Every so often you stumble across something that takes you straight back to the hobby tables of the 80’s was gaming better then or did we simply have less gaming choice. I was never much of a Warhammer player but Bloodbath at Orc’s Drift was exactly that sort of thing that got the creative juices flowing.
Released back in 1985 for Warhammer 2nd Edition, the boxed set was the work of Gary Chalk, Joe Dever and Ian Page, with its roots firmly planted in the film Zulu — just swap the redcoats for Elves, Dwarves and villagers, and let the Orcs do their worst.
The box contained the scenario book, command sheets, a poster map, and those wonderful Dave Andrews cardstock buildings, which for many of us were the first “terrain” we ever owned.
The campaign itself unfolded over four linked scenarios — Kachas Pass, Ashak Rise, Linden Way, and finally Orc’s Drift — each loss or victory feeding into the next. Whilst I never played them they have always been on my long list of games I need to play.
Inspiration for tonight's game and the first outing for Dragon Rampant 2.
My good friend Paul had brought his Goblin horde out to play the savage band of green skins were laying waste to Albion. King Arthur summoned the Knights of the Round table to turn them back.
The Knights readied themselves as Goblin riders rushed forwards supported by Ogre's - nasty looking things.
The curse of newly painted figures plagued both sides - The Ogres fell back under the blows of Excalibur. Goblins jumped the mercenary band as they neared the wood.
In the end the Knights beat the Goblins sending them scuttling back to their dark lands.
A cracking game of 30 points aside, Dragon Rampant really has that feel of the original Warhammer games now the conversation turns to returning to Orc’s Drift proper and converting the original game and points to Dragon Rampant. What have we done....
The buildings and the PVA glue that held them together may be long gone, but the thought of playing the linked scenario's scratches an itch that has been there for 40 years..... :-)
Happy gaming.
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