Craig Andrews
is proud to present for the benefit of several audiences...
The 2021 Advent Calendar Recap
Being in the main a collection of the plethora of brand new original, exclusive and archive articles for a selection of much beloved and respected wargame rules.
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Click here to jump past the preamble and read the actual entries.
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A Little Q&A on Orcs in the Webbe's Advent Calendar
What is Orcs in the Webbe?
In short its an independent gaming website comprising of old articles unearthed from the internet and old magazines alongside newly written articles for a variety of modern, classic and forgotten game systems. It was setup way back in 1996, yes it was that long ago, to form a repository for information as older style websites started dissapearing taking thier content with them. Back then the sites focus, as was mine, was primarily Alternative Armies' Flintloque. Since then the site has grown, along with my technical ability in all things web related, and has gone through manay regenrations and expansions and now includes content for over a dozen wargames systems, board games and card games as well as several stand alone original games.
What is the Orcs in the Webbe Advent Calendar?
Back in 2007, as a Christmas gift to its readers, Orcs in the Webbe became an Advent Calendar of sorts, counting down the days remaining to Christmas. However, instead of chocolates or sweets, every day from the 1st through to the 25th of December it published an article of interest to its readers. These started off as a mixture of old articles alongside newly created content but over the last few years many people have stepped up allowing me to publish many brand new articles every December.
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Editor's Note aka "Aren't there 24 days in most Advent Calendars?"
Well, normally yes. However Orcs in the Webbe is a fan site run by one chap (me) with submissions ranging from new authors cutting thier teeth on the international stage to fan-favourite authors from years gone by (and a whole host of other definitions in between). It's becomng harder and harder with each paassing year to get people to write content as most people who do so these days have thier own creative outlets; Facebook groups, traditional blogs, YouTube channels, BoardGameGeek entries, etc. Each year I ask about 40 people to submit articles and usually get a yes from around 30 people that drops off to about 20 who actually submit things. Some of those things arrive in my inbox in October, some of them are still not written the day before they're due to go live. All of this is fine, OITW's Advent Calendar is something I enjoy doing. Don't get me wrong it's a huge amount of work what with all the editing, reformatting, chasing etc. but I do enjoy the process.
Without further ado, here's the 2021 summary, a table of contents if you will, to Orcs in the Webbe's virtual 2021 Annual :)
Keep the Flag Flying!
Craig Andrews
November 2022
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Wednesday 1st December - A Solitaire Card Game
An Orcs in the Webbe Original !
"Foiling the Lincolnshire Red Terror" by Matthew Hartley"
In this years exclusive game Matthew Hartley gives the classic card game Blackjack a dash of theology and exorcism based on a delightfully real 1926 event...
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Thursday 2nd December - A Flintloque Scenario
An Orcs in the Webbe Original (Redux)!
"The Rocky Road to Albion" by Danny O'Hara
Many of you may know that Patrorc is the Guardian Spirit of Guinelia, and that one of his most famous exploits was chasing the vermin from Guinelia, but the full story of this is not so well known...
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Friday 3rd December - A Flintloque Scenario
An Orcs in the Webbe Original!
"Sharke's Assaying - The Tunnel" by Gavin Syme
In the first part of the 'Sharke's Assaying' arc can Captain Sharke and the Rifleorcs sneak up on the Elves by using a secret tunnel or will the booming surprise placed in the darkness put an end to our Heroes? Find out in this solo play Flintloque Micro Scenario.
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Saturday 4th December - A Settlement for use with All Things Zombie: End of Days
An Orcs in the Webbe Exclusive!
'All Things Zombie: Lake Havasu City' by Ed Teixeira
Two Hour Wargames' Ed Teixeira brings us a full settlement for use with All Things Zombie. Within you'll find full details for exploring the region as well as rules for Psy Powers and a twelve part campaign framework as Billy and Sooze see what Lake Havasu is like after the end of days.
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Sunday 5th December - A Wordsearch
An Orcs in the Webbe Original !
'The Fourth Christmas Wordsearch - Death in the Snow' by Craig Andrews
Capturing the spirit of annuals from when you were kids, OITW brings you the fourth Christmas Wordsearch, this years theme... Death in the Snow. Merry Cryptmas.
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Monday 6th December - A Flintloque Scenario
Part of Orcs in the Webbe Ongoing Archive Project !
'Sharke's Trousers by Carl Birch
Sharke and Froderorcson's Elite Orc Rifles take on three sections of Ferach Elves to regain lost honour (and a certain article of clothing) in this classic Flintloque scenario updated with notes for using it with Third Edition and tips for solo play.
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Tuesday 7th December - A Flintloque Scenario
Part of Orcs in the Webbe Ongoing Archive Project !
