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Saturday 22 June 2019

Creating a scenario generator

Sixteen years ago (Yes! Sixteen years ago!) I wrote a set of Colonial wargame rules entitled RESTLESS NATIVES. In fact, they were demonstrated at SALUTE2003 by my old friend Tony Hawkins and me.




The rules included a scenario and army 'generator' for battles in the Sudan, and during a recent computer 'tidy up' (part of my attempt to break out of my current state on ennui) I found the rules, and realised that the system had – after a bit of tweaking – potential for use with my PORTABLE COLONIAL WARGAME rules. The original text from that section of the RESTLESS NATIVES rules follows.

SCENARIOS: THE SUDAN

BASELINE ARMIES USED IN THE SCENARIOS

The two baseline armies from which the various units used in the following scenarios were drawn are as follows:

British Troops
  • 1 British Infantry Battalion (4 stands)
  • 2 Egyptian Infantry Battalions (4 stands each)
  • 2 Sudanese Infantry Battalions (4 stands each)
  • 1 Egyptian Lancer Regiment (1 stand)
  • 1 Egyptian Cavalry Squadron (4 stands)
  • 1 Egyptian Artillery Battery (1 stand)
  • 1 Egyptian Gatling Gun Battery (1 stand)
  • 1 British Supply Column (3 stands)
  • 1 Egyptian Supply Column (3 stands)
Natives Troops
  • 1 Warband of Jihadia Riflemen (5 stands)
  • 1 Large Warband of Baggara Spearmen (6 stands)
  • 1 Warband of Hadendowah Riflemen (4 stands)
  • 2 Large Warbands of Hadendowah Spearmen (6 stands each)
  • 2 Small Warbands of Hadendowah Spearmen (4 stands each)
  • 1 Warband of Baggara Cavalry (4 stands)
  • 1 Warband of Baggara Camelry (3 stands)
  • 1 Dervish Artillery Battery (1 stand)
SCENARIO AND ARMY GENERATOR

Before the battle commences the C-in-Cs each throw a D6, and their individual score determines what units will be available to them (Basic Army plus additional units). The two D6 scores added together determine which scenario will be recreated on the battlefield.


ARMIES FOR SCENARIOS

Basic British Army (used in all scenarios)
  • 1 British Infantry Battalion
  • 1 Sudanese Infantry Battalion
  • 1 Egyptian Artillery Battery
  • 1 Egyptian Supply Column
Dice score = 1 adds the following units to the Basic British Army
  • 1 Egyptian Infantry Battalion
  • 1 Egyptian Gatling Gun Battery
  • 1 Egyptian Cavalry Squadron
Dice score = 2 adds the following units to the Basic British Army
  • 1 Sudanese Infantry Battalion
  • 1 Egyptian Lancer Regiment
  • 1 Egyptian Gatling Gun Battery
Dice score = 3 adds the following units to the Basic British Army
  • 1 Egyptian Infantry Battalion
  • 1 Sudanese Infantry Battalion
  • 1 Egyptian Gatling Gun Battery
Dice score = 4 adds the following units to the Basic British Army
  • 1 Egyptian Infantry Battalion
  • 1 Sudanese Infantry Battalion
  • 1 Egyptian Lancer Regiment
Dice score = 5 adds the following units to the Basic British Army
  • 1 Egyptian Infantry Battalion
  • 1 Egyptian Cavalry Squadron
  • 1 Egyptian Lancer Regiment
Dice score = 6 adds the following units to the Basic British Army
  • 2 Egyptian Infantry Battalions
  • 1 Sudanese Infantry Battalion
  • 1 Egyptian Lancer Regiment
  • 1 Egyptian Cavalry Squadron
  • 1 Egyptian Gatling Gun Battery
  • 1 British Supply Column
Basic Native Army (used in all scenarios)
  • 1 Warband of Jihadia Riflemen
  • 1 Large Warband of Hadendowah Spearmen
  • 1 Warband of Baggara Cavalry
Dice score = 1 adds the following units to the Basic Native Army
  • 1 Large Warband of Hadendowah Spearmen
  • 1 Small Warband of Hadendowah Spearmen
  • 1 Warband of Baggara Camelry
Dice score = 2 adds the following units to the Basic Native Army
  • 1 Large Warband of Hadendowah Spearmen
  • 1 Warband of Hadendowah Riflemen
  • 1 Warband of Baggara Camelry
Dice score = 3 adds the following units to the Basic Native Army
  • 1 Large Warband of Hadendowah Spearmen
  • 1 Warband of Hadendowah Riflemen
  • 1 Dervish Artillery Battery
Dice score = 4 adds the following units to the Basic Native Army
  • 1 Large Warband of Baggara Spearmen
  • 2 Small Warbands of Hadendowah Spearmen
  • 1 Warband of Hadendowah Riflemen
Dice Score = 5 adds the following units to the Basic Native Army
  • 1 Warband of Hadendowah Riflemen
  • 1 Warband of Baggara Camelry
  • 1 Dervish Artillery Battery
Dice Score = 6 adds the following units to the Basic Native Army
  • 1 Large Warband of Baggara Spearmen
  • 1 Large Warband of Hadendowah Spearmen
  • 2 Small Warbands of Hadendowah Spearmen
  • 1 Warband of Hadendowah Riflemen
  • 1 Warband of Baggara Camelry
  • 1 Dervish Artillery Battery
SCENARIOS

