Last Monday TSOG decided it was time we had a little The Men Who Would Be Kings action plus my newly painted British Hussars were eager for some biffo! We played Scenario 1, Just Passing By from the rules as it usually creates a bit of a mobile action rather than one side charging (Mahdi) versus one side firing (British) haha. George and I played the British and Al the Mahdi.
British Force
Colonel Barnstead in Command
1 x Regular Line Infantry Unit
1 x Regular Highland Infantry Unit
1 x regular Hussar Unit
2 x Irregular Egyptian Infantry Units (poorly armed)
Mahdi Force
Osmon Dirrka in Charge
1 x Irregular Camel Unit
1 x Irregular Infantry Unit
2 x Fierce Tribal Foot Units
2 x Veteran Tribal Foot Units
The Game
Both sides lined up for the action and the Mahdi were off to a good start over the first three turns due to Moves being free for Tribal Units plus Good Activation Rolls they advanced at a pace, the poor British however lurched forward their plan to use their regular infantry as a wall to stop the advancing Mahdi exiting the table while the Hussars and Egyptians exited the table for them was not looking good!
Turns four to six saw the first shots fired and sabres rattled! The British Hussars hoping to complete a glorious charge took on some Tribal foots types! Channelling the 21st Lancers they charged a mass of 'Fierce' Mahdi. The result was both sides took five casualties and both retired pinned. Meanwhile the Mahdi Camelry smashed an Egyptian Unit following up their initial attack with a second inflicting seven casualties taking while taking just one! The British firing at the approaching Mahdi hoard meanwhile was not very effective.
Turns seven to nine things heated up. The rest of the British Hussars were wiped out carrying out another glorious charge, the mighty Madhi Camelry were not so effective on their second attack and were beaten back and hammered by musketry, they were not destroyed but they were out of the fight and lastly the British firepower started to slow the Mahdi foot a couple of Units taking casualties and getting pinned.
Turns ten to twelve decided the game. The Mahdi managed to exit an over half strength Unit from the Table , a grand double turn melee saw the Highlanders wiped out to a man but at heavy cost to the Mahdi and the other British Line Unit was reduced to a handful of men and nearly driven from the table. While also this biffo was taking place there was a desultory firefight between the Mahdi Riflemen and the second Egyptian Unit which amounted to nothing.
We stopped the game after 12 turns with both sides battered and punch drunk to work out who had won...
Some Pictures (we all love pictures)
The Mahdi advance!
As do the British albeit much more slowly...
The forces approach, for a moment it looked like a great cavalry skirmish may occur but the British horsemen noticed Mahdi foot in the open!
The Hussars charge the Mahdi, they selected the wrong Unit, they came into close combat with a group of fierce warriors and were soundly beaten...
The Mahdi Camelry made short work of one of the Egyptian Infantry Units!
The Mahdi horde advances!
Both sides mounted Units had charged and charged again, they were spent so it was time for the foot soldiers to step up!
The Mahdi destroy the Highlanders, the infamous men in skirts fought like girls!
The British Hussars charge into eternity...Hussah!
A Unit of Mahdi exit the Battlefield...Yeah shouts Osmon Dirrka!
A final lunge was launched to push the British from the field of battle...
It failed miserably the Mahdi inflicted no damage on the British and were wiped out trying!
The Battlefield at games end, not many fighters left!
The Result
British 3 VPs one each for destroying Mahdi Units
The Mahdi 4VPs 2 from destroying British Units and two from exiting a Unit
A Mahdi Victory!
We used our modified Pin rules and only gave the two Senior Leaders traits neither of which had a bearing on play. As usual The Men Who Would Be Kings Rules gave us a splendid game and in a timely fashion as we say each time we play them we will revisit them again!
