Last Updated: 17th August 2000
Kalden Milovich wiped the sweat from his brow. Four weeks they'd been in this backwater slimepool firebase and ammo and CR were running low. He raised his visor and peered into the surrounding misty undergrowth. No sign of the geeks, but then he didn't really expect to see none. The Khan "advisors" had done a good job on the indigs and they could slip through the Levy lines almost at will. Only last week one got through to Company C's ECM position and the satchel charge the geek carried took out the equipment, five troopers in addition to itself... By the Grail, Milovich cursed, with that sort of approach to war, how much longer could the Levy be expected to hold out?
"This is Loren K.Bowler of the FCNN News Network with all the news that news in the Cosmos.
Good Evening...
The situation on Orleans III is reaching crisis point. Unconfirmed reports state that Khanate forces appear to have taken one of the two remaining Levy strongholds on the western continent and the condition of last appears critical. Levy forces under the contreversial Levy General Aldous Maxhead jr have been holding out against incessant Khanate attacks for some four and half months now without relief and despite heroic actions, the CVIII "Immaculta" Levy Free Corp along with indigenous Militia forces have been torn apart by superior Khan forces which have included Khanate elite troops most notably Khan Pioneers.
By virtue of an Instat sattelite link, FCNN has been able to obtain exclusive footage of the war and an exclusive interview with General Maxhead himself...
"General, despite your troops heroic efforts over the last few months it appears that the situation on Orleans III is not going to plan. To what do you attribute this?"
"Well I think that should be obvious to even the most brain dead reporter, lady! We've been left up the proverbial creek without a kregging paddle! We've been outnumbered and outgunned by the kregging Khan from day one... My troops have fought like kregging Gerocks without any fracking reinforcements or supplies and now the inevitable is happening!"
"Strong words General I'm sure, who do you attribute your position to?"
"Well forgive my lingua-franca lady, but that is one hell of a dumb ass question! The frecking position is down to those lily livered jumped up Keorns in GHQ! An' I'll tell you something else lady. When I get my hands... KERRRZZZZTTTT!!
Well, it er... appears that we've um... have lost our transmission link with Orleans III and General Maxhead. More views on the Orleans situtation later when we speak to Field Marshall Xavier Quentin-Eyre at GHQ later in our programme.
In other news it appears that the Commonwealth Intelligence Agency may well be behind the terrorist attack on the passenger terminus at Riga XII's recently opened spaceport...
Wessex Games originally released High Crusade back in 1994 in response to a young gamer querying what set of rules he should use to play with some 15mm SF figures he had bought at Weymouth's Fisticuffs show. At that time there wasn't really a cheap introductory level set of rules on the market, so we sat down and came up with High Crusade retailing at just £1.95!
It proved very popular with novice and experienced gamers alike and soon went into a second edition that included additional rules and appendices covering new backgrounds and expanding the original one.
When the second edition sold out Wessex Games took the decision not to reprint the game, instead deciding to concentrate on newer products supporting its own background worlds.
However rather than let the game die (and because Alex Stewart keeps on mentioning it!) we have decided to re-release the second edition as a freeware web-based edition with a few minor changes which we hope will improve game play and balance.
We hope you find the rules useful and enjoyable. Whilst we have no real plans to take this project much further we are happy to accept players contributions, rules amendments and expansions which we will post on the website. We have also set up an Wessex Games SF mailing list to encourage gamers to discuss the game and any changes they feel warranted.
We have posted the rules up in nine sections - please feel free to print of any or all of the sections you wish to use for personal use. Commercial use or reproduction of any or all parts of these rules is not permitted without the written permission of the publishers:
Published by: Wessex Games
Rules written by: Steve Blease
Artwork: Steve Blease
Playtesting and Creative Input: James Clay, Simon Evans and Nigel Phillips.
Thanks to: Karen for her support, Mac, Nick and all at Alternative Armies Ltd for the loan of the Universe and Martin Goddard for unwittingly providing the inspiration.
Additional Inspiration: George T.Bush
Hope you like High Crusade, all comments and suggestions will be gratefully received c/o Wessex Games.
© Wessex Games 1994, 2000
