Enter the Leopard – Swashbuckling in the English Civil War

Meet Edward Clement, better known as the Leopard – spy, adventurer, diplomat… and perhaps a forgotten pretender to the English crown. He is the star of my forthcoming Pulp Alley campaign set during the English Civil War, and he promises to bring cloak-and-dagger intrigue to the smoke of musket fire.

Edward Clement, aka The Leopard, spy, adventurer, diplomat

 and a forgotten pretender to the English Crown.

But where did this character come from?

The seed was planted when I stumbled across Hans Holbein's famous painting of Sir Thomas More and his family. In the background, half-hidden in a doorway, stands a mysterious young man clutching a scroll. The art historian Jack Leslau argued that this figure was Dr. John Clement, husband of Margaret Giggs, More's adopted daughter, and, more controversially, that Clement was in fact Richard of Shrewsbury, the younger of the lost Princes in the Tower. 

Thomas More and Family with Richard of Shrewsbury

in the doorway to the right.

That idea lit my imagination. What if a descendant of Clement survived into the seventeenth century? A man of mystery, royal whispers in his bloodline, stepping into the storm of the Civil War? Thus, Edward Clement – the Leopard – was born.

The Leopard's Story

Edward Clement was educated in the Low Countries and at Cambridge before entering Prince Rupert's service during the Breda campaign of 1637. When Rupert sailed for England in 1642, Edward followed, quickly catching the attention of Edward Hyde, one of Charles I's most trusted advisors. 

Court gossip puzzled over his sudden rise. Whispers of noble blood surrounded him, but Hyde saw only a helpful agent – if one with dangerous ambitions. By 1642, the Leopard had become an indispensable spy, navigating the murky shadows of the King's quarrel with Parliament. 

In early 1643, he was dispatched west to aid Sir Ralph Hopton, taking up the role of chief intelligence officer. There he crossed swords with an old nemesis: Aaron Bell, the fiery Puritan preacher who had sworn to unmask him.

The Fellowship of the Claw

Of course, no pulp hero stands alone. The Leopard commands a league of loyal companions known as the Fellowship of the Claw – a ragtag band of allies, rogues, and survivors.

• Young Billy – a nimble-fingered street urchin with quick hands and quicker charm. 
• Fletcher – the Clement family's old gamekeeper, a deadly shot when sober, a liability when not. 
• Edgar – the family's secretary and fixer; once a courier of secrets and master cryptographer, now a dangerous old man who knows everyone's business. 
• Maarten van Asbeck – a bastard son of a Dutch noble, long-time comrade of Edward, hardened by the Thirty Years' War. 
• Milo Crumb – the hapless adventurer, often lost, often in trouble… and yet somehow always stumbling into discoveries, such as the coded Parliamentary note he found when his head struck a low beam. 

It's a cast straight from the pages of a penny-dreadful – perfect for pulp adventures.

The Leopard and the Fellowship of the Claw, from the right, Billy, Fletcher, 

Edgar, the Leopard himself and Maarten. Milo had fallen into a hole.

Bringing the Leopard to Life 

This campaign utilises Pulp Alley with only minor tweaks, many of which are inspired by the excellent community on the Pulp Alley Facebook group (special thanks to Ira Gossett and his Three Musketeers adaptation).

The Campaign Board

The backbone of the story will be a custom Snakes and Ladders campaign board. Each die roll pushes the Leopard and his companions closer to their ultimate goal – but hazards, detours, and dramatic trials lurk along the way.

The Scenario Generator

Initially, I wrote a dozen full scenarios to be played in random order, but that proved too rigid and sometimes broke the narrative. A sprawling table system followed, but that became clumsy and overcomplicated.

The final version is much sleeker: a single 3D6 table that generates mission, location, primary objective, and complications all at once. Optional tables for minor plot points and enemy leagues add spice to the game. The result feels flexible, surprising, and – crucially – keeps the narrative flowing.

Testing is underway, and I'll share the draft ideas soon. 

Enter the Leopard

The Leopard is ready to stride into history – rapier in hand, cloak billowing, secrets close to his chest. Over the coming weeks, I'll be posting more about the campaign's mechanics, introducing some other characters, including the stunning and cunning Amelie St. Simon, a noble spy, and her reckless brother, Andre. Then, the villain of our campaign, Aaron Bell, the Preacher, is a Parliamentarian spymaster with hidden ambitions. These introductions will be followed by a series of battle reports where Edward Clement and the Fellowship of the Claw take the stage. 

Adventure awaits. Will the Leopard rise as a hero of the King, or fall as another forgotten pretender?

Maarten and his love interest, Katie Reed. 

One-time prostitute now a kicken maid in Lady Hopton's household.

Mystic Britannia Campaign

In November 2024, James Morris unveiled Midgard Heroic Battles, a game that merges historical and fantasy battles featuring iconic heroes and leaders. This exciting release has sparked inspiration for my Mystic Britain campaign, set in a dark age Arthurian world infused with intriguing fantasy twists.

As we look ahead, the stage is set for a gripping saga that unfolds in the fifth century. The narrative begins with dark dwarves known as the Dûrlingar, who replace the historical Jutes. These exiles arrived from the North on iron ships, landing on Thanet Island. With their fearless leaders, Hengst and Horsa, they embarked on a campaign to conquer Kent and Southern England.

The Timeline

The timeline unfolds in five captivating phases or campaigns, each based on my original concepts that intertwine 'historical' events and elements inspired by Bernard Cornwell's Winter King trilogy.

