The Capture of Piet Petronius-1880
A Great Solo Game-The Men Who Would Be Kings
The Men Who Would is
Kings (abbreviated TMWBK) is a great
fast play Colonial game. I was drawn to it, as I really liked Lion and Dragon
Rampant. Some of the mechanics in those two games such as activation, morale
and simple melee/reaction transfer quite well to this period. I also have a nice collection of colonials
including British (Stadden circa 1975) used in my 28mm War of the Worlds game,
Boers (Falcon circa early 80s), Arabs (various manufacturers circa mid 80s),
and Zulus (Old Glory I believe circa 1990-ish).
These collections have not seen the light of day since about 2000 so
this was the time to dust ‘em off and get them out.
Mersey has included a solo gaming component that seemed to
work well with a smaller Afghans vs. British game. I wanted to try it with an
enemy that had modern weapons and field craft.
After reading The First Boer War by Joseph Lehmann for the
umpteenth time during 2017 Spring Break, it was a done deal.
The solo gaming segment is called “Playing Against Mr.
Babbage”. This is a dice controlled, automated action game. Each time the
British move, fire, or charge; the automated “Mr. Babbage” motivates the Boers. An after action report follows.
Piet and his Boer friends |
Piet Petronius was a
member of the Transvaal Council and a radical adherent to the ideals of the
Revolutions of 1848 and the American Revolution. His roots were Boer;
independent, highly religious, a quiet conservative in appearance.
Recently, large diamond deposits were unearthed near the
small farm town of Kimberly by an English concern. Additional gold deposits
were found further north in the Natal.
English commercial concerns have moved quickly to dominate the gold
mining industry and threaten the fortune of the Boer family; the De Beers. Given the political and economic instability
in the region; the Boers decide to strike for independence.
Boer..maybe Piet hissef! |
Petronius held court at his farm near the Skrakenberg
Kopje. The British East India Company presses
the Governor to take Petronius into custody for sedition. The stage is set for an epic first battle on
the veldt near Cape Town.
Table set up for game 6'x6' |
British:
1-Ground Rocket Troop
2-Regular Infantry x12 figures
1-Regular Infantry (Punishment Battalion) x12 figures
1-Cape Town Mounted Constabulary x8 figures
Boer:
Kommando Koptje: 12 figures (may be mounted or dismounted)
Kommando Junkers: 12 figures (maybe mounted or dismounted)
Kommando Koptje: 12 figures (may be mounted or dismounted)
Kommando Junkers: 12 figures (maybe mounted or dismounted)
Kommando Smythe-Fruitbat: 8 figures (maybe mounted or
dismounted)
Kommando Fannin: 8 figures en route from Bulenberg
Kommando Fannin: 8 figures en route from Bulenberg
Table Size: 6x6
Don't ask her to make you a sandwich! |
Turn 1:
British forces under Major Hedrick Batguano, Esq. arrive on the farmstead of Petronius thinking a quick snag and grab will take the area Boer forces (commandos-citizen soldiers, skilled in field craft and crack shots). The wife of Petronius and a field hand meets them initially. Color Sergeant Harvey Wallbanger tries to put the woman into custody and is cut down by a bush knife wielded by the field hand. Battle is on!
British forces under Major Hedrick Batguano, Esq. arrive on the farmstead of Petronius thinking a quick snag and grab will take the area Boer forces (commandos-citizen soldiers, skilled in field craft and crack shots). The wife of Petronius and a field hand meets them initially. Color Sergeant Harvey Wallbanger tries to put the woman into custody and is cut down by a bush knife wielded by the field hand. Battle is on!
Two Boer Kommandos arrive and begin firefights with the
regulars at long range from the Skrakenberg Kopje above the farmstead. Years of
hunting and protecting their farmsteads against native raids pay off with the “rooineks” being pinned on the left and
right. The rocket battery commander
orders the rocket fired but the rocket is a “dud”. Piet gathers several of his
friends that were staying the night and go to the upstairs firing positions. Piet’s
father constructed the farmhouse and is a massive stone construction with an
upper housing of dense and expensive ebony wood imported from the Congo.
