ECW Campaign 2017 Common Thread

[GDod]

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Gavin,

now that the London trained bands have a commander (The Lord formerly known as Warwick) who will be able to lead them beyond the borders of the City. Does this mean that Lord Ianow no longer gains the extra 50 for owning London plus the extra 100 for owning the City? Is Inow's army now 1,000 and Danny's 1150, or is Inow's still 1150 and Danny's 1,000?

Danny the Disgraced cannot lead the trained band beyond the city but he does have a field army of 1150pts also in London which can! Ianiow Earl of Essex has now lost his 150 pts for London and his field army is now 1ooopts... the man deserves a medal!

PS the commander of the Trained bands in London is in fact ... The Grumpy Doge!

[GDod]

CAMPAIGN HISTORY at a Glance

Turn 1- summer 1643

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Duke of Cornwall, spokesman for his Illustrious Highness Charles Stuart, King of England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and other places decrees clemency if rebels reaffirm allegiance to the King
London has declares for Parliament]and for the Earl of Essex
The London trained bands called up due[/i] to the alarming advance of Royalists on London.
The Three Counties of Scotland declares for the Seaport the Earl of Ayreshire
The signing of the covenant by the Earl of Ayreshire
The Safety Committee is now hereby constituted as the Committee of Both Kingdoms
BATTLE OF WARWICK Royalist Victory by Lord Quiggly of Shropshire over Danny Duke of Warwick
West midlands has declared for Royalists and Lord Quiggly
Lord Quiggly, received the titles of Duke of Warwick, Lord High Steward of the West Midlands
Danny former Duke of Warwick universally known as Danny the Disgraced
The Twin counties of loyalist Ireland declares for the Earl of Ulster, Lord Lieutenant and Chief Secretary of Ireland
North Western counties declares for the Duke of Lancaster of the Duchy and County Palatine of Lancaster
The arrival of the Prince on his way north.
The Earl of Essex extends his hand of friendship to the former Danny Duke of Warwick and bequeathed him the chattels and lands of the County and District of London.
Danny the Disgraced given the title of Danny the Disgraced Protector and Lord lievetenaut of London
The guilds, townspeople and apprentices have welcome Danny the Disgraced as rightful lord and their representative at parlement and on the Committee of Both Kingdoms.
The Grumpy Doge is appointed Commander of the London Trained Bands by fair and just election
North midlands declares for the Younger Duke of Rutland
BATTLE OF EAST RIDING YORKSHIRE Parliamentarian Victory by Snugglebunny of Hull against the Royalist Lord Kelen, "The Sheriff" Duke of Nottinghamshire
Snugglebunny of Hull made Lord Lieutenant of Hull and the East Riding by Committee of Both Kingdoms

[SnuggleBunnies]

Writing on my phone, parly victory. I'll have a more detailed post up later

[SnuggleBunnies]

Battle was joined in the North between Kelen2's Royalists and my cuddly Parliamentarians. Nightfall ended the fighting with Parliament on the verge of total victory: 52% - 32%. Instead, Kelen's forces were able to withdraw in an orderly manner, while my men camped on the bloodstained field. Here's my take on the fight. Unusually, the battle itself consisted of four separate engagements that really only began to come together at the end of the day.

THE ARMIES

Parliament:

1 battery of guns
11 battalions of foot
7 regiments of horse
2 companies of dragoons
2 companies of commanded shot

The Royalists:

1 battery of guns
11 battalions of foot
8 regiments of horse
1 company of commanded shot

The artillery had little serious impact on the fighting. The Royalists had 3 battalions of foot that were under equipped with muskets, but they also possessed a full battalion of musketeers, so the firepower available to the two side's infantry was relatively close. The Royalists had a clear advantage in their cavalry: not only did they have 1 more regiment, but a greater proportion of them were veteran, and the charge of the cavaliers was capable of sweeping away my horse. However, Parliament's superiority in light troops would make up for this deficiency in the battle that followed.

