My Byzantine Project

Continuing Free Low-Tech Service Delivery

2011-05-05T04:17:00.000-07:00

Hello to those who still manage to find this blog. Sorry but I will not able to update this regularly. All GM tools i will be developing related to Low-Tech worlds and setting (defaulting to Historical and Non-Fantasy Fiction) will be part of my own Add-on GURPS Low Tech Worlds book.

The Books' Current Charter:

In order to achieve the goals of the document, there will be material and tools GMs can easily draw from to populate and develop their Low-Tech worlds. These materials should be able to allow them to provide rich details that take very little time to develop, which are impartial through the use of die rolls, and allow games to escalate natural from micro to macro scopes.

The material will include Character templates of various professions and archetypes common across a wide variety of spectrum of eras and culture. Some of these character templates will also have Economic Templates, like sample assets, like Load Outs (combat load and marching load), domestic assets, and some will have House-hold income statements that give a more detailed look of economic and political relationships. Other than equipment, sample infrastructure can now be created using GURPS 4E Low Tech Companion 1: Kings and Philosophers p.15 Building Monuments to LTC2 Fortifications and LTC3 Buildings and Architecture.

The tools should also have notes on how they are to be used. It should take in to consideration weekly budgets for GM preparations by giving sample schedules in Personal Timeboxing format. It also should give notes regarding how players can participate in the game preparation, increasing the shared game investment to a point where all have a stronger stake in making the game work.

Basically it is a shared content book that is meant to maximize and provide the most usefull examples and tools for Low Tech world building and adventure planning.

Poll and Byzantine History Podcast

2010-12-23T18:01:00.001-08:00

I hope visitors would answer the poll. The eras aren't specifically tied to their emperors or leaders. There are many points in the history of Byzantium that people of great motivation was needed, or sound counsel would have made the story less tragic and more hopeful.

The Podcast of the 12 Byzantine rulers by Lars Brownsworth is a great introduction to the empire, simply because its so easy to fit in a busy schedule.

Sins of the Crusade Genealogy

2010-12-17T07:07:00.000-08:00

This is the Sins of the Crusade Genealogy. Looking at the Game of Thrones Genealogies I think I have a lot of work ahead of me to populate it. Even looking at 11C families during the crusades is a head ache.

Medieval Army Sizes Reflection

2010-12-17T01:16:00.001-08:00

A player once proposed I use the most optimistic force numbers found in historical sources. This is a pretty big problem especially when there is a tendency for croniclers to multiply the forces of an enemy or someone elses army by 3, 5, 10, 20 and 100 fold.

The most optimistic size of the first crusade force at 1098 is 600,000! (oldenburg p86) lately i've been listening to Kenneth Harl's Era of the crusades and double checking other sources, the biggest force one can assemble in the era was 30,000.

Since According to Harl, the turn of the 11C was when economically comparable the Imperial Roman era 20-30k is one of the largest forces assembled in that era. Note also that Byzantium with TL4 organization is as productive as Europe with their TL3 Agriculture/Food Production. TL3 food production is 50% greater than TL2 (Roman). It was TL2's organization allowing for greater distribution of metal tools that made their economies equal. If you combined Byzantine TL4 organization and TL3 Economy probably 100% economic output theoretically speaking. 11C to 13C is when centralized bureaucracy and professional meritocratic military were not anymore monopolized by the Romani.

When Saladin finally got Cairo and the wealthiest holdings, his force numbers were at 30,000! This is Cairo, the flood plain cities of the Nile have 3x the output of most Mediterranean cities. I'm not sure if Bagdad was included, but it was a city as Big as Constantinople before the Mongols sacked it. Robert II of Sicily could mount 30,000. So I'm biased to think the wikipedia citation of 30,000 + 5,000 knights for the first crusades.

GURPS wealth after Status 4 or Filthy Rich starts going up in multiples of 10. When you look at the armies of the crusades the differences between Barons (the more complicated hierarchies came after the first crusades, arguably as a result of the crusades) Dukes (Duchies), Princes (Principalities) and Counts (Counties) had army size difference of 50% increments.

Knights meant 1 knight meant 1 mounted horseman and 5-6 footmen. (oldenburg 86)

Godfrey 1000 (600 main force, Baldwin 200, and Eustace 200)
Raymond IV 1000 (commanders unknown)
Robert 1000
Robert 700
Stephen 700
Bohemmon 500 (300 main force, Tancred 200)

This means economies or holdings are 50% bigger than each other. So we begin to notice a problem when Status levels jump at increments of 10, when the most active economic concentrations was at wealth levels of Status 5 to 6.

The Sack of Constantinople 1204AD post Mortem

2010-12-14T21:18:00.000-08:00

the Sack of Constantinople at 1204ad can be considered the end of the centralized and perpetuating bureaucratic organism that remained since the fall of Rome. The seizing of the most irreplaceable assets of the city, its highly skilled professionals cannot be recreated until the colonial era.

Population before the Sack: 1M to 700k
Gross Annual Income of the Capital: est 50,000 marks (GURPS $32M)
Total Movable Asset Liquidation: est 800,000 marks (GURPS $512M)
Total Technological Assets (in Artisans) siezed:

Ship Builders
the Byzantine Mint
Luxury Textile Industry
Weapons Manufacturing Industry
Basic Tech Infrastructure Industry
Loss of Port Rights to the Genoese and Venetians
TL4 Administration destroyed

Special Notes

800 years worth of assets
All Tech advantages of the city destroyed, those tied to physical assets transplanted.

4th Crusade
Final total for the Venicians Services 85,000 marks (13.6M english silver pennies; around 1M hyperperions; GURPS $54.4M)

Treated to Service

4,500 Knights
9,000 Squirers
34,000 Infantry with horses

Only less than half attended, creating a huge debt to the Venetians.

useful benchmarks and comparisons:

Constantinople before the Sack of 1204
Wealth Multiplier of x4,000 (Wealth Status V-4.5)
Around GURPS $32M per year
Competence-11
There was a very steep decline after the murder and destruction Comnenian dynasty

Constantinople in its revival under Alexius in 1095
Wealth Multiplier of x 5,000 (Wealth Status V-5)
Competence-13
The empire and resources as a whole is a separate matter.

Constantinople under Justinian
Wealth Multiplier of x 5,000 (Wealth Status V-5)
Competence-15 (Tribonian)

Source:

The Teaching Company: Era of the Crusades by Professor Kenneth Harl

e23: GURPS Crusades

2010-12-01T05:16:00.000-08:00

e23: GURPS Crusades: "The Crusades lasted nearly two centuries, and their effects are felt to this day. These wars were a time of conflict, an era of secular and religious crisis, and an age of adventure. GURPS Crusades presents all the information you need to bring this exciting period to the gaming table:"

Holy Crap! After checking out the preview right now, I'm buying it.

Update...

This took a while to accumulate but, if anyone is a history buff who wants to play a 1st Crusades Campaign there is very little reason not to anymore.

GURPS Mass Combat, Check!

GURPS Lowtech, Check!

GURPS CRUSADES, Check!

Fief: A Look at Medieval Society from its Lower Rungs by Lisa J. Steele, Check!

Harn Manor, Check!

Assassin's Creed Recreation of Crusader States Maps, Check!

Poster Map of the Crusades 1097, Check!

Crusades by Zoe Oldenburg, Check!

Era of the Crusades Taught By Professor Kenneth W. Harl, Ph.D., Yale University,Check!

GURPS Low-Tech in my games

2010-11-25T23:19:00.000-08:00

e23: GURPS Low-Tech Its been a while and finally its arived. I'm a month late to hear the news but still a definite buy for me.

I've borrowed some Harn books and will try to learn the system, but will stick to gurps but use the freebie material of Harn.

Working on Game Tools

2010-07-20T20:17:00.000-07:00

Harn has a manor generation system. Along with my own Historical Sources, I think I can make my own suitable for Villa, Manor, or Fief. This is one of my many projects, and It will take some time to figure out. Previously I had a long bout in GURPS Mass Combat and found some problematic kinks in it. Particularly how economics of the town always fail to bring up the Historical force numbers I keep seeing.

I'm also making my own game system that would suit my simulation tastes. You will see the preliminary notes on it in Gameinthebrain blog where It is beginning to look a bit detailed. I'm planning to talk to the programmers in our company to see how much it would cost to computerize the character creation system I'm proposing. Yep this thing is going to be freaking detailed, even more Detailed then Harn... but not as constricting. The basic principles of the system it to able to define it with current biometric tools and formulas available.

I've been also making a Wilderness Encounter Map generator using tables. Along with it comes a legend for tactical map drawing with white board markers over a tactical hex grid. I will also ask how much that will cost as software.

Sorry for my long absence. I've been consolidating my gaming under effort lately. Something that can apply to my other game systems. The Villa and the Manor creation will be very useful for my 19th Century Spanish-Colonial Philippines setting called Mahadlika. So will the maps and encounter generator. I've noticed realism and creating a way to make more realistic simulationist game tools applies to many real world genres (with some tweeking).

Levant aka Modern Jordan, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, and Syria.

2010-03-09T03:59:00.000-08:00

Checking the wiki about each country and using google maps I found out that

Israel and Palestine: 22,000 sq km and 350 people per sq km
Lebanon: 10,000 sq km and 400 people per sq km
Jordan: 92,000 sq km and 63 people per sq km
Syria: 185,000 sq km and 110 people per sq km

I broke them down to using Medieval Demographics Made easyl

Israel and Palestine: 22,000 sq km and 35 people per sq km
Lebanon: 10,000 sq km and 40 people per sq km
Jordan: 92,000 sq km and 6 people per sq km
Syria: 185,000 sq km and 11 people per sq km

It is interesting to find out that in Roman times Levant had a population of 5M that progressed slowly towards 2M until the time of the Crusades.

I uploaded the map I scanned. I hate how they are inconsistent with each other. As each map features different locations. I have to use AUTO Realm to make my own Crusades Map to include ALL significant locations. Too bad it eats so much ram to import the image for me to trace.

I don't know how long it will take me to make the map (Probably 40 hours). It is an obsession to reconstruct the lost Kingdom of Jerusalem.

BTW I'm getting much of my flavor inspiration from Game of Thrones of GRRM.

[Strategikon] War Band of Adventurers

2010-03-03T22:45:00.000-08:00

Strategos (Military Rank 8; Status 4)

The General of the Army. Strategos mentioned are Belisarius, and Narses.

Hypo Strategos (Military Rank 7; Status 3)

Second in Command to the strategos, He is the first among the Merarchs and responsible for the center Meros called Promachos.

Merarch (Military Rank 6; Status 3)

Responsible for a Merarch, which consists of 6,000 to 7,000 men. This can vary greatly from 2-3 Moiras. In an Army there are 3 Meros, the left, right and center. A meros is also known as a Durongoi or Division.

