The Winkerton Gambit - Battle Report

The Old West collection seems to becoming a firm favourite attracting new players each time i take it out. This week we also gave some more of the collection some table time. So here is the scenario.

Following the armed robberies in Serenity help has been brought in, in the form of the famous Winkerton Agency. They have tracked down a leading member of the Wild Gang “Lefty Starr” brother of the gang leader. They are spread around town and have Lefty held in one of the towns hotels waiting the arrival of the train for Silver Town where a trial is set for Lefty’s imminent arrival.

There is a bounty on the head of Lefty of $10,000 dollars, WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE.

There is a county bounty on the head of  Henry Starr the Wild  gang leader of $20,000, and $1000 dollars a piece on the gang members – proof will be needed

A pale rider has been seen on the high planes.

We had 3 players - Winkertons (6 strong), Wild Gang (8 strong)  and the Bounty Hunter (all on his own- but the only Legend in play). there were a few other Non Player Characters added with diced for actions - the Doctor , the Preacher and the town Lawmen. The train arrival was controlled by dicing (d20) for the number of appearances the train cards would make before it turned up.  The character set up was determined by random card draw , the Winkertons choose to set up around the centre of the town and one guarding Lefty in the Star Hotel. The Wild Gang choose to set up around the town edges. Once set up a lone figure appeared throwing his poncho over his shoulder and headed around the back of the Hotel to await developments. 

The opening moves saw some of the Wild Gang members on the south side of the tracks behind the stockyard moving along behind the buildings with one clambering up onto the roof of the Meat Company and the other at the the end of the alley. Two long range shots rang out .A Winkerton was wounded , two more shots and down he went mortally wounded. Rogers on the roof drew a bead - and fired on another unsuspecting Winkerton and down he went "Fatal Shot Through the Heart" - two down in couple of turns, the Wild Gang were feeling confident.

On the other side of town "The Man With No Name" had made his way to the rear of the Star Hotel and peering through a window saw Lefty and his guard. And with a "fistful of action cards" , drew his dice. With a roll of 17 (on 3d6) the rear door of the hotel caved in as he burst through it , turned and drew his 6 shooter - a flurry of shots rang out and with his lightning quick skills he shot both , but just flesh wounds - but there was that ominous "click" on an empty chamber - "Out of Ammo". One action card left - what do? It was time to head for a side window and leap through out of harms way.

The activity at the rear of the hotel brought the leader of the Winkertons around from the Sheriffs office who drew and shot at the Bounty Hunter - no hits and again that "click" on an empty chamber - (had he just made him mad?) He was closely followed by the Wild Gang leader Henry Starr who put a dirty back shot into the Winkerton- and he too went out of ammo the wound a mere a flesh wound, but the Winkerton would still need to recover himself. This was getting tense - a 3 way shoot out , someone would need an action card to load , and then shoot. 

Starr next moved around behind the Winkerton looking to shield himself from the Bounty Hunter and took a quick action to re-load , but he could NOT resist another back shot and knocked down the Winkerton. The cards were turned the Legend card appeared - just waiting for its "owner" , and here he was , he loaded , and blazed away - the air was full of screaming bullets thudding into Henry Starr - 7 hits from 11 shots! (sure i heard someone shout Yahtze...) . The back shooting Henry did not survive the hail of bullets. The Bounty hunter having no further quarrel or profit with the wounded Winkerton leader moved on.

 

The train whistled into town, slowing as it did so. The Wild Gang on the south side buoyed by their early success moved forward and took aim at the Winkerton in cover by the waggon, winging him , fortunately the town doctor was on hand to administer first aid.

The Winkertons drew breath and as a group held their nerve. The south side Wild Gang boys used the train as cover to make their way along the street and spying another Winkerton having just left the bar of the Grand Hotel that was using a horse as cover McCoy took aim with his rifle once more,  missed but felled the horse! Somehow the semi-inebriated agent dodged being wounded by  the falling animal.

The train came to a halt. O'Keefe had moved onto the flat roof of the Star hotel and was pinning down the Winkerton and scaring the doctor further down the street. The flesh wounded Winkerton in the hotel having recovered himself attempted to run Lefty at gunpoint from the hotel door across the open and into the train - but NO, not enough movement rolled ,Lefty struggled but did not break his bonds.They were in the open.

Running up to the train Shootist McCoy lept up onto the tender ,  threatening the Winkerton to "let Lefty GO!" . He stood his ground. McCoy drew and fired - and missed the brave agent - but wait there was a thud -  at such close proximity one of the rounds intended for the agent , had found its mark in Lefty! A single card was drawn - "Fatal Head Shot" down he went. "Hell I might just claim the reward myself announced McCoy - this is MY gang now!". He fired again and the Winkerton went down wounded.

McCoy turned to the the train driver shouting MOVE! the train set off. McCoys new loyal followers followed his lead and were heading for the moving train out of town. The gang started shooting every horse in sight to make good their escape.

O'Keefe had moved across the roof of the hotel and took a shot at the Bounty Hunter, from his vantage point above - no hits , the cool stranger spun around and felled him with a knock down blow to the leg - he teetered on the roof edge before falling back onto the roof.

McCoy as he past through the town on the train tender took a wild long range shot at the professional killer with the poncho , grazing him on the head. The Bounty Hunter merely bit hard on his cigar and wondered  how much McCoy may be worth "Dead or Alive" another day. Gunsmoke drifted from the end of his gunbarrel. 

The Winkerton by the waggon who had witnessed the demise of his colleagues and had been pinned down by fire from the roof still held his nerve - determined that his friends would not have died for nothing. Seeing the McCoy gang members racing toward the train he levelled his rifle on them. A flurry of accurate long range shots and two of the gang went down just as they approached the rear of the train - both Fatal shots - that's better he thought - some revenge. The train picked up speed out of town.

The Bounty Hunter claimed his reward money and rode out onto the planes. McCoy - well the question is - is he the real thing?  What stunt will he pull next. 

This was a great game that swung too and fro with wonderful variability - and some wonderfully rare "things Legends are Made of" moments . Again the new player loved it - another 3 guys are up for the next one.