Monday 20 July 2020

Hold until relieved part two.

We resume the action with the Pathan horsemen threatening the bridge...


The newly arrived Indian unit reaches the vicinity of the bridge.

Pathans advance through the ruins to outflank the Brits.

Fire!.

And the horsemen are badly shot up.

The Brits shoot point blank but the Afghans keep their heads down.

The horsemen pass their morale and charge over the bridge!.

But the Indians fight them off with only one casualty.

Undeterred by the fate of their cavalry more tribesmen attack the bridge.

Turn four sees real mayhem, the Pathans hurl themselves at the Brits and slay them all.

A fierce fight on the bridge which the Pathans win too.

The bridge is under pressure from both sides of the river now.

The remaining Indian unit tries to take back the bridge.

And fails, I told you it was mayhem!. Where the blazes are the Bengal lancers?.

Oh!, here they are. Better late than never.

Turn five sees them charge and lose the melee.

Assailed from all sides the bridge falls and the defenders go to their Gawd like soldiers.


A cracking game, I may have made the Pathans a bit too good. I made them veterans and tough fighters, I may downgrade them to average or remove the tough fighter trait. What do you think?.

8 comments:

  1. Hi Paul- Great coverage photos for this Skirmish - the 54s look great - well done on the Painting. Yes, perhaps issuing a 'Veterans' label to the Pathans might be a little too generous- perhaps they can start as 'Novice' and earn better status with each Scenario won- just a thought. Cheers. KEV.

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    1. Thanks KEV, I will downgrade their capabilities and see how it goes. In this game the Brits were unlucky at getting the lancers onto the board, they only arrived when it was too late.

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  2. Oh dear. Those lancers need a bit more training. The Pathans are Super Tough fighters. Great stuff Paul, can we have some more please?

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    1. Thanks Maudlin Jack, the Pathans were a bit too tough, fun game though. I have some more to paint next and then we will have another battle.

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  3. Another good game Paul. Veteran for "saves" and tough fighters sounds right. Perhaps less effective firing, to reflect old fashioned firearms.

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    1. Their shooting is not as devastating as their close quarter fighting. To reflect their use of muskets I don't allow them to shoot if they move. I gave them all tough fighters status to reflect that a proportion of them have swords and bucklers, I read somewhere that these sword armed ghazis might form separate units from the shooters, I may try that, it would be an interesting tactical conundrum.
      The trouble is that I have done minimal research on the period and know nowt about the NWF really.

      Thanks for your interest Prince Lupus.

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  4. As I remember hand to hand is brutal in this game. Might be an excuse to paint and field more Imperial troops? But a shooting bonus or top notch commanders etc might help.

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    1. You are dead right Ross, despite having used Bolt Action for WW2 I was surprised at the decisive melee outcomes. I do have more Imperial troops to paint including some artillery pieces which may balance things. I also thought that keeping Tough Fighters trait might for the cavalry, the "ghazis" and maybe the British might do, leaving the Pathan shooters and the Indian infantry as average troops.
      Thanks for your input Ross it is much appreciated.

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