The Wholly Romaine Empire, A Dragon Rampant Army

[Metternich]

Some of us in our local club are playing Dragon Rampant (with some club rule revisions:- e.g. units can indeed come within 1" of each other; a failed order attempt doesn't end the player's turn so you can attempt to order other units in your force, and; some changes to certain of the magic rules).  I put together a 16th-century themed force based on Oldhammer figures (e.g. old Reiksguard, those wonderful metal pistoleers, plastic Empire foot, and several ogres), and compiled a back story for it.  And so herewith begins The Annals of the multi-lingual, multi-racial Wholly Romaine Empire, particularly the detachment commanded by his Excellency, IL  Duque Insalata de Caprese:

7 Points. Elite Foot (IL Duqe and les Croutons) , Leader,  Enchanted Weapons  (6 figures; dismounted knights in 3/4 plate, one of whom is the force Leader)
4 Points.  The Nicoise Heavy Foot (spear and shield, cuirass)  (12 figures, one of whom is the Wizardling)
   + 2 Points.  Wizardling (Doctor Paracelsus).
5 Points.  Heavy Riders (1/2 or 3/4 plate armor), Mounted Missiles (horse pistols) (6 figures) (von Pumpernickle's Schwarzbrot Reiters)
6 Points.  Bellicose Foot, "Terrifically Shiny Armor"  (reduced model unit of "civilized" Ogres -  4 figures of 3 Strength Points each) (les Crudite's)

   De Caprese will personally lead his own household unit of Elite Foot, affectionately known by him as "les Croutons". Besides their 3/4 plate armor and heavy weapons, de Caprese and some of his men also have "enchanted weapons" - the latest development from the town of Pistoia.  [In future battles Il Duque might instead take to air on a griffon, as a flying Elite Rider].

   Also joining his force is the Nicoise Heavy Foot, within whose ranks cowers "Doctor Paracelsus" (the latinized form of his original name, Paracelsey), de Caprese's Court Astrologer and Alchemist.
    [Paracelsey is actually a bit of a fraud, not the grand wizard he pretends to be.  Early in his youth he abandoned his apprenticeship as a sous chef,being instead desirous of attaining the rank and privileges of a great magician.  He eventually made his way to the ducal court, claiming he could transmute cumin into saffron (of greater interest to de Caprese than the traditional lead-to-gold transmutation).  Although that didn't work out, he retained his place at court because he had accidentally discovered that boiling vin ordinaire produced the more powerful brandywine (also because the famous ducal court painter, Mike de Angelo, had just quit because he was bored with only painting still lifes of fruit bowls - the only subject matter in which de Caprese  had shown any interest - and IL Duque needed to display some stability in his household staffing if he hoped to replace de Angelo).  Paracelsey doesn't know many spells (3)  (his studies having been impeded by his semi-literacy), but he does have a wand (acquired some years ago via a flask of his brandywine, the manipulation of a marked deck of cards, plus the propensity of a tipsy magician of his acquaintance to bet on filling an inside straight) with which Paracelsey hopes to flambe' the ducal enemies.]

   Sent by the Emperor to support de Caprese in these times of strife are a squadron of von Pumpernickle's Schwarzbrot Reiters -  pistole armed heavy cavalry in 3/4 armor - plus a mercenary lansquenet company of "civilized" Ogres in fancy French dressing, les Crudites.   While others may fight for la Glorie, die Herrlichkeit or Civic Pride, les Crudites fight for pay, loot, plus tasty smashed-tripe and bonemeal-bread sandwiches (the ingredients of the last two items being taken from the corpses of the  foe - see, they are civilized, they don't eat allies).  Ogre skin is tough, Ogre skulls are thick, and Ogre guts are covered in a thick layer of fat - overall equating to  "terrifically shiny armor."

  To supplement his contingent from the Wholly Romaine Empire, IL Duque Insalata de Caprese had considered adding a priestly force (rather expensive at 4 points for a Priest) in order to lend piety for the coming fray.  To that end, he had directed the individual he considered the most learned at his ducal court,to wit the eminent  "Doc Parsely," to pen a missive to the Chief Hierophant of the Empire requesting that His Hierophantness send a detachment of the fearsome zealots of the Flagellant Order.  Unfortunately, due to a "clerical error" (as noted previously in these Annals, Doctor Paracelsus is only semi-literate and his spelling and penmanship are uneven at best), the Chief Hierophant instead dispatched a small but odiferous choir from the Flatulent Order.  IL Duque had considered combining these malodorous monks together with the sweepings of the ale houses, stews, and gaols of the town of Nicoise  to form a "Ravenous Horde" aka a Brute Squad (of little real utility in battle save as a speed bump).  However de Caprese reconsidered and deemed the best use of  what remained of his limited resources (the 1 gold piece remaining from his 24 gold pieces) to be instead the purchase of  "enchanted weapons" from the workshops of Pistoia to equip his Elite Foot bodyguard (les Croutons).
   

[Charlemagne]

Fantastic write up, good for a solid few laughs at least! Having played against this force I can say it has a solid tabletop presence and cuts a fine figure, although Metternich had some TRULY unlucky rolls that resulted in some nearly perfectly intact units (ogres and Wizard) completely disappearing on him. Knock on wood the next go at it they'll have better luck!

[Metternich]

  Charlemagne is referring to a six-player game we had about three weeks ago, each army for itself in a quest to find 6 magic crystals - among 18 scattered about the field, most of which were dummies (a die roll determined if a crystal was genuine).  A faction had to attempt to secure a crystal and then carry it back to its own base to register points towards victory (other victory points being secured via destroying an enemy unit - thereby gaining half the points of that unit).  A unit would drop a crystal if it were defeated in an attack or was battered, and then it was up for grabs to whatever unit could first reach it and not be in immediate combat.  Had a ding-dong back-and-forth fight going in the center over one crystal, with it changing hands multiple times.

    As Charlemagne notes, despite my les Crudites Ogre mercenaries having won the initial combat of the game (in a Wild Charge against a light foot unit composed of students of an Arabian Nights wizard, with the Ogres having lost 1 point), I rolled snake-eyes for the Ogres' initial Courage test, causing them to desert off the board.  Likewise, some turns later in another Courage test for my Nicoise Heavy Foot (with Wizardling attached) which had lost a combat against a Djinn (equivalent to a Heavy Horse unit), I again rolled snake-eyes (Twice in One Game !?!?!) and watched my Heavy Foot also desert.  Wholly Romaine Imperial honor was somewhat salved on my left flank where IL Duque and his Croutons Elite Foot bodyguards charged and  totally destroyed in succession two enemy units of a wood glade themed army - one unit each of Minotaurs and goblins.  Despite losing half their numbers overall, les Croutons passed all Courage tests (thanks to the leadership of IL Duque combined with the inherent courage of Elite Foot) and survived till the end of the game.  Charlemagne meanwhile - whose Samurai-themed army consisted of JSohei monks, Oni, and Kappa, had destroyed the remainder of  the wood glade army. 

    The ultimate victor of the game was a Norman-themed army which had delayed its drive into the center until other armies had exhausted themselves on each other, and secured three crystals.  Charlemagne and I await another outing of our respective armies, (when hopefully the Iron Dice of War will roll more in my favor !)

[jon_1066]

Would love to see some piccies of the force you have so eloquently described.