Pony Wars - Life is cheap on the plains.

Can it really be the first outing of these rules???

The figures were painted months ago but it wasn't until a club night conversation turned to who had a copy did the nudge occur to read them and get figures on the table. A real gem from the 80's whilst the casualty calculations takes a bit of getting used to, the Indian reaction tables are fantastic and really make the game what it is.

For a change we all played on the same side the fear and dread made us all play nicely together in a single focus of rescuing the homesteaders.... We collectively felt a real need to do the right thing and get the settlers out alive.

Things started so well the column cleared the first pass and came upon the sheep farmers, who instead of coming under orders ignored the boys in boy and decided to hunker down in their farm..... bloody civilians don't they know we were trying to save them.

Elsewhere another group of settlers were set upon by a war party, the white folk grabbed their weapons in an attempt to drive off the hostiles.

Meanwhile the next homestead started to pack up their belongings as they could hear the gunfire from over the hill, a party of scouts raced to help them, just as a wagon train appeared on table, this lot would take some shifting....

The scouts galloped off to help the other settlers but they were too late and the farm was already a blaze and more Indians were appearing from the treelines. The cavalry commander orders the settlers to head for the fort, but they opted to circle the wagons instead..... arrrggghhh.

Elsewhere the main column had run into a problem, looking to push head to the far encampments they rushed to form a firing line as women and children ran for safety with the boys in blue.... The Indians just kept on coming and ammunition was now becoming a problem.

Meanwhile the settlers at the far end of the valley heard the firing and decided not to wait voting to pack up and head to the farm without an escort..... bad news a war party spots them in the open....

As the troopers held back the angry Sioux warriors another settlement is raised to the ground and the settlers killed.

All in all not a good day on patrol for the cavalry, they were forced to beat a hasty retreat to the fort with barely handful of homesteaders. The scouts were left conflicted as they watched the settlers be butchered by the natives.... if they had pressed on they would surely be killed, instead the left them to their fate to ensure others made it home.

The cavalry when kept together were strong but they could not be everywhere at once. But when the ammunition started to run out, they, were forced to strip the civilians of their ammo. That will not look good in the papers back east....

A great fun game, you can see why it stood the test of time and so many people clambered to see if back in print....

You can see why B troop did not make it back.... we must do better next time or their will no one left to protect....

Hammerhead 2022 - The Fetterman Massacre 1866.

After two years, wonderful to get back on the show circuit and a visit to Hammerhead at the Newark show ground yesterday. Hammerhead is a great show, every game is participation game which makes for a really friendly atmosphere, it was great to catch up with loads of old friends and find out how many new projects they have been working on over the lockdown period.

For our part the Wyvern's took the 6mm Pony Wars on our travels with a refight of the Fetterman Massacre 1866. Players played the part of Fetterman's command fighting for their lives to escape Red Cloud's trap?

Captain Fetterman believed with 80 men he could ride through the Sioux nation, Red Cloud and Crazy Horse had other ideas. 

Once again the Wood Train coming out of Fort Phil Kearny was under attack by the Sioux, Fetterman led the relief party.

Spotting a group of native horsemen he ignored orders not to pursue the Indians over the ridge and was ambushed by over 2000 warriors.

Could players escape the trap and get back over the ridge before the Indians over ran his tiny command or hold out long enough for his own relief to arrive?

Fort Phil Kearny and Captain Eyck relief force mustering to response to the sound of battle.

Unfortunately I was far to busy to take any photo's of the game in play but needless to say it was not a good day for Fetterman who went down in history for all of the wrong reasons.

What a great days gaming, plenty of interest in how Sharp Practice can be converted into 6mm and how the adaptions work for gaming the native Americans.

The prep for Hammerhead gave me the push to finish the last of the terrain pieces, excellent castings from Leven Miniatures. The fort is a wonderful piece of kit, I left the buildings to allow me to move them around within the command.

The bell tents allow me to expand the fort compound or set up base camp for the cavalry on campaign and at £3.00 a pack great value for money.

The last couple of pieces useful for loads of scenario's. A log cabin or traders post and a church bringing religion to the prairie lands.

Until next time.....

US Artillery - Pony Wars.

The last of the bare metal for the Pony Wars Project

A couple of items to even up the forces, these were from the Baccus ACV Range and with 4 pieces and limbers to a pack enough for most encounters.

With Hammerhead now only a few weeks away, a final push to get the buildings finished, but it's quite a pleasant feeling knowing that there is no spare metal knocking around.

