Webcomic Chapter 9 Posted

Breakout from Bongolaan's Chapter 9 is available for viewing (pages 243-273).

While looking for a suitable Soundtrack Interlude for this chapter, I stumbled across the impressive music from Two Steps from Hell.

I felt their song Juggernaut best expresses the relentless advance of the battle droids.

As I start my work on Chapter 10, I'll be exploring new format options for this webcomic.  I've been getting the feeling that using a blog format for this webcomic is becoming unwieldy, if it isn't already.

Normally, webcomics are formatted like Christopher Mills and Gene Gonzales' Perils on Planet X, with the most recent page displayed and an archive section, along with a cast of characters and other interesting side-sections.

I'd like to reformat Breakout from Bongolaan in this way, but I want to do it right--and only once.  So for now, I'll be researching webcomic set-ups and templates.

Webcomic writers usually post 1-3 new pages per week.  Due to the nature of my job, with its rotating shift, I won't  be able to duplicate this kind of schedule.  I'd rather continue my updates in chapter-sized chunks.

Your patience is appreciated and I hope you enjoy the story.

Breakout from Bongolaan Book Trailer II

For the past several weeks I've been working on Chapter 9 of Breakout from Bongolaan, which I hope to post within the next couple of weeks.

During this time I also took a look at Breakout from Bongolaan's "book trailer," and decided some renovation was in order.

After spending more time tweaking it than I originally planned to, I posted it on my YouTube Channel.

Thank you for watching.

New Title Page for Webcomic

After attending the How to Be A Nerd for a Living panel discussion at last month's GeekGirlCon, I had a nice chat with Rebecca Hicks about webcomics.  

I'm exploring the idea of changing Breakout from Bongolaan's format.  While I like Blogspot/Blogger, I think this template is becoming too unwieldy for a "space opera-sized" story of 242 pages--and counting.  

At this point I'm in the Research Phase, because I want any changes I make to be long lasting.

In the meantime, I'm making some minor improvements, like replacing the old title page with a better picture and font.  Since I have a stock of better pictures, another improvement I'm working on is revamping Breakout from Bongolaan's webcomic trailer.

These adjustments are being made while I continue working on the story itself.  Right now I'm in the process of arranging photos for Chapter 9.

More improvements and content to follow, so stay tuned! 

Product Review--Star Wars X-Wing Miniatures: Tantive IV Expansion Pack

Now this is the reason I'm delving into the Star Wars X-Wing Miniatures Game:  The Tantive IV Expansion Pack.

I've been eyeing this beauty for a few weeks, debating on whether or not to buy it.  Last Friday, I gave in to temptation and purchased the only model at Apocalypse Gaming Center, where I bought the X-Wing core set, which I discussed at length in my previous post.

In fact, I bought the core set after I decided to buy the expansion pack.

And like the X-Wing core set, the Tantive IV Expansion comes with a variety of lavishly colored cards and playing aids.  In addition to a small rule book is the campaign game, Point of No Return, which includes a Progress Sheet. 

The model itself is beautifully painted and finely detailed, made of the same hard plastic as the smaller fighters. 

This is the largest model Fantasy Flight Games (FFG) has made for the game, so far, and appears to be properly scaled to the fighters.  Although I think the smaller figures from Wizards of the Coast's discontinued Star Wars Miniatures Starship Battles look more appropriate. 

A CR90 Corvette (FFG) vs. a flight of TIE Fighters (WotC)

The Tantive IV is the most famous of the CR90 Corvette Series, both on-screen and in Star Wars lore. 

However, my primary reason for buying this expansion isn't to play out scenes between Star Wars:  Episodes III and IV.  

Instead, a mercenary corvette, Alderaan's Vengeance, is one of the starships featured in the here in the Redshift Chronicles.  So my prime directive for buying this model is to create scenes like this:

While I paid full retail (minus the 10% military discount) for the Tantive IV, you can find them cheaper on-line at sites like the Miniature Market.

Reviews on this product are extraordinarily high:  70 x 5-star ratings out of 84, on Amazon.com.  While on Boardgame Geek, the Tantive IV earned an 8.27 rating out of 10.

The complaints less-than-five-star raters had, dealt primarily with quality issues; such as missing and/or broken parts, cards and playing aids.  Others were expecting something along the lines of a static display model.  Then there was one outlandish review that I'm assuming is a joke.  (There's always one in a crowd isn't there?).

