Wargame in a Wee Matchbox Challenge (Part 3) - The Finale

After I accepted the 'Wargame in a Wee Matchbox Challenge' and a WIP update, it's almost mid December already and about time to finally conclude my contribution to the 'Wargame in a Wee Matchbox Challenge' initiated by Alan at The Duchy of Tradgardland and Mark at Man of Tin blog. I'm curious how my proposal to this challenge will be regarded by the 'Umpires'.

In my previous blogpost on this matchbox challenge I decided to use paper miniatures from the Junior General Website as they are both free and ready painted and I could easily fit some of them in a Matchbox, and still have room for a 'Battle mat' and some terrain. Since my Little Wars inspired 'Napoleonic Cannon Game' didn't fit the Matchbox, I decided to follow my interests for Western movies, Old West gaming and my initial test with the Airfix 1:72 scale Cowboys and to go for an 'Old West' approach for this wargame (but with paper miniatures instead). Besides, I've been thinking for a while to make a very portable 'Old West' wargame which would be easy to bring along when visiting my oldest son where he studies (as he likes Westerns too). Coincidentally at this point I read that Mark at Man of Tin blog was working on some similar theme and solution (which also included using ChatGPT and suggesting miniatures from the Junior General as well). It looks like we had about the same take to this challenge now.

One of the challenges was to have space for several dice in the Matchbox alongside with everything else needed for this game. I found som smaller dice, actually beads, in a craft store and despite being light they rolled OK. 

Keeping it to an 'Old West' theme though, I decided to go fancy with the dice. Inspired by Mark's thoughts on the Howzat Dice (which was new to me) I decided to 3D-print a .45 Cal bullet dice. I'll use the mini dice for healht-stats instead.

I was looking around for some short, easy to play and free wargame rules for a few miniatures that could fit on or in a Wee Matchbox, but didn't actually find any short or easy enough. So I asked the ChatGPT to suggests some kind of Old West 'Mini Wargame' - rules for a 'balanced' game with uneven numbers on each side, for instance 1 vs 3. The rules needed to be short enough to easily fit inside or around a matchbox, and therefore pretty uncomplicated. The ChatGPT suggested these rules:

I'm not sure what the ChatGPT meant by the optional rules as they seems to lack context. Except for that, they looks very simple and playable but I needed to test-play them for some few games to see if they were playable, as that's not always the case when using AI-generated rules. ChatGPT claims that the game was balanced, but after about 14 games or so I think the Bounty Hunter will need another 'Hero point', so I increased his health to 4. I also skipped the incomplete optional rules and added another thing to the winning conditions, to better place a scenario for the game and the shootout (loosely based on a scene from the 'Fistfull of Dollars' though). So, this is my final version of the rules: 

I printed them on self-adhesive paper, and wrapped and sticked them around the Matchbox:

So now I'd got paper miniatures, a battle mat, some terrain, a building (the matchbox drawer), dice for both shooting and health stats, a 6"ruler and finally the rules... -Will it all fit my Wee Matchbox?

Luckily and coincidentally the .45 cal bullet dice, printed to the size of a real one, just fit in the widh of the matchbox. It was a thigh fit, but I managed to squeeze all the other objects in to the matchbox as well...

...And just barley I was able to close the matchbox.

Looks like it is possible to fit a Wargame in a Wee Matchbox after all:

My Wargame in a Wee Matchbox in Action (an AAR)

Even if I managed to squeeze all the elements of a wargame in to this matchbox, that's not the same as there is an actual playable wargame. So I'll add a short battle report to give you an idea. 
I put on some Dollar Triologi Themes for background ambiance. 

Scenario: It's loosely based on the scene from 'A Fistfull of Dollars' when 'Joe' frees 'Marisol'; 3 outlaws are holding a woman hostage in the house, and our 'Hero' is there to free her.

Forces: Are dictated by the rules; 3 outlaws with health of 2 and hits on 5+ vs The Man with No Name with a health of 4 and hits on a 4+.

The Game:

The Bounty Hunter approaches the house where he knows the outlaws and their hostage is:

His presence is noticed by the outlaws, and they decide that 2 of them are going outside to gun him down:

The Bounty Hunter notices activity by the house and runs for cover behind a cactus:

The 2 outlaws coming outside to fight the Bounty Hunter runs for cover; One of them behind some cattle they have stolen, and the other behind some barrels:

The Bounty Hunter opens fire on the outlaws, and the outlaws are returning the fire:

They are exchanging fire for some turns, and even got some hits on each other...

...until the Bounty Hunter manage to hit and kill the gunfighter seeking cover behind the cattle. 

Now the last one of them keeps shooting at the Bounty Hunter...

