The Rout of Ashford
Battlefield: a wide sandy beach at low tide · 7 Oct 2026 · Ranked
Zulu Impi
1,500 Zulu warriors with short iklwa stabbing spears and cowhide shields, extremely fast on foot, attacking in the buffalo-horns encirclement formation.
Napoleonic Line
400 Napoleonic line infantry with smoothbore muskets and bayonets firing in volleys, 60 hussars on horseback, and 2 field cannons firing roundshot and canister.
ROUND 1 OF 3
Napoleonic Line form two ranks and present arms as the cannons roar. Across a wide sandy beach at low tide, Zulu Impi run towards Napoleonic Line at an astonishing pace.
ROUND 2 OF 3
Napoleonic Line fire a crashing volley that tears through Zulu Impi, then fix bayonets. Zulu Impi see a horn of the formation driven back.
ROUND 3 OF 3
Napoleonic Line send the hussars to cut down Zulu Impi as it wavers. Zulu Impi finally pull back, the horns broken.
» One last volley and the smoke clears on what is left of Zulu Impi.
THE WAR ORACLE'S VERDICT
Napoleonic Line has a clear edge: volley fire and canister-firing cannons. Zulu Impi needs its huge numbers to land early, or no ranged weapons will decide it.
- Volley fire
- No ranged weapons
- The battlefield: a wide sandy beach at low tide
MVP: The cannon crews
Napoleonic Line holds a wide sandy beach at low tide, bloodied but victorious. Zulu Impi is finished as a fighting force.