Paul, thanks for the ideas, however I am thinking I will go for a node based map, rather than a hex one. Main reasons for this being simplicity and easier to run. As it's my first time ever running a map based campaign I think it's more likely to succeed if I aim lower rather than higher! Also it would be trickier making the moves on the campaign map etc.
I said I'd get the rules up around now but I'm afraid I have been a bit distracted this week with frantically painting my SAGA Welsh for the tournament tomorrow, so I'm going to post the map and a few basics so you guys can see what's coming and start planning forces.
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So on the map are 20 nodes, teams start with two nodes each. I have attempted to spread them out evenly and fairly so we come into contact with other teams in the first game turn, but also thematically depending on the forces in the team.
Stu & JJ = green (Elves and Rohan/Arnor)
Paul & Rob = red (Easterlings and Harad)
Chris & Will = brown (Mordor and Isenguard)
Ben and Matt = blue (Gondor and Dwarves)
I'm not going to post any hard and fast rules yet as I am still trying to come up with how it will work, but basically I want each node to contribute to reinforcing/growing/enhancing your forces during the campaign and/or helping you during the final battle. If anyone has played the card game dominion it's a little bit like trying to get more gold in your deck so you get stronger, balanced with acquiring victory points so you actually win the game.
At the end of the day, capturing nodes will help you, some more than others!
You will start off with two 500pt forces, one for each starting position. The max sized army will be higher than this (going to see how my 600pt game with Stu goes time-wise to decide on upper limit, but I've seen it mentioned that 750pts might work as long as the number of models per side is limited, maybe to 50).
Movement will be one node per turn for each force you control. I am considering having a homeland advantage to deter attacks on the starting positions, at least initially. I want to see lots of different scenarios being played to keep it interesting so different nodes may lead to specific scenarios or a roll on a small table.
CAsualties - I'm thinking loser gets 50% of his casualties from the battle wiped off his roster and the winner gets 30% of his casualties wiped. So for example, you win a 500pt battle in which you lost 300pts worth of models, this means your force depletes by 90pts. The loser also lost 300pts worth of models but his force depletes by 150pts (some of the wounded are slain as he flees). NOT SURE ABOUT THIS - ANYONE THINK THIS SOUNDS OK OR GOT A DIFF SUGGESTION?
Forces don't have a fixed roster so you can change them for each battle, except for large monsters (anything over say 150pts) and named heroes which have to stay with that force. However as the force that participates in the battle is not the entire force on the map, the monsters and heroes can choose to skip a battle with no penalty. This means you can rest a wounded hero or choose not to take a Mumak for the next battle.
Large monsters are limited to a single force on the map so you can't have a Mumak in both your starting forces.
Reinforcements can only be added to your armies in the field at specific locations yet to be determined.
Armies are allowed to force march - they can move two nodes in a turn but if they encounter an enemy there will be severe problems as they are ambushed or something as they have no scouts on the lookout - this may enable a new force to more rapidly get to the front lines or a force to retreat to a node where it can be reinforced.
If an army drops below 300pts due to casualties it is wiped out but the named heroes (if they are still alive) are free to now join any other force if they have a clear path through their own territory to it.
OK that's all I can think of at the moment. Remember this is incomplete and a work in progress, hoping to finalise it by the end of next week.
The campaign wil begin online as people make their initial map moves from the 15th March (rolling for initiative to be done on the 8th as most will be there - only need one person per team to be present) - then battles can start from the 22nd and as soon as ppl have completed their battles the next campaign turn will begin. Max 1 month to have your battle or you forfeit the battle and retreat with heavy casualties - I want to keep this moving.
Any and all comments or helpful crticisms welcome!
Thanks for organising this Chris.
