The 1895 French Expedition in Madagascar: Scenario Book

Madagascar Campaign Story

This project brings the 1895 French Expedition in Madagascar to the tabletop with a new range of historically accurate 28mm metal miniatures. These figures represent French colonial troops, Tirailleurs, and--for the first time ever in miniatures--Hova warriors — sculpted specifically for this campaign and cast in high‑quality white metal.

The Madagascar Expedition of 1895 is one of the most fascinating and underrepresented colonial campaigns in tabletop gaming. Dense jungles, fortified villages, long marches, and a mix of French regulars, colonial troops, and Hova fighters create a visually rich and tactically varied setting. This range is designed to capture that unique flavor and bring it to life on your gaming table.

Historical Context

The Madagascar Expedition of 1895 was France’s first major campaign since the Franco‑Prussian War of 1870. National pride was very much at stake: France had spent 25 years rebuilding its army, its confidence, and its international standing. The expedition was intended to be decisive — but the outcome was never certain.

The Hova state was not a minor opponent. It was a centralized kingdom with a long military tradition, fortified positions, disciplined troops, and a deep understanding of the terrain. The campaign was not simply Europeans walking over indigenous forces — it was a difficult, costly struggle against a capable and determined adversary.

Disease, climate, logistics, and Hova resistance combined to make the French advance far more challenging than Paris expected. Although the French ultimately prevailed, the cost was high and the fighting was intense. This combination of strategic uncertainty, harsh conditions, and two well‑defined opposing forces makes Madagascar one of the most compelling and underrepresented colonial campaigns in miniature gaming.

What you’re getting

Campaign Book

At the core of this project is a historical campaign book for the 1895 French Expedition in Madagascar. It includes linked scenarios, background, orders of battle, terrain guidance, and notes on both French and Hova forces. The book is designed to be rules‑ and scale-neutral, so you can use your preferred colonial or historical ruleset while still benefiting from a structured, historically grounded campaign. This campaign book isn’t meant to replace your preferred ruleset, but to enhance your games with weather, terrain, morale, and local flavor drawn from the historical record.

PRINT EDITION AVAILABLE All backers receive the Campaign Book in PDF format as part of their pledge tier. If you prefer a physical copy at the gaming table, you can add the Campaign Book — Physical Softcover Add-On to your pledge. This is a physical‑only upgrade; the PDF is already included in your tier. The softcover print edition contains the same content as the PDF and ships with your rewards.

Miniatures of the Madagascar Campaign

All figures in this campaign are metal, cast with integral bases, and sculpted to match the historical uniforms, equipment, and troop types documented for the 1895 French expedition to Madagascar. Packs are organized for ease of painting and gameplay, and each set reflects the forces represented in the Campaign Book scenarios.

Scale & Compatibility: Figures are 28mm, compatible with Askari’s existing ranges and sculpted for historical accuracy.

 Malagasy Forces

 Regular Army / Levy Troops — 12 figures 

Ten musket‑armed troops in straw hats, one officer, and one bugler. 

These represent the core Hova levy forces encountered throughout the campaign.

Hova Guard / Uniformed Troops — 12 figures 

Ten uniformed troops, one officer, and one bugler. 

Suitable for palace guards, elite formations, and better‑equipped Hova units.

 French Forces

French Infantry— 12 figures 

A pack representing the major French troop types deployed in Madagascar, sculpted so they can be painted as any of the following units: 

• Foreign Legion 
• Marine Infantry 
• 200e de Ligne 
• 22e Chasseurs a Pied

 Algerian Tirailleurs (Tirailleurs Algerien) — 12 figures 

A full pack of Tirailleurs, essential for colonial operations and featured prominently in the campaign.

 Malagasy Infantry — 12 figures 

Twelve figures representing Malagasy native troops serving under French command.

The above packs give you everything you need to get started with the skirmish‑level scenarios in the Campaign Book.

Production Process

All figures in this range are already sculpted and prepared for production. Askari Miniatures has been casting high‑quality metal miniatures since 2004 using the same proven process.

Pledge Levels

Basic Backer – Campaign Book Only

PDF (or print, depending on your plan) of the Madagascar 1895 campaign book.

Campaign Book + French Forces

The campaign book plus the three French infantry packs listed above.

Campaign Book + Hova Forces

The campaign book plus 3 Hova packs (2 Regular + 1 Guard) needed to represent the opposing side.

Complete Madagascar Collection

The campaign book plus all French and Hova miniatures in the range—everything you need for the full campaign.

Please note: The campaign book is well underway, with remaining work focused on layout, editing, and integrating photos of the finished miniatures. The PDF will be delivered during the production timeline rather than immediately at campaign close.

 STRETCH GOALS 

As the campaign grows, we’ll unlock additional content and options that expand the Madagascar experience without affecting the production timeline. All Stretch Goals are designed to be low‑risk, historically grounded, and fully compatible with the existing production schedule.

$1,500 — Hova Personality Figures 

Two princesses and a shaman, representing the political and spiritual leadership of the Hova regime. The figures were taken from period illustrations, as shown. These unique characters add depth and flavor to your games and broaden the visual identity of the Hova forces.

