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Tuesday, March 27, 2012

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.  

19 comments:

  1. I just went through the rules and revisions, setting up an ambush solo game to test them
    out.

    Looking forward to how your campaign turns out!

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    1. Me too, it should be fun by all accounts. Look forward to any AAR you put out on the solo operation.

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    2. there will be a full AAR with photos.

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  2. I think maybe my character will ride out to the Hills Canton after he finishes this little tourney in the Barony of Karog.

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    1. Awesome, if he takes the oath he is welcome.

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    2. As will my character. Since I generated the character specifically for the tournament, I will assume that he is a native of that land (The Blessed Realm of Normandie), and thus not eligible to be a company leader. Thus, he'll sign up as an NCO and ride out, hoping to find glory and renown.

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    3. Cool send me an email and I will add you to the roster.

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  3. Said oath:
    the Reaver Oath of Service:
    "I, ___, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Marlinko Canton against all enemies, Weird, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the Rada and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to the arbitrary dictates and bureaucratic fiats of the Overkingdom Code of Martial Affairs. So help me most puissant of Sun Lords."

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  4. "Fantasy F*cking Bleeding Kansas?"

    What a great pitch for a game! John Brown always did strike me as a Paladin...

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  5. Are there noncom-ish positions that are socially appropriate to knights bachelor? As with certain other characters, I have a character who may be looking for adventurous work in the near future, when her current obligations wrap up. Dame Constance isn't afraid of getting her hands a little dirty, but she does care about social rank and maintaining appearances.

    (If not, I may throw together a Hill Cantons PC. If I do, any objection to starting at 0 xp, so as to remain FlailSnails compliant?)

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  6. Theon Stoutheart or another of Clan Stoutheart will also ride forth to the Borderlands after the Karog Tourney

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  7. Can I enlist multiple characters in the non-com category? If so, I can offer Sir Eusyram, his squire Polg and 5 hangers-on, Trug, a brown man musketeer from Zharillia, and possibly one or two others.
    This ain't Skeree's fight. She's focusing on the sorcerer-killin'

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    1. Well only one as a Column Leader or NCO, the rest can serve as enlisted (5 gp signing bonus).

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  8. "I, Isris Sime-Dulac, Lady Protector of the Frankish Crown, Lady Knight of The Blessed Realm of Normandie, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Marlinko Canton against all enemies, Weird, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the Rada and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to the arbitrary dictates and bureaucratic fiats of the Overkingdom Code of Martial Affairs. So help me most puissant of Sun Lords."

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  9. I only recently figured out what the hey-nonny is going on in the world; is there room for one more Non-Com in your campaign?

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