WM/H and Monpoc in Japan! Welcome!

[DanTrollBlitzer]

Greetings,
My name is Dan and I`m a long time resident of Japan and I`ve been a wargamer for a long time as well. I belong to two wargaming groups in the "central" region of Japan. One is based in Saijo (Higashi-Hiroshima) that plays almost all of the major wargames - currently, Monsterpocalypse is very hot! The other is based in Okayama and plays P.P. games almost exclusively. Both groups meet once a month and get anywhere from 3-9 players. Both groups are very friendly and open and happy to get new players. Nearly all of the players are Japanese (obviously), but I speak Japanese and can translate. If you are in the military, the Saijo group is just an hour or so away from Iwakuni. If you are a wargamer in Japan (especially southwest of Kobe on the main island) and you want to get some games in, feel friend to PM me.

DanTrollBlitzer

[scout's honor]

Heya Dan. No need to welcome you to the fold anymore, but welcome to the forums at least.

[DanTrollBlitzer]

Thanks Scout`s Honor. Actually, I`m still making plenty of mistakes - but close to losing my noob status as a Warmachine player.

I re-read my intro post and realized I didn`t really introduce much. So, I just wanted to say I`ve been playing WarMachine for a little over a year - I`ve got plenty of Cygnar painted up. I plan on starting Hordes soon - Trollbloods (I`m one of those guys who doesn`t like to play with unpainted models...so I need a little more time to get everything fully painted). Both of my wargaming groups are really into Monsterpocalypse now (or, as we say in Japanese "Monpoc"). I`m a little better Monpoc player - I use Lords of Cthul and Subterrans. Nice to meet everyone.

DanTrollBlitzer

[Gnoll]

Feel free to hit me up if you are ever in Kyushu

[DanTrollBlitzer]

Sure, Gnoll. I used to live down there (and wargame down there), so I still drop in for a visit from time to time. Do you play in Fukuoka or Kita-Kyushu?

DanTrollBlitzer

[Gnoll]

I'm up in the mountains. I can get to Tenjineki/Hakataeki in about 1.5 hours, Beppu/Oita in a little bit more. Probably nearer to 3 hours away from Kitakyushu.
日本語しゃべられるか　英語と日本語どっちのほうがいいか

Back to work..

PS　あの　別府市のリングテールって店に行ったことがある？どう？

[DanTrollBlitzer]

Oh I see...so I`m guessing you`re down in Kumamoto, Gnoll? I used to live in Omuta (like, a long time ago).

僕も日本語しゃべられるけど　英語のほうがいいですよ。

や、別府市のリングテールって店に行ったことがないけど。。。おれの友達はリングテールへ一回、二回行った ことがある。Ryogo (aka R-Man)は知っている？

Once in a blue moon, I wargame with the guys in down in Fukuoka. Or, if you are ever up around Hiroshima, Fukuyama, or Okayama, let me know.

By the way, what games/armies do you play?

DanTrollBlitzer

[Gnoll]

I used to play Mercs, Cryx, Circle, & Trollbloods (wife was Cygnar mostly) but I don't have any of them over here in Area 11. At one point in time or another I've painted models in nearly any game you can think of, but there's very little opportunity to play - here or my area stateside.
そして I'm in the process of slowly aiming at Ringtail or a decent e-store. the new starter box might be a thing I do.
今ガンプラ is my vice of convenience.
and I'm actually in the most inaka bit of 西　大分県

also, my reading comprehension is terrible. half of my last post was answered in the OP. gomen ne

[DanTrollBlitzer]

Wow! You are up in 田舎! Western Oita is pretty sparse. But if your only an hour or so from Fukuoka and/or Ringtail, then you can get some games in. Have you met the guys that play up in Fukuoka? The play a lot of 40K and WFB...but almost all of them also have a WM or Hordes force as well.

I play neither Khador nor PoM, but I`m getting the new starter box as well (just for the mini rulebook). It`s such a great deal!

As for ordering things: I almost always use The Warstore - he knows how to ship to Japan reasonably and quickly. I also get some stuff off eBay from time to time.

DanTrollBlitzer

[Arestoatal]

Dear Lord, Series 5 Monpoc hit the nail on the head for titles. If ye can, Man from Japan, go to the Team Covenant website, which is devoted to monsterpocalypse. You can also play monsterpocalypse online using vassel, though I'm not sure how well the translator is.

[DanTrollBlitzer]

Hee, hee...yeah, I`ve never gotten around to explaining the meaning of the Monpoc series 5 title to the guys in my wargaming group. But, I`m 6foot 5 inches and about 245 lbs., so I was pretty big even before I came to Japan. I often check the Team Covenant site (but now I use jugglerv`s cards). I`ve never tried Monpoc on vassal, though.

DanTrollBlitzer

[Akiosama]

今ガンプラ

Haha. Very cool. I hate that I didn't go over to Japan for an exchange program when I had the chance. My Japanese would be so much better, too.

You two are totally lucky to be over there.

My 2 yen,

Akiosama

[DanTrollBlitzer]

Akiosama,

Study and practice: if you can manage an hour of each per week, you`ll steadily improve. But yeah, I speak Japanese all day at work so I get more than enough practice. Now, even wargame in Japanese...

DanTrollBlitzer

[Akiosama]

For me, a lot of it is just comfort, and the fact that my vocabulary list is odd, due to the things that helped create it. Between 2 years of self-study, 4 years of college (including classical literature), and 20 years of anime/manga, it's all over the place.

I can hold conversations fine, depending on the subject, but it just doesn't feel natural yet. I find myself trying too hard to think ahead and I get all nervous. (This is further proven by the fact that I speak better Japanese when I'm drunk. )

But I hope to get more opportunity to use it. I just wish I had it now so I could be working in a field that deals more with Japan.

My 2 yen,

Akiosama

[DanTrollBlitzer]

It sounds like you have plenty of knowledge, you just need more opportunity to practice. When I was living in Chicago briefly (waiting for a change in my visa status), I was afraid I`d lose some of my ability, so I joined a "Japanese conversation circle" (consisting of mainly returnees) and also did part time work translating (which was pretty difficult at the time, but it forced me to study). I see you live in L.A., so I`m sure you can find these kind of things to keep your ability up. I`d especially recommend a conversation circle.

DanTrollBlitzer

[patisarat]

Hey chaps! We have a reasonably healthy WM/H scene here in Tokyo too; there are several active clubs, with a mix of Japanese and non-Japanese players. Between them, you can find game events on several weekends each month. Drop me a PM if you're ever up here and wanna come along. We like to think we're pretty friendly and casual.

This blog (in Spanish, but not hard to navigate) has a list of upcoming club events in Tokyo: click on the club tabs located up top.

Might see you round one day!

[DanTrollBlitzer]

Thanks Patisarat! Tokyo is a bit far, but I do make it up there from time to time. Next time I`ll be sure to look you up and get some games in.

DanTrollBlitzer

[DanTrollBlitzer]

Just a bump in case any new expats to central Japan are looking for a wargaming group.

DanTrollBlitzer

[PG_Gannon]

Yet another bump, with a location added down in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture. We have a pretty big crew down here that play everything from Table Top, Card, Board, and Collectibles.