Now that all the scenarios have been formatted, the production of The Herero War scenario book by Roy Jones and Eric Alvarado has moved into the next stage: the rules.
The Herero Concealment rules and the Shooting rules have been sent to the graphic designer to be formatted. The German Leadership rules section has also been sent to the graphic designer. The Herero Leadership rules and the rules on Movement and Melee are currently being edited, and will be sent to our graphic designer in late July 2011. The remaining smaller sections, which contain only one or two rules (e.g., the Machine Gun rules), will also be sent to the graphic designer in July.
Each rules section contains not only the rules but also historical information. Specifically, quotes from the German sources (including first-person accounts from battles) that show the historical basis for the rules, demonstrate the rules in action and give the reader a "you were there" snapshot view of the fighting.
In addition, a historical overview section that gives a "big picture" view of the Herero War - describing its origins and the main strategic and political events - will be sent to the graphic designer in August. The Armies and Uniforms section will also be sent out to our designer in August.
The annotated bibliography has already been written.
The book will be released in Fall 2011. It contains 13 historical scenarios, derived from original German sources, on the Herero War of 1904. This 7-month long war was fought in the colony of German South-West Africa (present-day Namibia).
MORE ABOUT THE HERERO WAR
The Hereros were a group of sophisticated native fighters. The Hereros fought as riflemen in open-order, and were masters of ambush tactics and concealment - using smokeless powder to remain unseen. They would fight from the bush, or would build trench fortifications and hillside boulder fighting-positions. They were also brave and ferocious in hand-to-hand combat.
The Germans brought the iron discipline of the Kaiser's men and the killing power of the Mauser, the Maxim gun, and Krupp artillery to the continent of Africa. Against sophisticated foes like the Hereros, however, the Germans often faced stalemate or even defeat. Even the final German victory in three great battles on a single day - August 11, 1904, the "Day of Decision" - was hard-won.
The scenarios pit Herero riflemen, elite Herero "shock" troops, and Herero mounted forces against German Schutztruppe infantry, Marines, Sailors, Bastard and Witboi African allies, and the lead and steel of machine guns and cannon. The 13 scenarios trace the war from the initial battles of February, 1904, through the period of Herero ascendancy in March and April, to the "Day of Decision" in August.
The Hereros were fighting for their homeland and their freedom. The Germans were fighting for their Kaiser and for the glory of the German Empire. Pick your side, and refight The Herero War.