Components
8x8 Checker or Chess Board
15 Cowboys or U.S. Calvary, circa 1800s (10 to 15 mounted on horseback)
15 Indians (5 to 10 mounted on horseback)
2 Six-Sided Dice
You can print this 8x8 game board (PDF) with black and white squares, this one (PDF) with gray and white squares, or this one (PDF) with blue and white squares.
Overview
This game is designed to utilize those plastic cowboy and Indians lying around your house and put them to use in an entry-level wargame.
Goal
Capture your opponent's Fort or Village.
Setup
Place the 8x8 grid between the two players. The two middle spaces on the back row should be designated your Fort or Village (depending on which side you play).
Note: It's really nice if you use construction paper and build a rectangle (decorated as a fort, if you feel creative) large enough to cover the designated space, and two teepees.
Each player rolls a die. The higher roll begins setup first. Players alternate placing their game pieces on the back row (no more than three pieces to a square), closest to them (excluding the two fort/village squares) until all pieces are setup.
Game Play
The object of the game is to cross the field and take the opposing player's fort/village. Both players roll a die, high roll goes first. Turns are made in sequence.
The first player moves 5 pieces.
Infantry, those not on horseback, move one square.
Calvary, those on horseback, can move up to two squares or move one square then attack an opposing piece (This results in a +1 charging bonus for calvary units only).
All moves must be made forward, backward or sideways. Diagonal moves are not allowed.
Play then passes to the opposing player.
Players work their way across the board until they are able to attack the Fort or Village of the opposing player. The Fort or Village does not have to be "defeated" -- just moving a playing piece into either square wins the game.
Combat
Attacks can be made from the front, the back and/or the side. Attacks can be made from more than one side (i.e. a piece may be attacked from four sides at once). The attacker states which piece/pieces are attacking and which piece/pieces are being attacked. Both players roll a die and the higher roll wins.
For example: If the attacking player has two calvary and one infantry unit on one square and is attacking an opposing square with two calvary on it, the attack can be broken up into two battles (due to there being two defending units). Two of the attacker's units can be used to attack one of the defending units and the third can attack the other one.
Winning the Game
The game is won by either defeating all opposing pieces or moving into the opposing player's Fort or Village.
Variants
Any number of pieces may be used as long as agreed to by both players.
The game was designed with more horses for the calvary, as Indians did not start using horses until the white man came.
To offset the charging bonus for mounted units and the greater number of mounted units on the cowboys side, the Indian player may use a +1 bonus for his infantry units when attacking another unit on foot. A fierceness bonus.
Units on horseback may take two defeats, if desired. Showing him as unhorsed with the first defeat, then allowing him to fight hand to hand.
Cowboys and Indians is © 2001 Todd Goff.
