I've rebased my Wellington in India forces onto 30mm MDF squares to swap rules from Men who would be Kings to Washington’s Army, a set written for 15mm miniatures.
The Arcot road campaign follows the British advance through Madras, rather than a succession of small colonial skirmishes. It relies on the rules' emphasis on army strength, commanders and the consequences of losing a battle. These Peter Pig rules suit my "advance along the Arcot Road" much better.
Formerly the 2nd Madras won at Baddass meeting the Sultan's French-trained troops, and with Ranjit sensibly hiding behind his officer while Major "Shut-up" Williams did the shouting. Ranjit informed us that the regiment will advance to Koya next, with the Bhuna of Dahl and his fanatics threatening up the road, while the Mad Fakir is stirring things up around Chinta.
So this is a six-game campaign, beginning immediately after the battle at Baddass.
The Arcot Road Campaign
The Further Adventures of Ranjit Ram, 2nd Madras Native Infantry
Not every game is designed as a straight forward battle. The Sultan has 24 European-trained Guard bases, masses of less reliable troops, cavalry and heavy guns. If he simply deploys everything, every time, the British force would eventually be crushed.
Instead, the Sultan's army is reported as somewhere ahead, and the British have to discover what he is doing.
The 2nd Madras have a grenadier Company, a light company and four regular companies (one of these being veterans in slightly taller hats - prestige is by hat size in the 2nd Madras.)
Two guns, a troop of Native horse and a company of the 102nd Foot complete Colonel Reynolds force.
The six games therefore become:
| Game | Location | Scenario |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baddass → Koya | The Road is Blocked |
| 2 | Koya | The Green Turbans |
| 3 | Chinta | The Mad Fakir |
| 4 | Ramesh / river crossings | The Sultan's Cavalry |
| 5 | Nagar / Nindra | The Long Road |
| 6 | The Arcot Road beyond Nindra | The Sultan's Army |
1. The Road is Blocked
Baddass–Koya
This is the immediate sequel to my 2018 battle. The 2nd Madras has won at Baddass, but the victory has not destroyed the Sultan's army. Instead, the British advance cautiously towards Koya.
The intelligence is confusing. Some villagers claim the Sultan's army has withdrawn. Others say a huge body of cavalry has crossed the road.
And Ranjit Ram has heard the particularly worrying rumour that the Bhuna of Dahl is approaching with his fanatical followers.
British objective
Get the column through Koya and establish a camp beyond it.
Sultan's objective
Stop the British reaching Koya.
Forces
British
- 2nd Madras Native Infantry: 12–16 bases initially
- Remaining Sepoys arrive progressively
- European British line regiment company
- Cavalry
- 1–2 guns
Sultan
- 6–8 militia/levy bases
- 4–6 European-trained Guard
- Bhuna's fanatics: 4–6 bases
- 2–3 cavalry
- possibly one gun
The important thing is that the Sultan doesn't need to defeat the British. He merely needs to delay them.
Special feature
The road is the British lifeline.
If the British spend too long fighting, more Sultanate troops arrive from Koya.
I'd have a simple random arrival table:
At the end of each British turn:
1–2 — nothing
3–4 — 2 militia arrive
5 — cavalry arrive
6 — Guard arrive
That gives exactly the sort of uncertainty that works with solo play.
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| Randi Ram, Sepoy |
Ranjit discovers that the "fanatics" aren't particularly keen on standing in front of British muskets.
Unfortunately, he discovers this after they have charged him.
The Game
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| The road is blocked by the Bhuna's fanatical levies. |
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| And a big old gun |
 |
| The Madras Horse swing out onto the flank |
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| Facing the Bhuna's camel lads |
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| A mounted fight kicks off |
 |
| Won by the Madras Cavalry |
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| The centre closes on the levies having shot down the gun |
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| But the Bhuna and his flankers come on, with devastating fire. |
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| It's getting tense. |
 |
| Randi hides in the back row |
 |
| The third company suffers but drives in the Bhuna's flankers. |
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| And Major Tudor rides out to hold the flank. |
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| But the Madras Horse swing behind the natives lines. |
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| A charge and they rout. The Bhuna is captured. |
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| In a last desperate gamble the Natives throw in more fanatics from the flank |
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| Lots of shouting |
 |
| Seen off by Lt Grahame's Company. Randi stands bravely behind his fellow sepoys. |
I’ve kept Washington’s Army almost entirely intact, hoping that the same simple engine can represent an Indian battle without turning it into a completely different ruleset.
The main amendment is make is to recognise that the Madras Army was a mixed force: European regulars, drilled sepoys, locally raised militia/levies, irregular cavalry and artillery. The important distinction is therefore training and battlefield reliability, rather than trying to give every Indian troop type exotic special rules.
