Dark Ages Campaign

[Chris Brantley]

Looking to design a four player mini-campaign set in Alba/Northern England circa 590 AD involving Dalraidic Scots (II/54), Picts (II/68b), Strathclyde Brits (II/81d), and Northumbrians (III/24a).

Has anyone done anything similar or have any suggestions for maps or special rules to give it a period flavor?

[Redwilde]

Originally posted by Chris Brantley:
special rules to give it a period flavor? Keep track of stands killed (generals count double) -- the player with the largest cenar (pile of heads) wins :D

[Badger]

You might have at least one sea-route down each coast between strongholds, as my fuzzy, not-to-be-trusted-too-far memory tells me that both the Picts and the Scots were pretty comfortable sailing the coasts. I don't know about the Northumbrians or Strathclyde Brits.

[hammurabi70]

Originally posted by Badger:
You might have at least one sea-route down each coast between strongholds, as my fuzzy, not-to-be-trusted-too-far memory tells me that both the Picts and the Scots were pretty comfortable sailing the coasts. I don't know about the Northumbrians or Strathclyde Brits. I do not think the Picts were noted sailors; the Romans made no provision against them. The Scots came from Ireland by boat but I am doubtful about having them do an army move by sea. There was a Diplomacy variant set a bit later but I cannot find it on the web.

These may be of value.

http://www.variantbank.org/results/rules/e/excalibur.htm

http://www.variantbank.org/results/rules/g/gotc2.htm

[imported_Bryanmd]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Chris Brantley:
[QB] Looking to design a four player mini-campaign set in Alba/Northern England circa 590 AD involving Dalraidic Scots (II/54), Picts (II/68b), Strathclyde Brits (II/81d), and Northumbrians (III/24a).

I would consider placing the Picts north of the River forth, through Fife and up along the east coast into Moray.
The Northumbrians would occupy the eastern areas of the Cheviots up into Edinburgh.
I guess the Strathclyde Brits would be around Glasgow down into Gallway and western Cheviots.
Finally the Dalraidians would get Ulster, the northern bank of the Clyde and into the Great Glen (Loch Ness and western highlands).
Geographically, that would seem to fit the historic disposition of these peoples.
Stirling, as always, is the center city in the matrix.
It sounds like a fun gaming situation!

Best Regards,
Bryan

[Chris Brantley]

By the way if anyone is looking for any inspiration for a Dark Ages campaign, check out the Early British Kingdoms website at: http://www.earlybritishkingdoms.com/. Especially the maps.

It seems I will need to work the Votadini Brits(Goddodin) into my campaign since they lie solidly between the Picts and the Angles.

I think I can cheat and treat Din Eityn, Selcovia, and northern Rheged as outliers of the Strathclyde Brits.

Or I could just treat all the Brits as confederates.

Wondering if I should split the Picts unto their southern and northern kingdoms.

[ June 11, 2004, 22:00: Message edited by: Chris Brantley ]

[bigalwams]

How did the campaign work out?

[Chris Brantley]

The result was the Kings of the North scenario at: http://fanaticus.org/DBA/campaigns/KingsoftheNorth/index.html

Haven't been able to play it yet. I'm afraid three of the four armies are still unpainted.

[imported_Bryanmd]

Chris, if you need extra armies, I can probably field Dalraidia for you.
Bryan