A new Herero War scenario by Tim Abbott and Roy Jones is now available: "Ambush at Uitkomst: Volkmann's Gambit". The scenario is designed for use with "The Herero War" rules and scenario book by Roy Jones and Eric Alvarado.
The engagement covered by the Uitkomst scenario was fought in the Grootfontein district on January 18, 1904 – four days after the beginning of the Herero War. After raiding several German farmsteads, a strong force of mounted and foot Hereros were reported to be in the mountains near the Boer farm of Uitkomst. The Herero forces were commanded by their local leader – Kapitän Mbatona – and by an outsider: a Schlachten-General (i.e., War General), recognizable by a large white ostrich feather in his hat. The Schlachten-General had been dispatched by paramount chief Samuel Maharero to help coordinate the general uprising in the North.
Oberleutnant Richard Volkmann – chief of the Grootfontein military district – had a meagre force available to oppose Mbatona's much larger, well-armed war band: a handful of Schutztruppen, augmented by a few more German reservists and war volunteers and by a number of Boers.
After escorting the Boer families to safety, Volkmann's mixed German/Boer force rode out toward the mountains, looking to surprise and engage Mbatona and his Hereros.
All the English translations in the Uitkomst scenario, virtually all of the scenario text, and all the maps are by Tim Abbott. Tim and I worked together on creating and balancing the victory conditions and on game mechanics.
The scenario and an extensive historical description of the battle can be found on Tim's blog: omaheke.blogspot.com
The scenario can be downloaded for playtesting.
Roy Jones
