Shootout in Grizzlyville AAR

With Jeff down with a flu, I stepped into the spurs and took on the challenge of hosting a tabletop game at the Courtenay area game event Dak-Kon XV.

Grizzlyville is a wild crazy-horse town where you never know when the next throw-down gun-slinging gang fight might break out.

We started with a really simple 1-1 gunfight in the middle of this one-horse town to demonstrate the simplicity of the "Fistfull of Lead" rules and let a few folks hear the "ace" - "king!" - "queen!?!" calls (which brought in some more players). The players were also feasting their eyes on the Whitewash City buildings by Eric Hotz.

With the quick & the dead cleared up we were able to get into a fast 3-way gunfight.

One gang setup tight together and on the roof of one of the buildings.

Storming around Patterson and Brothers GUNS was another gang, carefully avoiding contact with ROY (we'll see more of him later).

Fighting broke out fast around the Grand Hotel, here we see one man pinned behind the privvy.

Out in front of the Grand Hotel, life was carrying on...

The street in front of the Saloons had been cleared (mostly) now was filled with whizzing lead. The first gunfight ended when the Corn hat gang rushed the brown hats pinning their last man behind a corner, then storming him to gun him down.

So a new group of three players had assembled, this time each controlled two gangs...

Roy had crossed the street and appeared ready to bring the news to the Sheriff about the gang activity.

The gunmen had shot at Roy as he ran into the Sheriffs office. Roy came out AS the SHERIFF now and demanded that they throw down their guns. The gunmen that he first saw did this, the rest ran for cover and continued their gang war in the back streets...

Roy was not amused.

A gunslinger, gang leader was dropped at his feet...pinned and wounded (you can tell from the PIN on top of him!). This picture also shows off the great detail in the Hotzworks Whitewash City buildings.

... meanwhile down the backstreets more of the townfolk were having to take cover from the battle raging between two of the rival gangs.

The gallows were ignored for now as the gangs battle out behind the sheriff's post and the Saloons.

Sheriff Roy had been forced to retreat for a time into his post early in the fight, not coming out from pinning for two rounds. Now the reason comes clear...he had called for the mounties to come clear out this bunch of rowdies!

Actually I had run into the next 'time period' and wanted to clear off the table so as to have enough time to run a bigger game with some of the registered players.

The mounties rushing onto the table brought another rush of interested players and now I had one that wanted to run the NWMP ... why you ask? He was a real-life (off duty) Mountie! After some discussion with the other players it was agreed to let him run the NWMP, though this time the 'attacking' gangs would be bigger...and better armed.

Random luck permitted the gangs to start at one end of town and the Mounties at the other. One group of police riders were in the livery stables, the other at the Hotel across the one horse town (mat) road. The gangs decided to throw away any cautious meeting or pretext of camouflage and shot Sheriff Roy with a rifle right away!

This brought all the combatants into the street and a fire fight ensued, with the pistol armed cowboy gangs coming off the worse for wear. Roy was NOT dead and came out shooting!


The Mounties were definitely doing well early in the fight, they were now dashing down the boardwalks, led by their officer, to catch those cowboys that had taken cover or were staying out of range.

CHARGE! was the command from the Sergeant to urge the Mounties across the last open street towards the gunmen.

The Corn hat gang leader had holedup in the Orient Saloon, it was then that he started to pick off Mounties ... starting with an incredible long-shot at the officer in charge!

The mounties put up a great cross-fire, but could not manage to kill off this man in the Orient Saloon. Meanwhile Sheriff Roy had gunned down four of the rifle armed cowboys and sent the rest running for cover behind the Grand Hotel.

The streets of Grizzlyville were silent and empty for a time as both NWMP and gunmen maneuvered.

Both groups then suddenly decided to occupy the Grand Hotel, gunmen ran in the back, Mounties in the front door. The close-quarter battles began.

There are rules to cover some 'interior' actions in Fistful of Lead, we did not have full interiors filled out for all buildings ... so I improvised. Along the way I think I have hit upon the simplest CQB fast result skirmish "cinematic" system I have yet seen.

