Xenos & Dragon Rampant Jack Vance's Dragon Masters -

This was the edition I got.  WH Smith's in Blandford I'm guessing.  Been a long time, getting from there to here.

I have a bit of a quandary.  I may have slightly overspent.  I shouldn't do impulse buys, but there you are.  Got to keep your mountain of shame topped up or you ain't no wargamer!

Every threat is an opportunity.  To solve problems you break them down into logical chunks.  Let's begin with purchase 1:   https://www.alternative-armies.com/products/iafp17-saurad-ordos-platoon-pack-includes-free-extra-unique-miniature

I've been expecting these for a wee while and, you know, 20% plus a bargain pack.

Problem - vehicles.  I cannot find anything that will fit. Now, how about a genetically modified fighting force?  Who remembers this? Jack Vance's Dragon Masters.

https://lostintheminiswiki.blogspot.com/2024/12/white-dwarf-6-termagants-juggers-fiends.html

So then I find that a certain company makes the damn figures!  I've even got some, but haven't made the connection!  4 hours before the sale stops and 1 day after my work pension drops.

And here's the perfect range!  https://www.alternative-armies.com/products/d0-dragon-lizard-set-d1-to-d7-with-saving?_pos=7&_sid=9f8b68daf&_ss=r

Breeds include:

Termagants - these are closest to the Basics in size. They are tough, reproduce quickly, and can be trained to use pistol, sword and mace. They are usually the biggest component of a Dragon army. The color of their scales is rusty-red.

Murderers - these come in two varieties, known as Striding and Long-horned. 

They are not described in detail, except to note that the Long-horned variety has a horn growing from the midsection, although another part of the story implies that there are horns on the head as well. 

Murderers seem to be used as shock troops. The color of their scales is brown.

Fiends - these are squat, powerful beasts that can fight with sword and mace, but also have a heavy spiked ball at the end of a tail.

This can be swung from side to side. It is particularly effective against Juggers if the Fiend can employ it between the Jugger's legs. The color of their scales is black-green.

Blue Horrors - these are agile beasts equipped with pincers enabling them to dismember an opponent. 

The color of their scales is toxic-blue.

 

Juggers - these are much larger than all the other Dragon breeds. They can use large hand weapons, but they are slow and ponderous. They are also hard to breed, so an army will have relatively few Juggers. 

However they can be extremely effective in the right situation, being able to pick up opponents and tear them apart. The color of their scales is grey.

Perfect greater Xeno/warbeast, what else!

Spiders - these are bred to be large and fast enough to carry a rider. The name implies that they use all available limbs for running. A high status individual rides a beast that has been heavily decorated and is well-disciplined.

Not sure on this one.  Thinking of mounting a leader as a command unit.

Now here's a thought.  What if the book was wrong?  Basics had been defeated, but what was captured were genetically modified troops rather than the overlord race?   Let's evoke them.  Light infantry and support troops, leaving the hard fighting to the big boys?

If you want to go for the lost colony vibe you could add a couple of units of primitive infantry.  From previous experience I'd keep these to 1 or 2 units.

