High Plains Drifter Tabletop Game

Today on Little Wars TV we're going to Hollywood! Specifically, back to Clint Eastwood's 1973 classic, High Plains Drifter. He plays "the Stranger," a mysterious gunfighter hired to protect a mining town from the vengeance of three outlaws they sent to prison. But all is not as it appears in the town of Lago...
In our tabletop game, three players refight the climax of the film in 15mm scale featuring a custom-built set of Lago. All the buildings are painted blood red, just like the movie. Why? You'll have to watch High Plains Drifter to find out! The scenario on the table is a free-for-all, with each player claiming their own objectives based on characters in the film. And we're giving away the scenario rules, character cards, and everything you need to play this game at home! Our free scenario is called "Paint the Town Red." The rules used in the video are ALSO 100% free. Saddle up and deal out some vengeance in Lago at the link below:
www.littlewarstv.com/ruthless...
If you enjoy historical (& Hollywood) wargames, why not subscribe and leave us a comment? We read them all! Are there any other classic films you'd like to see on the tabletop?
Great Wargaming Survey
gws2023.paperform.co

[@DeePsix501]

I'm glad you guys could finally get Clint Eastwood to do a voice over. Long overdue!

[@LittleWarsTV]

He did this for free. Friend of show!

[@df344]

​@@LittleWarsTVhahaha, that's great. You guys always make my day

[@xeltanni8999]

@@df344 Sounds like you got lucky, punk.

[@matthewtanner5127]

you mean Vincent Price

[@ErichChaves]

Best wargame content on KZbin. Kudos to you Little Wars 👏🙌

[@LittleWarsTV]

Wow, thanks!

[@davehopkin9502]

Move sequence: Player A stares at player B Player B stares Back Player A stares and spits tobacco juice Player B sweats Player A squints and stares Player B sweats and wipes his brow Player A Adjusts Poncho Player B sneers nerviously Shooting phase.... :)

[@markthompson9870]

loved the commentary...... dying ain't much of a livin' boy.

[@LittleWarsTV]

So many great Eastwood one liners to use!

[@KhanUlric]

I saw the thumbnail and I was skeptical, but you won me over... Game system is solid, quick, and intuitive.

[@LittleWarsTV]

And free! We are big fans

[@DiggerDownunderWargaming]

Blood in the streets would do nothing but compliment that town's decor. Great fun game.

[@dandepalma9305]

Very entertaining. "Dyin' ain't much of a livin', boy" and You gonna play this game (pull them pistols) or whistle Dixie" are both quotes from The Outlaw Josie Wales and "We all have it comin', kid" is from The Unforgiven. Would have liked to see the mechanism for the Stranger get him into play more.

[@LittleWarsTV]

We were pretty liberal with our Eastwood quotes! You clearly know your Clint movies. The Stranger appeared in about half of the turns (which is by design in the scenario). He appears, disappears, and is not predictable. We felt that very much played into the film, where the townsfolk THOUGHT they could count on him. Don't want to spoil the twist ending for anyone who hasn't seen it. The movie is awesome.

[@Lewtube18]

Excellent video as usual! Absolutely! Loved the Ronald Reagan voiceover.

[@LittleWarsTV]

We thought the guest voice actor would be a fun Hollywood touch!

[@travislogan1482]

I liked the Tombstone game and this is interesting. I can see a 'For a Few Dollars More' game begging to be played.

[@tinywargamer3863]

The amount of fun those guys are having during the game is INSANE!!!! I mean look at all of the "body language"😁

[@kevinswanson7247]

Looks like great fun. Our group played this scenario as well. Don’t remember who won, but I remember it was a blast.

[@redmist1122]

HELL YEAAH! The best western game rules - hands down - in the west my friends. We play these about monthly amongst other game periods. I'm really happy you guys came back to a video on the rules and a cool scenario to boot. We played this scenario a few months back, and I think it was about the same results of the baddies with the most VPs. There are many western rules out there and a recent one from the Lardies, but they all are too complex for a fun adventure IMHO. Trust me, I'm a Lardie fan...but, I really enjoy these rules for all things western, and would subscribe to anyone on the fence to playing them is to give them a try. They're free too! Looking forward to more Ruthless videos? Take care.

[@winstonjohnson455]

I downloaded the Ruthless gunfighter rules about month ago, but have yet to play my first game, as I've been busy scratch building the buildings and assembling/painting the figures. I've come up with a really cool way to keep track of each character's stats. I've cut a pine 3/4" pine board into 4" x 8" pieces, then cut the piece into the shape of an old west coffin lid. At the top there's a place for the character's name and toughness rating, below that a place for traits, below that holes are drilled for 22 caliber and 32 caliber shell casings to keep track of ammo supply and below that four 3/4" holes for the LEG, ARM, CHEST and CRITICAL wounds (I'll use small diameter poker chips to keep track of the wounds). Hopefully I'll be ready to play our first game in another week or two. Here's a link to pictures of my 'Coffin Lid' Stats Tracker panel for use while playing RUTHLESS gunslinger rules: i.postimg.cc/QdSNmgyr/IMG-0488.jpg and: i.postimg.cc/HkkTPc5D/IMG-0500.jpg

[@jamesmcfeters4930]

Ruthless. Warriors episode 5 (season 1)..A MUST SEE.. Make it happen!!!... Cheers to you lads!!..

