When I finally paint up enough figures for a colonial wargame period, the first scenario I play is a simple ambush. I decided to game the Sudan and ordered a huge assortment of 15mm Old Glory figures now manufactured by 19th Century Miniatures.

My British infantry and Dervish rifle units are twelve figures each. I mount three figures per base. I wanted the look of bigger native units so I make the Dervish sixteen figures strong. Four Dervish figures are mounted on each base. I use “Battles for Empire” rules. All infantry units in “Battles for Empire” rules have sixteen figures mounted four per base but the basing is not critical. You can use any unit size and basing within reason.

When I painted up twenty Dervish melee units (swords/spears), four Dervish rifle units, eight British infantry units plus a cannon and gatling gun, I felt this would be plenty for a good size scenario. I started to lay out the terrain on my wargame table (a sheet of plywood on a folding picnic table covered with a piece of burlap).

I put road sections and made them wind throughout the length of the table from the short end to the opposite end. I placed various Sudan buildings at one end of the table, opposite the point where the British would enter. I placed home made hills that were flat on top plus pieces of felt where the Dervishes could set up hidden. I then added rough hills that no side could enter or cross.

I decided that the British side would consist of two commands. Each command has four infantry units, a leader, a cannon or gatling gun and an ammo mule. The ammo mule is for “Battles for Empire” rules. Any British infantry or artillery unit can use emergency fire during the game. A unit using emergency fire rolls more combat hit dice but there’s a chance they get low on ammo. The ammo mule re-supplies a unit. I love this rule concept.

One British command sets up in column formation on the road at the beginning of the game. The other command sets off the table and arrives on the road. I divided up the Dervish units into four commands. Each command has five Dervish melee units, a rifle unit and a leader.

The Dervish units setup hidden on the board on any hilltop or rough area. Any Dervish unit that moves or fires is revealed. The British side has two scout units. A scout can scout one area per turn within a foot. A hidden unit is revealed on a 10-sided die roll of six or more. Count the zero as a ten on the die. Of course you can use the scouting section from the rules that you use. I gave the British two scout units.

A common problem in colonial games is that the British tend to move slowly across the table to increase their chances of winning the game. To prevent this from happening, I tell the British that they have to exit half of their infantry units off the table by turn twenty to win the game.

The reason for the quick exit is that the British really need water and are quite low on it. I double the infantry movement rate for units staying on the road. This scenario is quite bloody and the British have a tough time if the Dervishes can close in melee combat.

The last time I ran this game was a convention. I had only two players sign up. Both players decided to be on the Dervish side. I played the British so they could beat up on me. The Dervishes were hidden in the hills by the road where the British entered.

I was very unlucky on my sighting roll and failed to spot any Dervishes on the first turn. The Dervishes decided not to reveal them selves. I role played the British commander and moved down the road the next turn a full move. The British were by several more Dervish units. The Dervish units then surrounded me. I eventually lost every British unit. I destroyed only eight Dervish units. A one for one trade for Dervish units is great.

You can easily adopt this scenario for almost any period. If you don’t have as many figures, reduce the forces by half. Have fun!