7p Jugger 1 as 5	1	Move Free  (6+)  10”		Attack 5+ AttackV 3+ Defence V6+ Vec Half armour Other-1
Courage 3+ Armour 4		No Shoot		Wild charge. Open/ranger.  Demolitions. Blades.
2p Striding murderer LX  2 as 5	1	Move Free  (6+)  12”		Attack 5+ AttackV 4+ Defence V6+
Courage 4+ Armour 3		No Shoot		Wild charge. Open/ranger.
3p Horned murderer LX 2 as 5	1	Move Free  (6+)  12”		Attack 5+ AttackV 4+ Defence V6+   armour-1
Courage 4+ Armour 3		No Shoot		Wild charge.  Blades Open/ranger.
7p Fiend Fighting Vec 2 as 5	2	Move Free  (6+)  6”		Attack 6+ AttackV 4+ Defence V5+  Vec Half armour Other-1
Courage 3+ Armour 6		No Shoot		ATV Anti Tank. Dem. Blades. Walker.   Unarmed
4p Blue Horror LX 2 as 5	1	Move Free  (6+)  12”		Attack 5+ AttackV 4+ Defence V6+  -1 Courage
Courage 4+ Armour 3		No Shoot		Wild charge.  Open/ranger.  Fearsom
4p Spiders LX 2 as 5	1	Move Free  (6+)  12”		Attack 5+ AttackV 4+ Defence V5+
Courage 4+ Armour 3		No Shoot		Wild charge.  Open/ranger.  Cunning.
5p  Termagant HI. 4 as 10	2	Move 5+ 6”		Attack 6+ AttackV 4+ Defence V4+
Courage 4+ Armour 3		Shoot Free (6+) 5+  12”		Firefight.  Go To Ground. Assault doc.  CQ doc. Inc. size
3p  Basics LI  5		Move Free (5+) 8”		Attack 6+ AttackV 6+ Defence V5+
Courage 4+ Armour 3		Shoot 6+ 6  18”  6=2		Firefight.  Go To Ground. HW
7p  Support Weapons 2 as 5		Move 6+ 6”		Defence 5+
Courage 4  Armour 2		ShootFree  (7+) 4 24”  6=2		Firefight.  Spotters.  Heavy Weapon.
2p  Recon 2p		Move Free (5+) 8”		Attack 7+ AttackV 6+ Defence V6+
Courage 4  Armour 1		Shoot 6+ 6  18”  6=2		Firefight.  Hard to target Armour 2 vs shoot Skirmish 7+
3p  Primitive Inf 10		Move Free (6+) 8”		Attack 5+ Attack V5+ Defence 6   Armour 2
Courage 4  Armour 1		No shoot		Go To Ground.  Open order
4p  Primitive Shoot Inf 10		Move Free (6+) 12”		Attack 5+ Attack V5+ Defence 6   Armour 2
Courage 4  Armour 1		Shoot  6+ 6 6”		Go To Ground.  Open order
3p  Primitive Cav 5		Move Free (6+) 8”		Attack 5+ Attack V5+ Defence 6   Armour 2
Courage 4  Armour 1		No shoot		Go To Ground.  Open order

Now the Dragon Rampant version.  Dragon Rampant with Dragons?  Could catch on?

8p Jugger GW 1 as 6	1	Move 6+  10”		Attack 5+ AttackV 3+ Defence V6+  -1 courage
Courage 3+ Armour 4		No Shoot		Wild charge. Ranger. Stomper..  Fearsome
4p Striding murderer LW 2as 6	1	Move 6+  12”		Attack 5+ AttackV 4+ Defence V6+
Courage 4+ Armour 3		No Shoot		Wild charge. Ranger/fleet
5p Horned murderer LW 2as 6	1	Move 6+  12”		Attack 5+ AttackV 4+ Reroll 6 Defence V6+
Courage 4+ Armour 3		No Shoot		Wild charge. Ranger/fleet Berserk until 1/2
9p Fiend GW 2 as 6	2	Move 6+  8”		Attack 5+ AttackV 3+  6=2 Defence V6+
Courage 3+ Armour 4		No Shoot		Wild charge. Ranger. Stomper Slow   Bloodthirsty
7p Blue Horror LW 2as 6	1	Move 6+  12”		Attack 5+ AttackV 4+ 6=2 Defence V6+
Courage 4+ Armour 3		No Shoot		Wild charge. Ranger/fleet Venom
4p Spiders Lw 2as 6	1	Move 6+  14”		Attack 5+ AttackV 4+ 6=2 Defence V6+
Courage 4+ Armour 3		No Shoot		Wild charge. Ranger/fleet Fast
7p  Termagant HI. 6 as 12	2	Move 5+ 6”		Attack 6+ AttackV 4+ Defence V4+
Courage 4+ Armour 3		Shoot 6+ 5+  6”		Offensive Missiles
7p  Basics H Missile  12		Move 5+ 8”		Attack 6+ AttackV 6+ Defence V5+
Courage 4+ Armour 2		Shoot 7+ 4+ 18”   6=2		Bodkins
6p  Basics Crewed Guns  H missile 3 as 12		Move 5+ 8”		Attack 6+ AttackV 6+ Defence V5+
Courage 4+ Armour 2		Shoot 7+ 4+ 22”		Long range
2p  Scouts 6		Move Free 5+ 8”		Attack 7+ AttackV 6+ Defence V6+
Courage 5  Armour 1		Shoot 7+ 5+  12”		Hard to target Armour 2 vs shoot Skirmish , Evade 7+
6p  (primitive) Bellicose Ft  12		Move 5+ 8”		Attack 5+ AttackV 3+ Defence V6+
Courage 4+ Armour 3		No Shoot		Ranger, Wild Charge Countercharge foot. Fleet. Armour
6p  Flyers LC  6		Move 5+ 14”		Attack 7+ AttackV 5+ Defence V6+
Courage 5+ Armour 3		Shoot 6+ 5+  12”		Fly Skirmish, Evade 7+ Fast