Prelude Part 2: Evil Mechanoids on the Northwest Frontier (A Xenos Rampant Adventure)

A steam powered British Bulldog used on the Northwest Frontier.

So who is going to protect Her Majesty's dominions in the British Raj? All the infantry will be Light Infantry which seemed right to me since the Mechanoids were metal! First up is the Gordon Highlanders.

. . . and of course the brave men of the 1st Battalion, 3rd Ghurka Rifles.

The Indian Artillery is of course present.

Last, but not least, is the heavy punch of the detachment:

So how will our brave lads fare against the Evil Mechanoids?

Next: The Scenario.

Prelude Part 1: Evil Mechanoids on the Northwest Frontier (A Xenos Rampant Adventure)

I am a big fan of Dan Mersey's Rampant series of games and currently own Dragon Rampant (fantasy battles), The Men Who Would be Kings (Colonial Battles), Rebels and Patriots (North America 1740 - 1900) and now Xenos Rampant. All of the previous Rampant books were in the 64 page Osprey soft cover series; with Xenos Rampant you get a hard cover, 192 pages of Sci Fi delight! Don't be put off by the page count! The majority of the book are army lists, ideas, how to tailor to different genres,  campaigns, scenarios, and "stuff" to play just about any Sci Fi battle you want.

Hollywood gaming at its finest. All of the Rampant books use similar mechanisms and rules of play; so, If you own one you can easily pick up the rules for any of them. For Xenos Rampant the biggest changes are that more unit types have at least one "free" activation type (Move or Shoot or Attack, etc.) plus the calculation of "hits" is done differently.

Essentially for "hits", both shooting and attacking (close combat), once you have your hits, add the total number of pips on those dice and then divide by the armor (armour for you Commonwealth types!) and that is the number of damage the enemy takes. I'll give examples in the battle report to follow.

Thanks to my friend Richard B., he told me that they use Xenos Rampant for Victorian Science Fiction battles. Huzzah! So here we go:

The Mechanoids. One of the beauty of Dan's rules is the way you can tailor the force; thus, the Xeno rules. The Xeno rules give you a variety of upgrades to recreate what you want. Well . . . I have a detachment of evil robots so of course they are going to get the Mechanoid upgrade. And it costs 0 points.

The Evil Mechanoids! Okay they are Necrons which is the beauty of a agnostic, large skirmish, miniature wargame.

The Mechanoids rules allow my robotic minions to:

1. Ignore the effects of Stun Weapons.

2. Each unit (because of programming) gets an addition Free Action from the following: Attack, Move or Shoot - but, they suffer a -1 modifier to any ordered activation tests.

3. Never test Courage! However, they become less effective quicker as they accumulate damage. If they are at 1/2 Strength points or below, they lose all Free Actions and count them as ordered activation tests. In addition, if you roll a double on a failed activation test the unit suffers a critical failure and shuts down - it is destroyed. 

Detachment Commander:

The Heavies:

The Metallic Swarm:

To Summarize:

1. Detachment Commander R37: 6 points.

2. Sentinels x 2: 8 points.

3. Hunter Killers x 2: 10 points.

4. Total Points: 24 points.

Next: The Forces of the British Raj!

"I say. Mechanical Men. Quite. Very Good. Prepare to Fire."

Coming Soon: Evil Mechanoids on the Northwest Frontier (A Xenos Rampant Adventure)

The 1st Battalion, 3rd Ghurka Rifles charge into the evil Mechanoids!

I'm a big fan of Daniel Mersey and the rules he has produced. His Rampant series has been adapted into many historical time periods and genre's. When I heard about Xenos Rampant for Sci Fi battles I immediately did the preorder.

"Oh crap", said Rudyard Kipling.

From the Osprey website: Xenos Rampant is a setting agnostic, large skirmish, miniature wargame for fighting science fiction battles using 28mm figures. Developed from the popular Lion Rampant ruleset, the core mechanics featured within will be instantly recognizable to those familiar with the other Rampant systems, while still being accessible to new players. 

The Punjab Frontier Force moves cautiously toward the menace.

Xenos Rampant contains all the rules, army lists, and scenarios required to fight science fiction battles as well as a whole host of subgenres including: post-apocalyptic, weird war, near future. So, whatever your science fiction preference, the rules can cover it – just let your imagination run rampant.

So a new threat to the British Raj - with Mechanoids, tribesmen and Russians in a campaign that should takes us to the end of the year.

"Quite. Hmmm. Very well. Carry on."

