Oh yes... and there's that von Tempsky fellow

Also last weekend I thought I was going to get in a solo game, but for various reasons it didn't happen. What it did do was make me realize that I need to decide how to re-base my Maori Wars figures. And that, my friends, makes me have to decide what rules I want to use.

I wrote (and finished the core of) a Brother Against Brother adaptation some years ago (which you can find posted on the Maori Wars Yahoo Group). But since my group uses Iron Ivan rules, it probably will be best to use the This Very Ground French & Indian rules with some simple house rules governing Breech Loaders. I think the key to this era is to approach it not like a "colonial war" but more like an "Indian War" (as in U.S. Frontier Wars). To stay thematic you need to really try and play out the differing goals of the three factions (Government, Kupapa & Hau-Hau)involved. In my opinion this makes using a scenario-generation system or a mini-campiagn system (both ala RFCM rules ) the way to go. I tried in some way to do this in my B-A-B adaption, BUT also a certain minimum literacy in the conflicts by the players might be necessary and that is probably asking too much.

(the above photo shows the death of von Tempsky)

In some ways an adaptation of Patrols in the Sudan would work well because of the terrain placement and hidden placement mechanics. The Patrolling mechanics used by P-i-t-S would simulate the kind of actions which made up most of Te Kootis War and much of the action in the later part of the East Coast Wars which preceeded it.

My ideal would be to be able to comfortably use a small number of stands (around 30 per side) for short solo-games. I'm not sure that I'll run this at the club again since I just don't think that using a giant (8x12) table is in any way helpful in simulating this conflict. But I am still very much interested in these wars and also in the inter-tribal "Musket Wars" of the earlier 19th century which are much more bloody and epic in nature.

progress... of a sort

(photo is from Crusader Miniatures website)
I have finished another stand (= 2 coys.) of Union Frock Coat Crusader figs and started the last stand of Sash & Saber Union gun crews for my battery. My goal was to finish one 4 regiment infantry brigade (80 figs) plus one 3 stand battery with a selection of guns (currently I've 2 20 lb. Parrotts painted and 3 3" rifles unassembled). Technically speaking I've finished 3 regiments plus 4 figs, but really that's with one regiment of mixed manufacturers (Renegade & Crusader) & mixed poses (at ease & marching with right shoulder shift). I don't want this so I will finish the last two regiments as manufacturer & pose specific which adds up to about 16 figs to go.

On top of that I just received a regiment's worth of Perry Confederate's in Frock Coats. I was a little disappointed with them, but I think that was because everyone speaks of Perry sculpts as THE Standard. A little more flash than I like (and these days I expect basically none) and the bayonets are a little more delicate than I care for (a la Woodbine). My CSA brigade will probably be 4 regiments strong made up of a mix of 16 fig and 20 fig regiments plus a 2 stand battery. Currently I plan on using mostly Crusader figs. The big problem will be how to paint them. It's amazing how accustomed we've all become to the all butternut, all hat wearing armies to the point where I'm afraid that if I paint a regiment in early war regulation uniforms or late war Cadet Grey they will look "inaccurate". Also, as with WWI and WWII German uniforms, the various Confederate greys are a little difficult to find "straight out of the bottle". I think I have a couple of colors that will work (Vallejo Stone Grey, P3 Cygnar Blue Highlight). More boring details later.

Update, May 2010

I am now 2/3 of the way done with my Union battery. 2 crews and 2 guns finished. The figures are Sash & Saber, which I am of very mixed minds about. But that's what I have and that's what I'm painting. Currently doing a stand (2 coys.) of Crusader Frock Coat infantry which will, when done give me 2/3 of a Regiment of those figs. I bought some Frock Coat Union Renegade figs a while back to go with the 2 stands that are painted. What will I do for the Command stand? Maybe some Sash & Saber command figs I have, which aren't 100% compatible (they have packs on and are in Sack coats) .

As to WWI I'm definitely going to get some of the new Woodbine Design Indian figs (when I have some surplus $$). Woodbine is best for releasing all the figs you actually need to build units. So I am eagerly awaiting the Officers, NCOs, grenadiers and Lewis gunners. Also I plan to buy a "starter army" of Arabs in Ottoman service and possibly paint them as Sharifian Regulars.