Desperate Desperados - ATC Game Review

Our final game for Saturday night was a Wild West game using the third edition Desperados rules.  The game was put on by Homer Bradford and was a blast.  Lissa and I played the Pinkerton agents who were tasked to retrieve a key to a stolen safe from some Mexican banditos.  The infamous Dirt brothers gang were on the other side of town with the same thing on their mind.

Figure 1: Game setup

My two guys separated, Buckskin Bill with the rifle going to a nearby rooftop, with Dick Harvey moving towards the entrance.  My approach was covered by one of the Banditos, Rosa.  As Dick leaned out to take a shot at her she shot the pistol out of his hand.  He went back and borrowed another six-shooter from another Pinkerton and again tried to ease around the corner only to have Rosa yet again shoot the pistol from his hand.  Dick proceeded to make a run for the lower windows, diving inside as Buckskin Bill gutshot poor Rosa.

Figure 2: Dick preparing to approach the Bandito stronghold

Figure 3: Buckskin Bill looking for a good sniper post

Figure 4: Rosa, the Amazing Mexican sniper!

Figure 5: Character sheet showing poor Dick weaponless

Once safely inside, Dick espied an armed Bandito inside and rushed in to grapple with him and take his weapon.  Once Dick managed to pull himself out of his bath he again charged the Bandito to exactly the same effect - back in the drink!

Figure 6: The interior of the bandito stronghold from above

Figure 7: The Bandito calmly tosses Dick across the courtyard and into the fountain

Figure 8: Meanwhile, one of Lissa's agents dispatches a bandito

Figure 9: While the other removes one of the Dirt Brothers from the fray

Figure 10: Midgame overview

Once Dick again found his feet and dried off a bit he discovered that he had assistance with the Bandito.  Another agent had the bandito in a hold.  Dick, who was a bit peeved at being thrown into the wash twice, ran over and placed a well aimed booted into the bandito's cahoonies.  The blow rendered him unconscious.

Figure 11: Dick and another agent stand over the fallen bandito

Figure 12: Taco Bob rides away with the key as Pinkertons and Dirt Brothers give chase

This was a great game and the Desperado system ran very well for a convention game.  I still intend to use Gutshot for our games but Desperado is also a solid, fun system.  After the game I was awarded the player award in large part for the comic relief that my loss of weapons and repeated drenchings brought to the game.  The award was a pewter pin in the shape of the number '140'.  GM Bradford and his local gaming group had 140 of the pins made up and are giving them to folks at cons.  If I ever play in another game ran by their group and am wearing the pin I get a free reroll at one time in the game.  

   

More Western Figures Painted by Jack Shaw

 

Figure 1

 From Alternative Armies 7001 Skirmish in Amerika Frontear Game Pack

 

Figure 2

Alternative Armies 7102: Mounted Texecas Volunteer

 

Figure 3

From Alternative Armies 7001 Skirmish in Amerika Frontear Game Pack

 

Figure 4

Alternative Armies ???

 

Figure 5

L-R Wargames Foundry OW 4/5 Earl Jones, Wargames Foundry OW4/4 Emmet Gates

 

Figure 6

L-R Wargames Foundry OW 4/5 Rev. John Wesley Carrington, From Old Glory Miniatures WP-29 Gunfighters & Shootists, Wargames Foundry OW 4/5 Rev. John Wesley Carrington 

 

Figure 7

Dixon Miniatures WG18 : Man lying dead

 

Figure 8

L-R: From Alternative Armies 7001 Skirmish in Amerika Frontear Game Pack, Alternative Armies 7106: Texecas Volunteers II

 

Figure 9

Alternative Armies 7110: Frontear Folk I, Young Zeke

 

Figure 10

Alternative Armies ???

 

Figure 11

L-R: ???, Dixon Miniatures WG25 Town Gent, Dixon Miniatures WG12 Gambler/Sutler

 

Figure 12

Wargames Foundry OW 4/2 Tuco

 

Figure 13

 

Figure 14

L-R Wargames Foundry OW4/6 Huck Klosterman, ???

 

Figure 15

 

Figure 16

L-R: ???, from WP-29 Gunfighters & Shootists

 

Figure 17

Western Figures

Perhaps the best purchase that we made at Origins this year was picking up our friend Jack Shaw's Wild West collection.  Jack is a great painter and he made us a great deal on not only his western figures but the mostly hand made town that he had put together.  The pictures below are of the 70+ minis that we bought from him.  I have no idea who made most of the figures but I intend to add details as I find them.  Comments are very welcome.

Figure 1 - The upstanding ladies of the town
R-L: Old Glory WP-17 Woman from Wagon Train Settlers, Dixon Miniatures WG10 Woman Walking, Dixon Miniatures WG27 Lady Looking Stern, Old Glory WP-17 Woman from Wagon Train Settlers, Old Glory WP-17 Woman from Wagon Train Settlers

Figure 2 - Alternative Armies 7109: Ogre Bounty Hunter

 

Figure 3 - The Young ladies out for a stroll

from Old Glory WP-17 Wagon Train Settlers

 

Figure 4 - Granny strolls with a friend

Dixon Miniatures WG10 Woman Walking, Dixon Miniatures WG27 Lady Looking Stern

 

Figure 5 - Not the ladies of the town

R-L: Dixon Miniatures WG28 Saloon Girl, Jeff Valent Studios GRW1209 Saloon Gal, Dixon Miniatures WG30 Dancing Girl

 

Figure 6 - True Dog Soldiers

From Alternative Armies 7001 Skirmish in Amerika Frontear Game Pack

 

Figure 7 - Closeup of Dog Soldier

 

Figure 8 - Dog soldiers looking for trouble

Figure 9 - These rough looking characters likely do not make it into town very often
Alternative Armies 7104: Frontear Orcs II