WASHINGTON'S ARMY for MADRAS INDIA 1790S
THE GOLDEN RULE
Motivate → Roll AP → Spend AP → Fight → Morale
1. THE TURN
1. Morale
Test units carrying casualty markers, then reform.
2. Commanders
Roll for new commanders and move commanders 3D6.
Determination: 2D6 − Brigade Commander − General
−1 per 3"
Use the Indian commander table below.
3. Opportunity Fire
Short-range opportunity shooting applies from this point.
4. Automatic AP
Arriving units, cavalry and guns may act automatically.
5. MOTIVATE UNITS
A Brigade Commander attempts to motivate units until he fails.
6. FIGHT AS IT HAPPENS
Resolve shooting, assaults and morale immediately.
7. Reinforcements
8. Flanking rolls — attacker only.
9. Reset command bases.
2. MOTIVATION → ACTION POINTS
| Troop | Motivation |
|---|---|
| Raw | 3 |
| Average | 2 |
| Veteran | 1 |
Apply the modifiers from the playsheet.
1790s INDIAN COMMANDER
| Roll | Commander |
|---|---|
| 1–2 | Poor |
| 3–4 | Capable |
| 5–6 | Excellent |
Special commander types
European/British officer: use the normal commander values.
Experienced Officer: use the normal table +1
Newly raised/local commander: −1 to Motivation.
Mounted commander: automatic success when with mounted troops.
I've not given Indian commanders any automatic disadvantage.
Motivation modifiers
2,3 = Automatic fail
11,12 = Automatic success
+1 per complete 3"
+1 Unit or commander in woods/buildings (max 1)
+1 Intervening enemy or own infantry/cavalry (max 1)
+2 Unit and commander separated by wood/building/river/hill (max 1)
IF MOTIVATION SUCCEEDS
Unit rolls 1D6 = AP
Everyone gets at least 1 AP.
+1 if Veteran quality
OR Brigade Commander is with the unit
(not both)
−1 if Raw
−2 if Disordered when AP are rolled
Field guns
−1 if damaged field gun.
Negative result = 1 AP.
Then spend AP on actions.
3. SPENDING AP
| Action | AP |
|---|---|
| Move 1 increment | 1 |
| Infantry 1st shot | 1 |
| Infantry 2nd/final shot | 1 |
| Facing change | 1 |
| Remove Disorder attempt | 1 |
| Wheel 45° | 2 |
| Expand/contract frontage | 1 |
| Pass through another unit | 1 |
| Field gun shot | 2 |
| Limber/unlimber | 1 |
| Cavalry mount/dismount | 1 |
Movement
Infantry 3" per increment
Mounted cavalry 4"
Field guns maximum 2 increments
Road column: +2"
Indian addition: Elephant/gun trains
Elephants, camp followers or large baggage trains are scenario rules, rather than adding them to the core QRS.
4. TROOP TYPES — MADRAS INDIA
This is the most important addition.
BRITISH / EUROPEAN REGULARS
Veteran or Average
Use normal British Line Infantry rules.
These represent European regiments and other highly trained European troops.
MADRAS SEPOYS
Average
Well-drilled Company infantry armed with musket and bayonet.
Special Rule — Native Drill
Madras Sepoys may use the normal infantry shooting and assault rules.
They receive no penalty simply for being sepoys.
This is important. They aren't militia with exotic weapons; they're trained Company infantry.
Veteran Madras Sepoys may therefore exist and use the normal Veteran benefits.
EUROPEAN-TRAINED INDIAN GUARDS
Veteran
For troops such as the Sultan's European-trained guards.
Special Rule — Steady
Once per battle, when taking a Morale Test, ignore one additional bad modifier.
Otherwise use normal Veteran rules.
MILITIA
Average or Raw
Use the normal militia penalties.
Militia may be Average if reasonably trained, Raw if hastily raised.
LEVIES
Raw
Normal Raw rules.
No additional special rules.
This makes th Sultan's army particularly easy to model:
European-trained guards → Veteran
Militia → Average
Levies → Raw
Cavalry → appropriate cavalry quality
5. SHOOTING
Infantry / Cavalry
1D6 per base in the FRONT RANK
5–6 = HIT
| Range | Short | Long |
|---|---|---|
| Musket infantry | 4" | 10" |
| Riflemen | 4" | 14" |
| Cavalry firearms | 3" | 6" |
Indian musketry
Madras Sepoys use the normal musket range and shooting rules.
No special reduction.
The Company drilled sepoy was expected to deliver controlled musket fire.
