A Wargamer in Cyprus: Murder on the Desert Express

Following the events on the steamship Pride of Alexandria, the Royal Explorers Society have loaded the Golden Sarcophagus onto the overnight train to Luxor and the dig at the Valley of the King's. They intend to take the Mummy home and rebury it. Deep...

Unfortunately Agent TinTin of the Belgian Secret Service, and his so called Red Headed League have taken an interest, arranging for Desert Raiders to attack the train whilst their agents hidden aboard attempt to steal the Mummy. No survivors!

The Secret Service have smuggled several agents onto the train, and the Royal Society must discover just who they are. (By a dice roll within 6cm.) Damn those underhand red headed Belgians...

Terrain template: The Desert Railway
A truly classic cinematic battleground where warring Companies could create absolute carnage. Do not forget running along the roof.
Benefits:Excellent service, great accommodation.
Hazards:Restricted space to manoeuvre. Falling out or off can be fatal. On the roof there are low bridges and other hazards to consider. The Collateral damage rule will apply (9.2.3).
Suggested Terrain:Pretty obvious.

The Game The Explorers must make their way from First Class to the baggage car.

5 Plot Points (Sequential)
·        Trouble on the footplate
·        Who shot the waiter? Cold soup in the restaurant car
·        Second Class Salon... Assassins on the roof.
·        Third class ambush... the Red Headed League.
Major Plot Point·        The Baggage car and the red-headed traitor revealed.

Her Royal Britannic Majesty`s Explorers' Society

Lord Randolph Farthingdale,

Pistoleer, Patron

Dr Howard Parker,
Encyclopedic Knowledge, Archaeology, pipe smoker

Lady Jamalia D`'Arcy, Sasta-Vidya Swordmistress, Khanda 2 edged Punjabi Sword, two Katar H hilt daggers

Jeebers the Valet, Marksman
Mrs Angelina Peele. Librarian, Gunfighter and Tomb Robber.

Other Passengers
(One or more of these will be a Belgian Agent)

Mr Micheal Hucknall, wax cylinder salesman (Holding back the years)
Prince Harri of Ethiopia (don`t get me started)
The Dowager Lady Jilly Anderson and Miss Nicola Kidman, her nurse. (It's only love)
Mr D. Lewis and Mr E, Stoltz, shyster lawyers (fakes)
Lieutenant Grint of the Egyptian Army (money's too tight)
Mr Sheeran, umbrella salesman (on the A Team)
Mr Bettany, Missionary Preacher. (If you don't know him by now) Pistoleer

There is also a section of eight Egyptian Army Askaris in third class under Raqib (Sergeant) Ras Abulbar (Strongman)

Talents used in this game
Pistoleer, (3 shots/dice, hits with pistol on 5 or 6)
Patron (Wealth assists in campaign rolls)

Encyclopedic Knowledge (Plot point rolls on 4-6),
Archaeology, (Related Plot Point rolls on 3-6)

Sword master (2 dice Melee hits 5 or 6)

Marksman (Rifle shot hits on 5 or 6)
Librarian, (Plot point rolls on 4-6)
Strongman (2 dice in melee hits 5 or 6)
Gunfighter (Two guns 3 shots/dice on each)
Tomb Robber. (Related Plot Point rolls on 3-6)

When I decided to make the desert railway I wanted to do the same 2D/3D style I did for the steamship. The trouble is that the carriages were so narrow that the first one I did (First class naturally) made handling the figures difficult. It meant going for a more 2D template with the exception of first class and the engine itself.

Sixteen Desert Raiders on camels are placed to chase the train. They only get three turns to get aboard and be replaced by dismounted figures, before the camels can'`t keep up (I am well aware that a train is generally considered to be faster than a camel, however I would point out that this is a Nineteenth Century Egyptian Railway, which wheezes rather than rumbles.)

The Raiders will have access to the roof and be able to drop down between carriages. They are armed with Rifles and scimitars and lead by Abdul Abulbar, rogue and hero, brother and sworn enemy of the Egyptian Army Sergeant on the train.