Dinoproof Debut

Posted on 25/01/2017 by sho3box

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In which the rules of the Dinoproof tabletop miniature game are tested and lessons are learned.

Just John brought rules for a dinosaur hunting game to my attention recently.  It looked like exactly the sort of amusing, rapid and fun game that we enjoy, so we decided to each pick up a copy of the rules here.  I even managed to get Chompers painted for dino safari last week.

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The game explores complex themes such as life in a post dinopocalyptic world, the nature of celebrity and whether a triceratops could kill a tyrannosaurus rex if an inebriated ogre from space punched it first.

Easily confused, Chompers doesnt know which A-list dino to headbutt first.

Easily confused, Chompers doesn’t know which A-list dino to headbutt first.

Just John (seen screaming in fear in the first image) and I ripped through our first two player game in a little over an hour.  It will certainly rattle on a lot faster in future now that we know how it works.

It’s a rapid, beer and pretzels affair.

Chompers chooses to disturb the grazing stegasaurs with the butt of a ripper gun.

Chompers chooses to disturb the grazing stegasaur with the butt of a ripper gun.

We found the rules to be straightforward, simple and largely pretty intuitive.  Some of the rules are deliberately intended to generate a few laughs, but the toy dinosaur factor is silly fun too.

After slapping Chompers around with his spiked tail, steggie collapses under the product of the Imperial prison systems assault.

After slapping Chompers around with his spiked tail, steggie collapses under the product of the Imperial prison systems assault.

We only touched on some of the options in the game, of which there are enough to keep us going for a while.  In particular, I am looking forward to trying out some of the iconic dinos that we didn’t fit in this time around.

Seeing a players character carried away by a pterosaur and dropped into its nest to be devoured by its young particularly tickles me.  That element reminds me strongly of this…

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The test game was a success. Lots of giggles and straightforward rules that are just about the right level of ludicrous.  The next part of the plan is to run Dinoproof at a convention in about a month.

Nazgrubs advanced mental faculties (well, relative to Chompers) cause him to generate "nerdatone" hormone, which in turn draws a pack of velociraptors.

Nazgrubs advanced mental faculties (well, relative to Chompers) cause him to generate “nerdatone” hormone, which in turn draws a pack of velociraptors.

Im not sure how much free time that I will have between now and the event, but if I can squeeze them in I have a few fun terrain pieces that will add to the theme.  I feel enthused about it right now, so I think that I will get stuck into that this weekend.

On some level I have waited my entire life for a toy soldier space ogre to bump off a t-rex. Im not even joking.

On some level I have waited my entire life for a toy soldier space ogre to bump off a t-rex. Im not even joking.

Lessons learned:

  1. I may have said “Clever girl…” over five zillion times during the game.  I need to watch Jurassic Park again to broaden my dork quoting abilities..
  2. On that topic, knowing the theme tune for that movie is a distinct advantage, as humming it gives every in-game moment added pathos.  Note the mature way that I resisted saying “extinct” advantage?
  3. While far from being “Homework: The Game“, I really do get a kick out of the edutainment factor in a game about dinosaurs, anachronistic as it may be to have them lumped in together.  Everyone worth talking to likes dinosaurs.  In fact, if you don’t like dinosaurs then please unsubscribe and definitely don’t comment.
  4. Feathers.  Its one of the biggest questions of our time.  I remember how crestfallen a buddy was when I mentioned many years ago that “brontosaurus” never existed.  Not since Pluto deplaneted have so many bookish types been reduced to tears.  Tread softly cruel realists, for not everyone is ready to accept that t-rex actually looked like he was attending the Rio Carnival.

As spinosaurus appeared 100 million years ago 😥

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33 Responses

  1. Alex, on 25/01/2017 at 18:13 said:

    Brilliant – this sounds like it ticks all my ‘awesome’ boxes mate. Definitely going to check this out!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    • sho3box, on 26/01/2017 at 13:53 said:

      The rules are inexpensive and written by fans that obviously value laughs and simple mechanics.

      Its nice to support that sort of gaming enterprise, while also getting a playable game too.

      I hope that you do pick it up and enjoy it Alex.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  2. Riot, on 25/01/2017 at 19:17 said:

    I have been looking for a fun ‘slap and tickle’ game for the club. This could be it!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • sho3box, on 26/01/2017 at 13:58 said:

      I think that you are heading into the early stage of your Dinoproof career with the correct attitude Riot.

      Play it with the right group and you will definitely have fun.

      Like

      Reply
  3. Suber, on 25/01/2017 at 20:07 said:

    Dammit, I’m humming Jurassic Park, it’s your fault! 😀
    I’m amassing myself some dinos for any random/undetermined project in the future (I just know that I want to run some game with dinosaurs!). This Dinoproof may be worth of a try…

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • sho3box, on 26/01/2017 at 14:13 said:

      Thats the thing isnt it? I already had the dinosaur toys, even though I am the youngest person living in my house (41).

      I was just waiting for the dinosaur game to come along 🙂

      Its an inexpensive rulebook Suber, and if you have everything else that you need already…

      Like

      Reply
  4. Subedai, on 25/01/2017 at 20:20 said:

    That looks fun! As coincidence would have it, I’ve got four dinos sitting in my paint queue, bought for a pound from Wilko. They will complement my exotic jungle flora with a bit of fauna. Yes, I am still working through the inspiration your blog provided years earlier!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • sho3box, on 26/01/2017 at 14:54 said:

      Inspiration goes both ways Subedai 🙂

      I made a decision to avoid getting into painting dinos. I have too many unpainted things already.

