Dark Ages Campaign - campaign rules update

Just a quick update on the rules this time.  I looked at the next field action (Wessex invades Hwicce) and realised that the numbers of troops available was going to get out of hand using the troop selection rules as originally planned (something like 10,000 v 9300 a side in game statistic terms if each element is 240 men).  While I know it's only a game and what really matters is the number of elements on the table, in this case 42 v 30, it still didn't sit right with me. So I wondered how I could restrict the troop numbers without making fights between single provinces become mere skirmishes (which might actually be the proper interpretation).

An evening's reading around on military obligations (and a well spent hour reading a paper on the location and etymology of muster points and what it meant for army logistics in Wessex, not core to the point, but very interesting) suggested that for the Anglo-Saxons and Welsh I was giving too free a hand for troops to leave their own regions.

I already knew that the system of Anglo-Saxon organisation for active duty within the Fyrd changed in the reign of Alfred the Great but in the interests of simplicity I have decided to use a similar logic from the start of the game and for all nations apart from the Danes and Norse viking raids. I already have a different system for them intended to create a series of escalating raids until a 'Great Army' can be recruited.

As before available troops can join an army in their own province or an adjacent province to their own. and if the king commands he can levy troops from additional provinces by raising from provinces adjacent to those normally raised.  So those adjacent to those adjacent to the muster province, if that makes sense.  To offset the impact of the king being present I will require his element to be the command element and increase his chance of death.  Well Kings have to be seen to lead from the front, at least in my world view.

Troops will be broken down into three levels of availability:

• First Tier - Personal troops of generals.  These go where their Lord goes.  In terms of Anglo-Saxons in the DBA lists these are the 4Bd Hird.  I have also included Psiloi as there are always a few youths ready to go off on an adventure.  All of these troops can be raised in the muster province and adjacent provinces.
• Second tier - 50% are available when attacking and 100% when defending.  These are the Anglo-Saxon Sp Select Fyrd.  These can be raised in their own and adjacent provinces.
• Third Tier - Raised to defend their own province only these are the Anglo-Saxon 7Hd Great Fyrd.

All of the above are troops raised without the King being present.  Add the additional adjacent provinces when he is present.  For example (have the game map available to make sense of this!).  Mercia is attacking Cant.  They muster the army in Suth Rige.  This allows them to raise all the first and half the second tier troops in Suth Rige, and all the first tier troops from South Seaxe and Middle Seaxe.  If the Mercian King was present he would be able to raise the men of Ciltern Saetan as this is adjacent to a province which is itself adjacent to the muster province.  The percentages available don't change just the provinces where troops can be raised.  In Cent the King can raise all his troops as he is defending.

As not all of the troops lists easily break down into the equivalents of the Anglo-Saxon categories I have made unilateral divisions of troops into three categories:  I will explain how that works when it next happens.

Ot perhaps I should simply relax and accept that an element is just an element no more, no less just some small toy soldiers glued to a base!