StanleyWheeler

A few weeks ago I engaged in a new game. What follows is an after actin report of the adventure.

Rescue from the Hangman's Noose - a home brew scenario of Flashing Steel

Athos, Aramis, Porthos and D'Artagnan (at 501 points) must rescue the prisoner before he is hanged. He is guarded by Lt. Rousseau on horseback and 5 more of the Cardinal's Guard on foot (at 500 points).

Each musketeer rolls 1d6 to determine at which of the 6 possible entrances he will arrive.

The house/scenario rules employed include that if a model has one failure on its activation roll, any opposing model may roll for a reaction move, and, if successful, complete it before the original model begins its action(s); if a model rolls two failures on activation, an opposing model may roll for a reaction move and complete it before the original model begins its action; after the original model's action, the initiative passes to the opposing squad. If a musketeer rolls a catastrophic fail (three 1s), the hangman gets a free action. If a guard rolls a catastrophic fail, the spectators knock the guard to the ground.

The guards can take no action other than movement and watching for trouble until they discover the musketeers or the musketeers reveal themselves by any swashbuckling or combat actions. The guards may scan the spectators for signs of trouble - succeeding at spotting a musketeer by passing a very difficult Q check (3 successes) if the nearest musketeer is a long distance or more away, difficult (2 successes) if the nearest musketeer is within medium distance, and tricky (1 success) if within a short distance.

Neither party may fire a weapon until the crowd begins to clear. The crowd will begin to clear after the second change of initiative after the musketeers are revealed/discovered.

No morale checks are required for outright kills.

The Hangman may only attempt one action per turn. His movement distance is short. His Q is 5 and his Cis 0; he may not be attacked nor may he attack, but swashbuckling moves against him are allowed. He must move from deep inside the jail to the scaffold, climb the scaffold, move to the prisoner, put the rope around the prisoner's neck, move to the release lever, and release the trapdoor to hang the prisoner. (In later replays for a more interesting game, the hangman's move was one short move per turn automatic)

Once contacted by a musketeer, the prisoner may move with the musketeer on the musketeer's activation but is limited to one short movement distance per turn. The prisoner does not engage in combat and may not be attacked. Swashbuckling actions may be taken against him.

The game ends if the prisoner is successfully hanged. The Cardinal's Guards win if the prisoner is hanged. The Musketeers win if they prevent the hanging. 

Athos and Aramis come in at entrance 1 on the right of the plaza. Porthos enters via entrance 4 at the bottom left. D'Artagnan arrives at entrance 5 on the left between the jail and the hotel. The jailer (represented by a woodland Indian model) starts at the back of the jail. Three guards monitor the crowd between the pillars near the center of the plaza. Lt. Rousseau on horseback oversees from a distance directly in front of the scaffold. The Sergeant stands in front of the jail waiting for the hangman and the last guard watches between the hotel and the scaffold.

The Musketeers begin.

-Athos begins (rolling three dice with one failure, which gives the hangman a chance to activate, but the hangman fails the activation). Athos advances toward the guards.

-Aramis prepares to advance but is blocked by the spectators. He loses the initiative and the hangman gets a free move for the catastrophic fail.

-After the free move, the hangman tries for another move but fails. Aramis is still blocked by the crowd and unable to react.

-Guard 3 attempts to scan the crowd for trouble. His view is blocked by a ladies large hat, and the initiative goes back to the rescuers.

-Aramis moves through the crowd.

-Athos also moves but is delayed by a pickpocket which allows the hangman a chance to move - and the hangman advances toward the scaffold.

-D'Artagnan decides that he must move to intercept the hangman. He advances and is momentarily lost in the press of the crowd. The initiative goes back to the guards.

-Guard 2 pushes spectators away, giving the musketeers a reaction move - but Athos can't do anything with it. The guard scans the crowd but doesn't notice Athos moving toward him.

-Guard 3 also separates the crowd - and gives the musketeers a chance to react - D'Artagnan takes the opportunity to fling a nearby barrel into the hangman who takes the hit and goes down, shaken. (The barrels weren't in the previous picture because I had forgotten to place them).

