Purgatory County, West Texas

My Western figures finally arrived from the UK, but were immediately seized for presentation on my birthday... fair enough.  It gives me three weeks to get the setting and terrain sorted.  Actually I have already spent some time preparing what I`m going to do for a solo campaign in the wild south west.  

Having played "Hey You in the Jail" in 15mm the basic campaign structure is pretty straightforward.  Fistful of Lead Reloaded has the necessary scenarios and I can use a 36 square grid map from Hey You in the Jail to identify the locations.  Each "Movie" will have up to six gunfights, with varying numbers of participants. I was, however, slightly lost for a theme to run through all of this.  

Then I spotted the miniature of Rooster Coburn in the Gunfighters Ball range (I just had to order it foot and Mounted) and had the glimmer of an idea. In the classic "For a Few Dollars More" both main characters, Colonel Mortimer and Blondie are bounty hunters.  In "True Grit" Rooster Cogburn, as a Deputy US Marshal, also hunts down wanted criminals, dead or alive (but mostly dead as Judge Parker points out)  Some reading up and I discovered that US Marshals would claim "Expenses" that are similar to the bounty reward payments.   This gives me a basis for a game of "hunt the criminals."  

I intend to expand  my original collection to include a band of Texas Rangers, led by Captain Quincy Whitmore, anti hero of "Chato's Land," but also to modify a figure as the Outlaw Josey Whitmore, renegade brother of our hero.  These are from the Aritzan mounted and foot figures, as is Judge Parker who will be hand's on in my own game. 

Purgatory

Following the end of the Civil War the township of Purgatory on the Rio Grande river had a population of 100 souls.  The town had grown from a fort against the Comanche into a small group of Pueblo buildings.  It gave its name to the County, although it was not the County seat which was at Fort Laredo, now occupied by a troop of Buffalo Soldiers from the 10th US Cavalry.  Incursions and raids from the Comanche, Mexican Bandidos and cattle rustlers operating to the north, had limited the growth of the town, but all of that changed in 1867.

That year a lawyer calling himself "Judge" Parker arrived in Purgatory, accompanied by a Deputy United States Marshal.  The credentials of the Judge were somewhat suspect, but Deputy US Marshal "Rooster" Phallus Coburn wore a genuine silver star and had a real interest in delivering wanted criminals to justice.  Collecting the bounties was simply a sideline.   

Another event that made 1867 conspicuous was the return of several former Confederate soldiers, mainly on release from the great Union prison at Andersonville.  Among these was Captain Quincy Whitmore, a former cavalry Officer of Hood's Texans, who brandished his appointment as Captain of the Texas Ranger Company to be based in Purgatory. (Close examination would reveal the appointment to be dated 1847 and thus expired.)  He had only four men.  

Purists may argue that following the Civil War the Rangers were disbanded in favour of a new State Police.  This may be historical fact but my advice to anyone snooty enough to observe this out loud is not do so in the presence of Captain Quincy, without being prepared to shuck their hawg-legs and commence a' firin'.

Purgatory County West Texas

Factions, Local Citizens and Bystanders

The Law

"Hanging" Judge Parker.  "String this fellow up."

"Rooster" Phallus Coburn, Deputy United States Marshall ""Fill yer hand you son of a bitch."

Captain Quincy Whitmore, Texas Rangers  "They's 'Pache out there."

Purgatory West Texas Ranger detachment. Sergeant Jubal, Young Earl, Old Pa Walton, "Big boned" Joshua.

The Judge rarely leaves town, but has his customers delivered by the Marshal.  The Rooster is a genuine Wild West Hero.  He draws two cards per turn, with only one allowed as movement.  He is a crack shot, deadly, lucky, and more than capable of dealing with a whole faction on his own.  His nemesis is the outlaw Josey Whitmore, renegade brother of the Texas Ranger Captain.  Rooster loves a bounty, and has no mercy in bringing in his man dead or alive

The Rangers act town law enforcement,  but also pretty much as their mad Captain wishes.

The Reina Cantina

Cantina owner and Town Mayor, "Useless" Eustace Farthingdale and his "girls"

Miss Belle View

Miss Mairy Hinge, aka Ginge'

Miss Betty Swollocks

Mr Leslie Dawson, chronic piano player.

Eustace runs the Rio Bravo Cantina, a sawdust floored dive that hosts a constant faro game.  The three "girls" are paid to provide entertainment. "Wimmin'folks is scarce in the West partner!"  The Mayor is unscrupulous, cowardly and generally drunk.  He also writes and prints the Purgatory County Review, circulation 100.

The Citizens Committee and Faro game bystanders

Dr Mike Holloway, Scots Dentist  (Wanted $100)

Lucky Ned McGurk.  Chicken Rustler  (Wanted $100)

Indian Jim Catchmole... "How?"  (Wanted $100)

Al Colter, the Shotgun Kid  "Cake or buckshot.  Ya varmint."  (Wanted $100)

The O'Finnigan, grizzled ancient Prospector, "Consarn it."  (Wanted $100)

"Peaceful" Chato Bronson, aka the breed.  A 'Pache.  (Wanted $100)

Missy Prudence, town cripple and sweeper upper.

