Although miniatures games set in the Old West have been around for many years, recently there has been a dramatic increase in figures, rules, and accessories for this period. As I imagine is the case with many MWAN readers, I started playing with cowboys and Indians when I was very young and got Fort Apache as a gift; I've been fascinated by the Old West since then. The Boot Hill game came out when I was in high school, and I began to wargame with Airfix plastic cowboys. I have enjoyed games set in this period ever since. While there has always been a lot of source material available, rules and figures have been relatively scarce until the past couple years. The variety of items now available, coupled with the appeal of the Old West and the small scale of many gunfights/battles makes this period all the more enticing.

In this article, I will discuss some of the issues and dimensions to consider when gaming the Old West. I will then review some of the figures and accessories that are available. I'll review rules in a subsequent article, which I'm currently working on; I may also include a copy of my own "Ghost Riders" rules (to add to the proliferation of home grown rules for this period). I am certainly not an expert on the Old West; what follows are mostly my opinions, which you may certainly disagree with. That's OK, pardner; this town's big enough for more than one opinion.

The Question of Scale

Two related issues here are figure size and scale/ratio. The three main types of metal Old West gaming figures available are 15mm, 20mm (1/72 scale plastics are pretty comparable to these), and 25mm (I include 28 mm in this category, since most figures advertised as 25mm are really closer to 28). Obviously, detail and animation are typically better with larger figures, but you can only fit so many on a tabletop. In my opinion, 15mm or 20mm is the way to go if you want to recreate Indian battles in a historical fashion. Unless you have a LOT of space available (not to mention cash), you will simply not be able to recreate something like The Battle of Little Big Horn in 25mm. 15mm figures in particular look good in numbers on the wargame table, and you can have some pretty awesome scenery dwarfing the figures (mesas, etc.), giving a realistic feel of the West on a grand scale. This also allows for a lot more maneuverability, particularly of cavalry.

On the other hand, for smaller skirmishes and gunfights, 25mm tends to have the most appeal. If you want to have a 1:1 scale gunfight, players tend to relate better to figures with a lot of detail and animation, especially when each figure is different. I think the most impressive Old West games I have seen are those that use a handful or two of 25mm figures with some buildings and other appropriate terrain (e.g., games run by Keith Leidy -- as pictured in the November 1997 issue of Wargames Illustrated; and games by Leo Walsh of TCS run at GENCON and other conventions).

I personally use both 15mm and 25mm scales, and enjoy both, but find myself increasingly daydreaming about (and spending money on) 25mm. I should put in a plug at this point for the increasing number of high quality 20mm Old West figures being produced. Some have enough detail that they are very satisfying even in 1:1 scale games, but are cheaper than 25's. They have the added advantage that they fit in very well with HO scale railroad buildings and accessories. If I were to start over, I'd probably go with 20mm instead of 15mm.

Regarding the figure:men represented ratio, Old West games vary from 1:1 to at least 1:5 (still a relatively low ratio compared to most periods). Further, there are some games where players are expected to take no more than 1 or 2 figures. These games often assign different characteristics to the figures (e.g., weapon skills, bravery), and have a relatively complex turn sequence and system for tracking wounds. If you enjoy role-playing, this type of game will probably have a lot of appeal.

Other games are unit based, and one figure may represent many soldiers, Indians, etc. Again, this is largely a matter of personal preference, and relates to the type of action you want to recreate. The gunfight at the OK Corral is clearly a 1:1 affair; larger Indian battles typically are not. Ground scale and weapon ranges also vary a lot (this is, of course, not unique to Old West games). The 1:1 games sometimes have a "true to figure" ground scale (e.g., 1" = about 6 feet for 25mm), which can help players get a better feel for what is actually happening in a game. I've had players tell me that when their figure runs across a street, they want to be able to visualize what it would be like if they were in the same situation, and this sort of ground scale helps.

At the same time, rules that use this ground scale often dramatically shorten actual weapon ranges for the sake of playability. Thus, it is not uncommon to find pistols that can only fire the equivalent of perhaps 25 yards. If you can live with this, the "true to figure" ground scale can be a lot of fun, especially with 25mm figures. In my experience, younger players, role-players, and those used to sci-fi and fantasy games enjoy this better than more abstract (albeit realistic) scales.

History vs. Hollywood

The related issues of realism, playability, complexity and enjoyment of a game have been discussed concerning other periods in MWAN; Old West gaming certainly provides more fuel for this discussion. There are a few Old West games that reflect history; far more that reflect Hollywood's view of history; and the majority fall somewhere in between. Part of the issue is that the Old West is such an important part of American folklore, it is often hard to tell what really happened in many gunfights and battles -- the folklore is hopelessly intertwined with history.

