The Sword And The Flame:
Scenario Portfolio 2000

Rules Review

by Jeff Johnson


Larry Brom is a rules author well known to the readership of The Heliograph.

His newest product is an annual subscription service that provides a variety of game scenarios sent in four mailings throughout the coming year. An annual subscription is $38.00 (or $44.00 for International mailing) which brings a total of 24 scenarios. Known as the TSATF/20th Scenario Portfolio 2000 the new subscription service sent out the first mailing in July.

The July 2000 package included:

  • a three-page introduction by Larry Brom, where he explains the basics such as the use of a 4' by 8' table for each scenario; the use of unit factors and substitutions as given in the 20th Anniversary Edition of The Sword and The Flame; notes on rules for any concealed units and for off-table units; as well as some terrain ideas.
  • six detailed scenarios, one for each of the following:
  • Europeans vs. African Tribesmen
  • Anglo-Egyptian vs. Dervish
  • British vs. Boers
  • Egyptians vs. Dervish
  • Anglo-Indians vs. Pathan
  • British vs. Zulus

    Each of the six scenarios was provided with:

  • two copies of an aerial perspective map of the table set-up,
  • a set of two scenario detail sheets (one for each side),
  • each scenario sheet gives the forces available, the initial set-on of the units, the terrain factors, plus 3 to 6 options for variations in that scenario.
  • also included in the first mailing was a TSATF rules variant to provide for simultaneous movement through the use of 'order chips' rather than the traditional random card draw of the original TSATF rules. This option seemed well thought out and was clearly described.
  • the packet included one page of illustrated 'terrain tips' with useful ideas for making African village huts and village palisades, with sources of supply for the items used.

    TSATF Scenario Portfolio

  • the first mailing also included two plastic page protectors to be used to record hidden unit locations with dry erase pens (one protector per scenario map) so the umpire can keep track of hidden movement and the occasional ambush. The courtesy of including the page protectors, rather than just telling the reader to go out and buy them, shows the degree of detail that is provided.

    Larry and daughter Lori Brom have produced a fine addition to the well-established colonial rule set. The rules additions and scenario ideas add considerable value to the basic TSATF rule set, and are written in general terms so the scenario ideas are fully useful with any other set of rules. The well-drawn maps and illustrations for terrain ideas also add value to the package. I am looking forward to hearing from users of the scenarios in future issues of The Heliograph. They look well-written and clearly presented to me.

    The total mailing added up to 18 pages of text and 12 pages of maps, plus a sturdy pocket folder to contain it all. At $38.00 a year this works out to $ 9.50 for the package, which seems very reasonable when postage and other overhead costs are considered.

    Orders may be sent to:

    And That's The Way It Was
    213 3rd Street NE
    Hickory NC 28601-5124
    USA

    Or you may order online and pay by credit card by using Amazon.com zShops on the internet and entering TSATF Portfolio in the search field. I ordered my subscription electronically and it went very well, with an electronic confirmation received very promptly by email. Details are on the web at Major General Trevor Remordering's page http://www.zeitcom.com/maggen/924tsatfportfolio.html for those with internet access.

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    © Copyright 2000 by Richard Brooks.
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