Starship Troopers - keeping the flame alive in Tacoma !
Starship Troopers the miniatures game is a favorite of myself and also Chris the owner of Game Matrix, in fact it was Chris who turned me on to the game and encouraged me to become an official volunteer for Mongoose for SST - it's fun and easy to learn ! The game preliminarily planned for July 20th conflicts with the McChord Airshow (with the Thunderbirds!) so we'll reschedule our game. original post in this slot "Thanks to Mark and Kathy for joining me in an evening of the original SST miniatures game, hosted at the GameMatrix and made possible with the help of Chris for his mini's. The Mobile Infantry had a tough fight on their hands but they held together, blasting many Bugs including the Tanker and his escorts, nevertheless the Hive's secrets remain intact ! Federation Day is fast approaching, let's get together for more table-top mayhem soon. I just bought a box of Firefrys and hope to assemble them soon."

Hey, it's a GO ! Friday, October 19th will be celebrated as FEDERATION DAY at the Game Matrix - we'll have a table reserved for Starship Troopers, refreshments, party favors, and prizes ! Completely suitable for beginners, all necessary materials provided but you can bring your lucky dice, SST Rulebook, a mini or two, or an entire Section of MI's if you like.

Of course SST is in a state of flux right now - 'Evolution' hasn't made it to our planet yet - this will be 'classic' Starship Troopers, using the basic book and possibly some additions/addendums, maybe even a house-rule or two if the players don't object. For example, I don't understand why the rules are limited to D6 and D10, why not use some D8 or D12 - like my idea that SICON field advisors should up their Close Combat value to D8.

Federation Day a success !
I organized and moderated a total of three players, in less than four hours we ran two simple games of "Seize and Hold" with about 950 points each of Bugs (inc. my new firefrys) and MI facing off. Two squads of regular Mobile Infantry, their platoon NCO, an independent Medic, and a SICON agent with Chemical Grenades versus a horde of Arachnids (thanks again for the loan Chris) - and the Bugs won both games ! The way we worked it everybody got to play MI one game or the other and 'feel the sting' but I hope a good time was had by all. Our prize for the night was a genuine Starship Troopers comic, won by Jason whose Bugs chewed the MI down to the very last man in game #2 - but it was a glorious Last Stand ! Expect another blazing battle in two or three weeks, if you're interested in joining please post. We could especially use some more Bugs to balance out the Marauders that are available for reenforcements so if you have any models ready to go definitely contact me ASAP ! There are also several other published scenarios we can try . . .

Resources
Don't forget that Mongoose Publications, the makers of Starship Troopers, has their magazine on-line, downloadable for free ! Nowadays it's split into an RPG section and a Miniatures section and most issues have something for SST - some rules updates plus everything from tournament and scenario ideas to painting/modeling tips, terrain making, and backround on the SST universe inc. the aliens. Game Matrix has a pretty good selection of expansion kits, boxed sets like the Tanker Bug and Veteran Cap Troopers plus some blister packs for Skinnies, special Arachnids like Infiltrators, even MI heavy weapons - these are on the south wall at about the 5' mark.

Next Game !
Wednesday November 7 starting at 1800 Hours ( that's 6 PM for Civilians) is set for our next game - Game Matrix owner Chris E. might be able to join us, but if not this time then next ! This is both an Open Game day, you could bring your own army to play, and a Recruiting Day - total beginners are absolutely welcome, we have everything you need to play a basic game of Starship Troopers . . . if you're a fan of the movie, the animated series, the other games, or just the original legendary novel by Robert Heinlein (my all-time favorite author) then come on in !

Glad to hear this is going well!
Hey Steve. Glad to hear this is going good. I seem to have deleted your private message to me while trying to reply to the darn thing... :oops: email is probably the best way to get ahold of me C

problem with my computer
I would if I could - for some reason my home computer won't pull up that link for you, and the Library and my job's machine won't make the link because of settings...

" At ease, relax troopers, communications with Commodore Ewick and the Fleet have been restored ! I know there's some rumors out there that the Skinnies may be involved in the upcoming action, don't let that worry you, remember, our Citizen-colonists are counting on us, let the Fleet do the flying and we M-I will do the fighting ! "

Our latest Wednesday night game
The setting was a colony outpost, a Citizen's homestead, mysteriously laid waste sometime in the last few days, an intrepid Media crew investigating the carnage - prepping to broadcast. SICON is also looking into the situation, orbital reconnaisance has detected a Bug hole nearby, and the valiant Mobile Infantry are dispatched ! BTW thanks to staffer John for helping us. This game was set up as an intro to the Tunneling rules for Starship Troopers. About 30% of the Arachnids point value was invested in Tunneling assets, and Mark made very good use of those special abilities ... many Bugs died but the MI were slaughtered.

Fandom
For anyone interested in SST take a moment and check out Starshiptroopers.net This website is from a movie-buff/collector's point of view but well-done and colorful.

Salute
Congradulations also to Mark, this week was just not a redeeming victory (albeit as a Bug) but his 3rd combat - hence he is promoted to Corporal ! Mark is already an experienced table-top warrior with other systems and he's often seen around The Game Matrix pushing lead.

Hat-Trick
We've already had a night this month for Starship Troopers and we may get TWO more before November is over. The later half of this month my schedule is extra-open, afternoon games - weekdays and weekends - may be possible so interested parties can contact me to coordinate their favored times to play.

Double-tap next week !
On Tuesday Nov.20 I'll be setting up quick little Starship Troopers demo's on that little wargame table right by the front door from about 4 PM onward - anybody who wants to get the basics of SST can stop on by ! The next evening, Wednesday the 21st, we'll have our regular "big game" - if somebody brings a 1000-1500 pt. army they want to use in battle we can work out a regular by-the-book game, do a published scenario (let me know what you prefer) OR we can do one of my Scenarios. The Game Matrix has a great selection of terrain waiting for us !

The game on Thanksgiving-eve was awesome. Over 1500 points for each side, Arachnids vs. Mobile Infantry. Had a new player, Jade, who dove in to command a platoon of MI's - two full squads of Power Armor plus a mixed pair of Marauders, on a mission to hunt down a marauding Plasma Bug and its security detail. That huge Plasma Bug was launching attacks against the battalions base area some miles away and it was only a matter of time until it scored a direct hit on something vital like an ammo dump, comm-shack, or field hospital. The setup was the MI slipping through a forest, crossing the devasted main-line of resistance (MLR), past a destroyed colony building, collapsed bug holes, and the crash-site of a strike fighter that had failed to take out that last big bad bug.