Moirarch (Military Rank 5; Status 3)

Responsible for a Moira, which consists of 2,000 to 3,000 men. This can vary greatly from 5 to 10 Tagmas. A Moirarch is also called a Chilliarch, Duke or Dux. An example of a Moirarch or Dux is Eses of the Isaurians.

Tribune (Military Rank 4; Status 3)

Responsible for a Tagma which consists of 300 to 400 men. This can vary greatly from a large 6-8 Pentekons to 3-4 Hekatons. Also known as: Taxiarch, Count, Commitatus or Commes. Tagma is also known as a Banda, Cohort, and Company.

Illarch (Military Rank 3; Status 2)

Second in command of a Tagma, and is first among the Hekatonarchs.

Hekatonarch (Military Rank 3; Status 1)

Responsible for a Hekaton (100 men). He commands 10 Dekarchs and Dekarchies. He is also known as a Centurion.

Pentekontarch (Military Rank 2; Status 1)

Responsible for a Pentekon (50 men). He commands 5 Dekarchs and Dekarchies.

Non-Commissioned Officers:

Dekarch (Military rank 1; Status 0)

Responsible for 9 other men. He commands a Dekarchy which is also known as a Squad or Conteberium. There are 5-10 Dekarchs and Dekarchies in one Tagma.

Pentarch (Military rank 1; Status 0)

Responsible for 4 other men and the vanguard.

There is 1 Pentarch per squad.

Tetrarch (Military rank 1; Status 0)

Responsible for 3 other men and the Rear Guard.

There is 1 Tetrch per squad.

Cape Bearer (Military rank 1; Status 0)

Responsible for welfare of the Tribune, and Tagma Quartermaster.

Flag Bearer (Military rank 1; Status 0)

Responsible for the banner and a place of great honor.

There are 2 Heralds per Tagma, one is the Tribune's banner and the second one is the Illarch's.

Herald (Miltiary rank 1; Status 0)

Responsible managing the morale of the men and communication with the Tribune.

There are 2 Heralds per Tagma.

Adventuring party. The Tagma is one of the best level of military organization for adventuring. Even the name sounds appropriate for adventurers: Band , Cohort, or Companys. There are a diverse amount of roles to be filled in a Tagma as mentioned above:

The Commander
Second in Command (illarch)
Captains (Hekatons)
- Intelligence Chief (Rec)
- Vanguard (Heavy)
- Rear guard
- Skirmishers
Quartermaster (Cape Bearer)
Chief Combat Engineer
Heralds (Bards and Diplomats)
Spies (Enemy Infiltrators and Scouts)

Infantry Dekarchy/Squad Basic Kit $4,898.

Wagon $680, carries up to 638/ 680lbs
Large Mule $2,000
Group Basics $50; 20lbs
Axe $50; 4lbs
Saw $150; 3lbs
Scythe $15; 5lbs
Hammer $15; 1lb
First Aid Kit $50, 2lbs
2 4-man Tents $300; 60lbs
18 (2 gallon, filed) Cask $324; 313lbs
4 Baskets $40; 4lbs (holds 4 gallons each)
2 Hatchets $30; 2lbs
2 Picks $30; 16lbs
2 Shovels $24; 12lbs
6 Plumbata $120; 6lbs
30 Caltrops $300; 10lbs
360 rations $720; 180lbs
2 Servants $675/ mo.

Cavalry Dekarchy/Squad Basic Kit $77,742.5

added to the basic infantry when for cavalry. This is for 41 horses (11 mules, 20 reserve horses, and 10 in use horses).

10 Wagon $6,800; carries up to 5478/ 6800lbs
10 Large Mule $20,000
Feed (41 horses 10 days) $102.5, 2050lbs
28x 15gal-Barrels $840 280lbs.
Water 3157lbs (1 day without forage)
20 horses $50,000
8 Servants $2,700/mo.

Strategikon: Teasing out and its Details

2010-03-03T05:08:00.000-08:00

The winds have died for my Crusader Era write ups. I'll wait till the winds blow back at them again. Meanwhile.

The translation problems are plenty in the strategikon and history of wars I to VI. Its hard to understand what is being said when the writers don't have paragraph breaks because they trying to save space.

If you look at the History of Wars I to VI, you will notice that it was written in huge blocks of paragraphs. Imagine how it looked like in old parchment or vellum, where the scribes had to compress everything being said. Conversations were not broken up to lines and ideas were not separated by paragraphs, things we take for granted in our medium rich era.

The History of Wars V: The Gothic War part I is a great example of a military campaign for Gamers. I highly recommend reading it. Although, bringing up a richness of detail to the drab writing may require a ton of prior reading about everything else medieval and ancient.

What I can do to fill this blog up with my commentary regarding the History of Wars. Particularly interesting Game-Related pedantry regarding what is going on in the chapters. I've teased carefully

1 Stade = 185m
1 Centenaria = 5lbs of Gold or 7200 Nomismata or 360 Justinian era Solidi or $100,000 in GURPS 2004 dollars. You will notice inconsistencies often, using 1-3C, 6-7C, 9-10C terms. Remember that that scribes had to rewrite these books in different eras when the quality suffered and new leaders came into power with their own generals. So there will be an inconsitency in the terms.

1 bowshot is 300m

I was going back and forth with Strategikon and History of Wars and there was a lot of things that finally made sense to me.

The significant commanders named are typically Tribunes, Counts or Taxiarchs (or in the Latin Comitatus or Company Commander). It is implicit that these guys have with them 300-400 troops or horsemen. So the names mentioned, Constantinus, Bessas, Peranius, Valentius, Magnus, Innocentus, Herodian, Paulus, Demetrius, and Ursicinus are Tributes and their Bands (Banda/Tagma/Cohorts) are assumed to be with them.

Each Tribune has his own entourage. He has with him a number of Hekatonarchs or Captains for every 100 men he has. One of these captains are his second in command and has is own Banner, in case the Tribune falls. The 2nd in command is called an Illarch.

Each Band or Company has 300-400 men. For Cavalry 20% is heavy cavalry, 20% well-equipped horse archers or medium cavalry, and 60% inferior heavy cavalry or light cavalry.

The entourage is composed of the Illarch, the Hekatonarchs, the Cape Bearer (Orderly/Batman or Personal Servant/Steward and counts as the Quartermaster), 2 Scouts (consider them light elements and Intelligence Officer), surveyors (with the baggage, they count as an engineer elements), 2 heralds (public relations officers), 1 servant for every 4 soldiers, 1 mule for every 10 soldiers, 1 baggage guard soldier for every 4 mules, 2 extra horses for every horseman, 1 grooms for every 4 horses.

By my calculations a Bandon (cavalry) of 400 would have: 300 servants, 40 mules, 800 horses, and 40 non combat personel.

GURPS mass combat:
8 Merc. Fine Horse Archer elements $576 (TS 32)
8 Merc. Good Horse Archer elements $432 (TS 24)
8 Merc. Horse Archer elements $288 (TS 16)
16 Merc. Light Cavalry Elements $480k (TS 32)
$1,776k (TS 104)
$888k for TS1776 baggage

For a Tagma (infantry) of 400, that would just be 100 servants, 40 mules, and 40 non-combat personnel. Romans have a ratio of 2/3 heavy infantry to 1/3 medium infantry or bowmen

12 Bowmen elements $96 (TS 24)
8 Good Heavy Infantry elements $96 (TS 42)
18 Heavy Infantry elements $144 (TS 64)
2 light infantry elements $16 (TS 4)
2 Engineers $12 (TS 1)
$364k (TS 135)
$182k for TS364 baggage

Interesting tidbit, Theodatus asked for a bribe of an estate that would be worth 12 centenaria a year. This equates to 1 cenenaria a month or $100,000 a month. At TL 3 it would appear a wealth multiplier of x140 or 50% greater than Filthy rich. If it was GOLD and not "earnings" then converting the earnings would generate a loss of 90% and one would assume a x1,500 wealth multiplier. This makes it more likely he mean, "earnings" and not gold. At x1,500 that would be as wealthy as a Baron with his own armies.

House Baldwin Territories

2010-01-16T06:42:00.000-08:00

House Baldwin. There is a lot of area that makes up the relatively small but significant Kingdom of Jerusalem. In the setting, House Baldwin lived on and the kingdom of Jerusalem became stabilized because of the man power generated by the Latin exodus.

Millions of Europeans tried to escape the Nomad Horde. This increased the capable manpower available for sustaining and establishing the Latin Kingdom. As the population swelled, there was pressure for greater organization and fairer distribution of the limited resources of Palestine.

House Baldwin was in a decline towards the 13C, bowing before more powerful nobles and houses that arrived from the west. It was in the outbreak of civil wars where the house matured into a cohesive middle ground between the European and the Palestinian inhabitants.

Interestingly, the inheritors of House Baldwin legacy are not related by blood to the original line, instead it has become a common practice to adopt capable heirs regardless of blood relation. This is because of the savagery of the civil war, that attempted to unify the fractured lands against the threats of their neighbors as quickly as possible. This meant the soldiers were forgiven, but their masters, the heirs, and families, were punished severely

Instead of organizing it per City or Town, I feel the organization is best achieved through groups of various networks. A group of settlements strategically depend and culturally connected best represent a fiefdom, more precisely than by individual city or town.

There are too many unknown villages that exist within each of these territories to be completely ignored. These villages can serve as the background of so many potential adventures. Characters who are men-at-arms will need these obscure villages as part of their background.

The title has a link of the "Best" map for running this game I have found so far. Looking at my copy of GURPS Fantasy Harkwood inspires me to do a much better job.

Next Up... (hopefully)

Random Village Generator - *(what I want out of a village generator) This should be able to roll up the following: Village main economic produce/role, secondary economic role, power center (religious, military, bureaucratic, noble), condition (wealth, morale), current problem in the minds of the population, current problem of the "power center" (which can be different from the people) and... anything else that will speed up GM improv...

Random NPC Generator - Looking for one online that will do European names (germanic or french).