The Cannon ranch.  Big Joan Canon, Buck Canon, Blue boy Canon, ,Manolito Montana

Sam Butler foreman, Joe Butler brother and extra. Victoria "is that a real woman?" Cannon

The bounty hunters 

1. Colonel "Angel Eyes" Van Cleef
2. Blondie Yates
3. Marshal Rooster Coburn
4. Eliza Stone, "the Viper," looking for revenge
5. Any two working together
6. Any three working together

The Outlaws

1. Lone Outlaws
2. The Bandidos
3. Indio's Gang
4. The Comanche'
5. The Hole Gang
6. The Border Rustlers

Lone Outlaws

1. The Outlaw Jesse Whitemoore.  "My mule don't like it much!" (Wanted $200)
2. Al Colter, the Shotgun Kid  "Cake or buckshot.  Ya varmint." (Wanted $100)
3. The O'Finnigan, grizzled ancient Prospector, "Consarn it." (Wanted $100)
4. Lucky Ned McGurk, Chicken Rustler (Wanted $100)
5. Dr Mike Holloway, Scots Dentist (Wanted $100)
6. Indian Jim Catchmole... "How?" (Wanted $100)

The Bandidos

Tuco il Magnifico  ("What's that awful smell?) (Wanted $200)

Manco, Raul, Ramon, Speedy, Poncho, Fat boy, Antoñito Ruiz  Enrique Santiago  Miguel,   José Terrón  (All Wanted $100)

Indio`s gang

El Indio (The Indian) (Wanted $200)

Groggy, Juan Wild Luis Rodríguezanuel, Benito Panos Papadopulos  Sancho Perez, Cuchillio, Tomás Blanco  Lorenzo Robledo  Tomaso, Cruz  Slim, Blackie, Chico, Eduardo García José Marco  Enrique Ricardo.  (All Wanted $100)

The Outlaws  aka the Hole in the table gang

Hannibal Quilp       "I love it when a plan comes together" (Wanted $200)

Kid Le-Colt             "Guvernor's going to give us an amnesty" (Wanted $100)

B.A Farthingdale    "I say old boy, are you some sort of crazy fool!" (Wanted $100)

"Face" Trollope      "Well hello good lookin..."(Wanted $100)

Mad Mike               "love the smell of TNT in the morning!" (Wanted $100)

The "Cowboys" Border Rustlers: (Aka the Mornington Crescent Gang)

"Mustache Marty" Feldman (Wanted $200)

Brooke-Taylor, Garden, Oddie, Rushton, Cryer, Cooke and Moore.   

(All Wanted $100)

The Campaign game

Building Your Gang

Each Gang starts with 15 Build Points

• Each member of the gang costs 1 BP.

• Weapons cost additional points based on the chart below

• Each Positive Trait costs 1 BP, each Negative Trait subtracts 1 BP.

Weapons.  Each weapon takes up slots based on the chart below:

Pistol 1

Rifle 2

Shotgun  2

Bow 1

Throwing axe/knife  1

TRAITS

Traits can be either Positive or Negative. Positive traits cost 1 Build Point. Conversely, if you take a Negative Trait, it subtracts 1 BP.   No Gang Member can ever have more than 2 Positive or 2 Negative Traits.

When Gangs are first created, no more than two members can have Traits of any kind. Traits are drawn randomly 

Positive Traits:

2: Stone Killer, 3: Nerves of Steel-  4: Stealthy-  5: Quick-  6: Deft-Reloading 7: Lucky-7: 8: Clever  9: Tough as Nails 10: Coolheaded,  Jack: Deadeye- 

Queen: Medic- King: Gunslinge  Ace: Choose one of the above except Gunslinger.

Negative Traits:

2: Sickly 3: Coward  4: Lousy shot 5: Slow  6: Buckets of Bullets  7: Unlucky  8: Gun shy  9: Weakling  10: Lilly livered  Jack: Sissy  Queen : Drunk  King : Greenhorn  Ace : Draw two more cards and apply the results unless this takes over 2 Traits.

Campaign Scenarios

Dice for the number of gunfights in this movie.  

2d6 for location of the fight.

Dice for Active Bounty Hunter

5  means two Bounty Hunter;'s Working together

6 means three Bounty Hunters working together.

Dice for second Faction involved randomly

Draw a playing card:

 

Diamonds: Loot-These scenarios allow your gang to accumulate wealth and Renown through robbing and stealing or the prevention thereof.

Hearts: Rescue-Sometimes your gang ends up in a tight spot. Be it saving one of your 

own, or stealing information, you have to have heart to succeed.

Spades: Fight-Be it for revenge, or just the thrill of the fight, these scenarios pit you head to head with other gangs.

Clubs: Survival-These scenarios earn no Renown. They are only about surviving. If this is the first scenario of the campaign re-draw. 

Diamonds

2-3 of Diamonds: Holding up the Stage coach

4-6 of Diamonds: There’s gold in them thar hills

10-King of Diamonds: Stampede!

Ace Scenario 2: Ye Olde Bank Job

Hearts

2-3 of Hearts: The Bar Room Brawl

4-6 of Hearts: Snitches get stitches

7-9 of Hearts: The 4:10 to Yucca

10-King of Hearts: Where’s the map?

Ace Scenario 1: Gunfight at the Just All-Right Corral

Spades:

2-3 of Spades: Run the gauntlet

4-6 of Spades: Bad time in the Badlands 

7-9 of Spades: Caught in a tight spot

10-King of Spades: Head Hunting 

Ace Scenario 4: Holdout at Hangman’s Holler

Clubs:

2-4 of Clubs: Circle the Wagons

9-Queen of Clubs: Ambush!

King of Clubs: Hang ‘Em High!

Ace Scenario 3: The Spectacular 6 

Joker Scenario 5: All Hell’s Breakin’ Loose!  Always ends a movie, even if its first card drawn (Was that it?)

"Wanted" figures that escape a scenario have $100 added to their bounty.  Figures that escape having killed or wounded someone have their bounty doubled.