Colonial Period

[Nosher]

I have decided to shelve the Ottoman project - too much hassle trying to find what it is I am looking for, but the Colonial Period has always been a period i am interested in but have been unable to find 'the' rule set under which to play the period.

I'd like to game the Sudan, The anglo-zulu war, the boer war/angloboer war so what do people suggest? Took a look at the HoTT variant but not mightily keen, have heard good things about "The Sword and the Flame" and have also seen Washing the Spears but cant find an awful lot about them?

I have played Colonial PoW but it lacks certain something...

So. what are the other colonial suggestions in terms of rulesets and why?

[nikharwood]

You really need to dust off that copy of Black Powder you bought all that time ago & have another read mate...

It's on the basis of the Sudan batrep in there that I've got some lovely Pendraken forces here ready to paint [at some point] 

[FierceKitty]

There is a fun semi-roleplay set of Sudanese rules called "Science vs Pluck". Don't give up on the Turks, however; they're an interesting army to use.

[Dickie255]

Hi Nosher

So. what are the other colonial suggestions in terms of rulesets and why?

As my colonial adventures is a solo thing then for me the 'solo-ability' of the rules was a big factor

Imperial Splendour by Computer Strategies - Includes a campaign module with the function to import your own maps. Also a solo module is included. I liked the idea of having everything on the PC rather than paper however, there has been a glitch with the program but the designer did sort it out.

A Good Dusting by Dave Bickley - for the Sudan.

Colonial Adventures by 2 hours wargames

Lots of stuff from the free wargames page

See also the Thread on Gurkhas under General Pendraken

[Shedman]

At the Slimbridge club we do the Sudan using Battles For Empire by Chris Leech

I would describe it as similar to Fire & Fury with movement and morale combined

See http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/22757/battles-for-empire-1870-1902

[Steve J]

I'd agree with Nik on the Black Powder front. I also vaguely remember someone, possibly on the BKC forum, using FWC as a basis for Colonial and possibly FPW games. The points calculator in the book helped tweak existing 'horde' type units to represent the Fuzzy Wuzzies etc.

[Jim Ando]

Battles for Empire are just great.

Theres a new version due out soon but I still like the old version.

4 bases to a unit which is a company or warband (you could say a unit is a platoon or troop if you wanted).

The only down side is no moving and firing which is easy fixed with a -1 modifier to firing if you move which is in the new version.

I`ve had my arse kicked playing both sides and won playing both sides so I think they are pretty well balanced.

Morale is built into the command/movement test for each unit.

Jim

[nikharwood]

I'd agree with Nik on the Black Powder front. I also vaguely remember someone, possibly on the BKC forum, using FWC as a basis for Colonial and possibly FPW games. The points calculator in the book helped tweak existing 'horde' type units to represent the Fuzzy Wuzzies etc.

Here's a link to using FWC for 1866 Austro-Prussian: http://ncc1717.wordpress.com/miniatures-games/future-war-commander-rules/austro-prussian-war-of-1866/ which also has a WW1 variant: http://ncc1717.wordpress.com/miniatures-games/future-war-commander-rules/wwi/

Can't find a colonial one though - but I do remember it [or was it an Ambush Alley variant?]

[sixsideddice]

I know I`m old school in almost everything I do, but I couldn`t recommend Donald Featherstone`s "Solo Wargaming" more highly, both for solitaire colonial projects and for total atmosphere and inspiration in general.

[GordonY]

Ok this is an old thread but I noticed that Nosher had played Principles of War Colonial, but found them wanting. Reason I'm posting is that I just won these rules on E-Bay for the princely sum of 49p, just wanted to ask Nosher what he thought was wrong with them.

Gordon

[Nosher]

Been so long since I played it that I genuinely cant remember - although i still do occasionally drag out POW for Renaissance, AWI, FPW etc. I think it just didn't feel tally ho enough for my tastes.

Still for 49p I'd have probably bought the rules too - what do you have to Lose

[Bernie]

Hi

Tend to get rules that are specific for the war concerned rather than a set that covers many wars with very different features. Recommend "Science versus Pluck" for Soudan as they give excellent colour and as said previously the role play aspects really come out. There was a cracking set called 1879 for Zulu Wars I think by Tabletop Games that had lots of specific features but not played it for 20 odd years so possibly a) dated b) out of print

Our "By Jingo!" covers the 2nd Boer War battles from early phase of the war from perspective of infighting of Boer commanders with the British pre-programmed so they can come on in a historical but ineffective sort of way. Attached link using Pendraken figures shows some units and a battle in progress

http://s1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc461/BernardGanley/By%20Jingo%20Boer%20War%20Rules/


The "Blood & Sand" set covers the Soudan with the Mahdist movement dependent upon the losses the Anglo-Egyptians are able to inflict on them making - the fewer the losses the faster they advance on your forces. Also lots of random arrival of forces from all sides of the table.

http://s1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc461/BernardGanley/Blood%20and%20Sand%20Wargame%20Rules/

[GordonY]

A bit on the staid side then Nosher? Shame, as I really like Gung-Ho rules, offhand can you remember what the Colonial lists were in the book? That would help me in my purchase "planning" for the next couple of months.

Gordon

[Nosher]

Pretty sure all the lists were in a seperate book.

Ping me an email and I'll dig out the rules/army lists and email you what info I can

[nikharwood]

There was a cracking set called 1879 for Zulu Wars I think by Tabletop Games that had lots of specific features but not played it for 20 odd years so possibly a) dated b) out of print

Ah - those are what I cut my wargaming teeth on - my first own 'proper' armies...



I found a copy at the Legionary B&B two years ago & snapped 'em up for 50p IIRC...ah, nostalgia!