No not that one!

August 13, 2026Battletech, Battletech Alpha StrikeDarren

Almost legendary amongst Battletech players is the Battletech Grinder.

Catalyst Games have the following description of it:

“The Battletech Grinder is the most popular scenario the CDT runs at Gencon/Origins but probably also one of the most popular events our agents run overall worldwide.

The Grinder is a casual event great for all ability levels where players only pilot one mech at a time. The general idea of the Grinder is that players start with a simple, small mech that uses basic weapons and rules. When they die they get a bigger, better mech as it were that has slightly more complicated weapons and rules. This way new players are introduced to the vast rules of tabletop Battletech over time.”

These Grinder kits were only available to retailers or used at events. Like all things one or two of these kits have ended up on eBay, naturally with an exploitative price tag to match their exclusivity.

But that’s all changed, Catalyst Games “ran out of those kits. With the way the economic landscape was shaping up, getting in more pieces of the kits was not financially viable in the current climate.

However, they still had the miniatures.

Each Grinder Tray contains thirty plastic miniatures, cast in the color of their tiers, then treated with a wash to bring out the details that make each one stand out. The miniatures are actually the exact contents of several ForcePacks that came out with the fulfillment of the Clan Invasion Kickstarter.”

The stuff that came along with the models that made the kit isn’t included. So no neoprene playmat, initiative cards, dry erase pens, dice, etc.

However the paper side of things can be downloaded for free off their website. Which I have done.

The Grinder Tray isn’t cheap, although for the number of models isn’t badly priced. Plus it’s considerably cheaper than those full Grinder kits on eBay.

And guess what? I pulled the trigger and ordered the Grinder Tray.

I have the initiative deck, lots of dice and pens. So I just need to get a suitable neoprene mat.

The plan is to run two or three Grinder events a year for Fenland Gamers and at The Angle. Hopefully these will get people interested in playing and give Diego and myself regular games.

August 2026 Gaming Roundup Part 1

August 11, 2026Gaming roundupDarren

Another strong start to the month, especially considering it’s the height of holiday season.

Star Wars Unlimited Twin Suns: starting the month off in style. Teaching new players that hopefully will become regulars. There was even a game that ended in a draw! A new Twin Suns deck is in the works. Which reminds me I need to put up my All the Vaders deck.

Glory to Rome: wow! I love this game. I love the multi use cards, and boy are some of the buildings completely over powered. It scales well. The game flow is quite simple really. I love the lead follow mechanic. This game is so good it is challenging Scythe as my favourite game! It’s that good in my eyes. It’s definitely my game of the year.

Duel of Meloch: I’m still playing the Expeditions side. But it’s still great fun.

Ashes Ascendancy: we played using the two phoenixborn from the Ascendancy starter. This game does not get the love it deserves. Like Netrunner I need to get this to the table regularly.

Expeditions: so glad to get this back to the table after such a long time away. I had the Duel of Meloch stuff mixed in. It was a two player game but still pretty close.

Zombie Princess: I like it, and currently it’s in the bag instead of Rebel Princess. Does that mean I like it more? No. It’s still early days. I think it’s different enough (based on hearts, and can play as teams) that you can have both in the collection.

National Economy: we played with the Mecenat deck this time. Loved the arts theme, and what the buildings added. Synergy is the key to this one. Lots more high valued buildings. Victory points become a thing. Get a set of three and they score you ten points, otherwise they are worth a single point.

Excalibur: great chaotic fun as always.

New Arrivals

Glory to Rome 1.5 edition
Ashes Ascendancy Natural Magic expansion
Mottainai

LiveFromPeru Part 13

August 6, 2026#livefromperu, #MonsterSquad, #SuicideSquad, #the3d’s, #walkingDollyDarren

It’s been a hot minute since I’ve done one of these posts. You’d almost be forgiven for thinking this was just the Ace show.

Diogo has finished his five sessions with the trainer.

The first session was about stopping Diogo from barking while we get ready for our walk, and get out the door. Diogo gets very excited and expresses that excitement vocally.

Diogo isn’t perfect but he’ll never be that. However he has made massive improvements. Plus it’s a work in progress.

The remaining four sessions were working on Diogo reacting to other dogs.

Two of the sessions were at an enclosed dog park with another dog. The third session was at the main Wisbech park. While the fourth session was a socialisation walk with another dog (a female Doberman) at Shouldham Warren.

Diogo when he reacts to another dog isn’t out of aggression but excitement to see them. His tail is wagging. But mean me is stopping him from going to say hello.

We still have a lot of work to do. However he is improving.

But that’s part of the excitement of him going on a walk. He wants to meet other dogs.

The socialisation walk was funny because after meeting the other dog he basically ignored her as we walked round Shouldham Warren.

Although he did react to other dogs we came across.

At the end of the walk at the car park were a couple of horses. I wasn’t sure how Diogo would react to them. I know Dolly would react to them. She barks at them in the telly, and has done in real life in the past.

Diogo was unsure what to make of them and growled a couple of times. I suppose he might have been more sure if they were alpacas or llamas.

