builds 
Price: $10.00 USD
Publisher: Ostfront
The New Zealand Wars
Skirmish Game for the NZ Land Wars 1845 – 1872
The New Zealand Wars is a simple and fast-play skirmish game covering the wars between Colonial and Maori forces in the mid-19th Century in New Zealand. This ruleset is designed to be fast and brutal, and to reflect accurately the specifics of the period and the asymmetry of the forces. Maori forces utilize guerrilla tactics, emerging from hidden rifle pits and outflanking Colonial positions, while Colonial forces rely on their superior weapons and training. Players compose their forces from an army list, and add extra support like artillery or trenches, or fortified P in the case of the Maori forces. There are multiple scenarios and deployments to play, and the variety of possible army lists adds to the replayability. Officers and Ariki (Maori Chiefs) also factor in, being able to issue orders and fight. Rules are provided for muskets, carbines, swords, taiaha, patu, pistols and a few other melee weapons. Maori forces can upgrade regular soldiers to combat specialists, as well as being able to field sawn-off double-barreled shotguns (called Tupara), artillery, and various other forms of support. Most soldiers can be given horses too and made mounted. Colonial forces can field regular British soldiers, militia, and forest rangers, as well as artillery, and can also make use of horses.
28mm miniatures are recommended, and the author uses the wonderful Empress miniatures made for this conflict. Any scale would work with these rules, though.
