Monday, 15 December 2025

Dragon Rampant Campaign - The Valley of Jeff - Game One

Martin and I have embarked on a Dragon Rampant campaign using the campaign rules from the new second edition book.

I was hoping to use my old metal Dark Elves, but got distracted by various things and so have instead opted to use my Orcs. Martin will be taking his Dwarfs.

Martin has created a splendid map of the Valley of Jeff.


Victory for either side moves you closer to your enemy's base. Three points for a win and the first to 15, or the first to capture the enemy capital.

Game one was a pitched battle across the banks of the swift flowing River Jeff

Here's the game in video form:


My photos are unfortunately a little ropy...

I was using magic for the first time in DR2 - a light foot spellcaster with 2 colours of magic, Magenta and Saffron


I also had Elite Foot in the shape of Black Orcs.
A swift recount on turn three made sure I actually only used 6, not 12!


Martin had his armoured Bears (Lesser Warbeasts) to add some muscle


And some Goat Riding cavalry.


The Wild Charging Bears were met by counter-charging Orcs. This did not end well for the Bellicose Foot Orcs.


As the Clan Oakenfinger Dwarfs advanced to the skirl of pipes.


The Orcs and Bears were still going at it.


But the bears mauled them before running into the Black Orcs.


The bears fled, but the Clan Dwarfs continued their advance.


On the waiting Orc Elites


The spellcaster spent most of the battle buffing his fellows furiously.


Disaster struck the Orcs as the chariots failed to charge home


Te Black Orcs met the Clan on the bridge over the River Jeff


With some WD40 the Orcs reduced the moisture in their axels and took the fight back to the Dwarfs.


Barin Oakenfinger and his hearthguard waded into the swirling Jeff - but it was too late - the crossings belonged to Gruzzkupp!


Terrific fun game which ebbed and flowed (like the River Jeff itself).
Plenty of unexpected and unasked for turn endings when the dice deserted us and activations failed helped to keep the action in the balance until the very end.

Additional phone pictures.

The moment the Chariots failed to charge home, handing initiative to Oakenfinger!


The Bellicose Orc warriors charge the scantily clad Oakenfinger Clan.



Looking forward to the next game!

9 comments:

  1. Looks like a great campaign set-up (love the map πŸ‘πŸΌ). Is the Jeff a reference to the same Jeff in Bedroom Battlefields blog, by any chance?

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    1. The map is all Martin's work - lovely isn't it?
      I think it's just so we can recite "Half a league, half a league, half a league onward, All inthe Valley of Jeff"

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    2. Took me a while, but I GET it now!! 😁. Very good…Lord Tennyson would be proud…πŸ™ƒ.
      (My confusion was because there’s a collaborative campaign on the go with a bunch of gamers linked to Bedroom Battlefields blog, in which there is a fumbling magician named as Jeff…πŸ§™‍♂️).
      Looking forward to further shenanigans πŸ™‚πŸ‘πŸΌ

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  2. Excellent map for the campaign and the victory conditions are a great way to finish it without having to completely destroy the enemy.

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    1. Yes it's a neat little campaign - lifted from the book but we reduced the valley to five locations instead of seven.

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  3. I'm pumped about our upcoming games of Dragon Rampant. I'll be following the campaign. Hope the next game goes well for your boys!!

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    1. Thanks Mike, yes hoping Da Ladz can push on from here!

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  4. Nice setup for your Valley Jeff campaign. Unexpected turn endings certainly will add some excitement.

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    1. It's one of the best things about Dragon Rampant - the friction it introduces when the turn suddenly flips!

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