My COW2019 session: Showcasing Chris Engle's Politics By Other Means

I have finally got around to writing a description of the session I am offering to put on at COW2019:

CARRY ON UP THE NILE!
6 players + an umpire (in the library?)
1.5 to 2 hours

An opportunity to try out Chris Engle's battle rules, POLITICS BY OTHER MEANS.

A none too serious sequel to last year's SAVE GORDON! game. Can a second British relief force (led by General Sir Sydney Ruff-Diamond) break the siege of Khartoum and relieve Gordon and Sir Garnet Wolseley? Will the 3rd Foot and Mouth (the famous 'Devils in Skirts') give the Dervishes a whirl they'll never forget? Not so much Khartoum as Khartoon ... and more Charlton Trotter* than Charlton Heston!

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* Charlton is Rodney Trotter's middle name. As a famous acting knight might say 'Not a lot of people know that'.

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It is my intention that the players will represent the following characters:

• General Charles Gordon (Devout, single-minded, courageous, difficult to deal with)
• General Sir Garnet Wolsely (Heroic, likes to be in charge, thinks that he is the best man for the job, imperious ... especially with subordinates who are not acolytes)
• General Sir Sydney Ruff-Diamond (Venial, self-serving, unflappable in a crisis, looking for an earldom, likely to stop for tiffin if the opportunity arises)
• The (slightly Mad) Mahdi (Saintly, single-minded, sure that Allah will ensure his victory, leads by contemplating in his tent)
• The Khalif (Heroic, likes to lead from the front, believes that he will lead the army to victory over the ferengi, has the unswerving loyalty of the army and the Mahdi)
• The Kharzi of Kalabar (Venial, resentful of the British [he is in self-imposed exile after recent events in India], has a reputation for leading from the front, has the support of loyal Bhurpa tribesmen, who have joined him in exile)