28mm Colonials.

This one caught me by surprise.  I had the Fistful of lead figures for the three Sergeants vs the Thuggee, including a dozen Indian Army Sepoys, and had just added a box of Wargames Atlantics Afghan tribesmen to pad this out to a slightly larger game.  Then I discovered that I had won a competition at Wargames Illustrated, and the prize... some new Artizan Afghans. 

It seems I am destined to go to 28mm Colonials and my rules of preference are Osprey's Men Who Would Be Kings. 

My relatively small tabletop in Pathos lends itself to 18 point armies.  This balances at 3 Colonial units and 4 to 5 Pathanis under the command of that dastardly opponent Mr Babbage. 

My idea is to build the 1st Rajput Pioneer Company.  Each element of the Company has a British Sergeant as well as an Indian army NCO, the Company should have three Officers, but recent action had reduced the available manpower and command has fallen to a lowly subaltern who must prove his worth to command the unit.

The pioneer Company comprises two platoons of Sepoys and and attached mule train that includes a mountain gun and crew.

The Swaat Valley Pathanis are ruled by the enigmatic Afzul Fatti Khan, Lord of the Swaat.

40 plastic Pathans
8 metal jezail men 
3 gun crew.
8 Thuggee.

Terrain

2d/3d scrunched brown parcel paper hills.
The fort.  Build 3 sides.
Fictional Swaat Valley needs Sangars, a wadi and at least one rickety bridge.

The British invariably named Islamic religous 

Leaders "the Mad Mullah," even if they were Eton and Oxford educated don't y' know.  A range of characters from authors such as Kipling, and William Dalrymple will populate the Swaat.

Scenarios
A Just passing by
B Seek and Destroy
C To the last bullet
D Get off my land
E Run to the hills
F Take the High road
G It's awfully quiet out there
H A sigh of relief

Honour - Rank Table

0   -  sent home in disgrace or offered the "Gentleman's way out."

1-20   - Second Lieutenant - 1 trait 0 tactical value

21-30  - Lieutenant  -  +1 Trait  +1 tactical value

31-45  -  Captain  -  +1 Trait  +1 tactical value

46-60  -  Major  -  +1 Trait  +1 tactical value

61+  Transferred to command a battalion as Colonel.

Promotion system will be imported from Rebels and Patriots as the basis for a campaign.  The Company starts with a 2nd Lieutenant in charge.  New Officers have d20 honour, a zero Tactical value and begin with one Trait.