Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Old West => Topic started by: levied troop on August 17, 2017, 02:00:19 PM
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A demo game aimed at t’Other Partizan this Sunday utilising Boothill Miniatures Texan Revolution models. I knew nothing about this little kerfuffle before I got attracted by the figures but a bit of reading suggested that it would be great fun - not too many wars absolutely require rules for drunken troops :D and some of the actions are almost possible at 1:1 ratios.
The engagement planned is Concepcion, the first real shooting engagement of the war, and the rules will be Sharp Practice. The Mexicans have numbers (and artillery and bayonets) but poor generals and lousy gunpowder. The Texans have better range and cover, but need to move out of the cover to avoid being trapped against the river bank come nightfall, so they must attack at some point to win.
Mexican forces up first
There’s two units of Cazadore skirmishers:
(https://s19.postimg.org/3m5igrvv7/Cazadores_1.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/4ofozbeof/)
A cannon:
(https://s19.postimg.org/uvgvv9wyb/Mexican_cannon_1.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/vkzo7mxhr/)
Five units of line infantry in summer uniforms (and thank you for not mentioning the mistake I made with these):[
(https://s19.postimg.org/okboeuvpv/Summer_1.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/u8hz5r027/)
Four units of line infantry in the winter blues:
(https://s19.postimg.org/ixfbhdt77/Winter_1.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/yvo17inf3/)
(https://s19.postimg.org/42qq37jmb/winter_detail.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/x550615vz/)
Mexican big men:
(https://s19.postimg.org/id0aeozyr/Mexican_staff.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/gl7bjsglr/)
and the much put-upon Col. Ugartechea:
(https://s19.postimg.org/9tgwgxrmb/Mexican_big_man.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/iohqrggen/)
The Boards are three 6x2 sections containing a riverbank and treeline which gives the Texans their initial cover, a open area and a board with the Concepcion Mission, from behind which the Mexicans approach:
(https://s19.postimg.org/44163jevn/Table_1.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/uccaswyz3/)
(https://s19.postimg.org/l3a4isq37/Table_2.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/4fimgavbj/)
The Concepcion Mission proved a little difficult at first as I tried to scratchbuild the whole of the original. But it soon became clear that it was too big and as it played no real part in the battle other than as a mildly inconvenient obstacle and I settled for a few bits and pieces from Sarissa and Warbases plus a little mucking around and something that is reminiscent of the Mission without being exact:
Build stage:
(https://s19.postimg.org/z75zr6xar/Mission_1.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/xfd0wadxr/)
(https://s19.postimg.org/bro2ludjn/Mission_2.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/ii4jva0pb/)
and plastered and undercoated:
(https://s19.postimg.org/kk519iyoj/Mission_5.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/vwhmrb7db/)
(https://s19.postimg.org/gveu34v83/Mission_6.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/6lcf3w5cf/)
Photos of the Texans to follow once I’ve finished the display material!
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Excellent stuff, lovely painting on the figures, the terrain looks great and spot on. The mission comes up a treat, I think you have cracked it only showing the facade. :-* :-* :-*
So sorry I won't be able to see it in person. Lots of photos please of the game. ;) ;D
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Great effort! This is looking wonderful already!
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Great effort! This is looking wonderful already!
Indeed it is!
:-* :-*
One to follow?
Oh, yes!
:D
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Very nice Mexican force and the boards look terrific too as does the Mission :)
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Thanks for the kind words chaps.
Excellent stuff.....So sorry I won't be able to see it in person. Lots of photos please of the game. ;) ;D
The figures are so nice they practically painted themselves. You kindly recommended Stephen Hardin's book Texan Iliad on my first order and that's been invaluable.
Photos will be forthcoming, but the game will also be coming to a Crystal Palace near you later this year :)
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Thanks for the kind words chaps.
The figures are so nice they practically painted themselves. You kindly recommended Stephen Hardin's book Texan Iliad on my first order and that's been invaluable.
Photos will be forthcoming, but the game will also be coming to a Crystal Palace near you later this year :)
Texian Iliad is wonderful for scenario ideas. Conception is a perfect game for SP. ;D
Bugger! I wont be able to make :'( SELWG
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It may get an outing at some shows next year, otherwise I'll have to make sure the photos are good!
Got the display material finished quicker than I expected, so - the Texans.
As the result of a significant birthday I treated myself to putting two of my favourite painters to work - Roy Duffy and Dags.
To show their true glory, Duff's original photos of the models are here:
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=97852.0
And Dags' originals are here:
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=86467.0
By chance my other favourite painter, RedZed, kindly did 3 figures not
as a direct commission but in exchange for a bottle of floor polish (but very
special floor polish!). I don't have original photos of Redzed's contribution and can’t see them on his site, but they are mixed in with the following force photos along with the ones I did myself:
Three Texan skirmish 6 man units:
(https://s19.postimg.org/nse40bac3/Texan_skirmish_1.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/4nauqjvnz/)
(https://s19.postimg.org/f8uq2k1zn/Texan_skirmish_2.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/499iqybkf/)
Four volunteer 8 man units:
(https://s19.postimg.org/xs90g7llf/Texas_volunteers_1.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/4puqddzbj/)
(https://s19.postimg.org/jblr1mw43/Texan_Volunteers_2.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/f2h0zgsun/)
and the Texan command structure - Fannin, Colman, Bowie and Briscoe:
(https://s19.postimg.org/uwvx9chlf/Texan_Big_men.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/sfk622xov/)
Just a few odds and sods to follow tomorrow.
