Hammer of the Scots

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Rulebook Organization

This rulebook is formatted so that the sidebar

(this column) contains definitions, examples,

suggestions, optional rules, clarifications, and

historical commentary to help you understand

and enjoy this game.

Fog-of-War

Surprise is an exciting aspect of Hammer of

the Scots. Except when fighting a battle, active

blocks stand upright facing the owner. This

promotes bluff and innovative strategies

because players are uncertain of the strength or

identity of an enemy block.

Hammer of the Scots

Edward I directed that his tomb in Westminster

Abbey be inscribed with the epitaph Scottorurm

Malleus - “Hammer of the Scots.” Edward certainly

intended to hammer the Scots into submission, but

his blows served instead to forge a proud nation.

How the War Started

The Scottish Wars of Independence were actually

triggered by events in Europe. In 1294, France

managed through duplicity to seize control of the

Duchy of Gascony, a major province nominally

a part of France but retained by Edward I. War

ensued, and the Scottish nobles, chafing under the

humiliating rule of Edward I through his puppet

- King John Balliol of Scotland - eagerly agreed to

make common cause with the French.

Edward I, caught off guard by this uncharacteristic

display of Scottish defiance, delayed his invasion

of Flanders and moved to settle the rebellion north

of the Tweed. But King Philip failed to live up

to his side of the agreement - which called for an

invasion of England should Edward move against

Scotland - and the struggle did not last long. After

a brutal siege and massacre of half the population

of Berwick - Scotland’s largest town at the time

– Edward moved north to Dunbar. An attempt to

break the siege of Dunbar ended with disaster when

the smaller English force routed the Scots.

With the imprisonment of most of the Scottish

nobility - including King John Balliol - and the

complete annexation of Scotland by the English

crown, Edward thought the affair over. He

haughtily remarked upon leaving Scotland in 1296

that it was "good to be rid of shit.” He would not be

rid of the Scots for long.

Towns and Battle Sites

Most areas show important towns of the period.

These are shown for historical interest only and

do not affect game play. The main battles of the

war are also shown.

Rules Syntax

Italics - Noble (Angus), sidebars & examples.

Small Caps - Map areas (Angus)

Bold - Emphasis

1.0 MAPBOARD

The mapboard depicts Scotland and

northern England. The English player sits

at the southern edge of the mapboard, the

Scottish player at the northern edge.

1.1 AREAS

The map is divided into areas to

govern the location and movement of

blocks. These areas are divided by green

or red borders which restrict movement

(see 4.3). Where there is no border - for

instance, between Carrick and Argyll, or

between Lothian and Fife - then blocks

cannot move between those areas.

1.2 CASTLE LIMITS

Areas have a Castle Limit of 0-3.

Castle Limits reflect the economic value

of an area, more than the strength of a

particular castle. Some of the areas shown

actually contained a dozen or more castles.

Castle Limits define how many blocks can

remain in an area over the winter and also

equal the annual value of replacement

steps in the area.

1.3 CATHEDRALS

Three areas (Strathspey, Lennox, and

Fife) contain a cathedral. The Scottish

church, with strong Celtic influences,

staunchly supported the rebellion. A

cathedral adds [+1] to the Castle Limit for

the Scots, but has no value to the English.

For example, Fife is worth [3] to the Scots,

but only [2] to the English. The Scots

King may move to a Friendly or Neutral

cathedral during the Winter Turn.

1.4 NOBLE HOME AREAS

The home areas for all fourteen (14)

Scottish nobles are indicated on the

map by their heraldic shields. Hence, the

heraldry on the Buchan block matches the

heraldry on the Buchan area.

Nobles have a combat advantage

(B2=B3) when they defend their home

areas. The bonus applies even if they

arrive as reserves or defect during battle.

Nobles do not have a combat advantage

while they are attacking their Home Area.

Bruce and Comyn have two Home

Areas. Bruce has Annan and Carrick.

Comyn has Badenoch and Lochaber. Both

Home Areas offer the same defensive

advantage. Also see 7.12.

HAMMER OF THE SCOTS ™

Version 4.0

INTRODUCTION

Hammer of the Scots is a game of the

Scottish Wars of Independence. One player

plays the Scots, the other, the English. The

object is to control a majority of nobles

when a game ends.

There are two scenarios, Braveheart

(1297–1305) and The Bruce (1306–1314).

Each can be played as a separate game.

There is also a campaign game that

extends over both periods.

GAME TURNS

The game is played in a series of years

starting with either 1297 or 1306. Within

each year are 1-5 Game Turns. Each Game

Turn has three (3) phases, played in the

sequence given.

[1] Card Phase (3.0)

Both players start every year with five

(5) cards. They each play one (1) card

face-down. The cards are then revealed

and the higher card becomes Player 1 (first

move). Ties go to the English player.

[2] Move Phase (4.0)

Move Cards allow 1-3 Group Moves.

All friendly blocks in one area are a Group

(except Norse, 4.7). Depending on Move

Rate, blocks may move 2 or 3 areas per

Move Phase, but must stop upon crossing

a red border or upon entering an enemy-

occupied area. Player 1 completes all

movement, then Player 2 moves.

[3] Battle Phase (5.0)

Battles occur when enemy blocks are

located in the same area. They are fought

one by one in a sequence determined by

Player 1.

