Disaster in the Desert-1898.

Last night's game wasn't good-it was AWESOME!!
Because Dave and Graham couldn't make it,it fell to Paul,Brian and myself to get to grips with an exciting scenario,which proved tricky(to say the least!) to both sides.

Because this was originally made as a 5 hander game,we had to mess about a bit,but as usual,we solved the problem!-Paul commanded the British square and the compound,Brian commanded the Zariba troops,and I had to command both the Haddendowah and Dervish troops!!
On move one,Paul "flashed" a message to Brian to come out of the Zariba,and join the British in rescuing Kitchener.What Paul didn't know was that Brian's troops only had 2 shots left and their morale was "rock-bottom"-however!!!!!!! for some strange reason(known only to Brian) the Zariba troops left the safety of the defensive position,and moved to join the British...............

Here they come-with their morale lower than a snake's goolies,and hardly any ammo.Where do you think the Dervish hordes are??-in the best tradition of pantomime-They're behind you!!!!

It's just as well that we don't have a swear box in the garage!!!-Brian was not a happy bunny!

As a prelude to attacking the square with my Haddendowah infantry,I unleashed my camel units against Paul's Lancers-this tussle went on for a few moves,until I killed his Brigadier,and he lost the melee-hurrah!!

As my dervish hordes swoop down on Brian,and the camel/lancer melee continues,Paul is shooting into the flank of the Dervish back line infantry-this would greatly tell later on in the game!-It's about time I set loose my Haddendowah infantry(I had quite a few of them!)

Here they come!-Brian had now turned his troops around to face the threat to his rear,but now had a new threat to his new rear!!!-thrilling stuff(if only we had a swear box!!) But what of the compound and Kitchener??

Well,it was under attack from rifles and artillery fire,plus a couple of warbands "lurking" in the sand dunes,just waiting for the right moment to attack!!

My infantry attack against the square is being shot to pieces,but the Dervish hordes are making "mince-meat" of Brian's Egyptians.
Paul's Naval brigade are using their Gardiner and Gatling guns to very good effect-if only they would jam...........................................

They did!!-allowing my black tsunami of hairy warriors to get into hand-to-hand combat!

The square is broken,and I am sending my other infantry(by now they have mopped up Brian's whole command!) to attack the other sides of the square-another loud hurrah!!

Brian's command!!!

With a "gulp" Paul prepares his square for one last effort-to no avail!!!
But what of the compound I hear you ask???

Well,top photo shows the Black Watch being soundly beaten in a furious melee,and the bottom photo shows the Haddendowah warriors doing a sort of "Hokey-Cokey" around Kitchener!!
You put your left spear in,you put your left spear out..................................
This was another great game full of good humour,banter and foul and abusive language!! what more could you ask for??
Roll on next Sunday-I will be encouraging the boys to come up with a game!!