THE LAY OF THE LAND

The far right: A small hill flanked by a marsh on the edge of the field, and a small forest.
The center right: some hedgerows and much open ground
The center left: many hedgerows, with a small village to the rear
the far left: a small forest with a road running through it, next to some hedgerows.

The Royalist side of the field had a little rough ground but was mostly featureless, with one exception: a low but large hill covering the center, about a musket shot and a half from the hedgerows on my side of the field.

THE BATTLE

On the far left:
4 Cavaliers + 1 commanded shot vs 3 horse + 1 commanded shot + 1 dragoons

The fighting on the left had little impact on the course of the rest of the battle, and even the skirmish on the left itself was broken into small pieces. The commanded shot of the two sides engaged in a bickering fight of potshots in the forest before clubbing each other, with the Royalists fleeing at the end of the battle. My dragoons faced off against Royalist cavalry that advanced against them, then tried to retreat, then attempted to charge across a hedgerow before falling back and breaking. 4 cavalry units were engaged in a chaotic brawl in the streets and in the fields surrounding the small village. My men held their ground fighting in the streets, until another cavalry unit arrived and took the enemy in the flank. As these foes broke and ran, Royalists fresh from pursuing a broken unit of my horse in turn crashed into my reinforcements. My cavalry unit initially cowering in the village moved on to cowering in the nearby forest. The Royalists charged them with 1 unit, and attempted to use their 1 free unit to flank my center infantry, but were fragmented by cannon fire and a volley of musketry. By the end of the battle on this wing, there remained: 2 Cavaliers (1Frag 1Steady) vs 1 Horse (Disrupted) 1 Commanded Shot 1 Dragoons.

The center left:
7 battalions of foot vs 7 battalions of foot

This sector, with the bulk of both armies' infantry, actually saw the least significant fighting. My men advanced into range, exchanged musketry, and got the worst of it. While falling back, 1 unit broke from artillery fire. Then, Kelen would periodically advance into range of my men, open fire, then fall back to the hill as they disrupted. By the end of the battle I had lost 1 and Kelen 2 units from this sector, as we had finally closed into melee combat.

The center right:
4 battalions of foot vs 4 battalions of foot

Initially, Kelen's foot had been marching to the far right, and my men moved to intercept. We exchanged volleys as he fell back, until a chaotic melee broke out along the entire line. This was ongoing at the end of the day; I had 2 battalions left against his 1, but my cavalry was moving to take the enemy in the flank as night fell.

The far right:
4 Cavaliers vs 4 Horse + 1 commanded shot + 1 dragoons

Both sides rushed to this flank. I deployed my inferior horsemen on the hill, with commanded shot in the forest and dragoons rushing to the marsh. At this point, I'm convinced that if the Royalists had simply charged head on, they would have swept me off this sector of the field. Instead, 1 unit charged, another attempted to maneuver into a flanking position in the marsh, and 2 waited, while my light troops peppered them with fire. The charging unit won, repulsing a second unit of mine, and pursued my broken unit off the field. They did not return for the duration of the battle. Gradually, the Royalists disrupted, both from falling back and musketry. In the engagement that followed, my commanded shot were ridden down, but the remaining 3 cavaliers were routed for the loss of 1 more unit of horse. 1 of my units actually reached the center to engage in the melee, but failed to break the enemy before nightfall. My other unit of horse returned from pursuit too late to rejoin the fight.

CONCLUSIONS

This was a bitter battle, and I was convinced for the first half that I would lose, thanks to the Impact Horse trait of the Cavaliers. I feared that I would lose both flanks, and then be shot to pieces while charged from the rear. I felt unable to capitalize on any disruptions I caused in the center, both for fear of cavalry, and the fact that Kelen could easily withdraw to his hill. He showed great skill in refusing to engage his infantry with mine unless he could have multiple units concentrating fire on one of mine. In the end, I think all credit for my victory must go to the unglamorous dragoons, who inflicted severe losses on the cavaliers, stopping them from intervening in the infantry battle.

