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Miniatures Adventure => Colonial Adventures => Topic started by: Golgotha on 22 February 2016, 09:57:53 PM

Title: A Napoleon killed by Zulus
Post by: Golgotha on 22 February 2016, 09:57:53 PM: A Napoleon killed by Zulus - Idea for a skirmish Anglo Zulu War game? see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napol%C3%A9on,_Prince_Imperial and http://www.napoleonicsociety.com/english/zululanda.htm
Title: Re: A Napoleon killed by Zulus
Post by: Romark on 22 February 2016, 10:43:09 PM: Didn't Captain Blood put this game on some time ago ? Perhaps someone could link the articles for the poster ? :)
Title: Re: A Napoleon killed by Zulus
Post by: Silent Invader on 22 February 2016, 10:51:19 PM: Captain Blood & Malamute have hosted the game on a number of occasions

This is the only report I could find:

http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=23177.msg282999#msg282999 (http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=23177.msg282999#msg282999)

I've played it more recently :)
Title: Re: A Napoleon killed by Zulus
Post by: Harry Faversham on 22 February 2016, 11:02:48 PM: I first saw the game at Sheffield Triples many, many years ago. I believe back then it was called 'A Run in Zululand'? Playing card driven, with the British/French, having to saddle up and gallop from one end of the table t'other as it filled up with angry Zulu warriors. Not many made it, but great fun was had by all, I've got the rules kicking about somewhere.

:)
Title: Re: A Napoleon killed by Zulus
Post by: Golgotha on 23 February 2016, 12:00:43 AM: Wow that looks and sounds great... Making said scenario card driven makes sense and would help create a certain urgency and unpredictability. Any suggestions for rules?
Title: Re: A Napoleon killed by Zulus
Post by: Malamute on 23 February 2016, 08:59:19 AM: Quote from: Golgotha on 23 February 2016, 12:00:43 AM
Wow that looks and sounds great... Making said scenario card driven makes sense and would help create a certain urgency and unpredictability. Any suggestions for rules?

I have the rules we used. They were originally printed in one of the Wargames Illustrated spin off magazines called Wargames World. Its a very simple set using two packs of playing cards. Movement is simple, standard move on foot 4" mounted 8", each figure draws a card for movement. On the turn of card a black card add 2", a red card minus 2". Zulu's have a standard 6" move.
Combat is a straight cut of the deck with the opponent guessingh igher or lower to win the combat. Each figure had a series of wounds they could take and dependent on where you were hit determines whetehr you lose movemnt points or combat points etc. Tunring a Black Jack would make you fall over.
The Birtish players have to saddle their horses and ride from one end of the table to the other negotiating a donga on the way. Its every man for himself, but the Prince Imperial should be protected etc.

As Silent Invader says Captain Blood and I have run it a few times at BLAM. The boards he made have been repurposed now for his cave wars game. Here is his build thread:

http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=20284.0
Title: Re: A Napoleon killed by Zulus
Post by: Captain Blood on 23 February 2016, 09:05:01 AM: Yes, it was a scenario originally devised and staged by Staines Wargamers around 25 years ago, as published in 'Battle' or one of the other wargaming mags of the time. The game was called 'Death or Dishonour' and largely based on another article / book (?) called Captain Carey's Blunder, which told the story of the demise of the Prince Imperial. I think it may even have been by Donald Featherstone. Or maybe I'm getting confused as it was round about that time... Anyway, yes, Malamute and I have run this game quite a few times and it never fails to entertain. The playing card draw to decide just about everything is a brilliant and simple mechanic, and so much more fun than rolling heaps of dice :)

Aha - malamute just beat me to it! :D

Edit: Yes, just googled it. The book was by Featherstone. You can still get it via Amazon by the looks of things.
Title: Re: A Napoleon killed by Zulus
Post by: Harry Faversham on 24 February 2016, 08:18:57 AM: We still play it regularly, but have moved it to the Wild West, having the Red River patrol trying to leg it back to the fort through Indian Country. We have laminated cartoons of the patrol that you can bung an arrow on every time a wound's taken. I've found that the game can make very nice people act quite beastly. My patrol was galloping to safety from a passel of howling savages when my daughter fell from her horse. Seeing as how I was the noble Captain Brittles I galloped back and offered her a gauntlet. She took it, shot me through the melon, jumped on mi' horse and galloped off! The noble Captain was duly massacreed and scalped by the Redskins, disowned daughter trilling...

"You did say it was every man for himself Daddio!"

:-*

(http://www.ranger.riverviewparkdsm.com/wthpstl.jpg)
Title: Re: A Napoleon killed by Zulus
Post by: robh on 25 February 2016, 11:51:56 AM: We have also played that scenario a few times, most recently just after Christmas using a 1:1 version of Triumph and Tragedy. This time Louis and a couple of the escort survived but most everyone else died.

