The Border War Has Commenced

The Hill Cantons border war mentioned last month is now off the ground.

Round One will be a 2-3 week playtest of the abstract mass combat rules that I finished the draft of this week. I will be running it as a small-scale, same-side campaign with me as the referee before possibly moving on to a side vs. side showdown with Emperor Don of the Brazonians.

To keep it interesting I will be integrating it into the Hill Cantons roleplaying campaign proper—and to up the ante make it open to characters from across the FLAILSNAILS pocket universe. The events of the campaign can and will have an impact on the day-to-day micro-stage that adventurers tool around on.

I am envisioning it mostly running as a very modest play-by-email campaign (only involving a few choices per week) with perhaps a mini-session on Google Plus or two to help supplement it if absolutely necessary. The players will take on roles inside a dreaded (and occasionally dreadful) irregular cavalry company, the Marlankh Reavers, in a search-and-destroy operation against border marauders.

Think Fantasy F*cking Bleeding Kansas here.

Basically there are two roles players can take:

1. Sign up as a Column Leader. The player will need to take an active leadership role (ie make some command decisions as a leader via email). Only characters native to the HC will be eligible (sorry the Cantoners can be a xenophobic and ornery crew at times) and there are only 4 positions open. Any character taking this role will receive a 200 sun (gp) signing bonus plus an officer's share of all loot.

2. Sign up a Non-Com or REMF. The player takes on a passive role (you are basically along for the ride with only as much effort or input as you desire) in one of the player-led columns. Any character—open to any from the FLAILSNAILS world--taking this role will receive a 50 sun (gp) signing bonus plus an NCO's share of all loot.

Be forewarned that both roles will place your PC in harm's way up to an including loss of property and life. I will be playtesting a PC battle effects subsystem in the course of the campaign. On the flip side you have the chance to win exp or swag too. Players can opt to roll up a new character as per the rules of the Hill Cantons Compendium at their leisure. 

My mind is a bit groggy this morn, if you need some clarifications about what the differing roles entail or the like fire away.