2nd Quarter Update for 2026

Summer! Grandchildren! Travel! Oh . . . and doing some gaming and painting as well! With celebrating 250 years of Independence and freedom I've been focusing on the American War for Independence. So, how are we doing?

1. Phase 3 of the Boxer Rebellion Project for The Men Who Would be Kings. To complete my Chinese Field Force for the Boxer Rebellion I'm going to add two Boxer units of 16 figures each. The Boxers will be from Crusader Miniatures Boxer Rebellion Range. I anticipate doing this in the 3rd Quarter.

Figures from Wargames Foundry.

Kansu Braves from Crusader Miniatures.

2. The American War for Independence in the South. Wow. This was the big progress so far this this year as I jumped into the AWI again using the Epic Revolution figures from Warlord Games. I spent an inordinate amount of time pulling out my old papers and research as I purchased and designed the armies I wanted:

a. Army Commanders:

Continental Army Commander based on MG Greene.

British Army Commander based on Lord Cornwallis.

b. Other Commanders:

LTC James Webster.

Colonel late Brigadier General Daniel Morgan.

c. Units:

1st Maryland Continental Line. How can you do the Southern Campaign without the 1st Maryland?

Light Company, 71st (Frasier's Highlanders) Regiment of Foot.

Continental Artillery.

Webster and the 33rd Foot. Webster wears the uniform of a senior officer with the red facings of the 33rd Regiment.

South Carolina troops muster. This unit can represent either SC Continentals, State Troops or Militia. The mounted figure is the Daniel Morgan resin figure from Warlord Games.

Musketeer Regiment von Bose.

The 2nd Spartan Regiment of Militia.

Hessian Jägers.

In addition I have painted a Royal Artillery gun and crew plus a unit of American Rifles. Once I get some pictures, I will post them. Upcoming for the British will be the 71st (Fraser's Highlanders and the 23rd Regiment of Foot (Royal Welsh Fusiliers). Next up for the Americans will be a generic Continental Regiment in brown coats and some American Dragoons and Militia Cavalry.

3. Games. Listen up! Yep; played quite a few games! The next game will be on the Northwest Frontier circa 1898 with the Army of the Raj facing a (ahem) Metallic menace:

"When will they ever learn that they are no match for Doctor Fu Manchu!"

4. Terrain. When I started my AWI project I suddenly realized that I did not have any 15mm terrain. Hmmm . . . I have started some buildings and trees that I will post.

One of the pre-painted MDF buildings from Micro Art Studio and the first batch of trees.

On with the Third Quarter!

The Colonel's Recovery Repeats: Quartermain and the Jungle of Fear

 Originally posted on May 6, 2019. This is one of the most exciting and suspenseful games of In Her Majesty's Name that we have played. So Welcome to my version of 1895:

From the personal writings of Allan Quartermain: “And so I lay awake, smoking and reflecting on many things, but, being of a practical turn of mind, chiefly on how civilization is only savagery silver-gilt. It was a beautiful moonlight night, and, notwithstanding the mosquitoes, and the great risk we were running from fever from sleeping in such a spot, and forgetting that I had the cramp very badly in my right leg from squatting in a constrained position in the canoe, and that Good who was sleeping beside me was snoring horribly, I really began to enjoy myself. The moonbeams played upon the surface of the running water that speeded unceasingly past us towards the sea, like men's lives towards the grave, till it glittered like a wide sheet of silver, that is in the open where the trees threw no shadows. Near the banks, however, it was very dark, and the night wind sighed sadly in the reeds. We reached the trading post shortly after, and who was standing there but my old friend Umslopogaas, the legendary and fierce Zulu warrior poet. Uncompromisingly honorable, extraordinarily eccentric and relentless in battle he was a force to be reckoned with, a titanic power to behold. He was armed with his famed axe Inkosi-kaas so I knew this was no chance encounter . . . as I docked, he held up his hand in greeting and handed me a sealed letter from "The Government."

 Mycroft Holmes "The Government" (second from left) discussing the next steps in the "War of the Witches."

My Dear Quartermain,
I am still grieved by the loss of your son Harry to small pox. I would not write to you if it wasn't urgent with the Empire and all of Africa at stake. We have located Professor Nightengale's location and I am asking you a personal favor to retrieve him and bring him to the nearest port as he is urgently needed in England. We have gotten word from Astragard through our French allies that the Witch King has "mysteriously" disappeared. Be careful my old friend, we also have reports that "The-thing-that-should-never-have-been-born" is now in  . . .
Always your obedient servant,
M. Holmes

 "The-thing-that-should-never-have-been-born"

"Umslopogaas, I am 65 years old . . . "
"We are both old Allan, but we both love Africa and this Witch King must be stopped. We will rescue the professor."
"How did you know the contents?"
"I have my ways."
I sighed, smiled at Umslopogas, and went to wake up Good.

