SEASONS GREETINGS AND MERRY CHRISTMAS

With all my hobby toys and whatnots still packed up and in the attic--and my hobby space still vacant--I haven't the wherewithal to produce the usual holiday update on the goings-on in Kringleland. 

Instead, I offer the Christmas Tree Hussars on parade in support of the traditional sharing of...

✨SEASONS GREETINGS✨

and 

 MERRY CHRISTMAS

TO REGULAR AND ACCIDENTAL VISITORS TO THIS BLOG

Please enjoy a 3.5 minute interlude with the Dresden Choir singing Silent Night (Stille Nacht) in the original German. No translation necessary to enjoy the experience. 

 

❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄

LION RAMPANT RESOURCES PAGE ADDED

Greetings, all.  I recently played in another excellent Lion Rampant II  (LR) game in our group (game report will probably be coming after Christmas).  This is not the first foray into these rules; our group has played LR I before and has now embraced LR II (along with other games in the Dan Mersey Osprey Rules family). This last foray inspired me to produce a set of resources similar to those I had done to support playing Pikeman's Lament (see my Pikeman's Lament Resource Page for more if interested).  And I've added a new Lion Rampant resource page to this blog where they are posted: see tab at top or follow the link: Lion Rampant Resources Page.  The resource page is mostly redundant with this post because as time goes on that will be the landing page as opposed to this post (which, like others, will disappear down the que). Meanwhile, most everything you can find there you can find on this introductory post. 

And, given that Aly and company have embarked on a Lion Rampant II Campaign at this festive time of year... I thought I'd offer this as my Christmas present to he and his fellows--and to any and all who come to this blog with an interest in Lion Rampant II: (perhaps not as useful, or welcome, as a nice pair of socks, but if printed off and stuffed in the shoes, could serve as such).

Player Reference (click for pdf)

Front

Back

The player reference is a one-page, two sided resource that should provide most of what is needed to play (at least that's what we have found). On the front, the information is broken down into color-coded sections: admin/game system (black); movement (green); combat (red); and courage/morale (purple).  Each section contains page references to the rules (should you want to look things up). On the reverse is a listing of the special abilities (again with page references).  These are not all inclusive, but are a selection of specials that are most common, that may apply to more than one unit type, and/or are not reflected in an adjustment to the values and scores on the unit profile  (things like Veteran, for instance, which has different adjustments for different units: those are instead reflected on the stat line on the unit matrix). 

Unit Matrix (click for pdf)

Front

Back

The unit matrix is intended to be used in conjunction with the player reference. As the name suggests, it provides unit-specific information needed to play. As with the player reference, it also has the special abilities listed on the back, along with page references. Given that upgrades can be "stacked," the unit matrix does not list all possible variations for the unit, but a representative range of likely unit configurations, with each line showing one upgrade. 

Click to Enlarge

The information is broken down by the major unit on the first line (all in caps and highlighted in gray), with its variants listed below (upper and lower case, no highlight). The above shows the first unit on the matrix (Elite Cav) with its variants below: Motivated, Drilled and Mounted Bow. The stat-line for each reflects the characteristics of that variant. Reading left to right, you can see the point value, the number of figures, the type (H=Horse/Mounted; F=Foot/Infantry), the unit, page where you can find the unit profile, and the rest is self explanatory. The activation number for specials (when applicable) is in brackets. Finally, in parenthesis you see abbreviations for the Fearsome and Bloodthirsty upgrades for this unit and its variants (which are other options available).  In practice, I use the unit matrix as a central reference when designing scenarios and orders of battle.

I have found when running games of PL that there are players who basically play off of the unit matrix (as opposed to unit cards), using the player reference on an "as needed" basis for other information.  As a game host, I find the opposite: I use the player reference continuously and refer to the unit matrix to facilitate unit-specific cases. Of course, your mileage may vary!

Well, that's all for now.  In the near future (as mentioned), I'll have a battle report of our recent trip into Lion Rampant II--pitting Mongol raiders against a defending force of Hungarians and Teutons.  

Excelsior!

 The world turned sideways.

Still dealing with several sundry (and boring) domestic gyrations that have sucked up much time and energy. Although these have been ongoing for the last few months, they haven't stopped me from getting hobby action in (just scattered and less regular).  Which brings up the "radio silence" here for the last month or so. I haven't given up the hobby, but have had another spot of unpleasantness that has kept me (literally) from keyboarding for more than a few minutes at a time (it's the posture, you see...). Doing the DIY-thing, I've (once again) managed to pinch a nerve in the neck, which manifested itself in chronic pain running from the source through the shoulder and all the way down the arm (nerve pain; it's the worst).  After three weeks of diligently doing the exercises learned from physical therapy from the last time, the condition has finally calmed down--and now I'm typing again! (As you can see...or read...or whatever.) It's nice to be a tall fellow, except when you start getting old and the physics involved with long necks, limbs, and backs starts coming home to roost. I guess I'll have to hire more staff to take care of things about Meanderer Estate in future (I wish). 

In the most recent hobby news 'round here, though, that I can share in short form, I have registered to run three games at the upcoming Mayhem 2024 game convention. It's been a long time since I've run multiple games at a convention, so this is a rather ambitious schedule for me, but I'm looking forward to it! 

On Friday at 8:00 PM, I'll be running Event #1, The Battle of Lutzen using my Baroque Battles system in 6mm. 

On Saturday at 8:00 AM I'll be running Event #2, Clash of Eagles, 1879: Bloody Big Battles Meets Kriegspiel  using my Kriegspiel Blocks on a Kriegspiel Map (this game will reprise the hypothetical clash between Austria and Russia, post Russo-Turkish War, only upscaled for six players). 

And on Saturday evening, at 8:00 PM, I'll be returning to the scene of the crime and hosting Event #7, Joust for the Fun of It! with my big Schleich Knights. This game debuted at the Mayhem 2023 convention in the same time slot, and I hope it will be as well received the second time around as the first. For new readers to this blog, you may find out more about this system on the Joust for the Fun of It! resource page (consider yourselves warned!). 

That's the hobby news 'round here for now.

Excelsior!