...Who return fire and manage to hit and kill the shooter behind the barrels. Now the way is open to the house, the hostage and the last outlaw.

The last outlaw now his on his own...

...and orders his hostage outside. His plan is to take the hostage and flee with their horses.

When coming out of the house and into the sight, the Bounty Hunters opens fire before the last outlaw manage to get to their horse...

...and get a precise and fatal hit on the last gunfighter (!). The showdown was a success for our hero as he managed to free the woman. Then they most likely rode into the sunset.

Time: 10 minutes

Turns: 12

Result: This was a victory for 'The Man with No Name'.

Table of Contents 

If anyone considers to have a go and make one on their own, you can save some time finding the bits and pieces on the links below: 

• Any Matchbox
• Old West Mini-Wargame: Showdown at High Noon rules (Should fit around the Matchbox if printed as is)
• .45 cal. Bullet dice (but any dice will do)
• Some kind of tokens for health stats
• Desert Battle-mats #1 and #2
• Gunslingers
• Cowboys
• Civilians
• Arabic House Accessories
• British Military Camp

Conclusion

The working cannon I 3D-printed, and did not use in the challenge due to it's size, has oddly enough the same caliber as my 'bullet dice'. -So I'll guess for other games than this challenge, I can use the cannon to fire roll the 'dice'.

This has been a fun and really interesting challenge, and I've had a good time while working on it alongside my other projects (some of them was postponed to 2025). Thank you for the initiative to this challenge Alan and Mark! 

I think it was really interesting to see that several other wargamers accepted and joined this challenge as well, and I'm looking forward to see their contributions. 

It looks like I finally got around to make that 'Old West Mini Game' I've been thinking to make for a while, to bring along next time I visit my oldest son in Ålesund.

I guess these rules can be used for other very basic and easy to play wargames with only ranged combat as well. If you like them, feel free to use them for your own games or tweak them to suit your game.

Perhaps another challenge in 2025?

Cowboys vs. Aliens in a prequel "V" wargame

This year it's exactly 40 years since the 'V' tv-series was aired and I saw it on Swedish television for the first time. -It never found its way to Norwegian television, so luckily we could receive tv-signals from Sweden where I lived (with an own areal). I think this was one of the most expensive productions of its time. I was a great fan of it, and still is, so I think this 40 year anniversary is a good reason to to play a small skirmish wargame based upon it as a homage.

Creating a Visitor-army

Not many manufacturers makes 'Visitor'-miniatures, and those which exist are either to wrong scale for me, or too expensive if you want to build an army. As the TV series was never aired in Norway, none of the merch never hit the shelves in Norwegian toystores either. 

This is a budget wargaming blog after all, so I needed to find a cheaper substitute for the V-miniatures. Some few years ago I bought a bucket of futuristic soldiers looking like Space Marines from 'Starship Troopers' in the local toy shop, and that was what I planned to use them for. On a toysoldier group on Facebook I once saw that one have painted figures like this in all kind of different colors; blue, green, red... -When I saw the red ones they reminded me of the 'V - Shock Troopers', and I decided I wanted to try making a similar conversion. If you want to read more about that prosess please visit the blogger-post "Making V-miniatures on a budget"

The landing ship is a 3D-printed 'V - Skyfighter' - Free STL-file from Thingiverse, just resized, assembled and painted. The Skyfighters are capable of both atmospheric and space travel with an unlimited range, with speeds up to mach 3 in the atmosphere and 20-30% of the speed of light in the space.

The Rules

To take advantage of the 'Visitors' body armor, considerations to small firearms vs. laser-rifles, heavy weapons and different troop quality levels, I think the rules dictated them self as FUBAR, which is the only free wargame rules I know which includes all of them. 

Playing FUBAR Solo?

What the FUBAR-rules does not include is any SOLO-mechanics, so when I play FUBAR alone I usually just play both sides (as best as I can). I like wargame rules that has it's own SOLO-mechanics as it is more unpredictable and add to the 'chaos' during battle. Therefore I've created a simple chart or table for my FUBAR 'AI-opponent' in this game. I'm looking forward to try it out to see if it works:

The Scenario

100 years before the (1984) tv-series and the militaristic race of reptilian aliens from a star near Sirius arrived earth with 50 'Motherships' to start their invasion and plundering in 1984, they sent out several reconnaissance patrols across the solar system to search for suitable plantes to invade and plunder. - Space-travelling back and forth + planning such a massive operation takes time (!).

In 1884 one such reconnaissance-ship arrived earth and landed close to the frontier town of Singate, New Mexico. A reconnaissance-patrol of 6 Visitor Shock Troopers (as a 'V' Skyfighter only holds a crew of 3 + 3 Troopers) was set out to search the surroundings to their landing zone.