I'm certainly happy with my new addition to my fleet, and look forward to taking the Tantive IV/Alderaan's Vengeance out for a spin, whether in an actual game, or staged photo shoot.

Note:

There's a Support Page available to help run X-Wing game sessions and tournaments.

Product Review--Star Wars X-Wing Miniatures

For the past couple of years I've resisted buying the Star Wars X-Wing Miniatures Game.  I have a decent sized collection of Star Wars Miniatures: Starship Battles (SWM: SB) consisting of both starships and fighters.

However, I came across an expansion pack that sparked my interest in the game.  I'll discuss what motivated me to alter my thinking in the next Product Review post.

For now, I'll give you my impressions of the core game, which consists of 1 x Rebel X-Wing and 2 x Imperial TIE Fighters.  The game also consists of specialized dice, colorful data cards, figure stands, and playing aids; along with a quick start and standard rule booklet.  The 28-page rules can be downloaded as a PDF, courtesy of Fantasy Flight Games (FFG).

The miniatures themselves are finely-detailed and pre-painted, made of hard plastic.  I was hoping the figures would be the same size as Wizards of the Coast's (WotC) discontinued line of SWM: SB, but they're noticeably larger.

Left:  A TIE Fighter from FFG's Star Wars X-Wing
Right:  The same TIE Fighter from WotC's Star Wars Miniatures

Not too much larger though.  It may even be possible to integrate the WotC figures with the FFG ones, provided some enterprising wargamer has created the appropriate playing aids.  

 

The quality of FFG's figures is an improvement over the WotC's ones.  The hard plastic ensures the miniatures are straight.  They may be more brittle, than the softer WotC ones, but they don't obviously droop either. 

Star Wars X-Wing retails for $39.99, but can be found cheaper in on-line stores like the Miniature Market.  I purchased my set from Apocalypse Gaming Center in the McChord Field Base Exchange. The store offers a 10% off, military discount for active duty members and retirees.  But you don't skip out on paying WA State sales tax.  

Yeah, I could have saved even more money going buying from the Miniature Market, especially since it offers free shipping on orders over $99.  But I like supporting game stores in my local area too.  And since expansion packs, usually containing one figure, run from anywhere from $9.99 to $61.49, not to mention all the plethora of Litko Game Accessories, it's easy to rack up an order well beyond the $99 Threshold.

Yup. I'm speaking from experience.

I'm happy with my purchase because I intend to incorporate some (most?/all?) of the game mechanics into this campaign.  

The reviews on Amazon.com are overwhelmingly positive:  131 x 5-star and 35 x 4-star ratings.  There are however, an even dozen of less-than-stellar reviews (7 x 3-stars, 3 x 2-stars and 2 x 1-star reviews).

While my first impressions of Star Wars X-Wing is good, I think the "meh" raters may have a point.  Unless you are a Star Wars fan, as I am, then the game may indeed be a less-than-exciting session of:  Move ships, roll dice, repeat. 

So, let the Force (along with your personal finances and available storage space) guide you in deciding whether or not to buy Star Wars X-Wing.

After Action Review # 9: Meteor Battle Over Zenya

 

Stardate:  Fiday, 118-130 ABY

Subsector: Shannekam

Planet: Zenya

After Action Review:  Observation of Zenyan System Defense Forces vs. Meteor Storm

Region:  Planet-wide 

Early Morning, Prime Meridian Time

Yesterday (Forday, 117-130 ABY), the planet Zenya was bombarded by a meteor storm.  As reported, most of the meteors struck in remote areas, but several cities were hit. Damage and casualty reports are still coming in from these urban sites.

It could have been worse.  Thanks to the Zenyan Planetary Defense Force, it wasn't.

A few large asteroids were detected nearing Zenya-III's orbit.  Several starships were dispatched to intercept.

The following pictorial summary illustrates the course of action: 

A Zenyan task force consisting of two destroyers and six frigates, fire a salvo of concussion missiles at the approaching asteroids.

 

Every missile hits its target.  The ships' ready-racks are now depleted.

 

The multiple warhead detonations cause the asteroids to fragment.

 

The Zenyan starships engage the smaller asteroids with laser and blaster fire.

 

The asteroids shatter into meteors, still approaching Zenya-III.

 

The Zenyan ships fire another laser volley.

