The Triumph of Typoo Bhyka...

...and celebrating Paul's new phone to boot. The second game set in the Subcontinent, the Jewel in the Crown, last week saw Paul, as Major General Watson, leading the forces of the Honourable East India Company, assisted by a smattering of Regular units, against the rebellious ruler of Pendawar, Typoo Bhyka, the Tyger of Pendawar. 

Rather than the usual anotated photomontage I thought I'd weave the pictures Paul sent me into this blog post as they do show this collection in a strong light. The table layout you will recognise as substantially that of the previous Mutiny game fought earlier with Phil, some of the units even straying across time if not space! 

Paul won the initiative at the onset of activities and from the off the battle was intense and involved. So much so that we only managed two Turns before lunch and after the break only a further two before Major General Watson's force was broken by a combination of poor luck on his part and aggressive action on Typoo's, accompanied I must say by more than decent dice when it mattered most. A more conventional view of the action for those readers who enjoy seeing how the battle developed ~

Typoo Bhyka's Regular Infantry supported by artillery and hordes of horsemen.

Fanatical swordsmen supported by artillery and rockets!

The inexorable advance of the forces of the H.E.I.C. bear down on Typoo's centre while the Horsemen await developments on the left.

Almost mirroring Phil's earlier dilemma, the H.E.I.C. right wing just cannot get into position.

The centres clash as Typoo's war elephants lumber forward in support.

On the right of his line the hordes of mounted warriors get into action. The H.E.I.C. artillery is ridden down in an heroic charge!

Fanatics driven off and the rocket battery destroyed by an explosion on firing! Typoo's left is looking weaker suddenly. The Voluntaires de Bykli and the Raja's Household Guard press forward to stem the tide!

Buoyed by success Typoo's forces surge forward across the battlefield restricting Watson's ability to manoeuvre effectively to make the best of his superior infantry firepower.

Where his forces can deploy their devastating volley fire sees off Typoo's lightly armed infantry.

Typoo's guns are silenced but still he drives his men forward, determined that he shall prevail at all hazards!

The hordes of mounted warriors sweep away Watsons left wing putting both Regulars, Sepoys and Volunteers to the sword. 

Turn 4 sees Watson's forces crumble as the H.E.I.C. army reaches Break Point. Paul graciously concedes defeat to a modestly jubilant Typoo Bhyka. A cracking game from the off and another example of the strengths of the Black Powder system. No game here for a while now S both Phil and Paul are away on R&R and Jon continues to be AWOL...