Scarlet Patrol, RCMP : An alternate Mountie Company for IHMN

First of all, thanks to Tom for hosting a great game at Borderlands yesterday, March or Die!  My Arab horsemen did not quit have the oomph to slaughter the Legionaries fast enough.  Thanks, Tom!

Here is another of my IHMN companies, painted specifically for my wife and just finished last week.  She is tired of me giving her companies that are not armed with rifles!

Click to enlarge

Scarlet Patrol, RCMP

Canada is a vast, rugged country, requiring brave and resourceful men to defend her. While the men of U Troop, NWMP are generally Canada’s spearhead in the twilight war against emerging threats, they cannot be everywhere.

So when, trouble calls… The men of Scarlet Patrol answer!

With years of experience protecting the people of Canada against dastardly villains in the cold vast wilderness, they are now frequently sent overseas to strike fear into the hearts of evil doers who would harm Canada and the British Empire.

The patrol is led by the highly capable Sergeant Prestown, whose fearless exploits have made him the idol of boys across North America.  His constant companion is his loyal and intelligent husky, Yukon Prince.  The Sergeant is also frequently accompanied by a great grizzly bear who was rescued from a forest fire by Sergeant Prestown and nicknamed “Smokey.”

The constables of the NWMP need no introduction and are steadfast and loyal to a man.  Fur trappers frequently accompany the Scarlet Patrol as well, scouting ahead, ferreting out ambushes, and providing colorful tales of life on the Canadian frontier.

Notes on figures:
This IHMN Company was inspired by Bob Murch’s Pulp Figures and can be built entirely with packs from his company.  Here are the codes, you can find them at www.pulpfigures.com.  (I am not affiliated with Pulp Figures in any way, just a fan)  There are many suitable figures in the “Northland Adventures” range.  I know they are a little anachronistic for 1895, but I like my VSF a bit pulpy.  I built my version with just 4 packs…

• Sergeant Prestown and Yukon Prince: PYP 01
• Constables: PYP 05 (The Scarlet Patrol)
• Trappers: PYP 06 (The Mad Trappers of Rat River) although other packs would do as well.
• Grizzly Bear: PLT 05 (Ice Age Predators 1) Lost Worlds range
• I actually use a bear I found at my local game store, but this pack has a standing cave bear and 2 sabre tooth cats.  Who doesn't need some extra sabre tooth cats?  

The Company List

Type	Pluck	FV	SV	Speed	Cost	Talents	Basic Equipment
Sergeant Prestown	2+	+3	+4	+1	71	Leadership +1 Fearless Inspirational Iron Will	Lined Coat Military Rifle Fighting Knife
Yukon Prince	5+	+3	0	+2	34	Tough Fearless Impervious Stealthy	Fur (as Lined Coat)
Smokey the Bear	3+	+5	0	0	45	Terrifying Berserker	Claws (as fighting knife) Thick Fur (as Brigandine)
Trapper	3+	+3	+4	0	45	Marksman Stealthy	Lined Coat Military Rifle Fighting Knife
Constable	5+	+2	+2	0	19		Lined Coat Military Rifle Fighting Knife

• Sergeant Prestown or any Constable may take the Cavalryman talent (+3 points each) and a horse (+5 points each)
• May equip Sergeant Prestown or any Constable with Brigandine armor (+1 point each)
• May upgrade any Trapper with the Hunter talent (+5 points each) and a hunting rifle (+7 points)
• May equip any Trapper with an Axe instead of fighting knife (+1 point each)
• May upgrade one Trapper to Grizzled Old Timer (identical to Erudite Wit, +5 points), as he tells tall tales in a unique frontier way.

The Cult of the Old Ones - A company for In Her Majesty's Name

Here is the first in a sporadic series on the adventuring companies I use for In Her Majesty's Name.  I have been doing Victorian Science Fiction for years, and really appreciate the rules ability for me to craft companies of my own.  So without further ado...

Click on photo to enlarge

The Cult of the Old Ones

“Do what thou wilt,” sneered Alexander Crowley, “what a weak, vapid philosophy used by my brother to impress women and swindle money.  He does not know the meaning of true power…”

Alexander Crowley craves power, and his esoteric studies across the globe at Oxford, Miskatonic University, the South Pacific, and the dusty reaches of Central Asia have given him what believes to be the key.  With the knowledge he has and the powers he has gained, he just needs to retrieve a few more esoteric artifacts scattered around the world before he can fully open the door and let the Old Ones return from dimensions beyond time and space, to cleanse the world with madness. Ia, Ia!  Cthulhu Fhtagn! 