$2,250 — Epilogue Scenario: “Pacification: The Hunt for Loyalist Hova Resistance”

An additional linked scenario extending the narrative beyond the fall of Antananarivo into the decade‑long pacification campaign. This scenario explores the French pursuit of loyalist Hova resistance and the challenges of post‑conquest operations. (Delivered inside the campaign book.)

$3,000 — Hova Artillery Crew + Gun 

The best‑trained and most effective arm of the Hova military, represented with a historically grounded artillery team and a period‑appropriate gun. This unit adds tactical variety and reflects the documented performance of Hova artillery during the expedition.

$3,750 — French Artillery Crew + Gun + Mules

A full French mountain artillery detachment, including crew, the 75mm DeBange mountain gun, and pack mules. Unlocking this goal keeps both forces balanced and expands the tactical options available in the campaign’s larger engagements.

 $4,250 — Scenic Ideas Pack: “Building Madagascar” 

Terrain inspiration, construction notes, and historical references to help you bring the island’s unique environment to the tabletop. 

(Delivered inside the campaign book.)

$4,750 — Uniform Guide to the Madagascar Campaign

A detailed reference covering French colonial uniforms, Hova dress and equipment, Tirailleurs, Artillery crews, and campaign‑specific variations. Although French troops were officially issued khaki, period illustrations show them in a varying mix of white, blue, and khaki. The Uniform Guide explains these variations and gives painters historically grounded options.

Add‑Ons

French Colonial Gunboat Lynx

The handcrafted French colonial gunboat is available as an optional add‑on. This display‑quality model is ideal for riverine scenarios and adds a striking centerpiece to any colonial collection. (Sailors in the photos for scale only; not included.)

Optional Ruleset

We offer Colonial Adventures, 2nd Edition, from Two Hour Wargames for those looking for a set of rules tuned specifically to this campaign. This can be purchased in either PDF or PDF + Print versions.

CAMPAIGN BOOK — PHYSICAL SOFTCOVER 

A printed softcover edition of the Campaign Book is available as an add‑on. This is a physical‑only upgrade. All backers already receive the PDF version in their pledge tier. Add this if you want a physical book for table use or reference during games.

 Shipping

Fulfillment for this project has several components, and each will be handled in the most efficient and cost‑effective way for backers. Shipping charges will be collected after the campaign through Kickstarter’s built‑in pledge manager. This allows us to calculate accurate rates based on your final selections and destination. This also ensures you only pay actual shipping costs.

Miniatures (French & Hova Forces) 

All metal figure packs will ship directly from Askari Miniatures in the United States. 

Shipping is weight‑based and varies by country. Typical regions include:

• United States 
• Canada 
• UK / EU 
• Australia / New Zealand 
• Rest of World 

 Figures will be packed securely in protective bags and boxed to prevent damage in transit as you have come to expect from Askari Miniatures.

Campaign Book (PDF and Optional Print) 

The Campaign Book is delivered digitally as a PDF to all backers who select it. 

A print‑on‑demand option may be offered depending on final page count and printer availability. If offered, printing and shipping will be handled separately through the pledge manager.

Optional Ruleset (PDF and Optional Print) 

If you choose the optional ruleset add‑on, it will be delivered as a PDF. 

A print option may also be offered by the rules author. If so, printing and shipping will be handled separately through the pledge manager.

French Colonial Gunboat (Premium Add‑On) 

The handcrafted gunboat is a special item with its own packaging and shipping requirements. 

It will be charged and shipped separately due to its size and production process. 

Final shipping arrangements will be confirmed once production details are finalized. 

Depending on logistics, the gunboat may ship either directly from the builder, or through Askari Miniatures. This will be clarified before the pledge manager opens.

Combined Orders 

Because backers may choose any combination of:

• figure packs 
• the campaign book 
• the optional ruleset 
• the gunboat 
• additional add‑ons

Shipping will be calculated per backer based on the exact items selected. This ensures you pay only for what you actually order, with no inflated estimates.

Timeline

October 2026 — Campaign runs; final adjustments to the campaign book layout and photos.

November–January — Mold production and metal casting. The Campaign Book PDF is finalized during this period. If a print‑on‑demand option is offered, setup and proofing occur here, and details will be announced before the pledge manager opens.

February–March — Packing, fulfillment, and shipping of miniatures. The Campaign Book PDF is delivered to backers. Print copies  are printed and shipped through the pledge manager.

Creator’s Note

I’ve been sculpting and producing historical miniatures for over twenty years, and Madagascar has always stood out as one of the most compelling — and most overlooked — campaigns I’ve researched. Reliable information on the 1895 expedition is surprisingly scarce in English, so creating this project meant digging deeply into French sources, both primary and secondary.

My goal with Askari Miniatures has always been to represent both sides of colonial conflicts with accuracy and respect, and this project is no exception. Bringing the Hova warriors to the tabletop for the first time ever in miniatures is a major part of that vision.

Thank you for supporting this project and helping bring a truly unique historical campaign to life.