Challenge Update

Just a quick update on the painting so far. I'm still at top of leader board, or should be after Wednesday.

Copplestone British Sailors for fighting Zulus

Tsuba German Sailors with HMG for fighting VBCW types

Wargames Factory Numidians for fighting Romans

Finally a set of figs from this great film

Tsuba miniatures Good, Bad and Weird for fighting everybody and each other

Far Eastern Dragon Rampant

Really starting to get into Dragon Rampant and played again today. I played the standard bloodbath scenario and used 2 every large (48 point) warbands. T'ang Chinese vs Samurai. There was no magic and no special reduced strength units. I really wanted to test out the rules with lots of figures. I made 1 change to the standard rules to accommodate the fact that there were 9 units on each side. I allowed each side to reroll 1 failed activation dice roll per turn. This worked well and allowed me to move most of each sides units each turn.
The T'ang forces used lots of mixed missile units with 4 cavalry units and I even gave the 2 Elite Rider units bows. Against these were lots of Samurai elite and heavy infantry with only one unit of Elite riders.

T'ang Elite Riders

T'ang Heavy Foot

T'ang Light Foot with missles - there are 4 of these

Samurai Elite Foot and Offensive Heavy Foot  - Ronin

Samurai Elite Riders

The T'ang plan was to advance to a good position and hold whereas the Samurai were planning to charge.
The battle opened with both sides advancing, T'ang had a large cavalry force in the centre and most of their infantry to the right. The Samurai were more spread out but they also put their Elite Riders in the centre. The battle wold be around the village with the Samurai also trying to swing round from their right and roll up the Chinese.

Turn 1 - both sides advance

Turn 2. Lots of infantry enter the village. The Chinese fire to no effect

Turn 2 - meanwhile the rest of the units advance with T'ang horse archers to the fore

In the village the Samurai charge one of the T'ang light foot units and routs it off the table. In the centre the 2nd LF unit has survived an attack by the Ronin and fight them again but are pushed back into the waiting hands of the samurai who destroy them.

In the centre the T'ang elite riders charge the mounted samurai but are pushed back

The 2nd elite rider unit charges the mounted samurai (immediate follow up is good. However the samurai are very hard and win.again

On the other side of the village there is a bloody standoff between the forces as the Ronin can't break the T'ang wall of spears.

THe samurai have been reduced to 1/2 strength and are charged by the T'ang heavy cavalry but kick their ass. Neither side has the strength to take the village

 On the other side of the battle the samurai cavalry have been ground down and the rest of the Samurai are hard pressed. However a couple of volley's of arrows start to give them the advantage as the Elite riders are cut down.

The final act of the battle was a unit of ninja (Offensive Heavy Foot) came in from the flank and took out the T'ang general (the must have force fed him poisoned fish heads).

Overall another fun battle. The rules up scaled nicely and the reroll worked well for a failed activation. Really getting into these rules now. Next more monsters, or maybe some painting

Next challenge update

Still leading the way on the Challenge, although a stop for a pie and a pint may be on the horizon.
Starting to focus on the next phase of my winter's painting which is the Punic Wars. I have several 1/2 finished ancients armies and I need more to play with.

Roman cavalry with hand painted octopus shields

Roman hastai with hand painted horse shields

I'm no great free hand artist but I do like painting shields

Next up some Victrix and Wargames Factory Carthaginian (Numidian) skirmishers.

I really like the Victix figures but the Wargames Factory figs are pretty poor

I've also submitted a couple of bonus round figures, a Citadel Orc for the Nostalgia round, although I may repaint him as not happy with the skin tone and the others think that he is playing hockey and needs a head to hit.

Finally the Epic Fail round got General Custer. He failed to obey the 1st rule of life "Don't be a Dick"

This has been stuck in my head for a couple of days - Big Brother

Dragon Rampant

I downloaded my copy of Dragon Rampant yesterday and played it today - yes I have done no painting today.
My first impressions of the rules were very promising. It is easy to pick up and the text is very funny. I have Lion Rampant but have yet to play it.
I picked out two 35 point warbands and have bound to have made some errors. As usual the light in my gaming room is shocking so excuse the dodgy photos.

Forest Dwellers lead by Saffron (her stripper name} who is charmed

Although she is mounted on a fear causing undead Stone Troll she is a unit of Elite Foot

Next up 2 units of  Scouts

And a unit of Satyr Scouts

Infantry was 2 units of Light Foot, one with offensive option

A unit of Elite Foot

A unit of Belicose foot

Finally a unit of Harpies - Flying Light foot

The opposition was a Mycenean Warband lead by Agamemnon in a unit of elite foot and a Brutal leader

They had 2 units of Heavy Foot

2 units of Light Missile troops - archers and slingers

A unit of Chariots, elite riders

Finally the Stygian Witches as spell casters

The battle was for control of the temple with the side that controls the magic faraway tree in the middle for 3 unchallenged turns winning

The Forest Dwellers started first and the action began on their left wing with one unit of Scouts defending a wood against a unit of Greek Heavy foot.

The Greeks attached, the Scouts evaded and removed 2 strength points causing the Greeks to retreat.

In the centre the Harpies attacked the 2nd Greek Heavy Foot but were pushed back. If the battle is a draw the attackers are forced to retreat (which is fine) but I think they become battered (which will be a problem later)

The Greeks formed a Wall of Spears as Saffron advanced

There were lots of very short turns at the start of the battle as I kept failing activation. It is important to plan your turn properly, which is good.

The battle was starting to focus on the centre as the forces struggled for control of the temple

Back on the left the Greeks recovered and drove the scouts out of the woods

On the right it was a shoot out between the Witches and Archers and Scouts and Satyrs. The Archers and Witches got the upper hand due to failed activation roles by the forest dwellers

Saffron attacked in centre and drove the Greeks back but took enough hits to make her hang back

The Witches were having a great time casting spells on a unit of Light Foot, keeping them out of contact

The Chariots finally activated and launched an attack on the Forest Elite foot

The Foot beat the Chariots (both elites) and the Chariots retreat and are Battered.

Up till now the rules were great, simple, taxing and pretty realistic. The armour rating was particularly effective. However I now have a problem with the rules. If a combat is drawn then the attackers retreat (fine) but as I read the rules they become battered. 

The now battered chariots (even though they passed their courage test) were immediately attacked by the Elite Foot and stomped on. However they then passed their courage test and even though they only had 1 strength point left the Elite Foot with 4 strength points had to retreat and were Battered. They were then attacked by some heavy foot and beaten up. Again the elite foot passed their courage test and the heavy foot retreated and were battered.

This all seems wrong. I don't mind that the attackers retreat but I do mind that they become battered even though they passed their courage test. In the future if they pass their test the retreating unit will not be battered.

Meanwhile Saffron had wandered to the Magic Faraway Tree and won the battle.

Overall the rules are great and work very well and unless anyone has a better suggestion I will not batter retreating attackers who pass their courage test.

Dragon Rampant is now my go to set of Fantasy rules, in fact all large scale battles pre gun powder