In the '51 flood the river got mean.
The levee broke in a town downstream.
Up on our levee where the county lines meet
caught a couple of their boys with some TNT.
Inspiration for wargames scenario can come in any form. The Lion's Den club name comes from a song by the rock band Rainmakers! It is no surprise that the other day I was listening to the Rainmakers and heard the song "We Walk the Levee." I couldn't help picture in my imagination the actions depicted in the song. It describes a battle between Missouri citizens defending their lives and property from spiteful neighbors. To me it is really moving because of the threat to killing family on either side of the conflict. It rings of Civil War tensions.
I decided to create a western gunfight scenario surrounding the storyline of this song. Here is the setting: Missouri 1872. Two river towns are affected by heavy spring rains. In Norburne, Missouri the levee is at capacity and the rain continues. Unfortunately for Carrollton, Missouri their levee hasn't held and the town is flooding. Understandably upset by the loss of property and livelihood come of the unsavory townsfolk are seeking to even the playing field (or Cornfield) with their smug neighbors over in Norburne. The Carrollton motive is to dynamite the Norburne levee at a weak point and flood Norburne's town and fields. The Norburne townsfolk are not about to let this weird brand of vigilante justice be perpetrated on their fair township.
It is a moonlit, Missouri river town midnight. Armed men patrol the Norburne levee. They are disgusted with the evil that has rained down on this Missouri river valley. The unthinkable act of destruction and vengeance their Carrollton neighbors have broached weighs heavy on their conscience. "Hell!, I've got kinfolk in Carrollton I should be helpin', not keepin' 'em in the sights of my deer rifle." You spit a chew of tobacco juice into the puddle near the lantern at your feet. From the Carrollton County Line you see a flash from a lantern light and hear the approach of a band of men.
"the mud and the guilt and the gun get
heavy
we do what we gotta we walk the
levee."
Game Master Section
1870's Western Gunfight era rules will work well for this encounter.
Setting: Tree lined cornfields and light woods near a river levee.
Time: Night. 10:00 PM - 12:00 AM. There is moonlight and rain.
Visibility: 24 yards= see movement.
12 yards=communicate
at a yell. (Recognize.)
6 yards= visual recognition.
Norburne: Protect the levee from destruction. Five or more men on guard. #1 will be the leader. #4 & #5 will be related to each other as brothers. Allow players to create character names and then dice for leader and the brothers on this side.
Carrollton: Dynamite the levee. Five players for this side also. #1 is leader. #2 is related to Norburne Leader as Brother- in-law. #4 and #5 are related as father and son.
The family ties between the combatants is a critical element in the scenario. Recognition should only occur at the prescribed distances above. Game masters should try to set up the guilt and ominous portent around killing a family relative. The Carrollton force can only dynamite the levee at a prescribed point (weak spot). It will take three turns to accomplish the destruction.
Turn One: Set explosive charge.(Only
action allowed.)
Turn Two: Ignite Charge (Only action.
Will probably need lantern.)
Turn Three: during this turn sequence
the dynamite will randomly discharge during
determining player sequence. It will have a 6'
burst area.
Guernsey Foundry 25mm Gunfighters
Bryan Ansell has sent out a preproduction set of gunfight rules. lion's Den Wargames has a copy for playtest purposes. "The Rules With No Name," are billed as a beer and pretzels skill level. The turn sequence is card driven and the weapons system works on a 1D6, sixes hit. More or less die are thrown based on weapon and modifiers. The rules will be given a proper write up after the May 2 playtest sessions begin. Right now it's poorin' rain and it is my watch on the levee.
And bloods thicker than water
But
thin and cold in the flood
The mud and the guilt
and the gun get heavy
We do what we gotta
We walk the levee.
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