"Daughters of the Empire"

Bob Murch at Pulp Figures continues to churn out some fantastic figures for the Victorian, Victorian Sci-Fi and Pulp era. One of his latest projects to hit his catalogue (funded by Kick Starter) is a new "Dangerous Dames" collection. Above is the entire pack for "Daughters of the Empire" and when I saw it (along with a few others) the shiny new toy syndrome kicked in. These figures will fit in perfectly with some of my ongoing adventures such as the "Hunt for the Mad Guru" and the upcoming "The Egyptian Adventure".  I am still working on their backgrounds and gaming "stats" but they will definitely be on the table top and the Dining room table.

 Princess Rani Rudrama Devi. She will not rest nor wed her betrothed until the Mad Guru, the killer of her family, is brought to justice.

Senga Campbell, honorary member of the 79th Cameron Highlanders. daughter of Laird Duncan, sister of Alasdair, Augustus, Coinneach, Dugald, Niall, Hammish, Rory, and Ruadh. By the way, she's the oldest of her siblings and the best shot - not to mention her work with Department H (there is no Department H).

Never a slave to fashion, Miss Jemima Corbyn, heiress to the Corbyn fortune, is a globe-trotting, get in the way socialite. At least that is her cover based on her impressive number of, how should I say this, successes at what she does best?

Lady Katherine Whitney-Jones Smythe. Loves to hunt and always double-taps bad guys.

Charlotte Quartermain, niece of the legendary Allan Quartermain and just as deadly as a viper.

The Egyptian Adventure: Bertha and the Bandits

There is a toll for going through our valley to the town of Hijarat ai Shara.

Bertha and the Bandits is not some sort of weird time travel event where I bring a Punk Rock band back from the 1980's. Bertha (no last name known, in fact Bertha is not her real name) is the leader of the bandits that infest the hills around the district of Hijarat ai Shara.

 Bertha.

Rumor has it, or doesn't, that Bertha is from Wallachia or of mixed Egyptian-European blood; that she was a pirate in the Philippine Seas, a spy, an assassin, etc.; you know how it goes. What is known is that is that she used to be the partner of Sethos, The Master Criminal and he was the love of her life. Then they had a, what should I call it? A falling out. Her passion for Sethos turned to hatred and she formed her own criminal organization. For some reason, she has an intense jealousy toward Amelia Peabody and will stop at nothing to kill her or Sethos.

Bertha and the Bandits.

Name: Bertha (nom de guerre)

Move: 6"
Pluck: 3+

Leadership: 2+

Speed: 1

Fighting Value: +3

Shooting Value: +3

Talents: Duelist (sword), Inspirational

Basic Equipment: Chain shirt, Pistol, Sword, Axe (throwing)

Armor: 10
Points: 64

Sheik Aaliyah Moghadam, Bertha's loyal lieutenant.

The tribal leader and sheik of the hills around Hijarat ai Shara, there is very little that goes unnoticed by Aaliyah Moghadam and his warriors. His motto is "why buy it when you can steal it?" He has learned new tactics from Bertha and has a grudging respect for her and pretends that she is not a human female, but a Jinn of the old days. At least that's what he tells the men.

Name: Sheik Aaliyah Moghadam

Move: 6"
Pluck: 4+

Leadership: 1+

Speed: 0

Fighting Value: +2

Shooting Value: +3

Talents: Intuitive, Skirmisher, Stealthy, 

Basic Equipment: Lined Coat, Military rifle, fighting knife

Armor: 8
Points: 39

Sheik Aaliyah Moghadam is a master of cover and stealth.

The Bandits!

Sheik Aaliyah Moghadam's men are your basic, ordinary bandits - or are they? They did not ask questions when Bertha provided them with new military rifles and carbines. Under Bertha's tutelage they have become a threat to even groups that travel with armed escorts.

Name: Bandits! (you know, guys that steal stuff and cause general mayhem)

Move: 6"
Pluck: 5+

Leadership: 0

Speed: +1

Fighting Value: +2

Shooting Value: +2

Talents: Fanatic, Stealthy 

Basic Equipment: Military rifle, fighting knife

Armor: 7
Points: 29

Options: Any Bandit can take the Strongman talent and carry a two handed Scimitar (counts as two handed sword) and wield it with one hand. Other talents that can be purchased are Fearless, Marksman, Medic, Skirmisher, and Tough.

The men love the new rifles.

Bertha and the Bandits.

Interlude: Ramcke Parachute Brigade in North Africa 1942

 Warlord Games Fallschirmjager Squad (Tropical Uniform)

The brigade was formed in 1942 and sent to join the Afrika Korps in North Africa. Ramcke's unit fought during the Afrika Korps's assault towards the Suez Canal, fighting alongside the Italian 25 Infantry Division Bologna before British opposition solidified near the town of El Alamein. The British action resulted in the separation of the Brigade from German forces, and, lacking motorized transport, they were unable to move as fast as the battle lines.

Taking heavy losses (about 450) fighting surrounded on all sides, they captured a British supply convoy carrying food and fuel, about which Ramcke later remarked the most welcome surprise was the tobacco and luxury goods. Using those trucks, about 600 survivors returned to German lines.

The brigade was then engaged in the Second Battle of El Alamein, later retreating into Tunisia. Ramcke was transferred back to Germany where he was awarded the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross, and command passed to Major Hans Kroh. The remaining brigade was part of the capitulation of German Panzer Army Afrika in May 1943.

I was able to pick up the Warlord Games Fallschirmjager Squad (Tropical Uniform) box which comes with 10 Fallschirmjager dressed in the Mediterranean theater uniform (North Africa, Tunisia, Italy). These are some of the finest metal miniatures I have seen Warlord Games produce and I highly recommend them if you want to do something different for World War II. Beautifully sculpted which makes them a pleasure to paint - even down to two of the figures having NCO insignia on their shirts. Looking at the other range of Warlord Games metal range of Fallshirmjager, there are other figures that can be converted to the tropical uniform.

Here is the Table of Organization for the unit in October of 1942:

• Headquarters under Generalmajor Hermann-Bernhard Ramcke:
  • 1st Battalion, 2nd Parachute Regiment
  • 1st Battalion, 3rd Parachute Regiment
  • 2nd Battalion, 5th Parachute Regiment
  • 4th Parachute Training Battalion
  • 2nd Battalion, 7th Parachute Artillery Regiment
  • A Company, 7th Tank Destroyer Battalion
  • 2nd Company, Parachute Pioneer Battalion
  • A Parachute Signal Platoon
  • A Medical Company

So if you are looking for something different for your Mid-War Campaigns (many Fallshchirmjagers were transferred to the European theater with tropical uniforms) I highly recommend this unit and the figures from Warlord Games.