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Miniatures Adventure => Fantasy Adventures => Topic started by: SBMiniaturesGuy on January 04, 2019, 11:11:53 PM

Title: Dux Arda - Middle Earth with Dux Britanniarum
Post by: SBMiniaturesGuy on January 04, 2019, 11:11:53 PM
Dux Arda – Gaming Middle Earth with Dux Britanniarum
My favorite Dark Ages gaming system, Dux Britanniarum from Too Fat Lardies, just got better. Gunnar Lopez over at the War to End All Blogs has been whipping up a mad genius project that takes the game into J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth setting. This fan mod is called “Dux Arda,” and he’s been busy creating all the factions that fought in the Hobbit and the War of the Rings. I really like what he’s been doing, so I’ve started making faction cards for all of them!

I’ll post the faction links from his blog below, and then the first faction cards.

The Free Peoples:



The Forces of Sauron:


I’m sure he’s busy on more factions!

Here’s the first set of faction cards, I’ll work also on creating the general Fate cards in a Dux Arda format.

(https://sbminisguy.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/sample-durins-folk-card.jpg)

https://sbminisguy.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/dux-arda-durins-folk-cards-1.pdf
Title: Re: Dux Arda - Middle Earth with Dux Britanniarum
Post by: Codsticker on January 05, 2019, 02:36:35 AM
Brilliant idea- well done.
Title: Re: Dux Arda - Middle Earth with Dux Britanniarum
Post by: Sunjester on January 05, 2019, 08:18:21 AM
Superb, I'll be watching this with great interest. Thanks for your efforts.
Title: Re: Dux Arda - Middle Earth with Dux Britanniarum
Post by: Captain Blood on January 05, 2019, 08:45:36 AM
Love this  8)
So many brilliant figures on your blog too.

Although the ruleset is medieval (well, just about) the subject matter is Lord of the Rings, so I think it probably sits more comfortably on the fantasy board, so I’m popping this thread over to there. Hope that’s okay.
Title: Re: Dux Arda - Middle Earth with Dux Britanniarum
Post by: SBMiniaturesGuy on January 05, 2019, 04:13:21 PM
No worries, I wasn't sure myself where it went, though some past threads on this were carried on the Middle Ages section.
Title: Re: Dux Arda - Middle Earth with Dux Britanniarum
Post by: arget8 on January 05, 2019, 06:39:29 PM
Gunnar here! I've finished Dunland and I'm currently working on Thranduil's Realm.
Title: Re: Dux Arda - Middle Earth with Dux Britanniarum
Post by: SBMiniaturesGuy on January 05, 2019, 11:24:38 PM
Fantastic!
Title: Re: Dux Arda - Middle Earth with Dux Britanniarum
Post by: SBMiniaturesGuy on January 06, 2019, 05:11:57 PM
Here are the Unit cards and Force description the Orcs of the Misty Mountains.

Forces of Sauron – the Orcs of the Misty Mountains: https://wartoendallblogs.blogspot.com/2019/01/dux-arda-lard-of-rings-orcs-of-misty.html (https://wartoendallblogs.blogspot.com/2019/01/dux-arda-lard-of-rings-orcs-of-misty.html)

(https://sbminisguy.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/sample-orcs-misty-mtns-card.jpg)

https://sbminisguy.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/dux-arda-orcs-of-the-misty-mountains-cards.pdf (https://sbminisguy.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/dux-arda-orcs-of-the-misty-mountains-cards.pdf)
Title: Re: Dux Arda - Middle Earth with Dux Britanniarum
Post by: SBMiniaturesGuy on January 07, 2019, 04:27:28 PM
Quote from: arget8 on January 05, 2019, 06:39:29 PM
Gunnar here! I've finished Dunland and I'm currently working on Thranduil's Realm.

Hi Gunnar, I've started to play around with some ideas on creating campaigns for each faction, starting with the Dwarves. I'll post something when I have more.
Title: Re: Dux Arda - Middle Earth with Dux Britanniarum
Post by: Montefortino on January 07, 2019, 04:30:22 PM
This looks really good. Middle Earth always feels like the dark ages to me, rather than the middle ages. I don't know the Dux rules (although I like a lot of the Lardies' stuff), but I'm planning something similar using Dragon Rampant.
Title: Re: Dux Arda - Middle Earth with Dux Britanniarum
Post by: arget8 on January 07, 2019, 08:13:50 PM
Once I have all of the forces written up, that'll be my next step. Those will obviously be pretty in depth, so they'll take a lot longer.
Title: Re: Dux Arda - Middle Earth with Dux Britanniarum
Post by: SBMiniaturesGuy on January 07, 2019, 10:09:32 PM
Quote from: arget8 on January 07, 2019, 08:13:50 PM
Once I have all of the forces written up, that'll be my next step. Those will obviously be pretty in depth, so they'll take a lot longer.

