"Every Man a Custer Play-test Game PHOTOS !!" Topic

Here are photos from a game to be unveiled at Nashcon as a first-up event of the convention. Three teams will play both an Indian command (Chief Gaul, Sitting Bull, or Crazy Horse) and a Custer cavalry command (each command having its own Yellow Hair, Captain Frederick Benteen, Major Marcus Reno, and Captain Tom Custer). The winning team is that which kills off the most Custers while saving their own Custer. Points are also awarded for killing (or saving) the other personalities. Points can also be garnered for destroying an Indian band or raiding the village.

We have "face cards" glued to blocks to denote the leaders and personalities in the game. When one is killed or captured the other player takes the block. These form the victory points. These include cards for the Indians' village and for Custer capturing the non-combatants.

Game Board
The board is 24 feet. At one end we have three separate Custer commands which are labeled, Spade, Heart and Diamond. Each command has 40 men divided into two or three companies of mounted troopers. There may be a single cannon or Gatling gun for each command and a supply wagon (ammunition supplies). And naturally there is a Custer figure along with a Captain Frederick Benteen, Major Marcus Reno, Captain Tom Custer for each Custer command. All 28mm figures are mounted and, should they desire to dismount a householder stand is placed near the now dismounted unit. There is a cost to mount or dismount.

In general the Custer commands gain points by attacking Indian villages (good luck with that) and wiping out attacking Indians. The Custer commands traverse the board to get to the fort at the other end and safety. The Custer commands cannot shoot or attack each other BUT they certainly can cooperate in fending off the Indians of opposing teams. Did I mention Indians?

The Indians are divided into three groups: Spades (Chief Gaul), Hearts (Crazy Horse), and Diamonds (Sitting Bull) as are the Custer commands. The Spade Indians are commanded by players who also command the Spade Custer unit. The Spade Indians are trying to kill off the Diamond and Heart Custers. And so forth.

The Diamond and Heart Indians may find it advantageous to cooperate and kill off the Spade Custer. The Diamond and Heart Custers may find it advantageous to fight the Spade Indians. Or not.

The non-cooperating Indians (and Cavalry) represent the confusion and tactical conflict among the Indians and the cavalry. The teams may cooperate with each other but at the end of the day the teams are out for themselves to achieve victory conditions. That said, every man can be a Custer.

Here are some photos from a recent game. Custer managed to get away but Captain Tom Custer and Major Reno were killed. Naturally Benteen held the rear. I will get the actual rules posted after a touch more play testing. .

Do you have a face card for Crazy Horse?

Interesting

…But is THAT the face of Crazy Horse?

There are actually no pictures of Crazy Horse, from what I understand he never allowed his picture to be taken….and Sitting Bull was not an actual warrior at the Little Bighorn, he was more of a spiritual leader…..and he had his picture taken a lot!

Is that the face of crazy horse? Well Google says so – thus it must be so. But there are some 19th century drawings and then there is the monument. Sitting Bull was not in the actual combat but a leader nevertheless. Once you accept three G A Custers ( and Gatling guns at Little Big Horn) anything is possible.

Thanks for the insight. The authorities suggest there is no verified photo of Crazy Hourse. To be totally correct I'll replace my questionable photo of Crazy Horse with a photo of undoubted historical accuracy

Whatisitgood4atwork

Lovely looking figs and table. Well done.

I have a question Nashville.
Did you make those teepees?
They look great, and if you did, could you post a quick tutorial?
Thanks.

These are long out of production Resin cast which came with a painted collection of Britannia miniatures. I suspect they may be Dixon. They were painted by the fellow that sold me the figures. I searched in vain to find them. That said the next best thing are these. Use these smaller version. The larger version is ridiculously large. I sent mine back and got the smaller ones. A bit larger than the ones in the photos above. link

As to the Crazy Horse photo. I have adapted the image from a postage stamp. A noble visage to be sure.

Fabulous looking game and figures. I wonder where the post office got that face of Crazy Horse. I'm with CAVCRAZY, no known pictures exist of him. That said, GO CUSTER!!!