Tom's Toy Soldiers

Saturday, 25 October 2025

Dragon Rampant Second Edition: Orcs v Dwarfs

Martin had already ordered a copy of Dragon Rampant 2nd Edition when the nice chaps at Osprey sent him a copy - presumably in recognition of the nice videos he made of games of the first edition. As a result he was going to have two copies, so I said I'd buy the second one off him - I'd been eyeing the updated version anyway and this gave me the reason I needed.

Both armed with the shiny new book we put together forces for a game.

It being Orctober I decided on the Orcs and Martin had their old foe Dwarfs.

We diced for a scenario (as the new rulebook suggests) and came up with The Duke of Orc - in which players get Glory by holding on to the central hill.

I was clearly the Duke of Orc and decided I could do this "no sweat".

*looks to camera*

I didn't follow the Orc list from the book - which has them as Heavy Infantry - I like my Orcs as Warhammer crazy types prone to rash ill-disciplined charges, so Bellicose foot fits the bill. I took Black Orcs as my Elite Foot General's bodyguard, some Light Shooter Arrer Boys, Heavy Cavalry Boarboys, again their Wild Charge seeming right to me, and finally a Greater Warbeast in the form of a giant.

But that's the beauty of the Rampant series - you can make a force that fits *your* idea of how the troops should be.

Martins Dwarfs were mostly offensive heavy foot with some heavy cavalry on boars and some Bears as Lesser warbeasts.

Gruzzkupp's lads assemble.

*twangs of pointless arrow discharges*

Dour Dwarfs.

Bears. Bears in cans.

The lads pushed forward but my Leader and bodgyguard were left behind.

The giant failed to move first turn but then roused himself and set off.

The Dwarf infantry pushed ahead.

But the bears were just reorganising, having been up to something in the wood and failed to get going.

Similarly the Goat Riders held back.

Soon angry greenskins were swarming from the woods.

And heading for the hill.

The Boarboys thundered into some Dwarf infantry and drove them back.

As their Brethren advanced on the hill.

Boarboys going for the kill.

The Arrer boys made it onto the hill first.

The Orc lads prepared for a charge!

And then failed it!

I assume Animosity took over and they were too busy infighting.

So the Dwarfs did them a favour and the Orcs passed their counter-charge test.

The Dwarf chieftain and his bodgyguard made short work of pushing the Arrer boys back off the hill.

The Orcs and Dwarfs prepared to charge again!

Goat versus Pig - who will win?

The Dwarf forces now had a strong hold on the hill.

The Orc leader still lagged behind.

Dwarfs charged down off the hill to attack the Orcs.

The Orcs failed to countercharge, so this went badly for them.

The clash of Warbeasts happened on the flank.

And went on for a turn or two, before the Giant was pulled to the ground, dipped in honey and scoffed.

Dwarfs taunted the Boarboys from the high ground.

Finally the Elite Orcs advanced.

And attacked the Dwarf King.

But they were beaten back.

And the bears were closing in!

At this point Martin achieved the 5 Glory needed to claim the win!

The Duke of Orc was in disgrace and would have to surrender all his titles, despite very definitely never having done anything whatsoever wrong. No definitely. Nothing wrong at all. Just hand these titles back. Like any innocent person would.

Great fun game - we played it as written keeping the 3" rule, which forces you to make some difficult choices about manoeuvre in a game that would otherwise be a bit to easy to move things in. We also kept the re-roll means turnover rule as we enjoy the chaos and challenges it brings - it balances out over the game and promotes the narrative. The new "one re-roll" given by the general is a nice addition which give a little more control (or at least the illusion of it)!
Neither of us took magic for this first game - but I'm liking the look of the new changes so we'll gibe those a run out soon.

The campaign too looks promising and having enjoyed the Lion Rampant one I played earlier in the year i think Martin and I may give that a go.

Here's a few bonus phone pictures.