Thursday 20 February 2020

Ideas for a Crusading Campaign

Since I am building a Byzantine army for the summer, and have become a little obsessed, again, I put down some rough ideas for a multi player campaign game.  Based on the Sudan Colonial campaign we did it has pretty simple mechanics.  Hope this helps...

A proposed Map-less campaign system for 6-8 players
Alternate playing Islamic forces and the Crusaders if there are not enough Arabs out there?
Players must supply a retinue of 24 points of Lion Rampant forces.
Factions are limited to historical forces.

Choose your faction from:

The Leprous King of Jerusalem
Prince of Antioch
Count of Tripoli
Count of Edessa
The Templars
The Hospitalers
English Crusaders
French Crusaders
Armenian Prince
Byzantine Emperor

The Islamic Forces will be:

The Sultan of Egypt
The Emir of Damascus
Emir of Mosul
The McTurks

Guidelines for Force Composition


Forces will be 24 points
And these LR lists are only Guidelines.   

My Byzantine list for instance will rely on Norman mercenaries and Variangian axemen to make up for the lack of Greek troops.  Nubian Spear or bowmen would rate as higher quality foot for the Fatamids,  and historically the Turks could field heavier tribal cavalry.  


Victory points for factions based on boasts and missions.
8 table sectors. 

8 Terrain features placed randomly before sides are chosen.  

The deployment/mission cards may reveal more terrain.

The VP total will decide who the current overall commander is, with a typical Crusades free for all scramble if no leader can be identified.
A pin graph will map VP week to week.

Up to 3 VP can be earned from Boasts during a game and 5 VP from successfully completing on table missions from cards dealt randomly each game.

Treachery
These insults will not be bourne.  The player will betray his own side. Options: Hang back and raid the army baggage 1 VP.  Attack an ally during the battle 2 VP.   Kill an allied Commander or two of his units 3 VP.

Castle Keep
Within your deployment sector is a castle keep.  Place your garrison and hold the keep 1 VP.   Kill an enemy unit that assaults the keep 2 VP.   Kill two enemy units assaulting the keep 3 VP.

Caravan
Ali the Merchant and his caravan are bedded down in a camp, 3 tents, directly between the lines.  Loot 1 tent 1 VP.  Loot 2 tents for 2 VP Loot 3 tents for 3 VP.

Wadi
A wadi snakes along the front between your forces and the enemy.  It would be dishonourable to allow the enemy to cross.  Be first to get troops over the wadi 1VP  Kill an enemy unit beyond the wadi 2 VP.   Kill two enemy units beyond the wadi 3 VP.

Defend the Village
A village is somewhere within your area of the battlefield, directly to your front.  Secure and garrison and hold 1 VP.   Kill an enemy unit that assaults the village 2 VP.   Kill two enemy units assaulting the village 3 VP.  Each house in the village is worth a loot point 1 VP to your enemy!

The Bishop's/Imam's mission
Your Religious leaders have declared a death sentence on the evil heretic commanding the forces directly opposite you.  Your task is no less than taking the head of the enemy commander!  All or nothing.  5 VP are awarded if you succeed. 

The Glorious leader
You have the Crusader King/ Young Prince with your forces today.   He will deploy in front of your forces and move towards the nearest enemy each time his unit passes activation.  Keep him alive for 5 VP.  It's all about him!

Fair and open battle
Today you shall act as a nobleman, and conduct a fair and courteous battle.  Kill an enemy unit 1 VP.   Kill two enemy units 2 VP.  Kill three enemy units 3 VP
You are required to act in an obviously over courteous manner for this mission.

Open and fair battle
Today you shall act as a nobleman, and conduct a fair and courteous battle.  Kill an enemy unit 1 VP.   Kill two enemy units 2 VP.  Kill three enemy units 3VP
You are required to act in an obviously over courteous manner for this mission.

Water Water
An oasis or well is located in the table sector directly opposite, directly in front of the enemies deployment zone.  Your men are mad with thirst.  They need water and you need to get them to it within 6 turns.  If you capture the water your forces will recover.  Each turn after turn 6 there is a chance they will surrender.  Use Edna 1 on turn 7, 1-2 on turn 8...
1VP if you capture the eater on turn 6, 2 VP if you capture the water on turn 5  3VP if you capture the water in turn 4.

The Assassin.
You are required to act in an obviously over courteous manner for this mission as if giving fair and open battle.  This is a front however, since you have sent an Assassin to kill the enemy commander. Keep this mission hidden until turn 3, when you may roll d6.  6 is a dagger in the back, killed, 5 is poison, 4-3 roll gain next turn,  1-2 failed.  The enemy commander withdraws from battle with his guard unit if the attempt is successful.  The enemy must promote a new leader/unit.  Otherwise it's still a battle. Kill an enemy unit 1 VP.   Kill two enemy units 2 VP.  Kill three enemy units 3VP

Pledges

I will supply a unit of Hospitalers Knights and the forces of the Byzantine Emperor, as well as a Norman looking Crusader army.   I will also create Ali the Merchant and his caravan and tents, and a figure for Hassan  the assassin.  The Crusader Keep may take a while longer since I can't very well build it in Cyprus and import it.  Flat pack perhaps!