 

Three meteors are destroyed.  The Zenyan ships attempt to block the meteors' glide-path.

 

The frigate Umoja is struck by a meteor, while the remaining ships fire another volley.

 

The meteors are destroyed, but so is the frigate Umoja.

 

The destroyer Shupavu is struck by a meteor.

 

The Shupavu explodes, while two additional meteors are destroyed.

 

The remaining frigates form-up around the destroyer Shujaa and eliminate two more meteors.

 

Despite the defensive formation, the frigate, Galana is hit.

 

As the meteors pass the starships' defensive perimeter, incoming rocks are engaged by Zenyan fighters.

 

"Scratch four meteors!"

 

Another flight of Zenyan interceptors engage.

 

Three more meteors are destroyed and the interceptors break off.

 

As the meteors enter Zenya-III's upper atmosphere, they're engaged by planetary defense sites consisting of surface-to-space missile batteries and turbo-laser cannons.

 



Several more meteors are destroyed by the defense site salvos, before plummeting to the surface.



The Zenyan Planetary Defense Forces established a hasty, but reasonably affective layered defense against the meteor storm. 

 

The question remains, however:  How did several large asteroids approach Zenya-III without being detected in the first place?

News Brief #22: Meteors Rain Down on Zenya--III

Stardate:  Forday, 117-130 ABY/Fringe Info Network (FIN)--Zenya

Subsector: Shannekam

"All the news that's fit to transmit."

 

Meteor Storm Strikes Zenya--III!

Earlier today, Zenya-III was pummeled by meteors.  The majority of meteors were destroyed by elements of the Zenyan Planetary Defense Force.  The ones that slipped by Zenya's defenses mostly landed in remote areas.

Others landed in rural locations.

 

However, multiple impacts have been reported in several cities across the planet. 

 

Damage and casualty reports continue to flood the planet's emergency alert network.  President Zenami of the Zenya Mainland Union Government (Z-MUG) is reported to be in the process of declaring a planet-wide state of emergency.

Gamemaster's Note

The images used in this News Brief are from the following sites:

Images 1 & 2 are from Wookiepedia, Meteor Shower.

Image 3 from Q&A with David Goldberg on the meteor strike in Russia's Chelyabinski Region.

Image 4 from SimCity Wiki, Meteor Strike.

News Brief #21: Zenyan Parliament Vote

Stardate:  Tuday, 115-130 ABY/Fringe Info Network (FIN)--Zenya

Subsector: Shannekam

"All the news that's fit to transmit."

Zenyan Parliament Votes in Favor of Tarsus

Tarsus received support from both houses of the Zenyan Parliament today.  Although it was a bare two-thirds majority in each case.  The Planetary Senate voted 45-22 in favor of Tarsus, while the Planetary Assembly's votes were 234 for, versus 115 against.  The Tau Tau Autonomous District has no representation in Parliament, despite the fact that the disputed islands are within the Tau Tau Autonomous District.

The resolution grant Bongolaan 30 days to leave Vandalla Island, along with any and all the minor islands Bongolaanian ground forces currently occupy. 

Although Ambassador Heraud pressed Parliament to order Bongolaanian forces to leave Zenya immediately, she expressed her thanks for the decision made by both houses.

Ambassador Mzuka, of the Fel Empire, merely said this was a "regrettable decision" before boarding his shuttle.

President Kaboyo of the Zenyan Mainland Union Government (Z-MUG) is expected to endorse the resolution. 

News Brief # 20: Addresses Before Zenyan Parliament

Stardate:  Wonday, 114-130 ABY/Fringe Info Network (FIN)--Zenya

Subsector: Shannekam

"All the news that's fit to transmit."

Opposing Ambassadors Address Zenyan Parliament

Eleanor Heraud, the Ambassador from Tarsus addressed the Zenyan Parliament this morning.  During an impassioned appeal, she denounced the invasion by Bongolaan of the TAg Market Islands, which Tarsus has leased from the Tau Tau Autonomous District.  Ambassador Heraud asked the Zenyan members of Parliament to vote for the immediate removal of all Bongolaanian ground forces from the TAg Market Islands, while allowing the Tarsan reinforcements, currently in a holding orbit at the outer edge of the Zenyan system, to land and begin evacuating Tarsan citizens.  

