Free GHQ Rules - Sort Of

Buy $100 worth of GHQ and you get a free set of rules - not bad - also they have some sales on a few of their products - Here's the content of their email:

Spring Rules Blowout

We have decided to give you a crazy offer on rules for our miniatures rules- FREE.  This offer is for our full-blown comprehensive rules, not a watered down version.  Just order over $100.00 in merchandise, add in a set of MG-1, MG-4, or MG-9, and use one of the following discount codes:

Use this code for a FREE copy of our WWII Micro Armour rules:

FREEMG1
http://www.ghqmodels.com/store/mg1.html

Use this code for a FREE copy of our Modern Micro Armour rules:

FREEMG4
http://www.ghqmodels.com/store/mg4.html

Use this code for a FREE copy of our WWII Micronauts rules:

FREEMG9
http://www.ghqmodels.com/store/mg9.html

Those discount codes will give you a FREE copy of the rules of your choice if you place an order for over $100 worth of merchandise from now through May 21, 2012.  The cost of the rules will be subtracted from your total, and you will have some FREE rules!  You can mix and match the merchandise that you put into your cart- it does not have to be all the same, or match the type of FREE rules that you choose.

New Website Specials

We have just changed our website specials.  These specials are only available on orders that are placed through our secure website, and are only available for a limited time.  If you see something that you want, ACT QUICKLY, because these specials will only be here for a limited time.  The new Website Specials are:

P-1    TKS Tankette     Was $9.95, now only $7.80, save 22%!!
http://www.ghqmodels.com/store/p1.html

G-116    Marder II     Was $9.95, now only $7.80, save 22%!!
http://www.ghqmodels.com/store/g116.html

AC-1    P39 Airacobra     Was $9.95, now only $7.80, save 22%!!
http://www.ghqmodels.com/store/ac1.html

AC-15    MiG 23 Flogger B     Was $9.95, now only $7.80, save 22%!!
http://www.ghqmodels.com/store/ac15.html

AC-17    F15A Eagle     Was $9.95, now only $7.80, save 22%!!
http://www.ghqmodels.com/store/ac17.html

IJN-40    BBAV Hyuga     Was $13.50, now only $10.15, save 25%!!
http://www.ghqmodels.com/store/ijn40.html

GWB-5    CA Warrior     Was $9.95, now only $7.80, save 22%!!
http://www.ghqmodels.com/store/gwb5.html


GHQ on Facebook

GHQ has been on Facebook for awhile now, and has developed a very nice following.  Many of the things on our Facebook Fan Page can't be found anywhere else.  Some of the topics that have shown up lately have been: photos of pre-production models as they look when they come from our designers (many people have commented about how different they expected them to look), many postings from other GHQ customers who have shown off their work, first looks at newly painted items, special offers, customer polls (we really do use the information when planning models and release schedules), and much more!  So, check it out, see some neat things, have your opinions count, and support GHQ!  You can find our Facebook Fan Page here:

www.facebook.com/ghqminiatures

As always, please let us know if we can be of assistance to you with anything regarding GHQ products.

Thank you for your support,
GHQ
www.ghqonline.com

Dave Makes the Gordan & Hague Newsletter

Dave, who's sent some content in for the blog is a wonder at converting board/mini games to more detailed miniature games. Because of this he made the Gordon and Hague Newsletter for his Battlecry adaptation using G&H minis.

Good work Dave.

Also, looks like G&H is coming out with some AWI figures.

Also, also, I really like how G&H is featuring his customers' work. That is good marketing to tie in with you customer base.

Also, also, also, he appears to have abandoned selling single stands and instead selling Battalion packs (which I believe are 3-5 stands for a battalion.) Good idea and it must be cheaper for him to do it this way as well.

His second edition of the rulebook is out and he's added some nice play aids. 

This is a fledgling company that I hope does well going forward.

Inspiration and Other Things Part 2

Right now, the Daft Punk playing on the Electronic Station on Spotify is inspiring me...this kind of music does this to me all the time. As I was looking for some pic to show on here about Daft Punk I ran across this video. And, no, I don't like it for the reasons that may seem obvious. I love the creativity of it all - so, here, in a major diversion for the blog is Daft Bodies (the "original" hands version is good/better - to the tune of 40,000,000 more views!):



Anyway, back to the regularly scheduled program:
I've spoke about terrain inspiration and now a few others:

From the TableTop Tacticians blog

The TableTop Tacticians:
I started watching their videos for inspiration and some WWII gaming (Their flames of war games)...Their first videos of their games were of unpainted models and modest boards (I started watching at the beginning of 2011. Slowly but surely, more models were painted, they seemed to have a better understanding of the rules and usually had a new face fighting their battles.
In a little over the year, they seemed to have grown a significant FOW community locally around them.

