Miniatures Talk

Rorke's Drift practice game

Posted by PaulRPetri on 08 Dec 2020, 03:09

I was able to grab one of my wargaming partners and have a quick dinning room table battle testing out some rules that Hal Thinglum wrote in 1982 for the battle of Rorke's Drift. I played in one of Hals games at the Little Wars convention in 1986 here in Illinios. That game still lives on in my memory and I have wanted to recreate it for many years. So lets begin.
We just made up one wall and had the zulus attempt to storm it. Since I was playing the British the zulus were sure to win!
Zulus massing for the attack.
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The brave British defenders standing to!
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With my outstanding leadership the zulus have made it over the wall!!
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Holding firm for the time being!
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The zulus are pushed back!!
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Unfortunatly that just made them mad!!
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In my defense my opponent in this game nearly never failed a morale check and crushed me in melee with dice that should have been in Vegas!!
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The end of my gallant last stand. The rules are very old school 2d6 and still work after all of these years. I am planning a December 19 full Rorke's Drift battle as I have everything completed!! I will take pictures and post an after action report.
PaulRPetri  United States of America
 
Posts: 619
Member since:
02 Apr 2019, 00:59


Posted by Ochoin on 08 Dec 2020, 05:47

Stirring! I love a good game report - & the follow up will be even better, I'm sure. Your figures & terrain are remarkable.

Just a thought about wargaming the period: it is a challenge to find a scenario & shape the forces to produce something like a balanced battle game IMO.

Because the Zulus are more or less a 'one shot weapon' (ie they close to melee & generally win or they don't & lose), it's hard to avoid an inevitable massacre of one side or the other. I actually find the Sudan easier to game because both sides have several different troop types which allows the "rock, scissors & paper" effect some play.

You'll probably point out that the Zulus had firearms. I have created a couple of "shooty" Zulu units but TBH I don't think this is entirely historically accurate.

At any rate, AZW games look brilliant, so I'll persevere.

donald
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Ochoin  Scotland
 
Posts: 2397
Member since:
16 Jan 2010, 04:00

Posted by PaulRPetri on 08 Dec 2020, 15:33

Thank you for the kind words Donald.

I agree with everything you say about gaming the AZW. My plan is to run scenario type games with strict objectives for the British. Doing a line up pick up game is pointless. I have Sudan stuff about ready to hit the table top very soon.
PaulRPetri  United States of America
 
Posts: 619
Member since:
02 Apr 2019, 00:59


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