DBColonial Game at The Recon Show.

Well it is a tad late, but you know how things can be....
Our YCW gamers went along to The Recon Show at Pudsey, (Post Title is linked), on Dec 6th, and we put on a DBColonial game, being a British/Zulu bash. Recon is a smallish but really decent friendly show, free easy parking and the foods not bad either (pie & mushy peas, Heaven!). If you can, it's well worth a visit. It's good that we have enough gamers now so that whilst some do the game, others can wander, and then swap over. Best of both worlds really.
So, we used the newly released DBC rules, from our Alex's KISR Publications (shameless plug here, see the DBN Site in Links for info & to order), and our newly based and flocked up 1/72 plastics.

We used our newish TSS terrain boards and hills , quick and easy to lay out, and the game was on, with the British advancing in a large central column with flank supports. Part of the Zulu force awaited in front of their Kraal, whilst others were hidden, secretly and worryingly, off table, awaiting the War Chant and the best time to strike.

Regular British Infantry advanced in Line, supported by Artillery and Naval Division, with Natal levy at the rear. Most of these figures are Esci/Revell, some are Hat which IMO are really really good, all based on ERM bases. The mounted Officer was my first plastic conversion (an easy one) for about 25 years.

The Zulu, working themselves into a bit of a frenzy, get ready to take on the invading Brits. Note the "Hero" figure, individually mounted on a coin, mingling on the second from right base, waiting for a chance to spring out and do some hacking and stabbing.

The Artillery piece, (4 in a box for £6, can't complain at that), takes careful aim.

The Zulu Chief testoUmboogwah, directs his warriors.

The British left flank force forms Square, with Regular Line, Highlanders and Skirmishers, and their Hero figure, The Honourable Arbuthnot Pickwick-Jones, in the middle, malingering, by all accounts...

... and they formed Square because this lot suddenly appeared, which was quite worrying really. The Artillery turned to offer support. In the Centre, the Brits had the better of a brief skirmish with the Zulu.

A move later, and the British main force formed Square also, as the Zulu made to attack it on three sides. The General R.Frostington-Brahms and Baggage elements are inside the Square, and the Naval Gatling gun has been posted out, in an attempt to disperse a smaller Zulu threat.

In a classic move, the Zulu Chest and Horns closed in on the main force, having a serious poke & jab with their Assagis, which were well sharp, whilst the Brits replied with steady volley fire.

Oh Dear!! In the distance, the Gatling gun jammed and got into a melee, whilst at the main Square, the volleys weren't that steady after all, and the Zulu closed to melee, killing one base, flanking others, and causing general death destruction and confusion.

A British rally caused the Zulu to fall back momentarily, and the Gatling gun was unjammed and began pumping the bullets out again. Things were looking better..

Even the Artillery mixed it, and won.

But then, calamity! The Zulu got a hit, and rampaged on in there, attacking the rather weak Baggage base, consisting only of orderlies and wounded chaps. They fought well, but what can you do eh.

The Gatling went under, as did the Artillery, freeing up yet more Zulu to massacre the remnants of the main force, which in proper Victorian fashion, stood back to back and died to the last man.

Remember the flanking square? The Zulu bypassed them initially, but after the main massacre returned to them, as they bravely formed Line and attempted a fighting withdrawal. It was a courageous but doomed effort. That 'Hero' chap, Pickwick-Jones, was rather less than Honourable, and merely trotted about for a bit, then did a runner, galloping off as fast as he could, the utter Bounder. He has since been banned from all the best clubs in England, and was last heard of scraping a living somewhere in the Belgian Congo. Victoria herself was heard to say of him, "Good riddance too, what a tosser."

So it was a Zulu victory, and quite a comprehensive one too. The words Massacre and Slaughter come to mind! With these rules, if the British fail to stop them with Firing then the Zulu can get into close quarters where they have a definite advantage. Good game though, and much enjoyed by all. I went off for a wander (No, I was not sulking!), whilst others had the second game of the day.
A few pictures of the other games on, all of which were good to see and well played out.

This was a nice one, wonderful castle there, using 10mm Kallistra figures.

The BIGGEST model ship I've seen, in a VBCW game, (put on by GWP I think), which was on a huge table..

.. it had so much on it, it was almost like several games in one.

Next to us, was a tank game, I'm not sure now who it was, but the German tank is 15mm, just to show the size of the Russian one.

All in all, a grand day was had, some decent purchases made, and we all went away happy and contented. What more can you ask for eh!

Regards,