A Diamond is a Warlords Best Friend, a 28mm modern african AAR. (Part 2 out)

[Bushbaby]

Hi everyone! This is my first AAR from the West African Republic (WAR), a troubled country, to put it mildly.



First, a few facts gathered from the CIA factbook:

West African Republic

Presidential Republic
Motto: "Unity, Pride, Prosperity"
Legislature: Assembly of the republic
Demonym: West african
Independence from UK 1962.
Recognized 1985 (after a bloody civil war between a white minority and a black majority)
Pop 1995 est.: 1,1 milj
Capital Batonga pop: 400k
Republica pop: 100k,
Jamestown, 60k
Area 88,496 km2 (141th)
Currency: USD, GBP
Ethnic groups: Dongo 49%, Fong 32%, Kwe 14%, Boo 8%, asian 1%, white 1%
Avg life expectancy: 39 yrs
Literacy 48%
GNP/capita: $1025
Language: english + 5 vernacular languages.
Religion: christian, animist, vodoo
Industries: palm oil, timber, diamonds
Major waterways: Omfo "Blood" River
Major lakes: Lake Makopi
Ruling Party: Peoples Liberation Front (PLF)
President: Field Marshal, Professor, His exellency, John Gabona
Minister of Interior: General John "Johnny Boy" II Gabona

Military AFWAR (armed forces of WAR):
Army (AWAR): 10 000
1st. Mech brigade 400 comprised mostly of outdated T-55 tanks, BTR-80s and "technicals"
Air force (WARAF): 100 comprised of one transport helicopter and one recon helicopter.
Police Force (PWAR): 2000
Special Forces (WARSF): 500

Armed groups:

Ranga-Tseko Militia: Pro government militia. Accused of gross human rights violations.
Democratic Liberation Front (DLF) anti government rebels, backed by neighbouring Cabo Corso.
Army of Messiah Reborn (AMR) bloodthirsty religious fanatics led by self proclaimed messiah Ogwa "the Light" Akabe.
Definite Solutions Enterprises (DSE), a South Africa based mercenary company. Protecting european owned mining assets.
Jamestown Self Defence Force (JSDF), vigilantes defending mostly white and colored Jamestown, a remnant of the white settlers.


A Diamond is a Warlords Best Friend



Mission briefing: A small convoy of ukranian diamond smugglers have been ambushed outside the small hamlet of P`Ganga. The three survivors, a courier (carrying a bag of diamonds), a local guide and a driver have managed to hide in the village while radioing for help. DSE, their security contractors, dispatches an armed cessna that forces the DLF attackers to hide in the surrounding bush. At the same time the plane is forced to return because of fuel shortage, a small motorized DSE team arrives on site.



Recon image taken by the pilot.



The operators proceed on foot from the east, leaving the BTR-80 as reserve until the enemy is located.



Fanning out on both sides of the road



...to later take upp positions in the village outskirts.



Suddenly a technical appears, sending a hailstorm of bullets into the church building trying to smoke out the hiding courier.



The courier loses heart and dashes out from his hideout, followed by the local guide (masked to avoid being recognised).



The mercs, forced to think and act quickly, sends in the BTR-80 in an attempt to reach the courier and extract him before he is gunned down in the open.



This prompts  the first hidden rebel team to leave their orchard cover and take up pursuit of the ukranian and his diamonds.



The DSE SAW gunner realises the rebels are armed whith an RPG and lays down supressive fire, lighting up up the orchard.



... forcing the terrified RPG gunner to duck for cover.



After peppering the temple, the technical proceeds to the village square, preparing for another mad burst of .50 fire. The SAW gunner redirects his fire towards this new threat.



...tearing large holes through the vehicles engine and perforating the poor, underpaid gunner, sending him bleeding into the trunk. The driver hit the breaks and reverses the crippled car in behind cover.



Sadly, this gives the afforementioned RPG-gunner some respite. Recovered, he takes aim...



And shoots at the exposed back of the BTR-80, setting the vehicle ablaze, just seconds before the ukranian reaches the armoured car.



...and forcing the two crewmembers to scramble for cover. A severe blow for the rescue squad!



The time of voes are not over for the DSE. More rebels engages the exposed courier from bushes south of the village.