Alexander has gathered a cadre of degenerate and deranged acolytes over the course of his travels to assist him in his goal.  It is rumored that they undergo some sort of… change.  Most wear a respirator mask, the reason for this is unknown, but the few who have seen the uncovered faces after a battle are extremely unsettled.  The Cult of the Old Ones is well funded and well-armed with some of the latest weapons. It is unknown how Alexander acquired his wealth, but it is rumored that he purchases equipment using old doubloons and ancient gold coins of unknown origin…

Notes on figures:
This IHMN Company was inspired by Bob Murch’s Pulp Figures and can be built (almost) entirely with packs from his company.  Here are the codes, you can find them at www.pulpfigures.com.  (I am not affiliated with Pulp Figures in any way, just a fan)  There are many suitable figures across his various ranges, but these are from “Weird Menace.”  I know some are a little anachronistic for 1895, but I like my VSF a bit pulpy.  I strongly suggest you take a look, as many of the weird science stuff would work for IHMN as well as do double duty for pulp gaming.

• Crowley: PWM 01 (Weird Villains 1) – I personally use a cult leader I found in a box of Hellboy miniatures, but the Crimson Scorpion from this pack would be perfect, plus you get a few more interesting, menacing figures.  You could also use a figure from PWM 07 Cowled Cultists.
• Acolytes: PWM 08-09 (Gas Mask Cultists) – These two packs will give you guys with military rifles, a flame thrower, a machine gun, and a couple of WW1 Bergman sub-machine guns.  There are several other useful cultist packs, but most are armed with 1930’s style weapons like Thompsons.
• Lesser Old One: This guy I treat pretty much as a greater demon from HVF.  Unfortunately Mr. Murch does not have an appropriate figure, but there are many Cthulhu mythos inspired figures out there.  I use a repurposed Monsterpocolypse monster.

The Company List

Type	Pluck	FV	SV	Speed	Cost	Talents	Basic Equipment
Alexander Crowley	2+	+2	+1	0	64	Cloud Men’s Minds Mesmerism Mask of Terror (as Mask of Imhotep)	Staff (as quarterstaff) Steel Chain shirt under robes
Lesser Old One	3+	+5	0	0	71	Terrifying Tough Icy Blast	Extra dimensional form (treat as SRC Breastplate for armor) Acts as Greater Demon in rules
Acolyte	5+	+2	+2	0	16		Military Rifle Lined Coat
Acolyte Flame Thrower	5+	+2	+2	0	23	Strongman	Lined Coat Flamethrower
Acolyte Machine Gun Crew	5+	+2	+2	0	43	2 man crew	Lined Coat Machine gun Pistol (assistant)

• Replace Acolyte Military Rifle with SMG (no cost)
• SMG: +3 bonus, 12” Range, -0 pluck modifier, multiple targets, 9 points
• Upgrade all Acolytes to Numb (+10 per figure)

Big ape in the big city!!!!

Last weekend, we had my cousin Julie, her husband (and my ex-college roommate) Shawn, and their son Daniel up to the house.  We all used to play AD&D and Palladium in high school and college, but they have never played a miniatures game.  So... I broke out my terrain and set up a quick session of In Her Majesty's Name.

The buildings are all the excellent Stoetzel's Structures available from Wargames Vault.  They are paper, but designed to be mounted on foam board ad have quit a nice look and heft to them.  They also allow you to build a nice Victorian London urban setting without breaking the bank.  The foam board construction actually makes them easier to put together than traditional paper buildings.

The scenario was to nab the VIP who was loitering in the traffic circle on the middle of the board next to the newspaper stands.  The antagonists were:

• Oxford Ethnological Society (Julie): Led by the Charismatic Lady Jane Goodall, who has been living among the natives on the lost continent of Lemuria, and is regarded as a goddess by the tribe.  With her trusty native spear-men and even trustier Giant ape companion, she travels the world fighting for native people's everywhere and the right for ladies of breeding to wear fur corsets.

