Prey and the Birth of a Legend

 

On Saturday, 4 November, I was able to host two games at the Hamilton Road Games Group in London, ON. Both were using the Fistful of Lead rules from Wiley Games. One was a direct play of the "Prey" scenario from Wiley Games. The second used the plain rules on the same tabletop.

In the first game, both "human" players (Aris and Ryan) had teams of 5 First Nations warriors, armed with bow and arrow or spear. Some of the names I put together for their crews were "Hands-to-the Sky", "Head-of-Rock", "Fleet-of-Foot", "Joe Bear-killer", and the ever-popular "Dances-with-Vermin." Bear, the third player had three Alien Hunters in Holo-suits that made them almost invisible (unless you crossed a body of water which shorted out the suit for a turn), carrying lasers, and being big and nasty. The humans started at opposite corners of the field and the Aliens started dead center on the table. I'll try not to reveal too much about the scenario in case someone reading this wanted to surprise their players with it. It really was a lot of fun.

One hunter advances toward Ryan's crew. Head-of-Rock kneels in wait.
The whole table was considered forested (light cover) except the areas like the light green
one, which was considered to be a clearing.

Aris's team advances toward the creek, coming up behind Bear's alien hunters.
(Figures by RAFM)

Head-of-Rock keeps waiting.

Alien Hunter #2 ("Frazzi" I think) shows one wound (red bead), one shock (yellow bead),
and a working holo-suit. (white ring) Tau Stealth Suit troops seemed fine for this use.

All three Alien Hunters face down Ryan's warband. Dances-with-Vermin is in front with one wound and one shock.

Aris' band keeps sneaking up on the Hunters.

One Alien Hunter takes on a spear-armed warrior with claws. The warrior didn't win.

Another view of that desperate fight!

In the end, Ryan killed two Hunters (10 renown points) and had 4 braves surviving (4 points) for resounding 14 point win. Aris had 4 points and Bear lost two hunters to the Native Braves while taking one out hand to hand. The third Hunter blew himself up when the situation got too desperate and no  rescue was forthcoming. It really was closer than it looked. A Joker in the deck caused a hunter to fall into a pit with sharpened stakes at the bottom. Jokers are fun!

After a brief and satisfying lunch of cherubim and seraphim with iced tea, the same crowd went at it again, using new teams and no Alien Hunters. 2 Jokers were in the mix, which allowed the player to use it as a wild card, but it also caused a downpour of rain which forbid long range shooting. Aris and Bear both had teams of 5 cowboys while Ryan fielded a patrol of the RCMP - an inspector, a veteran sergeant, two constables, and a dog... a dog of legend whose story will be told over campfires for years.

Bear's team entered the field at 12 o'clock level, Aris' at 9 o'clock, and Ryan's at about 4:30 level. Lots of shots were exchanged. In the end, it came down to a one-on-one shoot-'em-out between the survivor of Bear's crew and the last man of Aris' crew, Ryan's all having been gunned down but not without giving almost as good as they got!

Three of Aris' gun-slingers advance over rough ground
(Figures from various manufacturers)

Long range shots between Aris and Bear.

Bear's boys come over the creek.

'Tis the Law north of the border!
(Figures by Pulp Miniatures)

Ryan's Mounties engage Aris' crew.

More shots ring out.

THE LEGEND!
Dog Constable Nova did a high speed sneak around the Mountie left and attacked one of Aris'
boys in the creek. Nova took the gunman out in short order to the cheers of all players and the
games master. (Me!) We were all cheering for Nova to take out ALL of Aris' crew. Nova was
armed with teeth and claws and was "stealthy." (Since the dog couldn't shoot, he got an extra
trait and I gave him "stealth" with it -1 to any shooting attacks on him. It was worth it!)
I think I like dogs as part of a crew for this sort of game.

More shot exchanged.

Sad to say, one of Aris' gang got the initiative on Nova and laid the legendary
dog low. We all held a brief moment of silence in the dog's memory.
(Silence... 1... 2... that's enough.)
Aris is to be known as "Dog-killer" from now on.

 In the end, all of the RCMP patrol were out of action and only one shootist in the gangs of Bear and Aris remained. The exchanged a few shots and then retired to the saloon for some libations since Bear's ride came and he had to leave.

I like the Wiley Games because the same mechanics apply to any game of any period or style you might play using the rules. My son and I played a Grimdark game of Chaos-type nastys vs. Tau-ish aliens and the rules worked great. Our last Christmas party game used the rules in a mixed way, with magic users, modern Canadian army troops, sci-fi heroes, pirates, pulp heroes, and others all in the same team, all trying to save Santa from the Krampus and the Grinch... and it worked great. (See the photos below.) For what it's worth, I'd recommend the entire range of rules - Wild West, historical, horror, Sci-fi, fantasy. It's all just plain fun.

Company Sergeant Major Vanier of the Van doos faces down the Martian ape.

Santa, Krampus, the Grinch, and some mercenary gunmen.

Goblins! Flash Borden! The Phantom! Professor Fate, Master of Magic!
RCMP Sergeant Steele! The Pirate Queen! Weird mushrooms!
All in one game!

So when you play again, I hope the fighting spirit of the legendary Canine Constable Nova, and crazy fun of the First Nation's sniper, Dances-with-Vermin will be celebrated on your table.

More to come soon.

It's Been a While

Yes, it has been a while since I blogged. Any number of things have been going on and I've been distracted. I'd like to say "busy", but "distracted" would be more honest. Changes in household, changes in work and ministry, and changes in the other things I do are all there.

For instance, in my reenacting, I've been made "Battalion Adjutant." Sounds like a promotion, and I suppose it is. It has a lot to do with where to place people for parade and keeping some records. The Colonel asked me to do this partially because I don't move so well with the arthritis in my knees and this would keep me in the hobby. I kiddingly tell people that I was made an officer in my unit because I can cause less damage that way. Who knows?

