Renegade Indians and The Kelly Gang for Dead Man's Hand

 

Matt of Glenbrook Games recently finished up some more Dead Man's Hand figures for me...this time some Renegade Indians and The Kelly Gang. He has, as always, done a superb job!

I'm not sure I'll actually use the Kelly Gang for Dead Man's Hand but I think they will do nicely as the basis for an In Her Majesty's Name company. 

As for the Renegade Indians, my son and I played a game of Dead Man's Hand yesterday with his Renegade Indians taking on my Outlaws. Another action-packed game...it really is great fun! I'll try and get the battle report written up before Christmas. 

In case I don't, though, I'd like to take the opportunity to wish you all a very merry Christmas...may Santa bring you lots of gaming goodies...and all the best for the New year!

Shootout in San Juan! - Dead Man's Hand Battle Report

The boy and I had our very first game of Dead Man's Hand at the weekend (at long last!)...and it was brilliant! Fast-paced and action-packed, we both loved it!

As this was our first game we didn't bother with the Opening or Second Scenes but went straight for the Final Scene...in this case the Final Scene of A Fistful of Models, Showdown! My son chose to play the Lawmen, in this case Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday and four Deputy US Marshals, whilst I played the Outlaws, led by Black Jack and the notorious gunslinger, Mad Maggie, with four Dudes!

Anyway, without further ado, here is the battle report...Shootout in San Juan!

We were a bit pressed for time at the end and so didn't play until one side was Wiped Out or failed a Big Nerve Test but instead just called it an inconclusive draw...but it hardly mattered as we had so much fun playing it. Honestly, I can't recommend Dead Man's Hand enough! Can't wait until the next game!

Here's a Dropbox Link and a Google Docs Link to a PDF version of the battle report...the pages are a bit bigger and easier to read.

All miniatures are from Artizan and were painted for me by the inimitable Matt Slade of Glenbrook Games.The buildings are middle-eastern ones from The Colonial Steamboat Company and the gaming mat is from Deep Cut Studios.

Deep Cut Studio - Wastelands Theme Wargames Terrain Mat

Somewhere near the border with Mexico...

I've been tempted for a while by the many excellent wargames mats I've seen being used...particularly Cigar Box Battle mats (now available from North Star) and Deep Cut Studio mats (now available from Wayland Games). My only concerns have been that they sometimes seem to make the table look a bit too 'busy' and the cost...they aren't cheap!

However, when Wayland Games recently started stocking Deep Cut Studio mats, I thought I'd take the plunge and so I bought a Wastelands Theme Cloth mat which I figure will do nicely for Dead Man's Hand, In Her Majesty's Name and the upcoming The Men Who Would Be Kings. It arrived a couple of weeks ago and I was surprised at how thin it was...I was expecting some sort of thin fleece whereas this is much thinner. That said it seems to be pretty tough and sturdy, is machine-washable (I tried it!) and looks the business...so I'm well pleased!

So much so that I just ordered a Red Planet mat for my planned In Her Majesty's Name Mars Campaign and plan to pick up the Cobblestone one soon, too, for both Frostgrave and In Her Majesty's Name!

Once upon a time in the West!

Doc Holliday and the Earps

Outlaws

My latest lot of figures from Matt arrived yesterday...a wild bunch of Artizan Wild West figures intended for Dead Man's Hand (at last!) and In Her Majesty's Name. As always Matt has done a superb job on these...the perfect (for me!) gritty and dusty colours of the spaghetti Westerns!

The Good...

Doc Holliday, the Earps and Pinkertons

Doc Holliday, the Earps and Pinkertons

Doc Holliday and the Earps

Pinkertons

The Bad...

The Outlaws

Can't wait to get them on the table and finally give Dead Man's Hand a go!

The Kelly Gang - Dead Man's Hand

Great Escape Games has just released for pre-order the new Dead Man's Hand Down Under supplement with 3 accompanying sets of miniatures...including The Kelly Gang. Due out on April 25th, they'll do nicely as the core of an In Her Majesty's Name company.

That said, I'm also very tempted by Dead Man's Hand itself. It appears to be a narrative-style skirmish game and, as such, would be right up my street. Hmmm.