CONGO, The day of the STUDIO Tomahawk

[Plynkes]

The pictures at the start of this topic show a game taking place in the Savannah.

It may well be just a catchy name for the game, but even so the Congo Free State/Belgian Congo/Zaire/DRC or whatever we're calling it this week, does have extensive savanna regions in the south and grasslands in the north.

[von Lucky]

How do we roll dice without hands, master?

[fastolfrus]

The one thing that was 'bothering me' about these rules, the name; Congo.

Maybe the rules are based on Congo pre-Belgians?

[AWu]

It was written somewhere (ST blog? ) That it will be Congo before Belgians.

[Ray Earle]

Foundry may well have learned about the upcoming Congo rules. It's certainly not beyond the realms of possibility.

I hope that they have and I hope, though doubt, that they will be adding to their range.

The one thing that was 'bothering me' about these rules, the name; Congo. Although all acts of Colonialism by the European powers were 100% abhorrent and unjustifiable in any human terms the Congo was a particularly brutal inhuman regime.... so will the rules reflect this?

I do hope that I've worded this well. I've just woken up with a stinker of a headache and my head is, well, aching! (Oh, it's not a hangover, 'tis the dreaded man flu!)

Worded extremely sensitively sir.

I believe that these rules will edge to the side of pulp/colonial. With the promise of a giant ape on the proceedings I can see it being a kind of 'boys own' version of colonialism. Lets face it, the more playable the better.

I think people are probably reading a bit too much into the name 'Congo'. 

[Hobbyone]

Hi Darrel

Thanks for your interest in our forthcoming game.

To make a long story short, the name of the game is based on the river rather than the colony and has a geographic meaning . Congo depicts the period of explorations that pre-dated and shortly followed the establishment of the Force Publique (roughly 1878-1890). Actutally, in that sense it is not a colonial game as no colony or colonial powers are involved. We are speaking here of European or American adventurers and scientists leading their caravan deep into the unknown, of zanzibari column looking for trade and (let's face it) sometimes slaves, of jungle tribes not agreeing with the aforementionned expeditions and african kingdoms waging war or doing their things. And all that in the Congo bassin, which is, you'll agree is quite a large gaming ground!
We do not want with these rules to handle the colonial wars with the book, it's rather as some have highlighted the 'boys own' aspect of the game, which we endorse. Much more like a romantic version of the exploration of Africa that the cruel, grim and tragic reality that we know. And that explains that it is really a skirmish game, with between 20-40 figures per side.

Hope it helps.

Cheers
Fred

[Atheling]

Thanks Fred for the goodly reply.

I wasn't trying to open a can of worms

I will no doubt be buying the rules anyway 
Darrell.

[Grimjack]

Having tried the rules, I'd compare it to an RPG meets a wargame, set in an untamed land full of excitement, adventure and VERY wild things. I believe there will be an article in the WI magazine just prior to Salute.

[Ray Earle]

Sounds good, thanks for the extra information Fred. 

[wulfgar22]

Having tried the rules, I'd compare it to an RPG meets a wargame, set in an untamed land full of excitement, adventure and VERY wild things.

That sounds brilliant!

[davidmbrits]

This ticks so many boxes. Awaiting with interest.

[axabrax]

I think we bring a lot of ourselves into word connotations. I highly doubt the average person thinks about colonial oppression when they absorb the word "Congo." I mostly think of the river even though I taught Heart of Darkness for several years in an English class.  To me the word Congo evokes a  quintessential Pulpy mysterious portrait of Africa in the same way the words "Tarzan" or "the source of the Nile" do.

When is the game coming out anyway?  

[tomek917]

I've just read the article in the latest WI and must say I am quite excited about this game!

Do we know anything about a release date yet?

And could we have some pointers about army building   

[Ray Earle]

It looks quite good, doesn't it.

I think I remember something about a Salute release.. 

[Kommando_J]

'' Although all acts of Colonialism by the European powers were 100% abhorrent and unjustifiable in any human terms ''

I've seen enough evidence to disprove that claim but...I say acknowledge that no part of history/military force was all 'good' and move on, if we were to be entirely PC most armies would be out and 40k would be right out .

Having read about the economy of the Sudan and how aspiring merchants would take out a loan, hire a bunch of bad men and go on a goods/slave raid to pay off the loan/work up capital, i've been wanting to work up a small warband myself, from the sound of it this might be the ruleset i'm after.

I too am hoping for some new stuff on the DA front...a man can dream.