"Rules for 2nd Boer War in 6mm" Topic

This is a two part question. I had always thought that in battalia of mixed pike and shot that all the ensigns were positioned with the pike. However, I see on various blogs some beautifully painted figures with the ensigns spread equally with the shot as well as the pikes. Does any know of any sources which describe this practice? Secondly, but connected. In a number of battles quite large bodies of shot were detached as 'commanded shot' to perform a particular task. Cheriton is the prime example of this of which I am aware. Does anyone have any evidence one way or the other as to whether such bodies carried colours? Many thanks in advance for any help,

Mollinary

Looking for suggestions for gaming the battles in 6mm using perhaps 32 figures per Imperial battalion.

I will be using bases with 4 figures each, so no individual figure removal.

Bloody Big Battles with a suitable downsizing of figure ratio comes to mind but I would welcome any other suggestions. My feeling is that it is not approprate to try to shoe-horn this conflict into a one size fits all colonial set of rules.

Evidently the dreaded bug has struck!

Not my period, but as an AWI gamer I would agree to look for bespoke rules, not at rules for other conflicts that can be "adapted".

I seem to recall Too Fat Lardies were working on a set of Boer War rules for 6mm figures in 2015. Last I heard, the second half of this year was supposed to be the release date, but nothing is scheduled on their website. I do recall that the write-ups of the play tests looked quite good.

Maybe give them a shout?

We have used Greg Novak's Over The Top WW1 rules from GDW with good success. They do need a few house rules to handle things like the singly deployed guns for the Boers and the RN pieces. We just rolled an extra D6 and only scored a hit if it came up 1.

Black powder seems and obvious suggestion.

If you have, or can get hold of, Wargames Illustrated 28 there was a set of rules published in them for the Second Boer called "Koppies and Commandos" which might suit and were specifically written for 6mm.

I'd second the suggestion to nag TFL to see if "Kop That" will be released in the near future – there's some great looking 6mm play test games on their blog to inspire you.

Any chance anyone could try and help on the initial question?

Mollinary

Volley and bayonet mods around and suplements for 1898 with little house rules might do….
Till soonish 2 fat Lardies will release a properly done, well researched and fun to play one. 2D6 months I think.

Take a look at "Fields of Honour". Oldish rules, but nice mechanisms. Can be played at different command levels, which is quite appropriate for a war which saw both small scale and relatively large battles.

Thanks for the suggestions. I have indeed been waiting for TFL to bring out their rules.

Does Black Powder manage magazine rifles, maxims and pom-poms: my understanding was that such weapons were ungentlemanly and they stopped at Gatlings?

Too Fat Lardies will have their Boer War rules out in their Christmas Special: Kop That.

We will indeed. A complete set of rules plus scenarios.

Rich

Horse Foot and Guns covers the 2nd Boer War.
Don't kow how good they'd be; they're very much an army level set, with a battalion (in this period) as the smallest unit represeted. However, the rules cover things like surprise, dopey generals, and a game could potentially start with the Boers all dug in and hidden, waiting for the British to move into the kill zone.