After all battles are fought, repeat steps

[1] to [3] until the Year ends.

• WINTER TURN (7.0)

After each year ends, a Winter Turn is

played where nobles return home (perhaps

to switch sides) and blocks in excess of

Castle Limits (1.2) disband. Then players

receive Replacements. Shuffle the entire

deck and deal 5 new cards to each player.

+ +

2.0 ARMIES

The wooden blocks represent English

(red) and Scottish (blue) forces.

A sheet of die-cut labels is included.

One label must be attached to the face of

each block. Scottish labels go on the blue

blocks; English labels go on the red blocks.

Lightly position each label, ensure it is

straight, and then press firmly to the block.

The blocks add surprise and secrecy

to the game. When standing upright,

block type and strength is hidden from the

opponent.

2.1 BLOCK DATA

Blocks have numbers and symbols

defining movement and combat abilities.

2.11 Strength

The current strength of a block is the

number of pips on the top edge when

the block is standing upright. Strength

determines how many six-sided dice (d6)

are rolled by a block in combat. A block at

strength 4 rolls 4d6 (four six-sided dice); a

block at strength 1 rolls 1d6.

Blocks vary in strength from 1 to 4.

Some blocks have a maximum strength 4,

some strength 3 or 2 steps. For each hit

taken in combat, the block’s strength is

reduced by rotating the block 90 degrees

counter-clockwise. The sidebar shows the

same block at strength 3, 2 and 1.

2.12 Combat Rating

The Combat Rating is indicated by a

letter and number, such as A1 or B2. The

letter determines when a block attacks. All

A blocks attack first, then all B blocks, then

all C blocks. The number indicates the

maximum roll that will score a hit.

EXAMPLE: A block rated B1 only scores

a hit for each “1” rolled, but a block rated

B3 scores one hit for each 1, 2, or 3 rolled.

2.13 Move Rating

A block's Move Rating (either 2 or 3)

is indicated on its lower-left corner. This is

the maximum number of areas the block

may move per turn.

2.2 BLOCK TYPES

2.21 Leaders

The Scots have two leader

blocks, Wallace and the King.

The English have one leader

block (Edward) who represents

Edward I until 1307 and then

Edward II. Leaders are normal

combat blocks, but have Move

3 and other advantages.

See: 6.0.

2.22 Nobles

There are fourteen (14)

Nobles, (including Moray) each

identified by their heraldic

arms. Nobles with green pips

are loyal to the Bruce faction.

Nobles with yellow pips are

loyal to the Comyn faction.

IMPORTANT: Each noble (except Moray)

has two blocks, one red and one blue.

Only one block is in play at a time: the

Red version when that noble supports the

English, and the Blue version when that

noble supports the Scots. Control of nobles

is the main victory condition in the game.

2.23 Archers

Archers are identified by a

small shield and cross of

arrows. English and Welsh

archers are rated B3 and the Scots B2.

2.24 Knights

English knights have the Cross

of St. George on a shield

and a combat rating of B3.

The Scots have one block of

French knights rated B3 who

enter the game under special

rules (7.61). Both sides also

have one block of light cavalry

rated B1 (Scots Keith) and A2 (English

Hobelar).

2.25 Infantry

Most infantry are rated C2,

but some of them are C3.

English infantry, identified

by a Cross of St. George, are

named after their counties.

The English also have one

Welsh (red dragon) and Ulster

(green cross) infantry. Scottish

Infantry, named after prominent clans,

have the Cross of St. Andrew on an oval

shield.

2.26 Norse

The Norse block represents

possible intervention by

Norsemen who controlled

much of the area north of Ross, including

the Orkney and Shetland Islands. Warlike

clans of Norse origin also ranged from

the Outer Hebrides. The block has an

A2 combat rating and special movement

abilities and limitations. See 4.7.

HAMMER OF THE SCOTS ™

Version 4.0

Strength 3

Strength 1

Strength 2

ENGLAND

BLOCK

MOVE COMBAT MIX

King

Archers

Knights

Hobelar

Infantry

C2/C3*

Nobles

B2/B3^†

BLOCK

MOVE COMBAT MIX

Wallace

King

Archers

Cavalry

French

Norse

(see 4.7)

Infantry

C2/C3*

Nobles

B2/B3^†

* 5 of the infantry blocks are C3.

† Nobles have a B3 combat rating

defending their Home Area, even if

they moved there this Game Turn or

defected during battle.

SCOTLAND

STEP REDUCTION

STRENGTH

(Maximum 3)

Yellow pips indicate Comyn Faction

COMBAT

(B2)

MOVE

(2)

BLOCK DATA

+ +

Border Limits are applied to each

player – hence, both players can move two

blocks across the same red border.

EXAMPLE: If 6 Scots blocks in Buchan

move to Angus, 2 Scots blocks in Strathspey

cannot also move to Angus. However, two

Scottish blocks in Mar could move to Angus.

4.4 ANGLO-SCOTTISH BORDER

The Anglo-Scottish Border is a dashed

red or green line. Each Group Move

allows only one (1) block to cross the

border (but they still fight as one group if

attacking the same area). Thus, a 3-card

allows 3 blocks to cross the border.

Blocks must stop if they cross the

red dashed border into Teviot. Blocks

entering England must always stop.