I am back with a short gaming report. Seven of us were able to gather at me secret wargaming dungeon to play out the Zulu game I previewed above. In the immortal words of Admiral Ackbar "It's a Trap!". However I should have know that my crew of over aggrresive players would be to impatient to hold back for a turn or two. Someone famous said all plans in war do not survive the first contact.
The orange pipe cleaners represent the "Blood Thirsty" rule. Zulu's get to re-roll all missed hits in first round of melee. But it is a one time thing. So you have to turn your pipe cleaner in after one use.
Firts shot string is removed and a new British deployment can be observed.
Zulu's massing in front of the Kraal.
Another shot of Zulus On Guard!
More Zulus on the hill.
My fellow British players knowing my extreme skill at handling troops regulated me to command the ordinance and one troop of Buffalo Border horse. They wanted to have a chance to win the game. Sigh. Here we see my Brave Border Guards searching for hidden Zulus in the scrub on our right flank. And boy did I find some!
Our column advances bravely into the unknown.
The British right flank screened by the NNC. Sort of.
Our objective deadhead!! If only we could get there.
Still heading forward. Progress is slow.
Lulled into a false sense of security I forgot to grab my phone and snap more action shots. The Zulu's as can be seen have surged down from the Kraal to confront us on the plains. In the background Left Horn Zulu's rise up from the Buffalo grass and attack.
Having barely enough time to deploy my gun the Zulu's are on me! However my brave gunners blasted the Zulus with close in fire and the faile their morale check to close thank goodness!
My son's mounted infantry are menaced by a host of Zulu's! Time to bug out sonny boy!
After "Springing" the Zulu ambush on our right flank my brave Border Guards fellback to observe the proceedings. NNC and a company of British foot attempt to stem the flow.
The Zulu Left Horn is measuring us up for a massive charge!! The Buggers!
An out of sequence picture!! What the heck!! My rocket battery, right side of picture has fired and cause one hit on the distant Zulu unit. Which of course was saved...
Over on the left flank my Son's NNC are finally hit by the Zulu Right Horn which had trouble deploying due to the over excited movements of the Zulu's Loins. Sorry Vic!
Back to the right flank the Zulus are still attempting to come to grips. I only know this because they still have their orange pipe cleaners!
Finally the terrific melee occurs on the right flank! Hang on boys!! My gatling gun and Naval fellows stare on in fascinated horror.
Drawn melee's on the right flank cause the action to carry over to the following turns! NNC have fallen out of the fight and are Shaken. Poor devils.
Back to the left flank my kids NNC have been driven from the field, but the thin red line has formes to repell the attack. You may notice in the top right corner of the picture that my artillery unit has some how works it's self as the lead unit of our attack. Nice work Paul!!
Once again I was over excited and forgot to take pictures. This shot shows the aftermath of the British line holding firm and the brave Zulu's being forced back. If you look carefully at the top center of the shot you can see I was finally able to bring my gun back into line with the infantry!
Top right of the image a British bayonet charge clears the front. This was brought on by a blunder roll!!
Zulu left horn attempting to sort itself out.
The last gasp of the Zulu's on the left flank.
A rare shot of my youngest son playing a wargame. After action discussion.
There you have it a very narrow British win. We never did get close to the Kraal to raid it but the Zulu army was forced from the field. Black Powder is not a complicated rule set however many of the rules are written so open ended it was hard to figure out at times was was intended. The Initiative/Proximity rule gave us no end of discussion.
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