Next up...... Constructions old and new......

Yet more Sioux - Baccus Pony Wars.

I do hate painting horses... Another 100 Sioux clear the paint table.

These were a real a grind, but two colours a night and over 2 weeks they are finished and game table ready.

Great castings from Baccus, on closer inspection this bag of Sioux have less War Bonnets and has more native warriors. when blended with the first purchase now gives me a good mix with the existing painted horsemen. 

Looking over the requirements of the original Pony Wars rules, I am still another 300 warriors short, but for the Sharp Practice variant I am hoping another 10 groups will be enough, this latest batch also have an additional 5 big men to help shepherd the war parties.

The entire warband rides out to war....

A Coy 3rd Cavalry may have bitten off more than they can chew.

That's the Indian's complete.

A couple of odds and ends to complete but finally nearing the end of this project.

Welcome the boys in blue - US Infantry for the Great Sioux War.

After a slight detour with the Excalibur project, back to the last of the US forces for the Great Sioux War and reinforcements in the shape of 3 companies of US Infantry with additional big men. 

Given the scale and my they do seem very small again having just completed the last of the 28mm, I opted for black hats to separate the Infantry from the canvas of the dismounted cavalry. Based in groups of 8 they should be an interesting proposition for the Indians.

My eyesight is definitely declining, having based these and sculpted the bases it was only then that I spotted one of the privates was facing the wrong way..... Perhaps he is covering the rear or needs to concentrate when loading.... :-) 

5 new Big men should give me plenty more command options, these were from the Baccus ACW range.

If the Infantry are not enough perhaps the Lone Ranger and Tonto can help, a key addition to the Pony Wars Rules but could be a fun option for the Sharp Practice games.

Maybe a rule tweak to turn back the Sioux? - "Kemosabe I am not sure you have enough bullets in those silver pistols"...

Next up the final hurdle... another 100 Sioux.... gulp.

Baccus Civilians - 1st post of the year.

First post of the year and the settlers make it off the paint table after all, every wagon train needs some passengers. Similar in design to the Indians I have based them on circular bases with a sabot to record casualties.

The bases contain a mix of women and children all of which will need defending from the Sioux and Cheyenne as they cross the Prairie.

Not a bad start to the year... Next up a race between the final batch of mounted Sioux and King Arthur... Now that is a mash up.

Baccus - Pony Wars Indian villagers and Christmas deliveries.

Well after a few weeks of  'eavy metal' back to the 6mm bare metal and civilians groups for the Indians. 

These will serve as a useful addition to the collection and give the Indians something to defend and the cavalry a target to kill or capture.

I opted for round bases to make them easy to identify on the table and a sabot to denote wounds on the base.

Baccus reinforcements landed on the door mat prior to Christmas, they were intercepted by the family and wrapped up.... good old Santa. It beats socks....

Some nice pieces from Leven Miniatures giving me a home for cavalry with a fort and tented camp, together with a Church and Cabin.

Baccus delivered a bunch of Infantry, cannon, officers and a whole bunch of extra Sioux. With a few days off until New Year, a good opportunity to move some of these through the painting queue and prep for 2022.

Pony Wars - Cowboys.

 A quick update and three extra bases to support the cavalry as they seek the elusive Sioux. 

These are from Baccus Pony Wars Range and include a couple of Boers to make up the number.

Under the Sharp Practice amendments they will be classed as scouting cavalry and within the game will be mounted without the option to dismount.

Next up the last of the 6mm

Wagon's ho! - Baccus 6mm

On the home straight now. At least until the next parcel arrives from Baccus... These are great castings the packs come with both horse and ox options.

Six wagon should be enough to give me a reasonable wagon train for the cavalry to defend or for the Indians to raid. 

There was a slight over hang on the large prairie wagon but I wanted then to fit the medium Flames of War Bases, the schooners are a great fit and will also double up as transports for the soon to arrive US Infantry 

I also cleared the specialist pack for Pony Wars Rules in the shape of the Armoured Wagon, Stage Coach and Gun Runners.

I still have the luggage to add to the roof, but this will make for some interesting Hollywood scenario's as it races across table being chased by the angry Indian war party.

I might need to think how I tweak the War Wagon for the Sharp Practice games. knocking out the wagon might be a struggle, but I guess I am not the only one in seeing the very obvious four weak spots at the front :-)

Marked as Gun Runners in the rules, I opted for a US Cavalry supply wagon and single escort, again plenty of scenario's spring to mind.

That's all Folks.