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Author Topic: Rorke's Drift (Miltiades rules)  (Read 3403 times)

Offline DintheDin

  • Galactic Brain
  • Posts: 6214
Rorke's Drift (Miltiades rules)
« on: May 06, 2018, 04:54:05 PM »
22 January 1879.
130 British soldiers have made improvised fortifications between two buildings, in a place known as Rorke's Drift, facing about 4.000 Zulu warriors. Both sides fought with passion and heroism. After the British victory in Rorke's Drift the prestige of the British Army was restored, after having suffered a bitter destruction in Isandlwana, a few miles away.
Strategically, Rorke's Drift was a grave mistake from the part of the Zulus. The battle was a result of the strongeadedness of prince Dabulamanzi, leader of 4.000 warriors of the reserve, who had not taken part in Isandlwana. Not obeying to the orders of king Getshwayo, they crossed Mzinyathi river and attacked a small border station. Rorke's Drift.
The rest, is written in history.
   
Now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates. – Mark Twain, Life on the Mississippi

Offline DintheDin

  • Galactic Brain
  • Posts: 6214
Re: Rorke's Drift (Miltiades rules)
« Reply #1 on: May 06, 2018, 05:00:12 PM »
The game was played with Miltiades' colonial rules. We decided not to play it as an antagonist game, but to test the rules and see what could be the best strategy for the British player, how he could check the waves of the Zulu hordes, coming from all directions.
Nick, offered to play the part of the British player.

Here are the initial dispositions of the British soldiers

Offline DintheDin

  • Galactic Brain
  • Posts: 6214
Re: Rorke's Drift (Miltiades rules)
« Reply #2 on: May 06, 2018, 05:01:30 PM »
Miltiades had even taken care to provide casualty figures, representing the invalids to be evacuated from the hospital.

Offline DintheDin

  • Galactic Brain
  • Posts: 6214
Re: Rorke's Drift (Miltiades rules)
« Reply #3 on: May 06, 2018, 05:05:19 PM »
The game begins. The first two Zulu Impis, appear!

Offline Bloodaxe

  • Scientist
  • Posts: 283
Re: Rorke's Drift (Miltiades rules)
« Reply #4 on: May 06, 2018, 05:09:14 PM »
Wow, really nice!   Where is the Drift terrain from?  The figures look like Eschi/Italeri.  Nice buildings & barricades!

Offline DintheDin

  • Galactic Brain
  • Posts: 6214
Re: Rorke's Drift (Miltiades rules)
« Reply #5 on: May 06, 2018, 05:10:15 PM »
Many Zulus fall, but they manage to come in close contact! The hospital is besieged...
One more impi  appears from the side between the small kraal and the storehouse!

Offline DintheDin

  • Galactic Brain
  • Posts: 6214
Re: Rorke's Drift (Miltiades rules)
« Reply #6 on: May 06, 2018, 05:11:53 PM »
The Zulus remain more than two rounds in contact with the hospital.
They set fire on the thatched roof! The sick and wounded must be evacuated!

Offline DintheDin

  • Galactic Brain
  • Posts: 6214
Re: Rorke's Drift (Miltiades rules)
« Reply #7 on: May 06, 2018, 05:35:58 PM »
Wow, really nice!   Where is the Drift terrain from?  The figures look like Eschi/Italeri.  Nice buildings & barricades!

Thank you! Buildings are Hovels, painted by Miltiades. Figures are from ESCI/Italeri and some metal.
Ground is from Pedion Terrain http://pedionterrain.blogspot.gr/

Offline DintheDin

  • Galactic Brain
  • Posts: 6214
Re: Rorke's Drift (Miltiades rules)
« Reply #8 on: May 06, 2018, 05:42:11 PM »
The fight becomes intense and Zulus break the perimeter!
The British player managed to evacuate the hospital without casualties (each figure remaining inside needing 4,5,6 to survive)

Offline DintheDin

  • Galactic Brain
  • Posts: 6214
Re: Rorke's Drift (Miltiades rules)
« Reply #9 on: May 06, 2018, 05:46:51 PM »
The fact that we do not see many more Zulus on table is because for two consecutive rounds the Zulu player brought a one.
However, British casualties start mounting...

Offline DintheDin

  • Galactic Brain
  • Posts: 6214
Re: Rorke's Drift (Miltiades rules)
« Reply #10 on: May 06, 2018, 05:49:28 PM »
Some sick and wounded are attacked... Also, the "fort" is in peril!

Offline Arundel

  • Mastermind
  • Posts: 1221
  • Galloping Outward Into the Weather!
Re: Rorke's Drift (Miltiades rules)
« Reply #11 on: May 06, 2018, 05:51:57 PM »
Hmmm, with the perimeter broken I think Tommy may be in trouble. The whole thing looks great and sounds like a lot of fun; I've always thought Rorke's Drift is one of the perfect little wargames: a very dramatic situation (if the English lose they die), colourful uniforms and types on each side, fun modelling opportunities, and of course the chance to paint hordes of Zulus! It also plays well with all the players on one side, which I like (we've always had the natives controlled by the rules, but it could be reversed).

Thank you for sharing!

Offline DintheDin

  • Galactic Brain
  • Posts: 6214
Re: Rorke's Drift (Miltiades rules)
« Reply #12 on: May 06, 2018, 06:02:22 PM »
Hmmm, with the perimeter broken I think Tommy may be in trouble. The whole thing looks great and sounds like a lot of fun; I've always thought Rorke's Drift is one of the perfect little wargames: a very dramatic situation (if the English lose they die), colourful uniforms and types on each side, fun modelling opportunities, and of course the chance to paint hordes of Zulus! It also plays well with all the players on one side, which I like (we've always had the natives controlled by the rules, but it could be reversed).

Thank you for sharing!

Hi! I think you said almost everything! We've played this scenario 4-5 times and every time the result was different. In any case, the British player needs to use very witty tactics to survive

Offline DintheDin

  • Galactic Brain
  • Posts: 6214
Re: Rorke's Drift (Miltiades rules)
« Reply #13 on: May 06, 2018, 06:04:35 PM »
The British player made a classical mistake: Instead of falling back and shooting, opening some distance from the attackers, decided to stay and fight hand-to-hand. As a result, some groups were isolated, encircled and perished...

Offline DintheDin

  • Galactic Brain
  • Posts: 6214
Re: Rorke's Drift (Miltiades rules)
« Reply #14 on: May 06, 2018, 06:09:05 PM »
Yet, more Zulus are coming!