Also, since many of us were raised with the Hollywood version of the Old West, we may not care that much about what really happened. In my experience, Old West gaming is "on the fringe" of true historical gaming, in that most Old West games really are not very realistic. Does this bother me personally? Not in the least. To quote the Very Rev. Aelred Glidden, who in turn was quoting Donald Featherstone, "Never let history get in the way of a good game". On the other hand, historical purists need not feel too discouraged. There are more authentic figures available than ever before, and a few rules sets really do try to recreate history, particularly with Indian battles.

The complexity level of Old West games also varies dramatically. There are rules sets varying in length from one page (e.g., Keith Leidy's home grown rules) to over 100 pages in multiple volumes (e.g., Once Upon A Time In The West). One thing that MWAN has taught me is that complexity does not always positively correlate with historical accuracy, and sometimes negatively correlates with players' enjoyment. At the same time, the shortest rules sets often leave a fair amount open to interpretation, and therefore tend to run most smoothly when a gamemaster is present to arbitrate when questions arise. Ironically, the longest sets are often so complex that you need a gamemaster who is very familiar with the rules, or play tends to bog down as disagreements arise over the finer points. The issue of complexity of rules has been discussed several times in MWAN; I will just note that there are dramatic differences among rules sets in this period, so be sure to take this into consideration as you are choosing a set for yourself.

The one place where this seems to make the most difference, in my experience, is when you are trying to recreate gunfights. A simple move-countermove system doesn't work well for this purpose -- players know when they will shoot relative to the enemy, and will naturally take advantage of this. There are several ways that rules address this issue. The most common is to use a card system for variable determination of action sequences -- this keeps the suspense up. Another way is through the use of written orders which are simultaneously revealed; this works well when you are focusing on one or two figures, but tends to bog down with larger numbers. Finally, some rules have players roll for initiative.

Setting

A final issue to consider is the setting for your game. Old West games can be set anytime from around 1850 to 1890, but most focus on the 1870's-1880's. Participants, weapons, uniforms, Indian tribes, etc. can obviously vary a lot depending on the period you choose. The two main geographic settings for Old West games appear to be the Plains and the Southwest. This is one of those things I really didn't think much about when I started collecting and painting figures and terrain, but from a reality standpoint can make a lot of difference. If you are planning on including Indians or Mexicans, this is an important issue. Plains Indians tribes sometimes did not look that much different from each other, but they sure look different than Apaches! Further, there weren't very many Mexicans in, say, Kansas in the late 1800's.

Terrain features also differ a lot based on location. If you are creating Southwestern terrain, you'll want to consider including mesas, cacti, adobe, and a sand/clay colored table and bases for figures. If you're in the Plains, more "traditional" wargame terrain is generally usable. I discovered this the hard way, as I decided to place most of my games in southeastern Arizona territory, and then realized that I didn't have very much appropriate terrain. Players are still very forgiving, as I continue to mix in features that really shouldn't be there. If you're like me and have existing terrain that you'd like to use, consider what you already have in deciding which setting to use.

Now, on with the reviews!

Figures

The last few years have seen a virtual explosion in the number of Old West figures available. 1996 was truly a banner year -- both Old Glory and Guernsey Foundry released the start of two extensive figure lines in 25mm, including some of the best Old West figures ever produced. I'll provide an overview of the figure lines that I'm aware of (in alphabetical order). Much of this information has been gleaned from the pages of MWAN.

Brittania Miniatures, manufactured in England, available in the U.S. from Elite Miniatures, c/o Keith Leidy, 2625 Forest Glen Trail, Riverwoods, IL, 60015, as well as some hobby shops. These are 25 mm figures, tending to the large, "chunky" side, but I love their animation and variety. Brittania offers U.S. cavalry, Apaches, Mexicans, an increasing selection of gunfighters (both mounted and on foot) and townspeople, and some accessories (e.g., wagons, longhorns, cannons and gatling guns). I really like this line! The covered wagons in particular are outstanding.

Complete Brigade, available from Frying Pan and Blanket Amalgamated (gotta love the name), 2283 Apache Street, Mendota Heights, MN, 55120 (send SASE for list). They advertise 20mm U.S. cavalry and Plains Indians. I haven't seen these figures, so I cannot comment further.

Connoisseur Historical Miniatures, previously just manufactured in England, now manufactured in the U.S. as well by J & T Miniatures, HC 83, Box 15, Pequot Lakes, MN, 56472 (218-568-7447). They offer a 25mm Pony Wars line, with U.S. cavalry, Plains Indians, Apaches, civilians, and gunfighters. These figures are close to 28 mm in size; the poses are quite good, though the level of detail and animation vary.

