Chronicles of Narnia Campaign - A Dragon Rampant Campaign

Several years ago before this blog existed I ran a HOTT campaign using the Age of Wonders computer software, it generated some great games and some interesting scenario's.

Having a clear out last week I came across a copy of Risk Junior for the Chronicles of Narnia movie franchise, I never played it but it had a wonderful map... which sparked an idea for a campaign. 

It's been a few years since the Narnia armies have had an outing and hopefully with the return of social gaming in the coming weeks a chance to play some smallish games using Dragon Rampant.

The campaign is relatively simple which draws on some of the experiences of the recent diplomacy game. Written orders by each side and dictating the move required and a simple move one territory and battle scenario.

I lifted the lead character's from the movie with one alteration Rumblebuffin has had to switch sides and now becomes an evil giant residing in the Stonelands in the north of Narnia leading forces loyal to the White Witch.

The prize is Narnia it's self and an eternal winter or the return of Aslan and a new age....

Each counter contains the following points within Dragon Rampant.

Aslan - 24 Points

Peter - 24 Points

Edmund 12 Points

Lucy - 12 Points

Susan - 12 Points

Mr Tumnus - 12 Points

Mr & Mrs Beaver - 12 Points

The White Witch - 24 Points

General Otmin - 24 Points

Maugrim - 24 Points

Ginarrbrik - 24 Points

Giants of the Stonelands - 24 Points

Using the usual risk formula territories can be seized or won in battle.

At the start of the 3rd turn reinforcements are awarded at a value of 5 points per territory controlled by their forces. Reinforcements can be added to a named army as long as the army is not isolated from the main faction capital.

If a regions has a bordered by a river armies my only cross using the bridges shown. The woodland regions contain heavier terrain on the table top.

Characters killed in battle are considered captured and returned to the opposing factions capital. That being the Witches Castle or Aslan's Camp. The characters can be freed by capturing the enemy capital.

The campaign is won by controlling more regions than the enemy.

Hopefully the campaign should create a number of interesting engagements starting with the standard points for Dragon Rampant but rising as reinforcements swell the ranks of both sides.

Aslan's forces are more numerous but are smaller in number within each counter.

Booking keeping should be minimal with a status sheet for both players to record the points available, armies will be created on the day of battle with only the named character having to be included in the force orbit.

Can Aslan's followers capture the White Witches territories, or will Narnia remain forever in her evil power?

The return of mid week gaming.

Just a short post for now.

Having re-worked the Narnian forces for Dragon Rampant recently, they went on the hunt for their old foe the Purple Horde.... These folk were last seen over 5 years ago when they defeated me in every encounter using Hordes of Things..... Would things be different with Dragon Rampant?

A small game with 24 points each to ease my old foe into the rules...

High King Peter the Magnificent was feeling confident after his last outing but with chunks of Heavy Infantry and flying Bats it could be a tricky day holding back the forces of evil.

 

Purple Ghouls the bane of my life in HOTT badged up here as Ravenous Hordes for 1 point were not so strong. The attack and defence scores mean when casualties land they struggle to recover from their battered status.

I suspect I won't get away with suggesting that was a great way of spending those last 2 points next time... :-)

Rabbits, Badgers and Foxes tear into the ghouls, the game ended with. The evil player fleeing the table, but the result swung both ways for several turns....

I picked up the following game markers recently from the guys over at Supreme Littleness
I had not heard of these guys before but well worth a look, get to do business with and really swift in responding to orders.

Perfect for enforcing the 3" rule and picking out battered units.

Dragon Rampant has filled the void in 15mm gaming for me, I am really looking forward to the Men who would be Kings - The colonial variant it will give me a chance to bring the boxers out of retirement.

Dragon Rampant - Good triumphs over Evil?

After a swift make over the Armies of Narnia have taken to the field in your classic Good verses Evil bash, despite it being our first outing we decided on 48 points each, 24 just did not look enough on the club table..

High King Peter the Magnificent Eldest of the Pevensie Children led the talking animals, awakened from the 100 years of winter. Facing off against the White Witch of course.

With a title that big, I just hope our Pete does not let the side down he was already facing cat calls and mocking from my nasty opponent.

