Skirmish Rules for Indian Plains Wars 1860s to 1880s (ish)

[T13A]

Hi

I'm looking to do something a bit 'lighter' for my next wargaming project (lighter = fewer troops to buy and paint and rules that are not too 'intense') in the new year and am looking at the Indians Plains wars at skirmish level (with the option of cowboys etc). I was just wondering what rules people would recommend (that can be played solo as an option)? Also if anybody has tried out Peter Pigs, 'Hey! You in the Jail! ruleset, and what they thought of them?

Cheers Paul

[fulcrum]

This doesn't really answer your question, but Pony Wars (or B Troop ain't coming back) is a fun game.

You play the [Hollywood] Cavalry and have to deal with an increasing number of problems/obsticles/wagon trains/damsels etc etc whilst more and more Injuns get randomly generated.

The full game "requires" 600 Injuns but you can just use whatevery you have to hand....

I heard something about a pre-release Pony Wars 2 being played at Colours last year, but can't find anymore details.

As I said, it doesn't meet your Lighter = fewer figs requirement, but you're a wargamer and it won't be long order a few hundred extra figs.....

Regards

Lee

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Pony Wars - classic game!

[Shedman]

I would third Pony Wars especially for solo play - actually only for solo play - although it does use a lot of figures you can cut it down to a manageable size - I used bits of card to represent the troops

I have played Hey You in the Jail but in the wild west of 1916 Ireland rather than the American west. It's got some good ideas but I wouldn't recommend it for the Plains wars as it doesn't feel quite right splitting up forces.

Peter Pig's Patrols in the Sun (PITS) might be worth looking at as the basis for a Plains War variant

I've read Yellow Ribbon but never played - it usually gets good review but looks too detailed for me

FreeWargames Rules has qutie a few wild west at http://www.freewargamesrules.co.uk/19th-century.html

[nikharwood]

Legends of the Old West is a great skirmish system - taking the nicely subtle rules mechanics of LotR and combining them with the top-notch campaign system of Mordheim...great stuff 

[T13A]

Many thanks for all the help.

Cheers Paul