I had signed up to present two games as Historicon in July. Although it hasn't been officially cancelled yet, I'll be very surprised if the convention happens. Nonetheless, I have been preparing, just in case. So here's some pictures of the layout I intend to use, if not at Historicon, at the next convention when I can run a game.
The game is called Leonardo da Vinci and the Prince of Foxes. The plot line for the game is loosely based on the historical novel The Prince of Foxes by Samuel Shellabarger and the movie of the same name starring Tyrone Power, Everett Sloane, and Orson Welles. I then combined it with the speculative war machine designs of Leonardo da Vinci.
In the game, peasant artist-turned-imposter-nobleman, Andrea Orisini has been sent by Cesare Borgia to undermine Marc-Antonio Verano, Lord of Citta del Monte as part of Borgia's plans of conquering central Italy. However, Orsini has turned away from villainy by the goodness of the old lord and his beautiful (and much younger wife) Donna Camilla. Using the notebook of his former master, Leonardo da Vinci, Orsini has fashioned a host of amazing war machines to defend the city. However, Borgia has decided to fight fire with fire and has hired the Great Leonardo himself.
I'll be using variations on the Lion Rampant rules family for this, leaning heavily on Dragon Rampant and Pikeman's Lament.
Regarding the scenery, many of the buildings and the hill itself are scratch-built. Other buildings and decorations come from TT Combat, Charlie Foxtrot, Things in the Basement, and Old Glory. The ground clothe is from Cigar Box Battle Mats. The figures are a mix, mainly Old Glory, Wargames Foundry, Perry, and Games Workshop.
Here are some pictures of the table. A large Borgian army is moving against the city. They hope to avoid a lengthy siege by the use of a new element - airpower!
The aerial assault on the city.
The Borgian infantry advance against the main Citta del Montan line supported by land ships
A large mobile siege mortar lends its weight to the attack.
The thin line of defenders
The proud mountain-top city
The air fleet gathers
Leonardo himself commands the flagship
Elite mercenaries form the assault troops
Defending this city is the heroic Andrea Orsini, captaining an attack glider.
Old Lord Verano leads more traditional troops.
Donna Camilla commands the city's garrison.
Sister Lucia, a living saint, is there to make sure everyone is on their best behavior.
Riding to the rescue of the gallant lady is the French knight, the Chevalier Bayard who wants nothing more than to perform acts of heroic stupidity.
The Borgia Pope has sent along the Vatican choir to aid the morale of the attackers.
The Borgians are led by the brutal Catalan Captain Estaban Ramirez.
Aiding him is Cardinal Ippolito D'Este, a younger son of the Duke of Ferrara who has personal reasons to hate Orsini.
Also with the attackers is Angela Borgia, cousin to Cesare and former and very jealous lover of Orsini.
Orsini borrowed some of Leonardo's best ideas - here a steam cannon.
A multi-armed catapult.
A high-angle mortar is perched atop the city's church tower.
A view of the city square.
Here are some additional pictures of the battlefield
Loyal peasants harass the attacker's line of march.
A hidden organ gun battery opens fire on one wing of the attackers.
Heavy ground support.
The Borgian Stradiot skirmishers are in trouble.
4 comments:
Wonderful looking game, really inspired.
Quite superb! I love the ideas behind it and of course all of da Vinci's warmachines. It has given me some ideas for future games, which is always nice. I hope you get to show it at a show in the not to distant future.
I think that this might be one of the most inventive and seductive games that I've come across in many a year!
I would have loved to roll some dice in this very imaginative game.
Marvellous stuff!!
This is amazingly cool! You have covered nearly all of da Vinci's military inventions. What a concept! Just awesome.
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