"Help with starting with the NWF." Topic

Hello, so I am new to the forum, having decided to build a pair of NWF armies. My interest goes back to when, as a very young boy, one of my grandfathers told me eye-watering stories of his time in Waziristan in the late 30s. I also spent 4 years in Afghanistan myself in the last few years (including a trip to Maiwand).

I am planning to go with the Second Afghan War, as there is plenty of variety, Afghan regulars, and I can stretch it to use in other colonial campaigns (I'm not squeamish about the wrong puttees etc).

My questions:

1. Minis. I was going to start with some of the Perry plastics, for numbers, but I will want variety. I'll need some Gurkhas, Scots, British and Indian cav, as well as lots of Afghans etc. So, any recommendations as to what other ranges I should look at which might go with the Perry's (which I am not wedded to). I am in France, if it matters for shipping.

2. Rules. I have Black Powder, which I like, but are there any thoughts about BP for the period and theatre: and what other rule sets are worth looking at.

3. Army lists. Any pointers to some existing lists?

Thanks in advance for any guidance.

Hi

I would start by checking out the Mad Guru's website

maiwandday.blogspot.com

I second the Mad Guru's site for all things 2nd Anglo Afghan War. It sounds like you would like to game the big battles, like Maiwand, and some of the other battles, which the British won. But I would recommend that you start small with skirmish rules like The Sword and the Flame (TSATF) or The Men Who Would Be Kings (TMWWBK). You can have a fun game using TSATF with as few as twenty British and Forty Afghans. If you choose TMWWBK, you'll need thirty-six British Infantry plus either eight cavalry or a cannon and crew and for the Afghans you'll need sixty-eight foot and 20 mounted Afghan Tribesmen. I have always felt that a good skirmish game can give you as much satisfaction and period feeling as a large battle. Plus, the smaller games should help whet your appetite to paint more figures.

I second The Sword And The Flame. I've been playing & enjoying these rules since they came out in 1979! As have MANY here on TMP! You should get the 20th Ann set here:
sergeants3.com/18.html
Sergeants 3 also has a scenario book. Found here, scroll down a bit: sergeants3.com/18.html
You can also look to Empress Miniatures for British figs that go great with Perry's.
link
I'm sure there will be others that will chime in! Colonial games are the best skirmish games out there, IMHO! Welcome to the period, Sir!
PS- I also have bought The Men Who Would Be Kings, they look very cool & have heard a lot of good things, but have yet to play them. I'm sure they would/could fit what you are looking for also!
More stuff. Artizan minis fit well also. A tad heftier but no problems for me! I mix them all the time:
link
Of course the is Old Glory, great for lots o figs at a great price (but some sculpts can be a little strange, sometimes. But still a GREAT value!)
link
Here is a list , not sure of how up to date it is though, of more Mfg of Colonials:
link
Hope this is some help!
Peter
board2deathterrain.com

Same same on TSATF. Paint up 60 figures and you're into your first game. As a matter of fact, that very game is given as a sample in the rules.

Oh, and if you want your mind blown, check this out:
link
Here are some pics of my last Zulu game. Sorry it's not NWF, but I use kinda the same terrain:
link
It's the Larry Brom Memorial game Set. He wrote TSATF rules. Other game pic sets are there also.
Peter

I concur with the suggestions above.

The Mad Guru's site is a 1 stop resource for the 2nd Afghan War. He also lists a bunch of links and references. His blog is Awesome!

Rules: I will also recommend THE SWORD AND THE FLAME for rules. Obtained from the link above.

Figs: Old Glory, Castaway Arts, Foundry, Brittania, Bicorne (some), Pontoonier, Perry, Askari Minis, Eureka, hmmm, I thinks that's all the different mfgr's I'm aware of that make good figs that will all match up size wise.
Then there is Artizan from Brigade games and Copplestone with great figs but they are slightly larger. Perfect in their own units.

Cheers,
JB

Studio Miniatures do some nice Afghans which go well with Artizan and Perry

Hi Submariner, great choice for gaming!

For NWF British and Imperial troops, you won't go wrong with Perrys, both the plastic boxed set and appropriate metal packs from their Victoria's Little Wars and Sudan ranges. Artizan do some nice stuff as well. The only real gap at the moment seem to be Gurkhas – other than Foundry and Pontoonier (if you can find them), probably best to wait until Perry or Artizan add them.

For Pathans and Afghans, again it's Perrys, Artizan, Studio Miniatures, plus some of the Foundry NWF stuff (slightly smaller but lovely figures). The Old Glory figures are some of their better ones if you want more variety.

