Hammer of the Scots
Using the Braveheart Campaign which had the unfortunate expected outcome. The game is set in Scotland starting in the year 1297. The English tyrannical rule has caused the Scots to rise up to gain their freedom. The game is set with a distinct disadvantage in force with the English being much more powerful.
The idea of the game is to control eight nobles to win or kill the kings of England or Scotland. The game is set up with each side being assigned nobles depending upon the scenario. Both sides are dealt five cards that are either event cards or movement cards. The event cards have some sort of action on them that must be completed ranging from a truce card to a herald card that allows the player to call out a noble from the other side and roll a die to see if they capture it. The movement cards are played by both sides playing them face down and revealing them at the same time. The higher movement card goes first with the English moving first if there is a tie. The event cards are played in the same manner with the event card going first. If two event cards are played then the year has ended.
To capture a noble or territory, movement cards are used to move the armies into an enemy territory. The two armies battle using dice in to decide the damage per round. The number of dice and the threshold for damage are indicated on the tiles.
Some tiles that are indicated by crosses will upon defeat be removed from the game. The noble title, when defeated get swapped out with the opposing player’s tile for the same noble. The non-noble armies when defeated are placed back into a draw pile.
When winter occurs the nobles return to their home areas, if the area is occupied by the opposing side the noble joins that side. During the winter the English army disbands the knights and archers and they are sent home.
All other forces are sent home for both sides unless they are in areas where there is a castle that can hold them. The forces and noble that are in castle have either their health replenished or have new forces added to the area with them based on the space available.
At the end of winter the English forces are reinforced with half the titles in their draw pile. Eliminating the advantage the Scottish enjoy with wintering.
The following moves are how this tragic game unfolded. With myself playing the heroic Scottish and Brian commanding the unrelenting English armies.
Round 1
The Scots- using an event card captured and gain the Noble Comyn
The English- using superior force took Bruce
Round 2
The Scots- captured Angus
Round 3
The Scots- captured Mentieth
The English- captured Comyn
Round 4
The Scots- captured Buchan
Round 5
The Scots- Kept Galloway
Wintering takes place and much of the English forces have returned home and the Scottish return to their lands if possible.
End 1297
Round 1
The Scots- regained Comyn but it was a hard fought battle with the Scottish forces losing armies and weakening all their forces
Round 2
The Scots- captured Atholl
Round 3
The English- Captured Atholl and Hobelars
Round 4
Peace in Scotland
Round 5
Peace again
Winter Brings Atholl back to the Scottish side
End of 1298
Two event cards are played at the same time causing the year to end
Winter allows the Scottish to regain strength again
End of 1299
Round 1
The English- captured Buchan by an event card
Round 2
The Scots- capture Buchan back and also capture Argyll
Round 3
The English- kill Wallace removing him from the game. Adding insult to injury Wallace was defeated by Bruce and English forces (like the movie, no cries of freedom sadly the irony was just to cruel)
The turning point has occurred.
Round 4
The English- captured Galloway
Round 5
Peace
Wintering again saved the Scottish from being crushed.
End 1300
Round 1
The Scots- captured Galloway and Bruce
The English- the force from Wales went home
Round 2
The English- Captured the Bruce again and captured Galloway
Round 3
The English- Retreated their forces to avoid defeat
Round 4
The Scots capture Mentieth
Round 5
An event card declares a truce
Winter strengthens the Scottish and weakens the English
End of 1301
Two event cards played so winter is coming
Wintering again aids the Scottish
End of 1302
Round 1
The Scots- capture Lennox
Round 2
Peace
Round 3
The English- Captured Mentieth again
Round 4
The English- captured Comyn and defeat the French destroying their resolve causing them to abandon the Scottish cause.
Round 5
Peace
And Being the North the Scottish are aided again by winter.
End 1303
Round 1
The Scots- Captured Bruce
The English- Capture the Bruce right back (at least it bought the Scots time)
Round 2
The Scots- Captured Comyn again
The English- defeat the Norse making them abandon the Scottish cause.
Round 3
The English- captured Lennox
Round 4
The English- Capture Argyll
Round 5
Peace
Winter comes again prolonging the inevitable for the Scottish.
End 1304
The first four rounds are nothing but Peace and massing forces.
Round 5
The Scots- Attack with a massive force and suffer a humiliating defeat leaving only the noble who retreated alive. (Massive error in plan missed an opening in the English army)
End 1305
The English Won because of the death of Wallace with King Edward the first still ruling Scotland.
The Scottish defeat was less humiliating then it could have been with the nobles retreating instead of being captured. For a game that is just little wooden blocks it got surprisingly involved.