Then last weekend we went on another socialisation walk. But this time Dolly joined us, and there would be several dogs on the walk.

It was hot but not as hot as it had been. I had plenty of water with me, a tarp, a couple of jungle knots. If we needed to stop I was prepared.

Overall my monster squad did ok, especially in the later half.

On the home stretch Dolly started to feel the heat. So we hung back, and let the others go ahead. Dolly is pretty good in telling me she needs to rest. We went at her pace. When she stopped I offered her water. Sometimes she drank, others she didn’t.

Near the end I picked her up and carried her. It wasn’t fair on her. And she is a kilo lighter.

I will sign them both up for more socialisation walks.

I did make Diogo a new lead using about six feet of climbing rope and a couple of carabiners. Obviously one end clips onto Diogo, and the other onto my bumbag. It means when he’s pulling he’s pulling against my body weight and not my arm strength.

I think we are seeing more and more of Diogo’s personality coming out as he feels more and more at home and safe. Since the passing of mums cat Ramsey, Diogo when we are round hers likes to lie under her dinning table for some reason. I’m not sure if that’s a feeling safe, secure thing. Diogo is also a digger we have discovered. He doesn’t just like digging, he likes lying in the hole he’s dug.

So that’s the end of this major update on Diogo.

Bgstats for July 2026

August 2, 2026bgstat, by the numbers, gaming stats, statsDarren

Another great month of gaming. Surely this trend will end next month with it being the main month for Summer holidays?

So glad a lot of the new arrivals got to the table. Plus there was a two player game session with Dave. There are some great two player games that deserve so much love but don’t get it because they are so hard to get to the table.

Anyway enough rambling here’s the infographic summarising the month.

The traditional end to this post is obviously the raw data for the month.

Operation A Dog Named Sue! #22

August 1, 2026#littlemonsters, #MonsterSquad, #SuicideSquad, life, the universe, and everythingDarren

There were more photos shared of Ace in Peru yesterday.

There was no further updates on Ace.

July 2026 Gaming Round up Part 2

August 1, 2026Gaming roundupDarren

A great end to the second half of the month. Introduced some games to new players and also we got to play a new game or two.

Star Wars Unlimited Twin Suns: despite what I perceive as weakness in the format compared to say Commander in MtG. This is still a good, fun multiplayer game for SWU. I think it helps that I found a great fun group to play with. I also ordered a digital device to track life aka damage to the base called a life puck. One or two of the other players have them, and I suppose I caved to peer pressure. Nice thing is it’s not game specific so could easily be used with other games.

Battletech Alpha Strike: it was great getting this to the table again. We played with two 300 point teams I built. Each team was basically two lances. I should do a post about the two teams I built. We were playing a King of the Hill scenario. Which ended up being a comprehensive victory for me. I was leading 3-0 by round eight and that was when the killing blow was delivered whipping out Diego’s forces.

I do need a better way to transport the minis

Finspan: we played with the reefs and sharks expansion. I liked what it added. Especially the reef tokens. Although I like Finspan, if I had to rank the games in the span family this would be last without a doubt.

National Economy: I loving this game. I think next time I play it’s onto the next box on the game to see new cards and mechanics.

Streets: a tile laying game owned by Marcin. Which is funny because he isn’t a fan of tile laying games! I guess this is the exception to the rule!! It was fun.

Wingspan Pocket: this game is soooo quick to teach. Literally 5 minutes max. And that was to two not really gamers (their jam is more SWU/Pokemon). I do think your first turn has to be to play a bird so that first activation of your flock gets you some value. I also think birds with a green power (on going ability) are great opening hand or early birds to play. But the later on unless they are a high point bird not worth playing. But you are building a mini engine where synergy with other cards is important. I got a get egg, discard egg for cards combo going, then a copy brown ability bird, followed by a discard egg for resources combo going. I did win but the scores were tighter than I had expected. Even at four players it’s a relatively quick game, although you are getting through the deck piles quicker.

West Story A Town Building Game: a four player game. It played great at this player count. Competition for town spots was a lot more competitive.

Duel of Meloch: managed to play this with Dave. I played the Expeditions side. I managed to snatch the win apparently just in time. Dave was going to be doing a power move the next round to get his final two stars out. It was interesting playing basically a different game to the other player in a race to get four stars out. But it works! We were both rusty on our respective game rules. But that’s due to it being so long since either has hit the table. Love the new combat cards.

Zombie Princess: the follow up to Rebel Princess. This time the trick taking is based on Hearts. So at the start of each round you are bidding on the number of tricks you think you will win. Unlike Rebel Princess highest scores wins. You score for meeting your bid and you also collecting zombie tokens. It still has the changing rules each round, and the passing of cards to your opponents. You still have the Princess powers. The Frog Prince is helpful in this game and if you win a trick with him in it at the end of the round you are able to decide if the trick counts towards your total, making it “easier” to make your bid. Scoring at the end of the round is a bit more fiddly. But it’s still fun. More so than Rebel Princess? The jury is still out on that one.

Pilgrims Curious Adventures: there is no player interaction in this game. It was ok. It’s played over four rounds, you get three actions per round. So it’s an efficiency of action game. It was an ok game. The others seemed more enamoured with it.

