RFCM

Hello all
Jeremy Giles is organising the 2025 SOA battle day.
It is the battle of Maldon. See earlier  topics.

30th March 2025th is a long way off; 6 months.

I Suggest that we might take two games.
1. Longships
2.CK

The big problem is that we need to tell him very soon what our intentions are.
Tickets and tables need reserving.

If we can join a list about what game we can commit to?
The I will contact Jeremy at the end of this week.

Please do the "usual" and amend the list or indicate your wishes. I will then amend the list for you.

We can sort armies, scenery and vehicles nearer the battles

Thanks

Proposed Game 1.  CK
1.  martin
2
3
4

Proposed Game 2  Longships
1
2
3
4

Forwards


martin :)

Hello all
Jeremy Giles is organising the 2025 SOA battle day.
It is the battle of Maldon. See earlier  topics.

30th March 2025th is a long way off; 6 months.

I Suggest that we might take two games.
1. Longships
2.CK

The big problem is that we need to tell him very soon what our intentions are.
Tickets and tables need reserving.

If we can join a list about what game we can commit to?
The I will contact Jeremy at the end of this week.

Please do the "usual" and amend the list or indicate your wishes. I will then amend the list for you.

We can sort armies, scenery and vehicles nearer the battles

Thanks

Proposed Game 1.  CK
1.  martin
2.  Miles
3
4

Proposed Game 2  Longships
1
2
3
4

I will put in for Monday off.
What armies are you thinking of fielding ?
Miles

I would like to play Longships, please.

This should motivate me to paint up my Saxons to face off against Stewart's Vikings  :)

Simon

I'd like to do CK and can supply a Viking Army if required. The problem is that I don't expect to be able to commit to the date until the end of September, due to possibly conflicting events.
John

No problem John.
The armies will be Viking and English.
I expect we can get some practice games in and create a good scenario planned out.
The scenery is pretty flat with a  bit of water to the rear of the Viking army.Plus some woods and other bits to make it look nice. maybe some ships should be parked up at the table corners for scenic effect?

Proposed Game 1.  CK
1.  martin
2.  Miles
3
4

Proposed Game 2  Longships
1. Simon
2
3
4

Early days.
If both games run we can swap over.
I assume players are happy to make places open for guest players?

martin :)

I think we have a couple of weeks for this.
I will pursue this until we have the "needed" 4 players.

martin :)

I think Stewart was hoping to rise to the Longships game challenge? At least, he has threatened to unleash his Vikings on me!

Simon

That would be nice.
I will ask him.

martin :)

Unfortunately picking Mother's Day for the venue I doubt I will be available as Sue I expect  will be out with family and I'll be on dog duty


Stewart

We are now "on".
30th March 2025
I will get the tickets organised soon.

Proposed Game 1.  CK
1.  martin
2.  Miles
3
4

Proposed Game 2  Longships
1. Simon
2. Nigel
3
4


martin :)

Thanks Martin.

I think I'll re-read all my Uhtred books to get into the mood :)

Simon

I will probably make some special character figures for this game.


martin :)

That would be a most excellent idea, Martin.

Longships doesn't get the exposure it deserves, and there are some lovely models in the range.

Simon

This is all very exciting.

I return to the Uhtred books from time to time.

Special figures always get my vote.

Quote from: Sean Clark on August 28, 2024, 05:51:51 PMSpecial figures always get my vote.

They usually get my money, too  ;)

Simon

I've been doing a little browsing online for source material.

Wikipedia has led me to:
 - the UK Battlefields Resource Centre's "Maldon Battle and Campaign": https://www.battlefieldstrust.com/media/149.pdf
 - English Heritage's Battlefield Report: https://historicengland.org.uk/content/docs/listing/battlefields/maldon/

I've also found:
 - a Battlefield Trust map: https://www.battlefieldstrust.com/media/237.pdf
 - a website dedicated to the battle: http://www.battleofmaldon.org.uk/intro.html

 - an aerial photo of the presumed battle site:
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b9/Northey_Island_Essex.jpg)

 - a soldier's level view of the terrain:
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/Battle_of_Maldon_Plains.jpg/1280px-Battle_of_Maldon_Plains.jpg)

Simon

That is an excellent find Simon.
Useful.
Do you think there was marsh there in the olden days?


martin :)

Martin,

I was thinking marsh, a stream (see map below), perhaps a gentle hill inland just for show. But not much else!

