Midday at the Oasis! - A Men Who Would Be Kings Rules AAR

Monday night we played a Men Who Would be Kings game with the Mahdists up against the British (who else?)!

We chose Scenario B, Seek & Destroy as the basis for our game. What we did this time though to help the 'Native Forces' was boost their attacking points to make up for Messrs Martini and Henry, none of this 24 points against 24 points! Like in our previous games we gave each side an overall Leader who would be the only leader on each side with a 'Trait', this they could apply to any Unit once a Turn. For the tabletop we based a British encampment near an oasis on a plain with some high ground and rough terrain, the British had a few quickly thrown up 'barricades' which gave light cover status.

"Fuzzy-Wuzzies Sah! Fousands of 'em!".

The British Gatling Gun Crew tackle the Mahdists led by Osman Dirka...

Mahdists Army (51 Points)
Commander Osman Dirka (making a second appearance) this time rated as 'Destined for Greatness'

5 x Tribal Infantry at 15 points

5 x Fierce and Veteran Tribal Infantry at 21 points

3 x Well Armed Veteran Tribal Infantry at 15 points

British Detachment (On Table 18 Points)

Commander Colonel Brown-Pants who was rated as a 'Damned Fine Fellow'
2 x Regular Infantry at 12 points
1 x Well Drilled Gatling Gun at 6 points

British Detachment (Off Table 12 Points)

1 x Regular Infantry at 6 points

1 x Highlanders at 6 points

This was going to be one big game, 196 Mahdists against 54 British! The British off board troops were available from Turn 2 and the Mahdists could enter eight Units on Turn 1 and the rest of their Army on Turn 2.

Please note from our previous experience we now play The Men who Would Be Kings with the below House Rules;

1. All Pinned Units retire half a move when initially Pinned and act as Gone to Ground while Pinned (note ALL Units GTG and for the whole duration of being Pinned).

2. If a Unit with multiple Pins fails to Rally reduce the Total Number of Pins by 1 for each failed Rally attempt (Units will always retain ONE Pin until Rallied).

AAR

The British deployed using their cover with an Infantry Unit on each flank and their Gatling Gun in the centre. The Mahdists advanced with a three of Units in their centre and five on each flank!

With amazing alacrity the Mahdi horde advanced (read high rolls for bonus At the Double movement) and they were quickly in range of the British who opened fire as soon as they could causing casualties but crucially not Pinning the Natives.

As the Mahdi got within short range of the British the air was filled with hot lead and attackers losses began to mount, one, two and then three of the advancing Units were Pinned and despite the Mahdi Units good morale their forward momentum was beginning to stall...then on Turn 7 a crucial roll changed the game, the Gatling Gun Crew failed to activate! There was a lull in the British Musketry! Seizing this chance the first Mahdi Unit contacted the British behind their barricades, this first charge failed to breakthrough but it inflicted losses on the British Unit. These losses meant the defensive fire started to dwindle. A second charge struck the British line, this too was unsuccessful but it weakened the British even more! 

The Mahdists now engaged the British left Flank in close combat, the game was in the balance! At this time the British reinforcements on their right flank slowed the Mahdists but they did not reinforce their left, they used their other reserve Unit to move into the encampment in the centre of their line. This weakness on the British left proved decisive, it was here the Natives got around the British defences! The situation began to crumble for the Brits. A shining light for the British at this point of the action was the heroic performance of Lieutenant George; after repelling four ferocious attacks and with his whole Unit slaughtered around him he gainfully fought on with his revolver and sword driving off the the fierce Mahdist warriors single handed, Victoria Cross material indeed! It required a direct order from Colonel Brown-Pants for him to retire to the rear and seek aid (and await his award presentation!).

Osman Dirka, the Mahdist Leader who had been quiet early in the game now came to the fore! Mopping the sweat from his brow and girding up his loins he personally led two great charges; the first overran a British unit near the encampment and the other smashed the Englishmen who had been successfully supporting their right flank, these successes along with the capture of the Gatling Gun after it apparently jammed again (read failed another activation) broke the sprit of the defenders! Colonel Brown-Pants ordered his men to withdraw, his intact Highland Infantry Unit complied while loosing off a final volley which decimated the Mahdist unit they targeted!

HUZZAH! (in Mahdi of course!)

Some Pictures!

The British Encampment is called to "Stand To!" suspicious Natives had been spotted!

Overview at the end of Turn 2 the Mahdi begin their advance (very quickly!)...

The Mahdists Right Wing...

The Mahdists Left Wing!

The undaunted defenders take a bead on the attackers...

Overview at the end of Turn 5...

During Turn 6 the crack of Martini-Henry fire increased...as did the Mahdists casualty rate!

The first contact! Lieutenant George's Unit receive the initial Mahdist onslaught and see it off with ease albeit whilst taking casualties!

But disaster looms for the British, at a crucial moment the Gatling Gun falls silent and the Mahdist seize the opportunity!

Meanwhile Lieutenant George's besieged men see off yet another charge!

They then pepper the never ending swarms of Natives before them!

The British left flank was still holding firm but needed assistance...

...and they failed to get any...they were overrun! The Mahdist Leader Osman Dirka leading the victorious assault in person!

Another Mahdist charge on the British left is repulsed...Lieutenant George himself sees the last of the Natives off with time to spare to twirl his moustache!

Not done Osman Dirka led a second charge defeating the British holding the extreme right of their line!

Colonel Brown-Pants ordered his Highlanders to withdrawal, which they did in good order!

The battlefield at the end of game!

Note the 'death disks' I use to mark casualties and are great at showing the flow of the action well we ran out!!! We resorted to using tipped figures to mark the losses! I have ordered another batch to ensure this doesn't occur again!

Summary

So a Mahdist win with 18 VPs to the British 7, the Umpire gave Lieutenant George a bonus VP for his heroic stand on the battlefield. The casualty count was frightening 87 Mahdists fell as did 37 British! The battlefield was certainly awash with blood! As it turned out we boosted the Mahdists force by a little bit too much BUT next time we have a really good idea on how to bias the forces of the gun armed guys versus paw paw and stick armed ones! So if the defenders have the same 30 Points as the British did this time we'd give the Mahdists 45. Also of note in this game we need to take into account the Leader Traits, being 'Destined for Greatness' Osman Dirka was twice able to advance Units and allow them to charge from quite a distance whilst Colonel Brown-Pants had no special effect on the action at all! Overall another excellent night thanks to the Men Who Would be Kings rules! Can't wait to return to the Sudan again...