Good day, fellow Toy Soldiers!

As it has become customary each year, we again need your opinion on this year’s Gaming Mammoth. We have carefully picked three charities for you to choose from. Please, leave your vote below within the week.

To get to the poll [click here]!

 And those are the charities you can pick from:

Unbound is an organisation that focuses on children and families living in poverty all around the world. Their approach is to not simply send money to people in need, but to lift people out of poverty with the help of the community and their social workers, to give them hope and a future.

With ~7% their overhead is quite small.

Find out more about their work on their website or look them up on charitywatch.

The BBR Foundation focuses on mental health research, including depression, anxiety, autism and a lot more.They are committed to alleviating the suffering caused by mental illness by awarding grants that will lead to advances and breakthroughs in scientific research.

With ~8% their overhead is also quite small.

Find out more about their work on their website or look them up on charitywatch.

The WRI focuses on the intersection of the environment and socio-economic development. They work with governments, business, and civil society to build solutions — going beyond research.

With ~9% their overhead is also quite small.

Find out more about their work on their website or look them up on charitywatch.

Every year for the past 7 years now, Toy Soldiers Unite has been at the MCM Expo in London. It is one of the largest conventions in Europe for everything related to movies, comics, TV, games and more and is regularly attended by over 100,000 guests. This year has been no different.

Our table this year was a smorgasbord of the talents and creations of Toy Soldiers, including masks by Lt. Grimm, paintings by Lt. Sophie, a cornucopia of hama bead accessories by Annelise, and my own Dungeons & Dragons cases, as well as official TSU merchandise. On top of selling things, many came to the table to see TSU itself to get updates on our continued march towards World Domination, and share their own adventures with us. We met new recruits, and were visited by Toy Soldiers from long ago still fighting the good fight with creativity and imagination.

On top of all that, having a table allowed us a perfect vantage point to witness the utterly stunning and amazing cosplays created by thousands! From quick 1 hour costumes, to ones that had been in the works for months and months. The work that had gone into some of these designs bordered on the obsessive, and they were all magnificent. It has added fuel to my own fire to create a cosplay that will blow people away.

Now, witness the power of this fully loaded and operational comic con!

I just wanted to leave a little Thank You here. The Gaming Mammoth, once again, was successful. We had lots of fun, made new friends and collected money for a good cause. Even though we did not reach our goal. This is not about numbers or our ego. The ambition is to help people, and we certainly did.

Currently, we are getting all things sorted, winners get picked and emailed and mystery packages get packed.

Thank you crafters, planners, streamers, sponsors, sharers, carers, viewers, everyone who went a little bit out of their way for us. You people are what makes this event so awesome. You are making a change in this world.

P.S.: Our Gaming Mammoth shop will remain open, and profits from that will continue to be donated to Mind, so be sure to check it out

Mission Brief

Alright you lot. Gonna actually attempt to plan ahead a bit.
Toy Soldier Day is in a few weeks, and I have an idea that’ll highlight the very core of the Army of Toy Soldiers. YOU!

Between now and February 26th, record and submit a video of yourselves doing what you are the most passionate about.
Are you writing fanfic? Get someone to record over your shoulder as you beat the living hell out of your keyboard.
Building a robot? Film its first steps and/or epic failure.
Streaming games? Creating props? Playing music? Fighting for your rights? Teaching skills? Forging metal? Exploring the world? Exploring your mind?
I want you to show and tell the world in no more than 1 Minute, what it is that your pineal gland thrives upon.

Video Requirements:

– Your video can be edited, but nothing fancy. No flashes, or fades, or such. Just a straight cut from one scene to the next.
– No music or background ambience (excepting if you’re a musician)
– Maximum length of 1 minute total. It can be shorter if you want.
– Review your video before uploading it. Check you can be clearly seen and heard. Google for quick tips if need be.
– No nudity, swearing, politics, religion or actual guns/weapons. Painted nerf guns and props are fine.
– It can be 1080p or potato quality. Not expecting Scorsese here. Even just a selfie video on your phone will do.
– Toy Soldier Uniform would be nice, but is not a requirement. There is a sale currently on in the Armory if you’d like to finally get around to making a new uniform.

