Tuesday 6 August 2019

TSOG 'does' Ned Kelly - Tribal/Brutal rules

June 20 1880; the headline of The Argus late edition reads 'Bloodbath at Glenrowan...' and  the front page of the Herald reported 'Police Incompetence Leads to Carnage at Glenrowan...'! Well they would of have if our replay of the Siege of Glenrowan was historical!

Yes we ‘Played Ned Kelly’ with game master George last Friday and we all had a hoot! As none of us had the time to play this game at Little Wars Adelaide George was good enough to host us at his man cave and run us through it!  His figures were great, his terrain engrossing and his streamlined Tribal/Brutal rules gave us a good overview of them.

After a debrief of the situation we selected our forces and were given our objectives...

Pete
Objective to survive 12 turns
Force Ned & Dan Kelly, Steve Hart, Jo Byrne & the 'Glenrowan Hotel hostages'

Al
Objective kill the Kelly Gang
Force Superintendent Hare, Senior Constable Kelly with Constables & Civilian Volunteers

Dave
Objective to capture the Kelly Gang i.e. not let Hare's men kill everyone!
Force Sub-inspector Stanhope O'Connor with five Aboriginal Trackers
Reinforcements Sergeant Steele with Mounted Police

Then went for it! I'll let the pictures tell the tale...

The Kelly Gang lined up in front of the Hotel and while Ned covered them Dan, Joe and Steve headed inside. The Police forces raced forward. Kelly took out one Tracker at long range and another three when they rushed him! O'Connor then flanked the Hotel (by himself!) and Hare's men advanced into cover and opened fire!
Below Ned engages in some biffo with the Aboriginal Trackers

George has some great casualty markers!

Hare's force now split half taking on Ned who still stood firm in the open (seeking Press kudos) and covering the front wall while the others moved to get around the back of the building.
In the overall picture below to the left and behind the Hotel can be seen some hostages decamping to safety, to the right of the Hotel Hare's men can be seen advancing, Ned is visible by the veranda surrounded by bodies and to the left and in front of the Hotel O'Connor can be seen on his flanking attack and the sole surviving Tracker.

At the same time Sergeant Steele and his mounted Constables arrived on the scene encountering some hostages fleeing from the scene post haste!

 Another picture of Hare's men advancing showing off George's great figures and terrain...

Ned defeated a couple of Hare's Constables and heavily wounded Ned redeployed (i.e.ran away) along the side of the Hotel and toward the bush pursued by Sub-inspector O'Connor. The Police engaged the Kelly Gang along the front of the Hotel pinning them while others including Steele's mounted force moved to the building's rear...


Sub-inspector Stanhope O'Connor catches up with Ned Kelly but is shot in the back by Steve Hart covering Ned from the Hotel window! Kelly survived O'Connors attack which occurred even though he was shot due to a timey whimey thing included in the rules. You can see from below Ned has six 'hits' (he can take seven and O'Connor is on four (he can take five, the fifth of which is the shot he takes from Steve Hart)...

Ned victorious!

While Ned escapes, a furious fight occurs in the Glenrowan Hotel as the Gang and Police fight amongst a sea of injured Hostages (a result of Police fire into the building). Joe Byrne is killed by the swarms of Police taking a few of them with him. Dan Kelly is injured and flees from the Hotel fatally injuring Hare as he goes. Steve Hart after shooting O'Connor is engaged by Steele and his men and both sides take hits. He is overwhelmed at games end and captured.
Below Dan can be seen in the front room of the Hotel surrounded by Coppers and Sergeant Steele can be seen in the doorway heading to the bar confronting Steve Hart yelling, "You're nicked sonny!"

Ned Kelly makes it into the bush and is (temporarily) free!

The tabletop at games end. Superintendent Sadleir can be seen on the far right apprehending Dan Kelly a few Police with Sergeant Steele are still in the Hotel and Ned is invisible in the bush at the lower edge of the picture...

Not sure of the result really but this is how it ended;
Ned Kelly wandered into the bush severely wounded
Dan Kelly wounded was apprehended by Superintendent Sadleir
Steve Hart wounded was captured by Sergeant Steele
Hare's Force suffered appalling casualties including Hare himself
O'Connor, may he rest in peace lost all of his Native Trackers
Steele with light losses occupied the Glenrowan Hotel
The hostages suffered heavy casualties from the Police fire and a few escaped into the bush

3 comments:

  1. That looks like a really wonderful game - great job!

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    Replies
    1. Hey Paul thanks!
      George put a lot of effort into it, it featured at Little Wars Adelaide 2019 as a participation game and was very popular!

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