Men who would be Kings, "Up the Sudan."

 

Following on from our 'Blood and Steel' in the Sudan game we trialled an alternative 'co-op' style game - this time with 'The Men Who Would Be Kings'. Whilst I see 'Blood and Steel' as low level skirmish game, I think TMWWBK has a slightly larger feel to it. B&S works well as 1 figure represents 1 man, with the whole force under a single officer. By contrast, each unit in TMWWBK has its own officer and I prefer to think of it as a company.

In this game both players ran the Egyptian force whilst the Mahdists were controlled by a heavily amended Mr. Babbage. In the original game, every time an 'Imperial' unit moves it must test to see if any Mahdists 'pop up'. In this version the Mahdists begin on 'blinds' (some of which may be dummies) and must be spotted before engaging.

The Egyptians escorting some baggage camels across
the table. Regulars on the right with Irregulars
and mounted Bashi Bazouks on the left.

The Dervish deploy randomly but it seems that even
the 'AI' system recognises the efficacy of the khor.

On the Egyptian left the Bashi Bazouks
seem reluctant to move.

.......but on the right, the Egyptian Gendarmerie move
to the head of the khor and spot the Dervish massing.

The Gendarmerie charge down the khor
to be met by Dervish cavalry

.....meanwhile who knows what lays in wait further
down the khor. The Dervish maintained this threat
for the remainder of the game.

The  left is under pressure
but the Mahdist attack peters out

On the right the Fellaheen and Bazingers
throw back attack after attack

By the evening's end we've almost cleared the field

.....but the next wave is massing on the table edge!

With Farthingale Pasha

Three bold British Officers lead an Egyptian column against the Dervish.  What could go wrong?

A 'proof of principle' game set in the Sudan - played with 'Blood and Steel', this was to be a cooperative game against an 'automated' opponent. In the event, the three players each controlled a part of an Egyptian force, whilst I ran the Dervish using an adapted version of the 'Blood and Plunder' solo system.

The sands of the desert... The double line of rocks delineate a khor
(or wadi or donga if you prefer), a potential hidden approach
for the Dervish. Rocky areas are hard cover and patches of thorn
bush scrub are soft cover - both types of cover are difficult going.

The view down the khor from the Egyptian lines.

Egyptian fellaheen in the centre with parts of a Turkish
battalion on the left. The Mahdist hordes appear over the
horizon whilst Farthingdale Pasha stays safely in the rear.

The Mahdists move forward making good use of the khor.

On the Egyptian right a mixed force of Fellahin, Bazinger
and Abyssinian Scouts head for the cover.

In the centre a unit of Mahdist camelry charges forward.

.............and hits the Turks.

The camelry are probably a feint as the main attack
seems to be on the Egyptian far left.

Aside from some riflemen in the rocks opposite
the Egyptian right is largely unopposed.

The Dervish horde seems endless but.....
eventually they succumb to horrendous
casualties, fail the army morale test and break.