There has been a version for the excellent (old school) RenCounter rule set around on the web for many years.
Scenario
http://www.angelfire.com/sd/scarvie/louis.html (http://www.angelfire.com/sd/scarvie/louis.html)

Rules
https://web.archive.org/web/20060712154844/http://tetrad.stanford.edu/renc/rencounter.html (https://web.archive.org/web/20060712154844/http://tetrad.stanford.edu/renc/rencounter.html)
Title: Re: A Napoleon killed by Zulus
Post by: Sterling Moose on 13 April 2016, 03:08:24 AM: Ha, this thread brings back memories. I played the Staines game many years ago at Ilford Rampage, a great game with simple rules that is ideal for conventions. I'm sure I had a copy of the magazine it featured in too but unfortunately it has been lost in the mists of time. I'd love another copy if anyone has one going spare.
Title: Re: A Napoleon killed by Zulus
Post by: Malamute on 13 April 2016, 07:07:59 AM: Quote from: Sterling Moose on 13 April 2016, 03:08:24 AM
Ha, this thread brings back memories. I played the Staines game many years ago at Ilford Rampage, a great game with simple rules that is ideal for conventions. I'm sure I had a copy of the magazine it featured in too but unfortunately it has been lost in the mists of time. I'd love another copy if anyone has one going spare.

You're in liuck. I have it. :)
Title: Re: A Napoleon killed by Zulus
Post by: Captain Blood on 13 April 2016, 07:49:26 AM: Quote from: Malamute on 13 April 2016, 07:07:59 AM
You're in liuck. I have it. :)

So do I!
(But only because he gave it to me! :D)
Title: Re: A Napoleon killed by Zulus
Post by: Eric the Shed on 13 April 2016, 08:10:52 AM: I did a write up on the game ....its after the French Indian War game

link: http://shedwars.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Zulu (http://shedwars.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Zulu)

lots of piccies...

(http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j375/ErictheShed/Captain%20Blood%20Weekend/z18_zpse7285163.jpg)

it was great fun...and if I recall Captain Blood provided an excellent Shepherds Pie
Title: Re: A Napoleon killed by Zulus
Post by: Sterling Moose on 13 April 2016, 12:19:45 PM: PM most definitely sent :D
Title: Re: A Napoleon killed by Zulus
Post by: Atheling on 14 April 2016, 04:55:20 PM: Saw this on Google......

Beautiful vignette:

(http://www.histomin.com/lineben/benimp/mpbnmd29.jpg)

Darrell.
Title: Re: A Napoleon killed by Zulus
Post by: Nemo de st privat on 14 April 2016, 04:57:52 PM: Quote from: Atheling on 14 April 2016, 04:55:20 PM
Saw this on Google......

Beautiful vignette:

(http://www.histomin.com/lineben/benimp/mpbnmd29.jpg)

Darrell.

:-* :-* :-*
Title: Re: A Napoleon killed by Zulus
Post by: Harry Faversham on 14 April 2016, 09:44:19 PM: If memory serves the frog Prince emptied his revolver into the oncoming Zulus...
and hit none of them!

:'(
Title: Re: A Napoleon killed by Zulus
Post by: Sir_Theo on 22 April 2016, 09:57:26 AM: I was actually talking to my mum about this the other day. She volunteers at a local National Trust property and spends a day a week in tbe local archive going through the papers from the house. A few weeks ago they found a letter from a family member who was serving a the time and he mentions the death of the Prince Imperial. Apparently the was quite scathing about the troops who had been charged with protecting him, which I gather was a common sentiment at the time.
Title: Re: A Napoleon killed by Zulus
Post by: Atheling on 22 April 2016, 11:21:11 AM: Quote from: Sir_Theo on 22 April 2016, 09:57:26 AM
I was actually talking to my mum about this the other day. She volunteers at a local National Trust property and spends a day a week in tbe local archive going through the papers from the house. A few weeks ago they found a letter from a family member who was serving a the time and he mentions the death of the Prince Imperial. Apparently the was quite scathing about the troops who had been charged with protecting him, which I gather was a common sentiment at the time.

Have you still got the letter?

It would be a very useful first source for a number of folk I know who aren't just wargamers. A copy would be brilliant if that were ever possible (please)?

Darrell.
Title: Re: A Napoleon killed by Zulus
Post by: Golgotha on 23 April 2016, 12:40:36 PM: I would second what Atheling said it would be both useful and interesting to see.
Title: Re: A Napoleon killed by Zulus
Post by: Sir_Theo on 23 April 2016, 05:16:27 PM: Quote from: Atheling on 22 April 2016, 11:21:11 AM
Have you still got the letter?

It would be a very useful first source for a number of folk I know who aren't just wargamers. A copy would be brilliant if that were ever possible (please)?

Darrell.

It's in the possession of the National Trust as part of their collection from Erddig in North Wales. I'll have a chat to my Mum to ask the curator, maybe get it put online?
Title: Re: A Napoleon killed by Zulus
Post by: Cubs on 23 April 2016, 06:16:11 PM: Quote from: Sir_Theo on 22 April 2016, 09:57:26 AM
Apparently the was quite scathing about the troops who had been charged with protecting him, which I gather was a common sentiment at the time.

Modern sentiments are more forgiving I think, heaping much of the blame on the Prince Imperial himself, who badgered the unfortunate Lt Carey (acting as nursemaid to the Prince, who was an unofficial observer) mercilessly into seeing a bit of action. It's now thought that despite being given clear instructions to stay in camp, the Prince took de facto command of a foraging party and led them to disaster. Carey's greatest misfortune was probably to have survived. He maintained that he gave the order to mount up and ride to safety, but that the Prince's saddle strap broke, tumbling him to the ground. In Victorian times, Carey was probably expected to have sacrificed his own life to save his charge's.