This week it was back to the Sudan and 'The Men Who Would be Kings', last played, at the club, in our fondly remembered 2017 Suakin campaign.
This time around we have some new players and, as the veterans of the former campaign will likely have forgotten the rules, I opted to play the rules largely as written, at least for this first game. Next game we will reintroduce some of our campaign 'tweaks' from last time plus a few new ones.
The table layout featured an imposing building on one table edge (of which I appear to have forgotten to take photos) representing an Egyptian held town (Khartoum if you like). The British deployed on the opposite table edge with the objective of crossing the table and reaching the town. Of course, El Babaji (aka Mr Babbage) and his Mahdist's lay in between.
Crossing the table is a big ask, when playing Mr Babbage, and the British usually just get mugged as soon as they attempt to move. We had a few house rules to ameliorate this last time but, unfortunately, the player's seemed to have forgotten this and took it a bit personally when El Babaji swiftly butchered most of their troops, as soon as they had left the start line. Oh well, as they say, it's a learning experience..................
All I can say, is that it ought to be easier next time and, in my view, the game is not about winning, or even surviving, but is all about the narrative. So come on lads, play up and play the game, as someone once said.
Apologies for the poor photos; they were quick snaps and the lighting was poor. I need to spend more time on them next time. We were so busy this week that I even forgot to open the beer!
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| The Midsomers, worse for drink, deploy out of focus. |
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| The Durhams take the centre with the Abyssinian scouts on their right. |
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| The Langbaurghs deploy on the right, in blobs, with the RMLI in the centre. |
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The Durhams find the Dervish.........and die to a man!
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| The Beja sweep on to the next company |
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| .......who seek refuge in the rocks. |
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| Midsomers about to receive the same treatment |
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| Dervish camels charge the rocks |
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| McKellan goes down fighting |
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| Game end with only the Midsomers left to tackle roving bands of Dervish |
Huzzah for the Midsommers, although the civilian authorities have questions about the unseemly blue on blue body count. MWWBK is a go to game. My advice... Just don't flaming well move if you have Dervish to the front. Take time to shoot your way out.
ReplyDeleteAlso don't put an up and at em' Fartingdale in charge of your Cavalry.