British Patrol Runs Gauntlet With Key Prisoner
A week later, the UK’s Kitch is back with a second Song of Drums and Tomahawks battle report. In this scenario, a British patrol has seized an Italian priest who they claim was spying for the French. They try to return him to the frontier inn while running the gauntlet of pursuing Indians and French marines.
Click on the photo above or the link here to read Kitch’s Dinah Cat of Danger blog.
Indians Rustle Cattle on the Frontier!
When First Command Wargames put out a call on the Lead Adventure Forum for playtesters to give scenarios that will appear in the upcoming Beaver Wars in Ohio supplement a run-through, Tom Gordon jumped at the chance. He took the “Horse Thieves!” scenario and converted it to match his Frontiersmen and Indian figures. Read about his nail-biter of a game which documents some cattle rustling on the Ohio Frontiere.
Click on the above photo or the link here to read Tom’s report on his Wandering View blog.
Battle at a Frontier Inn
Kitch, from the UK, got in his first game of Song of Drums and Tomahawks. A remote inn on the frontier — in an area that both the French and British claimed during the French & Indian War — is the scene of an epic struggle. Blood is spilled on the inn floor, mixing with the wine and ale stains already darkening the floorboards.
Click on the photo above or the link here to read Kitch’s report on his Dinah Cat of Danger blog.
Player’s First Test of Rules Goes Well
Jim Bradley from Norfolk, VA, had read about Song of Drums and Tomahawks and finally was able to get in his first playtest. Read his account on the Lead Adventure Forum of a clash between Frontiersmen and Huron Indians. The Huron are led by the ever-fearsome Magua!
Click on the photo above or the link here to read the account.
Beaver Wars Turn 8 Playtest
Turn 8 of the Beaver Wars in Ohio Campaign Rules and Scenario Book playtest separated the leaders from the challengers. The top two tribes in the Ohio Territory were challenged by numbers three and four, and the resulting battle may prove fatal to certain tribes’ bids to control the hunting and trapping in this land.
Click here or on the photo above to read Mike Demana’s Lead Legionaries blog and find out!
Tomahawks to Historicon 2016!
The authors of Song of Drums and Tomahawks made the 8-hour drive East to Historicon 2016 in Fredericksburg, VA. We were set up to run a 6-player event (Raid on the Ohio Frontier) four times. We could have filled many, many more slots — and were very pleased with the interest and nice comments from the players!
Click here or on the picture above to check out the photos and more on Mike Demana’s Lead Legionaries blog.
Beaver Wars Turn 7 playtest
As the second Beaver Wars playtest moves towards its final flurries, tribes are targetting the leading Neutrals and Shawnee. Would they be able to fight off the raids and stay taop the power struggle?
Click here or on the photo above to read Mike Demana’s Lead Legionaries blog and find out!
Drums at the Rapids 2016 AAR
Once again, we had lots of Song of Drums and Tomahawks action going on in the shadow of Fort Meigs’ reconstructed War of 1812 fort. Six players restaged an Indian raid on the Ohio frontier for both the Friday evening and Saturday mornings runnings of the event.
Click here or on the picture above to see lots of photos and explanation of the scenarios on Mike Demana’s Lead Legionaries blog.
Seminole Wars! - the Just Dice League’s event at Recon 2016
What better place to host a game of Song of Drums and Tomahawks covering the Seminole Wars than in a Florida convention? The “Just Dice League” did so successfully at Recon 2016. U.S. troops enter into the dangerous, swampy terrain of the Seminole tribe in this early 19th century action.
Click on the photo above or the link here to be taken to the Facebook album with pictures from their game.
Beaver Wars in Ohio playtest, Turn 6
Each turn of the Beaver Wars playtest has provided gripping battles as the tribes war for supremacy of the Ohio territory. In this battle, the author’s Erie tribe fights a second, “bonus” battle, neither of which goes well for them. Check out the turn report.
To read the article, click on the photo above or on the link here to Mike Demana’s Lead Legionaries page.
The Battle of the Canoes
The saga of the Raid on Fergusson’s Farm enters its 6th chapter. In this series of linked scenarios, our avid French player, Eric of the Ch’ti Re-Animator website, stages a battle between colonial militia and a warparty of Abenaki warriors. The warriors spot the militia, who have been ordered to guard the canoes for a punitive expedition. They creep up on them and launch a surprise attack.
