25 September 1971 – 29 May 2006

About Alan

It would more than fill all the pages of the world wide web to tell you everything about Alan Neill, so I won't try here. He was a person who had a great love of life, a wide range of interests, huge commitment to his friends and family, and a real dedication to his work. He was passionate about gaming, and that’s how many of us met him.

Alan joined the QUB Dragonslayers at the tender age of fifteen. He used to tell stories of sneaking into the Students’ Union via the beer keg hatch in the basement. This was back in 1986, not long after the club had been established, and the ‘old-timers’ of Dragonslayers were probably reluctant to let this blonde haired skinny kid join in their fun - especially when he brought along his friends from school.

The following is the list of games TableTopNorth will be putting on at this year's Q-Con. As usual we will also have a TTN stall where folks can enquire about games, find out more about TTN and just hang out.

Call of Cthulu 1890’s Competition game
Players: 4 tables of 5 (Age 12+)

After a valiant effort to climb the Bitterhorn, bad weather forced you off the mountain, a terrible avalanche took several of your companions and it has been a 3 day march with low supplies, made all the harder as you are carrying one of the deceased. Ahead respite, the sleepy alpine village of Van Gurniken. How could anything sinister lie in such a peaceful place?

DandD 3.5 (Living Greyhawk: Flaness) Competition game
Players: 4 tables of 5

As the Barbarians rampage across the headlands and the dwarves lock themselves in their mountain holds, can anything in Onnwal stop this menace? The rebel dwarven mage McBain has a plan and he has called his closest adventuring companions to help him. After all, McBain has always somehow manage to put it off in the past - hasn’t he?!

Being a dedicated computer games player for over twenty-five years (and no my first computer wasn’t steam powered) I have found my interest in computer games rapidly waning in recent years, a subject I explored in a previous article.  I have been wondering for some time if I have finally got too old to enjoy computer games or are modern computer games lacking some of the features of games of yester year that made them so addictive.

Looking at the releases for this Christmas I saw four new releases that I thought would answer the above question for me.  These are Neverwinter Nights 2, Medieval Total War 2, Warhammer Mark of Chaos and Theatre of War.  These are games that fit into my favourite game categories of strategy games and computer role-playing games.  If none of these titles thrill me as much as games of the past then I have to accept that my love of computer games is over.

TTN are hosting a one-day DBM competition, in conjunction with RINIWA, on Sunday 12th November in the Boatclub. The wargame competition will have three rounds, based on 'swiss chess' style pairing of opponents. There is an open choice of armies, each 200 points.

For more information on the competition rules, please see the RINIWA website. David Houston is the contact for registering for this event, which begins at 9.30am, ending at 6.00pm.

The event has been named after Niall of the Nine Hostages (Niall Noigíallach).

War has come again to the Five Kingdoms!

Join us on Saturday 11th November in the Boatclub for a special one-day wargame - Big Game 8: the Crown of Kings. Using the quick and easy Hordes of the Things rules, we will be fighting it out for control of the fantasy world of the Five Kingdoms. Choose to fight on behalf of the Elves, Orcs, Humans or Squidmen.

Doors open at 9.00am, with battle commencing at 9:30am and finishing by 6.00pm.  All equipment, figures, dice and rules will be provided - all you need to bring is your enthusiasm. Entry is £5 for the day,  or £4 for TTN members.