Wednesday 17 April 2019

Blood on the plains - A Dragon Rampant game

I have a bit of an Oldhammer bent, but don't actually miss the old rules, just the figures. So I figured I'd collect some old figures and use them for Dragon Rampant. I finally completed the last unit last night, so got my first game in of DR, having played quite a bit of Lion Rampant.
The men of the Empire were out on the borders dealing with an Orc incursion which had destroyed a frontier post and begun building a village.
The Empire getting the first turn. The wall at the bottom of the picture marks the table 'edge' for the game. Hence the presence of my tea mug in the shot.

Grimgob the Warlord in his chariot moving forward. We actually had sun this afternoon, so apologies for the lighting.

Imperial spearmen advancing.

The knights containing the leader Goltz von Tarnach had wild charge. Here they think they've got the goblin spider rides, only to see them evade.

Both sides deployed firepower on the flank, and had the idea to cross the river and use it as a defensive barrier to fire from.

Those bloody spiders keep evading!

And they keep shooting at us!

The Imperial defence line with the handgunners crossing the river.

The cannon forces the Orc chariot into a precipitate retreat!

The spiders move sideways and suddenly the goblin spearmen are the nearest target. Charrrrrge! They lose this combat but still inflict enough damage to being the knights to half strength.

Having driven the gobbos off, next target is the Orcs, who bounce off the tin plated humies...

That's it. Time for Bellicose foot to start acting like it!

Oh dear. The Orcs have been repulsed everywhere. The flank is being driven in. Looks like the end is near...

Nope! The Orc Boyz charge into the knights and cut down the last of them, triggering a morale ripple that sees two Imperial units retreat.

To the North the other boyz unit charges a unit of Imperial spearmen, routing them from the table. If Grimgob can charge the cannon and destroy it he will have earned himself 3 points of glory!

But he fails! The last unit of Imperial spearmen charge into the Orc boss and destroy him. The Imperial cannon annihilates the boyz that had broken through. The tables have turned!

Over the river the two missile units stand off against each other, having finally got to the far bank (there were an uncanny number of failed activations for these two)! The Orcs charge and wipe out the Imperial spearmen.

The Spider riders are on their last 24 legs...

The Imperial cannon sees off the last unit of Orc boyz and the game is over.
It was a bloody scenario to play anyway, but it really came down to the wire. The Greenskins looked like they had it won at one stage, but the Empire rallied and held firm. Final score was 6 Glory points to the Empire - they achieved their quest as well as won the scenario - and nothing to the Orcs and Goblins, who were forced to abandon their new village.

Dragon Rampant is a winner. It didn't take long to pick up after my experience with Lion Rampant, the only thing was that 24 army points isn't really enough to take magic as well, so I'll probably increase the number of points that I take in a game. I have an Undead army on the way, and hopefully some Dwarves from John's extensive plastic pile. I have some High Elf cavalry, but really want to get hold of some Elf archers and spear - about 10 of each, as well as maybe a mage or a bolt shooter. I know the 8th edition of Warhammer, Island of Blood had the perfect High Elf force, but even the 4th edition plastics would be cool. I'll have to keep an eye out.

Nate

5 comments:

  1. Nice game and report Nate - I have had a few games of Lion Rampant but would be over a year ago now I guess - my recollection is that they were simple and fun rules to play.

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    1. Yes, just as straight forward as Lion Rampant - and it gives an enjoyable game!

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  2. We usually play 30 points as side for DR

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    1. Thanks Simon. I might do that to enable some magic users into the game.

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    2. Another option is 24pts of troops and then X points to spend on magic (depending how much magic you like in your games).

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