Scoundrels at Home, Scoundrels Abroad

[levied troop]

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  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:



A cannon:


Five units of line infantry in summer uniforms (and thank you for not mentioning the mistake I made with these):[


Four units of line infantry in the winter blues:



Mexican big men:


and the much put-upon Col. Ugartechea:


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:





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:





and plastered and undercoated:





Photos of the Texans to follow once I’ve finished the display material!

[Malamute]

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.

[Duke Donald]

Great effort! This is looking wonderful already!

[Mason]

Great effort! This is looking wonderful already!

Indeed it is!
 

One to follow?
Oh, yes!
 

[Romark]

Very nice Mexican force and the boards look terrific too as does the Mission 

[levied troop]

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.

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 

[Malamute]

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.
Bugger! I wont be able to make SELWG

[levied troop]

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:





Four volunteer 8 man units:




and the Texan command structure - Fannin, Colman, Bowie and Briscoe:



Just a few odds and sods to follow tomorrow.

[Malamute]

Bowie

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.

[mweaver]

Great figures, but I especially love that mission!

-Michael

[Mason]

What a superb collection!
 

I shall certainly pop over to annoy at SELWG.
 

Bowie

 

And Unplugged too.
 

[Romark]

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

[levied troop]

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.

[Malamute]

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.

[dartfrog]

Wow looks amazing! Viva Mexico!