What a Cowboy

Cowboys and Indians! Something I would never think of Wargaming. So what was the draw for playing this game? Excuse the pun here. Firstly, I am a fan of games published by the Two Fat Lardies. These Western rules are based on an earlier set of WWII tank rules, What a Tanker, written by Nick Skinner, which John Savage has adapted to the Wild West. The Lardies had also published several tutorial videos before the game's launch, some excellent marketing, which also whetted my appetite. Last, the game was causing a stir on several Facebook groups I subscribe to. However, whilst the game appealed, I remained unsure of the genre, so my test game had to be done on a budget.

Wargaming in a Budget

Thankfully, the game requires a few figures, usually four aside. However, I followed the Lardies' tutorial videos and used two figures on each side. I decided to invest in a box of plastic cowboys, allowing for any expansion. The terrain was assembled from my existing collection of rocks and a ruined temple that became a burnt-out mission. I added some cardboard buildings, which I did not use. Overall, the cost was less than £30.

Rules 

I intend to refrain from undertaking a detailed rules review, but some of the main mechanisms that give the game its flavour are worth mentioning. Overall the rules are simple to learn and intuitive, with minimal referral to the rules book.

Action Dice

The core mechanic is the action dice, six d6. These can be reduced during the game, mainly from being wounded. When rolled, these dice provide the possible actions the figure can take. These range from moving, spotting, aiming and shooting/reloading. This simple mechanism leads to many decisions when managing your character but leaves some uncertainty. This fog of battle also makes the game suitable for a solo wargamer.

Ammo Tracking

A nice touch is that the ammo is tracked for each gun or rifle the figures carries, with some of the better firearms being restricted to the more elite characters. The mechanism means that you have to plan when it’s time to reload, which can be a tricky decision.

Role Play

Another element that gives this game its flavour is role-playing in character design.

The Test Game

I developed a quick backdrop to my test scenario to give flavour. The two sides were after the loot of  Joshua Dawson, a small-time conman who struck gold on his last venture, only to die a few weeks later. The first group interested in Joshua’s legacy were his two sons, Eli and Zac. The Dawsons love their biblical names.
Their opponents were two minor outlaws, Jingo Bains and Hank Rodgers, whom Joshua had swindled out of their illegal gains. Therefore Bains and Rodgers felt cheated and determined to recover their 'hard worked' loot.  
Joshua's ill-gotten gains lay hidden somewhere in the old missionary church. The game objectives for both sides were to find the gold and get out in one piece.

Action

The game played really well, and the rules were easy to pick up as my two small teams fought around the old ruined missionary station to win the treasure. A fistful of movement dice allowed the brothers to get to the loot first. However, in the interim, our rogues had managed to take up positions that would make it difficult for Eli and Zac the get back to their horses without a hail of gunshots.  Both would suffer wounds before they reached their horses, and it was some bad timing by Hank that forced him to reload at a critical moment that allowed the Dawson brothers the few seconds they needed to get to safety.

Follow-Up - 5 Years Later

The game was fun, and the Dawson brothers will be saddling up again. I have decided to use the campaign rules included in the book to carry my story forward. The brothers have used their father's money wisely and now own a cattle ranch, Repeta, that sits outside Dawson Greek. A town, as the name suggests, that owes the brothers a lot. Eli and Zac will be joined by other members of the Dawson clan. More to follow.