Rorke's Drift: a difficult relief

[ochoin]

Our annual Show has returned after the Covid years. For the two days of wargaming, we decided on a Rorke's Drift 'what-if?'

What if the entire Zulu army had crossed the river into Natal and challenged the relief columns sent to succour Rorke's Drift?


The table had a static Rorke's Drift up one end and 3 relief columns opposite. Each column was commanded by one of my pals, operating as a vainglorious medal-hunter, a staid old regular & and a sour Boer. Each had the goal of reaching Rorke's Drift but each had contrasting & even conflicting attitudes to each other.

Burger's Boers:


McBrasch's column:



Bogey's boys:


We had 690 Zulus representing the 20, 000 strong Zulu army. Most started off table, arriving after a successful dice roll:


Poor rolling meant they were slow to arrive or turned up in the wrong spot:








The game had the usual twists of fate, acerbated by the British & Colonial rivalries.

The day ended with the 17th Lancers from McBrasch's column winning through (yes, I know the 17th were still in England).



Tomorrow, we run the game again. I have some cunning ideas for the Zulus so maybe a different result.

donald

[Essex Boy]

In the second game, will Rorke's drift be less "static"?

E

[BaronVonWreckedoften]

Rorke's Drift-on-Sea?

[BaronVonWreckedoften]

Poor rolling meant they were slow to arrive or turned up in the wrong spot:

"Hello. Are you the wHayrthufekawe Tribe?"

"Yes. What gave it away?"

[ochoin]

Rorke's Drift-on-Sea?

No one seen Wally yet?

donald

[Spanner]

No one seen Wally yet?

I thought he was the impi's water-boy.

[Willz the Wargamer]

Very smart and well presented game.



Willz.

[valleyboy]

A good looking game Donald = are the zulus controlled by a player or random events and dice like in Pony Wars?

[ochoin]

A good looking game Donald = are the zulus controlled by a player or random events and dice like in Pony Wars?

Bit of both. 6 units start on the table & the others (hopefully) enter each turn on successful dice rolls to set parts of the table. I then "control" them but essentially that means waiting till you have sufficient & attacking. There's a re-cycling mechanism that allows some to come back on but numbers do start to dwindle so you can't just be a Putin, shovelling endless conscripts to the slaughter.

donald

[ochoin]

The re-run of the battle was even more enjoyable.
The dice determining the Zulus entering the battlefield were kind & every unit & more -see re-cycling) got on the table. Because I decided on a defence in depth - building coherent forces of 4 or 5 units before attacking-
the Zulus managed to inflict losses on the 3 columns & ultimately hold them off.

So, Rorke's Drift fell.