Matrix Games Forums

I've started up my AAR for the recently released Rorke's Drift game, The Drift 1879.

http://jlssg.com/the_drift.html

It's a tricky game to document, especially since there are so many turns of similar waves of Zulu attacks, but I've given it my best shot. There should be roughly another 4 parts to it coming..

The Drift 1879 AAR - Part 1
http://sugarfreegamer.com/?p=3634

The Drift 1879 AAR - Part 2
http://sugarfreegamer.com/?p=10168

I'll list the other parts, as I complete them..

Please finish your AAR, I am getting into it....I want to know how this ends[:)]

Thanks for that. Very helpful.

Finally got Part 3 up! It seems to take ages to get all these screenshots uploaded, sorted and commented upon.

Enjoy.

http://sugarfreegamer.com/?p=11174

ORIGINAL: spelk

As a second company of Zulu’s hit the wall, I get the men to form up as tight as possible on the South Wall.

Brace yourselves boys!

Give them the cold steel!

Is it true that they don't like it up 'em?

The Drift 1879 AAR - Part 4 is up!
http://sugarfreegamer.com/?p=14089

One of the most exciting AAR's I've read!

Thanks for posting screen shots. It went perfectly with the AAR. I really enjoyed reading it. It was like a page turner!

Lot of casualties spelk. Lost almost half the British force.
Why are the casualties so high?
Game system?
Unlucky?

Probably because I let the Zulu's get to the wall!

Isn't that historical? Lots of British casualties? Spelk how well are you doing historically at the moment?

According to the account on Wikipedia the British losses were 19 men. I've currently lost 77. So I think compared with the historical outcome, I'm doing really badly.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Rorke's_Drift

Whether that's down to my play, or the game's logic I don't really know.

I always thought they where all finished off? Memory is going.

ORIGINAL: wodin
I always thought they where all finished off? Memory is going.

At the battle of Isandlwana, the day before, most of them were finished off. The over-enthusiastic younger Zulu's went on to attack Rorke's Drift further down the Buffalo River.

Or you might be getting it mixed up with The Alamo?

ORIGINAL: spelk

According to the account on Wikipedia the British losses were 19 men. I've currently lost 77. So I think compared with the historical outcome, I'm doing really badly.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Rorke's_Drift

Whether that's down to my play, or the game's logic I don't really know.

Dang, they had only 900 rounds left out of 20k? That's cutting it pretty close.

Isandlwana was a disaster that should never have happened - a series of miscalculations and errors led to a significant portion of the field army being isolated and destroyed...

Rorke's drift on the other hand was wholly unremarkable, and one of many similar outpost defences throughout the British Empire. It was seized upon and made into history in order to have 'good news' for the papers at home.

Similar to how Dunkirk became a British 'victory' ~ glossing over the debacle of the previous weeks, and another equally important evacuation at Cherbourg later on.

Is the entire game based on one scenario and battle?

ORIGINAL: amps63

Is the entire game based on one scenario and battle?

I believe so Rorkes Drift was just one battle. It's doesn't have a premium pricetag though.

ORIGINAL: spelk

ORIGINAL: wodin
I always thought they where all finished off? Memory is going.

At the battle of Isandlwana, the day before, most of them were finished off. The over-enthusiastic younger Zulu's went on to attack Rorke's Drift further down the Buffalo River.

Or you might be getting it mixed up with The Alamo?

Isandlwana was my mistake. Wasn't thinking of The Alamo.

Don't suppose anyone played Ulundi on the ZX Spectrum? I spent ages playing that... trying to keep coherence to avoid being engaged in melee and losing strength and firepower that were needed to keep the zulu at bay...

Certain units were excellent and could hold their own, others needed to give ground steadily while falling back on better units. Cavalry and the mounted HQ could charge successfully, but didn't like being attacked in their turn.