Ahoy, we've got new followers aboard

After months of going along with a steady state of affairs, we suddenly have a burst of growth. That this happens in a month when I've been singularly inactive, does this mean people like it more when I say NOTHING? Really? Well, forget it! I'm gonna speak my mind ... what I have left of it, anyway.

Janice and Pirate Percy aboard the Laughingstock
from "Candle Cove," as interpreted by Ominous-Artist on deviantart

There are three new followers here, so I want to introduce everyone around. Here they are, in a random order:

• Herbert West, author of the Critical Failure blog, is a former gaming industry professional who is now a teacher. His blog began back in September and already seems to be going great guns. Give this fellow fan of Victorian SF a look and a follow, if you please.
• Malifaux Ve is also a new follower here. I'm a friend of Malifaux Ve on Facebook and a follower on Twitter. There's a shortage of information on the person actually running the account, so it may be several users sharing moderator duties, I don't know, but MalifauxVe is all over social media. I believe the person handling (at least some of) the accounts is an (or the) official Malifaux Henchman for Venezuela. All I can say is I first starting looking at the painted models on his/their Twitter feed and was way impressed. Always nice looking stuff there.
• Gingerbhoy is our third new addition. Gingerbhoy appears to have had a couple of blogs but the links on his blogger profile are dead now. If there's a new link, let me know in the comments please!

(Regarding the above choice of illustration: Yes, I'm a creepypasta fan, and I think Kris Straub's "Candle Cove" is the greatest creepypasta ever written. And yes, I know, if there's any pirate ship you'd NOT want to be press-ganged onto, it would be the Laughingstock.)

So, this is a big con week with Blizzcon just wrapping up for the videogamers and Fall In taking place for the tabletop wargamers, and innumerable others also going on. Like 'Mater in Disney's "Cars," I'd give my left two lugnuts to be at a convention instead of working this weekend. So all of you attending cons, have fun, take plenty of pictures, and I expect a full report when you get back. If you want to hook a brother up with some swag, I won't say no.

I've got more planned for the coming week, none of which involves explaining my complete failure to produce anything for Zomtober. I'm batting a perfect .000 over two years now. Feel the cool breeze of Failvember. Yup. And then right into pine-scented Decembust.

In the pipeline I've got a look at some recent acquisitions: more Patrick Keith shinies from Bombshell, a couple of gorgeous ladies from Hasslefree and some Cephalyx creepiness I snagged.

Today my copy of Ravage Issue 15 (English edition) came in, so I plan to do something I've never done before: an item-by-item review of the contents of a magazine.

That's it for now. Back to the boards, everyone, and I'll see you across the table soon.

Welcome aboard! and the Age of Personal Miracles

I am so excited to announce these two new followers. At first I wasn't going to wait until my usual "Welcoming Wednesday" post, but I decided to stay disciplined about it, then I ended up a little under the weather and missed Wednesday itself by a few hours. Damn.

First we have Obsidian3D, author of the blog "Thinking Outside the Box" and master of the Obsidian Fists space marine chapter. This blog as been rolling on and going from strength to strength since 2006. Quality content keeps the readers coming back, and that's the secret to longevity over at "Thinking Outside the Box." This blog covers topics outside gaming, too, including computer topics so rarefied I have no idea what's going on, although I always learn something. Welcome aboard, Obsidian3D!

And now, drumroll please ... we welcome none other than Francis Lee, the Angry Lurker himself! Francis is a member of Posties Rejects and frequently posts about the activities of (and personalities in) that wargaming club. The Angry Lurker blog is another with great longevity, and I am always informed and entertained by the writing there. I try not to get too starstruck in this field, but as gaming bloggers go, the Angry Lurker is tops in my book and I'm truly honored to have him visit my little corner of the interwebz.

