A Future Project --

I long ago realized that it is a good idea to take a break every now and again from one's main gaming focus . . . and, when doing so to go to something very different in feel.

Yes, the 18th century is my primary focus . . . but I know that I'll eventually need something else for a "change of pace".

To the left you will see the image of an imaginary continent somewhere in the Indian Ocean.

It is known as Afristan and has, late in the 19th century just become known to the "civilized" world. (Note -- if you click on the image you will get to see a larger version of it).

Of course it is far from being uninhabited. There are at least a dozen different "tribes" living here. Some are of African descent; some of various "Islamic" peoples. And there are those persistent rumors of some mysterious peoples living high in the mountains.

My hope -- once we develop more miniature gamers in our area -- is to have at least four main "European" nations attempting to explore and exploit this previously unexplored continent.

My thought is to have one player each for the British, French, Germans and Turks. I've already got British and Turks (mainly Sepoys and Egyptians). I'll use French Foreign Legion troops for the French; and find something for the Germans.

For rules, I'm currently thinking of a sort of mixture of "The Sword and the Flame", "G.A.S.L.I.G.H.T." and some of my own ideas, which I've been putting together as my own Colonial rules called . . . "Khyber Knife".

Yes, the title is taken from some of Kipling's verse. In this case, from "The Ballad of East and West":

They have looked each other between the eyes, and there they found no fault,

They have taken the Oath of the Brother-in-Blood on leavened bread and salt:
They have taken the Oath of the Brother-in-Blood on fire and fresh-cut sod,
On the hilt and the haft of the Khyber knife, and the Wondrous Names of God.

Of course this project is quite some time in the future, but the skirmish-style of the action should provide a good change-of-pace from our "Wars for Arcadian Glory" SYW actions.


-- Jeff