For a Jarful of Lingonberries (FfoL game)

[Legionnaire]

         FOR A FISTFUL OF LINGONBERRIES (MEATBALLS WESTERN PT I)

Last night we played the first game of three in my Meatballs Western Trilogy, using Fistful of Lead Reloaded 2nd Edition. The participants were:

Gutenburg Constabulary – Lawmen
Big Vindaloo Tribe – Native Braves
Los Hermanos Alegres – Mexican Bandidos
Pastor Sjogren's Harriers – Bounty Hunters

Each faction had a Secret Mission (worth 5 RP's) and I also had the prerogative to award 5 RP's (one time bonus/ faction) if the player did something entertaining, riveting, plucky, madcap etc.

The Secret Missions as follows:

Gutenburg Constabulary- See to the safe passage of the stagecoach AND the shipment off the table.
Big Vindaloo Tribe- Contaminate the shipment.
Los Hermanos Alegres- Commandeer the stagecoach AND the shipment.
Pastor Sjogren's Harriers- Incapacitate and drag a designated Mexican Bandido off the table to face justice.

Minnesota, Gutenburg county, late autumn 1878. The crops had failed and tension was rapidly rising in the area, there was a deficiency of lingonberry jam! The Marshal Esa-Pekka Perkele had even had to disperse a mob trying to raid the Janson family's rootcellar as rumours were abound they had some jars stashed away. Dire times indeed! BUT, a crate of jam had been sent to the local trading post for transport to town, but the news had reached many ears. Not all of them had good intentions in acting upon these...

The Mexican Bandidos swaggered onto the scene, whooping and hollering brazenly, some still suffering the effects of the drinking yesterday. They caught sight of the Bounty Hunters and swore to one man, firing wildly in their direction. As a consequence of their drinking and overconfidence, emberrasingly, not only one, or two, but THREE Mexicans stood there now with empty guns and nothing to show for it!

Meanwhile, the Native Braves had whipped themselves into nearly a frenzy during a pre-operation wardance and they could smell the blood that was going to be spilt, no quarter given nor asked for! They swept in like a terrifying force of nature, Proud Cougar galloping fearlessly forwards and impaling John Whiteeagle of the Constabulary on his lance!

Pastor Sjogren himself, with bible in one hand and shotgun in the other, is being hit by a lucky shot from a Bandido! A lesser man would be pushing up daisies, but not the Pastor! With brimstone in his eyes and a thunderous sonorous voice he declares: “The Lord IS my shepherd!” and launches a retaliation attack upon the Bandidos!

The Gutenburg Constabulary is beset by a relentless assault from the Natives, one after another the members fall in battle, either by bullet, arrow or as in most cases, vicious frenetic hand-to-hand combat!

Minutes pass by as the lightning crackle the sky, sheets of rain falls and the storm is gathering strength. It's only a matter of time before the weather will be the undisputable victor!

The couple at the trading post are taking out the shipment from the safe and also decide that the situation is too dire so they run away, just as the thundering hooves from Jamboree Johnson's stagecoach announces his arrival!

The Native's waste no time, a quick in and out and a sprinkle from the medicine pouch, and Swift Crow has poisoned the whole shipment! A fierce, bloody battle is raging around the trading post between the Native's and the Constabulary, the constabulary is taking heavy casualties until only Marshall Perkele and his trusted Deputy Hamish “Ninetoe” Doyle are standing! The situation is dire. BUT... The Finnish Marshall and the tough Scotsman grit their teeth and come back swinging, the Natives have had a cakewalk so far, but now they're falling like tenpins! When the gunsmoke has cleared and the fight run out of them, only two braves are left standing, together with the Marshall and the Scotsman!

Around the corall with the two milk cows, another fierce battle is raging, the Bounty Hunters are trying to  “get their man”. The Bandido leader even tosses several sticks of dynamite into the mix! Mostly hitting the poor cows but more by luck than skill, the Bounty Hunters take one casualty after another. To their chagrin, the Bandidos remain in upright position, albeit many are injured to some degree. The Bounty Hunters suffer three casualties, only Helmut and Declan come away unscathed.

As the storm rises in intensity, the Bandidos, having suffered NO casulties are riding off into the darkness with the carriage and the shipment, as they came, whooping and hollering, full of bravado...

I had to call the game due to time constraints and declared the Bandidos stood a good chance to achieve their objective so gave them the Secret Mission 5 RP.

Standings and number of casualties at the end of the game:

Native Braves 14 RP, 3 casualties
Mexican Bandidos 13 RP, 0 casualties
Lawmen 8 RP, 4 casualties
Bounty Hunters 5 RP, 3 casualties

[Tom Dulski]

 sounds like a great game, nice minis too

[Legionnaire]

sounds like a great game, nice minis too

Thank you sir. It was indeed a great fun game. I was umpiring and running the game for the four players. Everything on the table is from my modest collection, I have painted some of the characters (leader and gunhand) but most of the characters are painted up by a gentleman at my local club, as I have limited time for the hobby.

Next game in the trilogy will take place in October and the Finale will happen in November, so keep an eye out for the riveting continuation.

[MaleGriffin]

Great looking game! It looks like a lot of fun! Brilliant figures and I love the clear bases!

[FifteensAway]

Yes, yes, all quite well and good - but what of the poisoned jam?  Will the Mexicans partake?  Will it prove fatal to some, or all?  Such matters must be sorted out before the next game, surely.  Fun.   

[Legionnaire]

Yes, yes, all quite well and good - but what of the poisoned jam?  Will the Mexicans partake?  Will it prove fatal to some, or all?  Such matters must be sorted out before the next game, surely.  Fun.   

The Mexicans flogged the whole lot at extortionate prices to the citizens of Gutenburg and blew it all on a party with Tequila, pinatas and senoritas, an event worthy of Bacchus himself. A week later they were massively hungover and found themselves once again with empty pockets.

The citizens were tearing pages out of the local newspaper for the next week and that autumn became known as "The Great Evacuation"  ! Many settler vowed to NEVER touch lingonberry jam again. The only one seeing some kind of positive side to the whole thing was the local priest, there was much praying about "please Father, let my bowels by restful!" 

[FifteensAway]

Your response illicit out loud laughter, love it.  And preserves those dastardly Mexicans to fight another day - though likely not welcome to ever visit Gutenburg again. 

[Legionnaire]

Great looking game! It looks like a lot of fun! Brilliant figures and I love the clear bases!

Thank you kindly sir!

The clear bases look very good on the figures, I've seen some people using them so thought I'd give them a go. Also saves me the faff with basing the minis .