Lion Rampant 2025 Update #11

Hello gentlemen,

Lion Rampant News …

With Carnage and Fall-In behind us, the last event for 2025 is almost upon us …

(1.) Lion Rampant Winter Bash in Albany NY, Dec 13, 2025 … at The Fortress of Gaming, 18 Railroad Ave.

Room for 12 players, and if for some reason there is a larger pre-sign up, tables might be added. Start time is 11am, each round 2 hours, armies can be 24 points & from the back of 2nd edition rule book, loaner armies are available, “standard” rules will apply. Number of rounds to be determined, $5 cover charge at the door.

I hear tell that the event already has 10 or 11 folks signed up for 12 slots, tables might be added, although probably wise to let us know if you’re planning to attend ??? Feel free to reply to this email, and we’ll get your name to the organizers.

And the 2026 Calendar is definitely starting to take shape …

(2.) Total Con in Marlborough MA, Feb 19 to 22, 2026 … at Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel, 181 Boston Post Rd.

A. Battle of Bouvines, 1214 AD … Friday, Feb 20, 1pm, 4 hours, 2nd Edition (modified), 6 openings/”tickets”.

(3.) Havoc in Marlborough MA, March 27 to 29 … at Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel, 181 Boston Post Rd.

A. Battle of Bouvines, 1214 AD … Saturday, Mar 28, 7:30pm, 4 hours, 2nd Edition (modified), 6 openings/”tickets”.

B. Friendly Lion Rampant Tourney, STARTS 10AM! … Sunday, Mar 29, 10am, 3 rounds, 10am, 12:30, 3pm, 2 hrs each, prizes top 3, maybe more, 6 tables, scenery provided, Scenario 1 & 24 point army lists from back of 2nd edition rules. Bring your own army or 6 loaner armies are “first come, first serve” or email gamespoet@aol.com. Beginners ok, under 12 with adult. STARTS SUNDAY 10AM!

(Game submissions still open, so we’ll keep ya posted!)

(4.) Mayhem in Lebanon NH, April 10 to 12, 2026 … at Hilton Garden Inn, 35 Labombard Rd.

A. Battle of Bouvines, 1214 AD … Friday, Apr 10, 1:30pm, 4 hours, LR 2nd Edition (modified), 6 openings/”tickets”.

B. Pan Casimir’s Express … Friday, Apr 10, 7pm, 4 hours, Pikeman’s Lament, 6 openings/”tickets”.

(Games submissions are still open, so we’ll keep ya posted!)

(5.) Huzzah! in South Portland ME, May 15 to 17 … at DoubleTree by Hilton, 363 Maine Mall Rd.

A. Friendly Lion Rampant Tourney, STARTS 10AM! … Friday, May 15, 11am, 3 rounds, 10am, 12:30, 3pm, 2 hrs each, prizes top 3, maybe more, 6 tables, scenery provided, Scenario 1 & 24 point army lists from back of 2nd edition rules. Bring your own army or 6 loaner armies are “first come, first serve” or email gamespoet@aol.com. Beginners ok, under 12 with adult. STARTS FRIDAY 10AM!

B. Battle of Poitiers, 1356 AD … Friday, May 15, 7:00pm, 4 hours, LR 2nd Edition (modified), 6 openings/”tickets”.

(Game submissions have not been opened yet, although we’ll keep ya posted!)

(6.) Stay tuned for a possible announcement of a special Lion Rampant event that MIGHT be held in 2026.

Also, there are plans for Lion Rampant at Historicon, Council, Carnage, and Fall-In! during the latter half of 2026. This newsletter is intended to include events in the Northeast that use Lion Rampant or any of the other associated rule sets using their format. A person can send info directly to gamespoet@aol.com, and we’ll list them.

We usually have armies for loaning out at tourneys held here in the Northeast, beginners are welcome.

Paint your figures, get your armies out, and enjoy!

Always feel free to ask any questions.

Cheers!

Mark T.

P.S. If anyone is no longer interested in being on this list, let us know.

Lion Rampant Tourney at Havoc

Hi gentlemen,

A few items …

(1.) My apology for having left the prizes behind. John and Thomas will have first pick of the prizes when we see each other at Huzzah!, they having tied with 2-0 scores and number of unit points with 46 each. Then Peter came in third with 2 wins and 34 points. Additionally, consolation prizes of 4 figure unit packs will be awarded to Chris, Noah, and Mark when seeing folks next.

(2.) Having given a go to using the “Alternative Rule For Failed Activation” offered in the 2nd Edition rules, let me know what your observations are using the different methods of activation … those being … if fail to activate, then “turn stops” versus if fail to activate, then “move onto next unit”.

Here’s my sense …

(A.) The “move on to next unit” method didn’t seem to speed the game up as I hoped.

(B.) With the “move on to next unit”, it seemed less important as to what unit was activated first from a rolling perspective, and presented a different dynamic that seems to make it more important as to which unit goes first, sort of like chess. I’m a fan of chess, yet I have enjoyed the more chaotic nature of “turn stops”, particularly since these rules are meant to be more of a skirmish game for the Medieval era, and with a harder grip on “command and control” by a leader than what chess offers.

(C.) I can see if one is running a larger “big battle” game how the “move on to next unit” can make a scenario potentially easier for the typical convention player that wants more control over their force. While at the same time, I played in Chris’ “big battle” Lion Rampant game on Saturday, and had no issue with how the “move on to next unit” method worked when both sides move all at once, and back and forth.

However, even at that level, I’ve enjoyed what happens with “turn stops” method that my scenarios for Civitate, Agincourt, Crecy, and Bouvines have seen, especially when each player gets an initiative role each turn adding to the swirling nature of the game, and gives me an impression of the chaos I imagine on a Medieval field of battle. Things can turn quickly, as I sense from my reading of medieval battles, and the pain of “turn stops” goes away quickly when the chaos brings a reversal of fortune, and when a player suddenly finds an opportunity to creatively act when all seemed lost.

Hopefully my conciseness in viewpoint gives some food for thought, even if there could be differing opinions.

(3.) Greatly appreciate all of you who were able to participate, as well as those who have been attending the various Lion Rampant tourneys that have been happening at New England area conventions! I’m grateful that some drive quite a distance to jump in on the fun. And it was great to have Noah join in for his first time, cheers!

Thank you!

Mark T.

Category: Lion Rampant