Decade of Conquest

In the initial phase, spanning from the 449s to the 50s, the Decade of Conquests began as Hengst and Horsa forge an alliance with an enigmatic group known as the Witches of Tenet (Drýgmál). However, anticipation builds as Horsa meets a tragic fate at Aylesford, his death trailing whispers of betrayal during negotiations with Briton warbands. This pivotal moment will shape Hengst's resolve to lead their warbands in a quest to subjugate the native populations, setting the stage for the Age of Arthur.

Hengst and his Sons land at Chichester. Spot the family resemblance. Figures painted by Matt Slade

The Last Roman

In the following years, from the 460s to the 70s, the 'last Roman' Ambrosius leads a counterattack. This last representative of the Roman government rallied the Britons alongside the Western Tribes and launched a series of decisive attacks along the Thames valley. The alliance succeeded in halting the Dûrlingar's advance and establishing Ambrosius as the first Dux Britannorum.

Arthur

As we move into the years 475 to 85, the young Arthur is poised to become a centrepiece of our epic tale. Following the mysterious disappearance of Ambrosius during a campaign against the Picts, the Britons declared Arthur the guardian of Ambrosius's young son, Modred. Tension will rise as the Dûrlingar are defeated at Mont Bandon, yet they continue to gain strength in the east and along the southern coast. Arthur embarks on the ambitious project of founding New Avalon and harnessing the tribal structures to forge a New Rome.

Modred - Comes of Age

From 486 to 93, Modred comes of age and challenges Arthur to his claim to the throne. Anticipation builds as Modred allies with the Dûrlingar, launching an invasion from their stronghold on Vectis into modern Hampshire, marking the beginning of my first campaign.

Arthur and his Inner Circle on the Eve of Hengst's Invasion

The Faction of Mystic Britain

At this stage, many factions remain underdeveloped, but the foundations are laid for a rich tapestry of alliances and rivalries. Among those involved will be:

The Britons, heirs to the Romano-British civilisation, whose unity is fragile as they rally behind Arthur's banner but grapple with their tribal ambitions.

The Western Tribes, who remain fiercely traditional and cautious about Arthur's growing influence, yet join forces to safeguard their lands and their mystic culture.

Mordred's followers, who have chosen to ally with the Dûrlingar in a bid to reclaim his throne, are anticipating the ramifications of such a duplicitous alliance.

The Dûrlingar, a formidable race of dark dwarves, led by Hengst and the influential Oiscingas dynasty, now dominate much of southern and eastern England.

The Witches of Tenet (Drýgmál), whose ancient coven wields powerful sorcery, are poised to influence the tides of conflict with their mysterious abilities.

Picts of the North, whose ambitions for land in the North could bring them into the fray.

The Druids, who possess ancient magic and serve as guides and healers, stay ever present in the shadows. However, they look to regain their rightful place amongst the tribes of Britain.

The Shadows Whisperers are rumoured to be otherworldly entities living in the West, perhaps remnants of exiled tribes or mythical beings, adding layers of intrigue to the unfolding saga.

The Saxons, though less dominant than the Dûrlingar, still play a role in the conflict, either seeking personal gain or offering their services as mercenaries to the dwarves and Britons.

Whats Next

Mystic Britain is set to be a land rife with fractured loyalties and shifting allegiances, creating an anticipatory atmosphere as the factions pursue their visions of survival and domination. The unfolding war will hinge on whether Arthur can unite these diverse forces against the encroaching shadow of the Dûrlingar, with the outcome promising to reshape the future of this turbulent land.

For my first campaign, I have decided to play. Modred's 'Coming of Age' is set in the spring of 495 AD. The previous years had seen increased activity along the southern coast, and in the spring of 495, Hengst, with his army, crossed from Ynys Weith/Vectis and set up camp at Noviomagnus (Chichester). Observed by Artus spies, the British king knew the next few months would be more than just another raid but a fight for his crown and the fate of the Britons.

First Moves

The campaign opens when Hengst dispatches his sons, Osric and Penda, to find a crossing over the Avon and secure the bridging point for the main host. Here, he would meet with Modred and his men to start an attack on Arthur's stronghold at Aquae Sulis. 

Once Arthur obtained news of Hengst's advance, he dispatched his loyal lieutenant, the moor, Sagramoor, to harry the crossing.

Pulp Alley & The Leopard

I recently finished my Tomb of the Serpent campaign. My next project is the Spectacular Adventures of the Leopard, a swashbuckling skirmish game set during the English Civil War. I have already played a test game, The Wayward Messenger, using the 7TV system. However, before setting out on this project, I decided to review what rules were available and which best suited my needs. Finally, I decided to use Pulp Alley. So why am I using a set of rules designed for the first half of the twentieth century for a historical skirmish game? As the Pulp Alley authors made clear, the Pulp genre included a wide range of environments, including gangsters, superheroes, fantasy, horror, and pirates, to name a few. So, in this first missive on my Leopard project, I will examine the rules I have looked at and why I went for Pulp Alley. As you will see, this is a very personal choice that fits my circumstances.

The Leopard, Aurelia St Simon and Aaron Bell (The Preacher)

Seventeenth Century Skirmish Rules. 

There are several good rule sets dedicated to the swashbuckling period, such as Flashing Steel, Glorie, and En Garde, to name just a few. All these games provide an excellent narrative for my campaign, but none are designed for the solo wargamer. Also, why I love collecting and reading rules; for my day-to-day gaming, I try to keep to a handful of core rules. Therefore, I decided to have a set of skirmish rules that  I could use for Indiana Jones-type adventures, gangsters in the 1930s and classic sci-fi settings. This led me back to the Pulp genre.

Pulp Rules - Cost 

In recent years, the pulp genre has become rather crowded with rules. Compared to other periods, all these rules can be obtained cheaply. Most have a free version or can be downloaded cheaply from Wargames Vault. 

