Attic Attack IV: Day 2, Dragon Rampant

This is likely to be the last Dragon Rampant AAR from my hand you will ever see, but I shall return to that subject further down the page.

Ulrik and Tobias played a game with my two 35 points warbands (I wanted a slightly bigger game than the one at Åcon).

The Elves advanced rather timidly, while the reptiles hurried forward.

At this point, Prince Arodon began a long series of Wild Charges which lasted for the most of the reminder of the battle.

The Lizardmen struggled to get through a lot of rough terrain on their right flank.

The current state of affairs is not really reflecting the flow of the game.
At this point, Ulrik (Lizardmen) had missed his first activation roll 4 or 5 times, and the only reason why the Elves did not control more of the battlefield was the very cautios advance made by Tobias.

A lot of Wild Charging and fighting on the Elves' left flank.

The Swordmasters cut through, first the Temple Guards, then the Saurus warriors, leaving only a few weak units for the Lizardmen to retreat.

Ulrik had the same kind of bad experience with this his first game with the 'Rampant' rules as I had with Lion Rampant, failing a lot of Activation Rolls, and seeing his battered units just withering away without any chance of rallying, and I have decided that Lion Rampant is going on the 'tried and rejected' shelf for now. It had its chance, but failed.

We are going to revive SAGA, and try out A Fantastic SAGA (fan-made fantasy rules add-on), and the High Elves at least (but probably the Lizardmen as well, as I have droves of unused models) will be re-configured to fit that system (I may have to find a few more painted models, or, alternatively, paint up some myself *shudder*).

I may also make a Blood Eagle warband out of some of the models, to have more variety at my disposal.

Attic Attack: Dragon Rampant Table Ready

While waiting for the ordered aquarium deco stuff for the jungle table, I have configured the table for Dragon Rampant.

Thje forces on the table are the two 27-points warbands i brought for Åcon earlier this summer, but I think I am going to expand them to 30 or 40 points, to give the players a little more tactical options.

High Elf Captain

Another one of my recently purchased secondhand minis, a High Elf Command Hero/Champion, who is going to be put in charge of my old mono-pose spearmen (and probably going to lead a Blood Eagle High Elf warband before then.

He has been through the paint-stripping process, although he did not sport much paint when I got him; I just wanted to get him completely clean before cleaning up mold-lines (which the model has in abundance).

Sadly, I shall not have time to start work on any High Elves within overseeable time, as I am still struggling with my Vikings, and am determined to finish them and get some Dark Ages civilians ready for the table, too, before shifting my focus elsewhere!

I also have to find a place to buy Instant Mold without paying exorbitant postage and/or customs charges, as I shall have to make a shield to go with this mini (and probably more, with all the second-hand stuff I am buying these days)

OGAM: Eldar Avatar for the Elves.

I recently bought this 90's Eldar Avatar of the Bloody handed God, K(h)aela Mensha Khaine, and I am going to use it for leading Elves in OGAM (High or Wood or a mixture of both), and probaly also for Dragon Rampant

It was primed in black, but as I prefer cleaning up moldlines (and the primer was scratched and chipped), I put it in white spirit in my ultrasonic cleaner for some days, remembering to start the ultrasound now and then.

I brushed it off today, and this is the result: A miniature almost as new, and it did not set me back more than about £6.

Åcon: Dragon Rampant Game

I brought my Lizardmen and High Elf warbands for Dragon Rampant, and I played my first game ever against Spicker, who also had not played the game before.

I played the reptiles, while Spicker assumed the role as Prince Arodon. The light was not the best for photos, but as that is often the case at events, my esteemed readers are probably used to that...

We did not use any scenarios, just put the warbands on the table and got stuck in, in order to learn the rules.

The forces deployed for battle.

The Lizardmen moved steadily forward in cold blood. 

Most of the High Elves also advanced

(leaving Prince Arodon behind - his Griffon did not seem to care much for fighting)

The battle-lines close

The Illyrian Reavers, and the Lothern Sea Guards, picked off some Saurians on my right flank.

