A histore of divers warrs in Dyrham, WOTR

"A histore of divers warrs and right owlde bovver in Ye Owld County Durham."

A work in progress

Robert Louis Stevenson's "Black Arrow" is a contentious novel.  Stevenson disliked the book, disdainfully calling his own use of pseudo Olde English "tushery!"  Set during the Wars of the Roses the action takes place over a small county area, with local forces involving no more than a hundred a side at most.  Richard of Gloucester makes an appearance as a visiting Yorkist Captain, but the other characters are all locals.

It's a road map for a skirmish level game.  Missions similar to those in Dawns and Departures are outlined time and again in Black Arrow.  Used as a way into skirmish gaming this seems more like an Imaginations game than one following historical events.  This could be done as a ladder campaign using scenarios taken from "Black Arrow," with a strong narrative, or a more complex active faction method.

The Campaign Game

A fictionalised "Durham" as my county setting.  Some favourite mechanics from Avalon Hill's Kingmaker will be adopted.

Historically the rivalry of the Nevilles and Percys dominated events in the north but in my game both of these and the Cliffords are relegated to the borders of the county.

The main armies, of York and Lancaster are off stage, and actually use "the King" and "the Pretender" rather than naming each specifically. The climax of the campaign in our fictional county would be a national level battle, but these are events our nobles are trying to avoid.  The factions in Dyrham see the squabbles over the Crown as an opportunity to fight within the county.

Somewhere, away in the south, "The Pretender" is assumed to have landed from exile and is gathering support during a march on the capital.  The Defender is also on the march, raising his own support.  This is all far away but has stirred up the county into its own skirmish warfare.  This is just the "background noise."

Language will not only reflect the "tushery" Stevenson so disliked, it will be horribly filled with it, in reports and "letters."  Loads of thees and thous, meant to set a true historian's teeth on edge.

This a solo game, done in the style of Tony Baths Hyboria.  The ten factions will have family trees, favoured retainers and forces all derived from a card deck.  They will have rivalries, feuds marriages and loyal friendships, all dice negotiated.  I'll use the blog to record and develop the game.  The factions will be very much be playing for themselves, the choice to declare for King or Pretender will be there, but like Sir Daniel Brackley they may also try to remain uncommitted until the winner is clear.  

Drawing "Crown Cards" will be the reward for victory or dubious deeds  If you draw Earl of Hartlepool your faction is awarded that title and any retinue that accompanies it.  If you draw Mayor of Darlington good luck, and enjoy the onion savouries, I know I did!

The Great and the Good list

The Prince Bishop, (A crown card)

The Earl of Newcastle (A crown card)