SCENARIO A – THE BRITISH ATTACK A FORTIFIED VILLAGE

  • The British troops must enter from the bottom right corner of the map.
  • The Mahdist troops may deploy anywhere on the map.
  • The British win if they capture the village by the end of the battle.
  • The Mahdists win if they still hold the village at the end of the battle.
SCENARIO B – THE MAHDISTS ATTACK A FORTIFIED VILLAGE

  • The Mahdist troops must enter from the bottom right corner of the map.
  • The British troops may deploy anywhere in the top row of grid squares.
  • The Mahdists win if they capture the village by the end of the battle.
  • The British win if they still hold the village at the end of the battle.
SCENARIO C - THE LONG PATROL

  • The British troops must enter from the bottom left corner of the map.
  • The Mahdist troops may deploy anywhere on the map.
  • The British win if over 50% of their troops reach the exit point by the end of the battle.
  • The Mahdists win if they prevent more than 50% of the British troops from reaching the exit point by the end of the battle.
SCENARIO D – A MEETING ENGAGEMENT

  • The British troops must enter from the top left corner of the map.
  • The Mahdist troops must enter from the middle of the right side of the map.
  • The British win if 50% or more of their troops remain on the battlefield by the end of the battle.
  • The Mahdists win if 50% or more of their troops remain on the battlefield by the end of the battle.
SCENARIO E – CLEARING THE HILLS

  • The British troops must enter from the middle of the left side of the map.
  • The Mahdist troops may deploy anywhere on the hills or behind them.
  • The British win if they occupy two of the hills by the end of the battle.
  • The Mahdists win if they still hold two of the hills at the end of the battle.
SCENARIO F – A SET-PIECE BATTLE

  • The British troops must enter from the middle of the left side of the map.
  • The Mahdist troops must deploy between the hills.
  • The British win if 50% or more of their troops remain on the battlefield by the end of the battle.
  • The Mahdists win if 50% or more of their troops remain on the battlefield by the end of the battle.

The system is very simple to use, and can be tailored to suit whatever size armies the players have available. For example, Player A (the British) throws a 2 and Player B (the Mahdist) throws a 5. By checking these dice scores against the Scenario and Army Generator we find that they scenario will be SCENARIO A – THE BRITISH ATTACK A FORTIFIED VILLAGE.

The British force will comprise:
  • 1 British Infantry Battalion
  • 1 Sudanese Infantry Battalion
  • 1 Egyptian Artillery Battery
  • 1 Egyptian Supply Column plus
  • 1 Sudanese Infantry Battalion
  • 1 Egyptian Lancer Regiment
  • 1 Egyptian Gatling Gun Battery
The Mahdist force will comprise:
  • 1 Warband of Jihadia Riflemen
  • 1 Large Warband of Hadendowah Spearmen
  • 1 Warband of Baggara Cavalry plus
  • 1 Warband of Hadendowah Riflemen
  • 1 Warband of Baggara Camelry
  • 1 Dervish Artillery Battery
Both sides have quite a bit of firepower at their disposal, although the British have the edge in that department. However, the Mahdists make up for it by having a 2:1 advantage when it comes to mounted troops.

Had the scores been 5 and 1 respectively, the scenario would have been SCENARIO B – THE MAHDISTS ATTACK A FORTIFIED VILLAGE and the armies would have been as follows:

British force
  • 1 British Infantry Battalion
  • 1 Sudanese Infantry Battalion
  • 1 Egyptian Artillery Battery
  • 1 Egyptian Supply Column plus
  • 1 Egyptian Infantry Battalion
  • 1 Egyptian Cavalry Squadron
  • 1 Egyptian Lancer Regiment
Mahdist force
  • 1 Warband of Jiadia Riflemen
  • 1 Large Warband of Hadendowah Spearmen
  • 1 Warband of Baggara Cavalry plus
  • 1 Large Warband of Hadendowah Spearmen
  • 1 Small Warband of Hadendowah Spearmen
  • 1 Warband of Baggara Camelry

I think that this system has potential for development, and if I can maintain my enthusiasm, I may do some more work on the concept over the next month or so.

14 comments:

  1. Very interesting, thanks for sharing

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Storm,

      Cheers! I hope that you find it useful.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  2. An idea worth stealing...errr using. The matrix linking the force mix to the scenario is an inspired concept!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ed M,

      Please feel free to use the basic idea ... and I hope that you find it useful if you do.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  3. Great scenarios Bob. Thanks for posting these ideas for future games.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maudlin Jack Tar,

      It was my pleasure ... and I hope that you enjoy using them.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  4. Good to see a useful idea reused. I like the forces being linked to the scenarios unlike a simple random force generator like the one in Neil Thomas' One Hour Wargames.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dave,

      Players seemed to enjoy the slight randomness in the forces that were available to them for each scenario.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  5. Tell you what, that concept could make for a great 'logical campaign' of the type in which one side is trying to hold down a country (the Anglo-Egyptian against insurgence; the Mahdist against foreign encroachment). The result of one could, but need not, lead 'logically' to the next action.

    (Which reminds me: I've meaning to 'do' that revolutionary campaign from DPW. Still haven't made up my mind whether to do it as early 19th Century or mid-20th...)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Archduke Piccolo,

      Trying to meld this system with a linear campaign does make sense. It's certainly something I could work on for my next book.

      Do try the campaign system in DWP. It can easily be adapted to other historical eras and locations.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  6. I think you may have rekindled my desire for som colonial war gaming!
    I like what I see here. Now to see what I can do with it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mike Taber,

      I hope that you give the system a try. I'm sure that you'll find it useful.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  7. Very simple and very neat, even I could use it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brian Carrick,

      I'm sure that you'll find it produces some interesting battles.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete

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