I had just run a Rebels and Patriots scenario and the players all were interested in another game. I had planned on running the same game and just switching sides, but the players all wanted something different. So, I thought about it and made a few adjustments to the tabletop and decided on the scenario.
The main change was to add a small river in the corner of the table (this was all the pieces at my FLGS, so had to work with what I had). Each side would have the same forces as the earlier game. The Rangers would be four units of eight troops. The French and Indians would be four units of ten troops. I tweaked the discipline ratings on both sides and we were ready to go.
The set up would be diagonal, with the Ranges on one side and the French and Indian on the other. They would not be able to set up within twelve inches of the center line or within twenty four inches of the river.
Along the river were three boats. Each could carry a unit over the river in one turn. The troops cold swim the river, but would have to roll to see if they drown from hypothermia (1/2 – drown, 3/4 – loose all equipment, 5/6 – success). They could beach the boats, push or them into the river. If they pushed them into the river, they would randomly drift down stream until they grounded or sunk.
Each side would get one victory point for every unit they exited from the board edges across from the river. In addition, there was a supply drop in the center. Each unit could grab supplies from the drop, which would give one point per unit. If the unit was eliminated or ran, they would drop their supplies. Finally, there was the normal victory points for reducing the enemy and keeping your force intact.
Just to add a random nature event, there was a base of bears that would randomly moved around. If it rolled a seven or greater each turn, the bears would move half a 2d6 towards a random unit within twelve inches. If they moved into contact, they would attack. If the bears were fired upon, they would move a full 2d6 and attack. The bears would have eight hit points and would attack with eight die, hitting on a three. All this was hidden from the players and controlled by the game master (me). The bears were never fired upon, not did they get into contact (they came very close), so these rules really never came into play. Except of course me moving the bears around and the players all wondering out loud what they should do about it!
Each side set up their forces, alternating a unit on each side. The Rangers won the roll and took the first turn. The game would be eight turns with a variable end.
Both sides had a very different approach, that would result this game being a rather low casualty affair. The French and Indians planned to mass on the camp and get supplies and then head towards the river. The Rangers planned to send a couple units to get supplies and have the rest of the force cross the river and set up a picket line to hold off the French and then escape late in the game.
Both sides executed their plan to start the game. The bears scared the Rangers and they decided to abandon the camp and all just head across the river. The French and Indians then were free to pillage the camp and load up all their units.
The Rangers had a few command challenges, but managed to get their units in position at the river and shuttle their units across. There was some confusion with one of the boats being sent back into the river, only to realize it would be needed to get more units to cross. A few unlucky rangers succumbed to the cold water swimming to it to get it back, but it was retrieved and a second unit of Rangers crossed the far bank. The other two units grabbed another board and managed their cross, while skirmishing with the lead Indians trying to close.
With the Rangers now on the far bank, the French started to cross on the lower side of the river. A unit of Indians did try to interfere with the Ranger crossing, but were quickly shot down by the Rangers (basically a series of bad luck dice for the Indians, who routed without taking many losses).
The French got their first unit across and the Rangers started to leave, as the turns grew late. The final Ranger unit rolled a poor result and were forced to charge the French on their side of the river and ended up being wiped out (more poor die rolls).
The game ended with the French and Indians having three supply points, with the Rangers getting three exit points. The Rangers had lost a third of their forces (with the drowning two Rangers being the difference) and gave up a point. The game ended in a French and Indian victory by one point!
- Manteuffel