Earl of Lambton

Viscount Lumley

Lord Ravensworth

Lord Stanley of Stanley

The Lord Abbott of Finchale

Sir Robert Wessiyngtun

Sir William of Stanhope

Sir John Aycliffe

Lord Trollope of Hartlepool, 

Scots Earl of Ettrick

Crown cards

Barnard Castle

Bishops Auckland 

Bishops Middleton

Scots Mercenaries

Border Mercenaries 

Ship the Katherine of Seaham

Mayor of Sunderland

Mayor of Darlington

Mayor of Gateshead

Mayor of Shields

Coal mine x 5

Lordship of Waldridge

Lordship of Edmonnsley

Lord Sacristone

Great North Road Merchant x 4

Bishop of Chester Le Street

Lord Derwent

Lord Weardale

Ye olde coal mine owner

Ye Saucy Nancy, Cog of Wearmouth

Earl of Lambton	Uncle, Mayor of Gateshead, Coal Mine, Border Mercenaries (30) Faithful Retainer: Sir Fallus Farthingdale, Lord Waldridge
Viscount Lumley	Son, Daughter, Grandson, Cousin, Great North Road Merchant, Lord Sacristone, Lord of Teesdale Faithful Retainer Sir Nellie Trollope,  Lord Sacriston
Lord Ravensworth	Son, Cousin, faithful retainer, Lord Edmonsley, Manor of Stocktonne, Coal mine  Faithful Retainer: The Sieur de Whitemoore, Lord Prebends
Lord Stanley of Stanley	Son, Son, Son, Daughter, Ye Saucy Nancy Cog of Seaham, Great North Road Merchant, Warden of the North Road (20)
Sir Robert Wessiyngtun	Son, Daughter, Grandson, Cousin, Manor of Wolsingham, Lord Weardale, Coal Mine
Sir William of Stanhope	Son, Faithful Retainer, Manor of Kelloe, Great North Road Merchant. Faithful retainer: Master Judas P. Quilp, Mayor of Belmont
Sir John Aycliffe	Grandson, Cousin, Great North Road Merchant, Lord Teesdale, Mayor of Darlington
Lord Trollope of Hartlepool,	Son, Daughter, Grandson, Grandson, Grandson, Uncle, Ye Owlde Nellie Cog of Hartlepool, Bishop's Champion (10)

1.       Son
2.       Daughter
3.       Grandson
4.       Uncle No reroll
5.       Cousin  No reroll
6.       Faithful Retainer No reroll

Off Map Forces

The Nevilles in Yorkshire to the South

The Percys in Northumberland, to the North

The Cliffords, in Cumbria to the West

The Finchale Priory Chronicles

The Chronicle will be a "histore of divers warrs and right owlde bovver in ye County Durham."  Replete with tushery it allows a game by game narrative format.

Logistics 

Dice to recruit retinues, and dice to retain them, all simple game night mechanisms.

Maybe do a physical map with 10mm figure groups as counters. I'm more than happy to get a household sorted for Fallus, Lord Waldridge in 10mm complete with the traditional banner, bit these will be 28mm table games.

My ideas for a local setting for local players... Old family retainers.

Sir Fallus Farthingdale, Lord Waldridge,

The Sieur de Whitemoore, Lord Prebends

Judas P. Quilp, Mayor of Belmont

Sir Nellie Trollope,  Lord Sacriston

Sir Alain Fitz-Cee, Mercenary and Pyrate

Lord Michael of Strainer the Scotchman

Sir Elliot Fitz-Elliot, Lord Elliot

Sir James Catchmole, suspected Lollard and used Herring salesman.

Earl of Lambton	Enemy  Lumley Ally Wessyngtun
Viscount Lumley	Enemy  Stanhope Ally  Trollope
Lord Ravensworth	Enemy  Wessyngtun Ally Aycliffe
Lord Stanley of Stanley	Enemy  Lambton Ally  Ravensworth
Sir Robert Wessyngtun	Enemy  Trollope Ally  Stanley
Sir William of Stanhope	Enemy  Aycliffe Ally  Lambton
Sir John Aycliffe	Enemy  Ravensworth Ally  Lumley
Lord Trollope of Hartlepool,	Enemy  Stanley Ally  Stanhope

Campaign missions

1. Forces travelling to recruit
2. Forces travelling to forage
3. Forces travelling for special missions
4. Forces escorting a VIP
5. The disgraced noble
6. Travelling to join the Earl

Scenario and Encounter cards

1. Defence in Depth
2. Fighting Withdrawal
3. Spirited Defence
4. An Encounter
5. A Battle
6. All Out Assault
7. Flank Attack
8. Attack & Defen
9. Tax Collector
10. Seize & hold
11. Break In
12. The Peasants Are Revolting
13. The Bridge
14. The Conquering Hero
15. Raise the Siege
16. Rearguard
17. Arrest Warrant
18. Tete du Pont
19. The Diplomat
20. Screen the Army
21. Prison Break
22. Relieve the Fort
23. Intimidation
24. A Lady’s Escort
25. Go with a Bang
26. Coup de Main

27.  Incursion by the Nevilles

28.  Incursion by the the Percys 

29.  Incursion by the Cliffords

30.  Incursion by the Scots