Maori Wars Donnybrook is a GO!!

Some doubted...others guffawed...but they were wrong! (for once)

I have done it! I have manged to get the figures and terrain ready....and in time....for the promised Maori Wars Game for Tuesday 28th October. OK, it isn't the Muskets & Tomahawks game that I had wanted but, I have a game.

Each side has four points of troops along with the four character figures each point of troops allows. This makes the game quite small as Donnybrook games go, a sort of starter version perhaps, but the games seem to be fast and bloody so several games might be possible that night. Wanna closer look?

First the British/New Zealand force....

The four points are made up of a unit of twelve settlers, including a family of four; husband, wife and two daughters. In future games these four will be the family related to an army officer determined to rescue them during a flare up of the Fire in the Fern, as the New Zealand wars were colloquially known. Then there is a unit of eight uniformed Militia and two units of eights Imperial troops. The characters chosen from the available list are, two Sergeants, a bugler and a member of the Local Constabulary, '...here to arrest the Zulus, 716...'. Just replace Zulu for Maori...obviously. And not forgetting, a force commander.

A close up of the characters, I hear you ask....

Yeah, the copper has a bent carbine...I see it now....sigh.

Now for the Maori...

This force is made up of four units of eight warriors. The thing about Maori warriors is their rather personal choice of weapons compared to other native enemies the Brits came across. The basic hand weapons are all lethal, New Zealand has a wide range of serious flora to make amazing clubs. They took to muskets well enough but also fell in love with shotguns. The mix make Maori trick to deal with at every range band....and they stick their tongues our whilst rolling their eyes about...are incredibly brave and not a little intimidating. They also knew the terrain and were masters of it, capable of simply melting away or arriving, seemingly out of nowhere.

The Characters are a Weapons Master, Great warrior, Musician and a Fearless One....I know...oooo. Again, there is a force commander. Closer look time again...

So, in all, I am very happy. Just have to make the turn sequence cards and make sure I actually understand the rules....there is always a sticking point, ain't there!