The British trudge forward in open order braving the fire of
the Boers.
Turn 2:
These Boers Shoot GOOD! |
Turn 3:
Volley Fire at 100 yards! |
Boers at the Skrakenberg Koptje! |
Mr. Babbage rolls a charge into the pinned British to the
chagrin of the Boer commander Smythe.
They are easily repulsed by the regulars with cold steel and pluck in
the best traditions of the service. They
have been mentioned in dispatches to Whitehall.
As a result, Babbage rolls a reaction and the unit melts back into the
veldt to reappear the next turn in the same place but at long rifle range. Mr.
Babbage manages a wry smile. He rolls
the arrival of Fannin. His commando arrives to the east of the Skrakenberg
Koptje. They immediately form mounted
skirmish line and start to give fire to the “rooineks”,
pinning H Platoon. Things are looking
rather grim for the British.
Turn 4:
The British rally all Platoons and move against the farmhouse taking long and short-range
rifle causalities. Fire from the
farmhouse kills the horse of Major Batguano. He is shaken but not stirred. It
is reported Piet’s wife in revenge for his aborted detention took the shot. Mr. Babbage responds by rolling a charge upon
a rapidly depleting platoon; routing it. It melts in the hot African veldt
never to be seen again. It is reported in dispatches that Boer women and
children shoot the stragglers and take their weapons. That is a fact that will
haunt the British throughout the conflict.
Bird's Eye View! |
Cape Town Mounted Constabulary Arrives! |
The Cape Town Mounted Constabulary arrives to support Batguano. They
fail their move motivation roll and stand in place to the rear of Batguano’s
position. The remaining two British
platoons are pinned again by rifle fire and are becoming rather sparse and shaky. They do pass their morale rolls and stand in
place. The mission is becoming rather
“sticky” according to Batguano’s journal.
Koptje’s commando returns via the cattle paths in the Skrakenberg
Koptje; giving long range rifle fire onto Batguano’s platoon.
Additional fire is noted and causalities are
taken from the farmhouse. Protests to the Transvaal Council about the use of
large caliber elephant guns against the NCOs and officers of the British units.
The Transvaal Council as “loser talk” summarily dismissed this protest.
Batguano happens! |
Mr. Babbage rolls two charges upon the depleted
British force. H and J platoons rout.
Piet Petronius escapes through the Skrakenberg Kopje to the north and is seen
at the Boer Council chambers in Pretoria.
Major Batguano is called back to Whitehall, faces charges and is
summarily cashiered from the British army. He later takes residence in the
Belgian Congo training Askari units in British drill and tactics.
Take Aways:
1.
This game must contain at least 2:1
attacker/defender units if playing British vs. Boers. The Boers shoot as sharpshooters and have
“field craft” allowing them to go “down” for additional cover modifiers.
2.
Playing against “Mr. Babbage” may be an
acquired taste and may be unsuitable for a multiple player game against the
automated opponent. I’ve had a blast in the two games I’ve soloed so your
mileage may vary.
3.
Keep the terrain simple. There is a
balance. Too much terrain is boring in
this game. Too little terrain is deadly for the forces involved as rifle ranges
are a maximum of 24”.
4.
Field guns, machine guns, rocket
batteries are a bit funny to play. They either work quite well or suck VERY
VERY badly.
5.
Playing against Mr. Babbage is a
challenge and does not produce the same results each game. Highly recommended
as a diversion for an evening after work or afternoon. The game lasted 2.5
hours and that was because I took two days to play it.
Would I do it again? You bet. The rules
are recommended as a fast play alternative to older, slower rules systems. Now it’s time to put on multiple player games
without the “help” of Mr. Babbage
Gallery: Some of these pics are in the post. Some are not...so sue me! hahaha