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Post by rflowings on Sept 24, 2017 17:19:29 GMT
So I bought the Dragon Rampant rulebook recently and I like it a lot. It lacks the command-and-control granularity of Fantasy Warriors but is very flexible and has been good knockabout fun every time I have played it. I would like to fight a battle with my Elves on Monday 2nd of October, or one of the other October days, either using Fantasy Warriors Rules or Dragon Rampant Rules, whatever is preferable to the players at large (the challenged party picks the weapons, after all). If you are indifferent, I love Dragon Rampant and it is flexible enough to accommodate any army that comes into your head, provided it is vaguely fantasy-oriented. It also plays inside 2 hours, which is something of a plus. That said, to all current fantasy army players, consider the gauntlet thrown down! Currently, in our fantasy setting, the High Elves of the Topaz Throne are having a rough year, the frontier forces having lost ground to the invading New Model Rat Army and the Royal Guard having fought an inconclusive battle with the religious rodents of the Rattelands. It's basically wall-to-wall rats just now. We even got a bloody nose from the Wood Elves. So, one of the following scenarios seems apt: ~An Elvish counter-offensive to try to close the Aquamarine Straits and prevent further rodent incursions into the Sapphire Sea. This would be a beach scenario and might involve sinking sands and sea serpents, if that takes your fancy. I know how you rat fans love worms that spring out of the ground. ~The NMRA press their advantage and try to either force the Alabaster Gates (the first line of defence for the Fortress of Onyx), making for a small-scale siege scenario, or the ghastly little blighters might try to outflank the Fortress by pushing through the Spirit Vale (the High Elf sacred burial grounds located in a wooded, mountainous region). The latter would be an uphill struggle for the rats and might involve vengeful ghosts. ~Elvish outposts attacked by anyone who fancies a crack at a weakened frontier. Currently the Tower of Porphyry can no longer keep its watch over the Sunset Gates or the Wulfensmoor. Similarly, The northern frontier is more or less open to any adversary wishing to cross the Bend Sinister or paddle up Orc's Rift.* ~Something else??? So, in summary, who's interested? *I have been drawing maps, of the elvish realm which we provisionally assigned here. I hope to be done with at least one when I return on the 2nd of October.
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chad
Loquacious
Han Chinese tonight...or maybe Space Goats
Posts: 150
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Post by chad on Sept 24, 2017 21:51:41 GMT
Sounds good - I've not had a look at Dragon Rampant, I did purchase 'Armies of Arcana' a while ago, so that's another ruleset to throw into the mix.
Either way, I'm happy to teach those haughty High Elves another lesson in arboriculture, or help out in a rat hunt.
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Post by rflowings on Sept 24, 2017 22:28:46 GMT
It seems reasonable for you lot to take the offensive - the current map has the wood elves ghettoed in to a fairly small section of woodland (though there are a great many woods throughout the Neythyr Regions where they might live). If you fancy rolling up a Dragon Rampant scenario next Monday, I can put together a selection of units for both of us. By all means bring in Armies of Arcana, I have heard of the rules though I know nothing about them.
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chad
Loquacious
Han Chinese tonight...or maybe Space Goats
Posts: 150
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Post by chad on Sept 24, 2017 22:54:22 GMT
Ok thanks - let's have a stab at Dragon Rampant - I've not really read the AoA rules so it was a little premature of me to suggest their use. Shall I need to bring anything with me? I might try and read AoA so I can contrast with DR (sorry for the acronyms, it hurts to type!!!).
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Post by rflowings on Sept 25, 2017 20:09:11 GMT
Fab. You'll need to bring your wood elves, sorted into units of 12 (infantry) and 6 (cavalry), plus however many special characters and beasts/creatures you like. Will you be bringing anything like hawk riders/treemen/similar? Basically the rules allow for anything, provided it is divisible by three. Single-miniature units are also doable... other than that, I and the scenery cupboard will supply the rest.
