March or Die! Solo game WIP

[FlyXwire]

Happy to get the core of my French Zouaves done for the project now, circa 1830s-70s (in their summer 'campaign' pants).  Next to paint will be the company officers in kepis, which will place them around the 1840s-50s and beyond, and a single standard bearer.  This will provide three marching units for protection of the scenario's supply echelon.

Making progress!

[Marine0846]

Love your Zouaves.
May I ask who makes them?

[FlyXwire]

TY much! 

They're Perry plastics.

[Grumpy Gnome]

Good looking Zouaves!

[FlyXwire]

Thank you Rick!

I've got the Zouave flag and officers done, so the 3rd Reg. (flag of the Third Republic) is ready to hit the dusty trail.



Next the foot Tuaregs, and then onto the cards.

[Marine0846]

Thanks FlyXwire for the reply about the Zouaves.
Also some great photos and other information,
thanks all who have posted, very cool stuff.

[FlyXwire]

Marine0846, I thank you for your consistent interest in the thread here (that's been appreciated)!

I've decided to go back and finish up my own Colonial-era rules in the meantime now, that I call Colonial Actions.  What's needed is to get the QRS updated to the last rule revisions, and then I'll be 'done' with them.  Since there's no real imperative with my restricted gaming existence now, and I'm not needing to get games onto the table in a timely manner, I've decided to start back at the rules foundation point again, to get those done while I'm painting figures up too.  Then when the rules are final, I can start on my own scenario generation cards for a few chosen periods I think will work well with this "March or Die!" format, that is  - for the Congo w/the Force Publique vs. native opposition, and the Maghreb w/these French Zouaves vs. Tuareg warriors.

These CA rules are very flexible now, so the forces list are the only charts that need to be changed to move across most geographic locales.  Here's the last game I put on with them, a frontier raid into Northern Zululand, and an example of the possible force list to draw from -









 

[Marine0846]

Very cool terrain. love it.
Zulus were the first colonial figures I painted up.
That was back in 1978.
I am showing my age.
Like your charts.
May I ask, what size of game are you looking to play?
Or number of figures in play for the game. (Example TSATF)

[FlyXwire]

Units could be considered platoons, companies, or even regiments, and it would be the scenario mission and the tabletop's terrain density that would most often dictate [inform] the game scale.

As an example, if the rules were used for the Sudan, with the miniature tabletop displaying open vistas, and clear landscape between intervening ridges or wadis, then the unit scale could be considered "regimental", with weapon effectiveness occurring at longer ranges, and a game turn reflecting a longer time interval too. 

If the game instead was being played out on a jungle tabletop dominated by a clearing with a fortified tembe, then the units might be platoons, and weapon effectiveness constricted by a denser terrain situation and with limiting exposure to fire opportunities - this a more tactical scaling interpretation (but the game ranges in measurement [as a mechanic] would remain unchanged) .   

There are unit size "thresholds" and characteristics though, that will allow a particular game unit an ability to absorb punishment over time - and with an expectation that these units might be able to accomplish some mission tasks.  Also, the number of maneuver elements and their amount of figures contained in each (or individual number of stands) must ultimately be informed by the game collection available too.  Tied in with the size of the units, are specialist game figures/stands that can be included into them, to impart one-time action abilities (and interrupts) - this is an additional design tool that can be used to reflect trained troops, with organized command structures, and having organic communications (as opposed to ad-hoc, irregular, or ill-disciplined units).

Having said all this    I usually organize 'European-trained' units at around 8-12 figures (and amongst these include an officer, musician, and standard/guidon bearer).  Whereas irregular or tribal contingents might number from 6 - 16 figures, the smaller units just having a leader included, but larger contingents also having their own standard bearer and musician figure each.  In essence, the sizing of the units and the inclusion or not of the specialist figures can denote a 'scale' to the formations too - with small units reflecting skirmishing elements, and the larger units reflecting organized units with greater battle intent.

Units in various conditions here - and some having used their special action figures (if they had them to start with) -



By allowing a variance in unit sizes, and the inclusion of special action figures within some units, there's an ability for a scenario designer (or this could be organized thru each player) an ability to impart intended combat roles to each unit - some can be small 'skirmishing/scouting' units, some support/reserve units, some the larger, primary 'teeth' formations.

Again, having this flexibility for a scenario designer (or given to each player) to organize enough maneuver elements from within their collections, while also offering units to be 'weighted' to their intended combat roles within the context of the game (and with an eye towards historical relevance of course, or within the knowledge base of the organizing participants), is to encourage how a game force might be specifically organized to accomplish a tabletop mission.....and with hopes to provide for  balanced Colonial Actions, or in the least, an entertaining game experience.   

OK Marine, that would be my short answer.     

[Marine0846]

Thanks, FlyXwire for the short answer.
I like your ideas and how you are going about the rules to make it happen.
Excellent photo you have posted with the Arabs and Belgians.

[FlyXwire]

I was wondering if anyone makes separate 28mm camel gear (with the hanging camel cloth, gear, packs sold separately), that could be glued onto existing castings - I'm thinking of converting a few of these  camels without their riders into pack animals for the NWF?

Any thoughts, possible manufacturers?