Principality of Antioch (16 locales)

Antioch (town, now city)
Albara
Marra
Apamea
Zerdan
Artasium
St. Simeon
Laodicea /Latakieh
Gibellum
Alexanderetta
Castle Biza (oldenbourg p. 312)
Castle Athareb (oldenbourg p. 312)
Castle Kafartab (oldenbourg p. 312)
Artasium
Zerdan
Artasium

County of Edessa (10 locales)

Edessa
Ain-Tab
Coris
Ravendal
Madrin
Melitene
Hisn-Keifa
Samosata
Turbessel
Tulupe

Principality of Damascus (16 locales)

Damascus
Adratum
Bostra
Assalt
Baalbec / Baalbek
Emesa
Tadmor
Hamah
Gadara
Homes (oldenbourg p.301)
Rasheiya (oldenbourg p.301)
Kiswe (oldenbourg p.301)
Ezra (oldenbourg p.301)
Mazerib (oldenbourg p.301)
Bosra (oldenbourg p.301)
Jerash (oldenbourg p.301)

Principality of Allepo (6 locales)

Allepo (town, now city)
Artasium
Manby
Harran
Rakka
Shaizar (oldenbourg p.301)

Principality of Armenia (5 locales)

Adana
Tarsus
Tunor
Mamistra
Marask / Marash

County of Tripoli (10 locales)

Tripoli (town, now city)
Arqa (oldenbourg p. 375)
Margat
Tortosa
Castle Rouge
Bortoun
Gibilet
Mons Ferandus
Chaedes Chaveliers
Apelias

Principality of Jerusalem (20/sq km; Pop 420,000) (39 locales)

Jerusalem (Pop 12,500)
Beirut
Sidon
Tyre
Banias
Acre
Cesarea
Arsuf
Jaffa
Ibelin
Azotus
Ascalon
Gaza
Daron
El Arish
Kerak of Moab
Segor
Kerak of Monreal
Elim
Belfort
Toron
Montfort
Safed
Castle Jacob
Hattin
Tiberias
Nazareth
Belvoir
Baisan
Sebaaste
Neapolis
Maribel
Lydd
Jerico
Ramleh/ Ramla
Blanche Garde
Bethlehem
Hebron
Daron

A better map of 12C Crusader Palestine

2010-01-13T05:10:00.000-08:00

The title is a link to a better resource for the Kingdom of Jerusalem 15C.

4950 Villages
30 towns
6 Cities
1 Capital city

I have to organize them into "districts" where the surrounding lands and their lords follow a chain of command centering to the Town or City. That's around 7 Major districts, and further divides into towns and their surrounding villages.

I came from a lasik evaluation and laser eye correction (reinforcement of my retina walls). So I can't do a lot of reading and writing, because I lost my near sight because of pupil dilation. Its been 7 hours since I left the clinic and the meds haven't worn off yet.

Kingdom of Jerusalem List

2010-01-07T06:09:00.000-08:00

Basically using the guidelines and exel sheet of Medieval Demographics Made easy I'll work with these settlements. Basically for simplicity their major centers and the region is named the same. So the small villages around Jersulem will be simply referred to as Jerusalem. They will have their individual names which is free to be made up since alot of these maps are unreliable and it is an altered history after all.

I have not yet arranged the key fiefs according to their population. I plan to roll randomly what became what, then make up the rest. Since its random I don't have to worry about trying to get it accurate and saves me HOURS researching the actual political power. I'll just base the power structure after I roll up the value of each fief.

Population will be the most key determinant for political power given the era. The map in the link is a nice LOTR-ish map. There are more maps if you use Palestine as a search term and look form maps bigger than 2Mpix. Given a population of +2M I can't possibly make enough NPCs. I'll just have up to the GM rule of 7 key figures (GURPS mysteries) beyond the ones i've already fleshed out in my previous write ups.

To the other GMs out there. If it gets Boring reconsider the amount of time you are budgeting or do it at smaller increments (which go faster). What I'm doing is that I'll just use the exel sheet and bulldoze my way to filling up the Political crap out of these centers. Probably 2 hours TOPS!

Note that because of the climate these "Nation" is very "eastern" with their armor and dress. They wear very light and fight based on endurance and speed.

Major Fiefs (Cities, Provinces)

Jerusalem
Acre
Tyre
Damascus
Ascalon
Antioch
Tripoli
Edessa
Mosul
Beruit
Galilee
Sidon

Great Fiefs (Towns, Large Settlements)

Nazareth
Bethel
Berea
Bethany
Bethlehem
Hebron
Ralma
Jaffa
Haifa
Tiberias
Siloh
Gaza

House Baldwin: The Kingdom of Jerusalem

2010-01-06T18:37:00.000-08:00

I've been reading up on the kingdom of Jerusalem. In the Sins of the Crusades, the altered history made for it to be one of the refuge territories when the Golden Horde successfully invaded europe.

Looking at the area, terrain and climate, it is very hard to fit a migrating populace of about 10 million Europeans in the 12C into the territories of Byzantine Empire, Greece, the Balkans, Norman Italy, Palestine, Egypt, and parts of northern Africa.

Anyway, given the tools used in Medieval Demographics made Easy, the many Palestine maps found on the web, and Google Earth it can be a fairly straight forward method of making the kingdom. It would probably take me 4-5 hours (and good internet). Basic Rule- If Its taking me more than 5 mins to research make it up.

typically Palestine occupies 22,000 sq. km but including Mosul region (the eastern region up to parts of the fertile Crecent) I've extended it to 60,000 sq km but with a density of a near Renaissance level of mercantile efficiency average 30-ish per sq km. This is around 2M. I can actually bolster up that population density if Egypt and Persia acted as granaries to feed that city, but that would mean Palestine had to provide some valuable service or product...
... hmmm.. well the can serve as middle men and be the "England" between the two with efficient taxation, a textile industry, and the first to develop a sense of unity as a source of morale will.

that would work I guess. 2M would mean up to a 20,000 standing forces, another 40,000 rotating forces, and up to a maximum 40,000 aditional with levying. Up to 100,000 swords and not counting the baggage of 30,000 (made up by the families and women).

Religion in Sins of The Crusade. The new Roman Empire, revitalized by Empress Anna Comnena and Emperor Bohemon of Tarranto is a theocracy that had no equal. Unlike that of Queen Isabel where the Church and the Kingdom was seperate, this theocracy had the greatest political strategists (Anna and Bohemon) in its conception.

The Golden Horde's invasion of the rest of Europe stamped "God's approval".

The House Baldwin's Palestine was the only remaining Latin Christian people, surrounded by Powerful Theocratic Orthodox Greeks, a form of Islam that has become very non-religious and more enlightened, and some traditional Islam.

Given the events in the setting and Christian Theocracy, Islam had to change. Fundamentalism vs Fundamentalism created two examples that made secularism an attractive choice. The first to change their view were the Hous aDin and their forays into philosophy and critical thinking which recreated the new islam in the setting (basically the early agnostics). Then a few members of House Osman dared to be different and basically became "wild" and truly secular embracing rationality, something their pragmatism of nomad orgins seemed to thrive in.

Its much harder to be a christian Secular when all the political power comes from a Christian theocracy that tries to control how you thought. The only people who were protected against this assault of irrationality are those who had the freedom to think for themselves.

There was also the Logos, the bureaucrats of the setting who carried with them the tradition of Ancient Academies. Although the truly secular Logos were still rare. House Baldwin's Palestine also had secular because of the inherent meritocracy in its efficiency.

Horde in Europe. in the setting, the horde flourished in Europe, but did so slowly because of the severe depopulation. They have began to also move vast amounts of people from their other provinces to repopulate changing the face of the average European (they look like the Steppe People of indeterminate heritage).

The first to be settled is France for their best arable land and climate. Germany and Spain slowly followed. The horde also could have established the most complete link between the East and the West, but at that distance and size bureaucracies and levels of organization cannot maintain contact and eventually broke off as a separate states.

French lands in Mongol Hands, the kind of Cavalry that can come about can defy imagination. The French industries of metal production, the grain production to breed better horses, the size and population able to support more intensely specialized Warrior class and the higher protein content in their diet and access to Imperial Chinese Physicians. These made powerful Horse Archer Knights who were bigger stronger and smarter. A natural check is that they were more fractured because of their relative power and their independence from the rest of the Horde.

In the setting, dealing with these guys are like dealing with monsters. A lot of lesser mooks, but the few elites are more than a match with the heroes.

The Slavers of the Horde

2009-10-23T01:50:00.000-07:00

The Slavers of the Horder are men that profit from the enemies of the empire: the horde that had conqured the rest of europe and control most of the north, east and west. The petty kingdoms and clans are formidable but squable often. Those caught in the middle, find their way to Mamon who sell them as valuable slaves a sign of status.

Adventure Hook. A Baron Durand, of House Baldwin's purchased slaves expired unduly. The PCs are caught with the ball in their hands to do something about it. Typically the PCs (who ar lower in status) are obligated to do a favor and not to turn down a request from a lord of their own house. The PCs are given the bodies and given to return them to Mamon Barmuddi.

While at Barmudii's a medicant sister has taken a dwelling near the Manor and has been trading with the serfs for holy fetishes. PCs who talk to her, are told Mamon has not been drawing his stock from the north but from nearby villages. This is not actually true, but has a tendency to get players all riled up.

If the PC ask nearby villages, and presented with the information they will jump to the conclusion that Mamon does so and will plead the PCs to break in and rescue a their missing loved ones.

Mamon Barmuddii,
Age 60, Ht 5'6, Wt. 160lbs
Description:
Note: He is a retainer of Baron Quamar Nahadan of Hous aDin. Mamon, is not a knight, but is a valued retainer for the income and labor he sells to his many clients. Mamon is a slave trader of the bodies from exotic east. His heir, an apprentice and adopted son, Kalil is well groomed to take over his father's business and absolutely loyal and obedient (36yrs; handsome; same stats but -1 to IQ, and all skills).
Role-Playing. He is what PCs will find the most honorable and amicable of men. He sounds like a classical philosopher and wise teacher. Understand that he doesn't see as the people of the steppe as Human.
Note. Slave trade can be very black in white in our modern perspective but in some people and culture it may be very ambigous. Mamon can be a spun to be a liberator, healer, or a scorn to the people of the Horde thus earning a respectable place in his community.

IQ13
Administration-14, Merchant-13, Diplomacy-12,
Physchology-12 (callous), Body language-12, Public Speaking-12, Acting-12, Torture-12
Physician-12, Pharmacy-12, Diagnosis-12, Poison-12,
Very Wealthy, owns a fortified manor, and has around 40 families working for him.

Use this Roman Soldier Template as the basic stats of the characters below. The difference from the template is noted.

Bemgem of Garl
Age 31, Ht 6ft, Wt. 280lbs, Black Hair, Gray eyes.
Description: A large hairy man, with heavy calous hands.
Role-playing: A loyal hatchet man. Bemgem has a family and some bastards his wife and his two mistresses are taking care of. He is strict and heavy handed with the people around him, but he is generous and actually takes the time to make sure they get what they need. He asks a lot, but he looks after all those who owe him his loyalty.
Note: His boss is Mamon, and his boss treats him well. His boss, makes his heir Kalil take care of the health of his people. In return they give them their loyalty.

