frontiers - Sathar Forces:
Gladiator Games makes some amazing 6mm sci-fi worm forces.

- 6mm Starship Troopers:
I finally found a good lot of Micro Machines SST figures and have Troopers already built (Scotia 6mm sci-fi). I have no idea what line to use for "Skinnies." I'd like to get ahold of the Mongoose SST game when it hits the bargain bins. I would like to get ahold of some more GZG 6mm bug infantry.

- 6mm Vietnam (Green):
I had a great time playtesting the "Lock 'n' Load" game last year and it makes a great nucleus for 'Nam games. The new 1/285 GHQ 'Nam infantry are additionally beautiful. It's tempting. I have two shoe boxes with aircraft, infantry and armor for Vietnam. In those two boxes are a goodly amount of GHQ's Vietnam riverine boats. It also gives me a reason to work on Catachans and jungle terrain.

- 6mm WWI:
I have a solid nucleus of WWI land and air forces. I bought most of them used at a bargain price and most of them need to be touched up. WWI air combat is fun and I'm really tempted to pull out my shoe box of Fokkers and Sopwiths. The other cool thing I could do with WWI forces is to get a "War Of the Worlds" game going. I'd love to get a WWI Middle East set going. I've always wanted to paint Turkish warplanes.

-6mm WWII:
I think I'm going to let these guys sit in 2006. I am excited to eventually to the Blitzkrieg invasion of France (Green), Eastern Front German/Russian battles (White & Brown) and North Africa (Beige) games though.

======

10mm MINIS Ideas:
- 10mm GROPOS (Babylon-5):
Thanks to the generosity of Gandalf and a few others, I have the nucleus of Earthforce and Narn armies. I don't like the game too much, but the minis are beautiful. All of the infantry come with support weapons that are really nice too. I'd also love to build some Centauri, Minbari and Vree forces as well. I have ideas for how to proxy the Vree. The only catch is that noone makes 10mm "Greys" figures to my knowledge.

- 10mm Star Wars "Battle on Endor" (Green):
I did 10mm Hoth last year. I'm tempted to do 10mm Endor this year... only with a real conflict on the ground, not just games with Ewoks. I have most of the materials I'd need and I already built most of the scenery I'd need last year. All I'd really need is a few Imperial bunkers, Imperial shield generators, AT-AT docking platforms and some Ewok village terrain. It's do-able. Oh, the only other catch is how to get 6mm or 10mm Ewoks! Noobdy makes little fuzzy guys in 6mm. Maybe I could use some fine brown flock on some stocky 6mm figures? Can you see ancients spearmen with brown flock? Amusing, no?

- 10mm Star Wars "Battle of Hoth" (White):
I had fun with the 10mm Hoth set last year. I'd like to expand the forces. I have several AT-ATs waiting for attention. I was given some really cool Snowbase sci-fi terrain that I love by a local pal, Mark Carper, who just happens to be the leader of the the Ork "One-Pip Klan" for HOTT.

- 10mm Star Siege:
Dafrca traded me some of these which added to a batch I won on E-bay. Neat minis and not too hard to paint either. I'm thinking of making the Cybrids into a unique alien force or possibly as 'Nid allies and the StarSiege Imperials and Rebels into Star Wars Imperials and Corporate Sector / Fringe forces.

- 10mm Uller Uprising (Green):
I love this novel and reread this year (2005). I'm tempted to get some 10mm Pendraken lizards and do this cool sci-fi novel. I figure that the 10mm WWII figures I have could work for the humans. One of the cool things about UU is that it features cool contragravity jeeps and VSF-like contragravity skiffs / airships.

- 10mm WWII:
I acquired a few 10mm infantry packs and want to build them to have low-tech forces for Planetfall and other sci-fi games. I play WWII in 6mm or 1/285 so I have no need for them as WWI figures. Maybe they could become Sword Worlders or human Federation forces from Uller Uprising.

======
STARSHIP Ideas:
- Babylon-5 A Sky Full of Stars - Shadow Fleet:
I prepared most of the minis and they're not hard to pant (black with grey speckles). I've been meaning to order the cheap Shadows from the fellow who makes so many cool metal minis: Babylon-5, Batterstar Galctica and even Star Wars.

- Babylon-5 A Sky Full of Stars - Vree Fleet:
I'm looking for a discount Vree fleet box. I love flying saucers. I will also make a few cow markers as Vree objectives! Monster Island also has the Deeloks which are another alien "Greys" force. Scotia has a number of cool saucers I could use as Vree proxies.

- BFG - Imperial Navy:
I painted a fleet and added a built one to my work back around 2001. My friend that played this, Joel, burnt out on gaming. GW frustrated him out of gaming.

- BFG - Imperial Ork Pirate Fleet:
I found these guys at a swap meet in 2004. I got a huge bag of them for around $25.00 USD.

- BFG - Necron Navy:
I bought these back in 2003 out of the bargain bin when Hobby Workshop closed... or was it 2002?

- Star Frontiers / Star Guard - Human UPF Fleet:
These guys are in storage. I'm on the lookout for a few Romulan Micro Machines minis for use as UPF minelayers. They look almost identical. I'd love to get some decals made for this fleet. I have a number of conversions I worked out for the ship hulls that weren't made.

- Star Frontiers / Star Guard - Sathar Fleet:
These guys are in storage. I'd love to get some decals made for this fleet. The Sathar fleet looks somewhat like the BFG Tau fleet. I have a number of conversions I worked out for the ship hulls that weren't made.

