2018 · Wargame

Maori Wars: The New Zealand Land Wars, 1845-1872

A simulation of the North Island uprisings in mid-19th century New Zealand, pitting British and colonial forces against Maori defenders who use fortified pā, ambushes and mobility. Players command battalions and strength points on a hex map (10 miles per hex, three months per turn), managing forts, gunboats and canoe transport for the British and village support, bush-raiding and shifting tribal allegiances for the Maori. Scenarios run under two hours with low counter density; rules include off-map bush raids, tracking mechanics for veteran British forces, event cards that introduce political and religious crises, and penalties for heavy fort-building that reflect historical insurgency dynamics.

groupPlayers

2

schedulePlaying time

120 min

cakeAge

12+

psychologyComplexity

2.6 / 5