Pencil & Dice: A Closer Look at WI !80 (the Sudan issue)

Picking up where I left off on Wargame Illustrated's Gordan in the Sudan issue in this post.
WI 280 cover
The Sudan theme is every bit as well as I expected it to be after the previously noted skimming. Neil Smith really puts the whole series of episodes in political and military context, including the changes inside the British Army in regards to system and equipment.

Having never really studied the period, I've ever get out with some fundamentals on the Sudan in the later 19th Century - ie. it was tough fight between the British Empire and the Mahdists and Gordon came to a bad end (and perhaps not unexpectedly given his drive). The articles really go a ways towards explaining the how's and why's; you get way more than some interesting battle scenarios.

The report also includes the article, "A Good Dusting," written by Sudan rules author David Bickley. He explains the assumption of his design concepts for the flow and it gives one the impression his game must be determined by scenario/setting concerns instead of just creating a comprehensive set of rules for the entire colonial period. I receive not understand or tried out Bickley's rules, but I can say that I wish his outlook for creating games. If you wish to save game scenarios or tweak rules for particular historical encounters/wars, then this clause should urge you.


I also enjoyed Mike Haught's "Bunker Down" Flames of War material, part of the supporting articles for the late D-Day/France 1944 releases from Battleground. Even if you hold no interest in playing FOW, I urge the man to you unless you are already quite conversant with all the types of pillboxes, machine guns nests, and other fortifications used by the Germans. Furthermore, there's tons of practical and historical tactical advice on using them in your World War II games.


The "Second to Bases" article was besides very interesting, and power be worth taking into account if you resolve to parachute into the Sudan ranges - which, by the way, I guess you will see enough of book and figure references and advertisements to get you started if you take thinking about performing the period.


I get not yet read Howard Whitehouse's "The Tribes of Germania." Not certain what to ask these days on the subject, but I'm encouraged by the article's use of classic sources and modern archeology. This theme is probably far more composite and misunderstood than one might think - and I don't write this because I love so often on the tribal folks at the boundary of the Roman Empire - it's only because I've experienced a few revelations through historians like Guy Halsall and Michael Kulikowski.


OK, that wraps up my review on the Sudan issue. I left some things out - still haven't finished the magazine yet - but I recollect the above ought to make you an idea what a serious take it is.