[GDod]

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Battle was joined in the North between Kelen2's Royalists and my cuddly Parliamentarians.
This was a bitter battle, and I was convinced for the first half that I would lose, thanks to the Impact Horse trait of the Cavaliers. I feared that I would lose both flanks, and then be shot to pieces while charged from the rear. I felt unable to capitalize on any disruptions I caused in the center, both for fear of cavalry, and the fact that Kelen could easily withdraw to his hill. He showed great skill in refusing to engage his infantry with mine unless he could have multiple units concentrating fire on one of mine. In the end, I think all credit for my victory must go to the unglamorous dragoons, who inflicted severe losses on the cavaliers, stopping them from intervening in the infantry battle.

Very enjoyable read snuggles... it felt like I was there! I see a bright future for the parliamentarian dragoons then! lessons well learned from the Macedonians I think. full credit Well done!

POSTSCRIPT
The previous year, Snugglebunny of Hull's Parliamentarian troops, replaced Fairfax's depleted troops and occupied Hull and the towns and villages around. The main Royalist fort was captured and destroyed in a Parliamentarian raid during the first week of the siege. In late summer of the same year, Snugglebunny ordered the sluices to be opened and the banks of the River Humber to be broken to flood the surrounding land. Having secured Hull and West Riding, Snugglebunny advanced on Kingston upon Hull, and there set to against the Royalist Lord Kelen, Duke of Nottinghamshire (some say the descendant of the now vilified commoner the Sheriff of Nottingham) After a bloody conclusion the Committee of both Kingdoms and Parlement granted Lord Snugglebunny the title Lord Lieutenant of Hull and the East Riding. Lord Kelen "The Sheriff" Duke of Nottinghamshire forced to retire to his home county to reassemble his force.

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[Kelen2]

An pretty accurate recounting of a tale of woe.
Mayhaps I should have commanded my Cavaliers to charge you horse on the hill, (one that did was Vet v normal), however my squadron commanders were reporting their reluctance to charge uphill against a superior quality troop, and unfortunately the unit attempting to manoeuver around the flank of the hill got bogged down in the...bog, unable to charge your dragoons, and was simply shot to pieces.

With reluctant admiration I doff my cap to a worthy foe.

[GDod]

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Final Turn 2 Map ... Orders now being taken

[SnuggleBunnies]

Do I count correctly that parliament has 7 armies and the king has 8? Is this not something of a disadvantage?

[awesum4]

No Snuggles,

the King has 8 armies all loyal and true.
The rebels have 9, all commanded by men condemned to die a traitors death; Seaport the Scot, Warlord Brian of the North, Yourself in the hell of Hull, LDFM alone in the midlands, Iandavidwelshman alone in the mountains of Wales, Ianow Danny the loser and Grumpydoge cowering in and around London, and Kerry the lost Irishman wandering aimlessly in the South.

Despite this disparity in actual numbers of armies, we Royalists are confident of victory as our armies are mostly larger, better led, have greater elan, and we have God and Good King Charles on our side.

[SnuggleBunnies]

Looks like 8 each to me, but either way I was quite mistaken

[awesum4]

Snuggles,

King has 8 and Rebels have 8 mobile armies, plus the London Trained bands have declared for Parliament but refuse to move from London. The King has decided not to attack London until the other forces have been destroyed, leaving the London apprentices to get bored until they riot and accost the good citizens of London which hopefully will lead to the Good citizens declaring for the King.

[GDod]

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Effective immediately! New Flying Column Rule (So everyone may like to rethink their moves this turn)

Straight change to flying columns must have 1.5 as many cavalry as units with pike and no medium or heavy artillery

[GDod]

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NEW UP TO DATE RULES as at 12/06/17. Map show beginning of Turn 2.