Dixon Miniatures, manufactured in England, available in the U.S. from Wargames Inc., Box 278, Route 40 East, Triadelphia, WV, 26059 (send $3 for listing). Also available at some hobby shops. Dixon produces a variety of 25mm Wild West figures and accessories (e.g., a really nice stagecoach). Their figures are typically around 28mm. They generally have very good animation and detail. Dixon carries more mounted cowboys than most other companies, and has an extensive line of gunfighters, townsfolk, and some Indians.

Freikorps 15, 25 Princetown Road, Bangor, Co. Down, BT 20, 3 TA, Northern Ireland, UK. Also available at some hobby shops. Freikorps 15 produces a very extensive line of 15mm Old West figures. These are "true" 15mm scale, and therefore somewhat small relative to other larger 15's. The variety is truly outstanding, with 105 different figures in the range, including U.S. cavalry, U.S. infantry (hard to find for this period), Apaches, Plains Indians, gunfighters, and townspeople. Don't let the UK address put you off -- service is fast, and they take U.S. $.

Frontier Miniatures, available from Modeler's Mart, 1555 Sunshine Drive, Clearwater, FL, 34625 (800-223-5260) ($5 for catalog, which has a LOT of stuff in it). Frontier produces both 15mm and 25mm figures, including U.S. cavalry, Indians, and gunfighters. These are "true scale" figures, and therefore a bit small compared to many others (the 15's fit well with Freikorps 15's and Minifigs; the 25's fit well with Pass of the North). These are relatively inexpensive, basic gaming figures.

Grenadier, no longer in business, but the "Western Gunfighters" boxed set (produced in 1992) is still available at some hobby shops. This is a very nice set of 10 25mm figures, including gunslingers and townspeople. The figures are "large" 25's (closer to 30mm in some cases), but fit in well with many of the 28mm figures available. Animation and detail are superb; in my opinion, these were the best 25mm Old West figures available for a number of years.

Guernsey Foundry, manufactured in the U.K., available in the U.S. from The Foundry, 1549 Marview Drive, Westlake, Ohio, 44145 (440-871-4587). An extensive 28mm Old West range, including U.S. cavalry, Plains Indians, Mexicans, Apaches, cowboys, gunfighters, and "Victorian bystanders". These are excellent figures for the most part, are very reasonably priced, the selection is great, and many come both mounted and on foot (perfect for skirmish games). See their ads in MWAN, and reviews by David Barnes (MWAN 88, 90, 92) and Hal Thinglum (MWAN 80, 88, 89, 90). In my opinion, this is the premiere Old West line available today.

Mayhem Miniatures, manufactured in England, available from hobby shops or from the UK at P.O. Box 3064, Milton Keynes, MK13, OJP, England.. Mayhem makes 25mm gunfighters and townspeople as well as accessories (e.g., a resin bar) which are slightly larger than true 25mm, but very well animated and proportioned. They are pretty comparable to Guernsey Foundry figures, but the line is less extensive (and a bit more expensive).

Minifigs, manufactured in England, available from Modeler's Mart (see Frontier for ordering information). Though I haven't ordered any for several years, I believe 15mm Minifig Old West figures are still available. These are "true" 15mm scale, and relatively well detailed and animated. They fit in well with Freikorps 15 and Frontier miniatures. I have some of their gunfighters; I'm not sure what else is available.

Old Glory, available from Emperor's Headquarters, 5744 W. Irving Park Road, Chicago, IL, 60634 (312-777-7307). Also available at some hobby shops. The Warpaint range is an extensive line of 25mm settlers/townspeople, U.S. cavalry, Plains Indians, Apaches, gunslingers, lawmen, and accessories (e.g., teepees, a stagecoach, and wagons). Very nice figures for the most part (details tend to be very good; animation is not as good on some), typically between 25 and 28 mm. The variety and price are simply outstanding! Reviewed by Stephen Lawrence in MWAN 89.

Pass of the North, Jeff Caruso, 1060 Esplanada, El Paso, TX, 79913 (915-581-3282). Catalog $2 + SASE. An extensive line of U.S. cavalry, Indians, gunfighters, Mexicans, and townspeople in 25mm, including some specialty sets like the Magnificent Seven. True 25mm scale figures. Excellent poses, detail and animation; the only problem is that they tend to be small relative to most other "25mm" figures. Apaches were reviewed in MWAN 84 by Stephen Lawrence.