Also, the figure count is usually less than a dozen, and most figure rules are agnostic in what figures can be used. Pulp Alley and 7TV have figure ranges, but they are unnecessary for playing the games.

Various supplements, scenarios, and cards add additional costs. Pulp Alley and 7TV have the most support for their games, so more supplements and cards to add to the core game. If you decide to go 'all in' with cards and supplements, this makes them the more expensive end of the spectrum.

The most significant cost is the need for nice-looking terrain. However, card buildings are available, and with careful planning, MDF and resin buildings can be used for other games.

Pulp - The Rules

Here is a brief summary of the rules I have examined. Click on the rules picture for link to the rules.

7TV (Crooked Dice)

7TV was designed to pay tribute to 1960s and 1970s television, focusing on campy adventures from fantasy to science fiction. Initially, each genre had its own supplement, but in 2023, Crooked Dice produced a core rulebook and now concentrates on producing serials (scenarios) that reflect the TV shows of the era.

The gameplay emphasises thematic missions and cinematic effects. Players build “casts” of characters using customisable archetypes. These are played on a set where the game recreates a TV episode. This can lead to odd play; for example, the set can move due to continuity errors.

Fistful of Lead (Wiley Games)

These rules are simple and quick to learn, perfect for fast-paced pulp action. They focus on minor skirmishes with individual character actions. The action deck (standard playing cards) mechanic introduces randomness and variety. The game offers flexible genre support, including Westerns, noir, and pulp sci-fi. Experimental solo rules, which are free to download, have been produced. Although their strength lies in multi-player games where they can handle numerous players (c. 10) without the game getting bogged down.

However, Fistful of Lead does not produce a deep storytelling experience, and the characters are underdeveloped for my tastes. I also found them challenging to customise for my Leopard adventures, although several genre/period supplements are available.

Perilous Tales 

This cooperative skirmish wargame centres around horror and exploration, perfect for Lovecraftian or supernatural pulp settings. The procedural scenario generation and simple yet thematic rules create cinematic challenges and a story-rich encounter, and they are specifically designed to support solo and cooperative gameplay.

Character design is limited because it is driven by predefined templates, which limits the customisation of games outside the horror genre. While all the games in this list are designed to create cinematic cliffhangers, in this instance, the mechanism that produces the excitement seems random, making tactics less critical than other pulp games. However, as a free game that introduces someone to pulp or for solo play, these rules are a winner.

Pulp (Osprey)

Pulp is one of the latest entries in the pulp stable and part of the Osprey Blue Book of wargames. Like all Osprey publications, the rules are cheap and well-produced. The rules offer a fast, streamlined game that is easy to learn, making it a good entry-level game. However, in terms of simplicity, the rules have lost depth in customising the characters, who are limited to archetypes.

Therefore, they miss the full storytelling potential of the genre with limited narrative depth and minimal customisation of characters.

Pulp Alley

Pulp Alley provides deep narrative gameplay, using dice and card mechanisms to represent plot points and random events. Together, these components produce an easy-to-learn game that is difficult to master. As I mentioned, the rules are designed to be highly customisable and fit with the variety of pulp genres. Character creation is good, although I would like more depth added to the character's background.
The game has solo rules and a unique card deck that produces engaging and exciting games, and it has one of the best dedicated communities of any game. The authors produce weakly, at least, videos to support their creation. While the cost is moderate if you want to purchase the cards (downloads are available), it provides an immersive experience into the world of pulp.

  

Comparing Pulp Rules

The rules choice is personal and designed to meet your or the club's needs. Therefore, the list below is designed to meet my gaming needs. I have considered the following factors: Narrative, Complexity ( I like simple to moderate rules), Flexibility, Solo play, Costs, and game/community support.

Narrative

My games must produce a good narrative that could make a good short story. In this category, Pulp Alley, 7TV and Perilous Tales edge this for me. The card mechanics in the first two add much narrative depth to the game.

Complexity

None of these games is particularly hard to learn; most are moderate to low in complexity. Boardgame Geek rates them in the mid-2s out of a total of 5. Fist Full is Lead, and Perilous Tales may have simpler systems.

Flexibility

Pulp Alley and 7TV can support any pulp genre. Pulp Alley nudges this category because 7TV's scenarios are more scripted.

Solo Mechanism

Only Pulp Alley and Perilous Tales have dedicated solo mechanisms. The other games' systems focus primarily on competitive skirmishes, so solo players must develop their own systems.

Cost of Entry

As I mentioned at the opening of this blog, the cost of entry is relatively low for this genre. 7TV is the most expensive, although they have merged most of the genre into one core book, reducing costs. Pulp Alley offers a lot of free stuff, but it will increase if you want to buy the cards and other add-on costs. For those on a tight budget, Perilous Tales and Fist Full of Lead, with downloadable rules and a few add-ons, have the edge on costs.

Support

One of the oddities of solo Wargaming is that you still want to feel part of a wider community. Therefore, online support is an essential aspect of the game for me. Support includes activity communities, forums, and online engagement. In this respect, Pulp Alley is the winner with its Facebook community, weekly videos, and games.

Conclusion

Pulp Alley was the final choice for playing my Leopard campaign because of its flexibility. I only had to write minimal changes to reflect seventeenth-century technology, its solo play capabilities, and the production of a strong narrative. In my Tomb of the Serpent campaign, the characters became more 3-dimensional as the story progressed. However, here, I had to design my own adventurers, so I wanted a clearer picture of the background of my main characters. How the Leopard, his friends and foes came to life will be the subject of the second blog in this project. 

Workbench 2025

Well, it is time for my self-indulgent post, where I quickly review my activities this year and look forward to the forthcoming year with its usual bucket full of projects.

