On Friday evening I ran a Gaslight game. It was suppose to be for six players, but only two showed up so I reduced the number of units. The scenario was called Gearson's Raid (named after the real Grierson's Raid of the Civil War). The Union mechanized Cavalry consisted of a unit on Mechanical Cavalry (mounted on Mageknight horses), two conventional cavalry squads, four steam-powered cycles with Gatling guns (from Deadlands), an Armored Landship with a Gatling guns, and a couple of officers. Their objective was to destroy a Confederate depot. The Confederates had two squads armed with muzzle-loading rifles, who were poor shots and had even worse morale (railroad workers and raw recuits), a Sniper with a repeating heavy rifle, a smoothbore cannon, a large Mechanical man and an officer. Their job was to defend the depot and wait for reinforcements (an armored train and a squad of cavalry that would arrive on a random turn).
On the left the Union advanced with two steam-cycles, the Landship, the Mechanical cavalry, and Colonel Gearson leading from the rear. The Mechanical cavalry has already lost a man to the Sniper.
On the right two squads of conventional cavalry advanced, accompanied by two steam-cycles and Captain Johnson who also lead from the rear.
The Confederates took cover behind a barricade of boxes, with a squad on the right and left, and the cannon, sniper and officer in the middle.
The Mechanical Man advanced and promptly broke down. The mechanics rushed out to restart him, but were stopped by charging Union cavalry. Those mechanics survived four turns out in the open, surrounded by cavalry and even killed several of the Union forces (they only had a 6 Scuffle and a 6 Save but the dice gods smiled upon them).
As the Union approached, the Major Jones charged the Landship, hitting it with a firebomb (I allow people to throw while moving otherwise thrown weapons are not much use). The bomb took out the Landships wheels, immobilzing it, and amazingly, the Major made it back to the barricades through a fusillade of bullets (a high Save and a good run of cards really helped him out).
The Confederates were reinforced with an armored train on the second turn.
The armed railroad workers squad on the right flank emptied the saddles of one of the Union cavalry squad, depite being poor shots. That unit retreated and Captain Johnson had to bring them back into the battle. Those railroad workers stayed longer than they should have been able to, they must have been inspired by the Major's daring attack on the landship.
On the left flank, the squad of raw recuits didn't do so good. After losing a couple of men to the Gatlings on the steam-cycles and immobalized Landship they skedaddled for home. The Mechanical Cavalry took loses from the Sniper, but still closed on the barricade. Since the Mechanical Horses couldn't jump the barricade they stayed on the other side and exchanged shots with the Sniper, Major Jones, and the Cannon Crew (who did more damage with their pistols than they did with the cannon).
Leaving a couple troopers behind to deal with the two surviving mechanics, one of the Union cavalry squads jumped the barricade and wiped out the railroad workers. The railroad workers bravely fought to the last man and even brought down a couple of Union cavalrymen.
Fire from the Gatling on the Armored Train, the Sniper and Major Jones dropped all of the Mechical Cavalry squad but the sergeant, who passed a morale test and was able to stay on the field.
The Confederate Cavalry finally arrived, but was quickly reduced in strength by Gatling and carbine fire. The Armored Train Moved forward to provide cover for the Confederate cavalrymen. The Union troopers threw firebomb after firebomb in attempt to damage the Locomotive and the Cannon Car, but the firebombs either failed to penetrate or did little damage when they did.
And so ended the game.
We were out of time. The Union would have had to spent a few turns rounding up firebombs from fallen soldiers, while under fire from the armored train.
Please note the steam-cycles in the middle fleeing the Armored Train after receiving a spray of steam and boiling water from the Locomotive.
Also note, the last of the Mechanics locked in a struggle with Captain Johnson. That Mechanic survived hand-to-hand combat until the next to last turn.
It was a good game and both players had fun. I am personally amazed at the luck the Confederates had. The Major stopping the Landship in its tracks with his only bomb, the Railroad Workers staying and fighting despite loses (I treated them as counting half for morale purposes), the early arrival of the Armored Train, and incredible job the Mechanics did surviving as long as they did.
And so ended the game.
We were out of time. The Union would have had to spent a few turns rounding up firebombs from fallen soldiers, while under fire from the armored train.
Please note the steam-cycles in the middle fleeing the Armored Train after receiving a spray of steam and boiling water from the Locomotive.
Also note, the last of the Mechanics locked in a struggle with Captain Johnson. That Mechanic survived hand-to-hand combat until the next to last turn.
It was a good game and both players had fun. I am personally amazed at the luck the Confederates had. The Major stopping the Landship in its tracks with his only bomb, the Railroad Workers staying and fighting despite loses (I treated them as counting half for morale purposes), the early arrival of the Armored Train, and incredible job the Mechanics did surviving as long as they did.
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