The wagons must get through!

At the Club Meet, ( Company of Dice) this month, Spyros and I put on a Pony Wars game with 'Spuds' joining us. Using The Men Who Would be Kings rules, we played an umpire run scenario where each player ( Spyros had A and B Troop and Spuds had E and F Troop) had two troops of US Cavalry commanded by a Lieutenant and they had to escort a couple of wagons off the table- lengthways- through Indian territory. 

The players first priority was to get the wagons off the table. Each one had a value of five points- which could be reduced by enemy action ( this would prove crucial in the final result). Each surviving trooper was worth one point. The 'Hostiles' were randomly generated and controlled by the umpire. Their main course of action was to skirmish, although if they outnumbered the Troopers by two or more to one- they could charge in to count coup and take scalps!!

Spyros' two troops and their wagons on the left. One of Spuds' Troops on the right.

The peaceful Indian village - about to be disturbed by four troops of US Cavalry and some bloody great wagons.

There were 8 entry points around the table edges that were rolled for randomly each turn. The exact nature of the arriving Braves was also totally randomised so I couldn't be accused of bias!!

Spuds's command.

Midway through the game. Spyros' lead Troop is being shot at on both sides. Further across, Spuds is moving through relatively unmolested. 

Skirmish!

As Spyros headed for his exit point- which also happened to be an entry point for the "Hostiles"- guess what the randomised die roll did??

A group of Hostiles charges the depleted A Troop!Spyros' wagons clearly visible. 
Both players dealing with arriving warbands that were blocking their escape routes.

Melee- and scalps were taken before the Hostiles were beaten off

The last warbands arrive- right at the point that Spyros had targeted as his exit point!!

At one stage a war party of Braves from the village had actually attacked Spyros' wagons, causing damage. On the other side of the table, Spuds was having a reasonable easy time of it until the last three turns when he found himself under attack from three arriving warbands- he drove off two ( one had charged F Troop) and then decided to launch a full cavalry charge into the last group that cost him several casualties.

Spyros got his damaged wagons off the table and on count back had suffered less casualties than Spuds, but the damage to the Wagons meant that both ended up on exactly the same points!!!!!!

A draw!!!