======

TERRAIN Ideas:
- Agri-world Board (Green):
I have villages and need to use some trees to make orchards. I have a number of barns too and want to make some silos. I'd also like to build some water reservoirs with pumping equipment. Crops lines are also easy to make... bascially a small mound with green flock on it. Spare brush bristles makes taller crops for 6mm.
- Temperate Woods Board (Green):
I built woods last year and I want to make more. They're fun and easy to make. Woodland Scenics plastic tree armatures are both cheap and easy to use.

- Jungle Board (Green):
I've been meaning to buy aquarium plants and make some jungle for far too long. Maybe 2005 is the year to make jungle terrain...
- Jungle Firebase (Green):
I've got the better part of the GZG Microtac 6mm firebase set and would love to paint it up for Catachans or Vietnam.

- Alien Bio-infested World Board (Green):
I have some Tyranid bitz and want to make some "bio-infestation" terrain pieces for my green boards.
- Alien Mushroom Wooded World Board (Green):
I won a ton of resin mushrooms in an odd E-bay auction and want to build them to make an alien forest of giant mushrooms.
- Alien City Board (High-tech organiform look) (Green):
These are my plans for an Eldar city board for Craftworld or Exodite Eldar. I've been collecting odd shaped bottles and packaging for some time to convert into Eldar architecture. One of the musts for Eldar Exodites are Megasaur Meat Beast pens. With Grav technology, the Eldar don't need to pave their surfaces so I imagine that they leave most of it lush and green. Imagine an eco-city or advanced arcologies. Of course, most of the Eldar moved onto craftworlds, but I imagine that there could be standing planetary Eldar city somewhere.

- City Board (Modern) (Grey) - Commercial, Industrial, Residential & Military Structures:
I built some in 2005, but not enough. I'd like to have the city built up for kaiju games. I can also use the city board for Autoduel / Car Wars.
- City Board (Modern) (Grey) - Railroad Facilities:
I still haven't decided who to go with for RR track. I can either go with a mini manufacturer (H&R or Leva) or with Z-scale model RR track.
- City Board (Modern) (Grey) - Airport Facilities:
I've wanted to make an airfield board for awhile. Entebbe beckons.

- Sci-fi City Board (Sci-fi) (Grey) - Commercial & Residential Structures):
I've collected some odd pieces to make a high-tech downtown area for high-tech sci-fi cities. The Old Crow buildings and Monorail beckon as well as the many packaging pieces I have built up to make this Coruscant-like city with.
- Sci-fi City Board (Sci-fi) (Grey) - Spaceport Facilities:
I'd like to build a spaceport terrain set to park my 6mm spacecraft in. I've always wanted to play the Dirtside II scenario with the spaceport as well.
- Alien City Board (High-tech concrete look) (Grey):
I'd love to build some high-tech alien cities by buying some Old Crow. I think they'll have Tau markings on them. This will be a non-human set with Tau as the inspiration. Stefane Kotrin from France inspired me with this one.
- Apocalyptic Board (Sci-fi) (Grey):
The Apolcalyptic / Ash Wastes baord will have grey bases and blend into the city board. I'll texture some plywood sheet with sand and kitty litter and drybrush it grey.

- Mars Board (Red):
Chern and I built Mars Forgeworld boards back in 204 and I continued working on them in 2005. There are still alot of terrain pieces I'd like to finish for the Mars boards. I have ruined factory that needs to be finished and a really cool Adeptus Mechanicus Temple that is nearly done.
- Necron Board (Red):
I bought some neat Armorcast terrain pieces to use with my Necrons when they are ready. I'm not sure if i want this board to go with the Mars (Red) look or the Apocalyptic / Ash Wastes (Grey) look. I'm leaning towards Mars.

- Winter Board (White):
So far, I've been using a nice white sheet and some white hills for my Winter board. I'd like to make some Winter rough terrain (rocky talus areas), giant ice crystals and snowy woods as well.
- Winter City Board (White):
The old Epic-40k terrain tables had a ship crashed in the ice as a terrain option and I've always wanted to do it. I frequently see Titantic medel kits on sale... oh, the temptation! I have some Winter board sci-fi base pieces that my friend Mark Carper made for me as a gift.

- Desert Boards (Beige):
I have a basic set of beige board I use for modern Middle East games. I'd like to work on these some more and create some Wadi (dry riverbed) and Sangar (rock fortification) pieces.
- Alien Desert City Board (Low-tech pueblo/stucco look) (Beige):
These are my Ork pieces, which double for my Arabs as well. The more sci-fi pieces get Ork decoration and the more modern pieces get left as Arab pieces.  

======

TRAVELLER Ideas:
- 6mm Traveller Imperial Forces:
I whipped up a bunch of these for Planetfall playtesting. I mostly used GZG minis with excess Epic SM infantry.

- 6mm Traveller Zhodani Forces:
I whipped up a bunch of these for Planetfall playtesting. I mostly used GZG minis with excess Epic SM infantry.

- 6mm Traveller Vargyr Forces:
I still have no idea what to use for these fellows. I like dog/wolf men though. I'm thinking that Adler makes good figures for these fellows.

- 6mm Traveller Sword Worlder Forces:
I still have no idea what to use for these fellows. They're relatively low-tech for Traveller so probably moderns or WWII could work for most of their ranks.

======

Please feel free to chime in and suggest what you think I should do.


Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.

_________________
6mm Sci-fi:
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/6mm ... nWarGames/
My Personal Blog:
http://6mm-minis.blogspot.com/


Top
 Profile Send private message  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 1843 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1 ... 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94 ... 123  Next


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 4 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  


Powered by phpBB ® Forum Software © phpBB Group
CoDFaction Style by Daniel St. Jules of Gamexe.net