Border Reiver Bloodbath

[sunjester]

We played a 3-player game on En Garde at the Tring club this week, set on the turbulent 16th Century border between Scotland and England.

Certain Scottish nobles have been in, potentially treasonous, correspondence with England's Queen, but their messenger was waylaid by a notorious footpad and the letters stolen. The villain slipped across the border and is hiding in a nearby village until he can get to Carlisle and fence his stolen goods. The Scots are desperate to get their letters back, the thief may be unaware of their value, but they cannot risk the letters falling into more knowing hands.

Unable to risk sending their own men to retrieve the letters, the Scots have engaged the services of a border reiver clan to do the job for them for a handsome reward. Unfortunately the nobles did not consult with one another and so each noble has engaged the services of a different family!

These are three less well-known border "Names", the Webbs, Ransoms and Harrisons. Each warband consists of a Chieftain with a sword, a Veteran with sword and pistol, 2 Reivers with sword and buckler and 3 Broken Men, 2 with matchlocks and 1 with a bill.

A write up and photos are on the blog http://tringwargames.blogspot.co.uk/2017/12/reiver-bloodbath-in-border-village.html

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Looks good.

[Techno]

Terrific, SJ.

Cheers - Phil.

[petercooman]

Nice game!

Does "en garde" offer any possibility for solo play?

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Great report, sounds a lot of fun!

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Terrific, SJ.

Cheers - Phil.

Phil = your in hospital !!!

[sunjester]

Nice game!

Does "en garde" offer any possibility for solo play?

Thanks Chaps.

Peter: I don't think En Garde would really work as a solo game. The close combat involves the use of Combat Points (CPs) which you secretly allocate to Attack or Defence before rolling for initiative in that combat. The CPs are then used to launch or enhance attacks, to parry in order to strengthen your defence or use other combat ploys such as a feint etc. The combat is much quicker than it sounds, once you've got the hang of it, but involves too much decision making to easily run solo.

[d_Guy]

Nice report, love the period and location.

[Poggle]

Good stuff! 

[petercooman]

Thanks Chaps.

Peter: I don't think En Garde would really work as a solo game. The close combat involves the use of Combat Points (CPs) which you secretly allocate to Attack or Defence before rolling for initiative in that combat. The CPs are then used to launch or enhance attacks, to parry in order to strengthen your defence or use other combat ploys such as a feint etc. The combat is much quicker than it sounds, once you've got the hang of it, but involves too much decision making to easily run solo.

Yup I figured that was the case, but no harm in asking 

I'll stand by 'flashing steel' then.

[paulr]

Sounds like a lot of fun

Yep, all dead definitely sounds like a loss

[Roy]

Very nice.

Thinking of doing Border Reivers with En Garde myself (mainly thanks to your blog posts  )