2024 Review

Overall, I have been much better at getting games to the table this year, playing fourteen games. This meant more blog activity, which has started to attract a form of following. As usual, I became distracted by some new rules and periods. Midgard, Rangers of the Shadow Deep and the Dystopian Wars are the most notable. Whilst I try to stop myself from launching into new rules and projects, I just cannot help myself. A common affliction for most wargamers and something I will have to live with and the storage problem this involves. 

I have also been ruthless in trying to reduce my games; this includes Saga, Dystopian Wars, and Spaceship Gothic. These are not bad games, but they are the ones that appealed to me the least. A gull that I hope will become part of my gaming. 

Looking Ahead

In 2025, the idea is to concentrate on 4 projects.

1. Pulp Alley and the Adventures of the Leopard. My Tomb of the Serpent campaign ended in December, and the Mace Institute will take a break for a while. The next campaign will follow the adventurers of the Royalist spy, the Leopard. The events will follow on from my test game, the Wayward Messenger. 

The Leopard takes on Parliament’s troopers in the ruins of Wythboune Abbey.

1. Midgard. These rules came out late in 2024, but I had played them at Britcon and liked their versatility, so after playing a few test games, I will put some campaigns together as part of James's campaign test environment. At the top of the list are Mystic Britain (Arthur versus some Dwarf invaders) and the Great Army of the 870s. Later development will be in my Shadow Wars setting, the Anarchy 1138-53, and when gods clash before the walls of Troy. However, these are painting projects for 2025.
2. Super Mission Force. My superhero campaign against the master of the gene, DNA, will end early next year. This will be replaced by a superhero adventure in a Stempunk London of the 1880s. This is an attempt to get some use of figures that have been set on the self for a couple of years. An objective that pervades my Leopard and Midgard projects as well. 
3. Simulations. These are epic historical clashes played on the tabletop. The following are planned for next year.
1. Mark Backhouse has produced and supplemented his Strength & Honour rules, which handle ancient warfare between Alexander and Hannibal. I have had some old 6mm miniatures for some time, so I will rebase and redeploy them. The Battle of Pynda is the first on the list.

The Macedonian Phalanx prepares to receive the advancing Roman Legions.

1. I will continue to work through the War of the Roses battle with a refight of Tewksbury.
2. My Peninsula battles project moves slowly forward, and Vimeiro is the first conflict to be played.
3. I am planning a semi-historical rematch of the Lucknow campaign during the Indian Mutiny. Here, the Sharp Practice rules will be used to fight the engagements. Therefore, I am not looking at big battles but large skirmishes and trying to capture the strategic and tactical decisions.

Ad Hoc Adventures

Kiss Me Hardy, one of my favourite games, will take a break this year. I am awaiting the second edition, and in the meantime, I have decided to use a 1:700 scale, so there is a bit of modelling to do. Several single or small squadron actions will be attempted as the new fleet grows.

Rangers of the Shadowdeep, with its low cost and quick setup time, will be one of the main short games for 2025 as I continue with the adventures of Thalia Songweaver. In addition, a new fantasy city game, Traitors of Troll Gate, is due for release, which will serve a similar purpose. 

Big Projects.

Crusader battle is my attempt to adapt Strength & Honour to the first century of the crusading enterprise using some old 6mm figures. The other big project is researching the Italian Wars from 1494-1559. This is mainly a research project for 2025, but the ultimate aim is to refight some of these battles with some old 6mm I inherited from somewhere.

The Blog.

This blog has mainly focused on battle reports, which will remain because I like to write a narrative about my wargame adventures. However, I want to add more depth by reporting on my various projects in development and some of the campaign mechanisms I plan to use. In addition, I hope to do a few more rules reviews and, if I can get the download function to work, offer some download scenarios, etc.

The Burning Desert

This is the fifth part of my Pulp Alley, Tomb of the Serpent campaign. After the ambush at the oasis, our heroes have been forced to abandon their vehicles and proceed on foot. Carrying the remains of their supplies, they find it hard going. The one advantage they have over is Majib, the Arab foreman that they had rescued from the destruction at Professor Remi's camp. The tall Egyptian knew the ancient way the poor Professor was trying to unearth. As they approached a narrow valley, Farouk waved the party to silence. He whispered, ' This place is cursed.'

The Landscape 

This extract from the future Lady Daphne’s diary provides a vivid description of the cursed valley that the team entered,

The gorge was narrow, and despite the heat, the dark walls ran with stagnant water. Thankfully, this oppressive environment was short, and it quickly opened into a valley flanked by rocky outcrops. On the valley floor, there was evidence that the valley would have been fertile in the past; now, it was a place of death.

As we entered the valley, we could see a temple at its far end, which was largely submerged in the desert’s sand. As we would discover, the rocky valley at its southern end gave way to treacherous sands.

‘Let's Get the Hell Out of Here’

The heat in the valley and obsessive, sucking the air from our heroes. Looking up at the rocky peaks, Slade did not like it and feared an ambush. ‘Let’s get out of here’, and started to jog towards the ruined temple at the other end of the valley. Slade’s assessment was correct as a gunshot rang out, and blood began to pour down Slade’s arm, thankfully only a graze from the bullet. The party looked up and saw more of the tribesmen they had encountered at the oasis appear from the rock outcrops.

The party moved as quickly as possible, but the shots came from both sides of the valley, slowing them down as they exchanged fire. Suddenly, Alfie slumped and a red pool of blood spread from his right side. Daphne immediately dropped to his side and tried to comfort him. It seems Alfie's rotten luck has continued. Stabbed in Italy, then stung by a scorpion in Cairo, once again, it seemed his life was held by a tread.

