"Battle of Nyezane" Topic

Monday night saw a refight of the battle of Nyezane in the Anglo Zulu War

The scenario came from the BP Zulu siupplement and gives a great game

Full report on the blog plus lots of pictures
link

please drop by…

Brilliant work. The table is one of the best I've seen for this conflict, the minis look great, and the whole game sounds pleasingly nail-biting. Poor Pearson!

Eric, if I remember correctly you game both the Sudan and the Zulu War. Do you prefer one to the other? Perhaps a better way to phrase the question would be to ask what draws you to each? I only ask because I'm frequently torn between the two. Thank you for the pics and report!

Thanks for your kind words

Zulu Wars or Sudan – easy question to answer – the Zulu Wars having been bought up on a diet of Zulu the Movie and Washing the Spears (book) from a very early age – thanks to my father.
Having completed my Zulu collection two years ago it seemed like a natural step to do the Sudan – haven't really gamed that much in the desert yet but I sespect the games will be more varied.

We have learned over the last few years that when it comes to the colonial game the scenario is all important. Both sides have to feel that they can win.

Once again thanks

What you say about Colonial games is definitely true.

As for those two conflicts, I find myself wavering between the two, each having its own appeal. On the one hand the Zulu War, like you say, has a superb film (and a mediocre, but still fun Zulu Dawn: "Why…do you come…to the land of the Zulu?"), the incredible Washing of the Spears…As for the tabletop, there is the visual panache of Zulu formations, with their different shields, the lovely red coats of the British, the rolling landscape (some of it rather like my native Southern California), the Boers and odd irregular units of that conflict…plus of course the chance to build a wagon train!

On the Sudan's side is the equal drama of dervish hordes in their white jibbas, the precious artery of the Nile with its fringe of palm trees winding through the country, the dhows sailing lazily along both banks, Gordon (in spite of his eccentricities a real hero of mine), the Camel Corps, Baggara horse…The empty expanses of desert (also quite a bit like parts of Southern California!) provide a powerful backdrop to things. It also has the increased flexibility of scenario design: the Zulus pretty much attack and that's it; the dervishes, however, certainly do that, but they also had fortified gun emplacements along the river, steamers, and dug in to defend when they thought that would be best (El Teb, Atbara…). And how can one not be moved by massed hordes of Fuzzies bearing down on some unfortunate Egyptian or British column?

Ah, tis a tough choice…

I game both. I second Eric the Shed's point that it's all about the scenario. If I had to choose one, I would probably go with the Sudan, mainly for reasons of game balance. The Ansar had better trained riflemen and even some artillery and machine guns. They also defended fortifications. For battles with the Beja, you need fewer native figures per Imperial figure than for the Zulu War. Some of the actions were close to one on one. And, of course, the Fuzzies broke a British square. On the other hand, it would be really tough to give up my Rorke's Drift set up.

Gone Fishing, if you're ever up in the San Francisco Bay Area, I'll give you a game, either Zulu or Sudan.

That is great looking scenery Eric! Really nice!

Wonderful the way your terrain melts into table cloth. Nothing like a good Colonial massacre for an afternoons gaming.

Nick, that's awfully kind of you. Careful what you offer – I have family up there! And if you ever come south I can give you a game against either the Sikhs or Abyssinians, both in 54mm…

If you see this, drop me a line at machaselton AT sbcglobal DOT net.

Daryl

This was my first visit to Eric's shed. His collection (and shed) is vast and it felt a little like entering a wargames shop with a separate playing area for customers!

The fur used for the battlefield was both very effective and particularly photogenic. It did indeed look like the veldt and as Alastair commented at the time, has a therapeutic effect when you stroke it…:)

The game was fun too!

Best wishes

Anthony

Gorgeous game! Stunning table!