Works like this, both the gunman and the mountie rush the building in the same round, one was already in there 'somewhere'. So the rushing in player draws from a standard deck of cards (not the whole deck as there are already cards dealt as part of the rules, these are the ones left), the 'defending player' in the building draws next.

If the suit (hearts, diamonds, club or spades) is the same they will have a hand to hand battle - no option. The one with the higher card will get to 'shoot first', however the result of the 'shot' will not count until AFTER the hand to hand.

If the suit does not match, then the high card gets to shoot, the lower card then may take action after that has been resolved.

This system was so good that it was used four more times in the Grand Hotel until the main staircase was soaked in blood.

One Mountie was now on the balcony of the Grand Hotel, with two dead NWMP inside and three dead cowboys with them. Across the street the Oriental Saloon had no windows left as Mounties and the corn had Gang leader had exchanged multiple rounds of fire, leaving the leader pinned and wounded inside.

Up on a balcony a young Mountie keeps cover fire on the Oriental Saloon, while in the distance a nearly dead Sheriff Roy has run out of luck.

The Sergeant rushed the smashed front of the Orient Saloon, while in the back another Mountie rushed that door. Both had shots at the Corn Hat Gang leader, both only managed to keep him pinned, as he had run out of ammo and was not shooting back they felt confident that the situation was under control.

Going for broke having a "6" card, the Corn Hat Gang leader instantly reloaded his guns and managed to kill the Mountie in the back and badly wound the Sergeant in the front.

A round later, having failed to recover from pinning, the Sergeant was shot by the leader of the Corn Hat Gang.

The Mountie on the balcony of the Grand Hotel was rushed by another gang and shot down off the balcony, finally succumbing to his wounds in the street.

Grizzlyville was quiet, now in the hands of the Corn Hat Gang of desperadoes...

Preparing AAR for Grizzlyville.

Challenge of working and three active boys aged 4-10 makes for interesting nights to say the least.

I leave you with the promise of weekend AAR and this offering from Tombstone ... I must go to put children to be (again).

Shootout in Grizzlyville

Jeff, of Saxe-Bearstein, was a bit under the weather.
As I was able to attend this year's Dak-Kon and I had been part of the playtest and preparations Jeff had done for the tabletop game of Shootout in Grizzlyville I agreed to fill in his stead and moderate the games and do the support.

In all four games were played over an 8 hour period, with a lunch break and a break for an SCA fighting demonstration.

I have plans to summarize the battles over the coming week with some more eye-candy, readers will have to enjoy the offering above, from the third game where the good sheriff Roy had come out spitting bullets and demanding the gunfighters 'throw down their guns'.

Jeff's efforts and my putting on the game were crowned with success ~ BEST PRESENTATION AWARD for 2010!

PULTUSK

A game played on December 26 & 27 2009.

Rules used: Shako version 1



Alexander (my eldest son) set out the Russians and I commanded the French (his choice as he wanted to command all the Russian Cavalry).


Once the troops were laid out and the plans set, we began movement.

The Russian plan consisted of a general hold of the line, actually very typical.
atypical was the deployment that left fully 1/2 of the infantry and 2/3rds of the move able guns isolated on the right wing.

The French plan was a refused left, using cavalry (all that there was to start with) to screen any Russian plans to strike across the open ground. Then press into Pultusk using the arriving 3rd Div of III Corps to push thru the town and strike into the Russian line.

Early on, things went very badly for the Russian Heavy Cavalry, they were exposed to murderous French artillery fire and forced back from the French Squares that they faced on the reverse slope with no way to back away from them...

The results were disastrous, losing fully one unit of Cavalry and having the others wounded either by charging into squares or having the French cannon pound them to the breaking point...

The next four turns consisted of either Russian or French Cavalry charges in Pultusk, while in the center a murderous cannonade was exchanged with Russian and French Infantry coming away the worse for wear.



With turn 6 the III Corps had made its presence felt, pushing back the Russian Light Cavalry...