Rules: go for MWWBK, especially as you're in France. TSATF, while popular in the USA, are almost unknown in Europe and are a product of the 70's: quite clunky, and the interminable melee dice rolls will drive you mad. But a rule set that has done so much to popularise colonial gaming can't be all bad, it's just that there are now better gaming mechanisms that can be used. MWWBK is getting very good reviews, has plenty of period feel and is easily up scaled to much bigger games than the 50-odd figures per side that the scenarios provided are designed for.

I will now run for cover as the TSATF supporters club try to run the Limey out of town on a rail. :-)

Perry Bros. plastics are good figures, but the only item they have for you are British infantry. Old glory has a very good selection and are less expensive than than the others.

Hi Submariner, congrats on choosing a really good period to get involved with, also I must humbly thank Wackmole69, Nick Stern, and Sgt. Guiness for mentioning me and my blog.

It seems like more gamers are suddenly interested in diving into this period, maybe because of the recent publication of The Men Who Would Be Kings, maybe because of the new release of Perry plastic and metal figures for the campaign, or Artizan's recent range for the same conflict, or a combo of all these reasons. Anyway, it's certainly a good and welcome development thing in my book, and as others have said above, welcome to the party, so to speak!

Others have already given you a lot of great info above on lots of figure manufacturers. Here's a couple of useful links to previous posts right here on TMP, giving a range of introductory info for the Second Afghan War and NWF campaigns…

This one's very recent and covers a lot of different subjects:

TMP link

This one's older and focused on British uniforms:

TMP link

This one is all about the 19th Century Afghan Regular Army, which played a featured role in the Second Afghan War:

link

Here's a link to a post with the army lists I created for my Battle of Charasiab scenario, based on the real engagement fought on October 6, 1879:

link

Finally, here's a pic of my favorite British regt. from the Second Afghan War, the 72nd (Duke of Albany's own Highlanders), using the Perry Sudan British infantry in Indian service dress…

Last but far from least, here's a link to Garen Ewing's Second Afghan War history website, which I would describe as the "site of record" for the war and a tremendous asset for anyone interested in the campaign:

link

Now, isn't this thread an example of what TMP can and should always be about – a bunch of enthusiasts from across the world sharing their knowledge of gaming a period?

MG, I'm another whose interest in colonial gaming was rekindled by your blog, so thanks from me as well – there's a large g&t with your name on it in the Mess, should our paths ever cross.

Simon

sjwalker38, Ain't it GREAT when a plan comes together! I agree with you. TMP can be the BEST site on the web, when things are done right! I love this place, but I still get Dawghoused for my own lack of self control, but that's my bad! But, ya gotta love all the help, from all over the World here. Thanks to everybody for all yall's help, all the time. Especially to Mad Guru, for incredible inspiration to us all in the NWF period!
Peter

Well, wow, thank you all so very much.

Nick Stern, yes, skirmish is the way I will go, it means I actually can play the game rather than be daunted by some sisyphean task. I had picked up a copy of TSATF when I lived in the US, but never played. But at the recommendation of you, sjwalker38 and Ceterman I ordered TMWWBK, which I like the look of very much.

Mad Guru, your site is fantastic, so helpful. Thank you.

You won't regret that choice Submariner.You'll find TMWWBK gives a great game, can be used for much larger games than the 24pt forces listed when you're ready to deploy larger forces and are easily tweaked to reflect your perceptions of particular theatres and scenarios.

My only criticism is that the layout of the book doesn't always make it easy to navigate and find essential information – but nothing that a home-made QR sheet (2 sides of A4)didn't fix. It's also useful to have a force summary sheet or unit card with each unit's key factors listed for speed of reference.

While I'm not sure about who makes them in 28mm, you could always add some Russians wandering around and playing the Great Game. Not strictly historical of course, but good for a variety of colors on your tables.

I'm going to do an amalgam of Kevin Calder's Up The Nile and Bonnie Blue Flag for the Second Anglo Afghan War.

Regular Infantry and Cavalry units will have square bases and the Tribesmen rounds as seen below:
More pics of the unit and of the single bases on my blog here:
justaddwater-bedford.blogspot.com/2020/10/afghan-tribesmen-medium-pace-painting.html

May as well chuck in a pic of my Malalai vignette too:
Again, ore pics on my blog here:
justaddwater-bedford.blogspot.com/2020/09/malalai-of-maiwand-vignette.html

My Just Add Water Miniature Painting Blog:
justaddwater-bedford.blogspot.com