Shootout in Purgatory

This week, it was back to Purgatory for the last of our Western games, using Blood and Steel.

This time around, the two sides were the forces of Law, led by the One-Eyed Fat Marshal, versus local magnate Latham Cole and his gang of ruffians.

Purgatory in all its glory.

Rather than last week's narrative scenario, we returned to using the random missions, from the rulebook. I did, however, tweak them for a more western feel and added a couple of new bespoke missions. The objective markers were reduced to two, the jailhouse and the bank, although, in the end, neither were needed for the chosen missions.

The Law drew the 'Wrong Side of Town' mission: You must make a show of force to reassert the presence of the law on the far side of town. This is really the 'Vanguard' mission, from the book, which involves attempting to move your leader across the table towards your opponent's baseline.

The Ruffians drew 'The Fugitive' mission: Stinky Pete has stolen your secret plans to bring the railroad to Purgatory. You must recover those plans. This is one of the missions that I added. It involves searching areas of terrain, in the opponent's half of the table, until the objective (Stinky Pete) is discovered. The objective must then be carried back to your own table half and delivered to your baseline.

As usual, the first turn is deployment, with both sides trying to guess their opponent's objective, whilst looking for opportunities to fulfil their own. I deployed on a broad front, to maximise potential search areas, but noticed a gap in the Law's deployment, giving me the chance for a run at the Saloon in the centre of the table. Using double actions and command points, the O'Finnigan gang ran across the street into the Saloon.

  

The O'Finnigans race for the saloon. Last one in gets the round in!

The O'Finnigans make it inside, leaving Dravott to threaten the locals. Foolish move, as he appears to be on camera!

Across the street, Indio and his Mexicans cover the move but come under fire from a bunch of Cowpokes, lurking in the shadow of the saloon.

On the left, El Fatti, and yet more Mexicans, make a diversionary move towards the Jailhouse. 

Stinky Pete is apprehended, at the bar, and dragged into the street.

On the right, rather fittingly, a gang of Outlaws are trading shots with the Pinkertons outside the Bank.

Meanwhile, back in the centre, Costner and his Cowpokes pursue Stinky Pete, while the Fat Marshal eyes up his chances of crossing the street (not easy as he's only got one eye).

Stinky Pete is delivered safely to the baseline - putting the Law on 2 Attrition points.

As the lead flies, Miss Belle decides to leave town.

Mayhem in the streets. As the gun battle rages, casualties mount up and the Law is on three Attrition points. But they pass the resolve test and the fight continues. 
At the start of turn 5, the Fat Marshal is one move away from his objective, which will also give the Ruffians a third Attrition point. It's down to who gets the next move. We both bid 10, but I have the Initiative Edge.

Josey Wales steps into the alley and guns down the Marshal - in the back apparently!

A win for the Ruffians but it could easily have gone either way. A great game and another win for Blood and Steel.