Messengers had been dispatched from Russian HQ to get the right wing into motion, partly to break the deadlock in the center and partly to make room for the heavy cavalry to deploy.



The silent Russian Right wing suddenly became the scene of the battle, with the Infantry moving forward and heavy cavalry coming into view from beyond the woods.

Just as a French horse battery moved to bring fire into the moving column, the heavy horse was totally exposed ... and obliterated.


Turn Nine brought the tipping point.

Near Pultusk the Russian light cavalry was bloodied but resolute in holding off the French III Corps from advancing through the town. Undaunted d'Aultanne took them across the river Narew and through the buildings on the other side, bringing fire into the flanks of the Horse Battery attached to the Russian light cavalry formation.



In the center a formation of Russians had charged the gun, driving off the gunners.

French Infantry (seen here in greatcoats) then raced up over the hill to crush the Russians in a flank attack.

Over on the French left, Russian right, the horse battery was now bringing fire into the columns of advancing infntry, having dispatched the horse...



Alex got to use the HEAVY BATTERY measuring stick as his big Russian guns finally got to pound the French that had strayed over the hill...

Now though the Russian left along the River Narew was coming under increasing fire. as even more French battalions were storming over the river to press on the flank...

While over on the Russian right wing the coup de grace was delivered by Hussars (just out ov view here having recalled from the successful charge) who broke a Russian regiment, this then caused a morale failure of the division, having suffered 50% losses, which took the whole Right wing away with it...

Victorious this time were the French, by a score of 5 units to 10 lost by the Russians.


Unlike the historical battle, Lannes was able to push the Russians out of the way while keeping some Chasseurs available to keep up the pursuit...would an ugly Eylau been necessary had the French been able to do this in 1806?

Battle of PULTUSK



Glancing through my collection of Napoleonic books I found the Dec 26, 1806 battle, ok ACTION, of PULTUSK as the destruction of Prussia was winding down and the Russians were continuing to retreat, one commander General Bennigsen, chose to turn and fight one last time. Marshal Lannes commanded the infamous V Corps of the Grand Armee and was to receive support from the 3rd Division of the equally famous III Corps.

I have compiled the photos and an AAR will be coming later this week.

Battle of Anheuser


Tabletop battlefield map

A proxy battle for Beerstein and Frankzonia.

The Frankzonian militia had gone brigand and fled from the pursuing forces of Baron von Ballpark. Certain that these 'militia' were not going to be able to form a credible force, Baron von Ballpark decided to continue to round them up after a leisurely breakfast in the woods gap.

M. Gen. Ziegfeldt von Phaulie, commander of the foot brigade, decided to allow the Sultan of Swat to lead the pursuit with his dragoons the Magellicas.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

The morning orders were clear from Major General Adolph von Coors, and rumor was that the Prince was in HQ, the second brigade was to press on past the town of Anheuser and seek out the brigands or the marauding force of cavalry that was suspected of being in the area. Since this was Brigadier General Barley Anheuser's own provincial territory he had great stock in making sure that the status quo returned quickly.

Upon reaching the area the Olendenberg Grenzers reported spotting actual columns of men moving out from the norther wald regions.

Not one to put up with such open defiance of his territory Anheuser ordered the Grenz to investigate and personally led the musketeers of the second brigade, Isenbeck and the Pabst Musketeers to investigate.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Zo, what again is ze zignal?" the wretched looking man asked Vizegraf von Dumbkoff of Hesse-Holstadt. Tired of repeating this, yet willing to see the plan through to the end.

"When you see me throw this yellow kerchief." For added emphasis the Vizegraf threw his silk kerchief on the ground.

Grinning a nearly toothless grin the Holstadt agent/veteran nodded and tramped off into the woods to the north. Somewhere in those woods the rest of these grizzled veterans had infiltrated part of the nearby garrisons of Frankzonia, now these troops had managed to stir up some of the Frankzonian regulars. These troops were even now moving towards this part of Beerstein, provided the other agents information was correct, there would be a meeting engagement here today. With luck Hesse-Holstadt would catch the flank of an exposed Beerstein brigade and rout it.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Olendenberg Grenzers had reached the ridge line, they were looking at a curious sight. Two lines of irregular troops had formed, there was a column marching behind them in the distance. They appeared to be making ready to fight and at the same time looking all over the place as though seeking a place for shelter ... or pursuit.

