One of my new-found pleasures is playing a miniatures game called, Mechwarrior: Dark Age. This game, like it's computer counterpart, is a spinoff of the old, venerable BattleTech board game. While I admire the BattleTech folks, I find Classic BattleTech a bit too involved. Mechwarrior: Dark Age gets around this problem by having all of the combat, heat and damage stats located on dials attached to the miniature's base. This removes the need for complex note taking and calculations during the game, letting the game move faster, as well as being much easier to learn.

Like the rest of my gaming friends, I have acquired a large collection of 'Mechs, which I've traded, won, or bought off of eBay. While I collect units from all of the game's factions, I'm partial to the Bannson Raider Faction. The storyline portrays the leader of this faction, Jacob Bannson, as a "rich guy who's gone bad." Jacob Bannson enlists other "bad elements" from society, and finds a place for them in his organization. In return, they pledge him their support, and share in the profits. Everything for Bannson is business, this includes the waging of war.

I am the resident Mechwarrior BattleMaster at Rainy Day Games, in Aloha. On top of the Constructed Tournaments designed by Wizkids, I run a number of Unrestricted and Venue-supported events. I'm always looking for ideas to try out; and the local players always seem to have a good time.