Most "gamable" colonial periods?

[FifteensAway]

I know this is a highly subjective question, but curious to see what people consider the most gamable period within the 19th century colonial mix.  Perhaps the most important factor is not only a variety of scenarios to choose from but distinctly different flavors within those scenarios.  With that last in mind, what do you think is the most playable/gamable?

Why do I ask?  I'm trying to convince myself to reduce my excessive number of periods to have a more manageable collection.  I know I want to keep colonials in the mix, just need to decide which one to hang on to (or more than one, maybe).

I already have: Indian Mutiny, Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, French Foreign Legion, my Slightly Cracked Colonials (fictional Africa during the Scramble), and Boxer Rebellion.  And, if anyone were to make a good range in 15 mm, I'd consider adding German East Africa.

The good side of this quandry is that I have managed to keep all of my figures in one scale: 15 mm (well, some are 18 mm but you know what I mean).  Just have too many of them, best estimate hovers around 32,000.  And, no, not nearly all painted - about 4 or 5 thousand finished, about 3 or 4 thousand primed and ready to paint or in process.  Roughly.

Thanks for any ideas you can toss out that might help me make a decision.

[H.M.Stanley]

I rather like India [Mutiny or NWF] and the Scramble but can see how the Boxer Rebellion would also appeal

[HerbyF]

I have always liked Boxer rebellion. But I also like NWF & the Sudan campaigns. If you have Boxer rebellion Chinese & Indian mutiny British you could also play out the Opium wars.

[H.M.Stanley]

Opium Wars - that would be Flashman & the Dragon. Right?

[Westfalia Chris]

Opium Wars - that would be Flashman & the Dragon. Right?

Towards the end of the Second Opium War, or Arrow War, yes. The First Opium War was the one from 1839-42, leading to the establishment of Hong Kong as a British settlement, and would provide the backdrop in Clavell's Tai Pan.

If you can get over the portrayal of British Naval Officers as powdered and make-up heavy perverts, the 1997 Chinese propaganda piece "The Opium War" features a lot of nice visuals and an overall not-too-inaccurate depiction of the affair.

Regarding the topic, judging by the numbers and scale, it appears that the OP would be more interested in large actions. Personally, I am more of a colonial skirmish fan in 28mm, but I must agree that I've found myself fascinated by the Sikh Wars and the Mutiny myself everytime I read the respective Flashman books. I'd guess the ones that weren't a foregone conclusion would be the most interesting.

[Conquistador]

Let me throw back a question.  Why do you game the Colonial period and spend the time buying, basing, painting, organizing, and playing?

For me the driving force in all my games are focused on "who" was involved.  I don't collect miniatures for just any (colonial or other) war games.

If America is involved, it will be considered.

If American Indians are involved it will be seriously considered.

If Spain is involved, it will be very Seriously considered.

If it's fantasy then it has to be Dwarves!  And not Games Workshop must not be involved.

If it's Science Fiction, Aliens should be involved, (I consider "Bugs" to be Aliens,) and Games Workshop nust not be involved

If the any of the above isn't true but France or Canada is involved I will probably consider it.

As a quick aside, if it's a game at a convention I probably will use other criteria (new to me rules let that sounds like it might be fun, a friend is running a game and needs more participants to make it work, it is a period I don't have yet that is calling me, etc.,) but the above guides my

You might want to consider why you play colonials and which ones best scratch that itch as part of the process on thinning down your collection.

Then you can know which ones are "optional" and which ones are seriously baseline for you.

Gracias,

Glenn

[Marine0846]

Boy, tough question.
As an owner of many colonial periods with lots of unpainted figures I am in the same boat.
Do I plan to paint them all up, probably not?
Do I want to sell some off, no?
I would say keep three (?) periods that you enjoy most.
Sell the rest.

[yancey5]

I have always enjoyed the Scramble for Africa since I can go with historical type scenarios but also have gamed "what if" scenarios with U.S. vs. Germans for coastal dominance, typical German vs. French or British (or vice versa) and everybody against the natives.  I feel Africa is best for the versatility of encounters and your imagination can run wild.  Introduce animals in the mix and its a whole new board game.

[FifteensAway]

Well, first, thank you so much for the replies.  Truly appreciated because I wasn't sure anyone could really 'answer' the question.  How helpful were they?  Well, sort of.  Seems a lot of people have the same problem I do with colonials: they are like Lays Potato Chips, you can't have just one!

On the large number, you do need to divide that across 14 different historical periods, from Viking era up to the Wild West (and the more recent colonials) - though not evenly divided, some periods have a few hundred, the largest is probably around 4000.

As to the why comment: now that is far too loaded a question for me to tackle in depth.  They are fun and colorful and exotic.  That is good.  They often pit comparatively high technology versus low.  That is not so good - and why I skipped the Zulu War even though I think the British uniforms of that conflict the best ever.

And animals?  I have what must be nearing 400 animals for Africa, many herds at 36 beasts or so.

So, to further the discussion, I guess I want active adventures against reasonably matched opponents and plenty of animals.  So, Africa, right?  But there were plenty of critters in India, too, though not generally in search large herds.  But India gives you men riding on elephants and I have LOTS of those.

Indeed, it is a tough quandry.

But I welcome more input, for sure.  Who knows, maybe someone will write something that gives me the right information to make that difficult decision.

Keep those ideas flowing.

[Hobbit]

My two favourite colonial conflicts are the 2nd Anglo-Boer War and the North West Frontier. In both of thesse the other side shoots back and you don't just have hoards of spear armed loonies that you have to dodge. Indeed the 2nd Anglo-Boer War turns many of the principles of colonial warfare upside down.

[Kingscarbine]

19th C. Portuguese Wars of Occupation and Pacification; French Conquest of Algeria; British West Africa Campaigns...

[Arthur]

I'm a first and second Sikh Wars nutter myself, though these conflicts do not appear on your list. As someone once very aptly said, they play like Napoleonics on acid with elephants and cooler hats 

Oh, and they also provide balanced and challenging battles as well.

Apart from India, the French intervention in Mexico 1861-1867 - a.k.a the Maximilian adventure - along with the Taiping war and Darkest Africa scenarios  - mostly Belgians against Azande and Congo Arabs.   

[H.M.Stanley]

Oh well, if we're narrowing it down, 2nd Anglo-Afghan War and African Exploration ..

[FifteensAway]

Well, narrowing it down was the point of my original post.  But it is hard, I've been trying to convince myself of the where and the how and the when for a year or three now. 

I waffle between reducing the number of figures per collection versus abandoning some of the periods.

Of course, if some of you want to volunteer to paint a few thousand figures in total, then I can go ahead and keep them all!   

[Leapsnbounds]

 I agree, the policing actions are the most balanced rather than the set piece battles.