After the

Battle of Towton, 1461

Edward IV and his "Yorkist" supporters have won the closely contested Battle of Towton. King Henry VI, Queen Margaret of Anjou, and the surviving Lancastrians Lords are being chased by Yorkist cavalry all the way to the Scottish border. The rest of the Lancastrians lie dead on the battlefield or awaiting the executioner's axe.

Edward has setup his first Royal Council in the City of York. The city opened its doors to Edward, though without much enthusiasm or warmth.

The new King has many decisions to take. He cannot be sure of the loyalty of the rest of the country. There are many Lords who did not take sides, but stayed on their estates. Many parts of the country are still owned and controlled by Lancastrian lords. Who should he reward, who to punish?

How is Edward IV going to pacify the country?

How is Edward going to convince His realm that he is a true, glorious and righteous successor.

Edward is still only 18. He is unknown; and with him are only a Duke , an Earl, and few Barons.

Game Starts

Sun 3 May @12:00

Link to Jitsi server removed

Order of Play

  1. General discussion (10 mins) - all players can communicate regardless of where they are on the map.

  2. King's declaration (2 Mins) - the King might wish to declare what his Royal Wish is.

  3. Private discussion (10 mins) - players can enter into one to one chats via any channel they wish. (Players will inform Control of their preferred channel for one to one chat prior to game. This will be sent round by Control.)

  4. Submit Orders (deadline will be set)- All Players submit orders via Google Sheets.

    • One Move order

    • One Action order

    • You can move, and perform an action.

  5. Pay armies - all armies have to be paid. If they are not paid, they start to desert.

  6. Private discussion - continue whilst Control adjudicates outcome

  7. Orders revealed (hoping to do in 10 mins) - Control will deliver the outcome of the turn, and update the Mural map.

  8. End of Turn.


KINGSHIP

This is the measure of how strong a hold the ruling King has over his Kingdom.

Calculate it by subtracting Lancs Badges from York Badges on map.

(e.g. York is 6 and Lanc is 9 = minus 3)

Kingship is used as a dice modifier for many factors.

Map movement

  • Each turn represents TWO weeks

  • Players can only move orthogonally, never diagonally

  • Movement

    • 1 - 3 regions if Player without an Army

    • 1 - 2 regions with an Army

  • Sea Movement

    • A Lord can move with upto 1 Company from any coastal region to another coastal region (no other land movement)

    • Roll 1d6 - if a 1, storms at sea, has to seek shelter at any Region (determine randomly) on route.

Player Actions

All players, including the King can take one Action per turn.

Actions for the Lords and the King

  • ARMY - Hunt Rebels

  • ARMY - Besiege Rebel Stronghold

  • Betrothal

  • Commission

  • Borrow Cash

  • Courtly Ritual

  • Estate Admin

Actions only for the King

  • Royal Progress

  • Government Admin

  • Attend Parliament

Player Actions (for Lords and King)

Only one Action per Turn.

(Note the King can choose one action from all of the following actions. The Lords can only choose from this first section.)


Pursue / Hunt Rebels

The player must have at least 1 Army unit.

Pay £5 extra per Company

If Rebels present - fight a battle.


Besiege Rebel Stronghold

The player must have at least 1 Army unit.

Pay £10 extra per Company

Each turn roll to see if Stronghold surrenders.

1d6 = 7+ surrenders

+/- Kingship


Attend Courtly Ritual

The King declares he wants to perform a courtly ritual. This could be his coronation, a tournament, a feast, a love-day-parade, or even a religious celebration.

  • Pay a fee you deem to be suitably extravagant to be attend the King's courtly revels of that would rival those of the Court of Camelot.


Announce Betrothal

  • Two player's have to take this Action in the same turn for it to work.

  • Both pay £10 for gifts, ceremony, and new clothes.

  • Announce betrothal!

Run Commission

Visit region with Commissioner's Warrant to restore the King's Justice in his realm. Choose one of the following.

Lord must have at least 1 Army unit.

  • FINE - Extract £10xd6 in fines

    • Roll 1d6 (+/- Kingship)

      • if 1 - 3 - add Lancastrian badge

  • REMOVE SUPPORT

    • Roll 1d6 (+/- Kingship)

      • if 5 - 6 - remove Lancastrian badge

  • SUPPORT

    • Roll 1d6 (+/- Kingship)

      • if 4 - 6 - add a Yorkist badge

NOTE - if Lanc Stronghold in same region Lanc Badge cannot be removed.