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Bowie lol lol lol
Lovely stuff, good to see Sargento Garcia has swapped sides as well ;) :)
You've got me all fired up now to roll out my collection and get a game in now. ;D
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Great figures, but I especially love that mission!
-Michael
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What a superb collection!
:-* :-*
I shall certainly pop over to annoy at SELWG.
:D
Bowie lol lol lol
lol lol
And Unplugged too.
;D
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More nice minis on show,lovely :)
Would you be able to share the unit profiles for your SP2 units on show, for the rest of us who have forces for this conflict who'd like to game this ?
Good luck for the show by the way :)
Cheers
Keith
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Romark- I've used this list from the Lardies Forum for the Texans:
http://toofatlardies.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=3953&p=41689&hilit=Texians#p41689
I suspect a more limited unit might also be added for volunteer units in the early months using mostly shotguns and pistols with very limited range but I've avoided this for Concepcion as the play-through suggested that the Texans were a little weak. I have applied the 'no bayonets' rule to the Texans for this battle, so they are a little fragile in Fisticuffs.
I also dropped the 'Drunk' rule and instead changed the Random Events table to give the Texans the influence of spirituous liquors. PM me if you are interested in that.
The Mexican lists are the Lardies standard list for the US/Mexican war as I'm not sure much changed in the intervening 10 years:
http://toofatlardies.co.uk/blog/?p=5896
I should note this hasn't been play-tested thoroughly and I may fiddle with the lists again, but it seems a good start.
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That all sounds quite reasonable.
I'd be interested in your tinkering of the Random Events list. If you can pm me anything on that or alternatively Email me the details via the Boot Hill website.
Many thanks. :)
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Wow looks amazing! Viva Mexico!
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That's great,thanks for taking the time to reply :)
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First, you cracked me up with the Bowie figure!! Well done!
Second, when I see work like this being so well done it makes me want to jump in and do
it as well. Kudos.
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Great collection.
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Excellent project and very much looking fotward to the game report. 8) :-*
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Morning has broken over the Concepcion Mission
(https://s19.postimg.org/c08bpx34j/Morning_2.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/tqa0aygpb/)
Peaceful, ain't it?
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:-* :-* :-*
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Great photo :-*
This thread has motivated me to paint up some more of my Boothill minis :)
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Great photo :-*
Agreed.
Very atmospheric.
8) 8)
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Did anyone manage to get some photos of the game in action?
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Did anyone manage to get some photos of the game in action?
Here's hoping someone has :)
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I will be popping a couple on my blog in due course.
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good man :)
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Give me time for second breakfast! lol
The local supply chain emerges to meet the advancing Mexican army:
(https://s19.postimg.org/l9tslr3f7/Concepcion_1-1.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/4m2aj98nj/)
which emerges from behind the Mission, to complaints from the Mexican player that he can’t possibly cover all that ground and survive:
(https://s19.postimg.org/kdxb6atqr/Concepcion_1-1a.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/xi2vizlsf/)
The Texans wake up and immediately abandon the hard cover river bank, but decide to hold fire until the Mexicans get closer because using their massive range advantage would be so unfair :o
(https://s19.postimg.org/8arziqioj/Concepcion_1-3.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/budx8jle7/)
The artillery bangs away to no effect (so far, so historical) and the Mexican player suddenly discovers how the movement system works in Sharp Practice, what the Command Cards allow him to do and how formations work. Consequently one formation advances rapidly down the right flank and delivers a couple of critical volleys:
(https://s19.postimg.org/6hp2uexhv/Concepcion_1-4.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/d85k3uknj/)
This breaks one Texan unit that never manages to work out how to pull the trigger and wounds Fannin, who lies on the ground moaning for the rest of the game. However another Texan unit gets suddenly inspired by a Random Event (Drunk by God! Advance 3xD6 and engage with Aggression) and duffs up the formation despite it being three times bigger. An engagement so exciting God forgot to take pictures!
Their left flank may be saved but the Texan right flank collapses as another Mexican formation breaks one unit and kills Briscoe. Frantically, the Texan player wheels a volunteer unit to face the Mexican formation and orders Fire! Apparently forgetting that Coleman (now 50% of the Texan command) is standing in front of them.
(https://s19.postimg.org/mddwxpo2b/Concepcion_1-6.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/3l21u4rnz/)
God rules that Coleman must take the first hit scored but fortunately the volunteers aim is as poor as their fire discipline and they entirely miss. Mr Coleman’s comments, fortunately for the sensibilities of innocent bystanders, are not recorded for posterity.
