Gunfight at the O.K. Corral

[Silver Moon]

Jan 10th Edit: Last week's game ended just prior to the gunfight. See today's post for the current situation and cast of characters.


We have a Wild West campaign using hybrid Boot Hill and AD&D rules. We've done two short modules so far, and are coming up to the dates when the original Gunfight at the O.K. Corral took place. The story hour of the campaign thus far is as at the following link:

http://www.enworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=28906

World Background: Essentially it's a 19th century world with D&D races on it (Native Americans are elves; Scandanavians are dwarves; Orientals are orcs) and instead of having the European split being about Christianity (Catholics vs. Protestants) it was instead about Clerical (Roman, Celtic & Norse god worshipped lands) vs. Wizard Magic (France, Spain & Portugal). Magic items are extremely hard to come by (especially in rural areas).

Campaign Background: The characters are "Arcade's Gang" and multi-racial group who have recently taken on the James Gang, and also killed Billy the Kid. They live in Promise City, Arizona, not far from Tombstone. A Boot Hill suppliement had some info on using the O.K. Corral, and I recently watched a Forensic History segment on Discovery about the battle. A few basic thoughts I'd like to bounce off of you:

1. Given the dubious reputaion of Arcade's Gang (half the people think they are heroes, the other half think they are ruthless troublemakers) would they be sought out for help by the Earps, the Clantons, or both?

2. Contrary to all the films, the actual battle took place in an alleyway a block from the corral. The Boot Hill suppliement is also set up that way. But somehow "Gunfight at an alley near the O.K. Corral" just doesn't have the same ring to it. Should I maneuver the game towards the corral or keep the fight in the alley as it happened?

3. The battle was actually rather short, and I'd like to have this game last for more than just a one-nighter. What could I add to make their trip to Tombstone last a bit longer?

4. After you've read the Story Hour I'd appreciate any suggestions about any of other existing plot threads that should be continued. I'd like to begin at least one or two other long-term plotlines to later build upon with this next outing, as two other players want to start DMing this campaign so it may be a while until I get back to it.

 

[Silver Moon]

Bump!

Just got an email from the player who was going to DM this Sunday, saying he probably won't make the game, so I'll be starting this module a few weeks sooner than I originally planned. Input and suggestions are welcomed!

 

[ConnorSB]

Well, to drag out the battle, have most of the main people bring horses, and after the innitial battle, have people basically scatter. Some circle towards the corral, a few try to beeline through the town and back in, maybe one guy takes to the roofs. Since it was supposed to be the "final conflict" between the families, basically make all the NPCs keep fighting and not run until one side is totally dead or captured.

But spread it out, so it becomes a crazy cat and mouse game with limited ammo, and shots "just past the next building" that could be from either side.

have the whole town mapped out beforehand, and different routes for everyone to take once the bloodshed starts.

 

[Teflon Billy]

You might want to check out Tombstone on DVD and watch its "the Making oF..." segment. I'll try to encapsulate the gist of it here for you though.

There were no Bad Guys in this story. In D&D terms it's basically a battle of "Law vs Chaos" rather than "Good vs. Evil". The Earps and their supporters wanted Tombstone to be a place where families and business could flourish (except for Doc Holliday, who was pretty much the dictionary definition of D&D Evil) while "The Cowboys" wanted to just have place to cut loose and satiate their more base desires.

Now don't get to thinking that Law and Chaos track to Good and Evil the way many D&D supplements seem to. The Earps were known gunfighters, and "lawmen" in that day and age often meant "people who looked out for the interests of the rich", so it's near-impossible to paint them as "Good Guys" (Goodfellas might come closer). Their associate, Doc Holliday, while a very, very close friend and confidante of Wyatt Earp was considered as close to a "Mad Dog" killer as that part of the country had ever seen.

Over on The Cowboy's side were guys like Curly Bill Brocious and Johnny Ringo, who were amazingly well-liked by the populace of tombstone, as they were friendly, voluble, generous and free spending. they were also gunfighters, hell-raisers, and substance abusers (both liquor and opium) of the first calibre (Ringo was, bizarrely, devoutly religious).

One point that is unargued is that the Gunfight at the OK corral was by-and-large the pinnacle of a war of words between The Cowboys (Particularly Ike Clanton) and the Earps (Particularly Wyatt's brother, U.S. Marshall Morgan Earp).