At the end of your video, it’d be great if you could do the following.
1. Gaze at the camera, and say “To a Utopian Playland.” (dramatically).
2. Perform the Toy Soldier Salute. Place right hand fist onto your heart, then snap head to the right, tilted upwards ever so slightly, as if staring into the future, and hold that pose for a few seconds. That’ll be where your video ends.

Where to send your video:

Please upload your video to either Google Drive, Dropbox, or similar file sharing site, and send the link to [email protected]
Do NOT upload to Youtube, Vimeo or elsewhere, or attempt to email the file directly, it wont work.

The cut off date is the 26th of February, there’s no negotiating this and anything that arrives afterwards will not be included.

Your video will be part of a montage, so not all elements may be used, but we’ll do our utmost to get the best parts included.

If you have any questions, reply to this topic, or pop into the Discord server.

I sincerely look forward to getting to know and show your passions, talents, hobbies and pinecones better, and sharing them with the world.

To a Utopian Playland!

Sergeant Dutch assigns one of his many agents to investigate and inspect the mysterious Dr. Modius.

Between the 1st and 3rd of April, Toy Soldiers across the world gathered together in the digital realm.

Their mission? Stream and game for as long or as often as possible between Friday and Sunday, and raise $2000 for the Enable Community Foundation.

It was a SMASHING success. With Lt. Sophie, Engineer Airhead and SilentAddle leading by example, there were over a dozen people streaming at various times on the weekend, across a variety of games. Minecraft, Elite Dangerous, Don’t Starve Together, Banished, Mario Kart, board games, the list just goes on.

And we did it all for benefit of the Enable Community Foundation, an organisation and network of 3D printers around the globe, who make 3D printed prosthetic hands for disabled children, for free! We felt that any group that goes to such efforts to bring a little happiness to the world using their creative talents deserves a helping hand from the Army of Toy Soldiers.

We want to give a huge thank you to everyone who donated, to all the streamers, all the gamers, and everyone who helped behind the scenes, for making such an awesome event happen. And do not fret.

The Gaming Mammoth WILL return!

Now, check out this explosive ending to the Minecraft Server!

Operation: Invade Zee Germans

Participants: #512-Waterratten Taskforce consisting of: Engineer Airhead, Delina and Gonzo

Objective: Take over Lt. Sophie and Silent Addle’s apartment for games, photoshoots and shenanigans.

It was 11am in the morning on the 21st of August 2015. It was a very hot day. Gonzo was waiting at the station of Eindhoven, a city in the south of the Netherlands. Engineer Airhead and Delina were soon to arrive to begin a 7 hour journey towards the east. The journey would take them deep inside Germany to visit Lieutenant Sophie and Silent Addle and take over their home for the weekend.

The journey took the brave Dutch Toy Soldiers through wasp-infested parking lots for the few breaks along the way that were needed to keep them sane. [ Fun fact: Gonzo Dances when wasps are around him. ]
The Autobahn is both a delight and a hell when there is no speed limit. Gonzo and Airhead were having a lot of fun, and many stupid silly jokes were laughed about. It seems that in Germany, all they ever do is build roads on the streets and build bridges next to other bridges. After a good 4 or 5 hours on the Autobahn, the GPS system sent the soldiers through more touristic views of villages in valleys and beautiful architecture of churches and small towns.

After the long drive there was a small problem with getting to the apartment because again, the Germans love roadworks for some reason. After Airhead conferred with the locals, they found a Silent on the side of the road. He guided the invading forces foolishly to his apartment, as soon after the soldiers had unloaded their gear and devoured Lt. Sophie’s delicious pizza a big nerf war broke out. Vortex discs and nerf darts were flying around and at one point it became a chaotic free for all.

After a few hours, a ceasefire was declared and it was time for a good sleep, as traveling and nerf wars make one sleepy.

Saturday was BBQ and games day. The Nintendo 64 was connected and it didn’t take long for Delina to claim the Zelda game. There was still a somewhat tense atmosphere after the ceasefire from the night before. One thing was absolutely clear: “Always have a loaded NERF gun within arms reach when hanging out with Toy Soldiers.”

