David Bickley's Wargames Blog

The occasional ramblings of an average gamer, journeyman painter, indifferent modeller, games designer, sometime writer for Wargames Illustrated and host of games in GHQ.



Wednesday, 14 February 2018

Action at Rhektabad

Jon and I managed a game on Wednesday evening last week as GHQ was once more accessible as the garden makeover wound down on the construction front. We decided on a Black Powder game set during the Indian Mutiny. Jon commanded the HEIC & Imperial forces and I took the Mutineers. The HEIC/Imperial objective was to carry the bridge and drive off the Mutineers defending the crossing, while the Mutineers hoped to defeat the enemy decisively. A selection of photos I took after the game will, I hope, give a flavour of the action which played out ~

The Bridge at Rhektabad was the objective for the HEIC/Imperial force.
Local Badmash support the Mutineers defending the bridge.

Heavy Mutineer artillery cover the approach to the bridge's defenders.

From the safety of his ruined fortress Byk Lai encourages his men onward!



















Troops from the HEIC attack the Mutineers defending the ruins.

Imperial infantry and artillery support the cavalry's assault.

"The whole line will advance!" And it did this once!

Hill tribesmen look for the moment to join the fight!




An imposing sight to bring fear to the Mutineers?

Lancers advance as artillery sweeps the defenders at close range!

The Gordon Highlanders drive in the last Mutineers around the ruins.

The North Staffords advance to battle!


























































































































































Our game was somewhat blighted by very poor Command Roll dice, not to mention the Firing Die at all! Unusually for us we only played six turns when the game clearly drifted out into a draw. Still a good evening but an unresolved action in the end. The Mutineers defended stubbornly and the HEIC/Imperial attacks stalled repeatedly. Neither sides' fire was devastating and as to Hand to Hand, the less said the better!





16 comments:

  1. A very pretty game...
    It certainly looks warmer on the table than it is outside...:-)

    All the best. Aly

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    1. Wargaming warms even on the coldest of days.

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  2. tremendous stuff. I am sorely torn to do India mutiny (again) at some point but as my Sikh Wars stuff is within a month or two of being table ready I will see sense.

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    1. I look forward to seeing your armies Colin.

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  3. A fantastic looking game David!

    Christopher

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  4. Stirring stuff, lovely looking game.

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    Replies
    1. You were stirred, but not shaken I trust!

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  5. Nice looking game nice to see the colonial collection in play 😀

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    Replies
    1. One of my favourite games, such wonderful figures from Foundry.

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  6. A splendid little set too indeed, very wily those hill folk.

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    Replies
    1. Can’t trust a Hill Tribesman I’ve found recently.

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  7. Must have been a superb and immersive game, a wonderful table!

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  8. With success in sight the failing light deprived Her Majesties forces of a glorious victory!

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