Honey and Thwaites take cover from the shots fired from the rocky outcrops.

Dangerous Sands.

Slade was the first to reach the ramp that led up to the temple. Ducking behind one of the sphinx guards, he felt his foot being sucked into the sand. Grappling hold of the statue, he heaved himself up and got a shot off at the horde of tribesmen approaching from the west. Sir Francis and Thwaites were more unlucky, and both found themselves knee-deep in the sand. 

Daphne was the first to reach the top of the ramp. Her youthful education in ballet classes and gymnastics had served her well. As she passed into the darkness of the temple, she shouted, 'There is some form of portal here. I can make out some buildings on the other side. ' 

Our heroes make a dash towards the Temple.

Thwaites Sacrifice.

Things were getting worse. Two giant scorpions dragged themselves out of the sand and joined the ever-increasing number of cultists.  Meanwhile, Sir Francis had extracted himself from the treacherous sands. The guide, Majib, was not so lucky and was stuck by a bullet and slumped forward. Thwaites grabbed the man and started to haul him from the treacherous sands to the bottom of the ramp. Meanwhile, Honey had jumped through the portal. Slade, now at the edge of the temple, provided covering fire as Thwaites tried to pull Majib up the temple ramp.

As escape looked possible, a cultist threw himself at Sir Francis and his fellow stragglers. Thwaites, seeing the threat blocking the attack, told Sir Francis to run. Slade and Sir Frances, seeing the gate closing, had no choice but to throw themselves into the closing portal. 

A Costly game.

I thought my League of Heroes had an easy time with this scenario. The tactics were solid, and I was lucky with the cards drawn. Most were low-level enemies, insane mobs, and cultists of various forms. Even when the giant scorpions emerged, it was too late for them to play any critical role. The biggest problem faced by my heroes was the perilous sands surrounding the temple.

Even allowing for my heroes' luck, this was a costly scenario with three team members eliminated from the final conflict. Young Alfie, life hangs in the balance, whilst Thwaites and Farouk are lost somewhere in the ether. More importantly, these were my brawlers, and their loss will make the team unbalanced. More of a shooting party that is about to enter the confirms of the Snake god's tomb.  Maybe Alfie might recover, but that is for the final chapter of this adventure.

Caper at the Oasis

Archie’s teeth chattered, not from cold but from the bumpy desert track. Their convoy had left Alexandria four days prior, navigating the western deserts on the so-called desert highway.

In the lead, Slade Horton's jeep carried the girls and Sir Francis. Beside Archie, Thwaites struggled with the truck’s wheel, cursing as he negotiated the vanishing track. Suddenly, Horton halted the jeep and announced, ‘It's on foot from here, folks. Grab what gear you can. Professor Remi’s camp lies beyond those dunes. He may guide us through this wasteland.’
New Age Comic Issue 4

Professor Remi's Camp

Thankfully, according to the Archaeological Society in Cairo, the professor's camp was nearby. Professor Remi’s party had set out months ago to trace an ancient Egyptian sacred way leading across the Western Desert to the Nile. Their last known position was at the ominously named Serpent’s Shade Oasis, now visible with its bright blue waters.

Approaching the camp, the group sensed trouble. The air turned dense and sickly. Daphne doubled up, vomiting and collapsing. Sir Francis rushed to her aid while the rest cautiously advanced. Equipment scattered around the seemingly abandoned camp hinted at violence.

Tribesmen, Cultist and a Nasty Priest

Horton signalled the team to spread out. As they did, tribesmen approached, prompting them to regroup. Despite Horton's warnings, Alfie charged, sparking a violent clash with some tribesmen. Muscular men wielding scimitars joined the fray, injuring Thwaites and forcing everyone to fight for their lives.

As the battle raged, a serpent priest emerged, casting curses and launching attacks. Despite their desperate struggle, the heroes found themselves overwhelmed. Daphne and Alfie were targeted by the priest's dark magic but overcame his evil spell. 

The Hawk’s Cry

With casualties mounting, a sandstorm loomed on the horizon, freezing the assailants in hesitation. Seizing the opportunity, Daphne escaped, the priest’s clawed hand, as the storm engulfed the camp, its roar reminiscent of a hawk's call echoing in the chaos. 

Majib

After the storm passed, Sir Francis discovered Majid, Professor Remi’s foreman, unconscious. Majid recounted an attack by a half-serpent, half-man creature; he did not know the fate of Professor Remi and his brothers. Seeking revenge and his missing brothers, Majid joined the party on their journey.

Endnote

The story starts here if you want to recap the group adventures in this campaign.

Only two more games to play in this mini-campaign, although that depends on the journey across the desert. This is the first game where our heroes would have lost if the game continued for a few turns. Thank you, the fortune (solo) version, for this lucky escape.

One of the fun things about the campaign is how the characters develop. The two junior members of the party, Daphne and Archie, have started to become more 3 dimensional. During this campaign, Archie nearly dies, is stung by a scorpion, and, in this last adventure with Daphne, becomes the story's hero when they hold the Serpent Priest at bay.

I am already working on the next adventure, based on an old game, for Department E6 of the Mace Institute. Also, a more mature Daphne and Archie are planned to appear in my Weird World War II adventure.

Overall, it was great fun. In my mind, that's what wargaming should be about a good narrative storyline that holds the games together and characters that come alive and are fun to play.

Bomb in the Park.

This is the second game in a series that explores the superhero genre. In the first game, our team of heroes managed to acquire some of Dr Nicholas Amargus’s (DNA) deadly psychogenic gas. As the scientists work on an antidote, our team of superheroes find out that DNA and his minions are planning to detonate a chemical bomb in the Mission Trials Park. If successful, the harmful gases would threaten several small suburban towns. Our team of heroes., although missing, several members rush to prevent the Doctor’s heinous plan.