In a simple throw the figures on the table scenario, both armies line up, placing one unit at a time until all units are deployed.

My plan is to hold the left flank whilst using the Centaurs and faster animals to sweep the right flank, although this was countered late on by the appearance of General Otmin and his fellow Minotaurs.

Turn 1 forgetting the importance of Commanders Peter sets off on a sweeping move. Whilst Queen Jardis sends forward a unit of heavily armoured Nasties before failing her command move.

Better luck on the good side, Aslan was certainly playinh his part as all command rolles were passed and Rabbits, Badgers and Dogs rush forward to hold the ground between the two woods in the center. Fawns and Dwarves advance forwards and the Harfang giant appears over the tree tops.

Battle is joined, what we soon both realised is that beasts are a bugger to control, the Badgers charged headlong into the Nasties who took chunks out of them as they nibbled at their ankles of their heavily armoured foe.

Maugrim, Captain of the Witch's Secret Police. and his Greater War Beasts sent packing the Lesser War Beasts.

Meanwhile as pets corner was being put to the Sword, Pete finally made it on to the far right of the Witches Army and prepared to face off against General Otmin

On the opposite side of the table both sides faced off against each other the Witches Cannon bowling down the lightly armoured Fawns.

Wolves might beat Hound Dogs, but a Giant with a tree trunk, soon sent the Dire Wolves running for cover.

Peter and his Centaurs are initially caught off guard by the early charge of the Minotaurs, but slowly drive them backwards after re-grouping and charging in with lance and hooves.

In the center the furry beasts had done their job and as the missile bearing Fawns and Dwaves accompanied by Susan the Gentle, who true to her name had thus far not fired a shot advanced, Queen Jardis decided to retire from the field.

A cracking evenings gaming, Jarids "Sharper Blades" wizardry made the Nasties really nasty, only stopped by filling them with arrows. The badgers/rabbits were fun but really need to pick their targets. When your losses start to mount staying on the table can be really tough.

After running through the first few moves the pace was really fast for double the points on a first outing. We over looked a couple of rules, in particular the retreat distance for loss in hand to hand but overall a really well balanced encounter which captured spirit of the book and film.

Let's see how Aslan the Lion king fairs in the next chapter...

Dragon Rampant - Aslan's Army.

With the first outing later today.
Just time to post up the valiant defenders of Narnia - Aslan, The Pevensie children and the numerous Talking Animals who stand up to the tyrany of the White Witch.

Set out below are the various troop stats for deploying Aslan's Army with Dragon Rampant.
Total Points Playable 95

Aslan (6)
The Lion King of the land of Narnia.
Greater War Beast + Spellcaster
10 Points
Spells - Almighty Prod!, Banish Fear, Befuddle Thee!.

High King Peter the Magnificent (6)
Eldest of the Pevensie Children flanked by Aslan's standard carried by a Centaurs one of the nine classes of Narnian Creatures.
Heavy Riders.
4 Points

Kind Edmund the Just (6)
Second son and Third Child of the Pevensie family.
Riding a Gryphon.
Greater War Beast (Flying)
8 Points

Queen Susan the Gentle (6)

Eldest of Pevensie Daughters, flanked by a Company of Red Dwarves one of the Nine Classes of Narnian Creature.
Susan is armed with an Enhanted Bow.
Heavy Missiles
5 Points

Queen Lucy the Valiant (6)
Youngest of the Pevensie children and accompanied by Mr Tumnus.
Susan carries the Juice of the Fire Flowers, this Cordial heals all who take it.
Ravenous Hordes.
3 Points
Spells - Heal Thee!. 

