zaterdag 23 januari 2010

Audencia de Caracas

An introduction

Creating a campaign module for an area which lacks detailed documentation in the English language can be rather daunting. What references I could find are taken from the book “Liberators” and from some online resources. The goal here was not to produce another military campaign but bring the players into an “empire” building period; each carving a niche in the new world competing with rival families to establish their plantations, ranches or shipping enterprises. Non-player activity would represent the Native Indian response, slave rebellions, piratical activity or the occasional visit by other powers; British, French, Dutch, Portuguese, etc.

As a matter of consistency I would want this game to start at the beginning of the 18th century, so all participants can have a reasonable amount of time to expand and consolidate their power base before the outbreak of the Seven Years War. As a few years later, Charles the III would make the fatal decision to side with France with repercussions to Spain’s overseas possessions.

Role of the military

From my readings, the military presence was not large but formal units were distributed among the key cities and augmented with militia. Military formations that were sent to the colonies were often rotated. This meant units arriving from Spain would serve to train the local militia for six months before rotating back to Spain.

See my last posting for a fictitious deployment along the Orinoco River. Aside from the small number of guns for field use, the armies were also ably assisted by the irregular formations from the ranches and plantations.

Aside from an occasional uprising or piratical raid, there were very little military expeditions. That would come after the Napoleonic wars and well after our time frame.

A Holy Order

Historically, the Jesuit presence in South America and Mexico disrupted the political and economic direction of the Viceroys in the new world. That changed with the expulsion of the order in the later 18th century. For our game purpose, the Jesuits are replaced by a Religious Order whose dedication to the righteous path rivals that of Inquisition.

The spiritual leader is an extra Russian General officer, bald but covered with a cape. This was ideal to represent his holiness in a cardinal’s vestment with cappello (hat) and farraiolo (cape).

The Brotherhood are all Essex with a touch of Old Glory. The cream coloured robes have no historical basis other than looking nicer on green turf, plus the weapons stand out nicer. The banner was a suggestion from David of Not By Appointment, whose blog you will find in the listing.

Indians and Slaves

From the below listed links, I have found the names of a good two dozen Indian tribes and general location within the country. For game purposes, I shall spread them about the map as best as I accurately can. For the greater part, many of these were pastoral and pacific tribes. Chances that some tribes would resist expansion by the Creoles seems rather slim.

Native Indians of Venzuela
Natives of the Orinoco

Regarding the runaway slaves and those generations that mixed with the native Indians, we have a different composition. In the following century, the Llaneros were to display a ferocity cruelty unparalleled in South American history of that time, I can only suspect that behavior was not unknown among earlier generations.

I have received my order of Llaneros (OG irregular lancers) and Native Indians. The lancers are from the Mexican American War listing and these I shall add ponchos, cloaks and chaps to add further variety as normally, there are two basic poses, plus a few command figures. The Native Indians come from the OG Biblical line; loin cloth, bare chest and wearing a head band. I already have a collection done and this latest addition will double the numbers.

Cheers,