[@BillsHistoricSites-ip3su]

Once again you all outdid yourselves!

[@christopherhunt1957]

What a fun video! I fell in love with Ruthless when I saw your Tombstone campaign a couple of years ago. I immediately recognized the potential of countless westerns to produce just as many scenarios. Thanks for creating this one.

[@LittleWarsTV]

We can take credit for the scenario, but Mark Fastoso and Brian DeWittt get all the credit for writing the rules!

[@JohnWise-vg3zj]

Another great video. Great job on the buildings and figures!

[@dougearnest7590]

"When in doubt, make a Western." John Ford

[@braunx25]

Great fun! Please do another game of like this.

[@jeremybain3830]

If you've never heard of or seen it before, The Sacketts is a made for TV western film that features a great gunfight during the last 20 to 30 minutes of it. Could make for another rootinest tootinest shootout tabletop battle yet!

[@Nigel296]

Well you clearly enjoyed reliving your 9 year old selves and playground gunfights. Lovely to see. Great video. Oh and thanks for putting Knob Creek on the table, something for all us Brits to snigger childishly at.

[@LittleWarsTV]

It’s just impossible to play a Wild West game and not have a great time.

[@Nigel296]

I’m sure you all got even more American as the game went on. Yee haaa

[@chiproush7480]

I enjoy the variety on this channel--and I truly loved all the one-liners that this particular setting allowed. Keep up the good work, LWTV

[@LittleWarsTV]

Thanks, Chip! We love bouncing around to different eras of history. We'll be going waaaay back in time for the next battle!

[@BradenWoj]

Love the green screen shots you added into your videos. Can’t wait to see you all do with this in bigger more epic games. Another great video!

[@LittleWarsTV]

Bigger and better coming right up!

[@winstonjohnson455]

I downloaded the Ruthless gunfighter rules about month ago, but have yet to play my first game, as I've been busy scratch building the buildings and assembling/painting the figures. I've come up with a really cool way to keep track of each character's stats. I've cut a pine 3/4" pine board into 4" x 8" pieces, then cut the piece into the shape of an old west coffin lid. At the top there's a place for the character's name and toughness rating, below that a place for traits, below that holes are drilled for 22 caliber and 32 caliber shell casings to keep track of ammo supply and below that four 3/4" holes for the LEG, ARM, CHEST and CRITICAL wounds (I'll use small diameter poker chips to keep track of the wounds). Hopefully I'll be ready to play our first game in another week or two. Here's a link to pictures of my 'Coffin Lid' Stats Tracker panel for use while playing RUTHLESS gunslinger rules: i.postimg.cc/QdSNmgyr/IMG-0488.jpg and: i.postimg.cc/HkkTPc5D/IMG-0500.jpg

[@christophwolf663]

How fun! I’m always up for a shootout. Yeehaa!

[@MrFrateTrane]

"Hot Damn, I'm going to declare a holiday"!

[@j.b.macadam6516]

Thanks guys! Well Done! One of my favorite Westerns! Another wicked scenario would be the final gunfight in 'The Wild Bunch', Gatling gun and all!

[@Anvilarm07]

That looked like a lot of fun. Well done.

[@LittleWarsTV]

Thanks! We had a grand time. Give it a shot at home sometime! It’s all free rules and scenario materials and the game is quite fast.

[@haroldmorgan7381]

Our Wetpowder group in KC did a rather unique Western Gunfight battle " Indian Attack on Miner's Gulch " where various miners and women were attacked while mining along a creek by Indians with bows and arrows (there were no buildings to hide in or behind) - the rules were "The Rules with No Name" the indians were on the high wooded hills so were in "cover" while the miners were pretty much in the open but the miners had guns ! After the initial attack the miners gathered around a "wagon" and the miners "guns" were supertor weapons in range and effect !! Because the indians were up in the wooded hills they couldn't move fast and concentratetheir "bow fire" and miners could - after about5-6 rounds the miners drove the indians back !!!

[@Greg-mo7yd]

I've been on a year long binge of Westerns and Old West history. I might have to try to write a scenario, eother from film or fact. Mice work!

[@rustybuttshoe6312]

I love it when I think "did little wars post anything lately?" And it turns out they did this morning lol

[@LittleWarsTV]

Every Tuesday is a safe bet!