Bongolaanian forces consisting of the 7th and 8th Cohorts of the 599th Droid Infantry Legion (DIL), currently occupy Vandalla Island, which is one of three islands administered by TAg (Tarsus Agricultural) Market for 10 years.

Later in the morning, Ambassador Mzuka, of the Fel Empire, stated the Bongolaanian Planetary Government was merely seeking compensation for economic damages inflicted by Tarsus.  President Bunda Akhtar of Bongolaan, has accused Tarsus of harboring former president Zeveg Bharzi, along with several other individuals, who helped Bharzi escape when the Fel Empire took over Bongolaan, in the wake of the Galactic Alliance collapse on 001-130ABY. 

These individuals are accused of theft, along with damage to Bongolaanian property, totaling 2,218,800 CR.  Until Tarsus pays compensation and extradites former president Bharzi, Bongolaan intends to keep it's gains on the TAg Market Islands.

Ambassador Mzuka also asked for Bongolaanian reinforcements be allowed to land in order to deter any attempts by Tarsus to retake Vandalla Island.

Neither ambassador gave press conferences after their Parliamentary addresses.  Currently, members of the Zenyan Parliament are debating the TAg Market Island Dispute behind closed doors.

A vote on various aspects of the TAg Market Islands is expected to be made tomorrow.

Gamemaster's Note

The last image is of the Pakistani National Assembly.

News Brief # 19: Tarsan Ambassador Arrives at Zenya

The Tangletree Envoy en route to Zenya-III

Stardate:  Forday, 110-130 ABY/Fringe Info Network (FIN)--Zenya

Subsector: Shannekam

"All the news that's fit to transmit."

Tarsan Ambassador to Address Zenyan Parliament   

Ambassador Eleanor Heraud of Tarsus arrived at Kairobi earlier today.  

She traveled on board the Tarsan Diplomatic Cruiser, Tangletree Envoy, from Ku Krassus, where her and her staff survived a pirate attack and an assassination attempt. 

The diplomatic ship was escorted by the Tarsan mercenary cruiser, Alderaan's Vengeance, a vessel based on the CR90 Corvette. 

The Alderaan's Vengeance en-route to Zenya-III

Ambassador Heraud is scheduled to meet with several members of the Zenyan Mainland Union Government (Z-MUG) to discuss the dispute, often referred to as the Bantha-Gabaki Trade War, between Tarsus and Bongolaan.  A representative from the Fel Empire, which oversees the governing of Bongolaan, who will also meet with Z-MUG officials.  

Negotiations are expected to last throughout the weekend (112-130 to 113-130ABY).  If no resolution or compromise can be reached, both representatives will address a full session of the Zenyan Parliament on Wonday, 114-130ABY.  Afterwards, Parliament may vote on the issue.

Gamemaster's Note: 

 

The second and fourth pictures are of Nairobi, Kenya, and the Kenyan Parliament Building. 

News Brief #18: Reinforcements Arrive at Zenya

Stardate: Thirday, 109-130 ABY/Fringe Info Network (FIN)--Zenya

Subsector: Shannekam

"All the news that's fit to transmit."

Multiple Reinforcements Arrive at Zenya

Yesterday, a task force of two frigates and six corvettes, escorting four GR-75 medium transports, dropped out of hyperspace beyond Zenya-IIIs planetary defense network.  An anonymous source at Pierson Station confirmed the vessels were dispatched from Tarsus, as Task Forces 627-1 and 627-2, and are carrying reinforcements for the TAg Market Island Security Forces on Milquoor and Kulovaan Islands.  

Tarsan Task Forces 627-1 and 627-2

However, as the Tarsan Starship crews were computing their approach to Zenya, another task force dropped out of hyperspace.  This one from Bongolaan.

The Bongolaanian task force consisted of three frigates and six corvettes, escorting several medium transports.  The freighters are most likely containing reinforcements for their ground forces currently occupying Vandalla Island. 

Bongolaanian Task Force

Before any of the hostile warships could exchange fire, they were intercepted by a Zenyan Planetary Defense Force (ZPDF) squadron.  

The Zenyan squadron consisted of one destroyer, three frigates and five corvettes. 

Zenyan Task Force

As of now the three-way stand-off continues.

A source from the Zenyan Mainland Union Government (Z-MUG) reported both foreign fleets requested clearance to land their reinforcements.  The requests will be submitted to the Z-MUG Parliament for debate and consideration.

Current situation on the TAg Market Islands