Knights at War, a 1975 Usbourne Battlegame like this copy:

** expired/removed eBay auction **


A history of medieval combat, illustrated by Angus McBride & other genre stalwarts. Similar to what I was reading in middle school at the same time I was discovering wargames & fantasy lit., except this one has the wargame included (so had I seen it in those days, I would have completely blown a fuse in consumerist serendipity). I would read them & think how frustratingly different the history books were from Middle-earth or the Hyborian Age.

Usbourne made some great kids' books back then (I had The Good Spy Guide). Also in the Battlegame line were The Wild West, Galactic War, World War II, & Fighting Ships, as detailed here:
Battlegame Books | Family | BoardGameGeek
Sadly, The Wild West did not make it to the later reprints of the series, an apparent casualty of changing tastes. I may have had one or two western-themed toys in the '70s, but by the '80s it was pretty much extinct.

The games of a Battlegame book are supposed to be cut out from the pages, which is odd considering the binding: hardback, then stitched paperback. The gridded boards would have been particularly difficult to remove for play. Maybe the designers assumed that mop-headed '70s kids wouldn't have the attention span to play it anyway before returning their gaze fixedly back to the three or four television stations available at the time. "Used matchsticks" are part the recommended game components, which may even become the spindles for cut-out spinners "if you do not have a dice." I imagine lots of sooty game tables.

Found the Traveller boxed game "Invasion: Earth" unpunched at Half-Price Books in Pittsburgh. Box is a little messed up but otherwise in great shape.

Just picked up these 2 paintings that Ken Kelly did for the LJN Dungeons & Dragons toy line Dragonne & Fortress of Fangs. I have been after them for quite a while and was pretty excited to finally get them!

Finally picked up a first print Evael.  



Why is this a fun find?  First, it's pretty hard to find a nice copy.  And also:

Re: Complete!

Bracton wrote in The Non-TSR Recent Fun Finds thread:Oh, and thanks to TheHistorian --

[ Image ]

Nice pick up on Mindbane!  I'm still looking...

I'm just glad I finally have one!

The Stars Were Right!:


** expired/removed eBay auction **


I had one of these original Pagan TUO#1 shirts years ago, but our dryer ate the sleeve up, and instead of turning it in a banner, or a cloth wrapping for my elder signs, or a dust rag for my statuette of Azathoth, I got rid of it.  But now I have it back, and in time for the 2015 conventions season!

grodog wrote in The Non-TSR Recent Fun Finds thread:The Stars Were Right!:


** expired/removed eBay auction **


I had one of these original Pagan TUO#1 shirts years ago, but our dryer ate the sleeve up, and instead of turning it in a banner, or a cloth wrapping for my elder signs, or a dust rag for my statuette of Azathoth, I got rid of it.  But now I have it back, and in time for the 2015 conventions season!

Please tell me you got it yesterday, when it was deeply discounted!

I was considering it, but looking at the measurements he gave, I didn't think it would fit very well.

I had a fun book full of very eclectic and unusual goodies arrive and wanted to share... I'd never seen many of these before!

My favorite so far is Assassin's Quest, from nearby Downsview (now part of Toronto), Ontario