Speaking of being starstruck, may I truly say we live in an age of miracles. This technology and the advent of social media have made things happen for me I never would've believed possible. To be in such close contact with the creators of the games I enjoy, the writers of blogs I follow religiously, the sculptors behind the minis I crave and can't get enough of, the authors of novels that have shaped my own writing, and the artists who have executed such awe-inspiring paint jobs that my jaw just drops ... it is part the boon of the technology, but it is also great testimony to the generosity of spirit and warm-heartedness of those who make this hobby great.

Here are some of the things that still leave me gobsmacked:

• I count among my closest friends Hendybadger and The Galley Wench of "Tales of a Tabletop Skirmisher." In fact, although I'm an ocean away, I am Coleen's Official Stalker™.
• When I asked to piggyback on someone's Crocodile Games kickstarter buy so I could get one figure, it was Liliana Troy who offered to help. I've admired the elegant and color-rich work of this legendary painter and Slayer-weapon winner for a long time.
• I couldn't remember a reference work that was mentioned in an interview I read with Tim Powers, James Blaylock and K.W. Jeter, the godfathers of steampunk. Hell, Jeter coined the term. I sent him an email asking if he might know what I was referring to, not really expecting to hear back since authors of his stature are busy people, they have legions of fans and he doesn't know me from Adam's housecat. I got a response from the author of "Infernal Devices" and "Morlock Night" in under two hours.
• Craig Cartmell, co-author of "In Her Majesty's Name," has been highly complimentary about the fiction I've posted here. 
• I am currently engaged in a Facebook poke war with wappellious, winner of Crystal Brush and Golden Demon awards aplenty. James truly goes the extra mile in the how-to articles on his informative and educational (and beautiful) blog.
• And most of all, the outpouring of love and support we've received from you, my readers and colleagues, as I've shared things about my own struggle with hoarding and depression and my wife's continuing battle with her spinal condition and chronic pain. You have buoyed our spirits, dried our tears, fueled our fires and inspired us both to continue fighting the good fight. All you people are amazing, and I am more grateful than I will ever find adequate words to say.

There are more and others, but these are the ones I can find in my head and my heart most easily tonight.

Damn but you people are fantastic.

Welcome aboard to some worthy seadogs

It's Welcoming Wednesday, and I'm delighted to have so many new people to welcome as official followers of the blog.

First up is the dreaded Roebeast himself, about whom I have written several times. Brian S. Roe of R Squared Studios and "Zombie Plague" fame maintains his own blog at Roebeast's Magical House of Sunshine. If you've never had the pleasure of dealing with Brian, let me say he is a champ, a rockstar, and a gentleman of the first order.

Next up is greywolf, who is the force behind Greywolf's Last Valley. I must say I love the tagline under the title on this blog: "A place where werewolves frolic with scantily dressed women, amongst other things." Now blogger tells me that greywolf also had two other blogs, The Cyber Carboot Sale and Childe Roland's Dark Tower, but they seem not to have been updated in a while. At least that's better than my other blog that shows up on my blogger profile, the one I plan to use for my eventual modern zombie tale, Heading back to Moab, which has never even had a single entry!

And we round out today's welcomes with Paul Smith. Paul is the force behind Endtransmission's Gaming Blog. Welcome, good sir, Glad to have you aboard!

So it's grog all around and the last one drunk spends the night with the captain's daughter. Then it's back to the boards, folks, and I'll see you across the table!

Welcoming Wednesday

We have a couple of new fellow travelers to welcome aboard as public followers of the blog here. 

First is czaki, for whom I cannot find an associated blog. If you have one you'd like me to promote, please let me know. Czaki carries the distinction of being the blog's 50th public follower. Thank you!

Next is Paradox0n, who writes the aptly named Paradox0n's Wargaming Blog. Since blogger's mobile app is preventing me from making that an active link, you can find it at http://paradox0n.blogspot.com/?m=1. 

Welcome aboard, the buffet's open and the fireworks start at the onset of full dark. Back to the boards, everybody, and I'll see you across the table!

Welcoming Wednesday (well, it's still Wednesday on the West Coast)

Roll out the red carpet for our latest fellow traveler, Alex Hood! Welcome aboard, Alex. Hope you're intrigued and entertained.