Why don't you pick a force and do the campaign, and I'll do one and we'll compare and end up a final version? I've got some ideas going for the Dwarves right now, so I'd like to start with that one.
Title: Re: Dux Arda - Middle Earth with Dux Britanniarum
Post by: arget8 on January 08, 2019, 09:59:58 PM
What I would like to do is internally balance them against their typical opponents, so Dwarves vs. Gundabad or Misty Mountain Orcs or Gondor vs. Mordor. That way, I could push out campaign supplements in a logical manner, since they'll take a while to write up. Based on how long it took me to write up my Domain of Soissons conversion for Dux Brit last year, I'd estimate that I could do 1 campaign every week or so. I'll be starting tomorrow and should hopefully have something to show for it come Monday or Tuesday.
Title: Re: Dux Arda - Middle Earth with Dux Britanniarum
Post by: SBMiniaturesGuy on January 09, 2019, 01:24:02 AM
Cool, we'll compare notes -- I'm doing the same thing.

Here's the updated Dwarves cards: https://sbminisguy.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/dux-arda-durins-folk-cards-3.pdf
Title: Re: Dux Arda - Middle Earth with Dux Britanniarum
Post by: SBMiniaturesGuy on January 09, 2019, 03:48:13 AM
Here are the cards for the Men of Dale. Maybe I should just have a single page with these??

(https://sbminisguy.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/sample-men-of-dale-card.jpg)

https://sbminisguy.wordpress.com/2019/01/08/dux-arda-men-of-dale/ (https://sbminisguy.wordpress.com/2019/01/08/dux-arda-men-of-dale/)
Title: Re: Dux Arda - Middle Earth with Dux Britanniarum
Post by: SBMiniaturesGuy on January 09, 2019, 11:39:34 PM
The Easterlings Faction card deck:

(https://sbminisguy.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/sample-easterlings-card.jpg)

https://sbminisguy.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/dux-arda-easterlings-cards.pdf
Title: Re: Dux Arda - Middle Earth with Dux Britanniarum
Post by: SBMiniaturesGuy on January 10, 2019, 04:55:29 AM
Thranduil's Realm faction cards! Only 9 factions left!

(https://sbminisguy.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/sample-thranduil-card.jpg)


https://sbminisguy.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/dux-arda-elves-thranduil-cards.pdf
Title: Re: Dux Arda - Middle Earth with Dux Britanniarum
Post by: Battle Brush Sigur on January 10, 2019, 02:10:12 PM
Lovely, lovely, lovely. Thanks for sharing!
Title: Re: Dux Arda - Middle Earth with Dux Britanniarum
Post by: SBMiniaturesGuy on January 10, 2019, 07:04:20 PM
Thanks, and thanks to Gunnar for the faction write-ups! Campaigns are now in the works as well. I just ordered this book, looks pretty good:

(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51J0bMOqfJL.jpg)

https://www.amazon.com/Battles-Tolkien-David-Day-ebook/dp/B07JZ3XNT6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1547146935&sr=8-1&keywords=tolkiens+battles+day
Title: Re: Dux Arda - Middle Earth with Dux Britanniarum
Post by: SBMiniaturesGuy on January 13, 2019, 04:37:14 AM
Whew! Just finished creating and uploading the last of x17 faction decks! They are listed here - enjoy!

https://sbminisguy.wordpress.com/2019/01/04/dux-arda-gaming-middle-earth-with-dux-britanniarum/
Title: Re: Dux Arda - Middle Earth with Dux Britanniarum
Post by: arget8 on January 13, 2019, 09:02:19 PM
If anyone else is interested in running Lord of the Rings using Dux Britanniarum, which is a fantastic warband-style game set in the Arthurian age (The perfect time period for Middle Earth in my opinion) with a good, simple battle system and a immersive, simple, and exciting campaign system, John here has really made it even easier. I'll be using his cards when I get down to business of really playtesting the current build.
Title: Re: Dux Arda - Middle Earth with Dux Britanniarum
Post by: SBMiniaturesGuy on February 11, 2019, 06:08:05 PM
Hi,
I just updated the faction book for the Dwarves per comments, and made it easier to read and clarify a few things. This includes:

