"Stew: would you consider sharing so we don't have to start from scratch to do the same thing?"
sure Paul, though it's not a great work of art or anything, and note that i am american and never even been to UK. this is all from some limited internet research and reading the saxon chronicles. :)
first, i downloaded a map of Northumbria from wikipedia.
i keep a word document that has the set up and our own angle saxon chronicle. it goes like this:
Dux Britanniarum Viking Age Campaign.
The year is 813, 20 years after the shocking Viking raid of Lindisfarne in 793. The Kingdom of Northumbria has been under constant attack from the Sea Wolves. Every summer the prowling long ships of the Vikings land on the coast. The Anglo Saxons of Northumbria defend themselves and their homes.
Historical note: Northurmbria was conquered in 866 by "the great Viking army" lead by Halfdan and Ivaar.
(map goes here)
Northumburia has three providences; Lothian with its capital at Edinburgh, Bernicia with its capital at Durham, and Deira with the capital of York. York is also the seat of the King. Lothian is really more of a small annex of the larger province Bernicia, and the rough and mountainous land north of the Tweed river also suffers from constant raids from the Scots. It's the fort at Edinburgh that holds the power in Lothian, and what keeps it part of the Anglo Saxon kingdom (note, the famous castle at Edinburgh is build much later). Expanding the kingdom using the "meaty dux" article in the TFL 2012 special; York shall be rated as a defense 5, even though it is the seat the of the king it's walls and towers are wood. Deira also has two income sources of iron and pottery. Edinburgh in Lothian is an older fort on a high hill, so rated as 4. Bernicia is more rural and large so has two centers. Bamburhg (not on map)is a stone fortress on the coast so is rated 6. Durham is walled city, rated as 4. Also in Bernicia are the ruins of a significant stone roman fort, which is often garrisoned and strengthened with a wooden palisade when necessary. The fort is named Templeborough (not shown on map) and rated 3. However to garrison Templeborough the Anglo Saxon player will need to invest a tribunes tribute (3 monies). This will usually be done if Durham is besieged and looks likely to be lost. Templeborough can only be garrisoned before Durham falls. If Durham falls then Templeborough will become the new capital. Bamburgh is too remote to rule the province. If the siege at Durham is lifted then Templeborough is abandoned until the next threat. If Bernicia falls to the Danes then they may also fortify the roman ruins in the same manner. Bernicia also has one income from the aggregate of the farmsteads spread over the province.
The starting Anglo Saxon Nobility:
Eolderman Aethelwolf, actually the 22 year old son of a high ranking Thegn. Aethelwolf is starting his military career while his older father stays home and runs things. He is average build and likes the company of women a little too much (lustful; -1 loyality). With him is the Champion Elddred.
Brictic the Bald, age 26 (premature baldness), son a Thegn and concerned about performing his duties correctly (dutiful; +1 loyality).
Caedwyn, age 36, short and wiry, from a long line of soldiers, with the constitution of an Ox (may reroll one dice roll per game that would result in wound of death, may re-roll on the death by natural cuases).
Starting income: A tribune's Tribute
Cynic Oseric of Northumbira, ruler of the north, is currently 60 years old.
Starting Viking Nobility:
Magnus the "Wolf" Thjorson is the son of Thjor, Jarl of North Agthir Norway. Every raiding season, he leads two longships of Vikings to attack the coast of England. He is blonde, tall and strong, and fiercely loyal to his father. At age 21, his birthright is due, but he must first prove himself an able warlord. And so he raids deeper each year into Anglo-Saxon territory. Unusually for a Viking, Magnus is a fine horseman and breeds racehorses on his father's land. He is a magnanimous chieftain, and, as a result, spends his plunder quickly having amassed only a "beggar's bowl" of treasure.
Magnus's champion, Bjarki Bothvar, was a Heresir for his father but now serves Magnus. He is Berserker of Odin known for his fervor and wielding both an ax and a sword in battle.
Magnus's right-hand man is Canute the Red. At, 22 years old he is slightly older than Magnus and has a reputation as victorious in battle. He is tall and strong but thrifty and temperate with the mead-horn. A Woden-born aristocrat like Magnus, he is fiercely loyal to the Jarl and his son. He pridefully wears a lucky foxtail plume in his helm, which he considers to be a boon from the god Loki.
Leif Thjorson is Magnus's uncle and also accompanies him on raids. He is 28 years old and a fine Viking. Fostered by the Anglo Danes in Britain, Leif nevertheless is fiercely loyal to his older brother, the Jarl, and he values honor above all other virtues. Like his brother he is tall and strong, but an unlucky gambler and somewhat purse-poor. This is belied by his fine armor and spear, a gift from his foster father and supposedly crafted by the dwarves some generations ago.
Starting wealth: Beggars Bowl
The Chronicle:
The year of 813;
In the beginning of the war season in March the Viking attempt to raid a village. But a river slows the warband and they are repelled with minor loses on both sides. The Saxons gain a Beggars Bowl in spoils.
Eolderman Aethelwolf spends a Tribunes Tribute to become a Reeve. All providences under Saxon Rule.
Wealth; Saxons – Beggars Bowl Vikings --
April is free of raids while the Vikings recoup the losses.
May: The Viking successfully complete a shoreline raid, bypassing the tower, and looting the church. They make off with a beggars bowl of plunder. Losses for the Vikings are Moderate and losses for the Anglo Saxons are minor. Viking need two months to recover while the Anglo Saxons need one.
Wealth: Saxons – Beggars Bowl (1) Vikings – Thief's horde (2)
June and July are free of raids.
August:
and so on. you get the idea. everytime we play i add an entry to the chronicle. otherwise there are no changes, just vikings as saxons and anglosaxons for romano british. i even went as far as to remake the cards into ones that say viking and anglo saxon but thats not required.
