"March or Die" Topic

Inspired by a recent viewing of the film 'March or Die, I'm thinking of skirmish gaming a scenario between mostly musket armed Arabs v legionnaires in the desert.

Lots of eye candy in terms of figures but I'm unsure about figure ratios to make a good game and potential rule sets. Any ideas?

Cheers

The Sword And The Flame would be excellent for your game idea. The answer to your numbers question is to be found there as well.

I'll second TSATF – they have a supplement called Sword in North Africa sergeants3.com/2.html. I swear my copy says Sword in the Desert but it's not on hand to check.

March or Die inspired much of my early wargame efforts: see here for pics of my collection and optional rebasing for TSATF: link

A slice:

very nice Flashman…so, from what i detect from your picts, you organised your Mounted Mule Company as per book..that's to say 20 men (a TSATF platoon) on foot and 20 men on mule..which give you more flexibility as you can operate 2 distant units with their leaders ecc…my problem is that i play with 28mm minis..and, as i see in many examples from other players also present in the forum, i "bathtubed" the company in a 20 men castings company..which will result in two wings that could operate separated but not with great flexibility..and with a "mixed" visual effect of men and beasts together in a same small unit which is not very nice

Gallblader…i confirm the suggestion given to you by Flashman to adopt without esitation TSTAF….there are various versions of adapation of the rules for FFL scenarios..a full book from the same Editor and some even better rule amendment section included in TSATF Scenario Portfolio and also a reduced version in Courrier Magazine..the author of those amendments called "The Sword in N. Africa" was Ian Croxall..they are very good as they give most specific tips for FFl battles with TSATF..like superior firepower for Lebel Magazine rifles, desperation/berserker charges by FFL survivors VS arabs ecc…from same author you can find the framework of a campaign at this link:
link
unfortunatly the "how to wargame the period " part..including the scenarios and tabletop converted TOEs is no more present…as regards to numbers for a battle..you can just began with 20 or 40 French VS no more than 2-3 times this number of arabs…the late 19c early 20c firepower of arabs was certainly higher of TSATF typical Zulus or Mahdist fire factors…
.last suggestion…as concern to scenario recollection there is a book from Old Glory ..i think "sons of the desert" edited to compliment their line of figures which contains quite a few scenarios with good maps..some inspired by Beau Geste..they are designed to be played with the rules included in the book..which franky i don't like..but it'll be extremely easy to use the scenarios (mainly skirmish actions) with TSATF

Gallblader, It is entirely possible an easy to play TSATF with smaller than recommended unit sizes. The easiest is to use half sized units. With the cost of 28mm figures rising, it is a good alternative. I personally use the half size units all the time now.

I second Nnascati. I use 10 men units and have for a long time. Easier to move them on the table and less 20 siders being thrown around. Have not found a problem and our club still has fun. Good luck!

I have masses of those Minifigs; very nice, well-proportioned figures, but as per usual with that brand too few poses and, because of the soft metal used at the time – I can't comment on the current incarnation – fragile ankles.

You appear to have missed the Tuareg camel rider from the renaissance range. It's the only Minifig Tuareg figure that actually has the correct-shaped shield.

@Henry – I have a half dozen mounted units (including camelry) left to do plus some odds and ends. I'm always happy to add in certain medieval figures if they are not too ornate.

I used to love this as a kid in the Eagle
link

Do look at Askari Miniatures.

Me too, mashrewba! Thanks for a nostalgic post.

Hi arthur -another one was Roger's Rangers in Look and Learn -I bet you remember that too:)