Estate Admin

Lord goes to his Estate and does one of the following:

  • Receive Estate Rents £20x1d6

  • Recruit 1xd6 Companies per turn (must pay £10 per Company)


Borrow Cash

A King or Lord goes to the relevant Region and can arrange to borrow cash either from

  • the merchants of a rich city - either Bristol, York, Norwich, Coventry or London.

    • £10 x 1d6 (+/- Kingship)

    • Interest £5 per loan per turn (after first turn)

    • Each payment missed -1 Kingship

Player Actions ONLY for King

Royal Progress

The King moves to a Region and bestows his Royal Presence.

The King can chose one of the following actions

  • Collect loans £20x 1d6 +/- Kingship (min £20)

  • Place Yorkist badge

  • Remove Lancastrian badge

NOTE - if Rebel Stronghold is in same region the Lancastrian Badge cannot be removed.

Government Admin

Government Admin can only be done if the King is in London

  • The King can do 2 of the following

  • Create a Commission - Name a Lord and 1 Region

  • Allocate a Royal Office/s to a Lord - 1 Lord can be given several offices

  • Allocate 1 Title & Estates to a Lord (Title must be Attainted)

  • Summon Parliament

Attend Parliament

King must can do only one of the following

  • Attaint Title & Estates (only when Attainted can these be given to a player. The King can promise them.)

Armies

Pay Army

An Army always has to be paid - pay £10 per Company


Isolated Armies

  • If Lord commanding an army leaves it on its own, the Army will:

    • not move or attack

    • will maintain an ongoing siege

    • will defend itself

    • it has to be paid


Unpaid Armies

  • An unpaid Army will start to desert.

  • Each turn it is not paid 1 Company will go home.

  • An Army will never drop to below 1 Company. This represents the loyal Household Company.


Battle

If a battle ever occurs each Company rolls a D6.

5 = 1 hit

6 = 2 hits

Modify using any special factors (generalship etc.)

Most hits win. If a draw, the larger Army wins, then any Army with a superior General, and then toss a coin.

Royal Offices

Admiral of England

Using the fleet the Admiral can travel (& transport 1 - 4 Companies) from any coastal Region to another coastal Region.

  • Roll 1d6 - if a 1, storms at sea, has to seek shelter at any Region (determine randomly) on route.


Marshall of England

The Marshall has the right to call out the Array of Levies in any Region and neighbouring Regions. These units do not require paying, but can only serve in the Region and its neighbouring Regions.

After 3 turns their term of service ends and they go back home. You cannot keep paying them to stay - they go.

  • Recruiting - roll for each Region

    • 1d6 (+/- Kingship)

      • 4 or 5 - recruit 1 Company

      • 6 or more - recruit 2 Companies


Constable of England

Every turn the Constable has an additional action of "Run a Commission".


Lord High Treasurer

Each turn the Lord High Treasure gets an additional action "Borrow Cash".


Lord High Steward

Each turn you can take the action “Govt Admin” for the King without needing to be in London.

Warden of the Scottish Marches

The Warden has the right to call out the Array of Levies in Carlisle, and Lancaster or Newcastle and Durham, but only one them. These units do not require paying, and can only serve in the Regions they were recruited in.

They require paying each turn after the turn after the arrive. If not paid, they go home.

  • Recruiting - roll for each Region

    • 1d6 (+/- Kingship)

      • 4 or 5 - recruit 1 Company

      • 6 or more - recruit 2 Companies


Warden of the Welsh Marches

ditto for Scottish Marches except the regions are:

Hereford & Shrewsbury

or

Chester & Shrewsbury


Captain of Calais

The Captain of Calais has to visit Calais (assume boats are available to transport a Lord and 1 Company)

  • Can recruit for free 1 - 6 Companies.

  • Must pay them at all times. Any missed payment to the the whole Army of that Lord, which includes part or all of the Calais Company, will result in Calais contingent going home.

Vacant Titles & Estates

All these Titles & Estates have to be attainted by Parliament before they can be given to Lords.

One Lord can hold several different titles.

Earl of Northumberland

Estates (Newcastle, York, and Carlisle)

Earl of Devon

Estates (Exeter, and Bristol)

Duke of Suffolk

Estates (Ipswich, Northampton, Oxford & Peterborough)