Re-rolls
| Quality | Re-roll |
|---|---|
| Raw | 1 |
| Average | 1–2 |
| Veteran | 1–3 |
Saving Throw
3–6 = SAVE
Failed save:
½ base lost
6. DISORDER
A unit becomes DISORDERED for reasons including:
- 6 casualty markers
- After a fight/morale test
- Certain terrain movement
- Passing through another unit
- Other listed disorder causes
DISORDERED UNIT
−2 AP when AP are rolled.
Remove Disorder
Spend 1 AP
4–6 = Disorder removed
7. "CHARGE!"
Before an assault reaches the enemy:
FALTER TEST
Both sides roll 2D6 + modifiers.
Attacker wins by 5+
TARGET ROUTS
Attacker scores higher
Charge succeeds → fight immediately
Equal or attacker scores lower
Infantry stops + becomes DISORDERED
Cavalry retires D6+1"
The playsheet contains the full list of Falter modifiers.
Remember:
support • commanders • veterans • formation • disorder • terrain • flank/rear
8. THE FIGHT
Count all bases in the unit.
Start with:
+1D6 per base
Then add/subtract modifiers.
BIG BONUSES
+2D6 per supporting friendly unit within 6"
(max 2 units)
+2D6 if you passed the Falter Test
+2D6 mounted cavalry fighting in open
+2D6 Indian troops in woods/marsh
+2D6 line infantry
BIG PENALTIES
−2D6 disordered / battered / loose
−3D6 attacked from flank/rear
−2D6 militia or dismounted cavalry
−2D6 if only 1–2 base frontage
MINIMUM
Everyone gets at least 2D6.
9. INDIA - TERRAIN
LOCAL TERRAIN
Indian troops defending or fighting in terrain familiar to them may receive:
+2D6 in woods, marsh, scrub or other difficult local terrain.
This applies to Indian troops only, unless the scenario says otherwise.
It gives] a useful difference between a sepoy battalion defending a village or grove and a European line regiment manoeuvring across open ground without creating a dozen special rules.
10. AFTER THE FIGHT
Compare casualties.
Normally the side suffering more casualties loses.
WINNER
No morale test.
BUT becomes DISORDERED.
LOSER
Take a MORALE TEST.
Both sides become DISORDERED.
11. MORALE
Roll the appropriate number of D6.
Every 4, 5 or 6 = FAIL
Bad things add dice
- casualty markers
- Raw
- Disorder
- artillery casualties
- battered
- enemy in flank/rear
- lost fight
Good things remove dice
− Veteran
− mounted commander nearby
− Brigade Commander with unit
− defending a linear obstacle
RESULT
| Fails | Result |
|---|---|
| 0 | Hurrah! — unaffected |
| 1 | Steady — limited movement |
| 2 | Fall Back — D6+1" |
| 3 | Retreat — D6+1" + losses |
| 4+ | ROUT |
IF FIGHTING
3+ failures = ROUT
A routed unit is removed and causes 2 morale tests.
12. CAVALRY — 1790s INDIA
REGULAR / DRILLED CAVALRY
Average
Use normal mounted cavalry rules.
IRREGULAR CAVALRY
Raw or Average
Use normal cavalry rules but treat them as Raw if poorly controlled.
Their advantage is therefore mobility, not a magical combat bonus.
This makes a nice distinction between a disciplined Mysorean/Company-style cavalry unit and a mass of locally raised horse.
13. ARTILLERY — 1790s INDIA
A modest amendment.
FIELD GUNS
Normal rules:
2 AP to fire
Maximum 2 movement increments
HEAVY GUNS
The Sultan's heavier pieces:
- 2 AP to fire
- 1 movement increment maximum
- Cannot fire after moving more than 1 increment
- Cannot limber/unlimber and fire in the same turn
This gives the big Indian batteries some character without requiring a new artillery system.
14. BRITISH MADRAS PROTECTORATE
| Force | Quality |
|---|---|
| European British infantry | Veteran/Average |
| Madras Sepoys | Average |
| 6th Company Veterans | Veteran |
| European-trained Indian Guards | Veteran |
| Indian regular infantry | Average |
| Militia | Average/Raw |
| Levies | Raw |
| Regular cavalry | Average |
| Irregular cavalry | Raw/Average |
| British/Company artillery | Average/Veteran |
| Heavy Indian batteries | Average |
⭐ 30-SECOND MADRAS REMINDER
COMMANDER
↓
MOTIVATE
↓
D6 AP
↓
MOVE / SHOOT / MANOEUVRE
↓
CHARGE? → FALTER TEST
↓
FIGHT
↓
MORALE
↓
DISORDER
And the three numbers:
3" infantry move
5–6 shooting hit
4–6 morale fail
And the three Indian principles:
SEPOY = trained infantry
GUARD = veteran
LEVY = raw
