Congo Gulch: Little Big Horn

Bruce had me over for another test drive of his old west adaptation of Congo. This time the scenario was Little Big Horn. The visiting team arrived from the left and top of the board. The only home team units were in the village at the bottom right. Other home team units could appear on a die roll.

For example, rights behind my set up area on turn two. Leading to...

...this rather difficult tactical issue.

The overall thrust of the game was that the visitor units moved down the right side and across the bottom of the table while home-team units ambushed or chased them. Having to constantly adjust to the home-team units appearing was a good and stressful mechanic ("Oh God, they appear WHERE this turn? Oh no. OH NO!").

The unit of burros below was completely wiped out in an ambush (removing 1/5th of my overall force in a single turn). Fortunately, the dice were swingy.

One unit of visitors made a stand on a hill and managed to push back (and eventually eliminate) the home-team unit through concentrated rifle fire.

The local's base was eventually captured and the visitors set up (as best they could) on the bottom right of the table to use their firing skills.  At this point, it was almost impossible or me to push any of the home team off the board in the direction required to gain the most victory points so it just became about surviving.

Bruce's new models are pretty sweet (Foundry) and really gave the game a lot of flair.

In the end, through the pleasure of the dice gods, the visiting team managed to squeak out a victory point (11-9 or thereabouts). But it all came down to two devastating volleys in the last turn.

Overall, the adaptation makes for a good game. Lots of colour, easy mechanics and a nearly historical result. Looking forward to seeing this game at the club this week. These rules could work for the Riel Rebellion, I would think. Bruce had some great scenario ideas at the end of the game.