Peter Pig, manufactured in England; available from Brookhurst Hobbies, 12188 Brookhurst Street, Garden Grove, CA, 92640 (714-636-3580). Peter Pig makes an extensive line of 15mm Old West figures and accessories, including gunfighters, Plains Indians, townspeople, characters, resin buildings, and even a train! A little chunky, but very good detail and animation; they fit well with most other lines of 15mm figures.

Pinnacle Miniatures, available from hobby shops or from Pinnacle Entertainment Group, P.O. Box 10908, Blacksburg, VA, 24062-0908 (800-214-5645). These are 28 to 30mm figures designed for the Great Rail Wars miniatures game and the Deadlands roleplaying game. These games are set in an alternate history Old West, where magic, monsters, and advanced steam technology exist, and the Civil War has continued into the 1870's. There are gunfighters, Indians, townspeople, artillery, special characters, monsters, and even undead gunslingers if you want to add a weird twist to your game! Animation and detail are somewhat uneven, but tend to be excellent.

Qualiticast, manufactured in England, but available from Brookhurst Hobbies (see Peter Pig for address/phone number). Qualiticast makes 20mm Indians, settlers, and gunfighters. These are very nice, well detailed and proportioned figures. They are reviewed by David Barnes in MWAN 89.

Raventhorpe Miniatures, imported from the U.K., available from RLBPS, 4827 Treeview Terrace, Rockford, IL, 61109-4135. These are 20mm Mexican Revolution figures, many of which are suitable for the Old West as gunfighters and Mexicans. These are excellent figures, with very good animation and detail. I bought a few at Little Wars; these figures have tempted me to get into yet another scale in this period!

Stone Mountain, P.O. Box 675, Brighton, CO, 80601. One of the first 25mm Old West lines that I encountered; these were one of the few lines available until relatively recently. I still see them at hobby shops and conventions, but don't know if they are still being produced. These are true 25's, and therefore smaller than many other lines. They have gunfighters (including mounted), townspeople, and some personalities. Proportion and animation are not as good as more recently produced figures. They also make some excellent 25mm cacti.

Valiant Miniatures, 106 Foxcraft Drive, Winborne, Dorset, BH 21 2 LA, UK. 25 mm gunfighters; I haven't seen them, but David Barnes (in MWAN 89) notes that they are "slim fellows but well in keeping with the era and excellently animated and cast" (p. 17).

Accessories

Just as with Old West figures, there has been a recent dramatic increase in available accessories. While I'm sure there are many that I am not aware of, here is a listing of those that I'm familiar with.

Airfix, available at many hobby shops. Makes a plastic 1/72 scale fort (Fort Apache) that works well for 20mm figures. Decent detail. Comes with plastic U.S. cavalry and Indians.

Dixon, see figures section for address. Dixon makes Wild West 25mm buildings ("every single one built from scratch and fully painted") which look very impressive. They appear to be made of wood.

The Drum, available from some hobby shops, including The Emperor's Headquarters (Chicago). The Drum makes 15mm scale resin buildings, including a log fort with towers. This fort is very nicely detailed, and makes a great centerpiece for a (probably fictitious) attack on a fort. (Note: the only 25mm scale fort like this that I've seen was made by Greenfield many years ago, and is no longer in production. If anyone knows of someone else who produces a "Fort Apache"-style fort for 25mm, I'd love to hear about it!)

Ertl Western Cowtown, Longhorn Ranch, and assorted barns, etc. Available in department and toy stores (sets with one BIG building or several good-sized buildings are typically $25-$30). These plastic buildings are remarkably well-suited for 28mm figures, and are relatively well-detailed and inexpensive. Some of the accessories they come with can be used as well (e.g., cattle). They have lift-off roofs, and some even have semi-detailed interiors. However, some of these interiors are amusing -- a staircase leading to a balcony that leads nowhere, and a jail cell with a back door(!) These paint up pretty well (Stephen Lawrence had some at Little Wars that looked very nice). They were favorably reviewed by Mr. Lawrence in MWAN 84.

Frontline Wargaming, manufactured in England; available in the U.S. from RLBPS (see Raventhorpe Miniatures for address). These are 25mm resin Wild West buildings and accessories (e.g., furniture, graves, horse troughs, derelict wagon, and a mine entrance). Buildings start at around $12; accessories start at around $3. Some of these (e.g., the graves and mine entrance) are closer to "true" 25mm scale; others are fine for 28mm (e.g., much of the furniture; the trough). Detail varies. These were favorably reviewed by Hal Thinglum in MWAN #88.

H.G. Walls, 3026 Springbrook Drive, South Bend, IN, 46614 (219-299-0352). H.G. offers 25mm Old West building kits from about $25-$40. Some accessories are also available (e.g., signs). These take awhile to finish, but are gorgeous -- among the best looking Old West buildings available, in my opinion. They are suitable for 25-28mm figures.

