One of the best (in my opinion) potential settings for tabletop gaming is the Old or Wild West. Whilst this is a narrow period in time (1865 to 1890) the setting in itself is very open for gaming interpretation and can easily accommodate additional steampunk, horror or (pulp) sci-fi elements to suit the gamers taste. It also has a very tabletop suitable tech level - guns with iron sights that are generally slow firing with a effective range representable on the tabletop at smaller scales (or bigger tables), the main form of transport being horses and wagons for dramatic travel but at generally 20mph or less speeds. It is also known for combat between smaller groups of Heroes, Lawmen, Cowboys, Criminal Gangs and so on: which is exactly the type of story tabletop gaming specialises in portraying (and I might finish painting).
If I had to get rid of all of my hobby projects and swap them for one setting that would fulfil all my gaming needs: solo, against an opponent or group games it would be the Wild West. Since coming back to gaming I have often considered doing just that, buying a small fortunes worth of the beautiful 28mm 4ground Wild West buildings and populate them with the many options for excellent metal 28mm figures like Foundry (and now with the fantastic plastic Wild West sets from Great Escape Games) and spending the rest of my days building my own fictitious little part of the west.
Great Escape Games are currently running a Kickstarter that if you’re into 28mm (and it all looks good even though it’s the wrong scale for me) will provide you everything you’ll need to start your wild/old west adventures including their own ruleset Dead Man’s Hand, some very nice plastic miniatures, scatter scenery and impressive plastic buildings (how I wish they were 15mm). It’s about to end (24hrs) but it can be found here.
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| Dead Man’s Hand 2 player starter set. |
I am however a die hard 15mm supporter and there are a couple of producers of suitable ranges of figures. Whilst Blue Moon from Old Glory UK do a very comprehensive range they are the larger end of 15mm and wouldn’t mix well with the Peter Pig chaps I already had (converted and painted to use in the board game Gunslinger). I only have a few finished gunslingers and lawmen but have found some more unused packets on the lead mountain. For now I decided to use what I could from the Peter Pig range and convert/sculpt anything else I needed.
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| My brave lawmen (both equipped with mkII invisible combat bagpipes) (Miniatures by Peter Pig) |
Key to my decision about the west was my actual setting. Nearly every table I see, no matter how beautiful, is a shade of desert and spaghetti western (probably due to cinema and nostalgia) but I fancied doing something more green and forested (I try to limit myself when starting any new projects to using one of the two mats I already have: green or arid.). I will make up a developing town/s for my setting in the near future but initially I will need some basic buildings and tents with a few fancier bigger buildings.
Building wise there weren’t quite so many options. Some of the old 4ground buildings will work (cabins) and I presume these will be available through them (on whatever website they use under whatever name they’ve now decided on). I have a number of old 4ground buildings but probably won’t buy much else from them in the future.
Sarissa Precision has recently released a range of classic boardwalk shops, a stables and some larger buildings (no bar or saloon yet sadly) found here. I haven’t seen them in person but they seem simple, solid little buildings but not particularly pretty so may need some additional fettling to make them suitable. They are definitely on my list.
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| Sarissa Precision Old West Town |
One range I’d seen at shows previously and gazed at online was by the comparatively small U.K. company Blotz. It’s a new, developing range with only three classic boardwalk buildings so far: one generic and two others that come with the options to make them into either Bank/Baker or Surgeon/Barber respectively (although they could be whatever you wish). There also a Wind Pump which is pretty good, a little blocky (mdf after all) but better done than anyone else’s I’ve seen. What to say about these Blotz buildings……
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| Blotz Wild West building. |
They are amazing. I know it’s just a box…… but look at that box! Look at the simple additional details added by the basswood style (thin wood) sheet that makes them look much more realistic and covers the majority of the lug holes from construction. 4ground (or whoever), Sarissa and literally anyone else that make mdf war gaming products need to stop and learn from this talented chap. Or not, maybe look away and let him profit; yes, I’d prefer that.
If you can’t tell, I love these little buildings. At £7 a go they are affordable but don’t ever feel cheap. Hopefully there’s more to come from Blotz for the range as when I spoke to the designer they said that they intend to produce everything they do in 28mm in 15mm eventually. I for one can’t wait and will snaffle up any new offerings plus as many more of the three I already have. I plan to try working up some simple interiors which will hopefully still allow a couple of miniatures to be placed inside. I’m also wondering if a few Sci-fi additions from GZGs massive range would make them suitable for a Firefly style Sci-fi game.
I’m going to get the other two built and start planning my setting a little better. I’m not sure what rule system I’ll use but have Legends of the Old West and Gunslinger to start with and I have to investigate Fistful of Lead. My other current projects (Star Wars, VBCW and WW2) need some organising but are all progressing and I’ve got quite a future paint queue for the winter months, I just need to get some spray paint base coating done. Maybe I need to buy some Blue Moon Cowboys to see if I like them……..
Stay safe,
Balm.
