The Norman Conquest of England in the 11th Century

The Norman Saga

Oppidum

Sherwood

The Anarchy

Ager Sanguinis

BoardGameGeek Forum

The Game

 

DIEX AÏE ("God helps" in Latin, the warcry of the Duke of Normandy - Pronounce "Dooss A-yeah") is set in England just after the battle of Hastings in the second half of the 11th Century. It depicts the numerous fights that Saxons fought to resist the "Norman Yoke". DIEX AÏE introduces a campaign game: It is used to generate tactical scenarios which are played on the standard maps of the series.

DIEX AÏE is the first companion game to the popular GUISCARD game. Like this one, DIEX AÏE is a complete boxed game with counters, maps, rules, scenarios and playsheets.

DIEX AIE 2

This new version includes all the materials of the original game, but with counters printed on much thicker boards, new additional counters and map. New scenarios featuring the Danes will be provided.

Box Contents

> (4) full-color tactical maps, giving a possibility of many different terrains;
> (3) A4 sheets of counters printed in full color;
>
(2) full-color A3 campaign maps ;
> (1) 40-page rule booklet;
> (1) 36-page booklet including the historical background, a guide to the
    playing pieces and both strategic and tactical scenarios;
>
(6) play sheets for handy reference;
> (1) 10-sided die.

DIEX AÏE 2



The Characters

   
The 4 playable factions are displayed through counters using the Outremer/Croisades format. A 3-letter marking system will enable easy differentiation of the various playing pieces on the maps. 

Counters are available on (3) A4 sheets:
>
The Normans & Scots, Front - Back
>
The Saxons, Front - Back
>
The Danes, Front - Back

Note: Click on the counters below to see the various stances of each character (wounded, on foot, stun or dead).

The Normans

         
Norman knight - Diex Aie

Norman knight - Diex Aie

Norman knight - Diex Aie Norman knight - Diex Aie

> Knight 1

> Knight 2

> Knight 3

> Knight 4

> Knights 5
 

> Knights 6
 

 

> Knights 7
 

> Medium
   cavalry

> Light
   cavalry

> Noble 1

> Noble 2

> Squire

> Medium
   Infantry 1

> Medium
   Infantry 2

> Medium
   Infantry 3

> Archers

 

> Crossbows

         

> Light infantry

         

The Saxons

         
> Mounted Thanes 1 > Mounted Thanes 2 > Mounted Thanes 3 > Earls 1 > Earls 2 > Huscarls 1
> Huscarls 2 > Thanes 1 > Thanes 2

> Ceorls 1

> Ceorls 2

> Archers

 
> Javelinmen > Woman

> Peasant 1

> Peasant 2

> Noble  
         
> Pack Horse    

 

   

The Scots

         
> Medium cavalry > Light cavalry > Javelinmen > Slingers
> Medium infantry > Light infantry

The Danes

         
Mounted Jarl - Diex Aie Mounted Jarl - Diex Aie Medium Dane infantry Medium Dane infantry Medium Dane infantry Danish Medium Infantry

> Jarl 1

> Jarl 2

> Medium
   infantry 1

> Medium
   infantry 2

> Medium
   infantry 3

> Medium
   infantry 4

Light Dane infantry Light Dane infantry        

> Light
   infantry 1

> Light
   infantry 2

       

The Maps

The game includes 4 maps. The Motte & Bailey map displays a wooden tower on top of a motte, overlooking a small bailey with buildings and surrounded by a wooden palisade and moat. The Woodbridge is compatible with The River map and the open space is designed to position buildings to simulate a small village. The Ditch has a marshy bottom and is a challenging obstacle for cavalry to cross. The Saxon Village is a new map which consolidates the various building overlays which were provided with the first version of the game.  


> The Motte & Bailey

> A2
 (60cm x 40cm)


> The Woodbridge

> A2
 (60cm x 40cm)


> The Ditch

> A2
 (60cm x 40cm)

Saxon Village - Diex Aie
> The Saxon Village

 
Below are a few examples of map combinations:
 

 

In this configuration, the Saxon Village is located to the left of the motte & bailey. On the other side, the ditch provides a good protection to the castle.

In this one, the bridge is perfectly aligned with the entrance of the bailey. The open space between the river and the ditch is the perfect ground for cavalry charges.
Campaign Counters        
The campaign counters represent the factions at war: Normans, Saxons, Scots & Danes:

Normans

   

Saxons

   

> Leaders

> Combat group

> Cavalry group

> Leaders

> Combat group

> Cavalry group

Scots

    Danes    
 

> Leaders

> Combat group

> Cavalry group

> Leaders

> Combat group

 

Mercenaries

  Other Counters    
   

> Combat group

> Cavalry group

 

> Supply trains

> Motte

 

Campaign Maps
Two campaign maps are designed to play several scenarios. These maps use hexes which are the same size as those of the tactical maps.
> A3
 (40cm x 30cm)
> A3
 (40cm x 30cm)

> Yorkshire

 

> Kent

 

The Rules

The tactical rules are similar to those of GUISCARD 2, with only a few enhancements and clarifications. The Campaign game is intended to generate battles which are resolved on the tactical maps.
Diex Aïe 2  
Rulebook PDF
> Rulebook v2.0 - 3,645 Kb
Historical Background & Scenarios PDF
> History & Scenarios V2.0 - 4,320 Kb
Play sheets - Tactical game
PDF
> Terrain Sheet - 7,840Kb
> Fire and Combat Sheet - 616 Kb
> Siege Record Sheet - 2,578 kB
Diex Aïe (first version)  
Rulebook PDF
> Rulebook v1.2 - 3,330 Kb
Play sheets - Tactical game
JPG
> Terrain Sheet - 575 Kb
> Fire and Combat Sheet - 573 Kb
> Siege Record Sheet - 955 kB
Play sheets - Campaign game
JPG
> Terrain Sheet & Tables - 629 Kb
> Campaign game Worksheet - 482 Kb
> Headcount Worksheet - 481 Kb
Historical Background & Scenarios PDF
> History & Scenarios V1.2 - 5,050 Kb
Scenario Balancing Utility:
This Excel tool will help you build balanced scenarios using the Purchase Table included in the Scenario booklet. All the characteristics of the various DIEX AIE characters are also included in various tabs.
ZIP (Excel)
> Scenario Balancing Utility - 38 Kb

Vassal (on-line game)

> The tactical module includes all the counters, overlays and maps of  the game (as well as those of GUISCARD). Additional maps were added to let you play all the scenarios included with these 2 games.

The user interface boasts several neat functions, like the ability to move a belfry (overlay) with characters on it as one single piece, or manage several levels (a character under a hoarding for instance). 

> The campaign module lets you play with the convenience of being able to stop and resume
the game at any time, hence getting rid of the hassle to keep the boardgame deployed on a table for an extended time between two tactical games. Counter and settlement management is also vastly simplified as a simple right-click let you access all the parameters and edit them at any time during the game. Default values for the settlements are already preset for faster setup time.

To play these modules, you must first download and install the Java software as well as the Vassal engine.
  ZIP
> Norman Saga Tactical Module v2.0 - 43.2 Mb
   Sep 29, 2015
> Diex Aïe Campaign Module v1.0 - 3.3 Mb
   Jan 26, 2016