[@markhenderson6389]

Love to see how much you enjoyed this scenario! Lots of roleplaying fun to go along with the strategic gameplay. Also appreciate the fantastic table - and thanks for the survey reminder!

[@MrMegamike2k]

You *HAVE* to do The Outlaw Josey Wales!! Edit: the homestead shoot out.

[@markhenderson6389]

Fantastic idea! "True Grit" would be another good one!

[@leedsu82]

The narration on this is just f-in fantastic. This one was a pleasant surprise and very enjoyablw gentlemen.

[@charlierichardson613]

That was fun! Next up, the Blazing Saddles war game. Nobody dies from a gun shot, just clever puns…

[@LittleWarsTV]

Sigh…Blazing Saddles is so brilliant. That movie could never ever be made today. That would be cancelled immediately

[@ogremark5]

Next time do the Clint Eastwood / Lee Marvin classic, Paint Your Wagon.

[@mikestevanovic5000]

Looks like a fistful of fun👍😊

[@sargeian2]

Can’t believe y’all actually got Clint Eastwood to narrate. Well done.

[@LittleWarsTV]

We went back in time and got "young Eastwood" to narrate!

[@izrador2264]

Awesome video, simply great

[@davidnemoseck9007]

Nice game. Enjoyed watching it.

[@mattygee37]

That looks really fun, need to get myself some small scale western miniatures.

[@billmasters385]

For a cardboard tabletop, I thought it looked pretty cool. A shout out to Little Wars set design!

[@oldschoolfrp2326]

Great creepy effect with the red buildings; I’ve been working my way through some classic westerns but haven’t got to this one yet

[@LittleWarsTV]

Oh you’re in for a treat. High Plains Drifter is amazing. In my personal Top 5 for best western

[@markhenderson6389]

Also highly recommend Peckinpah's "Ride the High Country" - both that movie and his masterpiece "The Wild Bunch" could serve as inspiration for some great Western wargame scenarios!

[@ItsDrMcQuack]

This game looks like a blast!

[@peteenglish8773]

Great video, like your drink choices, came across as a fun unpredictable game. Only negative, the soft slow whisper voice made me feel like I was getting “sweet talked”.

[@martinevans9757]

You can't kill Dave Drake! He's got to write "Hammer's Slammers"!

[@Sebman_Social]

My Favorite wargame content on the whole of youtube

[@LittleWarsTV]

High praise! Thank you!!

[@andrewtodd5919]

Was rooting for Greg. Was fun to watch

[@unaiestanconapelaez2526]

A amazing idea

[@WargamesTonight]

That was so much fun to watch! Plus it was a a good enough story to keep me in suspense until the end. Well done! Side Question: which do you recommend I try first? Pikesville Rye or Knob Creek 9 Year? I have enjoyed Irish Whiskey in the past but haven't had a chance to experience other types.

[@LittleWarsTV]

Love Pikesville Rye personally, but not everyone is a rye fan. Knob Creek is a safer choice, and always a crowd pleaser!

[@GrumblingGrognard]

He plays the "Low Blow" and "Beat The Stranger off" @12:15 lol

[@LittleWarsTV]

You just can’t script that kind of comedy

[@johnryankilker4174]

I really wish “High Plains Drifter” was streaming somewhere right now @netflix 👀

[@darrylhilbig6459]

That why I buy DVD/Blueray discs. I get to watch it when I want and I don't burn any data to do it.

[@blnematode1267]

approves of this gunfight 👍

[@duffymakowski5400]

Nice battle report!🍻 "Hotel Owner" should be a nice new expletive for your group.👍 Will "Paint Your Wagon" inspire a sequel? It seems to me that these rules might be good a game based on the Dalton Gang's Coffeyville robberies.🤔

[@mrgunn2726]

The man with no name.... Do you feel lucky...well do ya' punk?!

[@anathardayaldar]

I just realized the narrator is trying to imitate Clint Eastwood.

[@LittleWarsTV]

Haha yes he is. A young Eastwood, as in the 1970s when the movie was made.

[@kirishima2370]

I'm straighter than a cowboy's route to the saloon following a 1000 mile cattle drive, but I found that narration voice to be the sexiest darn smooth talking I ever did hear.

[@ericloken7445]

SPOILER FOR THE MOVIE ENDING: Well in the movie the outlaws won as well, The Stranger stayed out of the entire fight and the outlaws killed all the town's defenders, and set several buildings on fire. Then The Stranger showed up to kill the outlaws, one by one. I doubt the fight would end here, and so while the details may be different, the game didn't end much different than the movie.

[@dougearnest7590]

I hope someone runs a "Back to the Future" game at MillenniumCon in Texas next year.

