Chivalry: Test of the Jousting Rules

Back in April, Ulolkish/Duregar and I playtested the draft for my Chivalry jousting rules, and we used a mock-up 'jousting field', divided into two build-up areas and a presenting area (the middle-section).

We played through a full 'Round', consisting of three 'Passes', and in the third Pass. my marginally more experienced knight brought down his opponent, horse and all.

The losing knight was badly injured, and I may have to adjust the rules to avoid too many participants in a Tournée being forced to forfeit due to injuries.

I have not had time to do further work on the Chivalry project since April, as Blood Eagle has taken up most of my hobby time, and I need to figure out how and where to get iron/steel bases made to match two 25mm washers, but with straight side edges.

Board Games: Second-hand Deal!

I bought these games very cheaply on Facebook Sunday evening, and the kids and I are going to try them out over the next couple of days.

The forecast says it is going to be pouring down almost all days this week, so even though I start my 5-night work week Wednesday, we are going to have lots of time for indoor activities, as the girls ar well into their school holidays.

Åcon: Some Photos From Saturday

Some participants did not trust their tents to withstand the  hardships of Esbjerg summer nights...

A game of Valor & Steel & Flesh. I did not participate, just took a couple of pics.

Some Sci-Fi game. I do not recall having heard the name of the rules.

 In the evening, King of Tokyo was providing mayhem and mirth. 

Åcon: Friday Late Night Gaming

I did not play any more games Friday, apart from Nuclear War, of which I have not got any pics (it is a card-based game without much to show).

On another table, though, some Deadzone was played.

And some of the guys had a splatter-fest with Zombicide: Black Plague

Åcon: Dragon Rampant Game

I brought my Lizardmen and High Elf warbands for Dragon Rampant, and I played my first game ever against Spicker, who also had not played the game before.

I played the reptiles, while Spicker assumed the role as Prince Arodon. The light was not the best for photos, but as that is often the case at events, my esteemed readers are probably used to that...

We did not use any scenarios, just put the warbands on the table and got stuck in, in order to learn the rules.

The forces deployed for battle.

The Lizardmen moved steadily forward in cold blood. 

Most of the High Elves also advanced

(leaving Prince Arodon behind - his Griffon did not seem to care much for fighting)

The battle-lines close

The Illyrian Reavers, and the Lothern Sea Guards, picked off some Saurians on my right flank.

The Saurians and the Reavers clash just after this picture was taken 

Both units suffer casualties, and the Sea Guards keep shooting at the Saurians

The Temple Guards charge in and finish the Reavers

Meanwhile, my left flank closed in on the Ulthuans.

The Swordmasters charge into the Temple Guards led by Tzaxl himself...

...and are repelled, but at a high cost:

My leader is battered, and his unit at almost half strength!

The Saurians charge in to revenge their fallen comrades.

The Swordmasters are beaten back and battered.

The last Saurus Warriors on the right flank flee under arrow fire,

and the Temple Guards start moving towards the centre.

Prince Arodon makes a Wild Charge at Tlaxl's temple Guards.

A bloody fight breaks out

I tried to surround the remaining Swordmasters

While Arodon finishes off Tlaxl (ouch!),

the remaining Temple Guards try outflanking the Sea Guards.

The Skinks form Wall of Spears, and lure the Swordmasters into a Wild Charge

which results in their untimely demise.

But, alas, as my last unit of Saurus Warriors surged forward, they were sent fleeing by

the arrows of the Sea Guards, and with my Leader down,

and effectivly only the last Temple Guards posing a real threat,

I decided to throw in the towel, ceding the field to prince Arodon.

It felt like a closely fought battle, and the rules certainly flow well. I have some reservations about the 'sudden death' possibilty every time a unit has to check for courage, though. Especially a 12-man unit at almost full strength running away feels a bit harsh.

I shall definitely play again, trying out some of the scenarios in the book, but I do not think that Dragon Rampant will ever become my fantasy game of choice; it just has a bit too much randomness for my taste (both Activation Rolls, and the aforementioned Courage Tests), but as a quick pick-up game it works quite nicely.

Merchants & Marauders: First Game in Progress

Lea got up early this morning (when she heard me rummaging in the bathroom), and she still has an age where she wants company (Anna has turned on full teenager mode and reads books in the seclude of her room), so I decided to skip most of my plans for today, and get out Merchants & Marauders.

I had hoped to lure Anna into participating, but when I finally managed to pull her out of her sleep (about 10.30 a.m.), she promptly disappeared into a book.

Lea and I played most of the day, and we still have not used all the rules, as the game is somewhat complex (not least because everything is in English, and Lea is not yet quite sufficiently versed in that) - but we traded a lot, and I only started raiding merchants after claiming a mission that required me to do so.

We have not finished the game, yet, and we shall not do so until tomorrow, as I had to take advantage of the sunny dry weather this afternoon to get the front lawn mowed (it has been raining a LOT, lately, and a trimming was long overdue).

Åcon: 1½ Day in Esbjerg

As mentioned earlier, I went to Åcon in Esbjerg this weekend. It is a private event organized in a cottage garden, so no public admittance, all participants have been invited.

At this point, early Friday evening, only a few participants had arrived.

Further reports from the event will follow over the next few days.