Click on the photo above or the link here to read the account on Eric’s Ch’ti Re-Animator website.
Beaver Wars in Ohio, Turn 5 report
The pizza shop was unavailable for our Turn 5 playtest of the Beaver Wars in Ohio campaign rules. So, one of the players volunteered their house and we set up four games. A new Indian tribe took to the field on this turn, the Honniasont. This Iroquoian tribe was found in Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio around the time of the Five Nations onslaught on the Ohio Valley. Read how the newcomers fared against the undefeated Shawnee, who were currently in second place in the campaign standings.
Click on the photo above or the link here to read the battle report on the rules author’s Lead Legionaries blog.
Slaughter in the Defile
Keith Finn, pictured above on the far left, is blogging his participation in our playtest of the Beaver Wars in Ohio campaign rules. His Neutral tribe fought a tense, difficult battle that he called “Slaughter in the Defile” against the Mohawk tribe run by Mike Stelzer. Read about the initial overpowering Mohawk assault on the Neutral traders, and how Keith’s braves were able to begin to turn the tables on their ambushers.
Click on the photo above or the link here to read the battle report on Keith’s OrcaFinn’s Basement blog.
Beaver Wars in Ohio, turn 4 Report
The next supplement to Song of Drums and Tomahawks rules continues its final playtest. Eight players met at a local pizzeria’s party room to game out turn 4. Read about the battles and see more pictures on the rules author’s Lead Legionaries blog. Click on the picture above or the link in this paragraph to read more.
Shasquatch is Alive! Hurons attack to rescue their leader
Feared for dead after falling senseless on the battlefield, the Huron get news that their revered leader Shasquatch is actually alive and being held in captivity. They assemble a warparty to rescue him, and creep towards their objective. Read about Part 5 of the Raid on Fergusson’s Farm saga and see if the Huron succeed.
Click on the photo above or the link here to read the game report on Eric’s Ch’ti Re-animator website.
Trapper’s End
One member of a Miami trapping party has been captured by rivals from the Neutrals tribe. The Neutrals truss him up and hold onto him as bait, hoping to lure the rest of the Miami trappers in to find out where their companion disappeared to in the woods. When they come close enough, the Neutrals launch their ambush.
Click on the photo above, or the link here, to read the game report on Keith’s OrcaFinn’s Basement blog.
Beaver Wars in Ohio, Turn 3 Report
http://leadlegionaries.blogspot.com/2016/02/beaver-wars-in-ohio-playtest-turn-3.html
The Beaver Wars in Ohio — a campaign supplement covering a historical conflict from the late 17th - early 18th century — is going great. We’ll be growing to nine players after this turn. Everyone seems to be enjoying the chance to play interesting scenarios, using Song of Drums and Tomahawks rules. Players’ forces improve as the campaign progresses, but games are kept balanced by mechanics which allow “upgrades” with weapons and traits.
Check out the report by clicking on the photo above or the link here to my Lead Legionaires website.
OrcaFinn’s Basement Report on Beaver Wars Campaign

One of the players in the Beaver Wars in Ohio campaign playtest is blogging the story of his tribe. He is playing the “Neutrals” tribe (historically, a very aggressive tribe who was neutral only in the Huron vs. Five Nations conflict). Here, Keith gives a run-through on the turn and a blow by blow of his tribe’s battle. He analyzes the decisions he and others are making as players, so his report gives good insight into how the campaign may play out.
Click on the photo above or here to read the report on Keith’s OrcaFinn’s Basement Game Report webpage.
Snow Patrol - Succeed or Die!
A party of frontiersmen are out patrolling when a snowstorm closes in. The temperature is dropping quickly, too, and their leader, Charles Smith, knows if they are caught out unsheltered his men may die of exposure. He spots a camp of enemy Huron — likely a winter hunting party. He orders the men forward to seize the Huron lodges and drive off the Huron.
Click on the photo above or here to read the report on Eric’s Ch’ti Re-Animator website.
