Don't Mess with Steam Punk Femme Fatales

 Femme Fatales come in all shapes and sizes and those of the Steam Punk Era have their own form of deadliness.

Armor, firearms and a killer instinct are the hallmarks of Cassandra Drk'hart. (Privateer Press)

And who needs a firearm when you have a killer's eye with the blade as does the Baroness Natasha Shearpoint. (Pulp Figures)

Another affectionate believer in the use of blades is Anastasia Di Bray. (Privateer Press)

Verein Zoetekijken, on the other hand, trusts her beloved old...

belaying pin to make a sound impression. (Privateer Press)

Captain Sam (not Samantha d'mn you) Bogsdaughter prefers her solid Colt .44 revolver to make sure her commands are followed to the letter. (Pulp Figures)

Della Morte' also believes in her trusty six-shooter. (Pulp Figures)

Being a proper English Lady, Mrs. Elizabet R. Gates would never use any pistol that wasn't a Webly .455. (GDW)

Being a prim and proper daughter of a Minister, Lady Eugene de Witton, keeps her pair of pocket pistols discreetly hidden in her handbag. (GDW)

While she prefers her two-handed sword, Verde Morty, can aways rely on her two ivory handled pistols to settle any distasteful disagreement. (Malifaux)

Sonia Criid also prefers a sword, but hers is a burning blade, using secret petroleum distillates of her own design, to cut through any "red-tape." (Malifaux) 

Whereas the "Sea Witch" relies on "good old fashion Arcane Magics" to power her flame sword. (Monolith)

Chains and sword are a fine combination according to Arlymn Lytdncer, especially if you need to disarm/disable rather than eliminate your opponent.

Adventuress Extraordinaire, Lady Augusta Elizabeth Shutfuzze, uses good fashion sense and a .445 round, to make her mark in the World (Foundry)

Another user of the powers of the Arcane, and a good bottle of "Vino" to power her way through the World is the fierce pit fighter Onna Mnn Wtcch. (GW)

The Widow Wisty Widshipp has spent her time removing "upstructions" with her "Victrola of Soul Rendering." (Monolith)

Marie Laveau, the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans. uses her powers for the good of her followers. (Monolith)

Baronne Menace Cachee aka "Monstrecalamar" has unfortunately delved a little too deeply into the weird "Majic's of the Arcane." (Monolith)

                                                  

Miss Ilene Addlaar knows the best way to take down an enemy is with massive firepower. And the smoke-flames & KABOOM scares the k..p out of everyone else! (Monolith)

Madelyn Corbeau, the Courtesan, uses more of her womanly powers, and a vast knowledge of poisons and love potions, to rule her niche of the World. (Privateer Press)

And finally...

Where one is dangerous a whole regiment, such as this squad of the Crown Princess Michelle's Hussars, is a force few would wish to face. (Hinderland Figures)

The Monolith pieces are plastic all the others are metal and have been painted by me this century.

Patrol Final Shots-Lessons Learned

What a mistake Tyr "the Scot," Mac Browny and Rudolf Hesdarmant made by advancing and not digging in as all three are wounded and pinned down by heavy fire. Worse still, aside from one light wound, they have yet to seriously hurt a single enemy soldier!

"Guten Gott," are Rudolf's last words as he is felled by a British bullet. Tyr and Mac are too busy ducking to morn the loss of their comrade.

Things are getting serious as both Ian Bakker Smuutts and Field Commandant Burkson are also hit by the increasingly incredible expert shooting of the British.  The Gods of War must truly be with the Imperials worries the Field Commandant as yet another volley of friendly fire fails to score a single serious hit!

Having braved the "unlucky" fire of the rebels, Captain Fenworth-Parksman and his forward fire team have closed to short range suffering only two light wounds between them.  A few more well aimed volleys should put paid to these misguided fools thinks the captain as he takes aim with his trusty .45 Webly.

"Damn, I told him we should bring the Lewis Gun!"cries out Sir Hallerly Misaloots III, after Ian Bakker Smuutts and Field Commandant Olaf Burkson are both dropped by the latest British volley.  The only positive has been the marksmanship of Lady Helga von Wurtenmasker, late Kapitän of the Crown Princess Michelle Hussars, as she drops Pvt. Carlson with a well placed shot between his eyes. (Just visible in the far upper right corner.)

Just like their commandant,Try and Mac are also felled by accurate British shooting. "Time to leave to fight another day," says Hans Brinkers as he heads towards a more friendly territory.

The rest of the rebels decide to follow suit, grabbing Ian and their fallen commander, they follow Hans to safer lands.  All that shooting and only one enemy dropped-the ammo was obviously rotten-words will be had with the quartermaster!

