Charcon 2010 - A Busy Night in Distraction, New Mexico Report

This has been a while coming but here is a short writeup with a bunch of pics from our Charcon 2010 Gutshot game.  The buildings are all from Eric Hotz's excellent Whitewash City range of paper buildings as is the play mat.  There were six teams, each with separate goals to accomplish.  The teams were the Pinkertons, the Sheriff and deputies, the US Marshals, two outlaw gangs, and a gang of banditos.  The goals ranged from the banditos needing to "rescue" the little sister of the leader who had ran off and become a "can can dancer" and the Marshals who were tasked with arresting the leaders of the three gangs and one of the Pinkerton agents who was wanted in Colorado for actions in a coal strike.  The only team to complete their mission was Jeff's outlaws who successfully freed a team member from the Sheriff's lockup and left the board.  They were also shot up unexpectedly by Ken's banditos who ignored their goal and simply shot up the town and anyone in it they could reach. 

In addition to the normal activation cards that each character would have I added several cards that activated a civilian in a nearby building or began a pre-staged event such as the rampage of El Nacho Loco, a midget Mexican (Flintloque Frontiers Hobbit?) who was angry that all of the ladies at Madame Orre's were so dag-blamed tall.  At one point an outlaw used Nacho as cover and shot over him at another player.  The other main event was the gunfight.  When this card was drawn two NPCs left a bar and set-up in the street to have a classic shootout.  Unfortunately, as they thought this was to be their day of fame, they were largely ignored as folks brawled around them paying them no attention.

Figure 1: The setup

Figure 2: Another view of the setup

Figure 3: Larry moves one of the Sheriff's men

Figure 4: Overview of the game as the GM (me) digs for a civilian to add to the mix

Figure 5: The gunfight

Figure 6: Ken moves a bandito

Figure 7: The carnage at Madame Orre's and Nacho Loco being used as cover

Figure 8: The bank president walks out at the wrong time

Figure 9: The banditos just before they shot down poor Granny Clampett

Figure 10: A view of the carnage

Figure 11: An overhead view

Figure 12: One of the outlaws found some dynamite and decided to blow up the livery and is confronted by the elderly livery operator - he was eventually successful and miraculously survived

Charcon 2010 Coming to Charleston, WV October 22-24

Our local gaming convention, Charcon, is celebrating its fifth anniversary this month.  In five short years my friends in the Charcon staff have built an amazing convention. Last year I believe there were over 500 attendees and I would expect there to be many more this year with special guests including one of my favorite authors, Eric Flint, artists such as Kelly Brightbill and Tammy Pryce, additional authors, game designers and more.  Each year there is a Premier Board Game Event where various new games are featured and for at least the second year running there will be a Settlers of Catan NACC qualifier tournament where the winner goes to GenCon to compete for the North American title.  Moreover, the organizers have worked great deals with a number of game manufacturers and you even get a bag of great swag for preregistering.  Go here to preregister and lock in your swag and your snazzy Charcon fifth anniversary t-shirt in the color of your choice.

Lissa and I will again be running the Charcon DBA tournament and we will be premiering our western game using the Gutshot rules there as well.  If you are going to the con please leave a comment below and let me know what events you are planning on participating in.

Charcon Flyer
Preliminary Event Listing

First Blood in Distraction, New Mexico

On 16 July 2010 we had our first action in our Wild West town of Distraction, New Mexico.  Nick, Rosie, Jeff, Ann, Todd and Lissa divided into two teams.  Todd (Sheriff Arkansas Smith), Lissa (Deputy Lil) and Rosie (Deputy Monica La Tour) began the game in the north of town at the jail while the outlaws Ann (Annie Wesson), Jeff (Jim Loughton), and Nick (Norm) began the game on the porch of the bank as they exited with their loot.

The game was played using only the most basic of the Gutshot rules as Ann and Rosie had never played a miniatures game before.  The rules played smoothly and everyone had a great time.  The crew have decided to all go outlaw and the campaign will continue with the players running an outlaw gang.  The best line of the night was early on when after a round of absolutely terrible shooting outlaw Jim Loughton exclaimes, "Well, I cain't shoot if I cain't spit!"  

Figure 1: Opening view of Distraction, NM as outlaws exit the bank

Figure 2: Deputy Lil moves to confront the outlaws

Figure 3: Sheriff Arkansas Smith rushes the outlaws

Figure 4: The Sheriff attempts to make the arrest

Figure 5: Rosie rolls the dice

Figure 6: L-R: Jeff, Nick, Rosie, Ann, and Todd

Figure 7: The GM consults the dreaded "Snake Eyes" chart

Figure 8: Overview of mid-game

Figure 9: Deputies Annie and Lil move in to support the Sheriff

Figure 10: Sheriff Smith and the Outlaws in a desperate close range shootout

Figure 11: Deputy Lil and outlaw Annie face off

Figure 12: Another view of Annie and Lil

Figure 13: Todd lines up a shot

Figure 14: Deputy Monica la Tour joins Lil as she faces down Annie

Figure 15: Sheriff Smith having fallen, Outlaw Jim Loughton charges Deputy Lil as Norm takes careful aim at the deputies

Figure 16: Jim Laughton meets his maker at the end of Lil's pistol.

Figure 17: Lil and Annie fall

Figure 18: Rosie, Ann and Todd

Figure 19: Jeff, Nick, Rosie and Ann

Figure 20: Post-game