1. Brief history of the Dwarves in Middle Earth
2. Updated Faction forces
3. Faction cards
4. Creating a Dwarf as a Dux Arda character, including names, what Clan and the different characteristics.
5. Dwarf career paths tied into modified retainers and Kingdoms
6. Magic in Middle Earth
7. Underground Terrain
8. Modified Kingdom Enhancements
9. Specifics on Dwarven Kingdoms and Provices, and how they differ from other Factions
10. Modified Battles and Raid
11. Description of the Dwarven Halls at the time of the War of the Ring

(https://sbminisguy.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/durin_the_deathless_by_frerinhagsolb_dcdwtk0-pre-1.jpg)

https://sbminisguy.wordpress.com/2019/02/04/faction-book-for-dux-arda-durins-folk-book-of-the-dwarves/

Enjoy!
Title: Re: Dux Arda - Middle Earth with Dux Britanniarum
Post by: gibby64 on February 11, 2019, 10:10:46 PM
excellent work!! you sir have a passion that I admire.
Title: Re: Dux Arda - Middle Earth with Dux Britanniarum
Post by: SBMiniaturesGuy on February 19, 2019, 11:28:24 PM
Hi, just posted a short article about Religion in Middle Earth -- specifically how Dux Arda differs from the Dux Britanniarum rules in this regards. Cheers!

Quote
Dux Arda – On Religions in Middle Earth
Where Are the Religious Figures and Structures in Dux Arda?

In Dux Britanniarum, religious figures and buildings for the Romano-British, Saxons and other factions play a role in battles and campaigns. This is not the case in Dux Arda — the fan mod for gaming the battles of Middle Earth using the Dux Britanniarum rules from Too Fat Lardies.

Most Factions in Dux Arda will not have Religious followers in their Retinue (check each Faction listing). That’s because in Middle Earth, while there is an epic struggle between Good and Evil, organized religions play little role in the War of the Rings.

(https://sbminisguy.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/iluvatar.jpg)

https://sbminisguy.wordpress.com/2019/02/19/dux-arda-on-religions-in-middle-earth/
Title: Re: Dux Arda - Middle Earth with Dux Britanniarum
Post by: Randell on February 21, 2019, 06:54:21 PM
A group of us are hoping to give this a spin on Saturday.  Thanks for all the hard work you've both put into this.
Title: Re: Dux Arda - Middle Earth with Dux Britanniarum
Post by: arget8 on February 22, 2019, 05:16:38 PM
Let me know how things pan out! I haven't gotten a chance to playtest the factions yet, so any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
Title: Re: Dux Arda - Middle Earth with Dux Britanniarum
Post by: Dilettante Gamer on February 24, 2019, 06:28:45 AM
Looking forward to what you and Gunnar do with that.

I'm also in the Bay Area. Demo game at KublaCon??
Title: Re: Dux Arda - Middle Earth with Dux Britanniarum
Post by: SBMiniaturesGuy on February 25, 2019, 07:21:20 PM
Quote from: Randell on February 21, 2019, 06:54:21 PM
A group of us are hoping to give this a spin on Saturday.  Thanks for all the hard work you've both put into this.

Love to hear your comments and anything we can do to improve!
Title: Re: Dux Arda - Middle Earth with Dux Britanniarum
Post by: SBMiniaturesGuy on February 25, 2019, 07:23:43 PM
Quote from: Dilettante Gamer on February 24, 2019, 06:28:45 AM
Looking forward to what you and Gunnar do with that.

I'm also in the Bay Area. Demo game at KublaCon??

Oh boy, I'd love to do KublaCon but family &school schedules mean that standard holiday weekends are usually taken. Do you ever get out to GameKastle in Santa Clara, or to the South Bay Game Club that meets once a month in Saratoga?

https://sbgc.groups.io/g/club
Title: Re: Dux Arda - Middle Earth with Dux Britanniarum
Post by: arget8 on February 26, 2019, 07:25:57 PM
Once I get my Gondor and Mordor forces finished, I'm hoping to run a game of it at Historicon, Cold Wars, or Fall In. Probably next year, based on my current paint backlog.
Title: Re: Dux Arda - Middle Earth with Dux Britanniarum
Post by: arget8 on February 26, 2019, 08:09:10 PM
Guess what came in the mail! My first order of cards for Dux Arda!