This was a fun game between Tom and myself as a quick battle to field test changes to my pulp battle rules.  He took a larger unit of regulars vs my smaller force of veterans. I really have to take him to Vegas as man can he roll hot dice.  Every round of fire he scored at least one hit, he made almost every save and passed the few morale rolls required while my dice were so bad I hardly ever hit-even figures in the open.  What a great time, lots of laughs and fast action.

The figures are all 28mm metal, and are from Renegade- British, Rudolf; Brigade- Hans, Sir Hallerly, Ian and the Field Commandant; Foundry- Mac, Tyr,  Lady Victoria Marksmaster (she missed every shot) Pulp and Hinderland-Lady Helga

DB Adventure 3-Rescue the Commissar

After his capture by the US Marines, Commissar Ivan Redngloy was transferred to the custody of the Imperial British Frontier Forces at the abandoned trade outpost of Massal. The small force (nine men one sgt. two officers) of veteran's under Captain Rudolf Hakmaster is waiting for a full platoon of IBFF reinforcements before they transport their prize back to brigade HQ.

Not expecting trouble, but believing in being prepared, Captain Hakmaster has positioned half his men on the parapets of the old trade companies stockade.

But the secret location of the commissar's imprisonment has leaked and a rescue attempt has been placed in the hands of Senior Commissar of Special Operations, Sonia Hartlis. Her main force is an elite detachment of eleven Red Guards under the leadership of Under Officer Mika Blunuse.

Addition support is supplied by a troop of nine mercenary German lancers, excellent fighters but of questionable loyalty if the situation goes South.

DB Adventure 3-Rescue the Commissar or Die Trying

The battle line is ready, one fire team of the Red Guards will take up a position in the ruins.

The rest of the Guards take a position behind the mercenary cavalry, both for protection and as "encouragement" for the troopers to earn their pay.

The battlefield, birds eye view.  British reinforcements are due via the river crossing soon, but will it be soon enough.

"Stand To!" "Enemy in sight." crys Lt. Mark Smithsbrother from the watch tower. Captain Hakmaster orders all men to the parapets and to fire at will.

First blood. (In an error of judgment the captain told his men to aim for the horses to reduce the speed of the advance which it did but horses don't shoot carbines.)

Excellent shooting has dropped all the horses but Commandant Grubemaker's. The loss of their mounts is disturbing but only two men have been lost. The remainder continue to advance while laying down a steady stream of firepower.   To the rear the Red Guards give supporting fire.

Pvt. Blodbottom is the first to fall to enemy bullets. While Lt. Smithsbrother is dropped by a horrible misfire from Pvt. Heckachers rifle. (A critical miss lead to the Lt's demise via a deadly ricochet.)

"Follow me men, you can't let a woman show us up" calls out Commandant Grubemaker as Senior Commissar of Special Operations, Sonia Hartlis runs past the dismounted troopers.

More good shooting drops the commandants steed and two more of his troopers.

Igor Borisganski is the first Red Guard to fall for the glory of the Mother Land.  How will the rest of his comrades respond?

OMG, who taught those blighters to shoot? Thinks Capt. Hakmaster as Pvts. Smithers, Jonesy, Ralphman an Sgt. Crutherson are all taken out in one all too deadly round of fire.  With a worried look the captain glances around at his depleted force, help is coming he knows, but will it arrive in time...(coming up the end game)

DB Adventure 3 Rescue Victory

Disaster for the for Captain Hakmaster and the soldiers of the IBFF, the excellent marksmanship of the Red Guards has dropped every member of the post except for Pvt. Makanon.

With the captain (and more importantly Sgt. Crutherson) down Makanon is on his own.

His duty seems clear, he must secure the prisoner, remove him from the post and search for the reinforcements before the Reds can succeed in their rescue attempt.

But the pvt. has waited too long, as the first of the foes, Commandant Grubemaker,  two of his troopers and Commissar of Special Operations, Sonia Hartlis have entered the post.  The latter is attempting to open the gate.

Outside the gate-the Red Guards are ready to fullfill their mission.

Seeing the enemy among the bodies of his fallen comrades, Pvt. Makanon is overcome by the moment and decides to take down his King Emperor's enemies rather than escape with his prisoner. (He passed his morale but failed his intelligence roll.)

Makamon was a brave man but a poor shot, especially when Ivan tried to knock the pvt. down, and the former is dropped by a hail of pistol and carbine shots.

Makanon is down and Ivan Redngloy is unscathed, his luck has held as the shots that dropped the private missed Ivan. Rescue is now at hand. Knowing of the soon to arrive British reinforcements, Ivan encourages a quick withdrawal, and the continuation of his mission to bring the secrets of the Dragon Bones (see DB Adventure) home to his KGB Masters.

Ivan Rednglory and the commander of his rescuers- Lance Cpl Thomas Wall.