T&T and the 'Maori Wars'

[Atheling]

Hi,

With the release of the new Empress models I'm looking to start to put together a demo game with the 68th Regiment of Foot (soon to be amalgamated into the Durham Light Infantry) attacking at Gate Pa.

I wonder if anyone has any experience of using T&T for such a game? If so, would you mind me asking what special rules and character traits you found usefull, or invented?

It really would be a great help if anyone out there has any ideas. Sadly, I'm much more of a modeller and a painter than I am a rules writer!

Any help/guidance would be very much appreciated.

Darrell.

PS. Mods, if you think this may be more at home in the colonial section please feel free to move the thread over there. I wasn't really sure of where it belongs  .

[Westfalia Chris]

Without being more blatant than necessary, you might wish to take a look at the Colonial Supplement which has special rules to differenciate between regular European troops and native forces, and should be useful to model the Maori Wars as well.

I am by no means an expert on the subject, but from what I recall, the war was characterised by larger skirmishes and attacks on Pas. I think T&T should be able to model a company-sized action in a satisfactory fashion.

Generally, I would recommend equipping most European troops with muskets as per either the Colonial or the basic rulebook; note that "rifles" in the main rulebook refer to breechloader and repeating rifles, not muzzle-loaders that would (IIRC) be standard equipment for the 1840s-1860s. To represent rifles, I would suggest using the rifle stat line for range and accuracy and combine it with the musket's reload rule.

The reload times would force the European player to make careful decisions about firing intensity and would level the playing field somewhat. Add to this one or more of the traits from the Colonial supplement for the Maoris, and I think it could work out quite well.

If you could point me to some TO&Es for the war, or some other reliable background info, I'd be happy to write up some specific rules for you (which we could later publish as a PDF) and, if you have pics of your painted figures, whip up a deck of unit cards for each side.

[Driscoles]

Grimnir has. I know he was using the rules before at a small Convention.
I know he can write special rules !
He is the guy who forced Empress to manufacture such beautiful models.

btw...thanks for considering T&T Darrel

[Atheling]

Grimnir has. I know he was using the rules before at a small Convention.
I know he can write special rules !

Calling Grimir!  Seriously though, any help would be very much appreciated.

He is the guy who forced Empress to manufacture such beautiful models.

And they really are beautifull models to so it's many thanks to Grimir 

btw...thanks for considering T&T Darrell

Well, they just seemed like a natural choice  .

Darrell.

[Grimnir]

Chris has already pointed you in the right direction. I based most of the stuff on the Colonial Supplement.

Weapons for the Regulars would be muskets for the 1840s und rifled muskets (range: 18”,24”,30”/-1; reload; point cost 4) for the 1860s.

For the Maori are the 'Nimble' and 'Hidden Foe' special rules suitable. However, these are more helpful for bush warfare than for defending a pa. I am not sure if the actual assault on a pa is a really interesting scenario. I would break the siege down into smaller actions like
- securing a hill for a gun
- sortie against a gun position
- attack against some rifle pits
- withdrawal from pa

Another rule that I have thought is a skirmish formation for light infantry:

Skirmish Order
Units that are drilled to fulfill light infantry duty can move into a Skirmish Order formation.

• A unit in Skirmish Order is divided into columns of two. Any supernumerary figures (unless Leaders of any kind) stay passive and replace casualties.
• Models of the same column must be within 3” of each other. Columns, however, must keep a minimum distance of 3” and no more than 5” of each other in order to maintain unit coherency.
• The unit has the High Mobility special rule as long as it is in Skirmish Order.
• A column can only fire one shot per turn. This represents the doctrine that the skirmishers of a column always shot in alternating order.
• Each column of a skirmishing unit can choose its target individually.
• Units in Skirmish Order cannot be targeted by volley fire. Firing a volley, which is basically an area effect, at a unit in a widespread formation is a waste of ammunition.
• Skirmishing units are highly vulnerable to close combat-attacks. Melee attacks against a unit in Skirmish Order are made with a +1 bonus as long as the attacking unit is not in Skirmish Order itself.

Obviously not really helpful for storming a pa either.   

[Atheling]

Thanks Grimir,

I'll what you have passed on to me some thought and get back to you on this one.

It will be a large-ish demo game and I'm a bit worried that some of the scenarios that you have outlined may be small-ish actions- you no doubt have much more experience of T&T and the NZ Wars in particular- what do you think?

Darrell.

[Atheling]

Just to let you chaps know that this project, although temporally shelved, is now back in business.

Just got to order the miniatures and plan the layouts etc.... in other words start!! 

Darrell.

[Driscoles]

cool !
I am very curious.

[Keith]

Might be good timing to get back into this 

[Atheling]

Might be good timing to get back into this 

Sounds promising 

Darrell.

[Atheling]

It looks very much as though this project is on the go again but maybe not for Salute.

I'll keep you all posted.

In the meantime, please enjoy these pics of the new Empress Miniatures British Sailors!

Beautifull sculpts.....

[Juan]

I´m reading this topic with great attention, wanting to see your project "in action"... because I have also some of these fantastic miniatures on my painting table!
I think "T & T" can work really well with this conflict.

Do you know if "Empress" is going to make more Maori figures?

[Lowtardog]

Those sailors are lovely. I am hoping they do the 1860s brits and rangers then I am on board, the earlier period not so much, though those maoris keep teasing me

[Atheling]

I´m reading this topic with great attention, wanting to see your project "in action"... because I have also some of these fantastic miniatures on my painting table!
I think "T & T" can work really well with this conflict.

Do you know if "Empress" is going to make more Maori figures?

The project is on hold but not forgotten about. It will take place.

I'm not sure if Empress plan on releasing any more Maori mini's but I live in hope  .

Darrell.

[Keith]