Colonial Gaming - favourite period?

[James Woodward]

My NWF troops are coming on and those Beja for the Sudan are now begging to be painted!! Doing Indians was an inspired choice if i say so myself. As well as scrapping with the Hill Tribes they can tackle the Mutineers (obviously), nip over to the Sudan, get involved in the assault against Mad King Theodore of Abbysinia and other African skirmishers

So what is your favourite Colonial period/era? I've just read about the campaigns against the Maoris - a very tough bunch by all accounts!

The Boxer Rebellion could be interesting to game.

The classic French Foreign Legion?

So many [possible] projects ...

[Charon]

Got to be early Sudan - colourful and not one sided!

Having just read Saul David's book on the Indian Mutiny I'm very tempted by that at the moment (I always seem to want to game whatever period I read about last!) , but doing a small scale skirmish rather than the larger battles

A few years ago I did make a start on the Boxer Rebellion and ordered a load of figures from Old Glory and buildings from (I think) Hovels. Sooo disappointed by the figures that I couldn't bring myself to finish the project and added them to my lead pile. Of course, the next time 55 Days in Peking is on the TV I'll have to dust them off...

[James Woodward]

The only think that stops me extending my NWF into the Mutiny is that i don't like the British look of shell-jackets and kepis.

I'm really pleased with the OG figures i bought from their IM Range. But i do understand that OG can be hit and miss across the ranges.

I bought some OG Beja to fight against some Sudan Brits but that will be a little side project for me. Until i see whether the Perry plastic Mahdists are compatible!

[allen.ness]

Given current worldly events, the Madhi and the Sudan are making their way to the top of my list. No policitical or religious views implied or inferred here.

Perry plastic Madhi? Please report!

[Pijlie]

In terms of experience I´d be hard pressed to choose between First Sudan campaign and NWF. In terms of ambition I would definitely say the Boxer Rebellion!

But the latter still has a lot of work to be done...

[Axebreaker]

No question The Boxer Rebellion. I'd love to see Coppelstone and/or Artizan do this as their style is perfect for this. I've brought it up on other forum threads in the past.

Cheers
Christopher

[doobry]

i do'nt think the Boxer rebellion lends itself to skirmish gaming in the same way as other conflicts,you do'nt get the look of the international force with the few units you field against the boxers.i think it would lend itself more to 15s with piqet or pow.
I see that the plastic mahdist got an official mention on the Perries update so hopefully they're not too far away, the metals are not abad mix with old glory,thinner and slightly taller but not ridiculous to mix.

iain

[James Woodward]

Interesting stuff chaps. I'm more into this at a skirmish level with a company or two of Imperial troops [i'll keep to the S&F classifications for ease but mean the wider spectrum of regular troops] and [many more] Natives. I probably would go 15mm with Black Powder for larger battles.

I like the small scenario actions; "take that supply wagon from A - B and try not to get killed, clear the Valley of Native troops (in ambush), hold the Hill-Fort ..." and have just bought some scenarios from Sargeants 3

I'd have done the Crimea (at a larger level) if i hadn't done Napoleonics in 15mm and 28mm. Same for the Opium Wars. Funny enough the Zulu Wars don't really appeal although i can't say why. Some of the smaller campaigns do: New Zealand, Abbysinia etc

I also like the idea of a Stanley type expedition through the jungle and have to brave, cannibals ["meat, meat ,meat was their unnerving warcry"], slavers and Hippos/Crocs etc

[Axebreaker]

I forgot to add that after The Boxer Rebellion I like the Boar Wars followed by Zulu's. Disagree with doobry on the Boxer Rebellion assessment and think it could work on a skirmish level or standard at 28mm.

Christopher

[James Woodward]

I know you're not going to believe me but i really had no idea this was on the cards:

http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv?id=224675

[Axebreaker]

Yep, knew all about this and Empress really has some nice mini's. I've been collecting their SCW. However, Coppelstone still hasn't done the Boxer Rebellion.

Christopher

[doobry]

Disagree with doobry on the Boxer Rebellion assessment and think it could work on a skirmish level or standard at 28mm.

i've played it as a skirmish game using sword and the flame it just didnt have the sameeffect that we got with sudan,nef or zulu warsI reckon you would need rules like 'a good dusting' which allow you to recycle natives or a horrendous amount of them to get a game which is'nt a forgone conclusion .You could play priciples of war with 28's and as the unit strength is on paper rather tha the figure count it would'nt break the bank.figures are a problem althogh old glory's eurpean forces are'nt bad the actual boxers are terrible.

iain

[Axebreaker]

figures are a problem althogh old glory's eurpean forces are'nt bad the actual boxers are terrible.

Yep, that's the real problem in that their just isn't a range that works for me yet and is why I'd like to see Coppelstone do this as he is absolutely perfect for it.
Once you have a proper range then rules are not to difficult to find/do as something out there will work even if you need to make your own.

Christopher

[doobry]

Have you looked at the redoubt boxers, some of them are not too bad.

iain

[Axebreaker]

Yes. I have seen them, but not bad isn't good enough if you get my drift. Thank you for your help.

Christopher

[tanz]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1csr0dxalpI

This movie has made the Zulu wars and the Boer wars my favorite colonial period. And with the Wargames Factory miniatures a tempting period to start but im not sure which rules to use.

[James Woodward]

Zulu is high on everyone's All-time Favourite Film list

I read part of an account by Hook yesterday & how the Martinis got so hot with use, the brass-cartridges softened in the barrel and fouled the rifles

[Charon]

figures are a problem althogh old glory's eurpean forces are'nt bad the actual boxers are terrible.

Yep, that's the real problem in that their just isn't a range that works for me yet and is why I'd like to see Coppelstone do this as he is absolutely perfect for it.
Once you have a proper range then rules are not to difficult to find/do as something out there will work even if you need to make your own.

Christopher

In these times of economic misery and financial hardship the last thing I need is for Copplestone to release a Boxer Rebellion range, although if I only fed the kids every other day...

Just started re-reading Flashman at the Charge - Crimean War anybody?! (ok, not strictly colonial I know )

[doobry]

With the official launch date of the perries plastic fuzzies being july theres no question what my autum painting schedule will be, a couple of boxes will give me enough natives for a blackpwder game ,now all i need is plastic camelry.

iain

[allen.ness]

And here I thought you were pulling my leg about Perry plastic Sudanese: http://theminiaturespage.com/news/404736/