The BBQ was fired up for lunch, and the meat and veggies were enjoyed by all. After the feeding was done, Gonzo took out the game Exploding Kittens. After playing and many laughs it got chilly outside and the soldiers went on to play Mario Kart on the Nintendo 64. Attempts were made to record some gaming footage for the upcoming Gaming Marathon. After Silent and Delina went to bed; Sophie, Airhead and Gonzo stayed up and chatted a bit while playing games before calling it a late night.

Sunday was photoshoot and wasteland exploration day. Everyone geared up and donned their uniforms. After the many flashes and poses were done, it was time to explore the wasteland. Rumour had it that an alien craft landed there, but the local government was covering the evidence by expanding the railroad over it. During exploration we came across many interesting features. Airhead had to collect some of his lost sleep and took a nap in one of the digger machines.

In the end no sign was found of the alien crash landing, -except a few legs with plants growing out of them- But a great new game was invented by Delina called: “Whack-a-Soldier”. The game is highly recommended for Tactical Playtime!

After another lot of photos were shot, it was time to head back and have lunch. The original plan was to make some more gaming footage, but the soldiers were so exhausted that everyone just relaxed and looked back to a good weekend. They ordered pizza for dinner and enjoyed a relaxed evening together. Peace was finally established between the invading taskforce and the hosts of the weekend.

The next morning after packing, double checking and goodbyes; Airhead, Delina and Gonzo went on their 7 hour journey back. This time though a lot of rain and traffic. They made it home safely.

Operation: Success!

Hello folks,

Since it is never too early to start planning and we are having big plans for next year’s Gaming Marathon, we want YOU to vote for next year’s charity!

We have selected a few options for you to vote for.

Please note that this poll is only up for the limited time of one month.

Enabling The Future

e-NABLE is a global network of volunteers who are using their 3D printers, design skills, and personal time to create free 3D printed prosthetic hands for those in need – with the goal of providing them to underserved populations around the world.

e-NABLE was founded in 2013 by Jon Schull, a research scientist based at Rochester Institute of Technology, when he started coordinating offers for aid and requests for 3D printed hands in the comments of a video about the Robohand. e-NABLE began as a match-making service centered around a map, but the community quickly branched out into designing and improving 3D printed prosthetic device and building systems for better distributing them. Today the community numbers in the thousands and has delivered hands in 37 countries.

IMHRO

The human suffering of mental illness is as old as classical literature and as timely as today’s headlines. Because people don’t like to talk about it, mental illness has grown into a bigger societal issue than most of us realize. If IMHRO has anything to say about it, it will not stay that way—and you can help.

At IMHRO, we believe that effective approaches for recovery for persons with mental illness—perhaps even cures—can be attained within our lifetime. With your help, neuroscience will provide the key.

IMHRO funds the most promising neuroscientists who are growing our knowledge of how psychiatric disease works and our ability to heal those diseases at their roots. This funding works: Every IMHRO scientist funded from 2005 through 2012 has already received follow-on grants from the government or from private foundations to expand the research they began with IMHRO funding.

Deworm The World

The Deworm the World Initiative enables governments to eliminate the public health threat of worms through school-based mass deworming programs.

More specifically, Evidence Action advocates for school-based deworming to policymakers and provides technical assistance to launch, strengthen and sustain school-based deworming programs.We work directly with governments to rapidly scale programs targeting all at-risk school-age children.

We currently work in Kenya, India, Ethiopia, and Vietnam.

Alliance For Lupus Research

The Alliance for Lupus Research is the world’s largest private funder of lupus research, committing almost $100M to date. We aim to find better treatments and ultimately prevent and cure systemic lupus by supporting bio-medical research.

From among scientists at the most prestigious universities, medical schools, and hospitals throughout the world, we select and support the most promising research projects that we believe will treat, cure, and help prevent lupus.

IndieCade

The IndieCade Foundation is a nonprofit organization that provides year-round creative and financial support for the development of artistic, experimental, and socially meaningful games free from commercial pressures. Through its programs, the IndieCade Foundation is dedicated to discovering, supporting, and inspiring independent game developers from the United States and around the world, and to introducing audiences to their new work.