New Arrivals

Wingspan Pocket
Some secondhand Battletech novels
Duel of Meloch
Origin Stories Heroes and Villians expansion
Duel of Meloch metal miniatures
Duel of Meloch plastic airship
Zombie Princesses Kickstarter
Life puck

Operation A Dog Named Sue! #21

July 27, 2026#littlemonsters, #MonsterSquad, #SuicideSquad, life, the universe, and everythingDarren

This latest video came in the later part of last week.

I shared it on the socials in preparation for posting here. But I waited hoping that there would be some news on his progress and some photos.

However neither appeared.

Which is a little disappointing.

I do love receiving photos of Ace.

Anyway here is the latest short video of Ace being happy.

An interesting experiment

July 20, 2026life, the universe, and everythingDarren

Last Wednesday Stonemaier Games launched two new games and an expansion on their website.

The games went live whilst I was at a family meal called the cousins meal. This was the first one I’d been invited to.

So obviously come the magic launch time I was on my phone and logged into the EU webstore.

I selected 3 copies of Duel of Meloch, 3 copies or so I thought of Wingspan Pocket, a copy of the Original Story expansion Heroes and Villians, a set of the metal mechs for Duel, and a plastic airship.

About forty minutes later in my car I checked my email and discovered in the order confirmation email I had only put 2 copies of Wingspan Pocket. I’d also forgotten to order a copy of the Viticulture Bordeaux expansion.

So I quickly went back on line and ordered them. Paying postage this time.

I should not it’s always worth buying at launch from Stonemaier because for the initial 5 days of sale it is discounted, and then discounted again if you are a champion.

I thought this will be interesting which order will arrive first? Will it be at the same time?

Well I got the answer Friday afternoon.

Spiral Galaxy had shipped the single Wingspan Pocket and Bordeaux expansion. Not a whiff of my “big” order.

As expected the “small” order turned up this morning. Which is great because I’ll be able to show Wingspan Pocket at The Angle this evening.

But I can’t help feeling a tad disappointed that the big order wasn’t sent at the same time.

I know Jamey says when you place your order makes no difference to when it gets sent. I think this kind of proves it.

But I’m thinking maybe the size of the order does. Do small orders get sent first by Spiral Galaxy?

Being a Stonemaier Champion is meant to have an impact. Champion orders are meant to ship first. I’d love to know how Stonemaier checks that the third party distributors are doing this.

So that was my unintentional little experiment with Stonemaier shipping. I just got to wait for the “big” order now.

July 2026 Gaming Roundup Part 1

July 16, 2026Gaming roundupDarren

A pretty good start to the month again.

Star Wars Unlimited Twin Suns: still fine tuning the All the Vaders deck. Giving some serious thought to the inclusion of the high cost cards. However I did get to take part in an Ashes of the Empire prerelease. Which I wasn’t expecting. Despite not starting on time and only getting to play two rounds of the swiss (I went 1-1) I had a great time. Plus got some useful pulls that will go in the Twin Suns decks.

West Story A Town Building Game: a three player game, and it played just the same as the two player. Love the game.

Pili Pili: yep. ‘Nuff said.

Slambo!: great fun and so easy to teach to new players.

National Economy: what a great game. So glad I watched that Rahdo video and went to the trouble of importing it from Japan via eBay.

World Order: the follow up to Hegemony. It’s a nice deck builder with some area control thrown in. I played China and won. But the deckbuilding element was nice, with the purchased cards going to the top of your deck. So you are playing them straight away on the next round. I like that.

Marvel Skirmish! In New York: had a two player evening with Dave and it was great to get this two player to the table.

Tokaido Duo: a great two player version of the game. Was a little rusty but a couple turns in and you get the game.

Norsewind: an interesting game. You are kinda engine building. It gave me some Imperial Settlers vibes but that’s all. But still a nice game. I liked that when you place your card in one of five rows you get a bonus of some sort. Some of those bonuses are based on the number of a specific card type in the other rows. Which is something you have to balance out, when deciding where to place the card.

Fearless: an interesting trick taker. You are not just trying to win the trick, but also trying to track the running total of the values of the cards. You want to win with a score as close to zero as possible. You have to win a trick other wise at the end of the round you get an automatic 15 points. Lowest score at the end wins.

New Arrivals

Sniper Elite Operation Kraken expansion, storage box, and Escalation mini expansion
Win
SWU Ashes of the Empire spotlight decks
Wondrous Creatures Winterfall expansion
Gale Force Nine – Hextech – Rivers & Lakes
Battletech Battle of Tukayyid map pack
BattleTech ComStar Command Level II

Operation A Dog Named Sue! #20

July 14, 2026#littlemonsters, #MonsterSquad, #SuicideSquadDarren

Whilst playing in a SWU prerelease last night some new photos and a video came through of Ace.

“This is the last report of Ace but he looks a lot better. I don’t know how they’ll do the kennel but it would be nice if he can get used to the kennel so the flight is smooth for Ace.

Other boots were bought for Ace as he ended up making some holes while picking at his feet

Here’s the new one they bought”