Most versatile troops for colonial gaming?

[gloriousbattle]

In no particular order, my picks would be:

More or less generic Muslims in flowing robes,

African Askaris with a neutral brown uniform and a moderately dark skin,

Blue Jackets,

and, of course, Belgian Force Publique zebra mounted cavalry (zebralry?).

Well, maybe not that last one... 

Seems to me that, if you had, say, thirty of each of the first three of these, with a few random light guns to trade back and forth, you could game in a vast number of colonial theaters, and with a vast number of nations, simply by changing out the officers and flags.  Might not have accuracy of uniforms that would fool the real historian, but cetainly something I would not avoid displaying at any convention

[Christian]

Can the same be said for British redcoats? Or is that Kakhi coats? I see...

[gloriousbattle]

Can the same be said for British redcoats? Or is that Kakhi coats? I see...

I think if you did khaki uniforms, you might have almost as much versatility in the later colonial period, but the Blue Jacket naval infantry was used by almost everybody, and was virtually unchanged throughout the period. 

Also, they're great for those island expeditions of just ten or so men escorting Lord Pumblegruff Chookmornington, his plucky daughter Roweena and faithful manservant Sabu, on the expedition to bring back the Eye of the Volcano God to the Royal Society.  If only they'd known that Doctor Moreau just bought a timeshare on that island...

Point is, wherever there was fighting, the Blue Jackets of whatever nation would ultimately show up.

[Conquistador]

I pretty much stick with Spanish troops  but I find sailors are indispensable for flexibility in scenario design.

Gracias,

Glenn

[gloriousbattle]

I pretty much stick with Spanish troops  but I find sailors are indispensable for flexibility in scenario design.

Gracias,

Glenn

Spain also used the Blue Jacket uniform, didn't it?

[H.M.Stanley]

Luggage Bearers. Indispensible in all good scenarios

[Hobbit]

Sikhs.

[cneme71]

I'm avidly following this thread, as I have a butt-load of Darkest Africa minis. I'm currently going full bore on my pirates though. Curses upon all my interests that tempt me from completing anything !

[Mason]

European 'gentlemen' in the generic explorer garb of the day could be added to that list, surely........

[Banderium]

Mosquitoes and flies.

[PaulJB]

I bought perry naval brigade for this very reason, the same figures will serve the last 50 years of the 19th century.

Richard Brooks book "The long arm of Empire" is a great read with the navy being the british empires go to troops for colonial interventions, anti piracy raids etc. Second hand copies are available on amazon for about £6 plus post.

Paul

[gloriousbattle]

I bought perry naval brigade for this very reason, the same figures will serve the last 50 years of the 19th century.

Well into the 20th in some cases.  The German and Russian sailors were wearing the same uniform throughout WW2, though the Russians changed the color to black.

[The Gray Ghost]

I would second the Sikhs followed by the Dervish, no patches.

[6milPhil]

I'd go for Sikhs too, the pulp figures ones.

British have to be a must though... biggest colonialist ever and all.

[Arthur]

I'll take the zebralry any time.