"How many Zulus?" Topic

I've got an AZW game tomorrow & haven't (sadly) used TSATF for some time. Certainly, I've been doing some painting which in lies the issue.

I'm providing all the figures & brought out my just over 200 Zulus. Sounds like a lot.

The thing is, I have 6 companies of British infantry, 5 troops of Horse, a NNC company a Gatling & a Gardiner, 2 artillery pieces….you get the picture. I like painting Zulus but I love painting the British/Colonial/Native units for the war.

How many Zulus do you have? How many is "enough" (got to stop painting British…)?

I agree… Painting the British forces is more fun. A friend of mine convinced me to give the Zulu thing a try (he wanted to do it in 6mm). I ended up painting everything…. But there's something equally pleasing in placing loads of Zulus on the battlefield, facing the thin red line…
We did 12 figures per base for foot, 5 figures per base for mounted. We generally use 4 bases of Brits, a couple of bases of Natal Native Cavalry and 1 artillery piece… Up against that we generally field 40+ bases of Zulus! Makes it more… interesting/challenging for the Brits ;-)
Best of luck with the game.
Rob

thousands of em…

I stopped when I had 6 Zulus for every Brit and 4 for every natal etc…

I stopped when I had six and one of those had an AK47.

3 Zulus for every Colonial troop is fair if you are playing TSTF

If you don't have enough recycle them onto the battle field. As long as it looks like it is going to overrun the Brits. And feels right.

I have about 300. Yes TSATF uses a 3:1 ratio. I actually prefer painting Zulus…no straps etc to worry about & I use the figures with the least regalia now,

LOL mashrewba, you got too few Zulus to AK47 ratio, them traditional weapons are rather more available in that part of AfriKa than you'd imagine, and more so during the festive season, hah!

LOL mashrewba, you got too few Zulus to AK47 ratio, them traditional weapons are rather more available in that part of AfriKa than you'd imagine, and more so during the festive season, hah!

I've got a 3 to 1 ratio as it stands which is good for most games I play which are quasi-historical games which always give the Zulus a better chance.

I think the 3:1 TSATF ratio is accepted, but remember that you don't need three Zulu units for every British unit you own: you need three Zulu units for every British unit IN THE GAME.
Start working backward from table size. As a 3:1 ratio, how big can your games be, and how many Zulu will that require? It really doesn't matter that you have a Gardner and two artillery pieces in the box, if the Gatling is the only one on the table.

robert piepenbrink!

"HEAR! HEAR!"

TVAG

I have 360. I can factor the figures back in as I need more. I try to keep the 3:1 ratio of the rules. That seems to make a good game. That gives the Zulu tactic of two horns and chest of 120 each. Then the reserve comes from casualties for the loins.

cavcrazy
What is up with this "fair" stuff?? You never can have enough Zulus to wash your spears!!! ;)
mumbasa

I have over 400. I find it very hard for the British to win in larger games when it is 3-1. I think those odds work better in smaller games. For larger games I have cut back to 2.5-1 and it seems like the outcomes are more evenly split between the two sides.

Ahh! But how many of you have Zulus miniatures that were actually painted in the Kingdom? I expect my Zulu warriors to be nigh invincible on any table never mind the odds. I'm working on the Piquet rules myself as they do have lots of solo playability I'm using the Din of Battle supplement and hope to have the whole thing kicking off early next year as I'm almost done with 200 odd Zulus and 80 or so British forces, 28 mm of course.

At the moment I have 240 Zulus to zero Brits. I think I may need to do some more painting.

We had a nicely balanced, small game of TMWWBK last night using the 'To the Last Bullet' scenario, in which two British infantry units and the Natal Carbineers managed to hold out and win by avoiding any casualties for the qualifying five turns. It was a very near run thing, though.

There were 112 screaming Zulus coming at them; enough to create a convincing impression of mass and overwhelming numbers.

You can never have enough Zulus.

Ditto.

We played a Rourke's Drift scenario last summer and simply resurrected the Zulu casualties, bringing units back onto the table after they had been eliminated.

I have just under 2000 in 15mm for Isandlawana.

I have about 400 Zulus painted and about a hundred Brits/allies give or take. I need more Zulus.

I have 700 painted 15mm Zulus and would add more if I found the right figures (Mike's Models).

Pretty sure somebody still does those.

Essex might still have the moulds, but my experience with ordering Mike's Models figures from them many years ago involved some very heavy work (including drilling) removing the solid lead filling voids in the figures (between legs etc.).

If the moulds were that worn out then, they'll be even worse now. It's better to look out for second-hand originals. I eventually found some (or rather, they found me), so it's not impossible.

The Zulus were rather cute.

Here is a link to some pics of mine in action. At this point I only had about 1300.

link

@ leidang

That's a great looking game.

I was played Isandlawana in 15mm, we had over 2000 Zulu for it. We had so many that for the most part we just moved boxes across the table, rather than stands of figures.

If you're doing Rourke's Drift with 200 Zulu, then 2 or 3 Brits would be about right.

We now play a set of rules that were based on C&C system and they are a load of fun. We did a mini- campaign in which the native troops had sided with the locals and an international force went against them. Kind'a like Indian Mutiny meets Boxer Rebellion.

Originally I had around 500 Zulus painted

BUT we are running a game on the anniversary of Isandlwhana next Jan so I need more – another 250 are currently being painted….

One day Ill hit the magic 1000

Ebay is your best friend for acquiring Zulus – most of mine are Warlord Plastics from their big box sets (120/box) typically purchased for about £50.00 GBP

I believe the correct number is; "Black as Hell and thick as grass"!

You can never have too many zulus

Or, to put it another way, what have you got to lose with Zulus?

Started with 72 minifigs, acquired 100 Essex at Wally's at the last Fall-in, and another 200 should be arriving from 19thcentminis (Old Glory 15s) today. I think thats enough. Isandlwhana in February I hope.

I am planning a Zulu game at Recon in Orlando. I am probably going to use 360 28mm Zulus. no recycling. There will be about 120 Imperials. It is the relief of Eshowe.