The Back End of Nowhere - “Chaos in Bhakarsitan”

I just had a very enjoyable game this evening. Meeting up with Alan from the TFL List, I joined him, his son and another Chris for a game of Mud and Blood.

I had the honor of commanding the Mad Baron's forces of White Russians. The Russians had three groups of 7 Cavalry (Cossacks, Mongols and Who knows what), a group of 10 former Russian officers and another group of Mongolian infantry. The Mad Baron was accompanied by Don the Cossack and Nicolas Lardovich - The faithful lieutenant of the Mad Baron.

Entering the board, the building to our left was guarded by some British infantry with a machine gun covering the bridge. Judging them not to be a threat to White Russians, two groups of cavalry led by Don the Cossack charged for the Bridge. Thinking that at a gallop, I could easily reach and come to grips with the Chinese cavalry I gave it a try. Even with three dice at +3 per die, I missed. This left the cavalry a mighty compact target sitting on the bridge.

This was to prove to be a disastrous move. Little did I know, my allies (the British) had orders to engage anyone attempting to cross the bridge. Between the Chinese HMG who killed the Don the Cossack and the lead group and the British HMG who killed the rear group, that was a failed plan.

Meanwhile, the mad baron and the remainder of his men had arrived on the table. As I began to advance the remaining cavalry around the church - away from the British, a group of Gurkhas emerged from the church to challenge the Baron. Initially this must have alarmed the Baron whose madness swept him backwards towards his starting point. But he rallied and ordered his men to open fire upon the Gurkhas and their Big Man - Lieutenant Blinky. The two Lewis guns of the White Russian officers squad promptly jammed. That's right. Both on the first turn jammed and remained so for the rest of the game. Then the Asian allies opened fire on Lt Blinky followed by a cavalry charge. In two turns of firing and close combat, only Lt Blinky remained.

Lt Blinky surrendered to the Mad Baron and the remnants of his guard cavalry. The Baron opened negotiations with the remaining British for passage across the bridge. This was all but secured when the Baron's madness struck again. The Baron promptly shot Blinky as a communist infiltrator. An act which doomed the negotiations but which removed the remaining shock on his forces.

At this point, knowing that the British would not take this well, the Whites charged in and attacked the remaining British. All of the remaining cavalry belonging to the Baron were killed. The British lost an entire group of infantry and were well on their way to loosing their heavy machine gun when time was called for the game.

On the other side of the river, the Arabs, Chinese and Red Russians expended a considerable amount of ammunition blazing away at one another. Other than the dead cavalry on the bridge, the White Russians had no effect on that side of the game.

I have to thank Alan (a very gracious host), his son and Chris (not me, a different one) for a great game. I hope to participate in another episode of the continuing saga of the Mad Baron.