Warriors on Ice for Christmas

 We did this a few years ago, but it's nearly Christmas, so it seemed like a good idea to get out the old Three Musketeers on Ice game, inspired by the classic Dick Lester film (accept no imitations).

Most of my regular players have had a go at this game over the (probably) 25 years+ since I originally developed it. It was one of the first games where I did playing aids using my newly installed Desk Top Publisher, Serif's "Page Plus Home Edition". I thought it would be good to introduce our new American friend to it, but alas he had to drop out at the last minute. Probably a good thing, seeing the mess everyone else got into.

Players get a large musketeer model, and plot their course with a set of arrows as they negotiate their way across the ice to the concealed treasure on the rowing boat. They have a chance of a calamity (by rolling average dice - remember them?) and then random stuff happens, driven by cards:

When you fail your "walking roll" you get to draw a card. The top left tells you what happens. This may include a fall, a slide or a spin. In the case of the latter you draw another card and apply the lower right text. If it says "slide" you draw another and apply that until you get a stop card.

As it doesn't need a lot of space, I moved in doors from Shedquarters for the evening's game. Each player started from a corner of the dining table. Ian and Steve were a team, and so were Richard and Will. Ian went off at some speed (the maximum is 6) as did Steve. Richard was more tentative and Will was in between. At this point no one had drawn any weapons.

Ian's speed played him false, and he fell, knocking himself out on the ice for two turns. He dropped his pistol, too.

Whereas Richard's more careful approach meant...he only fell over.

Whilst Ian lay there dazed, the others carried on, Richard clambering to his feet. Steve has prudently drawn his rapier.

Richard may be back on his feet, but he just keeps spinning on the spot.

Steve slid into the side of the boat and fell over, as Richard, sword drawn, and Ian inched their way towards one another.

Will was in the boat, and a tense duel commenced. As the existing combat rules require players to roll dice into a box (see this post for details) I substituted the combat system from Dicing With Death, which uses concealed poker dice rolls. It's a good quick system for simple hand to hand combat, and can work for any period where swords are used.

Richard and Ian crossed swords.

 Ian was wounded, slipped, span, fell and slid backwards. In the boat, Steve drew first blood.

The fight was short but intense, with Will nicking Steve in the leg, but eventually succumbing to his wounds.

Richard slid past Ian, hacking at him, but received a wound for his troubles.

Ian then turned on him, and disposed of him quite quickly.

So, a comprehensive victory for Richard and Will. At some point in the game some pistols were fired, but I can't remember when.

Ian then signed off, as he had an early start in the morning. I took over his figure, and we ended up in a massed brawl around the boat, which Richard and Will won.

A couple of games in a couple of hours, with a lot of action. Warriors on Ice is a lot of fun, but it probably needs mince pies and a warm drink or some mulled wine to go with it to make it a classic.

That's me done for 2020, I think. Richard was talking about doing something next Tuesday, which I'll play in, but that's the last game I'm putting on. Unless I can squeeze something in one afternoon....