The wargaming world of Nozza

It was one of those forgotten backwater planets the Wayfinder drifted through every few cycles - out on the galactic fringe, off the major hyperspace lanes. No traffic. No questions. Exactly the sort of place where one of their most reliable fences operated. Low profile, clean credits, and a strict policy of not asking how you got the goods . Brains didn’t like it the moment the comms went dead. “No handshake signal,” the Twi’lek muttered from the ramp, fingers dancing across his datapad. “No reply on any of his usual frequencies. Just static.” Spike shifted his weight, wincing slightly as he rolled his injured shoulder. “Last time that happened, it was Jawas. I’m still not convinced they don’t follow us.” Jugro snorted, checking both blaster pistols. “And last time before that, we walked into a nest of battle droids.” With Cap’in still laid up from the previous job, Brains took point - quietly, efficiently. He raised a fist and the crew fanned out: Jugro, Mon Kir, Choppa, 5E, Mom...

Over the festive break, I set myself three wargaming objectives. Two were straightforward, and the third turned into a fun little project. Goal 1: Finish Painting the Last Seven Cold-Weather Survivalists First on the list was finishing the last seven cold-weather survivalists from Athena Miniatures. This was a satisfying start - I got them done quickly, and they’re now fully equipped to face the harshest conditions . ❄️🌨️ Goal 2: Organize My Battle Systems Terrain This was a bigger challenge. Back in the 2010s, I backed two Battle Systems™ Kickstarters : Sci-Fi Modular Terrain Urban Apocalypse Terrain Over time, the pieces ended up scattered across multiple boxes. Being card-based, some of it was starting to show its age and needed a little TLC. So, I dug out every piece, sorted and organized the lot, and condensed everything into two plastic containers. For those unfamiliar, Battle Systems terrain is pre-printed card that clips together using plastic connectors. The early Sci-Fi set ...

Following the chaos and heartbreak of recent events, Cap’in chose a job with minimal gunfire -  a simple salvage charter. No rivals, no battle droids, no heroics… just grab abandoned mining tech and cash the cheque. At least, that was the hope. The Wayfinder punched through the thick, roiling cloud layer, its hull rattling as turbulence buffeted the ship. Then, through the mist, the Skymine emerged - an ancient floating complex suspended above a storm-wracked gas giant. Once, it must have been magnificent: gleaming hull plating, proud spires, a hub of commerce and sky-harvesting. Now it sagged like a wounded beast, listing to one side, its superstructure torn open in places. Rust streaked the metal, and entire sections seemed on the verge of collapse. Choppa jabbed a thick finger toward the viewport. “Uh… Cap’in? That normal ?” A chunk of plating sheared off the underside of the station, drifting slowly into the swirling abyss below. Jugro ’s antennae twitched. “Correction -...