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. 

The Leopard - Pilot Episode.

1967 RetroVision Weekend TV sought something to fill the early Sunday evening slot. Success in recent years at the cinema of several swashbuckling films has suggested this would be a suitable format. Enter Pat Harris, the company's leading documentary maker and a fan of the English Civil War. He and his writers came up with the idea of the Leopard, a mysterious swashbuckling character with royal connections.

Harris’ ideas soon exceeded the budget, and the channel’s producers wanted to cut the project. In the end, Pat persuaded them to proceed with a pilot episode. However, the budget was reduced, and the pilot had to be made on the set of the recent Dracula movie. Therefore, overnight, Whitby Abbey became a remote, ruined monastery in the heart of Oxfordshire.

Pilot - The Wayward Messenger. November 1642. Aired 3rd September 1974

King Charles I’s courier and his satchel of important letters have gone missing. The letters contained embarrassing revelations about the Queen's medical condition and sensitive diplomatic correspondence between the King and Louis XIV’s all-powerful minister, Mazarin. Edward Hyde, the King’s advisor, dispatched the young Edward Clements, a.k.a. The Leopard, to find a courier and retrieve the letters before the King’s enemies saw them. However, the Parliamentary Council was aware of the missing letters through a spy at the Royal Court. A troop of the London Trained Band is dispatched under the command of the Parliament’s fixer, Ezekiel Sutton, to capture the messenger and retrieve the satchel and its contents.

Unbeknown to both parties, the messenger had been ambushed by bandits near a ruined monastery. The messenger remained alive but was unconscious, and the contents of his satchel, considered useless by the thieves, had been discarded.

Episode Summary

As the mist envelops the ancient abbey ruins, Edward Clements, aka the Leopard, and his men tread cautiously, expecting danger at every turn. The ominous fog conceals allies and enemies, setting the stage for a covert mission.

Blades in the Dark

Amidst the ruins, Edward's men split into groups, navigating the treacherous terrain. A sudden flash disrupts Maarten's, Edward's boyhood friend, advance, signalling the start of a deadly confrontation. Captain Sutton, the renowned Parliamentary leader, watched his men edge forward and, for a swift operation, as he grappled with uncertainty and unforeseen challenges that this mission brought. 

The Hermit's Revelation

As the mist thickens, one of the Leopard's less reputable men, the ex-poacher Isaac Fletcher, encounters an unexpected obstacle in the form of a hermit with a body odour problem. Distracted by the smell and the man's curses from the Bible, Isaac allows the dishevelled preacher (Aaron Bell) to run into the fog. This eccentric encounter was too much for Issac, who decided to sit down and take a swig of ale. An unexpected turn that added a touch of the bizarre to the unfolding drama. 

Clash of Blades

The mist clears to reveal a face-off between Edward and a formidable Parliamentary officer. The battle intensifies, with Edgar holding his ground against overwhelming odds. Enter Captain Ezekial Sutton, the Beast of the Fens, unleashing chaos with his unbridled ferocity in swordplay as the two sides fight over the prone body of the King's messenger. However, the Leopard triumphs in the end, and the injured messenger is hauled to his feet.

Unveiling Secrets

With the messenger recovered, a new threat emerges as brigands, who had originally ambushed the poor messenger, attack. Whilst the bandits had the advantage of surprise, they were soon beaten off, and Edwards drops fanned out to recover the scattered contents of the royal satchel. 

Kiss of Deception

The Leopard's band searches for their lost letters as the mist clears.  Amidst the chaos, a beautiful lady of a dubious background called Katie Reed is found tied up, claiming that she had been kidnapped to be sold to Barbary pirates. A kiss exchanged, secrets exposed, and a plea for protection set the stage for an unforeseen alliance. 

Into the Mist

With the mission accomplished, the Leopard and his men retreat into the mist, leaving a trail of uncertainty. As the credits roll, the haunting melody accompanies their disappearance, setting the tone for an enthralling series filled with intrigue and danger.

Scenario and Some Post-Production Thoughts.

The game worked out well, although I need to develop the NPC character 'AI' because they create extra uncertainty for a solo gamer. The character cards need a few tweaks, and I need to add a few more period weapons. Also, Katie and Aaron will return as members of the main cast. The next adventure of the Leopard will be a barroom brawl involving a spy and assassin. However, next on the production run is RetroVision's entrance into their world of Greek mythology with Atalanta the Huntress. Mainly because I have some old Kickstarter figures sitting in a plastic box. 

The first draft of this scenario on the 7TV Facebook page.