Misc. – Conquistadors, Irregular Wars, 28mm

For various reasons haven’t managed to play in a League of Gentleman Wargamers game for ages. So, I was delighted to take the ferry south and head to Kirriemuir for this game, set in the New World, in the  aftermath of the Spanish Conquest of the Aztecs and Incans. It was set on the Incan island of Desconocita, somewhere off Equadort, where the Incans had built the city of Chinchaya. Then, Aztecs fleeing the Spanish established themselves in the jungle at the southern end of the island, around the temple of Tezpoco.Two of the players (Steve and Peter McC.) played the part of Incan leaders, while two more (Dale and Kevin) were the Aztec arrivistes. Descending on the island were five boatloads of Spanish conquistadors (the followers of Bill, Charles, Campbell, Peter M. and myself). Chris and Donald were the umpires, although on Sunday Donald – briefly – played a more active part. On the eastern coast, Charles landed in the Aztec south, I loitered offshore, and Campbell headed up the narrow channel which divided the two halves of the island.Bill and Peter M. landed on the west coast, both opting for the northern Incan part of the coast. Needless to say the natives reacted quickly, and both Incans and Aztecs set aside their differences to expel the five rapacious conquistador bands.The first to set foot ashore was Charles. He headed along a path leading from the eastern coast to the Aztec temple. Long before he got there, though, he was set upon by Kevin’s Aztec warriors, who made short shrift of the Spanish crossbowmen who led the march. Then, just when victory was assured, Dale appeared, grabbed Charles’ s priest, and sacrificed him atop the temple. Anything to garner points… Charles (in white above) conducted a fighting retreat towards the beach, only top learn that someone had stolen his galleon! That treacherous someone was me. As I’d been staying aboard my ship, and I was meant to be a pirate, I seized Charles’ galleon after a hard fight. This wasn’t easy, as  Aztec war canoes appeared and boarded my ship. they were driven off though, after a bitter fight. By then the rest of the three conquistador groups had massed in front of the Incan city, and were pushing towards its gates. I quickly landed my men, and joined in the fight on the eastern flank of the Spanish line.

We soon learned, though, that the Incans were no pushover. Some of their warrior bands were ferocious and well-armed, causing an unseemly death toll among Campbell and Peter M’s Spaniards. We fought our way through to the gate, but were eventually pushed back. Around that point we ended the day’s gaming and went to the pub. For much of Sunday morning I was fightign nthrough the wood pictured above, on the eastern side of the Incan city. By then a newcomer had appeared, though, claiming to be the new Spanish Viceroy. 

I was willing to pplay nicely with Don Donald, but when he shot my men ion the back the conquistadors turned on him, and having cut him off from his men, I chopped his head off! That brought unity to the Conquistadors – although the main focus was now the Aztecs. They formed a line, but the wily Aztecs crept around its flanks and attacked the Conquistadors’ flanks. This took up the attention of four of the five conquistador factions, leaving me to battle on alone against the Incans. In the end the Conquistadors barely held on, and it was obvious we’d have to head back to out ships or die where we stood.  By then though, it was lunchtime, so the nine gamers and two and umpires decided to end it there.We tallied up the scores, but it was clear the Aztecs had won, but the Incans did well too. The Conquistadors were trounced, but of the five  factions I came out on top – largely for stealing a ship, killing the Viceroy and lots of Incans! I hadn’t played the rules before, and they were okay – albeit a bit finicky – but they certainly didn’t do us conquistadors any favours! Next time I’ll go to war with a wooden club, a jock strap and and a feather boa!

Tags: Irregular Wars