First battle of the campaign

[Bodvoc]

That is a good looking game even though the Sudan is not my thing.

[Techno]

Looking good.
(Who is Viljar ?)
Cheers - Phil

[FierceKitty]

Norwegian friend; the Egyptian commander.

[Maenoferren]

Those who wish to see the second battle, here are some pix. The focus isn't perfect, but fellow Sudan fans might find the Egyptian camel corps of interest.

Cant see the pic thankfully as my project is almost finished and I really, really, really, really dont want any more...I will have a look when I get home

[FierceKitty]

Battle no. 3 today. The British invaded, unfortunately choosing the most obvious landing site, so the Egyptians were waiting for them. It looked like a pleasant chance for a Khedival victory. Until it turned out that the big guns were out of ammunition after a few minutes of firing. A taste of things to come, and the machine guns jammed, the lancers failed to stop the Household Cavalry with a gambling dismounted volley at close range and were ridden down, and the Bengalis rode down the Gensdarmerie (OK, no real surprise there). There were British casualties, including the rout of the Coldstreams (the one Egyptian success of note), but it was very plain after four moves that history was not going to be rewritten today.
Photographs will follow.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Well done for routing the 'Wooden Tops', bet that doesn't get mentioned in the regimental history!

[toxicpixie]

"The Coldstreams were dastardly ambushed by the Egyptians, who inflicted a minor slow down of their advance by wounding the regimental mascot. The Coldstreams then advanced and drove the enemy away from the landing area by attacking back onto their transports and bravely helping the Royal Navy sailors who simply couldn't have managed to row back to the boats without dying"...

Sound about right?

[FierceKitty]

As long as you didn't see 'em running away past the rough, tough, jolly sailor-men.

[toxicpixie]

Nope, that's not in the regimental history, so obviously didn't happen!

[FierceKitty]

Tomorrow, Billy Hicks rides forth. This is going to be an uncomfortable battle for the Imperial force.

[FierceKitty]

It was. There were a few special panic rules for Egyptians coming within charge distance of Hadendowah, and the result was remarkably close to reality. Hicks currently imprisoned in Suakin, Gordon dispatched to supervise evacuation of Khartoum, Mahdi ordering a raid on Abbysinia. Pix should follow.

[Leman]

Look forward to those.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Me too!

[FierceKitty]

The Mahdist campaign has encountered its first major deviation from reality. The raid into Abyssinia was repulsed yesterday with crippling losses to the Faithful and minimal losses to the defense. The time stream is now hopelessly compromised, since the besiegers at Khartoum are weaker than expected (Gordon has also beaten off the first attempt to storm the town).
Sir Garnet has landed and has elected to start at once, following the Nile south without waiting to gather camels or train better Egyptian troops. Ironically, he could have spared the time for a more leisurely campaign. It'll be interesting if Gordon has to sally out to rescue him instead of the historical scenario.
Pix should follow soon.

[Poggle]

I'm looking forward to this!

[FierceKitty]

https://plus.google.com/104084964744926294929/posts/5topz7aRqbA?gpinv=AMIXal8LVjRW8LlYk748G-cUzhISWgRvAU2DLmkq24G_Msmx3fNNoSvm6WPLvma_mDBfVFgE1mlDWiCJkMlHNb-Acc3n5IA6tA_nNkdztD4TUiFu-paLugI&cfem=1

The pictures were taken by the Negus of Abyssinia, not me.

[Bodvoc]

That is a very impressive looking game.

[FierceKitty]

Over too soon, however. The Mahdist player bunched his good troops with no room to deploy on the right wing, failed to cover the flanks of his attacks despite favourable numbers, and lost his commander, Ali ibn-Yaq, to a lucky artillery salvo. As if that weren't enough, even the Tuareg mercenaries were too tough in melee for Ansar camelry, and beat them off, which proved costly, since their retreat was now blocked.

[FierceKitty]

(He was Thai, naturally.)

[FierceKitty]

Sir Garnet is now marching up the Nile; pre-battle skirmish in progress.