Dusty's PrairieCon XLIV After Action Report Part 1 - "What a Cowboy!"

After many years of thinking about attending PrairieCon, only to have other commitment interfere, I finally got out to the event for the entire weekend. I ran a total of three games and participated in a fourth while I was there. I am splitting my AAR into three parts, one for each day of attendance.

 First up is the game of 'What a Cowboy!' with rules by TooFatLardies that I ran on Friday evening. It went quite smoothly, thanks in part to a play test held with other members of the Fawcett Avenue Conscripts a week earlier. In that game I used a lot of the Western buildings belonging to Conscript Dallas, but felt the game needed terrain that provided more cover that didn't completely block line of sight. 

Gunfight in the streets of Laramie play test game

Gunfight in the streets of Laramie play test game

Gunfight in the streets of Laramie play test game

Gunfight in the streets of Laramie play test game

 I had some 2' x 2' pieces of ½" MDF that I had cut for another terrain board project, but had decided against using it. Instead I painted one side with desert browns and the flip side with urban greys to maximize utility. I also constructed a number of sections of various types of Western fencing using some plastic pieces from the Perry farmhouse kit supplemented by some crafting dowels and large toothpicks. These would provide obstacles to cross, as well as making it more difficult to spot targets. I also made some scatter terrain using some barrels that came with the Perry kit.

Fence sections prior to painting

Layout for the PrairieCon game with a 3'x3' playing area

 I had three participants for the game, so I played as well to even up the sides. We all started with a 'Shootist', giving the character a 'Bonanza token' which could be used to interrupt an opponent's turn, and a special skill to enhance abilities. We ended up playing two games in quick succession as one of the players learned the hard way that strolling up the middle of the road is a good way to get shot. The second game lasted a little longer with players making use of the fences to close the range under cover, as well as their 'Bonanza' tokens to get off some snap shots before their opponent got a chance to shoot. All the players had fun, plus a number of people strolling around the gaming area stopped by to watch or ask questions about the game mechanics.
 

Set up at Prairiecon

Game 2 in progress

Caught in the crossfire

Shoot out at the Blacksmith's shop.

'What a Cowboy!' participants at the end of the game

I certainly enjoyed running the game as it gave me an opportunity to debut all the Western gunslingers I painted up for the last Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge. If circumstance allow, I hope to be back next year with a different board layout. Thanks for reading. Stay tuned for Part 2 of my AAR.

Some Desert Terrain!

So I just wanted to knock off a quick terrain project, so here it is... some LOS-blocking terrain for the desert boards.

Pretty straightforward. Just cut out some shapes from plasticard, superglue on some rocks, slather on the thinned acrylic gel medium...

Sprinkle on some sand, spray prime black...

Then paint with Steel Legion, Zandri Dust, Rakarth Flesh, and Ushabti Bone on the rocks...

Garnish with tufts and lichen, done. Now I have a couple of LOS-blocking pieces of desert terrain for use in Western Desert and maybe even Old West games!
 

Sixth Painting Challenge Submission - A Double-Crossed Fellow...

There is not too much in terms of painting volume for this submission to the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge, but it is one I'm glad to be finished with, as it was a long overdue "Curtgeld" - the "admission fee" of sorts to Curt's Painting Challenge.  All participants are asked to submit a figure to Curt based on the theme of a given Challenge.  There was one a couple years ago with an "Old West" theme, a period I have little knowledge of, and not much interest in.  Dallas bailed me out, providing me with this fellow to paint and submit.

But lacking focus as I do, I never got around to it! So I decided I should get off my @ss and get it finished.  So here is an old west casting...he looks grouchy, like he's been double-crossed - maybe in a card game, maybe while out prospecting, who knows...but a double-barreled gun will sort out any double-crossing situation, I'm sure.

I don't know the origin of this figure, or who sculpted it.  Dallas may know more...I had thought perhaps he was from Wargames Foundry, but many participants in the Painting Challenge were certain it was from Dixon - so Curt christened him "Double Cross Dixon".  I like the name.

These "Curtgeld" submissions get you 20 points in the Challenge.  I'm closing in on the 300 point mark...hope to get there next week! I've got some Team Yankee and Horus Heresy stuff on the go, hopefully I can bear down and get some of that finished for Saturday. And a big "thank you" to Dallas once again for kindly providing this miniature.