Modify Roman Soldier Template
ST+2, DX+1, IQ+1, HT+1;
Tors DR3 (Light Scale), Groin DR3/2 (Studded Leather Skirt), Heavy Cloak (lion skin)
Mace (instead of spear) Skill-13/Parry-12U, Dmg 2d+2 (note: typically a hit from this deals damage of 9, enough to cause an ST11 to roll DX or ST or be knocked back).
Throwing Axe Skill-12, Acc 2, Dmg sw 2d+1 cut, Range 13/20
Intimidation-11, Leadership-11, Carousing-12,
2 other loyal 2nds Tom Tools and Redder Paul (because there are 2 other pauls). Use the soldier template but +1 ST and damage.
he commands 12 other boys who are as good as soldiers but without combat reflex

Garl of Garl
Age 52, Ht 5'5, Wt. 130
Description: A red scaly and splotchy skinned, old man who seems to be falling apart. His eyes look bright and young, Wooden detures have real teeth, and smells of old things and dead.
Role-playing: Bemjem's Father, a very cruel and sadistic man. He gets paid little, mostly in the free use of the slaves. He is tolerated only because he is Bemgem's father. People tend to avoid him and hide behind Bemgem's if Garl would ask something of them. He constantly ridicules his quiet son, raving and complaining. Everyone ignores these as they think his head is gone. Garl will harass any female character and soft young male character.
Note: He takes care of his boy Garl and this Grand kids and bastards, oddly enough. Some are growing up to be as sadistic and crazy as the old man.

DX+2
Torso DR1 (Fur Shirt), Groin DR3/2 (Studded Leather Skirt), Spiked Gauntlet (right hand) DR4, Boots DR2.
Brawl-15, Feint (brawl)-19, Kick-15, Spike Guantlet Dmg thr 1d-1 cr, Kick Dmg thr 1d+1 cr
Wrestling-13; Can spit as apart of a brawl feint Perk.

Another Twist. Mamon, a skilled physician, autopsys the body to discover that one of the slaves, was pregnant and murdered by poison. He refuses to refund the Lord because the slaves were poisioned quite voluntarily.

One thing that should be apparent is that the murderer could have a lot to lose if this slave gave birth to someone's bastard. Why? Who could be in trouble? Who would know? Lord Durand is going to lose face if he doesnt get to the bottom of this, and makes the PCs find out who.

Defaut Possibility: The murder seemes to be caused by the Lord Duran's heir Alex. He probably panicked and killed the slave because it was an embarrassment to his betrothal's family. But, PCs discover that Alex had no access to poison and doesn't' know she died because of it. He is quiet shocked and heart broken by the event.

Later on they discover the Lord's Banneret, Sir Ibynn Tourkoisee was rumored to be seducing her and tried to find time alone with the slave. PCs find out then might have to take his word that he never touched her (and find out a twisted reason why he kept her around in odd hours- one reason would be she sang for his pleasure while he was with his lover).

They may find out later on that the Deacon Yiavis has been paying alot of attention to the slaves, witnesses say he would go to slaves quarters every night. PCs hear rumors that he has a bastard. Oddly the PCs find out quite simply he has been trying to convert them to save their souls. Exasperatedly promising salvation, which didn't go so well when he has a tendency to only preach to the female slaves and tries to "commune" with them alone.

PCs eventually discover, that the slave was murdered by the woman she was attending to young lady Beatrice. Alex's sister who did it to spite her older brother, after he of handedly compared her to the slave in terms of beauty.

Strange Bandits: NPCs part 1: Antagonists

2009-09-02T07:10:00.000-07:00

antagonist behind the scenes: Baron Janos of Var-Jaqai, son of Corvin III

Description:
Baron Janos is always seen with his trade-mark smile, a scar drawn from the right edge of his mouth to just below his eye. Dark humoured, Baron Janos has a habit of chuckling to himself and approaching a situation with polite jests and sarcasm aimed at the circumstance (and not anyone else).
No one seems to know what Baron Janos is thinking. His wit makes him formidable at court and he honors his Liege's wishes to the word and shows great initiative.
Baron is a steady and cautious warrior. He is practical and lets his men do the dirty work, but his not a man averse to getting his hands dirty. Many of his older vassals know of how hands-on he was under his Lord Father's Corvin's command. It was only recently did he learn to resist the urge to concentrate his focus and keep his mind more engaged in the goal instead of the task at hand.

Liege Lord: Duke Godfrey of House Baldwin
Estate: Barony of Var-Jaqai

Village of St. Kareen's Haven (Generates $560,000 annually)
Castle Corvin (Generates $280,000 annually)

Notable Abilities: (Use Knight Template as Basis).

Attributes: IQ 13, HT14
Disadvantages: Callous
Advantages: Filthy Rich ($840,000 annualy), Versatile,
Skills: Psychology-15, Body Language-14, Strategy-14, Acting-15, Performance (Jesting)-12

Notable Allies:

Sir Kassel "Break-Spear'
Description:
Sir Kassel is Baron Janos' right hand and Banneret. He appears as a tall sharp featured veteran of many battles.
A very devoted family man, Sir Kassel with his wife Charice have 8 children. The eldest two are lovely daughters who dote on their father and are married to very capable, young and loyal household knights, who have taken his name (because they did not come from a noble family). His other two sons are squiring for their brothers-in-laws, while the other are still too young to leave the manor.
He rides into melee Sarmatian style, using a Longspear two handed for the reach and penetration. On foot he fights with spear and staff mastery, and very heavy armor.
Notable Traits: ST13, Staff-15, Soldier-16, Tactics-14

Magos Iryn Johansen
Description:
Magos Iryn Johansen, is Imperial trained magos of the coin. Baron Janos relies on his skills for the organization of his estate and the training of his servants.
Magos Iryn, is a very capable bureaucrat but his greatest talent is in teaching. Like many castrated Magos, he has found his own family in his lord, his master's right hand man, his students and servants. He has several promising students, young men who are very capable and have returned from the Magos University to serve him in his weakening age.
Iryn is a very capable teacher of the ancient philosophers methods of critical thought. Secretly he is one of the "faithless" and dwells too much on godless philosophies.
Notable Traits: IQ15, Empathy, Teaching-18, Psychology-17

Sir Titos Corwin
Description:
Sir Titos is Jano's middle child, has a reputation for being strange. Even as a squire, Titos displayed unusual cunning and manipulative skills, which allowed him more opportunity to be on field of battle. What makes him strange is that, he will not participate in the action, instead he will provoke those around him, allies and enemies, to impulse and action to their demise.
Notable Traits: Fast Talk-16

Encounter: Strange Bandits

2009-08-24T02:27:00.000-07:00

Strange Bandits are raiding the area.
Background- The life of a soldier is a hard one, and one of the natural outcomes is to revert to banditry. Unfortunately circumstances can be complicated and banditry may be the only option. In this circumstance, a fairly large force has found itself too far from home and no where else to turn to.

There are many circumstances that will exile an army force, alienation and burned bridges are possibilities. Their loyalties and beliefs could have alienated them to the political reality of their home land, their families could have been held hostage against their return or have been brainwashed to revile them, or an accident, force majeure could have thrown them into a long perilous retreat into unknown territory or be blown away at sea only to be wrecked at an unknown coast.

This encounter is designed with Sins of the Crusade in mind but can be used in any other Fantasy or Medieval Game. A foreign army who have strange tactics and tools have upset the balance of power in the land, like an act of nature or change of the weather. Unarmored save for effectively camouflaged clothing and with light shielded, this army of fast moving skirmishers appeared suddenly and frighteningly. Circumstance and chance have lead them to take what they needed with violence. Quickly survivors notice their strange manner of fighting. Their unusal logistics and organization focus on running endurance. As highly capable runners the small force travels with only very rugged ponies for baggage. Their skilled path finder cut through difficult terrains and scarcely watered paths that cannot be followed by regular forces.

Theyare more familiar fighting in difficult terrain than in open plains. Some witness claims they are able to form a thickly packed spear formation, and according after gathering the claims, seem to do so with a discipline unseen for centuries. These soldiers have shortened spear-like broad bladed swords, improvised Long Spears and Javelins, and a strange simple device that lets them hurl these javelins with a force that deceptive of their size.

Some of them, have very small rugged ponies to carry their supplies. Others have strange crossbows, which can stand nearly a man's height and which is crossed with bone, horn and sinew. They wear simple desert colored rugged warriors robes, and sandals. Leading them, an unassuming figure, whose face is plain but marked with branded symbols.

The Leader. The leader is loyal to his men, and is caught in the machine that requires him to act in the best interests of their morale while trying to survive day by day in a hostile foreign land. He was his monarch's loyal general and defender, until he failed in his duty and was exiled along with his men.

The Second in Command. The leader's mentor and surrogate father. He is old and weakening but still manages to holds everything together, for former student, with superhuman will. He manages to hide his suffering a little longer than he hoped, but time quickly fading and devotion.

The Other Power. He is loyal and the leader's protege, but to many whispers and broken promises has filled his cup. Now that cup is about to spill, and if his fellow's cries reach his hardened heart one more time, he may not stop himself from spilling something else.

Adventure Circumstance. More than one force is acting on this small force. Not only internal, and environmental, but an antagonist has taken advantage of this orphaned force to use against a weakening neighbor. The Antagonist had fortunately deduced the force's reasons and has take the initiative to push them into his weaker neighbors lands to show him as a weak or impotent lord.

The PCs could be newly hired or untested vassals of the Victimed lord. Their lord is asking them to protect his charge and they have to fight an enemy whose tactics are strange and formidable.

Sample NPCs for the various Roles to follow (probably friday).

More Courtier Templates

2009-07-28T06:07:00.001-07:00

The adventuring troupe is not complete with the non-combatant arm of an adventuring party. Before I prepare a sample adventure for Sins of the Crusade. Note the Point difference between the Man at Arms and the Courtier, adjust the points accordingly (from 150 to 200, plus up to 75cp of disadvantages) so that the Courtier can participate in the melee (but as a supporting role).
This can be in the form of a formidable retainers at about 150cp (plus 75 disadvantages) taken from the Sergeant or the Freeman template options.
I wont go into too much detail why certain skills are the way they are, since I've tackled most of that with my previous writings about courtiers. Check out Game in the Brain for the special uses of Theology skill.

The High Born Courtier

150cp (45cp left)

Not all Nobles go into service as a Warrior. Other specialize in managing affairs of their family or their Patron. Courtiers represent the interest of powerful parties, and of course, their own personal interests. The template represents a courtier that can either be a man or a woman, and thus has no martial elements (which can be added with the remaining points). Some courtiers draw their power from the Religious Authority or a Tradition and Bureaucracy.

In Sins of the Crusade, this role is taken by many women and because of the Byzantine precedent of Dowager Empress Anna Komnena, more women have come to covetously dominate in affairs of court.

