Its Shootin' Time!

 We were back at Tapton for one of Tims 54mm extravaganzas, this time, Wild West Skirmish. We were using a very simple set of skirmish rules, which bore a distinct family resemble to Fistful of Lead. We could impose matrix arguments on top of the rules  to influence the flow of the game. 

The idea is that this is a cinematic version of the Wild West, in our case, more like a 1950s B Movie.

Tims beautiful Wild West town, mainly Starlux buildings.

The players all had individual (and secret) objectives, some of which conflicted with each other, and many were quite peaceful. The trick was figuring out what other people were up to and trying to thwart them, while meeting your own objectives.

Although the Church obviously isn't Starlux! An equally lovely Stagecoach heading into town. 

There were four players for the various gangs, including Pete who had the Brown Hat gang. Jerry was the Natives, John the Sherriff and Russell the Preacher.

Wells Fargo office and one of the two Banks. The four rival gangs all started outside the town.

Various NPCs littered the town. They could be involved in the game via matrix arguments.

Here are my chaps, the infamous 'Bare Head Gang', easily identifiable due to our lack of hats. I can't thin why Tim gave these guys to me... We started in the southwest corner, directly opposite were the Blue Hat Gang. The Brown Hat and Black Hat Gangs were at the other end of town.

Anyway, despite our bravura appearance, we were actually very cowardly, and our objectives were to look tough but avoid any fights and survive the game.

Rather than rushing into town where there were all sorts of unsavoury characters, we spent some time outside doing target practice on these innocent cacti. This gave plenty of time for everyone else to get into trouble, while we notionally improved our shooting skills.

Up at the other end of town, the new Preacher and his wife dismounted the coach and proceeded to issue a very dull sermon in the middle of the street. Meanwhile some Natives were up to something in the church, but it wasn't obvious what.

Meanwhile the Black Hat gang assembled around the well, en route for the Saloon. In the foreground is the Sheriff (in black) and one of his deputies while the White Hat Gang "guard" the other Bank. Or at least lounge around outside it.

The Brown Hat Gang interrupt the Preachers sermon with some raucous singing.

The Preacher leads his congregation to the church, where the Natives are still up to something inside.

Meanwhile, shots ring out in the New Jersey night.... (apologies to Bob Dylan). The Black Hat and Blue Hat gang start exchanging gunfire in the street! The Sheriff quickly guns down two of the Blue Hats.

The Bare Headed Gang now move imposingly forward to help the Sheriff restore order. The Black Hat use this opportunity to rush the Stagecoach, while the last Blue Hat robs the Bank!! He leaps for the passing Stagecoach, but drops the swag bag on the way out.

Now the Black Hats and all Blue Hat are all in the Stagecoach, exchanging fisticuffs. In all the kerfuffle my chaps sidle over to the Bank and retrieve the dropped swag bag. We are goodies after all....

As the Stagecoach and its various outlaws hurtle out of town, the Preacher re-emerges from the Church and begins preaching again. The Natives had slipped out of the Church and were instead in the General Store loading up on beads, booze and guns and emerged into the street very pleased with themselves.

The Preacher gives succour to the wounded. Meanwhile my guys slipped around the Bank and made off with our loot.

The Preachers mask finally slipped and he made a beeline for Big Lils' establishment of ill repute, and he lost himself in a sea of sin.

The Brown Hat Gang were seen off by an angry storekeeper with a large broom!

And thus the dust settled on the final scene as the Stagecoach vanished into the sunset...

That was a load of fun and a very entertaining way of spending the day. I realised halfway through that we've actually played this before, but I was the Brown Hat Gang in the previous iteration, who have very different objectives.