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Post by Simon Robinson on Aug 24, 2011 13:50:57 GMT
The Peuri are unarmoured light cavalry, but as long as everybody knows they are then there's no problem using them.
The campaign is still in the ideas stage, but I am getting things down on paper and organising my thoughts nicely.
The current idea is that I will run the campaign without participating as a faction and that army size will max out at 1500, you will also be using smaller armies around 750 but you’ll never need both armies at the same time.
The choice of army list (e.g. Wessex Saxons) will be fixed, but within that you can change what you take to a battle each battle (fighting the Normans and all that cavalry - maybe use more spears etc.)
If people are short figures for a game let me know and you can borrow mine.
The map will be an area based map of the British Isle (maybe the Britannia one or similar) and the campaign will involve Diplomacy and Economics as well as the expected battles, raids and rebellions.
The winner will be the first player to hold over 50% of the available areas for a complete campaign year, or if we decide to fold it early, the player with the most areas.
Start date – I’m not sure of yet (depends how long to write the rules etc.) but even if we started in the first week of October (very unlikely) it will be a week or two before the first battle because of Diplomacy and economics.
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james
Frostgrave
Posts: 1,221
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Post by james on Aug 24, 2011 15:02:22 GMT
Simon - sounds good.
Warren - should have said you also need to remove slung bows from every models back and remodel the cloaks with green stuff. I also swapped the shields. I also meant to say I think the scale armour would pait up as diamond leather ok.
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Post by wstevens on Aug 24, 2011 16:52:51 GMT
James good call on the bows slung back on the cloaks - I had forgot about this and yeah that will be a pain to do.
Simon some good thoughts up there - I see that you are not playing a faction - non-playing faction perhaps ? rebels? I know I stayed out of this when I did an earlier campaign as it stopped a lot of finger pointing and bias when diplomacy was done. However you so want to participate. The last WAB campaign was team vs team based so this is why I could do it. However this involves a map and regions to collect and protect so its a lot different. How many regions do you envisage - I would love to name those areas. I have the Total War Medieval Brittania Kingdoms map that will give you all the trade and resources in those areas such as iron, tin, lead, honey, apples, wool, fish, tanning, silver, lace, wine and coal but to name a few. Would you like that info?
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james
Frostgrave
Posts: 1,221
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Post by james on Aug 24, 2011 18:45:47 GMT
Came across another dark age supplier - good value (individual models just £1.25) and some nice characterful models (especially the clerics) but put off unit deals by too many duplicates but good value at about a £1. a mini. www.heroesofthedarkage.com/ranges/saxons-range/Warren - in the norman range are 3 horseman variants in leather rather than armour. Not bad at £2.50 a pop. Renegade also have a nice range of saxons with 3 cavalry in pack that may suit as only lightly mailed at 6.95. I particularly like their saxon slingers blister.
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Post by Simon Robinson on Aug 25, 2011 10:47:26 GMT
Don’t worry I’ll have plenty to do and the campaign in this form will keep me plenty busy and involved.
I have several maps suitable for this campaign – it depends on the number of players we have ultimately. Area names are not a problem as in some cases they’re already named and in the others I can lift names from the other maps I have access to.
For this campaign the economics will be simple – previous experience has shown that too much detail here can get in the way.
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Post by wstevens on Aug 25, 2011 12:38:29 GMT
James - thanks for the link - the minis here seem to be a lot smaller and without necks in some cases, or is it just my perception. On an off buy x3 horse for £7.50 doesn't sound bad until you add their postage. However there are one or two characters they have that would nicely for leaders / champions. The priest/monk looks good.
Agreed that those Renegade slingers look good - floppy hats or not. The Saxon Cavalry look good as well and would fit in nicely as Pueri. At £6.95 a pack work out cheaper.
Simon - looking forward to seeing the map. Would you able to do a downloadable version for all campaigners so that they can scheme and work out strategies while at the PC or Laptop - when its done?
Agreed with the keep it simple.
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Post by Simon Robinson on Aug 25, 2011 14:06:28 GMT
When I know for sure which map we'll be using I'll send people copies, along with the rules pack and any other information they need
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james
Frostgrave
Posts: 1,221
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Post by james on Aug 26, 2011 17:33:45 GMT
The next WI has a saxon theme and a Hail Caesar saxon v viking report - bliss.
Does anyone have this months that I could borrow to read the viking article? Smiths were sold out.