Attributes [60]: ST 10 [0]; DX 10 [0]; IQ 13 [60]; HT 10 [0].

Secondary Characteristics [0]: Damage 1d-2/1d BL 20 lbs.; HP 13 [0]; Will 13 [0]; Per 11 [0]; FP 10 [0]; Basic Speed 5 [0]; Basic Move 5 [0].

Advantages [55]:

High Noble [55]: Status (Court Noble) 3 [10]; Wealth (Very Wealthy) [30]; Patronage (Patrician Family, a Noble House or Great Clan- Extremely Powerful) (9) [15].

Social Background [5]: Cultural Familiarity (Native) [0]; Language (Ruling Language) (Speak and Read) (Native) [0]; Language (same alphabet) (2nd Dominant Language) (Accented) [2]; Language (same alphabet) (Religious Language) (Broken) [1]; Language (Speak and Read) (Powerful Neighbors Language) (Broken) [2].

Disadvantages [-75]: A total of -50 points selected from Bad Temper [-10*], Callous [-5], Curious [-5*], Chummy [-5 or -10], Code of Honor (Gentleman's) [-10], Disciplines of Faith [-5], Duty [variable], Enemy (Court Rival rival) [variable], Fanaticism (Family or Religion) [-15], Flashbacks [variable], Greedy [-10*], Lecherous [-15*], Honesty [-10*], Incurious [-5*], Intolerance [variable], Jealousy [-10], Nightmares [-5*], No Sense of Humor [-10], Overconfidence [-5*], Sense of Duty [-2 to -20], Pacifism (Reluctant killer) [-5], Stubbornness [-5*], Trickster [-15*], Unluckiness [-10], or Workaholic [-5].

Quirks [0]:

Total Skills [60]:

Primary Skills [25]:

Social Skills [25]: Politics (A) IQ+1 [4]-14; Acting (A) IQ+1 [4]-14; Savoir-Faire (High Society) IQ+2 [4]-15; Body language (A) Per+1 [4]-14; Detect Lies (H) Body Language-4 [0]-10; Public Speaking (A) IQ+1 [4]-14; Current Affairs (Court) IQ+2 [4]-15; Cultural Familiarity (Neighboring Power) [1].

Secondary Skills [20]:

Support Skills [10]: Intelligence Analysis (Politics) (H) IQ-1 [2]-12; Strategy (Politics) (H) IQ-1 [2]-12; Psychology (H) IQ-1 [2]-12; Law (High Court) (H) IQ-1 [2]-12; History (Families) (H) IQ-1 [2]-12.

Secondary Social Skills [5]: Diplomacy (H) IQ-1 [2]-12; Interrogation (A) IQ-1 [1]-12; Intimidation (A) IQ-1 [1]-12; Merchant (A) IQ-1 [1]-12.

Taboo Skills [5]: Streetwise (A) IQ-1 [1]-12; Shadowing (A) IQ-1 [1]-12; Poison (A) IQ-1 [1]-12; Sex Appeal (A) HT-1 [1]-9.

Background Skills [15]:

Noble Background [15]: Administration (A) IQ-1 [1]-12; Literature (Folk Lore) (H) IQ-2 [1]-11; Theology (Religion) (H) IQ-2 [1]-11; History (Local) (H) IQ-2 [1]-11; Writing (A) IQ-1 [1]-12; Dancing (A) DX [2]-10; Riding (A) DX [2]-10; Games (E) IQ [1]-13; Math (Applied) (H) IQ-2 [1]-11; Carousing (A) HT-1 [1]-9; Heraldry (A) IQ-1 [1]-12; Artist (Poetry) (H) IQ-2 [1]-11; Area Knowledge (Neighboring or Capital Region) (E) IQ [1]-13.

Equipment [12.lbs]:

Worn [11lbs]: Formal Court dress (Status 3) 4lbs; Outdoor Cloak 4lbs; Belt 1lbs; Shoes 2lbs.

Carried [1.5lbs]: Fine and Balanced Small Knife 0.5; Personals 1lb; .

The Ecclesiastic Courtier

150cp (45cp left)

The Church, unfortunately, is also an avenue for power. A separate entity from the governing body their Spiritual Jurisdiction gives them dominion and legitimacy.

In the Sins of the Crusade Setting, Church has waned because of the Emperor's power as both the head of state and of the Church. Still, altered role of the church as the Banks of the Empire (through some deft legal manipulations) and still a formidable Land Owner, has put them back on top.

Attributes [60]: ST 10 [0]; DX 10 [0]; IQ 13 [60]; HT 10 [0].

Secondary Characteristics [0]: Damage 1d-2/1d BL 20 lbs.; HP 13 [0]; Will 13 [0]; Per 11 [0]; FP 10 [0]; Basic Speed 5 [0]; Basic Move 5 [0].

Advantages [50]:

Ecclesiastic [50]: Status (A Landed Ecclesiastic ) 5 [15]; Religious Rank (Patriarch, Cardinal, or High Priest of the Capital or the Most powerful Church Estate) 7 [35].

Social Background [10]: Cultural Familiarity (Native) [0]; Language (Ruling Language) (Speak and Read) (Native) [0]; Language (same alphabet) (2nd Dominant Language) (Accented) [2]; Language (same alphabet) (Religious Language) (Fluent) [3]; Cultural Familiarity (Powerful Neighbor) (Native) [1]; Language (Speak and Read) (Powerful Neighbors Language) (Accented) [4].

Quirks [0]:

Total Skills [60]:

Primary Skills [25]:

Social Skills [25]: Politics (A) IQ+1 [4]-14; Acting (A) IQ+1 [4]-14; Theology IQ+1 [8]-14; Body language (A) Per+1 [4]-14; Detect Lies (H) Body Language-4 [0]-10; Public Speaking (A) IQ+1 [4]-14; Current Affairs (Court) IQ+2 [4]-15; Savoir-Faire (High Society) IQ+1 [1]-13.

Secondary Skills [20]:

Support Skills [10]: Intelligence Analysis (Politics) (H) IQ-1 [2]-12; Strategy (Politics) (H) IQ-1 [2]-12; Psychology (H) IQ-1 [2]-12; Law (Ecclesiastic Court) (H) IQ-1 [2]-12; History (Church) (H) IQ-1 [2]-12.

Secondary Social Skills [10]: Diplomacy (H) IQ-1 [2]-12; Interrogation (A) IQ+1 [4]-14; Intimidation (A) IQ+1 [4]-14.

Background Skills [15]:

Religous Background [15]: Administration (A) IQ+1 [4]-14; Literature (Folk Lore) (H) IQ-2 [1]-11; Religious Ritual (H) IQ [4]-13; Literature (religious Literature) (H) IQ-2 [1]-11; Writing (A) IQ-1 [1]-12; Accounting (H) IQ-1 [2]-12; Math (Applied) (H) IQ-2 [1]-11; Heraldry (A) IQ-1 [1]-12.

Equipment [12.lbs]:

Worn [11lbs]: Formal Court dress (Status 3) 4lbs; Outdoor Cloak 4lbs; Belt 1lbs; Shoes 2lbs.

Carried [1.5lbs]: Fine and Balanced Small Knife 0.5; Personals 1lb; .

The Bureaucrat Courtier

150cp (45cp left)

Those who run the affairs of the state, are privy to the power. Grand Vizirs, Queastors, Perfects, Chancelors, and Stewards of the Realm sometimes was just as powerful as the Kings or Emperors. Especially when these heads of state did not take an active role in running their domains.

In Sins of the Crusade, the Logothetes (Greek for Bureaucrats), are now beginning to match the Great Houses in Power. As the Bureaucracy has made the state run more efficiently and allowed for the state to field its own Standing Legions, common born men (eunuchs) Legionairs and the Logos now have a new avenue for power.

Attributes [60]: ST 10 [0]; DX 10 [0]; IQ 13 [60]; HT 10 [0].

Secondary Characteristics [0]: Damage 1d-2/1d BL 20 lbs.; HP 13 [0]; Will 13 [0]; Per 11 [0]; FP 10 [0]; Basic Speed 5 [0]; Basic Move 5 [0].

Advantages [50]:

Ecclesiastic [50]: Status (High Bureaucrat) 5 [15]; Bureaucrat Rank (Quaestor, Chancellor, Grand Viziers, Steward of the Realm) 7 [35].

Quirks [0]:

Total Skills [60]:

Primary Skills [25]:

Social Skills [25]: Politics (A) IQ+1 [4]-14; Acting (A) IQ+1 [4]-14; Merchant IQ+2 [8]-15; Body language (A) Per+1 [4]-14; Detect Lies (H) Body Language-4 [0]-10; Public Speaking (A) IQ+1 [4]-14; Current Affairs (Court) IQ+2 [4]-15; Savoir-Faire (High Society) IQ+1 [1]-13.

Secondary Skills [20]:

Secondary Social Skills [5]: Diplomacy (H) IQ-1 [2]-12; Interrogation (A) IQ-1 [1]-12; Intimidation (A) IQ-1 [1]-12; Merchant (A) IQ-1 [1]-12.

Background Skills [15]:

Bureaucrat Background [15]: Administration (A) IQ+2 [8]-15; Literature (Folk Lore) (H) IQ-2 [1]-11; Literature (Old Empire Literature) (H) IQ-2 [1]-11; Writing (A) IQ-1 [1]-12; Accounting (H) IQ-1 [2]-12; Math (Applied) (H) IQ-2 [1]-11; Heraldry (A) IQ-1 [1]-12.

Equipment [12.lbs]:

Worn [11lbs]: Formal Court dress (Status 3) 4lbs; Outdoor Cloak 4lbs; Belt 1lbs; Shoes 2lbs.

Carried [1.5lbs]: Fine and Balanced Small Knife 0.5; Personals 1lb.

My Template for Knights

2009-07-18T18:14:00.000-07:00

The Warrior Class.

The Knight is a term for the mounted warrior social class. In many ancient and medieval cultures, the warrior class is part of or composes the ruling class. These warrior classes are called by different names in different cultures.

Below is an example of Norman Knight of the 11th Century. This Knight meets many of the expectations of his aggressive martial peers while able to devote some time and practice to the finer aspects of war and nobility. He may have some vices, but his virtues as a warrior more than makes up for such imperfections to most Liege Lords.

Carolingian, Persian Savaran, Arab Faris, Turkish, Byzantine Kataphrakt, Steppe Nomad Heavy cavalry (like the Mongols, Kazaks) and Imperial Chinese Heavy Cavalry are similar with the differences in culture and doctrine. The template below is one of the most common kinds of man-at-arms encountered in most eras and cultures. Most cultures have had access to mail and .

Replace survival (woodlands) with desert or steppe, Animal Handling (Dogs) with (Falconry).
Replace Discipline of Faith, Theology, languages, and cultural Familiarity appropriately.