My dear wife cracked a rib at a reenactment a few weeks ago. I was not present because I was officiating at a wedding. She's doing better, but is still sore at times.

My ministry continues and some changes might be in the offing. I cannot be sure and I'll keep all that to myself for the time being.

Painting? Yes, I have been painting and I enjoy it! Here are some selections.

Based on the videos from "Black Magic Craft", I did a spike trap
for possible use in D&D games.
I recommend you look up and watch BMC's videos on YouTube.

An odd-looking altar set for the Service.
I'll add it to a ruined church Andy gifted me with.

Barrels of stuff - Silver Bayonet table clutter

Adding some colour to my French troop for Silver Bayonet -
men of two of the Swiss Regiments in the Grand Armee.

Nosferatu-style vampires for Silver Bayonet.
I suppose these are vampires whose investment never paid out.

From a Silver Bayonet game with my friend, Mark - 
the leader and the supernatural investigator from my Irish rebel warband,
based on the '98 rebellion. 

The Table for Silver Bayonet
My Irish vs. Mark's Scottish warband

Some of the Irish
The Mayo-man (using Highlander stats), the leader, a deserter
from the Crown infantry, and the friar/investigator

The Mayo-man with his two-handed axe faces off the Scots leader.

The rest of the Irish - 
Insurgent rifleman, Junior officer, and rebel infantryman

I'd been wanting to do a naval warband for a while.
My local store just started to carry "Blood & Plunder" from
Firelock Games. I bought a box of the ship's crew which
included 16 multi-pose figures. Just the thing for Silver Bayonet!

A few more naval types including a junior officer in a bicorne head
that was left over from some British infantry officer in the bits-box.

From a recent game at the Hamilton Road Games Group in London
A game using A Fistful of Lead rules for the Wild West.
Beth ran an all-female gunslinger gang, but ended up losing to two other gangs.
A great set of rules that I'd recommend to anyone!

Things can get busy around the corral.

Some T'au "Pathfinders" with plasma carbines
A while back, my son and I played a game using the FFoL Sci-fi rules
for the 'Grimdark' setting. I wanted to make up my own SF warband and
since I like the T'au, there you have it. More on this later.

Andy and I continue our foray into the Seven Years War using Osprey's Honours of War rules.
We're still learning and it gives me a chance to unlimber my Russian army for the period.

A brigade of Cossacks
WARNING: Don't EVER do this! Cossacks are too brittle to stand alone as a brigade.
Individual regiments dancing around, messing with people's heads is great...
But a brigade of them is not a good idea!

More of the Same

 

I finally got some photos of my Russian SYW troops. They were taken at a game, true, but they're here. (I took most and Andy took a few of the photos.) We played a game at the Hamilton Road Games Group, using the Honours of War rules from Osprey. As I've said before, this is a rule set I like and as we play it we're getting better at finding things in the book.

From Andy's Prussian point-of-view.
The large dice show the enthusiasm of the generals on a scale shown in the game.
A poor result with a poor general means you don't move at all.
A good result with great general could actually make you advance.

The Prussians moved in road column toward the town while the Russians advanced in line. 

Arial view of some open fields.
Those are my lonely Jagers ("Igerski") advancing to their doom all alone.

The Russian grenadier brigade advances slowly.

Russian cavalry - cuirassiers, horse grenadiers, and dragoons ride across the fields.
The red jacketed troops are Russian infantry in summer uniform.
They would leave their green uniform coat in baggage and serve in a sleeved waistcoat.

Prussian dragoons and hussars begin to threaten my grenadiers.

On the other flank, Prussian cuirassiers and dragoons come 'round the town.

Facing that cavalry onslaught is a brigade of Cossacks.
Irregular cavalry of "inferior" status with a "dithering" general led to two turns of ...
... vodka and perogi all around!! 

"More vodka, tovarichi?"

In the centre, my cuirassiers and horse guards attacked some infantry.

"A stupid and futile gesture"
Jagers die gloriously in the woods.

The Cossacks finally woke up and countercharged the cuirassiers.

In retrospect, that decision did not turn out well. I have since learned how to evade.

Horse grenadiers and dragoons charge more Prussian infantry.

More Prussians!

A regiment turns to face the threat on the right.
I tend* to hand-paint my flags and I'm pleased with that one.
(* not always)

Flushed with victory over irregular Cossacks, the cuirassiers prepare to continue to move.

My grenadiers appear to have been flanked, but game troupers that they are, they press on!

Russians in coats.
In a mass, SYW figures with their flags are impressive.

"You're right, Ivan. The view is better from back here."
The Cossack brigade was shattered. From now on, I'd best use them as an independent force.

Technically I lost the game, but it was actually an exercise in getting to know the rules on a table that was somewhat too small for the number of figures we fielded.

On to other things!

An altar table for The Silver Bayonet
I added the small corporal (altar cloth) and the Sacramentary (book)
The chalice and the other unidentifiable thing came with the altar.

Barrels and boxes.... 'cause you never know.

Some Chaos Marines of an unknown chapter

Napoleonic French Imperial Guard horse artillery for Shako II

A Landsknechts-ish figure put together from part lying around.

More barrels

At the War of 1812 reenactment at Fort George, Ontario, I served as brigade adjutant.
I'm in my summer uniform behand Colonel Land.

The US troops at morning parade - Regulars, Volunteers, and Militia with a dragoon!

Beth and I found this at our local games store - a doggo pirate!
I had to paint her up as our dog, Sadie, although if that pup shows up with two pistols,
I'll find myself elsewhere!

Sadie without her pirate gear,