Raiding Season

Since we started playing SAGA I have been searching for a way to put together a campaign that would add some overall meaning to our weekly games and not making much headway. I then came across a program that used the matchbox method of campaign movement and realised that something along those line would work. So this week as well as getting a game of SAGA v2 in I also finished off a simple set of campaign rules.
The idea behind the rules is to give a simple way to chain together the scenarios available for SAGA and give them some meaning in a greater context. The campaign uses the raiding of an enemy area as its basis and then adds a very simple strategic element. The aim is to get a battle every week where the results of the previous battles do not unbalance the encounter and give one side or the other an overwhelming advantage.

The Two Camps Scenario

As the campaign will be fought with each player taking the role of the raider in turn this meant that it did not have to be symmetrical or even balanced on a strategic level as over the course of two seasons things should balance out.

Campaign Map and trackers

Pagan Rus advance towards the Normans

 As long as each week generates a new scenario and keeps the gaming sessions fresh then I will count that as a success. Fortunately there have been a large number of scenarios created across the various SAGA v1 books which can be used in v2 and also some good player made ones.

Pagan Rus positioned to defend there camp

 I also wanted to keep the amount of tracking between games to a minimum and the fact that everything can be fitted onto one side of A3 is a plus.

Pagan Rus advance onwards despite casualties

This week we tested out the secondary objective whilst playing the Two Camps scenario and that worked well and next week we will try out some of the bonus abilities.

Norman flanking move

The bonus abilities are meant to give a little boost rather than an overwhelming superiority so I'd like to test them out before the campaign starts in case any need to be dialed back a little.

Norman cavalry charge repulsed

Before we start the campaign I'd also like to draw up some cards for the bonus abilities so they can be played and then discarded during the game, this will make tracking the use of them very easy.

Normans press forwards

We also decided during this weeks game that abilities whose effects last for the whole turn or longer after being activated need to be highlighted by a marker on the battleboard after being played as you remove the dice when activating the ability. This helps to remind both players that the ability is active, very helpful if you are both a little forgetful.

End game, Normans have 2 units that can loot and the Rus could only block 1

I have uploaded the latest version of the Raiding Season campaign to Google Drive in case anyone would like to have a look or play.

On the painting front I have all the models ready for my Herd Stampede Horde and just need to get them onto the base so they may be ready for pictures next week with a little luck.