The Man-at-Arms

200cp (35cp free)

Attributes [120]: ST12 [20]; DX12 [40]; IQ12 [40]; HT12 [20]

Secondary Characteristics [0]: Dmg 1d-1/1d+2 [0]; BL 29 (33lbs for equipment; Home-brew Equipment) [0]; HP 12; FP 12 [0]; Per 12 [0]; Will 12 [0]; Spd 6 [0]; Move 6 [0]; Dodge 10.

Advantages [50]: Combat Reflex [15]; Status 2 (Warrior Class) [5]; Wealth (Wealthy) [20]; Patron (Liege Lord) (9) [10].

Disadvantages [-75]: Duty, Hazardous (to Liege Lord) (12) [-10] Sense of Duty (Family) [-5].Choose -60 points from among the following: Callous (12) [-5]; Compulsive Behavior (12) [-5 to -15];; Discipline of Faith (Christian) [-5]; Code of Honor (Soldier) [-10]; Debt [-1 to -10]; Delusion (Mild) [-5]' Intolerance (Non-Christians) [-5]; Incurious (12) [-5]; Curious (12) [-5]; Insomniac [-10 to -15]; Enemies [-5 to -15]; Gregarious [-10]; Hidebound [-5]; Intolerance (Non-Nobles) [-5]; Impulsive (12) [-10]; Overconfident (12) [-5]; Honest (12) [-10]; Pacifism (Cannot Harm Innocents) [-10]; Greedy (12) [-15]; Lecherous (12) [-15]; Berserk (12) [-10]; Blood Lust (12) [-10]; Bad Temper (12) [-10]; Gluttonous (12) [-10]; Selfish (12) [-5]; Fanaticism (Religion or Person) [-15]; Obsession (Long-Term goal) (12) [-10]: Truthful (12) [-5].

Social Background [5]: Cultural Familiarity (Norman) (Native) [0]; Language (French) (Speak and Read) (Native) [0]; Language (same alphabet) (English) (Accented) [2]; Language (same alphabet) (Latin) (Broken) [1]; Language (Speak and Read) (Greek) (Broken) [2].

Skill Total [75]

Primary Skills [40]:

Knightly Arms [18]:. A Man-at-Arms is primarily a warrior by profession, his skill at arms determines his value in the battle field and Peers. Although, his role as Heavy Cavalry stresses the value of Axe/Mace and Spear skill, his skill with the sword is important in preserving his honor from those who would question it. Broadsword (A) DX+1 [4]-14; Weapon Bond (Broadsword) Perk [1]; Style Perk [1]; Axe/Mace (A) DX [2]-12; Spear (A) DX+1 [4]-13; Cavalry Weapon (Spear) (H) Spear+0 [2]-13; Shield (E) DX+2 [4]-14; Knife (E) DX [1]-12; Wrestling (A) DX [2]-12; Brawling (E) DX [1]-12.

For Horse Archers Lens.

Horsearchery [+20]: Bow (A) DX+3 [12]-15; Horsearchery (H) Bow+0 [5]; Fast draw (arrow) (E) DX+1 [2]-14; Strongbow Perk [1].

Heavy Cavalryman [22]: As a professional warrior, there are many important disciplines beyond skill of arms that directly affect the Man-at-Arms's battle field value. Soldier (A) IQ+2 [8]-14; Riding (A) DX [2]-12; Combat Riding (H) Riding+3 [4]-15; Hands-free Riding (H) Riding+0 [4]-12; Animal handling (Horses) (A) IQ-1 [1]-11; Packing (A) IQ-1 [1]-9; Savoir-Faire (Miltiary) (E) IQ [1]-12; Tactics (Land) (H) IQ-2 [1]-10.

Secondary Skills [20]:

Command and Campaigning [9]: Those of the Warrior class are considered above those who are not of their class, and are expected to lead their peers and those who owe them or their lord their arms and loyalties. Administration (A) IQ-1 [1]-11; Strategy (Land) (H) IQ-2 [1]-10; Intelligence Analysis (Military) (H) IQ-2 [1]-10; Leadership (A) IQ-1 [1]-11; Public Speaking (A) IQ-1 [1]-11; History (War) (H) IQ-1 [2]-11; Psychology (H) IQ-2 [1]-10; Hiking (A) HT-1 [1]-11.

Hunting [11]: A very important noble past time. Hunting is not only a sport but essential in teaching the basics of tactics to young nobles and to maintain combat readiness. Tracking (A) Per-1 [1]-11; Stealth (A) DX-1 [1]-11; Survival (Woodland) (A) Per-1 [1]-11; Animal Handling (Dogs or Falconry) (A) IQ-1 [1]-11; Bow (A) DX+1 [4]-13 or Crossbow (E) DX+2 [4]-14; Running (A) HT-1 [1]-11; Climbing (A) DX-1 [1]-11; Swimming (E) HT [1]-12; .

Background Skills [15]:

Noble Background [15]: A noble's education is important in marking him as part of his peerage and alowing him to best interact with them. Without such skills, he will find himself unable to participate and find common ground with those of their class. Literature (Folk Lore) (H) IQ-2 [1]-10; Theology (Latin Church of Rome) (H) IQ-2 [1]-10; History (Family) (H) IQ-2 [1]-10; History (Local) (H) IQ-2 [1]-10; Savoir-Faire (High Society) (E) IQ [1]-12; Writing (A) IQ-1 [1]-11; Dancing (A) DX-1 [1]-11; Games (E) IQ [1]-12; Math (Applied) (H) IQ-2 [1]-10; Carousing (A) HT-1 [1]-11; Heraldry (A) IQ-1 [1]-11; Artist (Poetry) (H) IQ-2 [1]-10; Current Affairs (Politics) (E) IQ [1]-12; Diplomacy (H) IQ-2 [1]-10; Area Knowledge (Neighboring or Capital Region) (E) IQ [1]-12.

Cavalry Load-Out:

Basic Load-Out: This is the basic load out of a Man-at-Arms without his full combat dress. Arming Clothes (Body and Limbs) $60 6lbs; Military Belt $10 1lbs; Clothes (Tabbard with Heraldry or Miltiary Cloak) (Status 2) $600 2lbs; Underclothes $10 0.5lbs; Good Broadsword and Scabbard $600 3lbs; Large Knife $20 0.5lb; Pouch of Personals $5 1lbs; Boots $80 3lbs. Total $775 17lbs.

Heavy Cavalry Combat Load-Out: This is the full compliment of a knights kit. Bracers and Mail Gloves $240 3.5lbs; Mail Sleeved Hauberk $650 17.5lbs; Greeves $180 4lbs; Heavy Norman Helm and Mail Coif $200 7lbs; Mail Sabbatons $100 2lbs; Axe $50, 4lbs; Small Shield (Horseman's Shield) $40 8lbs; Fine Balanced Longspear $420 5lbs. Total $1,880 51lbs (Medium Encumbrance).

Total Combat Load: 68lbs (Light)

Horse-Archer Load-out: (add to Heavy Cavalry Load-out) Composite Bow $900 4lbs; x2 Quivers 60 Fine Arrows $380 10lbs; Total $1,040 +14lbs

Total Combat Load: 66.5lbs (Light).

Dodge: 9 (10 with shield)

Move: 4

DR: Face 4/2/3*, Skull 10/8/9, Neck 4/2/3*, Hands 4/2/3*, Feet 6/4/5*, Torso 4/2/3*, Groin 4/2/3*, ,Arms (Lower roll 1-2 in a d6) 4/ (Upper roll 3-5 in a d6) 4/2/3*, Legs (Lower roll 1-3 in a d6) 4/ (Upper roll 4-6 in a d6) 4/2/3*.

Horses: 2 Riding Light Horse $2,000; Light Warhorse $4000; Riding Gear $100 15lbs; Combat Riding Gear $350 45lbs. Total $6450.

Combat Feats

Regular Attack: Broadsword-14, parry-11, dmg 1d+1 imp/ 1d+3 cut
Shield: Shield-14, 1d-1cr, Block-11.
Heavy Charge (requires a minimum move 7) with Fine Balanced Spear: Spear-14 (All-out-Attack: Strong) 2d+2 imp.
Mounted Archery at 30 yrds: Bow-14 (terminal aim and All-out-Attack: Dedicated) 2d or 1d+4; imp or (2)pi.
Slam, Trample and Overrun (move of 7) : Slam-12 1d+2 cr

The Sergeant

Sergeants are soldier servants who are usually drawn from the class below the nobles and serve them in combat. What makes sergeants special, is the matter that they are full filing the role of a Noble man, but at a lower expense to the employer. A sergeant's training is similar to that of a squire, observing and being personally taught by the professional warrior the trade, but unlike the noble only extreme acts of duty will promote them to that of peer.

150cp (35cp free)

Attributes [100]: ST12 [20]; DX12 [40]; IQ11 [20]; HT12 [20]

Secondary Characteristics [0]: Dmg 1d-1/1d+1 [0]; BL 29 [0] (33lbs for equipment; Home-brew Equipment); HP 12; FP 12 [0]; Per 11 [0]; Will 11 [0]; Spd 6 [0]; Move 6 [0]; Dodge 10.

Advantages [30]: Combat Reflex [15]; Status 1 (Cavalry Retainer) [5]; Wealth (Comfortable) [10].

Disadvantages [-75]: Duty, Hazardous (to Master) (12) [-10].Choose -65 points from among the following: Callous (12) [-5]; Discipline of Faith (Christian) [-5]; Sense of Duty (Family) [-5]; Compulsive Behavior (12) [-5 to -15]; Code of Honor (Soldier) [-10]; Debt [-1 to -10]; Delusion (Mild) [-5]' Intolerance (Non-Christians) [-5]; Incurious (12) [-5]; Curious (12) [-5]; Insomniac [-10 to -15]; Enemies [-5 to -15]; Gregarious [-10]; Hidebound [-5]; Intolerance (Non-Nobles) [-5]; Impulsive (12) [-10]; Overconfident (12) [-5]; Honest (12) [-10]; Pacifism (Cannot Harm Innocents) [-10]; Greedy (12) [-15]; Lecherous (12) [-15]; Berserk (12) [-10]; Blood Lust (12) [-10]; Bad Temper (12) [-10]; Gluttonous (12) [-10]; Selfish (12) [-5]; Fanaticism (Religion or Person) [-15]; Obsession (Long-Term goal) (12) [-10]: Truthful (12) [-5].

Social Background [0]: Cultural Familiarity (Norman) (Native) [0]; Language (French) (Speak but illiterate) (Native) [-3]; Language (English) (Accented) [2]; Language (French Dialect) (Accented) [1].

