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Hlobane
Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2020 7:46 am
by ochoin
Something different in the way of the Zulu Wars…..
Hlobane
Scenario: Colonel Wood has despatched Colonel Buller & his mounted force to harass & destroy Mbilini & his people on Hlobane mountain (a plateau). Just after arrival, they are surprised by an impi (fresh from Islandlewana) on their way to attack Wood at Khambula.
The British must escape as best they are able, but this should not be a precipitate retreat as they desire to do as much damage as possible to their Zulu enemies.
Buller's men ride in:
(forgive the Lancers & Dragoon Guards: I only have so many AZW Horsemen!
Mbilini's abaQulusi try to defend their kraal
Shoot to kill….
The impi is not far away….
donald
Re: Hlobane
Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2020 9:43 am
by BaronVonWreckedoften
ochoin wrote: ↑Sat Oct 03, 2020 7:46 am
Hlobane
Wasn't that also an Eric Clapton song?
ochoin wrote: ↑Sat Oct 03, 2020 7:46 am
The British must escape as best they are able, but this should not be a precipitate retreat as they desire to do as much damage as possible to their Zulu enemies.
An impromptu Morris Dance ought to do the trick.....
What an excellent game, Donald - well done. I've never been terribly attracted to the Victorian-era for gaming purposes, but I have to confess that one of the most exciting games I've ever played was one set up by one of our club members. It was a single-player game (he took the part of the umpire) and over a period of a few months, most of the H&M players tried it. It involved getting several groups of British troops - and some empty water-carts - across a table, to reach a water hole at the far end. Natural hazards included disturbed ants nests (that's the nests being disturbed, as opposed to being occupied by mentally unstable insects) and snakes; and then there were the groups of Zulus......yep, farsands of 'em. The groups would initially appear in ones and twos, then more and more. He later revealed that the task was intended to be almost impossible (he admitted he'd succeeded once in months of play-testing). If you want, I'll try and get hold of the rules for you - it sounds like the sort of game you'd like to run and your gaming mates would love to test themselves against.
Re: Hlobane
Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2020 10:15 am
by Essex Boy
BaronVonWreckedoften wrote: ↑Sat Oct 03, 2020 9:43 am
ochoin wrote: ↑Sat Oct 03, 2020 7:46 am
Hlobane
Wasn't that also an Eric Clapton song?
ochoin wrote: ↑Sat Oct 03, 2020 7:46 am
The British must escape as best they are able, but this should not be a precipitate retreat as they desire to do as much damage as possible to their Zulu enemies.
An impromptu Morris Dance ought to do the trick.....
What an excellent game, Donald - well done. I've never been terribly attracted to the Victorian-era for gaming purposes, but I have to confess that one of the most exciting games I've ever played was one set up by one of our club members. It was a single-player game (he took the part of the umpire) and over a period of a few months, most of the H&M players tried it. It involved getting several groups of British troops - and some empty water-carts - across a table, to reach a water hole at the far end. Natural hazards included disturbed ants nests (that's the nests being disturbed, as opposed to being occupied by mentally unstable insects) and snakes; and then there were the groups of Zulus......yep, farsands of 'em. The groups would initially appear in ones and twos, then more and more. He later revealed that the task was intended to be almost impossible (he admitted he'd succeeded once in months of play-testing). If you want, I'll try and get hold of the rules for you - it sounds like the sort of game you'd like to run and your gaming mates would love to test themselves against.
I played such a game at an AGM event near Leamington Spa. There were rather less insects and snakes and rather more natives. I forget the chaps name, but he was one of the chief organisers of Salute.
E
Re: Hlobane
Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2020 10:17 am
by Essex Boy
It's a splendid looking game, Donald, and your toys are very easy on the eye.
Iain
Re: Hlobane
Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2020 11:35 am
by BaronVonWreckedoften
Essex Boy wrote: ↑Sat Oct 03, 2020 10:15 am
I played such a game at an AGM event near Leamington Spa. There were rather less insects and snakes and rather more natives. I forget the chaps name, but he was one of the chief organisers of Salute.
Not the same guy. Not saying he might not have "borrowed" the idea, or at least parts of it, mind......
Re: Hlobane
Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2020 12:04 pm
by ochoin
BaronVonWreckedoften wrote: ↑Sat Oct 03, 2020 9:43 am
- it sounds like the sort of game you'd like to run and your gaming mates would love to test themselves against.
Yes, please.
And a confession. The game is actually tomorrow morning. I've just set it up & placed some of the figures in - staged - positions.
Hope it's as exciting as the one you described!
donald
Re: Hlobane
Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2020 2:15 pm
by Essex Boy
BaronVonWreckedoften wrote: ↑Sat Oct 03, 2020 11:35 am
Essex Boy wrote: ↑Sat Oct 03, 2020 10:15 am
I played such a game at an AGM event near Leamington Spa. There were rather less insects and snakes and rather more natives. I forget the chaps name, but he was one of the chief organisers of Salute.
Not the same guy. Not saying he might not have "borrowed" the idea, or at least parts of it, mind......
Oh right. Two great minds at work then (I'll leave it to them to sort out who, if anyone, borrowed from whom).
Re: Hlobane
Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2020 9:20 pm
by Norman D. Landings
Loving that. Looks the absolute business.
Re: Hlobane
Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2020 11:34 pm
by ochoin
Some bonus pics:
donald
Re: Hlobane
Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2020 11:58 pm
by Essex Boy
Ah ha!
Mounted Zulu command?
Where might I find some of them, please?
E