Super Mission Force

The first game in this DNA campaign, the ever-versatile Pulp Alley, used, but for this scenario, Super Mission Force was my rules of choice. As the name suggests, it is a set of rules designed for the genre. Also, the Kitbash miniatures I used came with character cards, so little pre-game planning was involved.

The Line-Ups

Aegis – the Heroes:

Star Phantom: A cosmic enforcer with blaster powers.
Primor: A stalwart defender from the magical realms, wielding a shard of unparalleled power.
Knight Eagle: The team's tactical genius and relentless vigilante.

DNA’s League of Rebirth:

Dr. Nicholas Amargus (DNA): A brilliant yet deranged scientist with enhanced mental prowess.
Emulator: Alien royalty armed with devastating blaster abilities.
Deadshot: A criminal marksman of unparalleled skill.
Mayhem: DNA's unwavering enforcer and protector.

The Battle Begins

DNA and his malevolent league converge around the ominous Weeping Angel statue, a harbinger of impending chaos within the city park.
Aegis, tracking DNA's movements, prepares to thwart his sinister plans, their resolve hardened by previous encounters and the gravity of the impending battle.

Round 1

Star Phantom, the vanguard of Aegis, launches a dazzling energy assault against DNA, but is swiftly ensnared by Deadshot's cunning arrow, plunging him into peril.
Knight Eagle and Primor surge forward, their determination unyielding amidst Emulator's relentless barrages from above.
Primor, channelling the mystic power of his shard, engages Mayhem in a titanic clash of strength and sorcery.

The Fray Intensifies

Knight Eagle, evading Emulator's onslaught, ascends toward the Weeping Angel, only to face a torrent of devastating blasts that leave him reeling.
In a dire turn, Knight Eagle succumbs to the relentless assault, his valiant efforts snuffed out as darkness descends.
Star Phantom, despite his resilience, falls victim to DNA's insidious mind assault and Deadshot's lethal precision, succumbing to the onslaught.

The Aftermath

With two of their own incapacitated, Primor valiantly attempts to stave off DNA's impending catastrophe, but the UN Chemical Unit arrives too late to prevent the release of DNA's toxic concoction.
As the dust settles, Knight Eagle, fuelled by determination and righteous fury, vows to bring DNA and his cabal to justice, while Star Phantom remains in a precarious coma, the team's beacon of hope hanging in the balance.
Aegis faces a dual dilemma: containing the spread of DNA's chemical calamity and unearthing the mad scientist's hidden lair before his next malevolent scheme unfurls.

To Be Continued...

Workbench 2024

This blog is always self-indulgent because it aims to set out my projects and ambitions for the forthcoming year. A similar bit of self-indulgence occurred last year, although personal circumstances made many of my ambitions attainable. However, it would be wrong to blame the vagaries of life on my failure to deliver all my projects last year. The most crucial factor was that I was too ambitious, a common trait with wargamers. Therefore, this year, I have been more constrained in my aims; although the project list is still as long, some will not see the light of day during 2024.

Campaigns

Last year, I had two campaigns that I planned to play during the year. The first was a fantasy campaign, the Second Shadow Wars, using the rules of the Fantastic Battles. This campaign saw little action since the early months of 2023. First, the campaign took an unusual turn when Umbarji Khan ( my Orcs ) suddenly died, leading to a succession crisis. I had not drawn up the maps for all the Umbarji realms, nor did I have detailed biographies of the various brothers and sons that would contest the Blood Throne. Finally, I needed rules to cover these surprise developments. 

I have learnt from this campaign to stop trying to develop everything myself and take some of the work the other enthusiasts have placed on the web. Therefore, I plan to play the Umbarji Civil War by adapting some one-page campaign rules and personality-driven mechanics in Henry Hyde's 'Wargaming Campaigns'.

In the meantime, the original campaign centred on the Wilderness Steppes will concentrate on the struggle for the Lakeside towns. Due to his father's death, Ozbeg has been drawn into the struggles with his family and has left the Wilderness campaign to one of the leading generals, Doba Skullcrusher, to conduct the war on his southern border. Again, this will involve looking at off-the-shelf campaign roles, using a hex system, or even returning to such old favourites as Mighty Empires. 

The Tomb of the Serpent

The second campaign used the Pulp Alley and their Tomb of the Serpent campaign.  This is now halfway through, and I plan to complete this during the year. Slade Horton and his companions from the Mace Institute are now crossing the desert in search of the Serpent’s tomb, where they will come face-to-face with the Egyptian God of chaos, Apophis. I have fallen in love with this band of adventures and plan to translate them to other game systems, so expect to see the Mace Institute appear in alternative World War II adventures. 

Recreating Battles.

I have two recreations near completion in painting and research, and they will hit the table in the first quarter of 2024. The first is the Battle of Crediton in 1643, where I'll reenact the battle using the Twilight of Divine Right rules, and maybe another replay, using For King and Parliament. 

Marius and the German Invasion

The next set of battles re-fight the battles between Marius and the Germans, Aquae Sextiae (102BC) and  Vercellae (101BC). These will be played using Strength and Honour rules. However, these battles are essentially holding games whilst I start to work on the big projects of 2024, Hellenistic World and Rome's Expansion. Why start this new development? 

Partly anticipating Mark Backhouse's supplement to cover this early period; it is my favourite era of Ancient History.  The main difference is this era will be played using 6mm figures rather than 2mm because I have a box of painted minis that have been unloved for several years. Rebasing and some in-filling of figures will be required, but hopefully, this will not be too burdensome. Unsure of the first battle, try to get to the table, but the following are on the list: Paraitatiene (317 BC), Ilipa (206 BC) and Pynda (168 BC).