 Guess who is Quartermain in this installment? (You always play better with a hat!)

Quartermain's company consists of Sir Allan Quartermain, Umslopogas the Zulu hero, Captain John Good of the Royal Navy, three Kikuanua Veteran Warriors, and one camp guard. 

Based on Mycroft Holmes' information, Quartermain has discovered where Professor Nightengale is being held and rescues him. Now all he has to do is get him to the boat . . .

 The Witch King's Minions: The Captain of the Ruga-ruga guard, Ruga-rugas, Troglodytes and of course the Destroyer.

The initial set-up.

 The fearless Umslopogas leads the Kikuanua in hopes of slowing down the more numerous enemy.

"I say Sir Allan, what's that noise crashing through the jungle?"

 Time to move.

 "You will not outflank the great Macumazahn."

 Firing positions in the jungle.

 The warriors of both sides rush each other.

 A flanking move by the Destroyer and others.

 Meanwhile Quartermain escorts Nightengale away from the fighting.

That's a lot of bad guys.

 The mighty Umslopogas charges the Ruga-ruga with his mighty axe . . .

 . . . and is slain by a knife and two "1's". (Dang it!)

 Another mighty warrior is down (this is not looking good!)

"I will catch you and slice off your head!"

 "Come and try."

 "For Macumazahn!"

 Meanwhile . . . Quartermain and the Professor are moving as fast as they can . . .

 . . . while being pursued!

 That's one that is slain by a quick thrust of the spear.

Time for some volley fire.

 Knocked down by the volley fire.

 Two can play that game as Captain Good and the camp guard use volley fire to kill the Ruga-ruga.

 Oh . . . um . . . so that is what was roaring.

 Old feet do your thing!

 I THINK IT IS TIME TO RUN!

 Good time to pass a pluck roll to get up and move out.

 We can still stop them before the Terror of the Jungle arrives.

A firing line is formed as Quartermain and Nightengale prepare to cross the bridge.

 "What? What did you say?"

 Crunch.

 "Keep moving and protect your beautiful legs oh White man from the stars!"

The troglodytes catch up.

 Of course, they have a great incentive to run very fast.

 Another trog is slain! He is becoming a literal one man army.

 AAAEEEIII!

 I now regret having stopped to fight that Ruga-ruga.

 The situation as some try to run, some try to fight and others try to fulfill their mission.

 The greatest shot in Africa easily takes out the Ruga-ruga. Too late he realizes he should have shot the Ruga-ruga leader.

These troglodytes were much tougher in the old days.

 I see the boat!

“Fare you well, my brother! Death is good! Thus, indeed, I would die, for I have made me a mat of men to lie on," he cried with a great voice.”  

  Macumazahn (Watcher-by-Night) stands his ground like Horatio at the bridge in order for Professor Nightengale to escape.

The mighty warrior of a man engages the Destroyer in a last ditch attempt to stop him from joining the fight.

 Whoops.

 Tastes a bit salty.

 I did not sign up for this . . .

 Quartermain is also a good shot with a pistol.

"So you failed your pluck and could not get back up? You know what I call that?  A snack."

The mighty warrior stands his ground.

 Huzzah!  I made it.

"Run Sir Allan!"

 The troglogdyte catches Quartermain.

 Still defending the bridge . . . 

 "But the leader gets by."

 It was a good death.

"Hmmm, the leader does taste good."

 Quartermain gets knocked down but gets up next turn and runs like the dickens toward the boat.

 The Terror crosses the bridge.

"Huzzah! You made it. But where is everyone else?" 

The remaining troglodyte attempts to attack Quartermain . . . 

 . . . just as Professor Nightengale gets the static-electro solar engine started.

 Crunchy on the outside but soft on the inside.

 "Let's get you home Professor."

 Farewell!

Wow. What a bloody game. This game had more casualties than any other game we have played. We used the scenario "Death at your Heels" from In Her Majesty's Name and decided to use a dinosaur. Starting in turn 2, the dinosaur move 1 D10-2 inches after the movement phase. Any figure on a parallel line with the creature was a dino snack. A challenging scenario: do you stop and fight the other company? Do you run? If you run will the other company shot at you?  If your engaged and the dinosaur catches up . . . 

This was a nerve wracking scenario and one Quartermain barely survived.

 This Kikuanua Veteran Warrior was definitely the hero of the game!

Now, where is the Witch King?