Preparations for Victorious 26 are almost complete, and for once I seem to be approaching a convention without discovering at the last minute that something essential is still sitting unpainted on the workbench.

The Tiny Dinosaurs are finished, their equally tiny prehistoric world is complete, and everything is ready for some suitably small scale mayhem. The big dinosaurs may have fallen victim to convention table shrinkflation this year, but their miniature replacements are painted, based and looking considerably more enthusiastic about Victorious than creatures that have been extinct for 66 million years really ought to be.

The Guru’s Publications stock is packed and ready for sale, including the convention specials. All five Australian Frontier Wars books and rules will be available as a bundle for AU$80, rather than the combined recommended retail price of AU$108.26, a saving of more than 25%. A Wargamer’s Guide to Writing Rules, all 378 pages of advice, probability, playtesting and accumulated gaming wisdom, will also be available for AU$20, down from its RRP of AU$32.94, a saving of around 40%.

The point of sale “stuff” is packed as well, which covers all those mysterious boxes, signs, bags, change, displays and miscellaneous objects without which apparently no convention trader can function. Everything is now sitting there waiting patiently, which is more than can be said for me.

So the dinosaurs are ready, the terrain is ready, the books are ready, the bargains are ready and the Guru is rearing to go.

Victorious 26, here we come!