      I will make an exception for compsognathus I reckon, as finding those as toys in the correct scale will be difficult/impossible I reckon.

      Like

      Reply
  5. Warburton, on 25/01/2017 at 21:53 said:

    Excellent! I agree that everyone worth talking to likes dinosaurs, my 3 year old son regularly asks me, “I like dinosaurs, do you like dinosaurs?” The answer of course being yes! I must admit though that I am really struggling to come to terms with the whole feathers thing.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • sho3box, on 26/01/2017 at 15:21 said:

      It sounds like your three year old has his head screwed on right Warburton 🙂

      Considering that those incredible creatures actually existed at all, the feathers are merely a mild disappointment at most really.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      • Warburton, on 26/01/2017 at 20:28 said:

        I did what I could to raise him properly! And, having thought about this a lot, I don’t know that I’m disappointed by the feathers, but it’s more like having to remake every mental image you have of dinosaurs. At least when people figured out their Victorian era misconceptions were wrong, it was merely a matter of changing the gait etc… They were still talking about big lizards though. This is more of a quantum shift!

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply
  6. Mikko, on 25/01/2017 at 23:50 said:

    Feathers caused a fair bit of distress here as well. The game looks like great fun! I’d play it with Emmi but she’d only insist on the dinosaurs not getting hurt.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • sho3box, on 26/01/2017 at 15:25 said:

      I have similar, ridiculous qualms.

      I am unconcerned with hundreds of miniature humans being punched/shot/ground/minced into an imaginary pulp in my games, but hunting for pleasure?

      Its Tomb Raider all over again…

      Play photography version of the game with Emmi perhaps, where the humans must take close photos of the dinos.

      I can guarantee in-game deaths a plenty like that, and none of them will be saurian.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  7. Azazel, on 26/01/2017 at 01:46 said:

    I need to know more about this game. I’ve slowly gathered a little collection of Schleich (sp?) and Papo Dinosaurs and Mammoths and Rhinos for potential wargaming monster duties, but this sounds really interesting…

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Allison Mackay, on 26/01/2017 at 14:22 said:

      Schleich dinos are gorgeous but collecting them would be expensive. Then again if this is your hobby, you’re used to paying daft amounts for things.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      • sho3box, on 26/01/2017 at 15:31 said:

        I picked up a couple of Schleich dinos yesterday in fact Allison. They are beautifully painted and designed and accordingly expensive.

        I have buckets of cheap dinos from various sources already, but I have a feeling that I may upgrade a few here and there to Schleichs on occasional toy shop trips from now on.

        Like

        Reply
    • sho3box, on 26/01/2017 at 15:28 said:

      There was a more blow by blow description of the game in Wargames Illustrated Azazel. Looking at Just Johns copy of that and the simple mechanics described was what made my mind up for me.

      From what I know of your gaming interests, I *think* that it might entertain you but for the price its likely worth taking a punt.

      Like

      Reply
  8. Mark A. Morin, on 26/01/2017 at 01:57 said:

    Fun post and glad I read it!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  9. axiom, on 26/01/2017 at 12:46 said:

    This looks like EXACTLY the game to play with my kids. I need to get on it!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • sho3box, on 26/01/2017 at 15:34 said:

      Great!

      If the upcoming con works out then its certainly worth considering for BOYL too.

      An Exodite themed element perhaps…

      Like

      Reply
  10. mrsaturdays, on 26/01/2017 at 15:25 said:

    Just some laser dinos now and it’s perfect. I better get my skates on with my angry lonely trophy loving part cyborg space wolf.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  11. Captain Crooks, on 26/01/2017 at 22:44 said:

    Strewth, I bloody hate dinosaurs…..

    …. said a guy to me once. We don’t talk anymore. This looked fun. Maybe it’s time I opened my heart to the thrill of the hunt, so that it may be devoured by the ravening compsognathus hordes. Mmm…

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • sho3box, on 26/01/2017 at 22:53 said:

      If anyone I know can get a big game dino hunter model concept from initial hallucination to final life decision questioning 3D in a stream of lolz, it’s you Captain.

      Like

      Reply
  12. Ballroom Blitz(ers) | Leadballoony - It's a lead thing (sorry, no balloons), on 31/01/2017 at 07:50 said:

    […] other news, inspired by this post over on sho3box, I picked up a copy of Dinoproof over the weekend and had a couple of games with my […]

    Like

    Reply
  13. daggerandbrush, on 31/01/2017 at 23:33 said:

    Wonderful, with this inspiring post I can put that crate of Dinoriders I have somewhere to good use. Could even play a game with my goodchildren.

    I was a true Dinosaur dork back when the whole Dinomania was a thing. Magazines, action figures, books, you name it. I even considered becoming a paleontologist. Truth be told, I still love dinosaurs, feathers or not.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  14. Major Henry Fortisque-Smyth – Curis's Ninjabread, on 24/12/2017 at 17:16 said:

    […] There’s a blog about testing the DinoProof rules here. […]

    Like

    Reply

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