Beecher Island 54mm Wargame Photos

[Mike Blake]

Photos (lots!) of our group's recent 54mm game at Warfare. Terrain all scratchbuilt by Pete Reynolds, figures from most group members, nearly all conversions.


http://s654.photobucket.com/user/MikeBlake/library/Skirmish%20Wargames%20Games/Warfare%20Reading%202016

[Hupp n at em]

Wow, great looking game! 

[Mike Blake]

Tx. It was a classic in every way - how it looked and how it played.

[Mason]

Wow, great looking game!  

It sure is.
Must have been a real treat for the eyes.
 












Edited to add a few of the photos from the link.
 

[white knight]

Very cool!

[Mike Blake]

Thanks guys, especially Mason for putting some of the photos into the thread - very helpful for people to see what its all about.

[traveller]

Wow!

Impressive scenery 

[Mike Blake]

Thanks Traveller - all the work of one man too!

[Yggdrasil]

I love the Details you put on your models and the 54mm terrain looks amazing.

Especially these pics attracted my attention:

The combination of Colors and Warpaints in this Running-down Scene with all the Details is great (I love the Raven-Hat and the Bird painted on the horse)!


The group shot is Awesome. I would not be a Cowboy facing this army!


It must have been a pleasure playing on this lovely board.

Greetings

[Mike Blake]

Thanks again. The Indian figures vary in the amount of extra detail - that's because they span about 40 years of gaming! The early ones aee very basic, the recent ones much more detailed. Some have been given coup sticks and the special emblems of Warrior Societies. Most also have bow and quiver added because whatever else they might be armed with they would have had a bow and arrows.

When I got my old figures out I started to try to tart them up a bit and you will notice some 'blank' shields, just plain buff colour like plain hide, which were ones I never got to to repaint with a design! I have done a lot of research into shield designs (and pony markings), even doing paintings of all I could find to use as inspiration, so most of mine are copies of actual originals (though they may have changed tribes).

There is a figure called Black 'Awk on there somewhere who was a tongue-in-cheek touch on my part - he has an Orks head! Did anybody spot him???

[Yggdrasil]

I have done a lot of research into shield designs (and pony markings), even doing paintings of all I could find to use as inspiration, so most of mine are copies of actual originals (though they may have changed tribes).

All the time you spend for research paid off! I'm really considering to buy some mounted Plains Indians, too.
I've read a well written Article in an old Wargames Illustrated years ago which featured some Plains Indian Warpaints and their meanings. I recognize a lot of symbols you used on your horses. So please correct me if I'm wrong but I think that the Horseshoes stand for 'quickness' making the horse much faster while circles around the eyes were used to increase the Horses 'alerntenss' and reflexes (don't know if different colours had meanings). Native American culture is very interesting Do you have a good tip for Articles on Plains Indians (especially Comanche Tribe)?

There is a figure called Black 'Awk on there somewhere who was a tongue-in-cheek touch on my part - he has an Orks head! Did anybody spot him???

Haven't spotted him yet but I keep my eyes open  
Greetings

[Tom Reed]

That is a really beautiful game! What rules were you using?

[Mike Blake]

That is a really beautiful game! What rules were you using?

The games (we played Sat and Sun) were in 2 parts - a skirmish with some Indians snipping on the men on the island, then a massed charge which was in 3 waves.

The snipping was played with our TODD rules (Tales of Derring-Do!) and the charge with some rules written specially for the game by the GM, Lucky Pete Reynold's, which worked brilliantly because they were specifically designed for the scenario, which was a difficult one - 'too many Indians' for conventional rules!

[guitarheroandy]

I always think the problem with gaming the Plains wars of the 1860s is that there were often so many Indians compared to the number of soldiers... Platte Bridge Station, Beecher Island, Hayfield Fight, Wagon Box Fight, Fetterman Fight, all with hundreds of hostiles against tens of soldiers. Difficult to get rules to work for that, plus the need for LOADs of miniature warriors, of course!!

Great looking game, by the way... 

[Mike Blake]

That is exactly the problem - challenge. Hence the rules written specifically for the Charge, which were cleverly designed to a) make the Indians attack in waves, b) divide the attacking waves 50/50 into warriors who would either attack hand-to-hand or shoot but not both, c) shooters could choose bow (multiple shots but only wounded) or firearm (one shot only but killed), d) warriors attempting h-t-h had to take a risk roll to get onto the island which if failed meant ride on by, e) h-t-h combat was resolved by playing Spoof!

The rules worked really well and provided some fun games.

Thanks for the kind comments on the look of the game.