Lion Rampant: The Wolves Return...

... or, with all 3 of our group's Scott's showing up for last night's game, "the Scottening!".

The Vikings were back. Mostly because I haven't painted any other Dark Age troops, also just because I love these miniatures.

We played a variant of the "Tax Collector" scenario in the Lion Rampant book. We had one of the objectives in the Bailey. WE had 6 players controlling 12-15 points of troops.
The Vikings had a hard time getting started despite the house rule of always getting Move at least one unit. It didn't help one of our side didn't know you rolled 2d6 instead of 1. How did he think he'd get those Bidowers shooting on a 7+?
The Norman heavies crashed across the stream and bashed into a couple of unprepared Viking units.

They didn't last long. The first two Norman units to be destroyed (along with their leaders) were said heavies. On the other side, the Berserkers had a poor showing.
The Normans were able to secure some tax tokens, but the Vikings surged forward finally and moved forward looting and burning.
It was a rough day for Leaders. Snake eyes were rolled 3 times for Lucky hits. All in all a great game. Still my favorite rules for the period. Now I just need to paint some Scots, Welsh, Saxons....

Lion Rampant: Burn those Boats Pt2

Last week seemed like such a close game, we decided to keep it set up and finish, Miraculously, the dragons (cats) that live in or castle let them survive.
When we last left our battle, the Normans were getting the worst of it. Even though they out numbered the Viking invaders, a rash of failed activations and poor dice rolling had kept them on their side of the board, and beaten back at every flank. One lone cavalry unit had managed to flank the the Vikings on their left, and were in threatening to burn one of the boats.

Until the Berserkers attacked. They were in wild charge range of the Norman cavalry. The Normans failed their own counter charge roll and took the charge at a stand still. It was a slaughter for both sides. The Berserkers went to Valhalla but took all the horsemen with them.
The Vikings pressed forward across the line.
Then, the brilliant Norman commander, who had failed rolling all last game, and was on course to repeat, came up with a plan.
He gave all his troops to his subordinates.
Sure enough, they performed brilliantly. The best unit on the table, a Norman Mounted Men-at-Arms unit cut a swath through the vikings like butter. Crossbowmen, filled the sky with arrows. It all looked like the tide had turned. And it had.

The tide was going out, and the Vikings started loading up the ships. One of units stayed behind, formed shieldwall and single-handedly held up the Normans while their brothers escaped. The Valkyries delivered them personally to Odin's side.

Lion Rampant: Burn those boats! Pt1

We've been playing several loose linked scenarios with Lion Rampant. The raid has not gon well lately for our viking invaders. Now, they're trying to make it back to their ships with what little spoils they have. The normans are close on their heels.

We had 6 players split into teams of 3. Some players were veterans and others completely new. Each had a full 24 points (actually the Normans had a little more). The Norman objective was to burn as many of the Viking ships as possible. The Vikings, of course have to hold until the tide was going out.

From the start, the Normans had a hard time getting moving (aka failed activations). We attributed this to being wary of cornered animals. The Viking, however, decided to go on the offensive.
The Normans initially were forced back by the Northmen's onslaught but managed to get a few flanking maneuvers going.
Just as the blood started flowing we had to call it. But, instead of packing it up, enough people wanted to see it played out. So now I have to find a way to protect the table from thespear snapping, flag chomping dragons (cats) until next week.

Dark Age Lion Rampant: Vol IV

On vacation, so limited comment, other than to say the Vikings were on a "smash and grab" mission. It did not go well for them, but great time for the players.

Lion Rampant- Battle of Two Crossings (or the Normans get spanked).

This was be the third time I used these armies, and I feel they are fairly balanced. The first battle saw a close tie between Vikings and their Norman kin. The second battle saw the Normans crushing the invaders. This time, Guy de Fountainbleu and his Norman retinue got walloped.

We had 6 players, 3 a side, each controlling 4 groups. Now that we've got a few games under our belts, we finished 2 hours.
The scenario involved control of two separate crossing of a small river. Both sides needed it to continue their respective campaigns.
The Normans had a tough go getting their forces moving. We have instituted a house rule, where if you fail to activate on your first try for the turn, that unit still gets to move (no shooting or attacking) then you are done.

The battle? Well, there's no way else to say it. The Vikings rolled over the Normans. Some of it was good dice vs bad, but most of it was proper use the forces involved. Our bidowers got in the trees and sniped. Our rank and file formed shieldwall in important places and our tough guys charged.
Guy himself was able to defeat a Viking leader in single combat, and routed a few Viking units. Despite the beating, it was a lot of fun. All that chainmail and beards. How could it not?
The colored discs in the pictures are color coded to the guys reference sheets to remind them of the troop type.

Dark Age Lion Rampant: all that rebasing pays off

With their dull coat still drying, my 300+ Vikings and Normans made the precarious journey 40 minutes south to christen one of our Basement Generals new game rooms.
It was an honor and a privilege to be the first to bloody Nick's new game room.
The Viking horde was quickly bearing down on a small Norman village. The local lord was tasked with trying to save all the livestock, treasure and important personages before they fell into the pagan's hands.
Vikings got the first move and everyone was able to move the close to 200 miniatures forward.
The Normans, failed miserably to motivate their troops.

By the end, the Normans were able to finally get moving. Several leader challenges later, only one Viking commander was alive. On my flank, my leader and his Norman counterpart fought 3 times before he finally won.
It ended up being a Norman victory, but I didn't care. Everything looked great, the beer flowed freely and new war room got broken in.

Squeezing in a weekend game

My oldest wargaming buddy, Lead Addict and I have similar limited schedules with teenagers and jobs and families. It's rare we both have time to play together. He's been itching to play two games I've really had a good time with, DUST and Lion Rampant.
Not many pics, but lots of rum.

The Axis secret weapon...

For DUST (the one off the grid, is that Tactics or Warfare?) we had 200 points a piece. 100 points of armor and 100 of infantry. No special Command Troops or extra rules, just the basics.
Lead Addict quickly grasped the fire and suppression rules and had some of my best troops pinned for a good part of the game. I retaliated by pounding his armor to, well, dust.
These rules are simple and elegant with a lot of grit that isn't always noticed at first. I wish the models were more available. I substituted their special dice with my own 3 sided I had.

Next was a rematch Lion Rampant style, between the Normans and the Vikings. The vikings took a defensive position from the start only my crossbows were able to crack. It was short and sweet, but again a rule set with a lot more depth than seen at first sight. Guy de Fountainbleu left the peasants to their fates.