Skill Total [60]

Primary Skills [27]:

Heavy Cavalryman [30]: A sergeants most valuable contribution to his employer is his obedience. Primarily he is a servant-soldier and must be capable of take orders and not flinch from enduring or executing them. Soldier (A) IQ+3 [12]-14; Teamwork Perk [1]; Riding (A) DX [2]-12; Combat Riding (H) Riding+2 [3]-14; Hands-free Riding (H) Riding+0 [4]-12; Animal Handling (Horses) (A) IQ-1 [1]-10; Packing (A) IQ-1 [1]-10; Savoir-Faire (Servant) (E) IQ [1]-11; Tactics (Land) (H) IQ-2 [1]-9; Hiking (A) HT+1 [4]-13.

Secondary Skills [20]:

Warriors Arms [20]: Second to his value to take orders, is the Sergeant's Combat Skill. Choose a Primary Weapon from Broadsword, Axe/Mace, or Spear (default is Spear) (A) DX+1 [4]-14; Cavalry Weapon (Spear) (H) Spear+0 [2]-12; Choose a Secondary Weapon and a Backup Weapon from Broadsword, Shortsword, Axe/Mace, or Spear (A) DX [2]-12; Shield (E) DX+2 [4]-14; Knife (E) DX [1]-12; Wrestling (A) DX [2]-12; Throwing Spear or Axe/Mace (E) DX [1]-12; Weapon bond (Default Primary Weapon) [1]; Style Perk [1].

For Horse Archers Lens. Horsearchery [+20]: Bow (A) DX+3 [12]-15; Horsearchery (H) Bow+0 [5]; Fast draw (arrow) (E) DX+1 [2]-14; Strongbow Perk [1].

Background Skills [10]:

Yeoman Background [10]: A Yeoman background are made up of skills that make him self-sustaining and ready in the face of hardships. Literature (Folk Lore) (H) IQ-2 [1]-9; Savoir-Faire (Servant) (E) IQ [1]-11; Games (E) IQ [1]-11; Tracking (A) Per-1 [1]-10; Stealth (A) DX-1 [1]-11; Survival (Woodland) (A) Per-1 [1]-10; Animal Handling (Farm Animals) (A) IQ-1 [1]-11; Farming (A) IQ-1 [0]-10; Navigation (Land) (A) IQ-1 [1]-10; Running (A) HT-1 [1]-11; Swimming (E) HT [1]-12.

Cavalry Load-Out:

Basic Load-Out: This is the basic load out of a Man-at-Arms without his full combat dress. Arming Clothes (Body and Limbs) $60 6lbs; Military Belt $10 1lbs; Clothes (Tabbard with Heraldry or Miltiary Cloak) (Status 1) $120 2lbs; Underclothes $10 0.5lbs; Cheap Broadsword and Scabbard $360 3lbs; Large Knife $20 0.5lb; Pouch of Personals $5 1lbs; Boots $80 3lbs. Total $665 17lbs.

Heavy Cavalry Combat Load-Out: This is the full combat kit. Cheap Bracers and Mail Gloves $135 3.5lbs; Cheap Mail Sleeved Cavalryman Hauberk $325 17.5lbs; Cheap Greeves $90 4lbs; Medium Norman Helm and Light Mail Coif $110 5lbs; Axe $50 4lbs; Small Shield (Horseman's Shield) $40 8lbs; Balanced Longspear $300 5lbs. Total $890 47lbs (Light Encumbrance).

Total Combat Load: 64lbs (Light)

Horse-Archer Load-out: (add to Heavy Cavalry Load-out) Composite Bow $900 4lbs; x2 Quivers 60 Fine Arrows $380 10lbs; Total $1,040 +14lbs

Total Combat Load: 66lbs (Light).

Dodge: 9 (10 with shield)

Move: 4

DR: Face 4/2/2*, Skull 8/6/6, Neck 4/2/2*, Hands 4/2/3*, Arms (Lower roll 1-2 in a d6) 3/ (Upper roll 3-5 in a d6) 4/2/2*, Feet 6/4/4*, Torso 4/2/2*, Groin 4/2/2*, Arms (Lower 1-3) 4/ (upper 4-6) 4/2/2*, Legs (Lower roll 1-3 in a d6) 3/ (Upper roll 4-6 in a d6) 4/2/2*.

Horses: 2 Riding Pony $1,500; War Pony $3000; Riding Gear $100 15lbs; Combat Riding Gear $350 45lbs. Total $4950.

Combat Feats

Regular Attack: Axe-12, parry-11U, Dmg 1d+3 cut
Shield: Shield-14, 1d-1cr, Block-11.
Heavy Charge (requires a minimum move 7) with Fine Balanced Spear: Spear-13 (All-out-Attack: Strong) 1d+3 imp.
Mounted Archery at 30 yrds: Bow-14 (terminal aim and All-out-Attack: Dedicated) 2d or 1d+4; imp or (2)pi.
Slam, Trample and Overrun (move of 7) : Slam-12 1d+2 cr

The Freeman

The freeman have always made up most of the fighting force in armies. Freemen have a special status, related to their right to bear arms and their significantly better chances to rise in station. Roman Citizens, Yeomen, Persian Azadan, Vikings, etc were considered their civilization's freemen.

120cp (35cp free)

Attributes [90]: ST11 [10]; DX12 [40]; IQ11 [20]; HT12 [20]

Secondary Characteristics [0]: Dmg 1d-1/1d+1 [0]; BL 29 [0] (33lbs for equipment; Home-brew Equipment); HP 11; FP 12 [0]; Per 11 [0]; Will 11 [0]; Spd 6 [0]; Move 6 [0]; Dodge 10.

Advantages [15]: Combat Reflex [15].

Skill Total [55]

Primary Skills [27]:

Professional Soldier [27]: Freemen are the backbone of a State's army. Their's the most difficult task and requires the strictest discipline to survive . Soldier (A) IQ+3 [12]-14; Riding (A) DX [2]-12; Animal Handling (Pack Animal) (A) IQ-1 [1]-10; Packing (A) IQ-1 [1]-10; Team work Perk or Shield-Wall Training Perk [1]; Savoir-Faire (Servant) (E) IQ [1]-11; Tactics (Land) (H) IQ-2 [1]-9; Hiking (A) HT+2 [8]-14.

Secondary Skills [18]:

Soldier Arms [18]: Choose a Primary Weapon from Broadsword, Axe/Mace, or Spear (default is Spear) (A) DX+1 [4]-14; Choose a Secondary Weapon and a Backup Weapon from Broadsword, Shortsword, Axe/Mace, or Spear (A) DX [2]-12; Shield (E) DX+2 [4]-14; Knife (E) DX [1]-12; Wrestling (A) DX [2]-12; Throwing Spear or Axe/Mace (E) DX [1]-12; Weapon bond (Default Primary Weapon) [1]; Style Perk [1].

For Archers Lens. Archer [+20]: Bow (A) DX+2 [8]-15; Special Exercise (Arm Strength) Perk x2 [2]; Arm Strength +2 [6]; Fast draw (arrow) (E) DX+1 [2]-14; Strongbow Perk [1]; Weapon Bond (Bow) [1].

Background Skills [10]:

Infantry Load-Out:

Basic Load-Out: . Arming Clothes (Body) $30 4lbs; Military Belt $10 1lbs; Clothes (Tabbard with Heraldry or Military Cloak) (Status 0) $60 2lbs; Underclothes $10 0.5lbs; Cheap Shortsword and Scabbard $240 2lbs; Large Knife $20 0.5lb; Pouch of Personals $5 1lbs; Shoes $40 2lbs. Total $415 13lbs.

Heavy Infantry Combat Load-Out: This is the full combat kit. Cheap Bracers and Leather Gloves $80 1.5lbs; Cheap Light Mail Haubergeon (Body) $200 10lbs; Cheap Legionnaire Helm $75 5lbs; Medium Shield (Footman's Shield) $60 15lbs; Balanced Spear $200 4lbs; Waterskin $20 (2 liters) 5lbs. Total $635 40.5lbs (Light Encumbrance).

Total Combat Load: 53.5lbs (Light)

Archer Load-out: War Bow $200 4lbs; x2 Quivers 60 Fine Arrows $380 10lbs; Total $880 +14lbs

Total Combat Load: 66lbs (Light).

Dodge: 9 (10 with shield)

Move: 4

DR: Head 5, Hands 2*, Feet 1*, Torso 4/2/2*, Groin 4/2/2*, Arms (lower 1-2) 3/ (upper 3-6) none, Legs none.

Horses: Riding Pony $750; Sumpter Horse $500; Riding Gear $100 15lbs; Total $1350.

Combat Feats

Regular Attack: Spear-15, parry-11U, Dmg 1d+2 imp
Shield: Shield-14, 1d-1cr, Block-11.
Archery at 30 yrds: Bow-14 (terminal aim and All-out-Attack: Dedicated) 2d+1 or 1d+5; imp or (2)pi.
Slam, Trample and Overrun (move of 7) : Slam-12 1d+2 cr

Home Brew Rule:

Efficient Encumbrance: Use Lifting ST +1 when LBE or Equipment weight is distributed efficiently.

Soldiering Skill: Add Skill modifier to BL.

Changes: Fixed Equipment (again!). Made the Non-vitals more modular, as to the preferences in my readings and the sense it made to do so. In many occasions and battle field conditions, flexibility is far more important.

The Imperial Line

2009-04-01T01:56:00.000-07:00

Constantine XIII, won the throne almost 10 years ago. Alliances always shift, this is current one in 366th year of the New Roman Calendar (1463 in the Gregorian Calendar). Constantine XIII, the unlikely emperor, was a son of a vassal line. Important Vassals married into the main line and can be eligible of the name in this manner. This was a common practice since incest was forbidden by the Church and having a capable male heir was challenging.

Constantine was the 7th in line to the Baldwin house and 6 before him fell in the war and treachery. He was both fortunate, cunning and insightful. His early supporters in the Osman House, was what changed the tide during House Baldwin's wavering hour against House Flor and Komena. House Ad'Din remained neutral, because of their strong family ties with House Osman and the Flor knifes at their throat and the Flor fleets at their gates.

As emperor, he brought justice to the long grievances the Osmans had suffered under Flor and Komena rule. He had settled the legions north to guard Osman's borders and made their city great. He had established the Easter Legions in Bagdad, to ward against the Barbarians of the east. He had brought stability and his reign was marked by the longest summer, 8 years.

Project Outline

2009-03-30T03:14:00.001-07:00

Game Setting.
(2 hours) House Komena: Resources, Families, Family Tree, Vassals, Resources, Army, and Territories.
(2 hours) House Osman: (same)
(2 hours) House Baldwin: (same)
(2 hours) House Ad'Din: (same)
(2 hours) House Flor: (same)
(2 hours) Setting key Persona Relationship Tree.
(2 hours) Pressing threats of the empire (by priority)
(2 hours) Edit Setting Map

Character Creation.
(2 hours) Wealth, Status and Economic Roles.
(2 hours) Characterization: Default Disadvantages.
(2 hours) Backgrounds.
(5 hours) Professions and Dramatic Roles.