(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FQNZHgBf8-0/XHWcgVjtRBI/AAAAAAAABa8/bdhoRFCnAA4TUF1aAhAwvg4GWijiCIjCACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG-1247.JPG)
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V7oEdMidd8k/XHWcgfE33xI/AAAAAAAABa4/96B11G6a-w4tIAa5zexjdoV7Y4MgmMzxwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG-1248.JPG)
Title: Re: Dux Arda - Middle Earth with Dux Britanniarum
Post by: Randell on February 26, 2019, 11:30:55 PM
Quote from: SBMiniaturesGuy on February 25, 2019, 07:21:20 PM
Love to hear your comments and anything we can do to improve!
apologies we got engrossed in the boardgame Nemesis and ran out of time to play Dux Arda.
Title: Re: Dux Arda - Middle Earth with Dux Britanniarum
Post by: Dilettante Gamer on February 27, 2019, 12:57:37 AM
Quote from: SBMiniaturesGuy on February 25, 2019, 07:23:43 PM
Oh boy, I'd love to do KublaCon but family &school schedules mean that standard holiday weekends are usually taken. Do you ever get out to GameKastle in Santa Clara, or to the South Bay Game Club that meets once a month in Saratoga?

https://sbgc.groups.io/g/club

I'm up in Walnut Creek but could motivate down to Fremont Gamecastle to game/collaborate.  See my PM. Let's connect!!
Title: Re: Dux Arda - Middle Earth with Dux Britanniarum
Post by: Dilettante Gamer on February 27, 2019, 12:58:55 AM
Quote from: arget8 on February 26, 2019, 08:09:10 PM
Guess what came in the mail! My first order of cards for Dux Arda!

(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FQNZHgBf8-0/XHWcgVjtRBI/AAAAAAAABa8/bdhoRFCnAA4TUF1aAhAwvg4GWijiCIjCACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG-1247.JPG)
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V7oEdMidd8k/XHWcgfE33xI/AAAAAAAABa4/96B11G6a-w4tIAa5zexjdoV7Y4MgmMzxwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG-1248.JPG)

What's the story - did you send those off to be printed on card stock? Dish!
Title: Re: Dux Arda - Middle Earth with Dux Britanniarum
Post by: arget8 on February 27, 2019, 02:13:47 PM
I formatted them and ordered them through arstcow. If you want them, send me your email  through a pm and I'll link the artscow product. Working on Gondor, the rest of Harad, and the Easterlings now.
Title: Re: Dux Arda - Middle Earth with Dux Britanniarum
Post by: Randell on February 27, 2019, 05:32:58 PM
Quote from: SBMiniaturesGuy on January 13, 2019, 04:37:14 AM
Whew! Just finished creating and uploading the last of x17 faction decks! They are listed here - enjoy!

https://sbminisguy.wordpress.com/2019/01/04/dux-arda-gaming-middle-earth-with-dux-britanniarum/

Is there any way you could do a version formatted for A4 as I could not get them lined up to print double sided at all, so ended up printing front & back separately.
Title: Re: Dux Arda - Middle Earth with Dux Britanniarum
Post by: SBMiniaturesGuy on February 27, 2019, 06:26:37 PM
Quote from: Dilettante Gamer on February 27, 2019, 12:57:37 AM
I'm up in Walnut Creek but could motivate down to Fremont Gamecastle to game/collaborate.  See my PM. Let's connect!!

Love to! I'll reply by PM.
Title: Re: Dux Arda - Middle Earth with Dux Britanniarum
Post by: arget8 on February 27, 2019, 06:57:11 PM
Quote from: Randell on February 27, 2019, 05:32:58 PM
Is there any way you could do a version formatted for A4 as I could not get them lined up to print double sided at all, so ended up printing front & back separately.

If you want, I've started formatting them for actual playing cards. To get the finished product, head to Artscow.com and follow these steps:

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D0bwF-xWsAATgcA.jpg)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D0bwGl5WoAAJyMe.png)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D0bwHOlWkAIzCDt.jpg)


Then just Add to Cart! I need to add the desperare, cavalry, and skirmish cards, but the're still being designed.
Title: Re: Dux Arda - Middle Earth with Dux Britanniarum
Post by: emosbur on February 27, 2019, 07:28:49 PM
Great cards, Gunnar. I'll wait until they are finished.


Milo.
Title: Re: Dux Arda - Middle Earth with Dux Britanniarum
Post by: DivisMal on February 28, 2019, 12:01:07 PM
Very interesting thread! Thank you for making this available.
Title: Re: Dux Arda - Middle Earth with Dux Britanniarum
Post by: Randell on February 28, 2019, 03:19:23 PM
Quote from: arget8 on February 27, 2019, 06:57:11 PM
If you want, I've started formatting them for actual playing cards. To get the finished product, head to Artscow.com and follow these steps:

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D0bwF-xWsAATgcA.jpg)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D0bwGl5WoAAJyMe.png)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D0bwHOlWkAIzCDt.jpg)


Then just Add to Cart! I need to add the desperare, cavalry, and skirmish cards, but the're still being designed.

Thank you