Please note additions and clarifications. I welcome any conflicts or omissions as these guidelines are constantly developing and they belong to us all

Royalists......................Starting Home County..............Colour
Doley50.......................Lancashire (34)..................... pink
TGM ..........................Shropshire (24) .....................light green
Awesum4 ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Cornwall (20).......................dark green
BrentBJ....................... Gloustershire (22)..................dark red
Lascar.........................Norfolk (16)..........................middle red
Kelen2........................Nottinghamshire(31)................yellow
Youngr........................ Rutlandshire (29)....................cream
Damatrois.................... County Down (48) ..................light grey

Parliamentarian...........County................................Colour
Warlord.......................Northumberland (39).................dark blue
Snugglebunnies..............E. Riding Yorkshire (36)..............darker middle bue
Ianiow........................Essex (14)..............................light blue
Kerry D........................Hampshire (4) ........................middle blue
LFDLM........................Buckinghamshire (8) ..................light purple (mauve)
Iandavidsmith...............Pembrokeshire (43)....................purple
Seaport...................... Ayreshire (45) .........................orange
Ulysisgrunt.................. Warwickshire (27).................... tangerine

FORCES
Your force may from any of these lists and can change between your side's lists throughout the campaign unless there is a restriction.

Royalist 1643-44
Royalist Raiders 1643 - 45...........Can be used either as a field army or as a flying column force
Royalist Cornish 1643................Only if you own a county in Cornwall
Scots Royalists 1644-45..............Only if you own a County in Ireland, Scotland or Northern Counties)

Parliament 1643-45
Scots Covenant. 1642-47 ..........Only if you own a County in Northern Counties, Ireland or Scotland
Parliament + Scots 1644-46.........Only if you own a County in Northern Counties, Ireland or Scotland

You may decide the type of force you field but must consider the restrictions including the use of flying columns.

CAMPAIGN MOVEMENT
Intended moves posted in royalist or parliamentarian thread by end of week 1 of each month
I will determine the results of those moves and post a new map that includes unopposed moves and upcoming clashes in the common thread by end of week 1
The relative points of attacker and defender will be obvious from this map and reference to rules
Players negotiate details of conflict in the common thread and complete battles by the end of the month.
Winner needs to post who has won in the common thread as soon as possible.
Battle results will be posted by the end of week 4 (sometimes maybe earlier if battles are conducted in a timely fashion)
Campaign Manager will post the final map by end of week 4

Moves limited to 1 per month,
If challenge go unanswered by the end of the month then it is an automatic victory to challenger.
If a battle has to go on beyond the end of the month then both forces can't move the next month (and may possibly be subject to another players attack in the new month as a result of other players monthly move.)

1 CYCLE
Players..............Orders................................................................... Week 1
Me...................Unopposed moves and Upcoming Battles advised by............... Last day of Week 1
Players..............Battles completed by...................................................Week 2-4
Me...................New Map Posted.........................................................Last day Week 4

While it's intended to complete a cycle over 4 weeks we may have to revisit the timeline to ensure everyone is under no pressure to complete and report.

GENERAL RULES
Each player starts with 1000 points
Each occupied county is worth 50 additional points. A player cannot cede a county to another either by negotiation or passing through.
Players occupy a county by moving into it or claim it by winning a battle.
Once a faction have claimed an entire division of counties you receive an additional 100 points.If one faction owns all counties, the player that owns the most counties in a district receives the benefit. If a district has an equal number of counties owned by two in a faction they can decide who benefits.
If more than one force from the same faction is fighting for a province the lowest causalities wins the county.
A force other than a flying column moves one county at a time
A force designated as a flying column (1.5 times the cavalry units than pike and shot and only light guns) can move two counties in one move.
Movement ceases on contact with an enemy force
You may only have one force in play unless points exceed 2000 points
You may play as an independent (by declaring yourself king or protector) or form alliances but only with your own side.
Players can join at any time when their are unclaimed counties
Players can opt out at any time and their provinces become “neutral” (ie: unclaimed)
Player's decide points for battles by adding up the points from their claimed provinces and referring to the following table.
Same faction movement does not affect title to the county
Map and marked army position will be updated at the end of each month showing the counties in your chosen colour and the forthcoming battles for the month