Welcoming Wednesday

Let me welcome new member Ridmasta, this blog's 48th follower. Ridmasta, again provided I haven't gone totally off my web fu, runs both a painting service and the excellently titled blog Fanplastic Little Men.

Welcoming Wednesday

This week we welcome Debs FitzPatrick as a follower of the blog. Veteran gamer and heart and soul of the Crocodile Games business empire, Debs is the wife of Chris FitzPatrick, whom I welcomed last week. I think you guys may be my first married couple of followers. Cool! Welcome aboard, Debs!

Welcoming Wednesday

Today we welcome Louis Britton, known as UrbanWulf, author of the blog Lead Dead Redemption. He's currently tracking his All Things Zombie Final Fade Out campaign. Also joining us is painting maven Anne O'Leary of O'Leary Miniatures. Her rendition of Tom Meier's Ballerina Princess Fairies will lift the coldest, grumpiest heart.

It's Welcoming Wednesday, and a milestone!

Welcome to Wednesday, and welcome aboard to our three new members. We have Kris Marquardt of the wonderful "Wargames and Railroads" blog aboard now, and Edwin King, who my web fu tells me maintains the erudite and interesting "Thoughts of a Depressive Diplomatist" blog. Derek Robertson has also joined this journey, but I'm unable to verify at first pass if this is the same Derek Robertson of hotmilkydrink fame.

Also, at some point while I was distracted by something shiny, "Dispatches from the Rim" passed 10,000 page views! Since I write such a niche hobby blog, this has really surprised me, happening even before my first year as a gaming blogger has passed. My sincere and heartfelt thanks to all of you out there who have helped me reach this milestone. In honor of the growth of the blog, I am going to hold myself to a more regular publishing schedule. I see no reason why I shouldn't be able to inflict my views on you share my opinions, discoveries and hobby efforts with you at least twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

I know I should run some kind of contest as so many others have or are, but I'm really not in a position to right now. I tell you what: We have 43 members who have seen fit to join this blog as followers. When we hit 100 followers, I'll run a drawing with multiple prizes. Mostly minis, but perhaps some books mixed in there as well.

Back to the boards, everyone, and I'll see you across the table.

Welcoming Wednesday ...

Today we welcome to our ranks Brandon Goben, also known as Bloodthorn, who has a blog at Bloodthorn Studios. One of us, one of us!

I must say I love Bloodthorn's self-description on the blog: "An average gamer with suffering from unlimited interests but hindered by limited resources."

True for so many of us!

Again, welcome!

Kick Spinespur into high gear, and a belated Welcome ....

OK, folks, there's just under two days left for the Spinespur kickstarter, and we're less than $1,000 away from reaching the next stretch goal, which will provide each pledger with a free mini that looks like a post-apoc gladiator with a variety of weapons.

I missed Welcome Wednesday yesterday because, to be honest, I've gotten out of the habit as the number has remained steady for nigh on a month here. But we do have a new follower here, and I'm glad to welcome them:

Second Class Elitist, one of the authors of the League of Extraordinary Gamers blog, has joined us as a follower. Welcome, fellow gamer!

Welcoming Wednesday

It's Wednesday, and that means it is time to welcome our new followers. Today we welcome Cristina Piras, aka Cristina Violet, who authors the blog Violet Paint at http://violetpaint.blogspot.it/. Looks like she mostly paints GW minis herself, with a smattering of other manufacturers and card art! Very exciting to have you aboard, Cristina.
Also I had some great news today. Over on Facebook, the folks at Dirigible Days, a steampunk Web series you can find on YouTube -- strike that, you SHOULD seek it out -- chose to share "Dispatches from the Rim" with their readers! I found Dirigible Days largely because author, bon vivant and raconteur G.D. Falksen is part of the cast. I'm so glad that I did, and soon you other steampunk fans will be, too!
I promise I'll have some more new content for you by Monday, faithful readers. See you then!