"Bloody Dawn: The Assault On The Alamo" Topic

"These rules are for refighting the Alamo, primarily in 15mm scale using the Blue Moon Alamo and figure range, although they can be adapted to larger or smaller scales. Set-up is double-blind, with the Texans deploying within the defenses while the Mexicans go away and plan their assault. The game is fast and features volleys of dice. Players' perspective is that of the Mexican column or company commanders, and the Texan officers. The Mexicans will win the BATTLE, but the Texans can win the game based on how many casualties they inflict on the attackers. The Texan garrison can number 186 or 250, with a higher body count required to win in the second case. The back cover shows printable casualty markers for both sides. There are two hypothetical scenarios for added play value: "Fannin at the Alamo" increases the Texan force to 500+, while "Cos Defends the Alamo, 1835" puts the MEXICANS inside and the Texans attacking!"

From here.
link

Hope you enjoy!.

Amicalement
Armand

So the introductory game requires 186 to 250 figures?

No, the introductory game requires 600 to 700 figures! The 186 to 250 is just one side.

If there was ever a battle that needs to be done 1:1, the Alamo is it. You DON'T need all 1200+ Mexicans, but the more you have the better it looks. The Mexicans represent the front elements of each column (there were 5) and my collection (Old Glory/Blue Moon 15mm) totals about 600. Mexican soldiers are NOT removed as they take fire, but casualty markers are put down; presumably men come up from the rear to replace those who fall in front.

Obviously this is a big project, though I imagine plenty of people have larger collections. It's a good period to do with several people. There IS a great deal of replay value, particularly with the hypothetical scenarios.

doc is it possible to use the game mechanics to fight other battles of the war, such as San Jacinto? Either way, it sounds like a very interesting game and best of luck with it!

The mechanics are designed for an assault on a fortified position. I think for San Jacinto I'd just use my favorite rules for AWI or Napoleonics/1812 or for Mexican War of 1840s. And for smaller actions like the Grass Fight, my favorite set of skirmish rules.

What my rules WOULD work for is the assault on Bexar or the 1846 battle of Monterey which was street fighting, or such as that. It's neither a skirmish game nor a battle between organized 'units"; it's about mobs of men running around in the dark, with low level leadership (company officers and NCOs) crucial.

"No, the introductory game requires 600 to 700 figures! The 186 to 250 is just one side."

Oddly enough, that didn't make the whole idea any more appealing….. ;)

Are we suggesting that the battle for Alamo should be done with one wall, two Texicans and four Mexican figures ---of course I have seen eight figure "phalanxs" and six figure Roman "legions" --???? Or we could have 16 British figures and 35 Zulus and just call it Islawanda -- forget the fact that it does not even remotely look like the battle.
Sometimes, I swear -- the concept of "collecting", "wargaming", and "armies" has been forever lost?
I hope for many -- like me --600 – 700 figures does not seem that much for something we have such a great interest in?

Oh well, I have to get back to painting my 24 figure "dwarf army".
Regards
Russ Dunaway

Of course I agree with Russ, though to each his everlovin' blue-eyes own. But folks who do the ACW or Napoleonics in 15mm must surely have armies far larger? My own ACW collection has at least 1000 figures for each side, and guys I played with had as many. If we enjoy the spectacle of the thing, we want something visually stunning, and the Alamo under assault meets that criteria.

You really don't know what I collect, do you Russ?

What you collect or do not collect has really nothing to do with my comment --nor do you really have anything to do with my comment, do you Morrigan ?
kindest of regards
Russ Dunaway

Well that's what you say, but being that I was the only one who mentioned the number of figures required it really didn't sound that way did it?

Well I shall be ' doing ' the Alamo, its on my Blue Moon list. Anyway its sort of connected so I will say to Russ that I am looking forward to the US/M ex war range !! Oh and totally unconnected the ECW one as well !!!

dave001776, The US/M range has been started --should start seeing the first releases in about a month --no time frame for ECW as of yet --but sometime this year. Big 7 years war release in the wings right now.

Morrigan --Yes indeed --you brought up a "TOPIC" and I made a post with some of my questions/thoughts on that "TOPIC".
It could be considered a wee bit narcissistic for someone to assume that my post was not about the "TOPIC" that was brought into the conversation, but instead was about any single individual and/or their personal collections. Don't you think Joe?
Best regards
Russ Dunaway

Russ, here's what I'd like to see that could be used for both the 1836 and 1846 conflicts:

armed Mexican peasants/recruits in sombreros

Mex infantry in various hats including sombreros, barracks caps, etc. Also bare-headed.

1836 infantry in fatigue uniforms and covered shakoes

Comanche warriors, especially mounted

I'll also show you at Cold Wars the breach pieces I did to replace sections R and S of the Alamo, for those who want to play a different siege. My homemade ones are nice but professionally done would be lots better.

thanks Russ, can't wait to see the ECW given the Blue Moon treatment !Please don't forget clubmen/armed peasants !

Very good choises doc mcb!

Amicalement
Armand