Brits Return to the Valley in Force - a less-modest TSATF AAR

[Mad Guru]

Rumors of a pending major Punitive Expedition to the Logar Valley, to chastise the inhabitants thereof for the still unexplained disappearance of the 3-man Heliograph signal team stationed in the old citadel atop Tower Hill, and the attempted ambush of the recently dispatched Gurkha patrol proved true -- pitting me against my 20 year-old son (the previous, smaller, engagement was me vs. my 17 year-old daughter).

A combined arms brigade of Infantry, Cavalry, and Artillery was dispatched to cross the bridge over the Kabul River and traverse the table to Khairabad Village, their mission: locate the missing Signalmen, take custody of their living or dead remains if possible, and exact appropriate punishment.

This game, like the previous more modest one, was a lot of fun.

Advantage seesawed back-and-forth at first, and for a while the results could have gone either way, before coming to a rather decisive conclusion.

British units showed both bravery and cowardice, and the Afghans did the same.

If interested, please stop by to visit my blog, via this handy LINK:

http://maiwandday.blogspot.mx/2017/07/return-to-logar-valley-in-force.html

All I'll say beyond the above is that over the years I may have trained my progeny too well in the art of playing with toy soldiers... so you may be able to guess how this one turned out in the end... a bit like the last.

Still, in my shameless effort to entice you to visit despite any "spoilers," here are just a SMALL PERCENTAGE of the many pics of the battle which -- together with a far more dramatically detailed After Action Report -- sit awaiting your perusal...

[Andrei1975]

My friend, I repeat: everything looks very chic. Your terrain is a miracle! Great game! 

[OSHIROmodels]

Excellent report and table 

cheers

James

[VSF Gamer]

One helluva table, I am in awe! Now going to your blog for more!

[Harry Faversham]

Well done the lad, he certainly played up, and played the game!
The Signalman... conversions or who's make?

 

[Marine0846]

Another excellent game.
Love the figures and terrain.
I never get tired of looking at your fine setup.

[chicklewis]

Truly wonderful, MadGuru !  

Your tower hill terrain remains spectacular.

The use of the Afghan merchants as clan elders brought a chuckle.

And the denouement with the Sergeants Three and Bhisti is a beautiful segue to the following adventure.  

Thanks for all the gorgeous photos !!

Chick

(If you care, 'Rout', as in 'Run off in fear' has no final 'e'.)

[SABOT]

It's already been said but WOW!! Just terrific!!

[DintheDin]

Beautiful table setup and figures!
I love the hill fort! 
It must have been an enjoyable game!
Thank you for sharing!

[Mad Guru]

Thanks very much for all the positive comments!

@Chick: a special thank you to you, Chick, for not hesitating to point out those typos!  Already went back and addressed them all -- at least I hope I got them all!

You correctly spotted that 2 of the "Village Elders" were indeed Eureka Arab or Indian civilian merchants, but I believe the third is actually "Swami Origami" from Artizan's "Thrilling Tales" range -- IMHO a great figure, available here: http://www.artizandesigns.com/list.php?&man=12&page=5

Chick, it's been way too long since you and I met in person!  I thought of that because it's also been way too long since the last time I played a wargame with my son -- and both times you and I met, he was there as well, at the first Colonial Barracks convention in 2011, and then when you graciously invited us to your gaming club's party that Christmas.  Hope we all manage to cross paths again before too much more time goes by.

@Harry Faversham: the bedraggled Heliograph team survivors are from the Wargames Foundry British "Great War Casualties Vignette" pack, available here: https://www.wargamesfoundry.com/collections/ww1-great-war-british/products/gwb002-great-war-casualties-vignette -- and required only a single head-swap conversion replacing one figure's service dress peaked cap with an Empress Zulu War Accessories pack "ZWA7 10 Brit heads" in Foreign Service Helmet.  That same Foundry pack also includes a stretcher-bearer team carrying another wounded figure, also easily convertible via more head-swaps into late 19th Century British colonial medical staff.
 

[Smokeyrone]

Wonderful!   Are the rocks bark or carved foam?

[LordSpode1879]

Your collection never ceases to stagger me! Wonderful figures slogging it out on stunning terrain! Awesome stuff and thank ou for sharing!

[Mad Guru]

Thanks for your kind words, LordSpode!

Hi Smokey, thank you very much!

They are all bark chips.

[twrchtrwyth]

Lovely stuff there.

[Smokeyrone]

Thanks for your kind words, LordSpode!

Hi Smokey, thank you very much!

They are all bark chips.

Let EVERYONE understand this!   SEE how awesome bark looks?  (Yeah, I've never used it before either, but I have access to TONS of the stuff here in scrub pine Florida!)

I'm gonna start hoarding bark!

Just fantastic work here!  That is top notch!