'Wear Them To PIeces' by David Martel
A coach carrying four Orc ladies to a ball at Needham Manor has been ambushed by a peculiarly determined pack of roaming undead. However the lifeless abominations have taken on a little more than they bargaining for, as Miss Elizabeth and her friends are far from helpless.
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Wednesday 8th December - A Flintloque Background Article
Part of Orcs in the Webbe Ongoing Archive Project !
'¡Revolucion in El Dorado!' by Danny O'Hara
Whilst the Mordredian Wars raged in Urop and beyond, The Revolutionary Wars in El Dorado burned like a slow fire. Many different factions all infused with a desire to wrest freedom from the despotic Catalucians - oh, and possibly make some profit on the side.
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Thursday 9th December - A Flintloque Scenario
Part of Orcs in the Webbe Ongoing Archive Project !
'Cross Country Canine Chase' by Gavin Syme
The battle of Osterblitz has been lost. The fate of the Ostarian Empire hangs in the balance. You must guide an Ostarian Aide du Camp, one of twelve despatched, across a land filled with the Dwarves of Beervaria all intent on stopping him.
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Friday 10th December - A Shadowrun Novella in Five Parts
An Orcs in the Webbe Yahoo Groups Rescue!
Shadowrun Duels: Datafile [I]
In the first part of this five part 28,000 word novella find out how the characters of Shadowrun Duels met and what they got up to on thier first run into the shadows...
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Saturday 11th December - Dresda Fiction
Part of Orcs in the Webbe's digital reprint of the Dresda Rulebook.
Of the Creation of Valon' by Mac Coxhead and Steve Blease
This small piece of fiction details some of the myths of the World of Valon long before Blackpowder reigned.
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Sunday 12th December - A Dresda Background Article
Part of Orcs in the Webbe's digital reprint of the Dresda Rulebook.
'Beausoliel - Magikaria and Myths' by Mac Coxhead and Steve Blease
Learn the history of the Human occupied Middle-Lands and how the cycle of death started in poor, doomed Dresda.
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Monday 13th December - A Dresda Short Story
Part of Orcs in the Webbe's digital reprint of the Dresda Rulebook.
'Malik Widukind's Tale' by Mac Coxhead and Steve Blease
Ölrika von Viebriek's Doomgarde take on a unit of Goblins in this Dresda short story.
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Tuesday 14th December - A Dresda Background Article
Part of Orcs in the Webbe's digital reprint of the Dresda Rulebook.
'Notes Upon The Compendium Militaria' by Mac Coxhead and Steve Blease
A number of entries giving the flavour of the great traveller Augustus Eckhardt's invaluable document regarding peoples of the age...
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Saturday 18th December - A USEME Scenario
'Envoy Escort' by Brendon Sterma
In this two-player USE ME scenario an elite military escort squad is tasked with escorting a Varlish Envoy from his compromised position to a safe evacuation vehicle.
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Sunday 19th December - A Flintloque Short Story
An Orcs in the Webbe Original!
'Council' by Jaffa Holland
Stoneheart start to rebuild the core of his new nation as he searches for The Confederation...
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Monday 20th December - A Flintloque Scenario
An Orcs in the Webbe Original!
'Sharke's Assaying - The Vineyard' by Gavin Syme
Sharke's Ryfleorcs have arrived just in to take part in a two-fronted attack on villa used by the Farternety, a secret organisation within the Ferach Armee which had the goal of murdering the Duke of Wheeling-Turn.
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Tuesday 21st December - A Flintloque Short Story
An Orcs in the Webbe Original!
'Foul Mouth Freddy and the Great Pencil Fraud' by Tony Harwood
Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without Foul Mouth Freddy...
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Wednesday 22nd December - A Flintloque Scenario
An Orcs in the Webbe Original!
'The Green Shoots... In Llednevir' by CJ Hooper
After many years of rain and death the ground in Llednevir had become very fertile. Too fertile. The combinations of water and 'raw materials' have become the bedding for the latest evil to plague the land.
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Thursday 23rd December - A Panzerfäuste Short Story
An Orcs in the Webbe Exclusive!
'Rolling Thunder' by Costin Becheanu
After many years of rain and death the ground in Llednevir had become very fertile. Too fertile. The combinations of water and 'raw materials' have become the bedding for the latest evil to plague the land.
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Frriday 24th December
An Orcs in the Webbe Exclusive!
'A Sneak Peek into Early 2022 for Flintloque' by Gavin Syme
Gavin Syme, Head of the World of Valon and Lead Writer at Alternative Armies, brings us a cheeky wee peek of what they have planned for Flintloque in the early half of 2022!
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Merry Cryptmass !