[@thomaswilliams5005]

Ahh Knob Creek, I see you have good taste in whiskey

[@LittleWarsTV]

We do occasionally like to play tabletop games in our drinking club!

[@jeromyfisher297]

Great game with a lot of twists and turns! What scale are your cowboys?

[@LittleWarsTV]

We have Wild West in 28mm and 15mm. This game was all Blue Moon 15mm

[@kevlarburrito6693]

Uh... where's the link for the survey? The only one I see in the description is for downloading rules

[@LittleWarsTV]

gws2023.paperform.co

[@EmmanuelKa]

"He beats the stranger off"

[@reglavcor]

I HATE Westerns, but this was a cool video. Great to see Zack back!

[@andreleclerc7231]

Greed doomed the citizens...

[@sample2681]

You guys should do the battle of Bosworth field or any of the major battles in the war of the roses

[@LittleWarsTV]

Challenge accepted.

[@sample2681]

@@LittleWarsTVand if I can be so bold as to suggest another thing, after the Napoleonic war campaign, perhaps you can do the hundred years war to really up the scales. Patrons can choose if they want to side with the French or English. Two of you guys can become the kings and the others can represent the generals/court of each side. Perhaps somebody can represent the pope/church and the patrons can vote to either try and stop the conflict or intervene militarily. I think this would be really cool and fun to see.

[@t82mazelis95]

yes more wild west wargaming and a can't wait for the Napoleonic campaign

[@anathardayaldar]

Something I never understood about the wild west duel is why do they wait to draw their guns? Drawing first seems to give such an advantage. Why not draw your gun as soon as you are able?

[@Greg-mo7yd]

Those high noon on Main Street duels are a Hollywood creation.

[@rexxprogamer1715]

is this also available in germany because i'm from germany and your content is great keep it up my favorite episode was the vietnam episode

[@LittleWarsTV]

Thanks! That’s great to hear!

[@Geeko170]

Where are these minis from?

[@LittleWarsTV]

These are all Blue Moon 15mm from Old Glory

[@moose0081]

The Ronald Reagan narration has me 💀💀💀

[@MercantilismEnjoyer911]

The all bleeps episode 😅

[@scootergsp]

So, I've never seen the movie... Your introduction had me puzzled: why are the townsfolk so scared of THREE dudes (regardless of their murderous status)? This is the Old West. Everyone should have guns and the sheer volume of fire the townsfolk could bring to bear if they were to simply assemble for the confrontation against the outlaws would seem to make the entire situation over with pretty quickly? 🤔

[@LittleWarsTV]

A fair question. In the film, the townsfolk have no training with weapons and are cowardly. This is why they hired a mercenary to defend them (Eastwood's character). In our scenario, the townsfolk are rated quite poorly with stats. They have bad Toughness ratings and many negative skills/traits. The outlaws are hardened villains and rated quite well. So the 3 of them are more than a match for the 8 citizen characters in game balance terms.

[@markhenderson6389]

Eastwood's "Unforgiven" poses the same question. IIRC, the bounty hunter Will Munny kills 6 gunmen in the saloon, then explains his strategy as a gunslinger. It's about more than your skill with a pistol.

[@GavinTheEnchantedHunchback]

I wondered the same thing, having not seen the movie. I watched this, then the film. Absolutely not what I expected, and an amazing ending. This scenario nailed the selfish, backstabbing, cravenly townsfolk and the mysterious motivations of The Stranger.

[@rbrentw]

Link to survey? I only see the link to the ruthless rules.

[@dalehurtt4586]

Google “wss great wargaming survey”.

[@LittleWarsTV]

gws2023.paperform.co

[@JLee7329]

There's no link to the survey.

[@LittleWarsTV]

gws2023.paperform.co

[@mmcb2910]

It sure does seem to me that Keith just can't seem to keep his characters alive, no matter the period or th' ruleset!

[@IronIvanKeith]

Seriously! It always happens but I try to make their deaths heroic, or at least dramatic or funny...

[@mmcb2910]

@@IronIvanKeith And you very much succeeded! Your performance at Marengo was one of my favorite Little Wars stories ever . . . Though I was also rooting for the Austrians.

[@gsigs]

Now, do "Joe Kidd" or I'll tell you to do "Joe Kidd" again!

[@hamsteronthepaintingtable6465]

Rooting tooting hoot of a game 😂

[@TSimo113]

Where is the little midget and the women?

[@LittleWarsTV]

There are scenario rules for the Strangers sidekick!

[@GavinTheEnchantedHunchback]

Under the porch, and hiding in either the partly dismantled barn or the remaining unexploded room in the hotel :D

[@robkoper841]

OK, the crinnnge at 0:40 and 15:22 Josey Wales and the Drifter are not the same person. Git yer quotes right! "....when you exploit a man's favorite movie IP, You Better Look At Him....!" (don't go for that unloaded gun)