It was a foggy in St. Louis Town for our Second Day of our 2025 Reindeer Wars Celebration of Gaming held at Game Nite. This exciting episode saw Patrick Connaughton spin a tale of adventure and intrigue in the steamy rainforest somewhere in the 1930s. Rules for the day were “Pulp Alley”.
Each of our players (Nate R. Rachel R.Mark J and Eddie M) took on the role of leading a team of adventurers out to secure the lost golden treasure. They could operate independently, cooperate or take advantage of the situation and pull a fast one on their opponents. Goal was to find the treasure and make good your escape before things became increasingly more complicated.
Hey! Wait a minute, what’s a snow man doing in the jungle? One of the first clues to our teams that all was not as it appeared in this steamy rain forrest.
Patrick had some stunning terrain for the players to enjoy. Several passersby were very impressed and stopped to ask questions.
The game initiative system is rather unique in that one of the players will act as the director until they fail a dice roll. The director of the scene decides who will move. In this case Director Rachel had Mark’s “Devil Ping” move and this led to some unintended consequences and wild adventures at the portal.
And there are the unintended consequences…. “Bugs, Mr. Rico! Zillions of ’em.”
And Bugs…
The battle came down to trying grab the tow gold pieces, fight the bugs and each other. As the chance for great wealth had to be balanced with survival.
Late in the game with half the treasure still near the temple ruins after several battles between Eddie, Nate and Rachel and Bug emerging from all corners the escape route was held by Mark and his Tong Boys. The freighter Captain who was hired by one of the players gave orders to the Engineer to get up steam. Sounding the ship’s horn loudly enough that the Bugs were drawn in its direction.
The players that were close enough to the freighter and crew ashore to make contact were rolling on their fineness attributes making entreaties to the Captain to take them aboard.
The Tong Boys led by Devil Ping and Chopper form a firing line to hold off the approaching Bugs…(they might have had some plucking of the gold pieces as the players past by in mind as well, but we will never tell…)
As we came to the end of the game day, it was concluded that the players would likely achieve a marginal victory with one of the gold pieces taken aboard the ship. Some of the characters would likely be ending their career here holding off the increasing number of Bugs that were appearing.
Lots of fun throughout the game with the many twists and turns. The changing directors created changing priorities between the players and how they saw the best way to achieve their objectives.
Thanks to Patrick for offering up this fun afternoon of gaming and to the players that filled the roles leading their teams on the table top.
Thanks also to the fine folks at Game Nite for their continued support of Big Muddy Historical Gaming Alliance – St. Louis and the Gaming Community.