The Saurians and the Reavers clash just after this picture was taken 

Both units suffer casualties, and the Sea Guards keep shooting at the Saurians

The Temple Guards charge in and finish the Reavers

Meanwhile, my left flank closed in on the Ulthuans.

The Swordmasters charge into the Temple Guards led by Tzaxl himself...

...and are repelled, but at a high cost:

My leader is battered, and his unit at almost half strength!

The Saurians charge in to revenge their fallen comrades.

The Swordmasters are beaten back and battered.

The last Saurus Warriors on the right flank flee under arrow fire,

and the Temple Guards start moving towards the centre.

Prince Arodon makes a Wild Charge at Tlaxl's temple Guards.

A bloody fight breaks out

I tried to surround the remaining Swordmasters

While Arodon finishes off Tlaxl (ouch!),

the remaining Temple Guards try outflanking the Sea Guards.

The Skinks form Wall of Spears, and lure the Swordmasters into a Wild Charge

which results in their untimely demise.

But, alas, as my last unit of Saurus Warriors surged forward, they were sent fleeing by

the arrows of the Sea Guards, and with my Leader down,

and effectivly only the last Temple Guards posing a real threat,

I decided to throw in the towel, ceding the field to prince Arodon.

It felt like a closely fought battle, and the rules certainly flow well. I have some reservations about the 'sudden death' possibilty every time a unit has to check for courage, though. Especially a 12-man unit at almost full strength running away feels a bit harsh.

I shall definitely play again, trying out some of the scenarios in the book, but I do not think that Dragon Rampant will ever become my fantasy game of choice; it just has a bit too much randomness for my taste (both Activation Rolls, and the aforementioned Courage Tests), but as a quick pick-up game it works quite nicely.

Latest Purchase

I approached the seller of these mainly because of the Lizardmen, but he had a few other bits and bobs that I thought might come in handy for Dragon Rampant, God of Battles, and other fantasy purposes.

None of the minis are very nicely painted (the Saurus Warriors are actually the nicest ones), but they will do for instant units for getting a game on the table in no time!

A Unit of Gondorian Infantry

When going through a box containing a lot I purchased over a year ago, I stumbled on 12 painted and based Warriors of Minas Tirith.

Twelve is exactly the number I need for one or two Dragon Rampant units, or one God of Battles unit (I just need some command models for the latter), and as they are painted to a fair tabletop-standard, I think I can just use them right away. Score!

More High Elves!

I bought another batch of High Elves, mainly to get some more Ellyrian Reavers so I can get two units worth of cavalry ready for Dragon Rampant - but also with a more long-term agenda of making a full God of Battles army out of them.

There is a new-on-frame Griffon Rider, which brings me up to three of these, and I am contemplating finding another, to be able to field a Reduced Models Unit of these in addition to my single Model Unit Leader.

Game Cancelled!

The Dragon rampant game I had arranged for today got cancelled, as my opponent did not arrive until 4.15 in the afternoon, and it was a bit too close to the time I had to start preparing supper for starting up on a game for which we would have to decide scenario, arrange terrain, and then play using rules only one participant has knowledge of (and only from reading them a couple of times), and that one being somewhat weary from working in the garden all morning.

Too bad, but annoying things happen.

High Elf Griffon Rider: Lance Repaired

It took me a bit longer than anticipated to get the broken lance mended; it proved a bit too heavy for staying in place while the polystyrene cement settled, so I gave up on that approach, and pinned it in place instead.

To do that, I had to find my pin vice drill, which had not been in use for almost a year, and thus had time to make itself scarce (the small glass I store it in had been slowly pushed in behind my painting desk arrangement), and I managed to get a piece of graphite from a refillable pencil stuffed under my thumb nail in the process...

It is now as ready as it will get for tomorrow's game(s?) of Dragon Rampant. At some point I shall have to fix a flying stand for it, but for now it will just have to be placed directly on the table.

The other Griffon Rider from the recently purchased painted batch is missing his lance, and I think I am going to put a wire lance in his hand and make him an army standard, probably out of paper, as it is a method I have a bit of experience with.

Dragon Rampant: Warband Boxes Fixed

After preparing the attic for Sunday, I cut down a couple of printer paper cardboard boxes, one for each of the warbands. This makes storage and transportation a lot easier, and I needed that for, if I am going to bring the warbands for Åcon.

