“Never Trust Anyone on the Frontier” an epic NWF Campaign

 I’ve joined a truly epic NWF Campaign run by an exuberant gentleman from Italy based on a website hobby platform The Lead Adventure Forum. This is a remote campaign with folks across the globe. 

I intend to post my own personal adventures within the campaign here on my blog to keep track of my missions, troop dispositions, and battles. My part begins on page 8 of the thread.

A link to the thread on LAF: Never Trust Anyone on the Frontier

And so it begins……

12 July 1890
from General Bindon Blood ,Rawalpindi:
Dear McGuinness, the situation in Chitral has precipitated quickly, old friend Shuja Dad has been murdered by the rebel Ali Razah  Khan who stirred up the Chitralis against us.
Two English civilians residing there were also killed, Mr and Mrs Stevenson, the Chitral garrison made up of a company from the 40th Pathans and one from the Gordon Highlanders , Bombay Artillery under the command of the oldest officer, Col. Dano McGurule  closed in the fort , I don't know how long it will last.
You must immediately organize 2 brigades plus divisional troops and move quickly from Nowshera to Chitral.
Bring a good political officer with you as you will have to cross territories populated by warrior tribes and you may encounter further difficulties.
good luck my friend
BBloodw

14 July 1890

General BBlood, yes indeed sir, the warnings are certainly dire. We have mustered our forces and are moving post haste to the disturbances in the Chitral district. As ordered we have formed (2) Brigades with the required attached auxiliary troops. Our troops morale is high, they are certainly itching for a fight!  Cavalry scouts have already been sent out along our proposed march route. The dreaded Ali Razah Kahn, defender of the faithful text must be stopped at all costs, captured dead or alive, for Queen and country. His lands and village will be scorched. Huzzah!!!!

With upmost respect,
General McGuinness

Foot note: We have attached a most experienced and skillful Political Officer, LT Reginald Lowell. His extensive service and experience on the Grim will most certainly tip the advantage in our favor sir.

_________________________________________________

Dispatches from Chitral Fort: 

14 July 1890 Chitral outpost,
from Colonel Dano McGurule , Commander of the Chitral garrison.
to Gen. McGuinness in Nowshera:
"we reinforced the guards and a wall that was unsafe. The Chitralis fire a few shots every now and then at our sentinels. Morale is high but I think we will be attacked soon, we plan to resist as much as possible, food and water are not a problem at the moment. 
Our spies inform us that the Chitralis are looking for allies in Kohistan and in the lands of the Chilasis, one of their emissary has reached the tribes of the Mamunds in the Bajaur in an attempt to convince them to enter the war, so the road between Chakdara and the Lowarai pass could be dangerous, unfortunately it is the only possible way  to get here."

Dispatches Nowshera 15 July 1890

Good day my dear General Blood,

We have departed Nowshera with the 1st Brigade and are well enroute to Chitral. We are currently on the move with patrols of the 77th Bengal Lancers scouting to the flanks and front of our column. Close behind them the 2nd Gurkhas have taken to the heights and scrub to flush out any possible ambushers. Our Political Officer LT Reginald Ethan has ridden ahead with a detachment of the 77th Bengal Lancers to make contact with friendly tribes on our route of march in order secure safe passage and possible allies. The Queens Shilling is still worth it's weight in gold on the Grim, to some....

Your humble servant,
General McGuinness

1st Brigade
Col. Robert Hall
Capt. "no boats for me" Lucas
Sgt Major Lawrence Brom
(1) Batt 2nd Gurkhas
(1) Batt Corp of Guides
(1) Batt 66th KRRC
(1) Batt 72nd Highlanders
(1) Squadron 77th Bengal Lancers
(1) Battery Bengal Artillery Mountain Guns - mule born

Attached Political Officer:
LT Reginald Ethan

                             General McGuinness

TSATF Games at HurriCon 2021

                               Hurricon 2021 Con Link

   HMGS-South is back to running cons! 23-26 September, 2021 in Orlando Florida. Above is the list of the games at the dedicated The Sword And The Flame Table. There are lots of other great games in all sorts of periods, scales, and rules sets. Sign up soon as spots are filling up fast.      

Check out the HMGS- South link for the Historical Miniatures Gaming Society - Southern region.  

