Kingmaker - round one
 
Today was supposed to be the day that we played GMT’s new game Pax Romana.  However, Dave wasn’t exactly fired up about it, and Joey dropped by with Allen for the first time a long time - so we postponed Pax Romana and decided to go with AH’s Kingmaker.
 
Fred has play a lot of Kingmaker, so he walked the rest of us (who hadn’t played in a long time or ever) through the rules, then we dove in.  The game took some very interesting turns - many of the heirs were quickly killed off (especially the Yorks), and Fred took a very early lead - forcing Dave to kill King Henry in order to stave off an attack that would have probably been very nasty.  
 
Fred then gathered up Margaret and Edward (of York) and proceeded to call Parliament.  Margaret was crowned Queen in London - but so was Edward of the York faction!  It looked like a large battle was about to ensure in London, where Fred’s faction had too many advantages for me, so I besieged one of Fred’ s men called away for a revolt.  Fred came to lift the siege and everyone got away from London.  Well, almost - Dave pulled the London plague card just as he was leaving and it cost him a couple of guys (d’oh!).
 
An alliance was formed between Allen, Joey and me, with me in control (as I move just before Fred).  A battle ensued, and Fred’s faction lost - but a noble Joey was controlling a York Heir with died, and as I now had captured Margaret and Edward from the Lancaster side, I decided we didn’t heed him anymore.  Allen left the alliance and eventually joined forces with Dave and Fred against Joey and me.  
 
My side headed for Wales, as one of my nobles picks up 200 extra troops there.  One of my nobles was attacked as he tried to join up, but got away from the loss with a King’s Pardon. Two of the “winning” nobles were killed off, which took the wind out of the enemy’s sails for a bit.
 
We stopped as I was forced to call Parliament, with a lot of things to vote on.  Check out the Kingmaker round 1 photos.
 
Guys, if I screwed up or you want to add any details, just use the “comments” feature.
 
 
Game day notes
Saturday, June 24, 2006