Yasassin in the Sudan!

Somewhere in Africa between Cairo and the spring of the Nile, I guess, was this Black Powder scenario located in the 19th Century in the time of Queen Victoria.

Bart and Peter played the British forces and me, Hugh and Bill played the believers. Scenario and umpire was Campbell, figures were sponsored by Bill, Campbell and Bart.

The British and their Egyptian fellows, allocated themselves on the other side of the table, as we the Ansars and Bejas, under the Mad Mullah, hid in a large wadi (that‘s one of the main features of a Sudan game) the followers of said Mad Mullah are always "hidden" in a dry river bed. It gives them some fig leaf of guerrilla warfare, which evaporates in the 1st turn as they always have to get close to their enemies and in turn have to give up this advantage, poor savages!

The British scenario objective was to reach ,with three units, our side of the table. Another main feature of Sudan games, or any colonial for that matter, is the mandatory objective, as otherwise the said "sauvages" wouldn't stand a chance in old fashion linear warfare, wouldn't it, Sir? Aye, piece of cake, Sir!

As we duly advanced out of our obligatory hide-away into visibility to attack our adversaries who, having read the rules, formed into brigade squares which are hard to break as it gives a +3 combat resolutions "no matter what"... Even in the event of 70ies- historical-B-movie-all-out-and-surround-attack of Zulus (oh pardon me, same continent – wrong colony) one alway has the time to help your friend next to you. Ah, I can hear you say: It doesn‘t have to be historical, just that feeling has to be right, you know? Of course, that said movies, shiny red tunic, moustaches in techni-color ...

So, my Ansars (or was it Bejas?) attacked the gatling gun straight on and the other Ansars charged the Egyptians, but alas Fortuna was not on my side at all. What I diced successfully, Peter, who played the Egypt square, bested in better saves and sent me back. Still, my Ansars persisted and attacked once more, but then Peter was given a small contingent of Dragoons that appeared in my flank and attacked one of my war bands.

Only equipped with 4 "savage" infantry to attack a colonial army square with a cavalry unit in my flank, that was, with all dicing, good or bad, just plain murder. Now this was when my fighting morale was completely broken and I ordered my rabble to retreat.  Hell, the Brits had to get their units over the wadi, not me.

Hugh then finally reaped the fruits of our effort and broke the Egyptian square. Bart had an almost German moment when he announced a draw as we just broke the "lesser" square, haha. And given, he was right, without the objective, we would have had to pack our things and go back into the desert. Which is one of my main critique on these games, as the troops are so hopelessly miss-balanced, you always need a neurotic scenario that limps to strive for a balance that isn't or wasn't there. And don't get me on the other issue, the scandalously repetitive descriptive of the best troops of the world, be it BEF or Britons, usually found only in British war game rules – obnoxious!

I still enjoyed the game, but hope for the day some "Almighty" will sent the right scenario along that is more in tune with the fighting style of the non-colonials. Hope always dies last.

The turks

Bart British supreme quality troops

My four warbands ... just infantry ...

The Desert ghosts attack the fearful Egyptians

In the best angle and the gun is jammed!!!

Bill is in for the kill on Barts square

The height of my attack 

Bill had some serious action going on this side of the British square

Morally defeated I let my Ansars retreat

Last ditch attempt to break the f§$%&/ing square

Hugh finally breaks the square