Beaver Wars in Ohio campaign playtest, Turn 2
The tribes went on the warparth on a cold, January Saturday as the playtest of the campaign rules, The Beaver Wars in Ohio, continues. Eight players fought four scenarios that will appear in the supplement to Song of Drums and Tomahawks rules.
Click on the photo above or here to read the report on Mike Demana’s Lead Legionaries blog.
Frontier River Boat Fight
Indians attack a keelboat and flatboat which have pulled over to the shore. Three canoes creep on the boat using morning fog as cover, while on land, a warparty creeps towards the settlers who have ventured ashore. Great Song of Drums and Tomahawks action brought to you by Randy from Oregon, USA.
Click on the photo above or the link here to read Randy’s report on The Lead Adventure Forum.
The Beaver Wars in Ohio campaign playtest, Turn 1
Phase two of the playtest of a set of campaign rules for Song of Drums and Tomahawks began this weekend. Eight players are taking on the role of tribes refighting the struggle for the Ohio Valley during the late 1600s and early 1700s. We played four of the 18 scenarios that the rules will include.
Click on the photo above or the link here to read the report on the author’s Lead Legionaries blog.
Stubborn Settlers
When Hurons and Canadian militia come raiding, the settlers of a local comunity grab their muskets and defend their homes. Great photos of terrain and miniatures add to this interesting after action report. See Old Jenkins parting taunt…!
Click on the picture above or the link here to read the report on the Lead Adventure Forum.
Hurry, to the Blockhouse!
Nick Nascati squares off against his son-in-law as Huron raiders try to prevent a family from reaching the local blockouse during an Indian raid. The frontiersmen detach men to escort the terrified settlers to safety, and the lead is soon flying…!
Click on the picture above or read the report here on the Lead Adventure Forum.
Raid on Mainwearing’s Farm
Huron raiders attack an English settlment run by Old Man Mainwearing. The Huron are led by the up and coming War Chief Tecumshee. Great back story and lots of pictures on the Four Colour Super Minis blog spot.
Check out the battle report by clicking on the photo above or here. Also, check out Four Colors Super Minis blog for exciting wargaming action.
Defending the Bridge
Revolutionary War action using Song of Drums and Tomahawks. A force of Loyalist rangers and Indians are sent by the British to seize control of an important bridge. The stone bridge is guarded by a force of Colonial Militia who realize its importance, and won’t surrender it without bloodshed.
Click on the picture above or here to read the battle report here on the Lead Adventure Forum.
The Battle of Bloody Run
The bloodiest battle from Pontiac’s Rebellion saw the British, newly reinforced by Rogers Rangers, trying to break out of Fort Detroit. Chief Pontiac’s Indian tribes wait until their enemies are marching along the river road and then launch their ambush. This sprawling, historical battle was fought out twice at Advance the Colors game convention in Springfield, OH.
Click on the picture above or here to read the report on Mike Demana’s Lead Legionaries blog.
Raid on Fergusson’s Farm, Part 5
Another tale in the continuing series of linked scenarios from a Ch’ti Eric in France. In this scenario, the Hurons attempt to rescue one of their chieftains who was captured earlier in the storyline. They sneak up on the American village where he is being held and launch a rescue attempt of the great chief Shaasquatch.
Click on the photo above or here to read the battle report on Eric’s Ch’ti Re-Animator website.
The Beaver Wars Campaign Playest, Turn 4 & Wrap-up
Turn 4 of the Beaver Wars campaign playtest featured more battles than ever. It took us two sessions to fight out all of the battles the campaign generated. In this final session, the two tribes that were front-runners, the Ojibwe and the Seneca, invade the lands of the neighboring Potawatomi and Illinois.
Click on the photo above or here to read the battle report and the wrap-up of the campaign on Mike Demana’s blog, Lead Legionaries.
Indian Fighting at Fort Meigs
The Ohio Frontier Aflame heads north to Drums at Fort Meigs — an HMGS Great Lakes convention held in the visitors center of Fort Meigs, Perrysville, OH. The fort is a reconstructed War of 1812 fort and an atmospheric place to do French & Indian War gaming. In fact, we could look at the window at the wooden palisades as we played, then go for a walk amongst the blockhouses and artillery batteries afterwards.
Click on the photo above or here to read the battle report on Mike Demana’s gaming blog, Lead Legionarires.