Not-So Merry England: progress UD 20/11/24

[Silent Invader]

Thanks all - there are more to come 

[Codsticker]

Thanks all - there are more to come 

I look forward to it- very inspirtional thread!

[Silent Invader]

Thank you Codsticker 

So what’s this project building towards?

This is a project initially inspired by a visit to ‘Lorna Doone country’ that generated thoughts of Devon-based skirmishes, which has grown and evolved to become an ECW campaign to be largely set in (fictitious) Essex and Suffolk.

Battles will be resolved by using The Pikemans Lament but for campaign progression (and regression) I’m going to try out a ‘snake and ladders’ boardgame approach. Apologies to whoever devised this system but I don’t know who you were to give credit (I read about it on a blog but I do not remember which one).

Why a campaign? Well, one reason is that it justifies accumulating a lot of units that don’t all have to be painted to the same deadline, as the size of the battles can progressively increase as the campaign develops. 



The basic campaign mechanism is delightfully simple. Each army rolls a D6 and advances along the board. Blue arrows you climb up and red arrows you slide down. An army that reaches a Halt initiates the battle (taken from the scenarios in TPL) and if it wins it advances by the green arrow and if it loses it retreats by the yellow arrow. There are rules for accumulating points, holding terrain, battle locations, etc but I’ll go into that when I get to it.

This phase of the campaign only goes up to 7 units for one side, and at the moment I have enough (unpainted!) for 13 a side.

There is, of course, a campaign map for each phase. I expect the map for the later phase(s) to include a country estate with ‘big house’ but more of that nearer the time.

EDIT: the map was modified slightly to accommodate the terrain boards (see post 3/10)



I just have to finish painting my third Royalist unit, then I’ll have the necessary three units a side for the first battle and the campaign can begin. 

[AKULA]

I really like the campaign idea...can’t get enough of maps 

[Wirelizard]

I love that Snakes'n'Ladders campaign grid. Already stolen a copy of that graphic to tuck away for later inspiration!

Super adaptable to other systems than Pikeman's Lament, too.

[Codsticker]

I agree with AKULA and Wirelizard: that campaign board is very clever!

[levied troop]

It’s an excellent idea, never seen that before!

[Silent Invader]

Thanks folks though I have to stress that the original idea was not mine. The good news is, I’ve found the source:

https://gridbasedwargaming.blogspot.com/2020/06/beginning-snakes-and-ladders-campaign.html

I have made quite a few changes/additions to accommodate the needs of my own campaign but they are in my campaign rules, which I’ll share when tested. 

[OSHIROmodels]

Looks to be an interesting way to run a campaign.

Got a remote set up? 

[Silent Invader]

Looks to be an interesting way to run a campaign.

Got a remote set up? 

 

The thing is, campaigns seem to wither and die as players drift away. This system has an advantage that it can be run solo and without bias until it’s time for a battle. The battle location and set up is decided by the system plus dice rolls, excepting some selection in the choice of units to be involved. The campaign manager can then either play the battle solo, remotely taking orders from friends, or in person with friends. Only the continuing enthusiasm of the campaign manager is an absolute requirement.

[OSHIROmodels]

Only the continuing enthusiasm of the campaign manager is an absolute requirement.

Don't sell anything to Lord Snapcase then 

[Silent Invader]

Don't sell anything ....

My thinking is that making the project a campaign will ensure my continue interest, especially as campaign progression will require new terrain features, etc.

[Silent Invader]

Having settled on the first part of the Campaign, I revisited the map to finalise what boards will be required.

I’m intending to use the Panel Systems craft foam in grey, with a box of 6 of 1200 x 600 x 50 mm sheets, from which any selection of three will give me a 6’ x 4’ table.

That said, it won’t be any selection of three as not all will line up. Thus I ended up devoting some thinking time to how the roads and river will be represented on the board(s).

I’m going to use a mostly flat surface as my village and other terrain items will need to sit on it. The river will obviously be deeply recessed while the roads will be fairly flush with the main surface area.  This way I can also place  my loose terrain items - such as clumps of woodland - atop any road sections that aren’t actually required for a particular scenario.

The 6 boards laid out in groups of 3 to represent the 9 Tables that make up the map (note that connecting points are at 30cm and 60cm breaks and the bridge will be removable):



Showing where clumps of woodland will be laid to cover extraneous roads and also where I’ll need to add a road overlay (perhaps incorporated into a hill) to join two separated sections of road together:



And finally the revised map showing how it matches the layouts achieved with the boards:



Next up, I really do need to finish my third cavalry unit 

[OSHIROmodels]

Splendidly thought out 

Far too much work 

[NurgleHH]

Sounds like a big project for a club. But you are always like 20 Men when you dive in project. Looking forward for the result and will learn, Obi Silent Invader.