"Battles for Empire Atbara Game" Topic
15 Posts
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Nick Stern | 16 Sep 2018 8:48 a.m. PST |
I ran a Battle of Atbara game yesterday in honor of its 120th anniversary year yesterday at my local game club. I used my favorite colonial rules for large actions: Battles for Empire 2nd Ed. The game was bases on the historic OB, with almost equal numbers on each side. The Dervish were heavily outgunned, but I hoped that forcing the Imperial units to attack, disordered, inside the Zareba, would even things out. As it turned out, the Dervish players launched an attack with over half their units outside the Zareba against the Egyptian flank. The Egyptians, with the help of a Maxim gun, were able to blunt the attack while the British, who penetrated the Zareba, took heavy casualties, as I predicted. The game ended with a British victory when they achieved the Dervish break point which was up to eleven units as the Britsh had lost three units, including a unit of elite Highlanders. Good game. Great rules. link link link link link |
PaulCollins | 16 Sep 2018 9:17 a.m. PST |
Very nice looking set up. |
Nick Stern | 16 Sep 2018 9:44 a.m. PST |
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Gone Fishing | 16 Sep 2018 10:16 a.m. PST |
Absolutely gorgeous. It's lovely seeing all those classic Ral Partha figures; they were the first large wargaming project I ever did, and they still bring back many good memories. Great looking table, too. Thank you for sharing! |
Ragbones | 16 Sep 2018 10:33 a.m. PST |
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wrgmr1 | 16 Sep 2018 12:10 p.m. PST |
Great looking game! I'm fortunate in that I get to game with Chris Leach! We've had some amazing colonial games. |
Lion in the Stars | 16 Sep 2018 4:52 p.m. PST |
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ZULUPAUL | 17 Sep 2018 3:34 a.m. PST |
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Nick Stern | 17 Sep 2018 10:47 a.m. PST |
Thanks, All for the kind words. wrgmr1, I am so envious that you get to game with the author! I am hoping to meet him for the first time, in person, at Enfilade 2019. |
sausagesca | 17 Sep 2018 3:49 p.m. PST |
Absolutely superb! Thanks for posting the images and AAR, Nick. Forget "gaming with the author" (kind though that is); I want to play with your crew, Nick. Super looking terrain and figures. What limitations did you impose on the Ansar player regarding units outside of the position? Any spacial terrain rules? Did you abstract the built-up area as that, a town "area" to allow for a more flowing fight? Thanks again, Nick. And Thomas -- kind words indeed. Must have another colonial bash soon. |
Nick Stern | 19 Sep 2018 2:56 p.m. PST |
Hi Chris, Thanks for the compliments. I've been playing with these figures and your rules since the first edition. How long ago is that now? I know the Ral Parthas are old school, but I figure they're all painted and it would take me a long time to replace them. I actually imposed no limits on how many units the Ansar could put outside the Zareba, aside from saying that no cavalry, of either side, was allowed inside, so the native cavalry began the game outside, which was historic. The rest of the army had to start inside, but the commander of the side with the cavalry decided to just pile on all his units against the Egyptian brigades opposite him and it almost worked. I defined all the ground inside the Zareba as rough terrain, so the Imperials had to either move half, disordered, or change formation into open order. They chose the former and so took quite a few casualties from the one rifle armed Ansar unit and the two brass muzzle loader cannons since they were exposed to their fire for a longer time. Thanks for being so thorough in your rules writing that you included rules for Zarebas and how they effect movement, firing and melee. My group are now clamoring for another colonial game using BfE 2. I promised them I'd choose the next game from the scenario collection – one that has been well playtested – unlike mine! Still, that's what I love about colonial games – they are full of surprises. |
sausagesca | 20 Sep 2018 3:19 p.m. PST |
Thanks for the details, Nick. I want to give this a go. Cheers, Chris |
Mad Guru | 22 Sep 2018 8:15 p.m. PST |
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Nick Stern | 23 Sep 2018 9:11 a.m. PST |
MG! Did you see the photos of my 54mm Arnhem game in the WW2 Bolt Action Board? Probably used the same figures you used to play it as a kid. |
Mad Guru | 24 Sep 2018 11:48 a.m. PST |
No, but I will go check them out now! Been way too long since you and I have seen each other in person, Nick, let alone played a game. We should fix that some day soon! |
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