Board Game: Zulus on the Ramparts AAR

I've recently purchased a board game called Zulus on the Ramparts, which is a game representation of the Battle of Rorke's Drift.

I've started an After Action Report of one of my gaming sessions with the board game. If anyone is interested in gaming around the period, please have a look:

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Looks a bit complicated to me. Hopefully someone can explain the rules.

old historian2 wrote:

Looks a bit complicated to me. Hopefully someone can explain the rules.

The rules can be downloaded as PDF's from Victory Point Games website.

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The game is fairly straightforward, there are just a few exceptions and special options with the characters heroic abilities.

There are four phases

Impi - where you draw a counter from a pot, and it usually has ibutho movement commands (like Right Horn moves 2 forward etc.) - some exceptions both good and bad are also present, such as Washing of the Spears - which causes the closest Zulu's to pause and retreat one space to perform their purification ritual - another example is Zulu Snipers, where the harassment fire causes a negative modifier to any rifle volleys you may perform.

Action - this phase is where you use your cards to fire volley's, or you commit your heroes, like Chard or Bromhead to build barricades, distribute ammo or fire off specials.

Draw - you draw another card out of your deck, volley cards, hero cards.

Hero - finally you can put your heroes forward (from your hand) to become active - so next turn they can be used.

Thats about it, the play runs turn by turn. The variation is built into the random draw of the Impi counters. Most counters are discarded, so your pull pool becomes smaller and smaller, but some counters go back in, like Rifles Overheat, which means the longer you last, the more chance of your Rifles overheating.

The game ends when the player defeats all advancing Ibutho or he draws the Relief Column card (always near the end of the draw deck). If the Zulu's advance onto the Zulu Victory counter in the center of Rorke's Drift, then all is lost and the player has lost. Building barricades is a 3 turn process, that allows you to pull the Zulu victory marker two more squares back into the Inner Redout. Essentially modelling the shift of the action as they become more and more desperate and defensive.

It may look complicated because of the map I've used to display the counters on, but it really is a fairly simplistic boardgame with 4 tracks into the center, each with 5 spaces for the Zulu's to advance along.

Firing volleys involves rolling a number of dice (dependant upon range, close , medium or long) and if you roll a 6 its considered a hit, a 5 is a retreat, and all else is a miss.

It really does tense up the longer you last. Its a hard game to win, because the odds are stacked against you, and the only way you can survive is by using the heroes abilities as best you can to stave off the Zulu advance. Very entertaining and you can play it solo.

spelk. It says Its a solitaire game. I take that to mean one player.

24th wrote:

spelk. It says Its a solitaire game. I take that to mean one player.

Yeah. Its only for one player.

The "AI" is essentially built into the Zulu Impi cup draw and the British Hero/Action card draw deck. Different every game. So quite a high replayability factor. Short game (30mins-1hour play), easy to learn, very portable - fits into a A5 envelope.

Watch the Video.

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For what it's worth, that game ; Zulus on the Ramparts, is what brought me to this wonderful Forum......

Zulus On The Ramparts only seems to be available in the U.S., or does anyone know a U.K. supplier of it ? Also, are there any other board games connected to the Zulu War 1879, again in the U.K. ? Not computer games though. Thanks.

On checking the internet, there is another game mentioned, called Victoria Cross II : Battle Of Isandlwana And Rorke's Drift. Anyone got this version ?

Colin J. wrote:

On checking the internet, there is another game mentioned, called Victoria Cross II : Battle Of Isandlwana And Rorke's Drift. Anyone got this version ?

I've just got this game [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] from Worthington Games - imported from the US. However it does cost a lot to import, being stung by customs all adds up. Haven't had a chance to play it yet, but looking forward to it.

I've since noticed it is available in the UK from IGUK.
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Although it seems to be out of stock at the moment.

I forgot to mention there is a Print and Play card game based around the Zulu Wars, designed by Warpspawn - Here are the rules and links to the card images..

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I haven't played this one yet, but I have printed out the cards in readiness.

There is a 12-page document on the Worthington Games site, detailing the rules of Victoria Cross II, including small images of the boards and pieces.

Front Rank Fire!!!!!
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A bit of a followup to Victory Point Games' Zulus on the Ramparts solitaire board game, they have recently released a 2nd Edition, which has a much better standard of quality for the board, pieces and the cards. The artwork is also updated to that used in the iPad game released a few months back.

Here is a 20 minute video review, a friend of mine did on the new edition. Well worth a watch, if you're interested in the boardgame scene around the AZW.

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