Dusty's PrairieCon XLIV After Action Report Part 1 - "What a Cowboy!"

After many years of thinking about attending PrairieCon, only to have other commitment interfere, I finally got out to the event for the entire weekend. I ran a total of three games and participated in a fourth while I was there. I am splitting my AAR into three parts, one for each day of attendance.

 First up is the game of 'What a Cowboy!' with rules by TooFatLardies that I ran on Friday evening. It went quite smoothly, thanks in part to a play test held with other members of the Fawcett Avenue Conscripts a week earlier. In that game I used a lot of the Western buildings belonging to Conscript Dallas, but felt the game needed terrain that provided more cover that didn't completely block line of sight. 

Gunfight in the streets of Laramie play test game

Gunfight in the streets of Laramie play test game

Gunfight in the streets of Laramie play test game

Gunfight in the streets of Laramie play test game

 I had some 2' x 2' pieces of ½" MDF that I had cut for another terrain board project, but had decided against using it. Instead I painted one side with desert browns and the flip side with urban greys to maximize utility. I also constructed a number of sections of various types of Western fencing using some plastic pieces from the Perry farmhouse kit supplemented by some crafting dowels and large toothpicks. These would provide obstacles to cross, as well as making it more difficult to spot targets. I also made some scatter terrain using some barrels that came with the Perry kit.

Fence sections prior to painting

Layout for the PrairieCon game with a 3'x3' playing area

 I had three participants for the game, so I played as well to even up the sides. We all started with a 'Shootist', giving the character a 'Bonanza token' which could be used to interrupt an opponent's turn, and a special skill to enhance abilities. We ended up playing two games in quick succession as one of the players learned the hard way that strolling up the middle of the road is a good way to get shot. The second game lasted a little longer with players making use of the fences to close the range under cover, as well as their 'Bonanza' tokens to get off some snap shots before their opponent got a chance to shoot. All the players had fun, plus a number of people strolling around the gaming area stopped by to watch or ask questions about the game mechanics.
 

Set up at Prairiecon

Game 2 in progress

Caught in the crossfire

Shoot out at the Blacksmith's shop.

'What a Cowboy!' participants at the end of the game

I certainly enjoyed running the game as it gave me an opportunity to debut all the Western gunslingers I painted up for the last Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge. If circumstance allow, I hope to be back next year with a different board layout. Thanks for reading. Stay tuned for Part 2 of my AAR.