I have not placed magnetic sheets in them, as I have not had time for rebasing the miniatures onto washers.

I still need to glue the lance back in place on the griffon rider, I shall see to that tomorrow!

Dragon Rampant: Tzaxl's Bonecrushers

As mentioned in my previous post. I have a game of Dragon Rampant arranged for Sunday, and here is the Lizardmen warband that is going to face the might of Ulthúan:

Bases will have to do as they are, as I have no time for rebasing at the moment - I am busy painting my Blood Eagle Viking warband, which I hope to have ready before the summer holidays.

The army composition is as follows:

UNIT NAME/TYPE	Tzaxl's Body Guard, Leader, Elite Foot	POINTS	6
Options Chosen
Special Rules	Ranger

UNIT NAME/TYPE	Ankhatoc's Temple Guards, Elite Foot	POINTS	6
Options Chosen
Special Rules	Ranger

UNIT NAME/TYPE	Xlxhol's Flesh-Eaters, Saurus Warriors, Heavy Foot	POINTS	4
Options Chosen	Offensive (Attack Value 4+)		2
Special Rules	Ranger

UNIT NAME/TYPE	Kaigor's Killers, Saurus Warriors, Heavy Foot	POINTS	4
Options Chosen	Offensive (Attack value 4+)		2
Special Rules

UNIT NAME/TYPE	Uaxchi's Serpent Warriors, Skinks, Light Foot	POINTS	3
Options Chosen
Special Rules	Wall of Spears (Min. 6 Strength Points)

Dragon Rampant: Prince Arodon's Vanguard

I have arranged a game of Dragon Rampant in Argonor's Attic Sunday afternoon, and it will be High Elves versus Lizardmen (in other words, two armies that I have not painted anything for, myself!)

The High Elf warband looks like this:

I need to glue the lance of Prince Arodon in place, but arranging a flying stand for him will have to wait.

The army is composed as follows:

UNIT NAME/TYPE	Prince Arodon, Elite Rider Single Model Unit (1)	POINTS	6
Options Chosen	Flying (Griffon)		2
Special Rules	Wild Charge, Counter-charge, Flying

UNIT NAME/TYPE	Aenor's Death Dealers, Ellyrian Reavers, Heavy Riders	POINTS	4
Options Chosen	Mounted Missiles		1
Special Rules	Counter-charge

UNIT NAME/TYPE	Eriston's Guardians of Ulthúan, Lothern Sea Guard, Elite Foot	POINTS	6
Options Chosen	Missiles		2
Special Rules	Ranger

UNIT NAME/TYPE	Thalaweston's Blades of Vengeance, Swordmasters of Hoeth, Bellicose Foot	POINTS	4
Options Chosen	Terrifically Shiny Armour (Armour 3)		2
Special Rules	Ranger, Wild Charge, Counter-charge versus Foot, Fleet Footed

High Elf Warband Arrived!

I purchased these second hand last week, and they arrived with the mailman this morning.

There is a few repairs to do, and I shall have to paint the still only primed Ellyrian Reaver, and find one more somewhere to have two units for Dragon Rampant.

One of the Griffon Riders is also missing his lance, but a wire spear/pike and a paper banner will mend that somewhen in the future.

Roll call so far:

High Elf Knight on Griffon: Elite Rider Reduced Unit, 6 pts, Flying, 2 pts, 8 pts. (1 model)

Ellyrian Reavers: Heavy Riders w/Mounted Missiles, 5 pts (6 models)

Swordmasters of Hoeth: Bellicose Foot w/Terrifically Shiny Armour, 6 pts. (12 models)

Lothern sea Guard: Elite Foot w/Missiles, 8 pts. (6 models)

Total: 27 pts.

I now just need to make a same-size warband out of some of my recently purchased Lizardmen, and we are good to go!!

I can also double this force any time by forming the Swordmasters into two Reduced Units, getting one more Reaver and paint those two missing ones!

New Rules!

I got THESE in the mail today:

And they got here, just after I finished work on a batch of mead, so what could be more fitting than...