Dragon Rampant Starter Packs now available!

[Leon]

Dragon Rampant 2nd Edition has just been released and we've been working with Dan Mersey to put together some Starter Packs to go with the new rules.  These are very similar to our own Warband starter sets but with some tweaks to fit the Rampant rules better.  All Starters contain 8 units, priced at £47, and come with free 50x50mm bases as well.

"Dragon Rampant is (c) 2025 Daniel Mersey and published by Osprey Games. Pendraken Fantasy ranges are not official products but the author worked alongside us to select the contents."

These can all be found on our website here: https://www.pendraken.co.uk/12mm-dragon-rampant-starter-packs and the rules are available from Osprey here: https://www.ospreypublishing.com/uk/dragon-rampant-second-edition-9781472868640/

[Steve J]

Cool idea!

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

I can do most of those! 

[fred.]

Cool idea. 

I'm slightly confused on how the figures and bases are intended to work - with 8 units and 14 bases?

And the figure counts per unit are very different too. So overall a bit puzzled 

[Leon]

I'm slightly confused on how the figures and bases are intended to work - with 8 units and 14 bases?

Infantry and cavalry are 2 bases per unit, command/magic are a single base.  The Starter sets have 6 inf/cav units (12 bases) plus a command and magic user unit (2 units).  The figure quantities don't exactly work just due to our pack sizes being 25 figures (to be split into two units), but Dan said to leave the extra figure in and folks can decide what to do with it.

[fred.]

Infantry and cavalry are 2 bases per unit, command/magic are a single base.  The Starter sets have 6 inf/cav units (12 bases) plus a command and magic user unit (2 units).  The figure quantities don't exactly work just due to our pack sizes being 25 figures (to be split into two units), but Dan said to leave the extra figure in and folks can decide what to do with it.

Thank you!

I was wondering if it was 2 bases per unit, then the 25 figures across two bases raised another question. Might be worth adding the first bit to the description on the site. 

[far4ngn]

Agree that's the first thing I was trying to calculate.

Was the reason for 50mm to fit with Warband?

[Leon]

Might be worth adding the first bit to the description on the site.

No worries, all done.

Was the reason for 50mm to fit with Warband?

That's the size that Dan Mersey recommended, so I've just assumed those are suitable for the rules?  Two bases makes a unit (which would be 100x50mm and the same as Warband) but I think having two separate bases allowed for easier casualty removal?

[fred.]

Yes the Rampant series has full strength and half strength units, so being able to remove a base to signify half strength is good from a game play perspective. 

You can just track wounds but having that visual reminder seems a good approach to keep things obvious for both players 

[steve_holmes_11]

To expand on Fred's commend.

Dragon Rampant introduced the concept of "strength points".
Prior to this, units had 12 or 6 models (rules as written).

Strength points allow fielding "Orc Champion - 12 strength" using a single figure.
On a broader scope you can now base your figures to suit your scale, table and budget.

Two bases for big units is a good choice.
Fred covers the key one, that units lose a bit of oomph at half strength - removing one base neatly models this.

Two bases also permit a bit of formation work, line, column, all round defence.
Formations don't matter much in Dragon Rampant, but they certainly improve the look of your battlefield.

Since the units function in multiples of six strength, you can also use the dice and frames to mark casualties if so inclined.


This is an excellent addition to Pendraken's range.
In keeping with fantasy game trends for rules-aware bundles and starter packs.
Working with the author ensures a consistent bundle.

I wonder whether it's worth doing something similar for Lion Rampant.
Or have I opened a can of worms, since there are at least five other "Rampant" style games in print.

[Raider4]

"Second edition?" thinks I. "Already?".

And then I realise the first edition is now ten years old. Blimey.

These starter packs are a very good idea.

[fred.]

"Second edition?" thinks I. "Already?".

And then I realise the first edition is now ten years old. Blimey.

These starter packs are a very good idea.

I had to go and check the 10 years bit - and it pretty much is 10 years old, blimey indeed.


Good expansion from Steve, which makes me wonder Leon if including dice frames and mini dice in the packs would work?

I think you would need 16 dice frames (1 each on the unit bases, and 2 on the command and magic user ones). But then would only need 10 dice (1 per full unit and 2 per command and magic unit). 

Not sure what this would do cost wise or logistics wise (not least people wanting specific dice colours with their army) - might be as well to link to the relevant pages so people can add these?

Its the balance of one click ordering vs flexibility

[Leon]

I think you would need 16 dice frames (1 each on the unit bases, and 2 on the command and magic user ones). But then would only need 10 dice (1 per full unit and 2 per command and magic unit).

Not sure what this would do cost wise or logistics wise (not least people wanting specific dice colours with their army) - might be as well to link to the relevant pages so people can add these?

I think with folks wanting different sizes/colours/numbers of frames, it's probably easier to link those products to the category rather than adding them to the sets.

[fred.]

Yes, probably makes sense. 

[steve_holmes_11]

I had to go and check the 10 years bit - and it pretty much is 10 years old, blimey indeed.


Good expansion from Steve, which makes me wonder Leon if including dice frames and mini dice in the packs would work?

I think you would need 16 dice frames (1 each on the unit bases, and 2 on the command and magic user ones). But then would only need 10 dice (1 per full unit and 2 per command and magic unit).

Not sure what this would do cost wise or logistics wise (not least people wanting specific dice colours with their army) - might be as well to link to the relevant pages so people can add these?

Its the balance of one click ordering vs flexibility

I would not recommend adding dice and frames to the packs.

Not everybody marks casualties that way.
For the rest, it's "stuff we don't need".

It might be worth adding an auxiliary pack to the range (enough dice and frames for an army).
Perhaps it's simpler to include a link to the dice and frames.

Can you tell I've never run a retail business?

(Scrolled up and noticed that Leon had beaten me to the link suggestion).

[Raider4]

... since there are at least five other "Rampant" style games in print.

Is "The Men Who Would Be Kings" one of them? 

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Is "The Men Who Would Be Kings" one of them?

Yes it is. There are some differences but basics are same.

[steve_holmes_11]

Is "The Men Who Would Be Kings" one of them?

Yes, I'll see if I can list them all.


1. Lion Rampant (Dark Age / Medieval).
2. Dragon Rampant (Fantasy).
3. Pikeman's Lament (Pike and Shot(te)).
4. Rebels and Patrots (Horse and Musket - nominally in the Americas)
5. The Men Who Would be Kings (Colonial).
6. Xenos Rampant (Broad Sci-Fi).

Lion and Dragon Rampant have a hardback second edition.
Xenos Rampant was issues directly into hardback.
The others are Osprey blue book softcovers.



Similar to the DBx boom, house mods can be found on the public web.

I'm working on a WW2 mod; branched off Rebels and Patriots.
I hopes Xenos Rampant would do the job, but its broad scope didn't match my idea of a WW2 firefight.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

I even used Xenos for Space ships

[steve_holmes_11]

I even used Xenos for Space ships

I understand the "Official" settings range from Weird World War One to Land warfare (in a  galaxy far far away).


The core Rampant engine is simple and flexible.
It lends itself to various adaptations:
    Custom units, bigger armies and multiple commands can all be done with ease.