• The Order of the Crimson Twilight (Daniel): Frustrated by being turned down by "that snob" Crowley,  Lord Campion Battenshire presides as Grand Master fo the order he has formed.  Rumors of wired rituals, strange aliens gods and THINGS MAN WAS NOT MEANT TO KNOW swirl around the organization. Battenshire seeks world domination and for the village boys to stay off of his lawn.

• 1st Prussian Gardekorps (Shawn): Oberts Klink reports directly to Moltke and travels the world with his faithful Fusiliers protecting the interests of the new German Empire.  Suspicious of those "dumbkoffs" in the Society of Thule, Oberst Klink is an official pillar of the state.  He is often accompanied by "Uber Sturm Truppen" who are the results of lab experiments and rumored to be fueled by sausages and a 7% solution of medicinal cocaine.

The players set to with relish, the battle report is below.  It is my first attempt at using Comic Life, so let me know what you think!

Click on the pages to see them

A grand time was had by all!  I am still typing up stats for the companies, will post them over the next few weeks.  Thanks!

Opening Post and IHMN- Possibly the best matched (and Jozi aggravating) game to date!

Welcome!
A bit about Jozi's Tin Man...First, I am a Tin Man.  Secondly, my gaming table is infested with cats, coffee, and a beautiful woman.

Thirdly, my gaming credentials (cue scene in the movie Airplane)...

It all started in Middle School in the 1980's with the Dungeons and Dragons red box.  Ahhhh... Keep on the Borderlands.  Then it grew to AD&D, Avalon Hill's "Richthofen's War," and a copy of Wargame Tactics by Charles Grant from the county library.  I was fortunate enough to seriously fall into historical miniatures while stationed at Ft. Hood in 1994 and have, through a lot of life changes, been pushing lead and a brush ever since. 

 Luckily for me, my story has a happy ending!  I am married to the most wonderful woman in the entire world.  She did not run when she discovered my deep dark secret of playing with tiny men and now enjoys playing (and winning!)  She even tolerating play-testing my scenarios!

Here we shall chronicle our adventures in gaming, including adding some past exploits.

As for games played, I have run the gamut through the years.  I will play anything and enjoy it.  Having recently relocated to Greenville, SC, and look forward to getting seriously back in to the hobby.  I would like to organize a  monthly or bi-monthly game in my home.

Currently, my interests include:

• Savage Worlds (Jozi's Favorite!)
• 28mm Victorian Science Fiction with In Her Majesty's Name
• 28mm WW2 Skirmish gaming with Bolt Action, NUTS! or any other rules
• 6mm Ancients (2nd Punic War)
• 6mm Napoleonics (1809 French and Austrians)
• The big project on the table right now is figures and terrain for World War 1 with Through the Mud and the Blood
• 28mm Sci-Fi and Fantasy skirmishes
• A bunch of other stuff

Additionally, as a family we like to play Munchkin, Clue, Rory's Story Dice, Scrabble, and Space Hulk!

Enough of my gamer match.com profile, on with the show...

The wife and I recently played a smashing game of In Her Majesty's Name.  And by smashing I mean it was intensely aggravating, which has NOT been out experience to date.

We played the scenario "Bad Jack" for the first time, and it was... interesting.  We played our own Scotland Yard list (Jozi) versus our own Prussian list (The Tin Man.)  I will post the stats and details for both of these in the next post.

The game degenerated into a close range fire fight, fist fight, in the ruined building at the center of the table.  For about an hour we took turns trying to kill "Bad Jack" (played by a West Wind werewolf.)  Jozi brough a gatling gun armed steam walker and Sherlock Holmes, and I had a crazed Uber Sturm Troopen (stats in next post, but similar to the Yeti in the book.)

After about 45 minutes of round after round of shooting and pummeling the monster and each other, Jozi growing more and more certain that there was something wrong with the game or the dice, or the guy who set it up, she finally delivered the coup de grace.  

Next time, I think we're going to tinker with the rules a bit and maybe reduce Jack's pluck as he takes damage.

Here are some pictures.  Until next time, good gaming, roll high and live!  And if you live in the area and are interested, please do not hesitate to contact  me.

Scotland Yard lined up and ready for action

The Imperial Prussian Gardekorps

Jozi checking line of sight with our home made periscope

The never-ending bloodbath to try to kill Bad Jack

By the way, Doctor Watson and Oberst Klink spent and hour shooting and hacking at each other to no effect as well.