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chad
Loquacious
Han Chinese tonight...or maybe Space Goats
Posts: 150
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Post by chad on Sept 29, 2017 18:43:55 GMT
Well, I gave in to temptation and bought an e-version of the rules, so I might even know what's going on at the moment. First thoughts from a brief uninformed skim are:
1) I like the different troop types, seems to represent most of the important types, but the 'strength' attribute seems to be the important one, which mitigates against over-powerful heroes and monsters. 2) The command and control looks ok, but I hope it doesn't require too many sacrifices to the RNG gods, otherwise my troops will stand around getting gleefully destroyed. 3) the 24 strength point maximum gives it more of a skirmish game feel I suspect, but that's probably me with my 'buckets of ancient troops' prejudices coming through. I wonder how scaled up games would work with the C&C system? 4) no geeky stats for different weapon types, but I think the different troop types and the slight variations allowed within them represent the 'feel' of troops with different weapons and training.
Looks like fun, I look forward to Monday night! I won't bring anything too fancy....
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Post by rflowings on Sept 30, 2017 17:52:29 GMT
I find the stripped-back approach satisfying and I can attest that it plays well. I'm not averse to trying a larger game, the DR rulebook touches on using multiple armies with sequential activation phases. If you assume a 24-pt force equals a "command" as per dragon rampant, simply have 2 or more commands with independent activation phases, which gives each sub-commander a bit of the apple. If the rules work out on Monday, we could give that a go at some point.
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chad
Loquacious
Han Chinese tonight...or maybe Space Goats
Posts: 150
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Post by chad on Oct 1, 2017 17:43:10 GMT
Good plan, as you suggest we'll keep it simple to start with! The forces of the Wood Elves are assembled and they prepare to meet their prey!
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Katie
Cato Would Be Proud
We need bigger datas.
Posts: 625
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Post by Katie on Oct 1, 2017 21:28:52 GMT
" simply have 2 or more commands"
There are some LR "larger battle" rules in a recent WI.
Basically they amount to; roll a Davg for allowed failures for each command, units may attempt to be activated for >1 move each turn with +1 modifier to the activation target each time. They mention scaling this to 70 units, 4 players per side and still finishing in four hours...
Meanwhile, I'm painting Scots forces for the ECW version of the rules... Rules are pretty much the same, activation numbers are lower and the boasts system is replaced by a character officer system with attributes & skills & progression.
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Katie
Cato Would Be Proud
We need bigger datas.
Posts: 625
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Post by Katie on Oct 2, 2017 8:29:06 GMT
Oh yeah, and if you get a 5 on your Davg then you get to chose a kill to disregard during the activation.
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chad
Loquacious
Han Chinese tonight...or maybe Space Goats
Posts: 150
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Post by chad on Oct 3, 2017 12:30:46 GMT
Thanks for the game last night - it was good fun even if I did balls things up in the first game by putting my key ring-bearing unit in a position where failing a skirmish test would result in being run down by a bunch of two-handed sword wielding nutters.
I thought that the activation thing could feel a bit binary - like that time the two units of High Elf bellicose foot floundered in the marsh whilst presenting themselves as targets for my archers. At least their shiny armour helped!
I should like another fantasy game sometime - I may dig out the undead or the Dark Elves, to give your High Elves a proper evil foe to fight against. Or maybe even lizardmen if I can find them in the loft?
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chad
Loquacious
Han Chinese tonight...or maybe Space Goats
Posts: 150
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Post by chad on Oct 3, 2017 12:32:37 GMT
And yes, maybe a big battle 2 or 3 player per-side game could be arranged - or are the rats too scared to show their snouts?
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Post by Timf on Oct 3, 2017 21:08:36 GMT
I could get ratty......
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chad
Loquacious
Han Chinese tonight...or maybe Space Goats
Posts: 150
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Post by chad on Oct 3, 2017 21:28:12 GMT
Good, one rat has surfaced to sniff the air - any other of the furry gang want to attempt to soil Elvish territory - go on, I dare ya.....
I think the quests in a multiplayer game could be quite interesting, as people on the same side might start pulling in different directions as they try and acheive their quests!
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Post by Timf on Oct 4, 2017 7:57:56 GMT
When are you thinking of playing - as I'll need something to let me put a list together in terms of costs and arming.
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