Only a minute after the runner was sent off to inform Anheuser there was a rapid movement at the edge of the distant woods, emerging from the trees were lines of well mounted dragoons. In a uniform pattern that none of the Grenzers had seen before, nor could they positively identify as being from Hesse-Holstadt. More than that they saw the rear column of men start to form a 'square' that more resembled an egg shaped mob.

The nearest lines of men continued to advance on the Grenzers, who followed discipline and began skirmish fire on them. These strange troops then 'attempted' to return fire with pistols, musketoons and old matchlocks. Their effect was to bring chuckles of pity from the Grenzers.

A second volley was preparing to come from the main line of Grenzers when half of these odd-ball troops suddenly began pulling muskets and carbines out from packs and coat rolls, tossing aside their pistols and useless matchlocks they began to pour out a suddenly lethal and effective fire. The hidden Holstadt veterans appeared!


+++++++++++++++++++++++++

It was here that the real battle began, my son Alex was playing the young and impressionable Anheuser who very quickly picked up on the strange movements of these 'militia' lines. He was then really shocked to see the Hesse-Holstadt advance guard show up on his left flank.




Not wasting a moment, Peter in command of the Hesse-Holstadt forces, rushed the dragoons into the action in an attempt to pin Anheuser in place long enough to get the rest of the Hesse-Holstadt army up to catch this one brigade alone.



Reacting quickly Anheuser pushed his forces to the ridge line, to gain the high ground in the area and ordered the rear unit Isenbeck Musketeers to form square to face the oncoming horsemen.

Hesse-Holstadt troopers did not oblige and tracked their charges into the Grenzers and the Pabst Musketeers in an attempt to catch them in the flank in line!



Meanwhile the Frankzonians had continued to press on these naughty militia. The dragoons scattered one unit, then formed up into line with the Hussars. The militia force Graubenbauer was clearly not behaving like any militia they had seen ever before. More than that they appeared to have a mix of muskets and carbines!

Artillery was brought up to break the resolve of these units before any cavalry would test them.


The first rush of dragoons did not work.


Brigadier Anheuser himself studied this strange force of militia and distant cavalry. Certainly these were not Hesse-Holstadt soldiers. Who were they and which side were they on?


Hesse-Holstadt troops were certainly on the field and now they were closing on the Grenzers with Jagers!


At last Anheuser had a name for the Hesse-Holstadt brigadier he was facing, von Dumbkoff!


The Hesse-Holstadt dragoon charges had left them disordered and not able to directly support each other. It was this moment that Major General Adolph von Coors arrived with the rest of the Beerstein forces. The Holsein Lieb Hussars have a vulnerable and juicy target for the start of the day ~ the 1st Pferdendung Dragoons of Hesse-Holstadt!


Shocked at what came next the Frankzonian artillery blasted grapeshot into the red capped militiamen, the went wild into a frenzy and charged up the hill into the Pabst Musketeers. Upon arrival at the Musketeers these poor men were found to be very nearly unarmed, swinging virtually useless broken musketoons and matchlocks without bayonets or even pikes! They were sent back with extreme losses, driven towards the guns that had sent them into such a frenzy!


Meanwhile the rest of the Beerstein forces had arrived and the gun batteries had started a furious pounding of the nearest Hesse-Holstadt dragoons.



Baron von Ballpark was really confused now. The militia had been more or less contained or dispatched into the woods areas before them ... now he could hear a major artillery duel taking place beyond the ridgeline in front of him! The lead elements were coming back with dispatches to him about a battle with troops in Prussian looking uniforms and others in Austrian looking uniforms. A messenger also came back with a Grenzer that insisted they were in the Reich Duchy of Beerstein!?!