TYPES OF BATTLES, POINTS, AND TERRAIN

MOVEMENT.........................................................................................TYPE OF BATTLE...............................TERRAIN
a. Two forces moving into a county, or move into each others occupied county..............Always open battle............................Always Pot luck

b. If one force is already occupying a county.....................................................Defender decides..............................Defender choice unless one general occupies twice or more provinces = their choice

c. If (b) applies & a defender friendly force is adjacent to the county being attacked......Reinforced battle for the defender......... Defender choice unless one general occupies twice or more provinces then their choice
[army pts total + extra 180pts reinforcements rounded up in favour of defender]

d. If (b) applies & an attacker friendly force is adjacent to the county being attacked.....Reinforced battle for the attacker...........Attacker choice unless one general occupies twice or more provinces then their choice
[army pts total + extra 180pts reinforcements rounded up in favour of attacker]

e. If (b) applies & equal attacker & defender friendly forces adjacent to the county being attacked....Open battle.......................Pot luck unless one general occupies twice or more provinces = their choice

f. If (b) applies & more attacker or defender friendly forces adjacent to the county being attacked....Send flank force..................Pot luck unless one general occupies twice or more provinces = their choice
[army pts total + extra 200pts reinforcements rounded down to nearest 100 pts]

Please note: If a challenge goes unanswered by the end of the month the county is automatically taken by the attacker issuing the challenge.

AMMENDMENTS,ADDITIONS & CLARIFICATIONS

These changes actioned 3.5.17
A. A "flying column" is designated as any force where the total number of cavalry units are 1.5 more than units with pike and no medium or heavy guns ( previously...combined total of units of cavalry detached musketeers, dragoons and light guns outnumber the pike and shot Hence, parliament could conceivably field a flying column (Yes, I've checked)
1. Royalists do not have to, but may choose to use the raiders list.
2. Any player, either side, can designate themselves as a flying column at anytime but must declare this when they post their move.
3. If you designate your move as a flying column and a battle results from a consequence of that move then the player must field a flying column force on the field.
4. Equal number of players on each side

Change Movement You claim a county if you pass through it (You do not have to remain in it for one turn)

Addition Same faction movement does not change county title
Addition London does not have a number it is just London and as a district entitles the occupier to an extra 50 pts (plus district bonus of 100 points)
Addition Owning a District The player that owns the most counties in a district receives the benefit. If a district has an equal number of counties owned by two in a faction they can decide who benefits.
Addition A player cannot cede a county to another either by negotiation or passing through, unless splitting counties for eliminated player /see eliminated player rule
Addition The side with more forces bordering the county in which the battle takes place can choose the reinforcing size.

These changes actioned 4.5.17
Addition If a player no longer owns any county they are eliminated from the game, unless another player in their faction can divide his territories equally to give him a recruiting base.
Addition When a player loses a battle they must retreat. They cannot retreat into any enemy territory. They can only retreat into friendly territory. If they cannot retreat he is relocated to the nearest friendly territory. If there is more than one friendly territory option then it is by Campaign Manager mediated chance.
Addition Armies that are only 50 apart in strength are equal and fight at the size of the smaller army.

These changes actioned 5.5.17
Addition If two friendly armies move into the same province the force with the most points moves and the forces with least points remain stationary.

These changes actioned 6.5.17
Addition A force is a flying column for the entire move and must fight as one if contact is encountered in either county it is moving into. The force can move as a normal force during the next cycle.

These changes actioned 13.5.17
Addition A player must advise the campaign manager what army is declared when you move in the campaign and they advise when I've posted the map. If the player fails to advise the list when he moves the choice will be at the Campaign mangers discretion

These changes actioned 22.5.17
All counties including Ireland (Down and Antrim) should restrict the terrain to Agricultural except...
Staffordshire (25),Derbyshire (32), Cheshire (33), Lancashire (34), Yorkshire (35-37) , Cumberland (40), Westmoreland (41), Northern Counties (38-41),Monmouthshire and Wales (42-44), and Scotland (45-47) can be Pot luck due to either heavily forested or mountains present.
I'm going to assume the Cotswolds, the Chilterns, and the North and South Down are rolling hills that have no end more than the mountainous slopes of Wales.
Therefore, when a player has a choice, it only applies to these 'pot luck' districts.