Historical Pursuits, P.O. Box 9462, Fayetteville, NC, 28311 (910-822-1813). These folks make 25mm resin buildings; they do not have interiors, but are extremely well done. Some of the Civil War buildings (e.g., outhouses) are perfect for the Old West. These buildings are reviewed by Curt Murff in MWAN 89. They are suitable for 25mm-28mm figures.

Howard Whitehouse, 312 Ridgecrest, LaFayette, GA, 30728. Howard advertises a variety of scratch-built accessories for the old west, including a Mexican hacienda, a gold mine, and rock formations (price about $25 and up). I saw some of his terrain at a convention, and it looked great!

Kibri, HO scale buildings available from train shops (actually, I haven't seen them in our local shop for awhile -- they could be out of business). This is an extensive line of Old West buildings which are perfect for 20mm figures, and suitable for 15mm figures. They are traditional plastic model kits, and look excellent when finished and painted.

London War Room, 41 Beverly Hills Loop, Petal, MS, 39465. While I have not seen their work, they advertise 25mm buildings including Western stores, a saloon, and others ($50 and up). These buildings are described as accessible and playable.

Musket Miniatures, P.O. Box 1976, Broomfield, CO, 80038-1976 (303-439-9336). Send $2 for catalog. Musket makes 15mm American Civil War and Old West resin and metal buildings and accessories, including wagons and cacti. These are very nicely done, with excellent detail. They work very well with 15mm figures.

Pass of the North (see figures for address) offers 25mm scale cacti -- saguaro, barrel, and prickly pear. These are available finished for $2-$8, and are described as "the hit of Historicon".

Peter Pig (see address under miniatures). In addition to their figure line, Peter Pig makes an extensive line of buildings and accessories in 15mm scale. The buildings are relatively well detailed (no interiors); accessories are very extensive, and include a train. They work very well with 15mm figures.

Signifier, 2001 E. Lohman, Suite 149, Las Cruces, NM, 88001 (505-525-2378). Signifier offers 15mm and 25mm scale flags, including U.S. cavalry, Custer, and Buffalo Soldiers flags. Send an SASE for a listing, or $3 for a catalog. These are excellent flags, with brilliant colors, and to my knowledge are the only flags available specifically for this period. Hal Thinglum reviews Signifier flags in MWAN 91, and states that they are "highly recommended"; I agree.

Snapdragon Studios, 3, Norleaze, Heywood, N. Westbury, Wiltshire, BA13, 4LQ, UK. They offer 25mm resin Wild West building facades. They were reviewed by David Barnes in MWAN 83; while I have not seen them, they sound very nice.

Tactical Conflict Systems, 545 Newport Drive, Suite 155, Pawtucket, RI, 02861 (401-437-9820). Send $1 for catalog. This is a very extensive line of 25mm Old West buildings and accessories made of hard plaster (I believe) and metal. There is a variety of buildings to choose from (including a Cowtown series and a saloon). The buildings are well-detailed, with open interiors for the most part. You can add windows, staircases and other details; in fact, many of the buildings are modular, and you can combine different pieces to make a customized town. They take awhile to assemble and finish, but look great! The accessories include fences and outhouses. Price range is about $4 to $50. Favorably reviewed by Hal Thinglum in MWAN #86 and #91. They work well with 25-28mm figures.

Wild Walls, available from hobby shops; manufactured by Sci-Fi Supply (address unknown). These are 25mm scale thin plastic building kits. A barn, jail, log cabin, and saloon are available. These are relatively well-detailed and inexpensive, but require a fair amount of work (including cutting out the parts of the building) to finish, and will blow away in a stiff breeze. Still, they look good when finished!

A Note on Trains

There are several train sets that can be used to add a nice touch to a game, or even help you recreate a train robbery! HO scale trains work very well with 20mm figures, and (in my opinion) work well with 15's as well. The "Old Timer" by Bachman is a very nice HO scale train. O scale trains fit perfectly with 28mm figures, though they are hard to find (and expensive) for this period. A couple of Lionel 4-4-0 engines, the General and the engine from the Virginia and Truckee 1988 Service Station Set, are ideal, and can still be found at train shows; there are also train cars from Lionel that are suitable. Since these are too pricey for many gamers who are not also railroad enthusiasts, a cheap alternative is the battery powered trains that come out in droves around Christmas; but can often be found at Toys-R-Us throughout the year. While these are a bit large even for 28mm, and may not be the most realistic, they can work quite nicely, and typically cost around $25-$30 (less in after Christmas sales).

Old West Part Two: the Rules