The Hesse-Holstadt cavalry was taking a pounding and any more losses might force the whole army to retire from the field. The commander in chief Flugelheim was not going to let that happen. Immediately he recalled all the cavalry into a reserve position and re-organized his forward lines to support the two remaining batteries of artillery.

They had lost one entire battery to the charge of Beerstein's Holstein Leib Hussar!


Seeing the re-organization going on opposite him, von Coors ordered similar linear preparations, seen here are the Grenadiers being sent to the far right flank of the forming line ... to anchor it against a Hesse-Holstadt flank move.


The critical moment had come for von Coors...now was the moment to strike for a victory!

Anheuser is directed to hit at the Jagers which had broken through the Grenzers and tip the scales in Beerstein's favor.


Meanwhile the no-mans-land was filled with the smoke and shell of four batteries exchanging fire between the two lines.



The grand overview of the battlefield showing Frankzonian troops to the far right, Hesse-Holstadt to the center and left, and Beerstein in the center and lower left.


Further overview, Frankzonia to the top, Beerstein to the right and Hesse-Holstadt to the left.


Carnage in the no-mans-land continued during the artillery duel, with both Hesse-Holstadt and Beerstein troops being lost. Beerstein was coming out on the loosing end of the duel, taking losses at a rate of 2:1, huge gaps were forming in the lines of musketeers and grenadiers.


Frankzonian view of the battle continued to be one of monitoring the fleeing militia and coming to grips with where they were, Beerstein?!?


The final gambit of Anheuser had failed, the Pabst Musketeers failed to inflict any casualties on the advancing Hesse-Holstadt Jagers who just missed taking the colors of Pabst and Anheuser himself! The brigadier had stayed with the men providing a final morale push and saber slashing his way out from the melee once the lines had broken.

Nightfall came, finding the Hesse-Holstadt commander Flugelheim in no mind to continue any pursuit as he was not at all sure what the Frankzonians were going to do and his cavalry was in no shape to match up with the remaining Beerstein horse.

von Coors retired from the field by nightfall and set upon making sure that the Alesgarden bridges over the river Amstal would be well guarded.

Proxy Battle in Beerstein

The situation is set, the troops are lined up and I will have Peter of Duchy of the North fame to command one side of the battle.


A German noble from the 18th Century

I do not wish to give away too much about the battle and here are some of the highlights building up to it:

Frankzonian militia have taken up arms with the help of townsmen and other brigands against the better wishes of Frankszonia.
A force has been dispatched to corral these brigands and wayward militia in order to restore civility. This force has decided to pursue the brigand group into the wald south of Frankszonian territory before they can establish a stronghold and the situation becomes more unstable.

Meanwhile in the Reich Duchy of Beerstein Hesse-Holstadt agents have been active in the Barony of Alesgarden, not wanting to let them disrupt the northern part of his territory, Prinz Wilhelm II von Beerstein has dispatched an observer force and cavalry to maintain the border integrity.

Thus the basics of the meeting engagement for tomorrow are set.

Proxy Battle forming:


The Reich Duchy of Beerstein

The Reich Duchy of Beerstein and Frankzonia appear to be on a crash course for battle...

Watch the aforementioned blogs over the next few days to see what is developing and learn about the machinations of the world of 'imagi-nations'.

BATTLE TECH MURDOCK"S MARAUDERS



While cleaning out a section of my office I came across an old listing of my Battle Tech Murdock'S MarauderS, something we used for gaming via post, telephone and eventually eMail. The last games were about 8 years ago, so it pre-dates the start of this blog.

Fun to zap it all together for a view to put in here...I still have a few of the mechs, helicopters and elementals for this battleforce, though it has been a long time since I have even been near a Battle Tech game.

Proxy Battle Search



Once again I am itchy to get some lead moving on the tabletop.

Campaign plans for this year have been shattered due to work issues and I am seeking an escape.

I am seeking a game setup for the Horse, Foot and Guns era ~ Tricorne or Napoleonic.

A story line is nice and characters are good for color.

6 to 10 Battalions Infantry with a few Cavalry Squadrons and a collection of guns per side is a great size for my table and crew to work with.

Target game day is Sunday October 18.