We instituted a new “Maiwand” rule for this game…
During our previous 2 refights the two 61-figure Ghazi Maneuver Elements both entered the battlefield along with the rest of the Afghan army, from the North.
But the historical record says the Ghazis came to Maiwand battlefield from the town of Maiwand itself, which lies about 4 miles to the East of the village of Khig. There their ranks were joined by some civilian residents of Khig, which according to Afghan legend included the folk-heroine Malalai.
So we decided to bring the game more in line with history. But, knowing that the early arrival of 122 fanatic irregulars close to the British rear would tip the balance of forces even further in favor of the already numerically far superior Afghans, we added an element of CHANCE.
When the Afghan player chose to MOVE ON one of his two 61-figure Ghazi Maneuver Elements (each comprising 3 x 20-figure units and a Mullah) he would roll a D6. The result would equal the TURN NUMBER they would arrive on. Then a second D6 roll would decide exactly where:
1-2 = on the road to Khig, South of the Ravine (closest entry-point to the British rear)
3-4 = in the Eastern edge of Mundabad Ravine
5-6 = along the Eastern side of the battlefield, 6″ above the Northern edge of Mundabad Ravine (furthest entry-point from the British rear)
On TURN 1 the Afghan Commander assigned a BLACK MOVEMENT CARD to his first 61 Ghazis and rolled a die. Result: 1. They would enter THAT TURN. Ugh (I was the British Commander). Then he rolled again to determine their ENTRY POINT: 1 again. Double ugh. They arrived on the road, with nothing between themselves and the British rearguard but perhaps 18 inches (612 scale yards) of open ground.
The second of the two 61-figure Ghazi Maneuver Elements rolled “2” to arrive on the SECOND TURN and “5” to arrive at the point farthest North along the Eastern table edge.
The pics below show them reaching the Southern edge of the East nullah, turning right and heading West. In the very last pic the first 61-figure Ghazi unit is also visible to the left, atop the Southern edge of Mundabad Ravine…
