No painting today again, but I have completed a lot of reading.

These rules by Jonathan Hawthornwaite have been around for a long time and really did not interest me until I started playing “The Silver Bayonet”.

“The Twilight Order” – the ancient good guys.

It is 1875, and Count Dracula is President of the United States of America.

In the wake of the Civil War, with the country struggling to regain its balance, Dracula seized power. The Count’s thralls assassinated President Lincoln and his entire administration in a single night and, in the ensuing chaos, their master made his move. Dominating the Senate, he declared himself President-for-Life, and now rules the Union with fear and an iron fist. His vampiric progeny, the Coven of the Red Hand, infest every strata of society, and enforce Dracula’s will with ruthless efficiency.

“The Salem Sisterhood” – the misunderstood witches of Salem fighting evil!

Drawn by the shadows gathering across the nation, secretive cults and evil creatures emerge from their lairs to thrive in the darkness of the new regime. Fleeing from the oppression and menace of the East, hordes of pioneers head to the West, hoping for a new life.

The “Congregation” posse – kinda like Voodoo worshippers.

Dracula’s greed, however, knows no bounds, and his reach is long…

Dracula’s America: Shadows of the West is a skirmish game of gothic horror set in an alternate Old West. Secret wars rage across the country – from bustling boom-towns to the most remote wilderness – as cults and secret societies fight for power and survival. Players can throw their support behind one of these factions, and will lead a Posse in fast-paced, cinematic battles for dominance and survival.

“The Dark Confederates” – one of the many bad guy posses.

I was surprised to find that these were basically a set of “Wild West” rules that you could bolt on as little or as much of the “weird” as you want. For me there was a lot to like and not much I didn’t.

The activation as uncertainty which I like, but it gives you some control. You get One card for every two posse members, rounded up, and one for your leader. Each player chooses one card to play and then activation occurs in rank order, with black cards activating first. Players have the choice of using the card to activate one figure twice or two figures once. Figures can only be activated once each turn. This creates a very neat set of decision points which I like.

Most skirmish games have 360 degree line of site which adds simplicity but it is hard to sneak up on someone. Dracula’s America has a 180 degree vision making tactical surprise possible.

Like a lot of rules sets these days different quality troops use different dice which is another simple mechanism to enhance the odds in favour of better troops but never ruling out the roll of a one!

I have one of the supplement books with the other coming and these add enhanced rules, additional posses and more scenarios and campaigns.

As I said a lot to like!