There is a mechanism in COTLB to replicate the impact of a
dashing British Cavalry Charge. Here it is:
“ (a) Plus 3 British Cavalry in line or double line attacking
Russian Cavalry.
“ (b) Plus 2 For cavalry charging or counter charging in double line (lines
within 4” of each other). Russian attack column striking infantry or
artillery straight on.
Very good, you can see what the author wants. How
about India?
Let’s simplify:
“ (a) Plus 3 Lancer Cavalry in line or double line attacking Artillery, Cavalry, Infantry in first round
only.
(b) Plus 2 For cavalry charging or counter charging in double line (lines
within 4” of each other). Fierce infantry in line or attack column striking infantry or artillery. First round only.
Right so. Who are the Fierce? To a degree this is
subjective. Meaning you must make your choice on the basis of the best
information you have.
Consider the Highlanders. Sir Colin
Campbell continually used them in highly aggressive actions. Some say that was
because Campbell was a fierce Highlander and so were the lads. Others point out
that the Highlanders were fully up to strength. Many British units
were not. A good reason they were not chosen.
Some like to designate the Sikhs and Gurkhas as Fierce. I would qualify both as so in open battle. In City Fighting the Sikhs had other priorities.
Although note there were never many militant Sadhus or Ghazis even. My Sadhus below, half the strength of a Regular unit.
We had British Officers telling W H Russell that the reason Sepoys fought to the death was that they were fanatics. That sound Fierce too.
Decisions should be made pre game. There should not be more
than a few such Fierce units on each side.
The Guns next.
In the Anglo- Sikh Wars and in 1857 British officers noted a
curious phenomenon. Indian gunners got 3
shots off to every 2 the British managed. Why? Don’t know. The Indian genius
for mathematics? It is recorded that the Indians were more accurate too.
Therefore I’m amending COTLB from:
“An artillery battery consists of three stands each of two
men plus one piece.”
To
An artillery battery consists of three stands each of two
men plus one piece for British and three stands each of three men plus one piece
for Indian regular artillery.
Why so? In COTLB artillery fires by throwing one dice for each crew figure. There’s our 3 for 2. It is not often so easy.
Another easy hit is the advantage of the Enfield Rifle. The British had it the Sepoys didn't. Mind you at the start some British units didn't have it either.
More of this COTLB amending to come. Not too much I think. Next the all important higher command. Quite often the Sepoys had none.
I think this is going to work.
Meantime I have a copy of Mad Dogs and Englishmen by Jon Sutherland. These are not new Indian Mutiny rules (2018) but they are interesting. I might even review them just to tease out the concepts more. Mainly I like aspects of the author's approach. Other's think he made a mess of it. See Ralph Astley's review on You tube for that.
I bought a copy of course. Some of the things that vexed Mr Astley are there alright. All the same I'm interested enough to make the cards. It is a Card Driven Game, mainly.
A final thought. I need a bit of this kind of thing. It is a British Official Residence about 1860. Big enough but not palatial. They varied in size according to the gig.
Further down the social scale. The Opium Agent's and similar ranks cottages. Note the European tiles and chimney pots.