Wellington in the Peninsula 

This project was on the list last year and is slowly progressing in 2 mm. 2mm is ideal for this era because it gives the authentic flavour of the mass movement of large bodies of men across the battle field. Once the painting is completed for the Battle of Vimero (1808), moving on to the other conflicts of the Peninsula campaign will be easy. 

Lion Rampart, Saga and Midgard 

The one campaign I completed last year was my Feud campaign set in the period before the Magna Carta. I plan to turn my interests to the Early Medieval period, where I will experiment with several rules, including Lion Rampart, Saga and yet-to-be-released Midgard. All three games have the potential to play a Fantasy version, so I may dig out some old 28mm Citadel miniatures to set up some small-scale fantasy battles. I plan to have some extra stuff painted by the excellent Matt Slade to give some of my old armies a new flavour. Ultimately, I may extend these one-off battles into some form of campaign. I'm interested in doing an alternative breakdown of Roman authority in Britain. Where the invaders may have been dwarves and their allies. 

Skirmish Games and Roleplay

Besides using Pulp Alley for the Tomb of the Serpent campaign. I have employed 7TV to bring the swashbuckling character of the Leopard to life as he fights his way through politics in war and the time of the English Civil War. I plan to join these adventures together and publish them as a set of scenarios. 7TV system is also being used for my Sword and Sandles project where a Greek demi-god will take on numerous quests, a mixture of Xena, Sinbad and Jason and the Argonauts. However, this idea is still in its early days.  

Superhero Genre

The last area skirmish is superheroes. In 2023, I played the first part of my mini-campaign when the evil Dr Nicholas Amargus (DNA) attempted to brainwash San Diego with his mind-bending gases. I adapted Pulp Alley for this first game, but for the second instalment, I will use Super Mission Force, which is designed for the genre using the gaol system. While these adventures are going on, I am building two teams of superheroes from the Golden Age who will fight Hitler's minions. 

Dungeon and Dragons

Connected to the skirmish games is my renewed interest in role-play, where the character develops even more. A magazine I found in the supermarkets made me to re-look at Dungeons & Dragons. I have found that since I last role-played – in the 1980s- enthusiasts have done much work on playing solo adventures. I plan to use these ideas and employ AI as a tool to help the game master.  I hope to post a blog on my thinking behind this and how it can generally impact wargaming. 

Naval 

I am planning a small Kiss Me Hardy game based on the scenario in one of the Lardies' magazines that is set off the island of Corsica. I am still struggling to find a set of ancient naval roles that reflect the era's sea battles. At the moment, I'm tempted to take up one of the ideas that came out of a discussion between Henry Hyde and Simon Miller of using To the Strongest mechanism for naval engagements. This could be a large project if I decide to undertake this challenge. Whatever, nothing is likely to appear next year. 

 

Some Final Thoughts

No doubt, as a wargaming magpie, some other distraction will draw me off in an unforeseen direction. Games Workshop has re-hacked the old Epic 40,000 as Legion Imperialis. A reminder of time playing Warhammer, so I am likely to give the game a try. No doubt there will be others.

I also hope to attend a couple of shows and a 'Lardie Day'. Whilst, I remain mainly a solo warmer, the hobby has a fantastic community that always gives me a boost. However, these events often provide the seeds for another project. Chain of Command has lingered in the back of my mind since my outing to Nottingham last year.

Feud III - Treachery at Castle Awre

Two months after the Battle of Didbrook, Gilbert of Claire, revelling in his triumph, persisted in raiding his rival Engelard de Cigogné's territories. The climax of this confrontation emerged in early September, as Gilbert successfully cornered Engelard within the walls of Awre Castle.

Castle Awre's Defensive Dilemma

Facing numerous challenges, the defenders of Awre Castle were at a disadvantage. Dilapidated walls, meagre maintenance, and insufficient supplies marked the castle's ill-prepared state. The only glimmer of hope rested on the unpredictable weather, potentially compelling Gilbert to lift the siege. However, an unexpected Indian summer dashed those hopes, propelling Engelard into a daring raid on Gilbert's camp.

Engelard's Bold Gambit

In a desperate bid to break the siege and humiliate Gilbert, Engelard orchestrated a last-ditch raid on his adversary's camp. The mission was to relieve the siege and set Gilbert's tent ablaze, housing his precious treasury.

The Tactical Dance Unfolds

Engelard and his forces charged forward despite initial hesitation, supported by household sergeants and Welsh mercenaries. Breaking through the camp's outer defences, they encountered resistance from Gilbert's spearmen. A countercharge from Gilbert's sergeants stalled Engelard's advance, buying crucial time for organising the defences.

Gilbert's Tactical Brilliance

In a display of strategic acumen, Gilbert seized the opportunity to attack Engelard's flank, decimating the Welsh mercenaries and exposing the knights to a vulnerable flank.

Shadows of Treachery

As the battle teetered on the brink, whispers of treachery surfaced. Under local levy command, the castle militia refused to support their lord. Speculation arose – had the de Clares bribed them? Though evidence was scarce, the castle castellan, Roger of Trowbridge, retained his position when Engelard de Cigogné was forced to abandon the castle, facing the aftermath of his failed raid.

The Aftermath

Gilbert's humiliation did not go down well with King John, who summoned him to his Christmas Court. A demand that Gilbert de Clare and his allies choose to ignore. Instead, Gilbert strengthened his local position. Abbot Peter was 'removed' from Hailes Abbey, and he thought it advisable to search for his soul by pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Gilbert joined the great revolt against John's rule, and in  1215, Gilbert became one of the council of twenty-five lords and barons who acted as sureties for the Magna Carta. The Charta also felt with Engelard de Cigogné. Clause 50 Engelard de Cigogné was banished from the Kingdom, and his lands were confiscated.  Gilbert's revenge?