Total Time: 28 hours.
Target number of hours per week. 4 hour slots.

Its about time

2009-02-23T02:12:00.000-08:00

Well i have time now. Anyway, I'm working on a 11C Crusades Dark Fantasy Campaign Setting, that I plan to run this march. It is called "Sins of the Crusade".

The Concept of the setting story is based on the premise "What if Alexius was Successful?". This alternate timeline explores the historical implications of a successful cooperation between the Byzantine Emperor and the Crusaders after Antioch. It Imagines a Reborn Roman Empire and the cost such a Rebirth would mean to the rest of the world. It's fantasy slant comes from the sinister repurcussions, of blending Norman Expansionist Appetite with Byzantine Perpetuating Oligarchies.

The result is a more complicated Byzantine Political Structure that perpetuates suffering and regresses technology while maintaining the Imperial Status Quo for Centuries.

The Fantasy Elements is in the Perpetual Dark Irony and Suffering the Rulers of the Empire live. Each generation suffering darker and darker tragedies. The Pain of the decendants of the Conquerors is drawn out over centuries. It culminates to a point that dark powers further extend the suffering with curses of undeath, immortality, and monsters. The land also suffers these dark curse as the world suffers cycles of famine that last years, nights that last weeks, mists that shroud the east, storms that wall western sea, ferocious jungles in the south and the winter of the north.

Its Byzantium in Perpetua at a cost that cannot be paid.

Equipment Lists

2008-12-21T18:56:00.000-08:00

This is filler until the real Low Tech comes around. It is mostly based on the discussion on the forums. It has a simplification of the shield discussion, the bow accuracy discussion, the armors are basedon Dan's articles and the horse discussions.

They are in PDF form since I use open office.

GURPS 4e Low Tech Equipment 1st Crusades Era.pdf
for Armors Shields and Bows.

GURPS 4e Horses v2.pdf

to download without much hassle: just scroll down the page and choose the basic service. Its under the flashy red sign.

Note on Horses: I didn't bother improving the ST to Wt. ratio as per suggested in the horse threads since it was a very tricky matter because I wouldn't know the ST ranges of different breeds.

If you have any changes to suggest please post it here to alert anyone who is interested in the Hand out.

Notes on the way the information is organized. Seeing such a list of equipment will typically delay game start time. Ideally this information is already organized into Outfits which can be customized or taken as is.

Organizing Outfits and Primary Horses into cards would speed up character creation. Players selecting from the cultural and combat role packages could easily narrow down their choices from their own needs.

11C Outfit Cards are still in the works

Some Basic Equipment

2008-10-30T20:05:00.000-07:00

Squadron or Deckarchy Equipment. (p. 138)
1st. Footman:
1) Thick Tunic which extends down over the knees.
2) Heavy Hiking Sandals.
Note: boots are discouraged for hiking.
3) Short Cloaks.

2008-10-30T00:05:00.000-07:00

Finally Got my copy of the strategikon. I'm painting some Byzantine Figs (5century) and organizing a targetnumber based set of rules derived from Warhammer. GURPS, my own biometric research, and my own findings.

The myriad peoples of the Byzantine Game.

2008-07-30T02:14:00.000-07:00

The Peoples a Player can choose for a character are as follows:

Byzantine
Greek
Macedonian
Ilyrian
Armenian
Latin

Nomad
Hun
Thracian
Avar
Arab

Sassanid (Persia)
Acheamenid
Assyrian
Kurd

Barbarian
Isaurian
Goth
Slav
Iberian
Numidian
Celt

Outside Kingdoms
Egyptian
Ethiopian
Franks
Artorians (British Celts)

Hiatus

2008-07-21T23:55:00.001-07:00

Right now I'm very busy and I don't think I will be free to update until august.

Armor Testing Exercises

2008-06-12T19:54:00.000-07:00

Just reload if the vid is not showing.

chat was here!

2008-05-19T04:39:00.000-07:00

Basic Set Quick Fixes

2008-05-15T18:10:00.001-07:00

I've been mulling around the wealth issue in GUPRS 4E and I've come to have made some interesting "mechanics" for determining character's wealth, based on their Income and not the Predetermined Starting Wealth. A debate that has always come up in the forums is the very small amount of wealth afforded to the character. Pyramid Articles about Building Low tech landscapes and GURPS Fantasy complicates as it brings the parameter of family into consideration.

Shared Wealth. A character is assumed to be part of a family, this is because families were the most basic economic unit of Low-Tech times and, economically, individuals as economic units were exceptions. A character with the shared wealth of a family (or something like a family) begins the game with Shared Assets worth his Annual Income. This means members of his family contribute to a shared Standard of Living for their Status.
Characters with out the shared wealth of a family earns 1 level of wealth lower than that of his status and only meets a Cost of Living 2 levels lower than his actual status.

Ex. A TL3 Knight is usually at Least Wealthy will have $42,000 of shared assets*. A bachelor TL3 Knight would earn at Wealth (comfortable; $1,400) and would only need the Cost of Living of a Freeman Family ($600) to support his status as a Knight.
* The value of Land or Rights to Tax a those who lived on a land was equal the Annual income generated. The common agreement between all nobles regardless of culture and kingdom is to ransom a noble equal to their Annual Income. Sometimes earned and pain in full, was promised upon a early release, or not at all honored by the host party.
The value of the assets may earn as much to 3 to 5 times when being bought by another party, otherwise it is the minimum value of the assets when the family would be trying to sell it quickly.

Personal Assets. This is the cash value of a Character's gear is equal to his twice his Disposable income. This includes, transportation, equipment, and his baggage train.

Ex. the same family man TL3 Knight will have $12,000 of personal assets. A bachelor TL3 Knight has $19,600.

A Quick Fix. Before GURPS4E low Tech (about a year from now) ever shows up, here are some quick fix rules to the Low tech.

Anomalies in Price and Equipment Weights. A compromise between accuracy and quick-resolution. .

Swords are 1/2 the price.
Metal Human Armor x4 the price, x0.56 the Wt.
Helmets are x3 the price, x.66 the Wt.
Metal Horse Barding x2 the price

Total $11,597

Typical Personal Assets of a TL3 Knight (11C). $2155 56lbs

Gambeson $30 4lbs
Double Riveted Mail Haubergeon $800 20lbs *
Light Riveted Mail Mail Sleeves and Leggings $280 13lbs *
Mail Coif with Arming Cap $150 3lbs
Legionary Helmet $450 4lbs
Military Belt (TL1 version of Web gear) $55 2lbs
Broadsword $300 3lbs
Mace $50 5lbs
Light Shield $40 2lbs

Heavy warhorse: Total cost $5,662

Strong war trained saddle horse $3,600,
Load: Rider (216) plus Gear (51) plus armor (81) = 304 / 375 (medium load)
Move 3/7 (medium encumbrance)
Horse Slam 2d-1 crushing
Bit and Bridle, Horseshoes, and War Saddle 42lbs, $335
Complete Mail Barding $1,660, 81lbs
Long Spear $60; 5lbs (skill-12; 1d+1 imp, plus 2d-1 imp when charging)
Rations x2, $4, 1lb
Ceramic Bottle of Water (1 liter) $3, 3lbs

Traveling Gear: $4,095

2 Small Mules $2,000
Cheap Pony Cheap $750
Very Cheap Pony $325
Tent 4-man $300; 100lbs
Water Skins x6 (16 liters) 54lbs
Saddle Bags x3 $600 60lbs
Rations x120, $120, 45lbs

*Chain Mail -- Why bother -by Dan Howard

Character Backgrounds

2008-05-05T05:35:00.000-07:00

6th Century. The world, as the Romans knew it, has come to an end. A hundred years ago, the barbarians came and conquered Rome, marking the end of western civilization and the start of the Dark Ages.

What remains is the Eastern Roman Empire besieged by barbarians from all sides, threatened by a rival empire to its east and suffers from internal conflicts within.

Yet there is still hope in these dark times, much has changed in roman society and for the better. The fate of the empire is not anymore exclusive to the elites of society. Many men and women, from humble beginnings, have risen to power.

The Darkening Age is a dark fantasy setting based on the incredible story of the Byzantine Empire as it struggles and triumphs against the odds. It is also a unique time in history where many of the key figures who were ordinary people, now hold the reigns of one of the worlds greatest empires.

Stuff that is not found online Anymore

2008-05-03T01:41:00.000-07:00

This is from the Strategikon (check the link on the left)

8 Strategos (General)
7 Merarch, Hypo Strategos (Lieutenant General)
6 Moirarch (Infantry Brigadier), Dux (Cavalry Brigadier), Chiliarchs,Taxiarchs
5 Count (Cavalry Major), Tribune (Infantry Major)
4 Hekatonarch aka Centurion (Captain)
3 Illarch (Liutenant) 2nd in command to the Hekatonarch, or a Pentatonarch (Leads half a Century)
2 Dekarch (Sergeant)
1 Pentarch (Corporeal), Tetrarch,

The basic Status of Infantry is Status -1
the basic Status of Infantry Private Retainers (aka Bucellari) is Status 0.
The basic Status of Cavalry is Status 1

Specialist Army Roles.
Optimates. The Best Men
Medical Corpsmen
Outflanker
Flank Guards
Assault Troops.
Reconnoiters
Defenders. (defensive units)
Quartering Parties
Surveyors

Army Groupings
Tagma (Army; Led by Strategos) = 3 Meros (Divisions)
Meros (Division; led by Merarch) = 3 Moiras (Brigades)
Moiras (Brigades; Led by Moirarch) = 2 to 6 Bandons/Tagmas (Regiments)
Bandons (Regiment; Led by Counts or Tribunes) = 3 to 4 Centuries/ Hekatons (one is latin the other is greek of the same term).
Century/ Hekaton (Led by a Hekatonarch) = 10 Contuberi.
Contubernium (led by a Dekarch) = Dekarch, 7 men, and 2 servants*

My Byzantine Project.

2008-04-27T01:32:00.000-07:00

This is my GURPS Byzantine Project. There is a large problem getting published when the place you are applying in have no resources even to answer your queries. A friend told me that waiting for 4+ months to a year for an answer is the standard for the publishers. It may be the case but it is still no excuse, IMO, for anyone to wait for an answer. 4 months is too much time, what more a year... at least there are blogs.

I'll be posting my research concerning GURPS byzantium and its game implications here. Basically, information that would suffice to run a grounded GURPS byzantium game without breaking any copyrights.