Boers
Unit Types
Skirmishers (Average, Later Breechloaders)
Special Rules
i) The commando can mount and move as Dragoons. Two Skirmisher bases mount as one Dragoon base
ii) Leadership Poor
iii) For every four bases of Boers there must be an ox wagon on table.
iv) A Boer unit may always retreat off the table at any time.
Commentary
The Boer Wars are tricky ones for rule writers. Here are wars where both sides have the best modern small arms but the tactics used are not those of the European battlefield, although perhaps they should have been. Colley marched his men into battle in line abreast with flags flying as if he was taking on the Zulus, or maybe Napoleon, whereas if he'd treated the enemy as Prussian Grenadiers he might have done a lot better. Certainly, if we look at the sequel in 1899, Hamilton's tactics at Elandslaagte were a textbook example of offensive tactics circa 1878.
The Poor Leadership may sound harsh seeing as how the Boers completely out-generaled Colley. However, in these rules leadership is about quantity, not quality. Boer generals didn't give orders, they made requests, and the decision making was slow. When offensive action needed to be taken, such as at Majuba, it only involved a small part of the army.
Trying to bring a Boer force to battle may seem like trying to nail jelly to the wall, but they cannot function without their wagons, which are vulnerable. For this reason a Boer force should always deploy as far forward on the table as possible in order to protect its transport.
Zulus
Unit Types
Infantry (Elite, Muskets, Loose Order)
Special Rules
i) Local Zulus defending kraals and villages are usually Average morale.
ii) Zulus marksmanship is very poor. They roll one dice for every four bases with muskets.
iii) Captured enemy rifles can be used, but firepower is still poor and they roll one dice for every two bases
iv) Zulu infantry move as Skirmishers
v) Leadership is Good
