Battle Report - Sudan 28mm using Black Powder

Madhist battle line takes shape - very ominous

Last week the conscripts assembled at Dallas' place to play a Colonial game using the "Black Powder" rules.  I had tried Black Powder for the first time during my recent visit to Regina and was really impressed with the rules. I was hoping for a second successful run through with the group at our home base back in Winnipeg. 

The emir's standard

The scenario was a slight "what-if" type encounter, imagining a bold Madhist emir launching a probing attack against General Graham's force assembling at the port of Suakin in 1884. Irritated and keen to get into action, Graham sends a smaller force into a preliminary battle.

Camelry takes the lead - the beast are in a bad mood...

The table was 6' x 4'.  With the trusty Geo Hex terrain as a base, the setting included the ruins of a small trading station once run by the Egyptian administration in Sudan.  The British had to break the Madhists.  The Madhists had the same goal.  The break points were similar - first side to have half their units broken would lose.

The British had a battalion from the Cameron Highlanders (or the Gordons, depending on your interpretation of my brushwork on the kilts), a battalion from the Yorks & Lancs, a detachment of naval troops, a gatling gun and some lads from the 10th Hussars.

The Madhists had three big warbands of warriors with spears, a unit of cavalry with spears and carbines, a unit of camel scouts with carbines and two groups of skirmishers with captured Remington breech loaders.  They also had a captured Krupp gun crewed by Egyptian "volunteers".

Madhist skirmishers with rifles - likely captured from the Egyptians which had been previously "defeated"

This was only my second game of Black Powder, and the first game with the group here in Winnipeg, so I'm pretty sure I messed up a couple of rules.  But overall it was a great game.  Dallas, Frederick and Dave V. played the British side while Mike F, Kevin H. and Perry played the Madhists.

Another view of the Madhist attack

Black Powder moves very fast.  Because command success can vary, some units can cover quite a bit of distance if you give a bold order and roll well (or with luck - whatever :). The Madhists roared forward into the approaching British lines.  The Brits responded with crashing volleys from their Martini-Henrys and counter charges from the 10th Hussars.

Madhist religious leader at the forefront of the cavalry.  The "WTF?" token was used to indicate disorder.

The Hussars caused some dramatic damage on the Madhists on the British left, but ultimately they took a lot of punishment broke after a couple of turns. On the British right the Highlanders withstood charge after charge, breaking a couple of Madhist warbands but they were ultimately overwhelmed by the combination of cavalry and irritating Madhist skirmishers!

Madhist Krupp gun, with overseer and Egyptian "volunteers"

As the Madhist units wore away, the British tried to stick grimly to their battle lines, hoping to settle the matter with musketry.  But Mike F in particular was hot rolling the morale saves.  The finish was very close - with the Hussars and Highlanders gone, the British were one unit away from breaking.  On the other hand, so were the Madhists!  Who would claim glory in the Sudan?

The 10th Hussars ride to glory - and a break point

As with all such systems, there was heartbreak in the command rolls for both sides.  The Madhists could not quite finish the job, but they came close. Command rolls played a part.  The British firing line won in the end, but just barely.  It was very, very close, a great game by both sides.

Dallas brought out the movement trays for "War of the Ring" and they worked well for the British.  I look forward to getting my own sabot-trays for these figures and playing more Black Powder in the future.

I really enjoy Black Powder.  The rules are very quick, simple and very flexible.  They certainly have a lot of similarities to Warmaster, but they are adjusted very nicely to get this style of game. The guys seemed pretty engaged with them.  As I said above, it was only my second run through so I probably screwed up a few calls but overall I think we had the spirit of the game.

As you can see from the pictures, photos of the British are lacking - I am hoping Dallas will upload some he took when he has a moment.  In the meantime, you can get a look at a similar game from Regina here.
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Thanks for posting the report, Greg! I've uploaded the pics I took of the game with some captions...

The Mahdist battle line

Mahdist cameleers

Some of the frothing Madhists

British line formed up with Hussars on the left, Yorks and Lancs in the middle and Highlanders at right

Yorks and Lancs, fitting well in the GW WotR movement tray

Disrupted Mahdist mob

Hussars hit the Mahdist right flank

Mahdist mob about to evaporate; Hussars charge through into camelry at top left...

Hussars slam into the Mahdist camelry, outcome is not so good for the horsemen

Camels roll over the blown Hussars and move to threaten the flank of the Yorks and Lancs...

Camels slam into the infantry - a nice co-ordinated charge by the Mahdists

Mahdists win the combat but the British withdraw in good reasonable order

Highlanders are under pressure on the other flank

Mahdist horsemen charge in...

"Epic fail" for a failed order by the Mahdist boss...

...matched by a British blunder!

Ultimately, British pluck carried the day - huzzah!!