Gunfight At The Garvald Corral

                          Wed 15th August.

                                        Since we were heading for the balmy climes of Partizan at Newark this weekend Bill Gilchrist thought that we had better have a run through of the game we are putting on which is a western gunfight with a twist -we are using Playmobil figures.Bill picked them upfrom a fellow gamer before they were sold on E-bay and so they have been put to use before in private games but now it was going to be shown on the big stage(and I don;t mean stage coach).Bill had originally intended to put the game on at Claymore but circumstances made us change the game mainly the appearance of a real Suez veteran made us revert to our Suez 1956 game which actually won third prize even although I thought it should have won second prize as I didn't think we would beat the Leuchars "Carry on up the Khyber"game -Joan Sims et al.

The stage is set-boom boom!

Not a cashline in sight.

Sleepy Garvald.

                                                 Three of us headed out to Garvald for the run through with chief skulker himself Donald making up the numbers.Bill had the game all planned out so the gangs were divvied up and lo and behold Donald had a gang of baddies.Colin also ended up with a not so law abiding gang facing off against the local law played by Bill supported by my gang of Texas Rangers.

Altogether now-"MOO!"

Local transport.

Three of my boys.

                                  Each of the lawbreakers had a mission card to work through as well as trying to purloin some loot.The scenery was set up and the trial game commenced with as always everybody piling on from the table edge looking for some shooting angles which were blocked by plenty of scenery including horses and a fully fledged stage coach.

Colin's desperadoes.

Donald's gang about to sing Y.M.C.A

My other two lads who should have been guarding the bank but preferred to guard the saloon.

                                       Little did I know that Donald's mission card stated that he was to basically declare war on the Texas Rangers.Maybe I have called him a skulker once too often.He headed in my direction but Bill's local lawmen seemed to be running interference and came between our two gangs.My mens' mission was to protect the township and waylay to any wrongdoers in the town so I automatically targeted Colin's gang as they were nearer but hitting them proved elusive even to my trusty captain.Colin's first return salvo saw one of my lads heading for Boot Hill making the rest of my lads dive for cover.

The stage is set.

The Rangers arrive.

And the lead flies.

Shot in the back.

                                      We were using "Legend Of The West"rules which are basically Necromunda rules for cowboys and are therefore easy to comprehend.Move,shoot and hand to hand-what more do you need.

Taking cover behind a case of dynamite-not my choice.

"Take that you bounder"

                         Donald's cowpokes were slowly moving into town and were drawn into a scrap with the local law so this turned into one long drawn out scrap with shooting followed by fisticuffs.This helped Colin as his mission was to rustle cattle and this he done with aplomb shooting Donald's guys first when they were in a punch up with Bill's lads and then eventually in the back when the occasion arose.This didn't stop Colin splitting his gang and indulging in a shooting match with my loyal Rangers(and I don't mean Glasgow)before trying his hand at sparring with them.

"And he had a big chopper!"

"Can I borrow a tenner?"

Taking a knife to a gun fight.

                                 The honours first went my way as my captain got the upper hand with some pink shirted baddie armed with a tomahawk.My rifle armed Ranger headed for the bank to get up on the roof to get a better shot but found he struggled to get through the bank doors which just about summed up my evening as another one of may lads bit the dust fighting a knife armed half-breed.Soon after a third member of my lads bit the dust and making the rest of the lads head for the hills due to a 50% loss bottle test.Don't think Texas Rangers would have done that in real life.

Mayhem on Main Street.

Colin steals the entrecotes.

                                   Donald and Bill were still going head to head but their numbers were also dwindling and both of them headed for the hills at the same time giving Colin plenty of breathing space to rustle the cattle which was his mission.Looks like steak was on the menu for Colin's lads.

Watson Texas Ranger.

Four pints of foaming ale

"Cheers!"Hobgoblin of course!

                                     A great game and a good rehearsal for our game this Sunday at Partizan.Hopefully we.ll see you there.
                                           All scenery,figs and scenario provided by Bill Gilchrist with the game mat supplied by Hill 107 enterprises as well as the sheets which were printed off by Lady Watson as my laptop and printer proved rather petulant with each other.
                                          Excellent repast provided by Colin Jack and the guilty ovine is still proving very tasty.
                                                     Hopefully see some of you at Partizan this Sunday.