Some Thoughts

The campaign was an enjoyable set of three games I played over several months. During this period, the main protagonist began to develop their own characters. Engelard de Cigogné was a man on the make who was sensitive of his own honour. This made him take risks, like demanding a duel with Gilbert, and this hotheaded personality impacted how I played him in the later games. Gilbert was the opposite. Born into one of the great families, he had little to prove, but he, too, was conscious of his family's honour. However, his approach was cool and tactical - a remote personality but tactically acute. One of the great joys of a campaign is how the main protagonists develop in your mind, making solo play easier. 

Spendle Moor

The Shadow Wars campaign started in 1046, two years after the inconclusive battle at Blackthorn Abbey. The winter snows lasted into the spring campaigning season; therefore, the campaign's first year started slowly because the weather made it difficult to muster the armies. Even in good weather, the notoriously unreliable Bitter Wood Goblins (Pau-Umbarji) only began to emerge from their forests in early summer. In and1046, they were the last to join, the host that had gathered near the site of the old battlefield.  

Strategies

I used William Sylvester's approach in his book, The Solo Wargaming Guide, for the strategy. For the Umbarji, I wrote down three options and threw 1d6 to acertain the Ozbeg's Umbraji Warlords strategy. Therefore, in early summer, Ozbeg decided to complete the subjugation of the Lake towns that had started two years earlier. The old war horse, Doba Skullcrusher, was sent south with a small force to take command of the Marshport garrison to complete the conquest. Ozbegs's main thrust would be to cut the Amber Way trade route and force the Steppe tribes away from their secure positions. 

Great Moot

Sylvester's method would work for the Umbarji with their strong central command structure, but it was unsuitable for the Tribes, with their fragmented objectives and loyalties. Therefore, a Great Moot was held, which decided the strategy by scoring the tribes' numerical strength and the charisma of the tribal thegn. More on how this was done will appear in a later post.  

The result of the Moot was a cautious strategy where the main army waited for developments at Thorkeld’s Tower whilst a sizable force led by the Zebra Tribe and the Lake Refugees moved to support the Lake People. 

Therefore, by mid-summer, the campaign's focus had shifted to Lake towns, and it was here that the first battle of the campaign occurred, north of Lakeside at Spendle Moor, 

Battle of Spendle Moor

By Midsummer, Doba Skullcrusher had joined forces with Malzag, the governor of Mashpoint and decided to march around the northern end of the Lake and fall one  Marshpoint from the north. The plan had the advantage it would also open up a line of communications to the Thrang Hills, where he assumed the main horde would be located.

Meanwhile, Lake people had been reinforced by the Zebra and Rhino tribes, plus the expected arrival of Elf adventurer Eranil (Chance Card) and his followers. Yet Doba kept the initiative and forced marching his army, now over 3000 Umbarji strong. His rapid movement caught the Lake commander Tiberian and his newfound allies off guard. They now had two options: wait for Doba to besiege Lakeside or stop him on the moors before reaching the rich agricultural lands surrounding the Lake. Despite being riskier, the second option was preferred, and the small force, some 2000 strong, marched northwards to hold the ridge at Spendle Moor.

Never Underestimate Your Enemy

However, once again, the humans and their allies underestimated Doba, who had already moved his Wolf Riders so they could gain a foothold on the ridge. Doba planned to implement his famed strategy, the ‘Skullcrusher’ or hammer. He would hit one of the enemy flanks hard, in this case, the right, whilst the hammer’s shaft pinned the enemy until they were slowly ground into submission.

Opening Moves 

With a rapid attack on their right flank, Doba took the initiative, which allowed him to secure a foothold on the high ground and threaten Tiberian's militia without the latter gaining the advantage of the slope. The Lakeside's enthusiastic but inexperienced horse countercharged but was cut to pieces by the Wolf Riders.

Eranil Saves the Day

Eranil, seeing the threat, decided to march his Elves forward and force Doba's centre into battle. The powerful bows proved lethal as Doba led his centre to engage the outnumbered Elves. Meanwhile, Liefe had moved his Zebra Riders forward to threaten the Umbarji Youngblood on the left flank, supported by the lumbering Rhino charioteers. It was not long before there was fighting across the whole battle line. The Wolf riders finally got the upper hand, and the militia horse fled; in the centre, the elf spearman made quick work of the inexperienced Youngblood. On the left, the other Youngblood regiment was equally unlucky in their first battle, being cut down by the Zebra tribesmen.

Caution as a Virtue

After their victory, Umbarji Wolf Riders came under bow fire from the scouts in the wood, sufficient to make them withdraw to reorganise. Doba Skull crusher still had the Boar Rider and his Wolf pack to throw at the Lakesider's right flank. However, his centre and left had collapsed under pressure from the Elves and the Zebra Riders. It was now clearly apparent that the Youngbloods were not ready for the battle, let alone a full-scale siege that would probably have followed any victory. Doba decided it was too risky to commit further men to the fight when he could not follow up any triumph, so he ordered a withdrawal. An action that relieved Tiberian, who was happy to hold the ridge and watch the enemy pull back along the road.

Some Pictures 

Campaign and Different Attitudes

A campaign changes your attitude to a battle. Previously, I would probably have fought the battle to one side’s morale had collapsed. However, it suited both sides to disengage to fight another day, knowing that replacing men was a haphazard business. The other impression from this battle was the Doba Skullcrusher had outmanoeuvred his enemy but lacked the quality of troops to give him the victory his tactics deserved.