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Post by carl on Aug 26, 2011 17:59:08 GMT
will try and remember my copy at next club night
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james
Frostgrave
Posts: 1,221
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Post by james on Aug 31, 2011 11:05:34 GMT
Thanks Carl. Can you bring it next week?
My first box of fyrd arrived today and it is a nice set. You can make 32 warriors and there are various options to arm them as all the hands are supplied empty including 8 bows, 14 spears, 20 round shields, 12 norman shields and lots of swords and axes. There are also 4 standards (all the same) and 4 horns plus 48 heads (12 variants - 4 helmeted, 4 bare and 4 floppy hat). Not bad overall but no bases and 1 of the 4 variant bodies supplied could be a crispy mould. Still good value at 13.00. Will put these together then see if I want the second box or not.
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Post by tiger1 (Paul) on Sept 4, 2011 8:53:23 GMT
James, when your Saxons are ready I would like to play you with either a welsh or "Caledonian" force.
Justing seeing how warbands work in this era.
Like you I have a saxon army, which was based on Wessex - I am looking at the other variants. My other alternative is Norman or even County of Flanders, just to be different.
I am actually working on Maltilda v Stephen civil wars and also the Italio Norman Invasion Of Lombard Italy and Arab Sicily.
Like to try some games - having spent two weeks reading almost all WAB suppliments, (Yes mediocre weather on holiday can reap benefits), which I have had since the year dot and never really appreciated. Good Stuff
The Shield wall Norman army list together with suggestions for using Shield wall Normans from sections of the Byzantium book really covers the two periods, I am developing extremely well - supprised how accurate / suitable these lists are against history.
Bring it on.
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Post by tiger1 (Paul) on Sept 4, 2011 11:19:11 GMT
Simon, thinking about your 1500 point campaign.
May I make a pitch for 1600. The main reason being that for most armies in shield wall there 25% and 50% limits which is easier to manage within the world of 1600 points. For instance the Normans must have 50% minimum Milities and Pureri which works easily at 800 points, and 25% Specials again a nice 400 points. 1500 gives you more odd numbers, ok not massive but a consideration.
The other aspect is mounted troops are more expensive and therefore it is harder to get your half size base army 750, 800 gives you 50 additional points, will not break the bank, but gives just a bit more headroom to balance units.
The last question I have is - are we adopting the terrain system for Western Europe, which I think will add to the campaign.
The Western Europe suggests 4 peices of terrain and more importantly will provide terrain on all but a roll of 8 or 9, so a high probability of 3 to 4 peices. Indeed there is an option to include a "small river in a flank zone on a throw of 9", therefore terrain would be placed on all but an 8.
Considering that many armies in Shieldwall can be "light" or Open Order, this is crucial in planning your army as open spaces will dictate "classical" clsoe order troops, but the scenery generator will give the lighter armies a better chance and after all reflect their native provinces.
The scenary generator provides:-
3 chances of a gentle hill 1 Wood / Orchard 1 Wood 1 Steep Hill 3 Rough going and a small river in aflank zone.
personally give me the terrain and make the games more interesting than a standard slog in the middle.
It will encourage the less popular armies to be selected, which are not always chosen because they do not stand up so well. Indeed the special rules for ambush and stealth become valuable instead of a note on the side.
Hope this stmulates some food for thought.
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Post by wstevens on Sept 4, 2011 16:04:34 GMT
I already asked Simon about it being raised to 1600pts with exactly some of the points you made and he said "no". Apparently there are books that have odd percentages such as 33% etc... as I thought we were only using shieldwall - the answer perplexed me but hey ho maybe we are using other books for the Dark Ages as well. I think I also asked this for next year's Axes 2012 and this got a "no" as well. A percentage of any number will give you a different number whatever the full total is. So my understanding of Simon's choice to say no to this is due to playing on 6x4 tables and that you need the extra space to make WAB work. That extra 100 points could really cramp up the table - apparently. I'm not convinced having played 2000pts on 6x4 tables for years.
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Post by carl on Sept 4, 2011 16:49:04 GMT
guys; at the end of the day if Simon is going to take the time in putting this altogether for our benefit and perhaps not even play in it, then perhaps we need to give him leeway to put it together as he wants.
as he says, not all lists are a straight 25 or 50% of the full total so some lists will be snookered whichever total we start at.
lets wait until he has finished the campaign pack and then ask questions if needed.
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Post by wstevens on Sept 4, 2011 17:17:06 GMT
Agreed... I am happy to go with what Simon comes up with, just infusing a few thoughts... I'm sure I'm allowed to do so am I not?
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