Both flanks collapsing, the Texan centre is then assaulted by the last Mexican formation, which breaks one Texan unit and wounds Bowie:
(https://s19.postimg.org/j3uwdiakz/Concepcion_1-7.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/vv92k0kcv/)
Apparently he is a screamer.
In near perfect timing the game ended (allowing for frequent pauses to talk to those innocent bystanders) close to the end of the show with Bowie’s command dead, wounded or running into the river, Stephen Austin’s relief column now redundant and the revolution beginning to collapse.
Post mortem:
I thought it looked ok, first time I’d actually put it all together was Sunday morning of the show, It’s a very flat and featureless landscape, perhaps not spectacular enough for a demo game?
Sharp Practice worked well. We need more practice to get fluent in it and like all the Lardies rules, it might be simple but there’s a lot of complex tactics players need to think about. The Mexican player had a sudden ‘eureka’ moment that definitely proved the value of thinking about what you are doing.
Is the scenario unbalanced, ie can the Texans actually win? In both playtests and on the day, the Texans lost quite convincingly. I think the Texan tactics on the day were wrong but I may strengthen their force a little - I also may have penalised them a little too much in Fisticuffs and need to have a think about the army list. On the other hand, the Mexicans got lucky both in the cards and the die rolls, such is life in this harsh environment. I suspect I need to play this a little more before it’s next outing at SELWG.
Overall though, great fun.Looking forward to playing through a few more scenarios from the Texan Kefuffle.
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Thanks for posting,game and minis look great,love the Mexican supply train :)
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Excellent, thanks for posting these.
Interesting the Texians broke cover early and didn't use their long rifles to take an early advantage. ;) lol
When we used to play SP1 the Texians invariably lost due to being unable to make formations being mostly irregulars. They could not deliver large devastating vollies. I'd be inclined to allow formations to be made but with maybe more limited successes?
Will look forward to hearing about its second outing and how you progress with the rules. :)
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The board and figures look well, and I really enjoyed you write up of the game.
Can you remember who makes the supply chain ladies.
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The first three come from Foundry, their Old West range, a Mexican Villagers pack that also includes an excellent sleeping Mexican. The two at the rear are The Assualt Group, I think they were freebies given away with larger orders and probably Spanish Renaissance but don't look too out of place
Interesting the Texians broke cover early and didn't use their long rifles to take an early advantage. ;) lol
It's a kind word you chose. Other words beginning with 'I' might also be used - 'incompetent' or 'incredible' or 'inconceivable'. lol
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It's a kind word you chose. Other words beginning with 'I' might also be used - 'incompetent' or 'incredible' or 'inconceivable'. lol
lol
Headstrong Texians no doubt, thinking the "inferior" Mexicans wouldn't stand a chance ;) lol
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Cheers - thanks for the info.
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Very enjoyable write up, thanks for sharing!
In love with the Concepcion Mission :-* :-* :-*
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Great stuff!
8) 8)
And I now know the origins of the title of the thread having finally gotten that far in the Iliad.
:)
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Great stuff!
8) 8)
And I now know the origins of the title of the thread having finally gotten that far in the Iliad.
:)
Good lad :D
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Good lad :D
Thanks, Grandad!
:D
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I was going to do an update on the game we put on at Cavalier in Tonbridge but I can’t really improve on this:
http://alleydistraction.blogspot.co.uk/2018/02/how-to-start-revolution.html
The scenario is Gonzales, the first ‘battle’ of the Texan War of Independence and I must confess I gave the Mexican commander an impossible task. We managed three games during the day and the Texans won each time. In particular the first game lasted one hour, mainly due to a random event that saw one Texan unit drunk and fired up with Dutch courage charging two Mexican units and thanks to some phenomenal die rolling defeat both!
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Missed this thread before, good show all round :)
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Splendid stuff, Gonzales is a good scenario to play.
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It is, but a tough one to balance out so that the Mexicans have a chance. I’d make a few changes to my scenario briefings if we run it again. I do have a lot of sympathy for poor old Lt Castaneda :)
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if my memory serves me correctly there was fog/mist in the early morning when the Texian's crossed the river to advance on the Mexican camp. (or did I make that bit up?).
You could use that to mask some of the Mexican advance or make them harder to hit to represent the fog.
Also Castaneda was a cavalry officer (again I think?) so perhaps a detachment of regular cavalry or Presidials might help them?
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According to the book that this bloke recommended to me ;) the fog cleared earlyish and Texans were still finishing breakfast.
But yes, Castaneda was a Dragoon officer and technically all his troops should be mounted or dismounted Dragoons (all I had painted were line infantry :( but there’s a unit of Dragoon’s coming).
Apart from adding a mounted unit, the next time I run this I’ll:
Add an extra leader to the Mexicans, having just one was too limiting for them;
Downgrade the cannon to a 2lb version; and,
Amend the Texan briefing to force them to attack - all the Texan players hogged the tree line and let the Mexicans come to them. They’ll never start a war that way lol
However the scenario is a fun one and as you know, there’s a few more interesting scrapes to try out.
although I need to focus on the Garibaldi game for Salute first!