... killing both courier and guide in a storm of bullets.


To be continued...

[juergen c. olk]

Great stuff. What rules are you using? And what scale? Great terrain.

[Bushbaby]

Thanks. I'm using 28mm and a ruleset I've developed myself. I have worked as a game designer so I tend to create my own games. I call this "Uncivil Wars". I might make the rules available if I think they are good enough. This was the first playtest.

[Marine0846]

Neat story and AAR.
Great looking buildings.
Looking forward to what happens next.
As in, what happen to the diamonds.

[NickNascati]

Bushbaby,
                The game and background look great.  I just sent you a PM.

[Redmao]

Looks like a great game.

[Mike Bravo Minis]

Great set up and nice effect with the photos.  Will be interesting to see if you develop the rules further.

[Bushbaby]

Chapter 2




Smelling blood and feeling the tingling sensations of diamonds close by, the DLF rebels advances. Both from the north west...



... and south west.



Expecting disheartened opposition they make a push for the corpse of the courier.



Things are definitely looking bleak for DSE, when the surviving driver comes out of hiding, opening up with an AK47 in an attempt to buy time for his comrades.



His heroic effort kills the dismounted driver of the unfortunate technical and causes nearby rebels to halt.



But heroic efforts are often followed by heroic deaths. An RPG rocket hits the house behind him and the blast sends him dying to the ground.



The valiant assault does not go unnoticed, and out of nowhere the DSE combat medic singelhandedly charges into the bush where the northwestern group of rebels are advancing. A chaotic fight in close quarters ensues. The medic fires his shotgun at close blank range in the face of his opponent, but MISSES! His adversary fires back, forcing the medic to jump for cover.



At the same time, two other rebels opens up blindly through the dense undergrowth, and manages to inflict serious wounds on their own comrade (!).



Already shaken by previous casualties, this turn of events causes one of the fratriciders to break and run.



From newly aquired positions the remaining DSE operatives engages the south western rebel team.



... causing casualties and morale breakdown with the first volley...



... and annihilation with the next.



The medic jumps out of cover dispatching the wounded rebel in a very unmedical way, and with assistance of the now redeployed BTR-crew, engages the rebel leader and his bodyguard.



... putting a definitive end to any further rebel aspirations of diamond acquisition.



The remnants of the rebel force breaks and runs for the hills.



Leaving the battlefield in an eerie silence.


Mission results

DSE: The mercenaries failed to protect their principal and won´t get paid in full this time. The loss of the armoured vehicle was a costly affair aswell. On the other hand, if they don´t report the diamonds as recovered, they may become a "handsom ransom" and will cover their expences several times over. But this might risk angering the ukranians if the truth comes out.

DLF: Well, no diamonds for the democratic liberation effort this time. This is their first encounter with the South Africa based mercenary company and an important lesson for the rebels. Next time they (I) will avoid deadly shootouts in open terrain with the veteran mercenaries and rely on hiding in the bush.


"Uncivil war" rules review

All in all the rules played out nicely and the game was very enjoyable and exiting. Both players were actively engaged throughout the whole game. This I belive is an important factor in a good game. I felt the dice rolls mirrored realistic probabilities, despite using a simple system. The rules were pretty straight forward, and we did not have to consult lenghty tables before every dice roll. The morale system worked pretty well and caused several rebels to break and run, quite realistically. A good morale system I feel is extremely important in a good ruleset.


On the downside:
The game took 4 hours to play, which is a bit to long for my liking. I aim for games no longer than 3 hours, giving the opportunity to play two battles in one evening.  I would say the reason for the long gameplay were the number of units involved. Fewer soldiers means faster turns. Of course.

I will modify the ruleset, clarify some parts and kill some darlings, before next game test.

[Nimrod]

Interesting setting and nice reports.

[Earther]

Great pics and write up!

[Bushbaby]

Will keep posting the WAR Saga.

[Marine0846]

Great part 2.
Loved it.
Hope to see more and follow the diamond trail.

[grant]

Lovely report.

DiCaprio approves.

[Bushbaby]

Thank you!

[Golgotha]

This was fantastic love the executive outcomes styled side - when and where can one get these uncivil rules and are they akin to AK47 Republic? Would really love to play something like this and very topical.