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FOG Medieval: The Normans in Italy - Chiquichops vs Rico

Rico · 2026-02-28T15:22:11Z

After closing down the Normans in North Africa campaign, @chiquichops and I will be playing a new campaign, sticking with the Normans, but this time in southern Italy. After fighting as mercenaries in Italy for over decade, by 1042 the Norman Hauteville brothers turned on their employers and secured their first Italian possessions taken from the Byzantines, the counties of Apulia and Averso. This was the base from which they proceeded to conquer most of southern Italy and eventually even Sicily. Chicquichops will play as the all-conquering Normans and I will command the Byzantine, Lombard, Papal and Muslim forces defending against them ... and possibly even an intervention by an Imperial German army sent by the Holy Roman Emperor Heinrich III. RULES Each turn there are TWO Initiative Points (IP) available -- These allow you to launch attacks, one per IP. The Norman side always goes FIRST, unless both IP's are held by their opponents. The campaign runs for 8 turns, broken up roughly into one eight-year and two ten-year periods. Turns 1-2: 1041 - 1049 Turns 3-5: 1050 - 1060 Turns 6-8: 1061 - 1071 Starting Setup We start with the counties of Averso and Apulia under Norman control. The Normans have the initiative at the start and start with TWO IP's each guaranteed for Turns 1 & 2. ARMIES The armies for the three different periods are: TURNS 1-2: Italo-Normans (1041-1049) Byzantines (Italy) (1040 - 1049) Lombard (1038 - 1049) TURNS 3-5: Italo-Normans (1050-1060) Byzantines (Italy) (1050 - 1071) Lombard (1050 - 1057) Papal (1050 - 1154) German (Imperial) (1050-1154) Fatamid Egyptians (978 - 1073) TURNS 6-8: Italo-Normans (1061-1071) Byzantines (Italy) (1050 - 1071) Papal (1050 - 1154) German (Imperial) (1050-1154) Fatamid Egyptians (978 - 1073) If Lombards are still active in this period they will be played by: Italian (Guelfs) (1050 - 1154) ALLIES: Papal and Byzantine armies may use each other as allies if they control adjacent provinces. ATTACKS Each faction gets ONE attack per IP. NORMANS always go first in declaring attacks. A faction can attack an enemy province that is adjacent to a friendly-controlled province. You may not attack from a province that is already under attack. You may attack into a province from which an attack into a different province has been launched. BATTLES All FOG: Medieval battles are Medium Open Battles on Mediterranean Agricultural maps. Any winning percentage difference in casualties inflicted wins the battle or captures the province if attacking. The winner of a battle is awarded the IP. Draws: In the unlikely event that a battle ends with identical loss percentages, the battle continues in the next turn and the IP is forfeit for that turn. BATTLE RESTRICTIONS Naples & Bari NAPLES and BARI are Byzantines strongholds and can only be attacked by the Italo-Normans if all THREE adjacent provinces are under friendly control. Papal States The Papal States cannot be attacked by the Italo-Normans. The Papal armies can however intervene in the Lombard territories of SPOLENTO and CAPUA to reinstate Lombard rule. German Imperial Intervention From Turn 3 onwards, a German Imperial Intervention die roll (8-sided die) is made at the start of every turn. If a 7 or 8 is rolled, then a German Imperial army enters from the direction of SPOLENTO and attacks the nearest Italo-Norman-controlled province (attacking player's choice) -- the German Imperial army attacks are made even if the anti-Norman faction has no IP's available. This army remains active until it is defeated in battle, then it is removed permanently from the map. Provinces this army captures from Italo-Norman control (if any) are put under Papal States control, and defended by Papal armies if attacked without the German army being present. Byzantine Attacks & Reinforcements The Byzantines may only attack if a Reinforcement Army arrives from Constantinople. At start of every turn, if no Byzantine Army is on the map, a Byzantine Reinforcement die roll (8-sided die) is made. If a 6, 7 or 8 is rolled, a Byzantine army can be placed on any Byzantine-controlled province the player wants to attack from. (providing their faction has an available IP, this army can attack in the same turn it arrives) If no IP's are available, the Byzantine Army stays stationary and may be attacked. (a normal battle ensues) If an IP is available, the Byzantine player may freely move the army to any Byzantine-controlled province to use it to attack from, even if its starting province is under attack. The Byzantine Army is removed from the map if it defeated in battle and can only return with another successful Byzantine Reinforcement die roll. Palermo If the Italo-Normans capture NAPLES, they can launch ONE seaborne attack on PALERMO. If it is unsuccessful, no further seaborne attack may be made on SICILY -- only land attacks ...

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Rico

(@rico)

Posts: 363

Lieutenant

Topic starter

TURN 5 concluded with the Byzantines collapsed in APULIA despite a reasonable start -- they did not disgrace themselves, but in the end succumbed to the Normans qualitative edge.

The battle for PALERMO was something else -- a very good start and a healthy lead for the Muslims early on, which then evaporated as the main infantry line crumbled and the Norman cavalry fought back very effectively ... with some luck and some handy terrain the PALERMO defenders held out for the narrowest of possible victories -- it ended: 56 - 55 = +1% for the Muslims.

Can't get any closer than that. 🤣

TURN 6

We are now into the 1060 - 1071 AD era.

The Norman sea-borne attack was a once-off... so now they are back to land attacks with ONE Intitiative Point.

The Byzantines/Papal side also have ONE IP.

The German Intervention roll was a 5 -- so no activity there.

@chiquichops -- two attack options for your Normans: BRINDISI or CALABRIA.

One of the most horrible features of war is that all the war-propaganda, all the screaming and lies and hatred, comes invariably from people who are not fighting.

- George Orwell, Homage To Catalonia

Posted : April 12, 2026 7:16 am

Chiquichops

(@chiquichops)

Posts: 163

Staff Sergeant

Qualitative edge, eh? What about astute generalship and sheer guts? Seriously, it was a great fight, both were. I'm happy to forget about PALERMO, those Fatimids are a tough nut to crack. It was a more bitter sting to get so close really. I'll make a move on BRINDISI, it's the only way forward here.

I wonder where you'll use your IP... The Papal army was pretty underwhelming last time but can you handle the stress of fighting two Byzantine battles? 😉

"En cualquier dirección que recorras el alma, nunca tropezarás con sus límites." Sócrates

Posted : April 12, 2026 7:02 pm

Rico reacted

Rico

(@rico)

Posts: 363

Lieutenant

Topic starter

Normans attack into BRINDISI.

Byzantines have no choice but to counter-attack into APULIA to try and get some breathing space around BARI.

Hoping for some better results this turn against run of play so far. 😎

One of the most horrible features of war is that all the war-propaganda, all the screaming and lies and hatred, comes invariably from people who are not fighting.

- George Orwell, Homage To Catalonia

Posted : April 13, 2026 6:34 am

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FOG Medieval: The Normans in Italy - Chiquichops vs Rico

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