(The hangman will have to spend two actions and as he only gets 1 per turn, D'Artagnan has bought at least 2 turns for the prisoner.

-Guard 3 spots Aramis.

-Guard 4 spots D'Artagnan in the crowd.

-Guard 2 is confused by the activity back near the scaffold where the hangman has fallen and turns over the initiative.

-Porthos rushes Lt. Rousseau and attempts to drag him from his horse. Porthos only succeeds in pushing Rousseau back.

-D'Artagnan can see that the time for stealth has expired. Thanks to his Dashing ability, he is able to attack the nearest guard. The Gascon was delayed by someone in the crowd and muffed his attack, being pushed back by Guard 1, and turning the initiative back to the guards.

-Guard 1 attacks back at the musketeer and knocks him to the ground!

-The hangman tries to fight through the haze that enshrouded his head when he hit the paving stones but isn't successful.

-Rousseau turns his steed and attacks Porthos, bowling over the big musketeer.

Two of the musketeers are down!

-Guard 4 rushes to his Lt.'s aid (because the best time to help is when the opponent is down). The musketeers get a chance to react but can't.

-Guard 3 sees Aramis as the crowd in the square flees from the armed combat, but gives the musketeers a chance to react and Porthos scrambles to his feet. The guard fires his pistol at Aramis but misses.

-Guard 2 fires his pistol at the oncoming Athos, but Athos is quicker and gets a shot off that causes the guard to dodge as he fires; both shots miss their targets.

-All the guards and hangman having had a chance to act, the musketeers take over.

-D'Artagnan gets to his feet, and puts his rapier through Guard 1's heart. Things aren't looking quite so dark for the musketeers.

-Athos moves in behind the black powder smoke from the pistols but Guard 2 has guessed his move and forces Athos to the ground to avoid a fatal wound. 

-Aramis benefiting from his Impetus and Dashing abilities moves into combat with Guard 3, making him retreat back across the courtyard.

-Porthos puts Guard 4 to the ground, but still faces the Lt. on horseback.

-The turn passes to the guards. The Sgt. who forgot to move last time (my fault) elects to engage D'Artagnan but is unable to attack and turns over the initiative.

-Athos rises only to be knocked down again.

-Aramis takes aim at the Lt., giving Guard 2 a chance to stab at Athos but the Guard can't react. Aramis' shot goes wide. He rushes to engage the mounted guard.

-D'Artagnan struggles with the Sgt and is knocked down again. He immediately rises and knocks down his opponent.

-The guards take over. Guard 4 wants to get up but slips and falls back to the cobblestones, turning over the initiative.

-Porthos finishes off Guard 4 and turns over the initiative. (Guard 4 had a chance to react and rise but failed). Two guards are out of the fight and the hangman is still down and shaken.

-Guard 2 tries to take out Athos but is so slow about it that he allows Athos to rise to his feet, but knocks him back down again before turning the initiative back to the musketeers.

-D'Artagnan slays the Sgt, runs to the scaffold and climbs the ladder. Three guards are out. D'Artagnan has slain two of them.

-Aramis attacks the mounted guard leader, but gives the guards a reaction. Guard 3 races to the bottom of the ladder. Aramis attacks the Lt. without result. 

-Porthos is driven back after attacking the Lt, and he causes a turnover.

-Guard 2 stabs at Athos but the musketeer bests him even from the ground allowing Athos to rise.

-Lt. Rousseau pushes Aramis away and rides to the fallen hangman.

-Guard three wants to reload but doesn't, instead giving D'Artagnan time to fire at the Lt, but the shot goes wide.

-Athos allows the guards to react. The Lt. fires at D'Artagnan who dodges out of the bullet's path. Athos lunges, skewering Guard 2, putting a fourth guard down and out. The guards test morale. The Lt. thinks that he should go for help and rides his mount out of the plaza. Guard 3 has the courage to stand but sees no point in continuing with what has become an unwinnable contest. He bows and sweeps his hat in salute before giving up the field and the prisoner to the musketeers.