Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

There is a thread in the N&R section about the ongoing KS to fund publishing the F&F rulebook, featuring Bob Murch's awesome 28mm Woodland Indians. This thread is to discuss the game itself, designed by Howard Whitehouse (of Pulp Action Library) and Roderick Robertson.

Something about 16th - 17th-century North America really strikes a chord with me and I'm grateful for the growing amount of models available for the French & Indian War, King Philip's War, etc. Clearly, I'm not the only one fascinated by this place and time! I first saw F&F at Historicon last July. I didn't get a demo or chat with Mr. Whitehouse, the gentleman manning the F&F booth, because he was busy literally every time I walked by - and that should give you an idea of how this game stood out even considering there was so much to peruse in the dealer hall. Mr. Murch's great sculpts and the awesome demo board looked fantastic but what really grabbed my attention, upon closer inspection, was the lack of Europeans.

So far as I know, Woodland Indians have heretofore figured into miniatures wargaming largely as supporting cast or antagonists in the story of European conquest. F&F takes the radical step of focusing on the native peoples themselves, with Europeans (to the extent any are even involved) sitting on the sidelines. The indigenous peoples of North America have all too often been cast in a passive role, for example as victims caught between "greater powers" in the Old World. It is more accurate to understand them as comprising New World powers, with their own perspectives and agenda. That's F&F orientation, first and foremost by focusing on the Pre-Contact Era.*

But it looks like F&F will incorporate a deeper level of emphasis on the non-European perspective, which I suspect could be polarizing among so-called historicals gamers. The game incorporates a mechanic called the Medicine Roll Initiative System that adds "interesting aspects of the Native American Indian mythology" to play. (It seems to initially have involved rolling on a table which has been replaced by a deck of cards.) The game will also feature a magic system and Mr. Murch is working on "spirit creature" models. According to the KS, these latter elements are optional so if you want something ... well, just to be honest, "western" you can play that way. I'm personally really excited to learn more about these aspects of the game, as I loathe the "one size fits all" approach to historicals wargaming, even in its subtler forms (e.g., re-skinning).

As for the rules: if you take a look at the relevant blog, you can read about some of the playtesting F&F has gone through in the last 10 months or so. I plan to write up a summary/overview of the playtest rules soon. FYI - I don't presently know to what extent that document takes into account the tests detailed on the blog.

* Mr. Murch has sculpted some figures with open hands and a sprue of muskets. Along with canoes and civilians, these are to be available as KS add-ons.

My brother has been making arrow heads, spear points and knives out of stone for years (knapping).
He is progressing further in "ancient technologies" and is quite intent to be rather exacting in their original execution.

I always wondered what the heck I could give him that could combine our interests: I think this is it.

He actually has taught native Indians knapping and is quite careful to show respect for past and present culture (he is more like a Grizzly Adams).
I am happy to see something that is not some glorified "Cowboys and Indians" and I may have a hope of portraying in miniature native ancestors with some accuracy (as much as can be had at this time).

Thanks for pointing this out, it was a missed opportunity: I had not paid much attention at Hotlead and I know they had it on display there.

From Mr. Murch via Lead-Adventure on May 8:

Monday or Tuesday this week the Flying Head, Naked Bear and Great Horned Serpent will be moulded. I want to have fully painted pictures for you by next weekend.

I want to post painted pics of the other offering we have lined up. Before the end of the KS you will see the First canoe from the canoe set, the open handed 5 fig set, some more accessories, 5 special release rewards and even the first Haudenosaunee warrior with musket.

And then there is the Stone Coat Giant that should be previewed before the end of the KS. He is pretty nice!

F&F is built for campaign play - so the first step is assembling your war band.

The principal member of your warband is you, the Great Warrior. Your close friends, called Companions, will join you to lead smaller groups within your warband. Great Warriors, Companions, and Veteran Warriors all have special abilities, some chosen and some randomly determined. Lesser characters without abilities round out your warband. Every character is defined by three stats: Furs, Combat Value, and Equipment points.

The Furs stat represents the standing of a warrior in terms of how much the Great Warrior will owe him for joining the warband. The warriors who fight with you expect to be rewarded with furs, the principle trade good in the regional economy. You start with a stockpile of furs but will need to obtain more through hunting, trading, and raiding. If you cannot reward those who join your war band, your reputation will suffer and warriors will be less willing to join you.

Combat Value ranges from 1 - 5 and only Great Warriors have CV 5. Unfortunately, the current playtest document is incomplete - even to the extent of not describing the basic combat resolution system. Based on reading the playtest blog, I gather that the basic turn structure is A moves - B reacts - A moves, then switch and that in order for a group of B's warriors to react to a group of A's warriors moving, B must roll under the highest CV in B's group. So having Companions (CV 4) "leading" your groups gives them a better chance of reacting to the opponent.

Warriors are mostly distinguished by their equipment. The more Equipment Points a warrior has, the more equipment he can carry. Everyone is armed with a small knife or tomahawk, which does not cost Equipment Points.

I'll post more when more becomes available!

I welcome these, even if just to get more good Native American sculpts available o the market and on the table!

Full playtest rules now available:

http://www.cruciblecrush.com/files/Flint%20and%20Feather%20Basic%20Rules%281%29.pdf