However, from the far west, coming out of the sunset comes a man........
We hove to, piling into a section of rock, scoured by the wind and sand over the years, bleak bones of the earth shooting out from the constantly shifting soil. We made camp and started a fire.
And then one of us noticed him. A tall, lone figure, almost gaunt approached out of the sunset, seemingly not there one moment, and then after a glaring flash of shadow passed out from the sun into our view. He made his steady way to our fire, nerve seeming to rush, nor hesitant. Just a solid character woven from the play of shadow and light in the desert.He approached and stated "Ho, The fire!" As though we were not all standing watching him come, our hands nervously twitching for holds on our weapons. But I noticed, all of my companions were reluctant to draw too close to the weapons. Afraid to test this one man against us four.
Finally, I was surprised to hear someone state : "Ho, walker. Approach."
I was even more surprised when I noticed it was my throat that had uttered the words.
As he approached, eyeing us hardly at all, we gleaned every detail we could, from his travel clothes to the well-worn hilt protruding from his side.
"So what are you all doing out here? Crossing this land and is seemingly dire straits? This is not the kinds of land to cross if you have foul intentions. And it is a foul time to read where you are not known....." he trailed off. The slide from innocent question to stark declaration, jarring in there presentation.
We flinched. We looked quietly at one another. Then I swallowed and said: "We mean no harm, sir. Nor did we mean to trespass on your land, if it is. We are into bandits from the high country, or anywhere. We are just out looking for the path. The sacred path. To the Game."
He sat still for a moment, the cool desert wind brushing his hair, and his dark eyes, squinted as he measured us.
He smiled. then sat at the fire grabbing a stick, and lightly pushing at the coals. "Well, sit down. I have some news for you. I have a document you need to see. It will guide you to the Game, boys. It'll bring you sights and sounds of battles ages gone by...."
He produced a wrapped package from his saddlebag. He gently un-wrapped it, motioning for us to get him some of our beer. And when he was finally ready, pulled out a small set of papers. An unfamiliar logo on the cover....he chuckled. And said, "Can you boys read?".
Startled...for a moment, then Jebediah muttered " Not all that well...."
"Well, the old man said. Let me start. "Oldhammer in the New World. The fanzine of Oldhammer in the Americas!"
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Ah, telling tale around the campfire. Of course, our "fire" is now the internet. But it is sometimes amazing to me how hard it is to sometimes find the places we need to be - often when they are right in front of us.
Most of you know that I started my blog originally to have an event where we could emulate Bring Out Your Lead in Britain. We had a great event, and there have been several more, Weekends where incredible minis have been played across great fields, and like minded people have been able to gather for beers and talk. It could not be better.
Always one problem though. While the UK is tightly packed with gamer, and has had Games Workshop stores in just about every major community. The US (and indeed the Americas since we include our Canadian Brethren) is just HUUGE in comparison.
We established Oldhammer in the New World on face book and it has now grown to over 300 members. But we also constantly find people on the Oldhammer community pages that are in the US or Canada, and yet have no idea we try to hold events, or share pics and ideas on our North American page as well.
The people we have met through these events stay in touch, host other games in basements and stores, and continually spur each other on for more hobby all the time. Of course, these guys I have met also have long running discussions, that have continued to make me laugh and try for more all the time. I mean, long running jokes bind us all together.
One of those gentleman, who lives way out west and has now attended events out East, probably earning the farthest traveled Oldhammer member in the US in the process is Sean T. Squires. You can find his blog here. Like AirborneGrove26, he has given us some incredible battle reports using Comic Life (which even has a 30 day free trial) making our battles come alive as comics.
The humor they put into these things are incredible and they have a great "Oldhammer vibe". And they really highlight some of what we are getting up to over here on this side of the pond.
So in order to get this new cool zine - come on over. Once you are accepted you can see what we have been getting up to in the Americas! If you are new to America and have some cool models to show off, get some info to Sean, he is currently looking for more submissions for issue 2 and beyond!
As an aside: Why do we find these things so much fun (besides the great people we have met?) At the first Oldhammer Weekend, I had several "extras" I had brought with me, and I was able to get Andrew Dyer a giant ogre. Later on - I was able to see that ogre (who had been in my collection since 1990's beautifully painted. You can see that here and Andrews blog as well.
Of course, event blogs were all over the place over the last big Oldhammer Weekend but before I could even post this - some already got together for another meeting in a deep dungeon....But here are some blogs to follow for that info:
Of course Blue in Vt (who I originally met online at Chaos Dwarf Online)
ZeroTwentyThree's blog!
AirborneGrove26's amazing musings!
The man the myth the legend - He of Three Names (With some incredibly cool house rules called Rogue Ops allowing for stealhty attacks!)
And follow their links to even more hijinks! I promise they all post more often than I!
But come on over to the facebook group, and You will see more posts by artists like Lissane Lake, and some great old figures by Dave Matalon (who is currently hoping to find more Oldahmmerer's in the LA area! See Thomas I. Rabbits incredible units! Chris McCandless who puts up so many great shots of games with Rusty Gouldman (man I wish I was closer!) The Kirkell Brothers, Urion Franz, Anthony Bo, Leland Erickson, Ma Willet, Gary McGregor, Dustin M. Haberstumpf, Will McMahon, Frederick J Rose, Sam Gallagher, Jason Timko, Nathan Heazlett, Kronos Lee, Paul Martin Reilly, Joe Krone and his Watchful I, Frederick J Rose, and more have all posted incredible picture of their hobby. Gorgeous minis/units painted up - Games played, stories of old figures found, How to get that pesky paint off a just bought treasure on ebay. It is because of these members and many more not listed (sorry I can't list EVERYONE) that this has truly become a special place on the net to go and unwind.
Oh, and one other thing: Two more events coming up soon:
Shorehammer - where David "Ork" Kolar and gang are hosting some Oldhammer! (not much notice I know as this is Dec 3 and 4th in Ocean City Maryland- but if you are nearby, you should give it a whirl. Once you have been to one of these, you'll never want to miss one!
Oldhammer Weekend Maine 2017 - is being put together by Don Sargent way up int he northern wilds. He has boards and games and even an event model he has put together. (I can't make Maine unfortunately but I hop I get one!) This is scheduled on January 21st 2017 at Greenhouse Games in Gardner Maine. So go there and ignore the inauguration as much as you can!
Keep posting everyone - and we will be seeing each other in 2017 and beyond! I even have a new reason to start posting more often - so more to come sooner than later!