Ike, in a drunken fugue, had threatened the Earps murder, and the Earps had gone to the OK Corral to "disarm" The Cowboys. Informed by the Cowboy-affiliated local Sherrif (whose name escapes me) that he had "already disarmed them" (the Cowboys) The Earps went anyway and, in the ensuing gunfight, managed to gun down a couple of unarmed men while firing on the outnumbered Cowboys.

What I'm saying is; Don't paint this as Good vs. Evil. It's a lot closer to Law vs. Chaos (with exception on both sides like Ringo and Holliday), but in the final analysis, it;s really just about groups of men trying to protect a way of life they enjoy.

So maybe it a battle of Neutral vs Neutral

 

[Silver Moon]

Informed by the Cowboy-affiliated local Sherrif (whose name escapes me) that he had "already disarmed them" (the Cowboys)

The Sheriff's name was Johnny Behan, and I've decided to use him as the plot hook to get Arcade's Gang to Tombstone. The Gang already has a working relationship with one of Behan's Deputies back in Promise City, and actually owes Behan a favor for his assistance in helping keep the Army soliders out of Geronomo's hills.

I also found on the official Clanton Family internet site: http://clantongang.com/oldwest/ranch.htm a history of the ranch, including the comment: "It's also been rumored that the famous William Bonney (aka) "Billy the Kid" even worked for the Clantons' in about 1873, before he headed for New Mexico." Since Arcade's Gang shot and killed Bonney during their last outing that should also add to the story!

Great advice so far guys, keep it coming!

 

[d20fool]

The Kid's Real Name

OK, call me a historical stickler, call me a purist, but

BILLY THE KID'S REAL NAME WAS NOT, REPEAT NOT, WILLIAM BONNY!

He was born Henry McCarty (my last name) in New York. He left home at a young age (hence the Kid) and used the name William Bonny (1800's, nobody likes the Irish, you get the idea.) That's why he was called Billy the Kid. He SHOULD have been called Harry the Mick, IMO.

OK, McCarty done sounding off about the only famous McCarty.

 

[Silver Moon]

have the whole town mapped out beforehand, and different routes for everyone to take once the bloodshed starts.

Thanks, I found a great map of 1881 Tombstone to use:
http://ferncanyonpress.com/tombston/wyatt/tombsmap.shtml


And d20fool, as a fellow Irish-American* with a last name starting with "McC" I can understand your plight. But since you go by "d20fool" and I go by "Silver Moon", then who are we to object to Henry McCarty using an alias?



*Scottish-American too (if the Avatar and Custom Title didn't already give that away.)

 

[mythago]

Background suggestion: check out "The Last Ride of German Freddie," by Walter Jon Williams. You can download it free at Fictionwise.

 

[Silver Moon]

Background suggestion: check out "The Last Ride of German Freddie," by Walter Jon Williams.

Great suggestion! I've actually read that story once before, as it was included in the alternative history anthology The Worlds that Weren't. Looked for my copy of the book and seem to have misplaced it. The download appears to no longer be free either, and don't want to pay again for something I already own (see Custom Title).

On a related note, the History Channel just aired a special on U.S. Marshals, and included a 15 minute segment on Wyatt Earp and the O.K. Corral. I've also now put together a timeline of events for the game using three different accounts of what happened (including both Wyatt's account at the Clanton Family's account), although how this will be changed by the playing characters remains to be seen.

 

[Silver Moon]

Well, the first night of the module went well. We began on October 23, 1881 with the group told to take the stage to Tombstone, arriving there on the 24th. They got settled in and checked out several taverns, meeting Doc Holliday in the process (first chapter the Story Hour now posted).

I'm now all set for the gunfight on the 26th, but am still a little thin for encounters on the day in between. Here's all I've got at this point for October 25th, 1881:

Ike Clanton had been drunk, and unarmed waddling from one gin mill to another. His denouncements of the Earps and Holliday were expletive and singed with violence. By nightfall, he had made his way to the Occidental Saloon for a card game with Tom McLaury. An angry Doc Holliday, who had heard of the boasts, confronted him. "I heard you’re going to kill me, Ike," he said. "Get out your gun and commence."

Virgil Earp, on site, drew Holliday away from the sucker play, but Clanton followed, promising "to kill you tomorrow when the others come to town." Spotting Wyatt on the streets, the fired-up Clanton continued. "Tell your consumptive friend, your Arizona nightin’gale, he’s a dead man tomorrow!" To which Wyatt matter-of- factly replied, "Don’t you tangle with Doc Holliday -- he’ll kill you before you’ve begun." "Get ready for a showdown!" he heard Ike promise as he strolled away.

Suggestions for other encounters in Tombstone to add to the next game's role playing would be welcomed.