Satyrs (12)
One of the Nine classes of Narnian Creatures, Goat like in appearance.
Heavy Foot
4 Points

Satyrs (12)
One of the Nine classes of Narnian Creatures, Goat like in appearance.
Heavy Missiles.
4 Points

Fauns (12)
One of the Nine classes of Narnian Creatures, with the legs and feet of Goats.
Light Foot.
3 Points

Fauns (12)
One of the Nine classes of Narnian Creatures, with the legs and feet of Goats.
Light Missiles.
4 Points

Faun Leader (6)
Light Foot
Offensive
5 Points

Faun Shaman (6)
Light Foot
3 Points

Centaurs (6)
Centaurs one of the nine classes of Narnian Creatures, Half Man, Half Horse.
Heavy Riders plus Missiles.
5 Points

Centaurs (6)
Centaurs one of the nine classes of Narnian Creatures, Half Man, Half Horse.
Elite Riders.
6 Points

Boar (6)
Large and aggressive.
Lesser War Beast
4 Points

War Dogs (6)
Honest, humble and loyal in battle.
Lesser War Beasts
4 Points

Gentle Giant of Harfang (12)
A race of tall beings, one of the nine classes of Narnian Creatures.
Elite Foot
6 Points

Giant Eagles (6)
Magestic creatures of the skys.
Elite Riders - Flying
6 Points

Talking Beasts (6)
The animals of Narnia given the gift of speach and dominion over the Dumb Beasts.
Lesser War Beast
4 Points

The White Stag (6)
The quest of the great hunting parties said to grant the wishes of it's captors accompanied by Unicorns they are fierce in battle leading the charge with their horns.
Heavy Riders
4 Points

The battle lines are drawn...

Dragon Rampant - Narnia. The Army of the White Witch.

Another slow week on the gaming front, but with some over night stays at work, time to catch up on the reading front. I have been itching to get some game time in with Dragon Rampant and have a couple of Fantasy Armies moth balled since Hordes of Things was popular
But with a little adjustment here and there the forces are easily re-purposed Dragon Rampant.

Inspired by the 2005 movie The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. I built up opposing forces for refighting the Battle of Beruna the final battle scene in the movie.
The books were a must read for me as a child and it has to be said the movies did capture the flavour of the stories, the kids even took an interest on what was on the painting table which can't be bad.

It turned into one of those projects that was almost more fun tracking down suitable figures than the actual painting and playing.

A typical Dragon Rampant engagement usually calls for 24 Army points but as usual I got a little carried way, but it does give me plenty of scope to vary the troop types and put down more unusual pieces.

Set out below are the various troop stats for deploying The Army of the White Witch.
Total Points playable 79.

Jadis - The White Witch (6)
Self-proclaimed Queen of Narnia and responsible for the Hundred Years of Winter.
Heavy Riders (Chariot) + Spellcaster
10 Points
Spells - Dragon's Breath, Sharper Blades.

Black Dwarf - Ginarrbrik (6)
Personal servant of Jadis, the White Witch.
Elite Foot
6 Points

Minatour (12)
Enormous earth shaking creatures with Bulls Heads, under the command of General Otmin.
Bellicose Foot
Terrifically Shiny Armour.
6 Points

Dire Wolves (6)
Under the command of Maugrim, a servant of the White Witch and Captain of the Witch's Secret Police.
Greater War Beasts
Cunning.
8 Points

Wildmen (12)
Barbarian hordes from the Western Wilds and early decendants from Telmar.
Light Foot plus Missiles.
5 Points

Rats (6)
Hordes of the foul beasts
Lesser War Beasts
4 Points

Black Dwarves (12)
One of the Nine Classes of Narnian Creature, darker cousins of the Red Dwarves.
Heavy Missiles
4 Points

Satyrs (12)
One of the Nine classes of Narnian Creatures, Goat like in appearance.
Heavy Foot
4 Points

Nasties (6)
Evil beings present at the slaying of Aslan at the stone table. 

Elite Foot
6 Points

Horrors (6)
Evil beings present at the slaying of Aslan at the stone table.
Lesser War Beasts
4 Points

Werewolves (12)
Men who by will or enhantment are able to turn into Wolves.
Bellicose Foot plus Missiles
5 Points

Nasties Leader (6)
Elite Foot
4 Points

Nasties Shaman (6)
Elite Foot
4 Points

Witches Cannon (12)
A monsterous gun manned by Hags.
Heavy Missile
4 Points

Looking forward to the first outing on Sunday - As soon as Aslan gets his forces in order over the weekend.

Thoughts and observations welcome on any tweaks to the forces and the unit types as they may well change once I have committed figures to table.