Monday, December 15, 2014

Monsieur de Reyniac


We have tested Muskets and Tomahawks for the first time. The system is fast, lively and full of surprises. The fact of not having neither turns based on move-shot-fight, or regularity in order between the armies completely confuse the issue. We have to act quickly and to take risks.

The party opposed the French and English:

The French side: A handsome young officer of the Compagnies franches de la marine, Mr. de Reyniac, had to wait Jean Dubois (a fur trader) at his farm to get informations about the presence of English forces in the region. He decided to wait for Dubois in the company of Jeanne, Dubois's daughter, his secret love (side plot: Romance). A group of Huron, the Tsawehoni family was also there to wait Dubois. Their goal: Defence.

Captain Reygnac (trait: charismatic)
8 Compagnies franches d ela marine
4 Huron
Militiamen 6 (Dubois and friends)
Jeanne (civil)

English side : Lieutenant Milton, an old veteran of Roger's Rangers arrived at Dubois's farm and saw Reyniac and his men. He said himself that capture one of these men might be interesting (side plot: prisoner), their goal: Engagement.

Lieutenant Milton (trait: competent)
6 Roger's Rangers
4 Mohawks
4 Mohawks




English forces arrived hidden (a funny system that will have more interest on a large table). Alerted, the French went out of the farm to attack them, but lack the Dubois reinforcement that came in the third round and the protection of homes, they were quickly decimate.
English killed 2/3 of the French troops. Reyniac died before he could protect Jeanne. A further tragedy in New France...

Monday, December 8, 2014

Les coureurs des bois




Coureurs des bois were itinerant, unlicensed fur traders of New France known as "wood-runners" to the English on Hudson Bay and "bush-lopers" to the Anglo-Dutch of Albany (NY). Few French colonists had ventured west of the Ottawa River until the mid-1660s, when a sudden drop in the price of beaver, the arrival of some 3000 indentured servants and soldiers, and peace with the Iroquois made the change both necessary and feasible. By 1680, despite repeated prohibitions from both the church and colonial authorities, some 500 coureurs de bois were in the Lake Superior country attempting to outdistance the Indian middlemen. As a result, fewer Indians brought furs to trade at Montréal and Trois-Rivières, inducing colonial merchants to hire some coureurs de bois in order to remain in business.

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

The Mohawks, a post that is not going to please Roro


From the eastern Algonkian, "flesh eaters"; in their own language, Ganienkeh, "people of the place of the flint". Originally located along the Mohawk river wets of Schoharie Creek, the Mohawks belong to the Iroquoy Confederacy.
During the era of the French and indian War (also known as the Seven Years' War), Mohawks were allied to the British forces.
These figures come from "Conquest Miniatures" and are typical of the iroquois look : An european fabric shirt, leggings with no garters below the knee like the Hurons, breechclout, and moccasins. The body was usually painted or tattooed, and the hair shaven except for a tuft at the crown which had braided locks and feathers attached. Face paint was usually red.
Next time, the Hurons

Thursday, November 27, 2014

4 Ground

I've just received my order from 4 Ground: A horsedrawn utility cart and a general purpose wagon. 




Sunday, November 16, 2014

The stagecoach

Yesterday, there was a big fight in the streets of Vancouver. A stagecoach carying the saloon revenues was trying to cross the town from the "Sweet Magnolia" saloon to the "National Bank".
Several gangs were trying to steel the bags of money. 





After six turns of fight, the gang of the french gorilla "Le gros Jascques", won five bags of money. The irish "Big Malone"'s gang won two. "Gus Pennetier", one, and the algonquin renegade "Fucking Horse", no bags. A great fight that deserved gangs with equal profils (algonquins were poor shooters and there abilities in close combat not very effectives).