These changes actioned 27.5.17
All flying columns must a ration of 1.0 to 1.5 horse to units containing pike (rounded down) and no medium or heavy artillery. This replaces/supercedes rule change 3.5.17 (A)
Clarification - All movement ceases on contact with a hostile force.
If the London trained bands appear it is a 1000 point army for the defence of London only (They cannot be moved and will permanently disband once E. Anglia falls to Parliament (Counties 14,15,16) .The London trained bands cannot reinforce bordering counties. They are strictly to defend London only.

These changes actioned 12.6.17
Change If a player no longer owns any county they are eliminated from the game, unless another player in their faction cedes a county to give him a recruiting base. this is the only time a county can be ceded.

[awesum4]

Gavin,

The London Trained Bands cannot leave London. Do they reinforce an army in adjoining county? If Lascar attacks Ianow in county 14 does Ianow get reinforcement from the Grumpydoge and his rioting apprentices?

If two armies mutually move into each other's county, where is the battle fought for the purpose of determining reinforcements? If Kelen moves to 35 and Snuggles moves to 31, does Snuggles get reinforcement from Warlord in 41?

I must object strongly to the change in the rule for flying columns.....

Andre

[SnuggleBunnies]

With the new rule, is Parliament even able to field flying columns?

[GDod]

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Gavin,

The London Trained Bands cannot leave London. Do they reinforce an army in adjoining county? If Lascar attacks Ianow in county 14 does Ianow get reinforcement from the Grumpydoge and his rioting apprentices?

If two armies mutually move into each other's county, where is the battle fought for the purpose of determining reinforcements? If Kelen moves to 35 and Snuggles moves to 31, does Snuggles get reinforcement from Warlord in 41?

I must object strongly to the change in the rule for flying columns.....

Andre

Andre, the trained bands cannot reinforce bordering counties. They are strictly to defend London only.

If you have a look at the rules below... reinforcements only apply if (b) applies, in other words if an army moves into a county with an occupied army, if both are moving out into each others county, it is as if this applies... I'll clarify in the rules below.

Andre... you can protest but I think it is a fair change... otherwise as you rightly pointed out there is little difference between a normal field army and a flying column (The intention was that flying columns were supposed to be dicey unless you have a large points)

[GDod]

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With the new rule, is Parliament even able to field flying columns?

Yes they can under 1643-45 list.

[Kelen2]

Seeing as it is likely that we have already started to submit moves, If there are going to be changes would it not be fairer to make any rule changes as from next month, and announce them after all moves have been submitted for this month? Just a thought.

[GDod]

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Seeing as it is likely that we have already started to submit moves, If there are going to be changes would it not be fairer to make any rule changes as from next month, and announce them after all moves have been submitted for this month? Just a thought.

Kelen, my apologies I should have thrown this out there for a turn but any move submitted based on the previous understandings can be resubmitted for this turn.
I'm trying to make the flying column as intended... a risky business (but double the county collection and the element of surprise.)
the change is intended to make it fairer and it will make everyone think a little harder before they risk a flying column.... as it should be

However, if all the feedback is to return to the previous rule, I'll willingly fall in line with the majority... what do people think? Would a ratio of 1 to 1.5 be acceptable?

[awesum4]

There are no Royalist armies of the period (except maybe the Scots Royalist) that have more than 50% of their units containing pike. Therefore all Royalist armies might as well have been flying columns. Giving the Royalists a strategic advantage and the Rebels a tactical advantage.

The new 1.5 to 1 ratio makes flying columns risky but not totally suicidal (which the 2 to 1 ratio would have been), so I accept the new ruling.

Now to war again Gentlemen