Ambush at the Canyon - A Fistful of Lead game.

Woohoo, first game of 2024!

This time we dived into the 'For a Fistful More: Scenarios for Fistful of Lead' scenario book. Picking the first scenario 'The Waterin' Hole' as the basis for the game.

Whilst on a manhunt for the 'Bad Hombres' gang, Marshal Bill and his posse have stopped for some rest and much needed meal. What the Marshal doesn't know is that the 'Bad Hombres' led by Ricardo are about to spring an ambush in the canyon.

The posse start surrounding the camp fire. The 'Bad Hombres' start on the high ground in the canyon. Also, they took up the option of  placing a gang member in reserve, with the caveat that he turns up at one end of the canyon within the first three turns.

Marshal Bill would get 5 Renown points for killing or capturing Ricardo. Also, he would get 1 Renown point for each of the 'Bad Hombres' killed or captured.

The 'Bad Hombres' had different victory conditions. Ricardo couldn't leave the playing area, unless he was the last gang member left standing. Additionally, the 'Bad Hombres' couldn't gain any Renown until after Ricardo personally wounds or kills a member of the posse. After he does, the 'Bad Hombres' get 5 Renown for killing Marshal Bill and 1 Renown for each posse member.

Game on!

The Posse stop for a meal.

The cards let the posse activate first. Spotting movement in the rocks, they fired the first shots of the encounter.

The 'Bad Hombres' started to activate. For all their shooting, they only managed to drive the posse into cover by inflicting 'Shock' on various characters. Ricardo (despite rolling on a d12) failed to score any accurate shots.

The ambush is sprung!

Those in the posse not in cover, ran for the nearest rocks. Marshal Bill spotted Ricardo high up on the cliff face, but couldn't get a successful shot in. Elsewhere, Doc passed a task test and removed a wound from the Deputy Marshall (The Deputy was a drunkard who starts any game already with a wound).

After creeping through the rocks, Hector discovered Doc and the Deputy out in the open. With an aimed shot he took out the Deputy.

'2 Gun' Duggen got instant revenge for the Deputy, gunning down Hector where he stood. Further up the canyon, Carlos came out of reserve for the 'Bad Hombres'. Unfortunately, his attempt to gun down the Marshal were unsuccessful. The Marshal made him pay for his misses, sending Carlos 'out of the fight'. The 'Bad Hombres' were down two gang members and the posse was down one.

As the game progressed, the Marshal and Ricardo played 'cat & mouse' in the rocks. Neither being able to inflict any Shock or Wounds on each other. Jorge managed to wound Duggen. Pedro managed to eliminate Doc. Smith armed with his trusty Winchester took aim and shot down Pedro. The 'Bad Hombres' were down three gang members and the posse was down two.

Jorge followed up his hit on Duggen with his fists. The two remaining in a fist fight for two rounds. Jorge eventually emerging as a winner. It was now two on two!

Some bad shooting led to Ricardo, Marshal Bill and Smith all ducking into cover with Shock tokens.

"Come out, Marshal"

Marshal Bill tried his best to take down Ricardo. Unfortunately, niether could get a 'kill shot' in and the Marshall ducked back into cover due to his suffering Shock. Jorge continued to prove his worth, inflicting Wounds on Smith, which meant Smith had to retreat due to having more Shock than Wounds. A play of the 'Queen of Spades' card removed all Shock from Ricardo and he advanced on the hiding Marshal. A quick play of an Ace as an 'Queen of Spades' card, led to the Marshal shedding all his Shock tokens. Realising the impending danger, the Marshal ran for the nearest table edge.

In what turned out to be the last turn. The cards allowed both the Marshal and Smith to activate first and both withdrew from the game. The 'Bad Hombres' were the last men standing. However, it was a phyrric victory. Due to Ricardo not inflicting any Wounds or killing anyone, the 'Bad Hombres' couldn't claim any Renown points for the three members of the posse they eliminated. The flipside for Marshal Bill was that he was able to claim three Renown points for the posse - meaning the posse won on points!

All in all, a fun game to welcome the new year in with. Will the 'Bad Hombres' get revenge on the Marshal and his posse? Find out when we play the next game!