                              

1930'S VERSION OF THE SERGEANTS 3 - Painted by Stan Johansen

 

A 1930'S VERSION OF THE SERGEANTS 3 - PULP FIGURES - Painted by Stan Johansen, (Link)

I picked up these awesomely painted figs at Stan’s booth at an HMGS-South con several years ago. Stan sells all manor of painted and based game ready figures, guns, and vehicles. Many periods and scales, many genres and manufacturers, including his own line of Boxer Rebellion figures in both 28mm and 20mm. 

I use these painted Pulp Figures minis for my Gunga Din and Tantrapur village games. My preferred set of colonial rules are “The Sword And The Flame” for running games at cons and our local Fort Lauderdale Florida club, the South Florida Miniatures Gamers. (SMG Link)

 

These pics were taken at my Village of Tantrapur game about 5 or more years ago in Orlando Fla at one of the HMGS-South’s excellent cons, Recon or HurriCon. 

I have the earlier period Sergeants 3 pack from pulp figures also but I love to paint and will be painting those myself. However Stan’s painted figs were so good I couldn’t resist. They’ve seen much action in my NWF games over the years! In fact, they will be appearing in my upcoming con game “The Last Pack Train Out Of Ahoogastan” in September at HurriCon 21. (Game post link)

Here are pics from the Pulp Miniatures website selling these unpainted figs. 

1930’s version:

Earlier version:

Here are the links: 

Stan Johansen Miniatures

Pulp Figures - Sergeants 3 early version

Pulp Figures Sergeants 3 - 1930’s version

The Sword And The Flames rules

Historical Miniatures Gaming Society -HMGS-South

HMGS-South - HurriCon 2021

Frontier Campaign 1758 - Day 3 - 1st Battle - AAR

 

                   Frontier Campaign 1758 Game Map

Our local South Florida Miniatures Gaming Club, SMG,  has started a horse and musket era campaign. It’s set during the French and Indian War in North America, cira 1758. We've all played lots of one off games, they are fun, exciting, even nail biting. However, nothing compares to campaign games when each battle has ramifications for the next. My good friend Jorge whom I've been gaming with for 44+ plus years now surprised our group by volunteering to run a campaign for us. He's a horse and musket guy who always runs a great 1700-1800’s game and has awesome Naps and 7 Years War collections.

We few, we happy few who've volunteered to join Jorge's campaign have been graced with his awesome efforts. Above is the cool map he made which was part of the game breifing he sent us. We were given force packages, victory conditions, campaign parameters, objectives, and a set of rules to use for the conflicts that occur due to contact bases on the campaign map strategic movements. Oh what wargame joy it is!

There is so much fun going on behind the scenes between commands, the game master, map movement, force allocation, etc... I'm so happy to be involved in another campaign, it adds a whole other aspect to every game played. We just don't fight until the last lead widow is made. Each objective must be properly researched, the correct forces and resources allocated, a sound battle plan generated, all commanders sufficiently briefed, map movement plotted, terrain scouted, making contact with the enemy, and then engage until it's such time for reinforcement, victory, or retreat! 

No battle plan survives first contact with the enemy…

Thus begins the Frontier Campaign of 1758, The French and Indian War, Day 3, 1st Battle. The English attack French Fort #2 which located just north of the northern ford to Akat Island, see map. 

These are the best QRS - Quick Reference Sheets I made on the pc based on the above rules. They definitely came in handy. 

Here are some more pictures of the first game. 

Akat Island, occupied by the Abenaki Indians

           A tasty victory beverage indulged by the French. 

French Cavalry Scouts monitor British movements from

the safety of the tree line. 

The full size campaign tactical map adorns a the wall in Das Krieg Haus along with our historical battle maps. 

           The game master / campaign organizer Jorge briefs one of the players (Sgt Guinness) at our Fort Lauderdale Florida gaming club house: Das Krieg Haus

               Fort expertly hand made by Herb Gundt

Here’s a shot from our storage loft we here we store troops and terrain. The loft goes around sll 4 sides of the game room. 

Troops are being deployed by Jason and Sgt G while Jim dances a happy Victory jig and Steve reads dispatches from his commanding officer. 

                Akat Island, home of the Abenaki Indians

NEXT GAME, DATE TBD

The French are attacking British Fort #3 at the same time as the above battle. See map below.