My Space 1861 Thread

[dampfpanzerwagon]

Great looking minis.

[Redshank]

A hasty and imperfect daguerrotype of the full warband:



Desert Martians call them the Bone Wraiths, although it is not known if this corresponds to their own name for themselves.

The pressure of European military power has led to unheard-of cooperation between the High Martians and the Tharks of the steppe:





For now, the British and French are building on their recent cooperation in the Crimea and China in joint operations on Mars. How long this new-found friendship will last is anyone's guess...



(Gringo 40s French Foreign Legion from their Maximilian 1860s range with Perry British Intervention Force - Gringos are on the large side but they can definitely appear on the same tabletop)

[Metternich]

I suppose it will last at least long enough to loot the Canal Martian equivalent of the Forbidden Palace.

I anticipate there may soon be American, Russian or German arms dealers arriving on Mars looking  to sell the Canal Martians rusty old smooth-bores??

[Grumpy Gnome]

Lots to love here! 👍

[Redshank]

Sharps carbines may already have found their way into the hands of the notorious Ochre Turban mercenary band, according to some reports.



Their anonymous leader is thought to be a Martian prince dispossessed by British colonial agents, who now harbours a murderous grudge against the Earthmen.

[Wildman II]

That Martian Prince's name isn't Nemo, by any chance?

[Metternich]

Sharps carbines!  They'll outgun the English and French Minie ball muzzleloaders !  I was thinking maybe Dreyse needle rifles (quick firing, but short range).  Sharps have the overall advantage!

[Redshank]

Those guns look carbine-sized to me. Fair point on the Sharps. Let's make them smoothbore Jenks Navy carbines.

The sharp-eyed may have noticed the chap wielding what looks like a flamethrower on the right. I am tempted to kludge together some rules to allow this, and open up some more tactical options, making the mercenaries a distinctive option. Anachronistic for 1850s/60s but this is VSF on Mars after all!

These gentlemen came from Warrior Miniatures, which sadly seems to have paused business for quite a while. Shame as I would love to add another squad of them. (As I explain to the other half, this is why I need to snap up minis I like when I find them!)

[Redshank]

A step forward in time back to the 1890s for a showdown at the Spice Trading Station. The French colonial authorities have despatched a scratch column of Legionnaires and Tirailleurs to retrieve Professor Challenger's Mole before the Martian hordes can seize it.



The Tirailleurs show signs of nerves in the face of the fearsome Tharks' charge, but their volley still checks the brutes.

Meanwhile a hidden High Martian warband springs from the cliffs above the Legionnaires, but a hasty volley sends the tribesmen scattering for cover.



A broader perspective on the battlefield from an approaching aerial gunboat...



The gunnery duel on the right had been going the Martians' way as their rod gun steadily whittled down the crew of the French piece. But the sole remaining French artillerist managed to wreck the Martian gun on a lucky shot (double 6s). With the Tharks and one High Martian warband driven off, the Martian general decided the task was beyond his remaining forces.

Soldier's Companion rules, mix of 28mm figures, forgot to keep track of turns or take very many pics. An enjoyable game despite the one-sided result - and it could have gone the other way if the Tharks' charge had hit home (which it very nearly did).

[Metternich]

Dreyse needle guns also came in a kind of stubby carbine size too. 
Faster shooting, but much shorter range than the British and French minie ball muzzleloaders.

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