Inspiring to see a community grow.

btw, I like the objective marker with the C-47 airdropping the guys - this is what I mean by inspiration.

CommandCombat on YouTube.  He's coming up with this John Madden style of reporting his wargames which is fascinating and fun. I also like how he discusses the stats, has videos of tanks, and give analysis. Some of this will be copied/imitated/adapted at a YouTube/Blog post near you. Should note that not all of his videos have the video drawings, but the ones that do are fun.

Model Dads Flames of War blog - for their layout and their great tutorials. I envy their layout and their tone. Go check 'em out.

Their AARs are creative in their story telling approach.  Marketing and graphic design are interests of mine and they've nailed the Graphic Design - 10/10.


WWPD - What Would Patton Do - Again, I started listening to their podcast just to get some WWII mini gaming inspiration. Then watched some of their videos and reading their AARs. This is another community that has built up in a couple years time (seems to me anyway) It's been since I've been mini gaming anyway. They even created an AAR creator, called BatRepper, to help bloggers create consistent looking battle reports. They have an impressive 285 followers right now.


Last one for the night (it's getting late and I'm notoriously slow at writing...): The Two Half Squads. These two guys in a round about way got me into mini gaming. I started listening to them  when their podcast was fairly new and I was somewhat interested in ASL, or Advanced Squad Leader. I listened and commented on their blog (even to the point where they read one of my email comments/questions before I was even playing). And then...started playing ASLSK. Met some local ASLers and played for a short while. ASL and a one year long DnD campaign (my one and only) combined to show me the fun of rules and miniatures. With the detail of ASL rules, miniatures rules (some of them anyway) are a piece of cake. Also, playing with the DnD minis piqued my interest in seeing my games in 3D and not just on some chits.

These guys are inspiring because they're sticking to it. They're on episode 62 and still producing good stuff. I also like them because they're into it, but also very laid back with good senses of humor. ASL is such a small niche that they won't get the followers like WWPD, but they deserve it because they contribute a great and light-hearted asset to that community.

And that's it for inspiration for the night - except for one-100+ more. All the blogs I follow as well as the 42 followers. Many of the 42 have their own sites and their different ideas are an inspiration to keep upping my game...and terrain...and writing...and

Blitzkrieg Commander II Video Overview

I created this quick video overview of Blitzkrieg Commander II for those looking at getting this ruleset.

It jumps around a bit, but I hope it conveys a general feel of the game and the way the rules are presented. Really I wanted it to be as though someone were in the store flipping through the book deciding if they wanted to buy it or not. However, I didn't want to to stay on the pages too long to break any copyright for Peter Andrew Jones. (I hope he approves of this message.)

Help Osprey out with their Campaign series

From Osprey

From Osprey

Osprey publishing is looking for help to fill in the gaps in their Campaign series of books. Head on over to their blog to learn more. I'm impressed in their customer outreach and marketing.

Click here to learn more how to help.

Photos and Miniature Manufacturers

Saw this great post on photos or lack of photos on miniature producers websites.

I get that it takes awhile to get them up there and some of these businesses are part time ventures, but seriously, you need pics of your models.

As I mentioned in my comment, I also have this issue with rules producers. I would like some page samples, more detailed explanations of how the game plays and works.

Since I can't go into a store and browse this sort of thing, for the most part, then I need some info, please.

One reason I like GHQ, the photos. They could be bigger and perhaps from some different angles, but keep 'em coming.

Cool Resource for Modellers and Gamers

I don't have all the details, but there are some great resources for you to access through Osprey's membership program.

Pretty clever way to get an ongoing revenue stream.

Interesting Promotion 99 cents

Columbia Games, boardgame publisher has an interesting marketing campaign selling their popular, Hammer of the Scots for a $.99 trial. That and free priority shipping. Nice.

It will be interesting to see if this works.

I also like them sharing a video review - nice to see what games look like and basics on how to play.