Battle Report 4/7/2013 - Muskets and Tomahawks

I was fortunate to get a game of Muskets and Tomahawks in today at my local game store (Game Kastle).  The ever friendly and helpful Seth played the French and Indians while I took on the role of the British.

FRENCH
1 x Regular Officer
12 x Regulars
8 x Compagnie Franches de la Marine
8 x Compagnie Franches de la Marine
1 x Indian Leader
6 x Indians
6 x Indians
6 x Indians
6 x Indians

BRITISH
1 x Regular Officer
12 x Regulars
12 x Regulars
8 x Grenadiers
8 x Rangers
8 x Rangers
2 x Wagons (being escorted)
20 x Settlers (for the scenario)

We played on a 4'x6' table.  The French objective was to kill all the settlers.  The British objective was to successfully escort their two wagons off the opposite end of the table.  The French sub-plot was to have their officer avoid bloodshed (he couldn't kill anyone during the game).  Ironically, the British rolled one less than the French and their officer had to kill 6 enemy figures in either combat or via shooting by the end of the game.  This was not to be accomplished for the British ... the French however did successfully fulfill their sub-plot.

The settlers all setup in and around the small town/cluster of buildings with their fine Mayor attempting to calm everyone down as a British column was nearby and coming to save them (but not soon enough as they would find out!).  Two of the Indian units lay in ambush in the woods along the road to the town at the start of the game - three markers were deployed, one was a dummy marker.  The French and Indians not in ambush started the game either side of the town (long table edge) and near the table edge.  The British column was already well underway heading towards the town on the main road.

We played four turns before the last of the settlers were killed.  The first unit destroyed was one of the French Marine units ... but in a fit of bad luck the random event for that turn was unexpected reinforcements - so that destroyed unit showed right back up again ... nothing like having to kill that same damn unit twice!  But it was a nice twist that really only sped along the inevitable.

I have to say I very much enjoyed playing with lots of settlers around the town.  The French had their work cut out for them.  One of the random events rolled resulted in the civilians not trusting any soldiers (friend or enemy) - so a pack of them fled away from their protectors - and ultimately into the hands of some unfriendly Indians.  Many scalps were taken during the course of this game.  In fact, the number of tomahawk thrown melee's that occurred was high (Rangers, Indians and French Marines all participated in several of these throughout the game).  Lots of fun when you get to throw tomahawks!

In the end however, all the settlers were killed.  A fatal flaw on my behalf was not deploying one of the regular units out into the wheat fields to provide protection for the fleeing townsfolk - I got all jammed up on the road and ended up fighting over the large house - which I eventually lite on fire.

I very enjoyable game with a great opponent - thus continues my 100% enjoyment of/satisfaction with, the Muskets and Tomahawks rules.  Pictures below.

Forgive the quality of the pictures as I had left my nice camera at home and had to use my mobile phone to take the pictures.

A great day for a game at Game Kastle.

The British column.

Settlers milling about - what to do!

The Mayor attempts to clam people near the t-intersection.

Chaos ensues as the French advance.

Rangers and Indians duk'in it out tomahawk style!

Seth rounds the table reveling in his scalping of innocents! 

The settlers flee towards the fields.

Indians running down settlers in the fields.

The main house is on fire!

The scene of the last settlers stand.
"Game over man, game over!"

Burn baby, burn!

Until next time folks!  Canadian Militia - just finishing up their bases with tuffs so should have pictures of those up soon.