(https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/getmapimage/1000019?gisGroupUID=20&width=905&height=670&DPI=191)

[from https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1000019?section=official-list-entry]

Simon

From memory of reading about this many years ago, I believe the battle was fought in a wetland/coastal area and so marshes and streams would be appropriate.
John

Some bits of scenery would add to it.
We can do some good work on this to make it nice, but not create too much unusable scenery.


martin :)

It could be interesting to make the CK and Longships tables' scenery as similar as possible?

Simon

Martin
I have lots of Fat Frank rivers you may borrow if you wish

Stewart

Thanks Stewart

I will put forward a proposed table layout in a few weeks time to see what people think.


martin :)

Agreed Simon.
Maybe identical?

martin :)

Quote from: martin goddard on August 29, 2024, 12:06:44 PMAgreed Simon.
Maybe identical?

martin :)

That's what I was thinking, Martin, within the constraints of the differently sized grids.

Simon

I think we have plenty of time to test our games a few times.
Before I put in the applications there are a few questions.

1. Are we happy to let folk join in?  For the full game length rather than show type "20 minute drop ins".
2. Shall we some  make specific scenery pieces, or just use what we have?
3. Can we meet at Miles' or Entoyment as easy to reach locations?
4. Are we OK to make the Battles "what would you do?" rather than a re-enactment of what happened. This will affect deployment etc.


martin :)

My personal thoughts:
1. If I'm going to the trouble of researching stuff, probably making scenery and painting a bunch of new figures, I want to be playing too! Up to others if they're happy to potentially sit out, but I'm feeling selfish on this one  :-[
2. It would be nice to make scenery specially for this game
3. Are we talking about logistics on the day? I'll go straight to the venue, sorry! It can be a bit tricky to find when going there first time - I can share guidance if helpful.
4. Absolutely. No point in constraining our imagination or trying to align with what is likely to be a fairly dubious historical record anyway.

Simon

Hello My thoughts about 3 were for practice games only.
It would be good to have some. The scenario is not complex, but might throw up some interesting thoughts?

martin :)

Ah, sorry Martin.

In that case I'm happy to come to yours, or Miles's, or Entoyment  :)

Simon

Thanks
Is entoyment good for you and Miles?
Others are welcome too if they fancy the game.
21st, 28th September, 5th October.  Miles and Simon. Those any good??

martin :)

Thanks Martin,

I can't do 28th September, but will look into the other two options.

Concerning the battle, the Battlefields Trust [https://www.battlefieldstrust.com/media/237.pdf] proposes initial deployments:

(https://i.imgur.com/S5R3qGw.png)

Simon

Excellent Simon

Do you think the Viking battle line should start in marshy templates? OR have marshes to the rear.
It might be nice touch to have the NT information plaque on the game?
Helps the troops to know what to do.


martin :)

I think that's one to play out, Martin.

Either way, I think we want the marshes on the table for the look of the thing.

Might we have "off-table" scenery (boats too) around the periphery of the actual playing area...?

Simon

Boats definitely. I have some of those.
Might we include a pre game duel on the causeway?

martin :)

We might indeed!

How would the duel influence the subsequent game - maybe a little bonus for the winner?

Simon

Yes, some sort of minor advantage?

martin :)

Vikings start with wet feet in the marsh vs. dry feet not in the marsh?  ;)

Simon

I don't mind, where we meet ? The 28th I know I can't do. Family Wedding.
I am down in the depths of Real Dorset for a weekend! (So they say ?)
Miles

Simon and Miles.
Saturday 21st September.
I mention it here in case others would like to join in?

Entoyment.

martin :)

Miles here sounds like a plan to me !
Miles

Shall we play CK in the am and Longships in the pm?   OR two of the same, and do another day before  March 2025?

martin :)

Table booked am and pm.
Entoyment.
21st September 2024



martin :)

Martin
A planed battleday on March 8th can be a practice day

Stewart

We had better not do that Stewart, because the Society of ancients battle day only concerns three of us. No one else is involved.
The Entoyment battle day might be better if everyone can get involved.


martin :)

More will come to the SoA day, once word spreads and excitement mounts, Martin  ;)

We could do 8th March as a Longship Day more generally, and put on one or two of the SoA-themed tables anyway?

Simon

Simon
That was my thinking

Stewart

8th March Longships

That is good


martin :)