Center for Puppetry Arts

The Center for Puppetry Arts is a unique cultural treasure – a magical place where children and adults are educated, enlightened and entertained. Since 1978, the Center has introduced millions of visitors to the wonder and art of puppetry and has touched the lives of many through enchanting performances, curriculum-based workshops and the hands-on Museum, as well as Distance Learning and Outreach Programs.

Doctors without Borders

Doctors Without Borders, is an international humanitarian-aid non-governmental organization best known for its projects in war-torn regions and developing countries facing endemic diseases

Electronic Fountier Foundation

The Electronic Frontier Foundation is the leading nonprofit organization defending civil liberties in the digital world. Founded in 1990, EFF champions user privacy, free expression, and innovation through impact litigation, policy analysis, grassroots activism, and technology development. We work to ensure that rights and freedoms are enhanced and protected as our use of technology grows.

First Book

First Book is determined to see that all children, regardless of their economic conditions, can achieve more in school and in life through access to an ongoing supply of new books. With the help of our partners, donors and dedicated volunteers we have provided more than 130 million new books to schools and programs serving children in need. Yet millions of children are still waiting for our help.

Voting will be over in a month, August 20th, as we want to send out letters and promotional material to possible sponsors by then.

CLICK HERE TO CAST YOUR VOTE AND DISCUSS IN THE FORUMS!

Thank you so very much for your attention!

Salutes,

Lt. Sophie

Last weekend, Toy Soldiers from across the globe gathered together to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society.

Not only did we smash through the $1000 target (which was last years Gamin Marathons total), but we also smashed through the secondary target of $1500, raising a total of $1565! Donations will remain open until this Wednesday for anyone who wishes to donate further.

This year we played two games. Minecraft and Don’t Starve Together, from 8pm on Friday until 3pm on Sunday, and it is thanks to Lt. Sophie’s organizing that everyone who partook had a smashing good time. We reached out for comment, but apparently she wont stop hugging the coffee machine which aided her through the weekend.

We want to thank everyone who watched, chatted and donated, but we especially want to thank all the gamers who joined in and made this event possible. So thank you to: Lt Sophie, Engineer Airhead, LED Master Gonzo, Trigo, Brigadier Iron Davis, Rydius, B34R, Captain Cog, Darth Raziel, IceRoyale, Sergeant Voltor, Silent Addle, Dothrah, Elve, Delina, Scouter715, Sokamin, TechieFive, 8Ben, SmupahLilPudding, Th3Jane, and MetalKitten.

Congratulations to you all, you have done an amazing job.

Mike Mcnanner here! I’m pleased to report that my solo-infiltration of the BUCK 2014 brony convention in Manchester, England, was a success. Hardly a surprise, given that bronies are known for being fun, creative and just a little bit insane. In other words, the ideal Toy Soldier!

While there were a few hiccups in the preparations for the infiltration (Namely not being able to get a table-application in on time), it still went well. With a placard strapped to my back, a stack of leaflets, and a Fluttershy pony plushie dressed in her own little TSU uniform, I went into the con, and came out with the names and emails of 28 bronies who were interested in becoming new recruits! I’ll shortly be sending them a welcoming letter and directing them to the website.

As well as recruiting and propagandising (If that isn’t a word yet, I’m making it a word), I also sat in on some panels, got some autographs, some loot, took part in some workshops and got my ass thoroughly handed to me in several rounds of the MLP trading card game (which is alot more complex and difficult than you’d expect of this franchise), and rocked out for 2 nights in a row to some pretty solid brony-music. All in all, a pretty solid convention weekend! And if BUCK 2015 does indeed happen (they’re still not certain they can get the money or manpower again next year, but we live in hope), I know I’ll be applying for a table the moment applications open!

Please excuse the rather mediocre camera quality in the photos. I was wielding a cameraphone, and only now do I realise in hindsight that I should have brought my SLR camera. And I would have gotten more photos, but I was just having too much fun!Mcnanner over and out.