Bhurpa Gold

Earlier today Phil and I played out the latest game in our ongoing Tales from Rhanzlistan, our imaginary setting on the North West Frontier in the early 1920's. The game would be played using Bolt Action rules over six turns, with an optional seventh turn decided by a dice throw. Phil's S.P.I.F.F. had the task of looting a defended Bhurpa village in the foothills of the mountains of Rhanzlistan. Three objective markers represented the loot, worth respectively 5, 10, and 20 victory points as they were located further from the enemy. The Bhurpas, lead by the worthy if unmilitary Imran Bhykli, scored one victory point for every member of S.P.I.F.F. they killed. The Bhurpas defended their village, determined to repulse the infidel ~

General Robinski organised his S.P.I.F.F. forces and began an assault on a wide front to feel out th strength of the Bhurpa positions. Imran Bhykli had chosen to defend the village with three large groups of Bhurpas, to maximise casualties on the enemy in the later stages, supported by long range artillery, and a MMG located in the foothills to the village's left flank. An 80mm mortar was located in the courtyard of the Headman's house ~

Clearly speed in the assault would be vital for S.P.I.F.F. to achieve its objectives in six or seven turns, so Robinski sent his armoured car directly down the road to the village, spraying the defenders with the fire from its twin turrets ~

Despite several rounds of mortar fire, no hits were scored on the armoured car, though the S.P.I.F.F. artillery did come under Bhurpa fire and their supporting MMG was destroyed by the Bhurpa machine gun team. Meanwhile, the defenders in the village were coming under serious threat from advancing infantry ~

With the Bhupa machine gun team out of action their left flank was suddenly open as the enemy's infantry dashed forward. Assaulted directly in their front the other two groups could not support the remnants of the third group to their left ~

While the central group enjoyed some success in a fire fight with their opponents, the group on the Bhurpa's right flank were heavily pinned by fire from the armoured car, a MMG and the infantry to their front. With his left flank collapsing Imran Bhykli lead his personal retinue in a desperate charge to repulse the enemy  ~

Fighting fiercely the superior numbers of the enemy were sent packing. With their blood u th small band of heroes now rushed the flank of an even larger enemy infantry group. Fighting was brutal and bloody, but one by one Bhykli's guard were cut down until only our hero remained ~

His fate was sealed as the overwhelming odds were too much even for his mighty frame to resist ~

The end of turn 6 saw the Bhurpas ahead on points but clearly so weakened that in any extra turn they could not resist the advance of the enemy's armoured car, which would give them possession of the final objective and victory by a narrow margin. Tension was high in GHQ as the dice was rolled:  wold have an extra turn! Sadly it proved all too much for the remaining Bhurpas and the armoured car rolled unopposed into the courtyard, securing the objective and winning the game for Phil!