The outlaw gang 'The Sinful Eight' (with, guess what, 8 members) was located in the same area, and approached the landing ship while the reconnaissance patrol were away and tried to open the landing ship to search it for values. They still had their hands on the landing-ship trying to open it when the alien reconnaissance-patrol returned to it.

The landing ship's initial approach to the wasteland outside the town of Singate was observed by one of the inhabitants, who reported it to a nearby Army Post, which sent out an patrol of 5 members to check it out. Due to the distance they won't arrive at the scene before turn 6.

Forces:

• The Shock Troopers:
• 1 squad of 2 fireteams:
• Fireteam 1: 2 troopers with High-Output Energy Rifles (like assault rifles according to the rules) and 1 trooper with a heavy laser blaster (like a LMG in the rules)
• Fireteam 2: 2 troopers with High-output Energy Rifles (like assault rifles according to the rules) and 1 trooper with laser launcher (rocket launcher in the rules).
• The Shock Troopers have body armour which will save on 5+ and are 'Veterans'.

• The Sinful Eight:
• A  outlaw gang of 8 members acting like 2 fireteams of 4 each, armed with pistols and rifles.
• These outlaws are ruthless and experienced gunfighters and are 'Elite'.

• The US Army patrol:
• A unit of 5 soldiers armed with rifles and pistols.
• Their commander is 'Veteran' and the soldiers are 'Seasoned'.

Mission:

• The Shock Troopers:
• To fight The Sinful Eight and regain control and access to their landing ship so they can eventually fly away from Earth and report their observations.
• If possible in the process; bring back one human sample for further investigation and testing.

• The Sinful Eight:
• To fight the Shock Troopers so they can seize their innovative weapons and armour to get an upper hand in their future raids.

• The US Army patrol:
• To fight any invaders and gain control of the landing craft. 
  

I'll play the human units in this game, and the V-Shock-troopers are commanded by the AI-chart.

The Game

Time:    1 hour and 20 minutes 

Turns:   12

Result:  The professional gunfighters won the shootout against the Lizards and gunned down the Army patrol as well.

When the alien reconnaissance teams are returning to their craft after checking out the surroundings, they see that there are already other armed men at their ship. When the Sinful Eight sees one of the Alien fireteams too, they don't hesitate and are immediately are fronting this new threat. Besides it seems like there are only 3 of them (as they could spot only one fireteam).

The Outlaws ran for the nearest cover and took their battle stance behind some rocks. One of the Fireteams of the Shock troopers started to advance against the outlaws behind the  cover, and placing them under heavy fire...

...But despite heavy fire, the Outlaws was far more better shooters and managed to suppress a couple of the aliens in this fireteam. They also benefited from being cover as well, which the aliens were not.

After exchanging fire for a while, the Outlaws manage to kill the Alien with the heavy blaster...

At the same time the 2 other members of this lizard fireteam got back on their feet and started to return fire, but another group of Outlaws was about to flank them.

While the first Visitor-fireteam was in heavy fighting the second team was very careful and were hiding in cover for 5 turns (due to insuffisient activation):

In turn 6 An Army Patrol arrived the scene, and saw the gunfight going on. They decided to open fire at those strangers looking like soldiers with high tech weapons...

The first V-fireteam was almost surrounded now, being shot at from 3 sides by 3 different units.

...This alien fireteam was soon supressed and the Outlaws decided to run and take them out in a hand-to-hand fight.

Now the second alien fireteam (which had been hiding in the bushes for 5 turns) decided to relief their alien friends from the first fireteam, and come to the rescue...

...but it was just too late by this time, and they were running into a nasty and fierce melee. While the Outlaws was busy killing the lizard aliens, the Army patrol went for that strange craft...

...but they were ambushed by the first team of Outlaws who were now leaving their cover...

The 2 sides were exchanging fire for a couple of turns...

...until the the Army patrol was finally wiped out.

The Outlaws lost a couple of members in the firefights, and have now become the "Sinful Six". Now it was time to focus on their loot, but they were hearing a dreadful noise from above. When looking up they saw another Skyfighter started to shoot at the landed and abandoned one. It was clearly that the aliens didn't want to simply hand over this technology to humans. Perhaps they are planning to come back at some time?

The FUBAR rules works well for SOLO-playing when playing both sides with it's activation mechanichs, and as unactivated units automatically goes on guard, which gives them the ability to perform actions; shoot at opposing units moving towards them or fires at them. Units in melee also activates automatically into the following assault action. I think my table/chart for the other side just merely filled in some holes for AI-opponents in these already superb wargaming rules. I think I'll use them again, and if you do so too, please feel free to give me a feedback on how they worked for you  or didn't...