Monday, November 30, 2015

40K – First Contact


I have not played Warhammer 40000 in… oh… 25 years? Last time I played it said “Rogue Trader” on the cover (and I will forever kick myself for selling my copy when I decided I’d had enough with Games Workshop and walked away).

My kids (and some of their friends) have shown an interst in playing so I dug out some Imperial guard I’ve been collecting up over the years for various purposes (Assorted skirmish games and role-playing games – and more recently for the Only War and Rogue Trader role-playing games from FFG that I’ve been wanting to try out. I set the kids up with a few figures I had from the forces they were interested in playing (Orks for The Boy, Eldar for The Girl) and picked up a few other things to fill out the beginnings of a force and we’ve all been working away on our respective forces.

The Boy and I have had enough stuff ready for a while but a combination of being busy and flagging interest have kept us from getting the toys on the table. I’m not sure what got us on this again… Probably because a friend expressed an interest in playing Rogue Trader a few weeks back and that got me reading the fluff again… and I’m sure Millsy’s Mad Mega-post of the Astra Militarum’s Military Might had at least a little to do with it (got me painting this guys again and thinking about it….).

SITUATION

The situation on Kleeglass has been dire. A highly populated planet with considerable resources (promethium and archeotech being the most prominent) has recently (in the past decade) seen invasion forces of numerous species of Xenos – Orks, primarily, but there has been rumours of a Tyranid hiveship landing, and even Eldar craft have been sighted flitting about the system. The Imperial Administratum have finally wakened to the situation and started sending Guard their way. One of the first regiments to arrive was the newly raised 222nd Guaiacan Commando Regiment. This would be their baptism of fire.

The regiment made a fairly quiet and easy planetfall and has established a base on the main continent of Bralwarn near where most of the fighting has been taking place between the Orks and the Planetary Defence Forces. In the past weeks they have been expanding their operational area into a heavily forested area where one of the Ork Warhosts have been operating. Recconaisance patrols have been sent out to make contact with the enemy.

SCENARIO

We played a pretty bog-standard Purge the Xeno Scenario – with a minimum of special rules and such – just to try out the system.

We played with forces that were about 300 points each.

FORCES

5 Troop, #1 Commando, 222nd Guaiacan Commando Regiment

Troop Headquarters (30 Points)
Lieutenant Proxnaz (Powerfist and Bolt Gun +17 points)
Sergeant Rozchance (Sniper rifle +5 points)
Corporal Bitterind (Heavy Flamer +20 points)
Troopers Malwax and Conway (Autocannon + 10)

First Section (50 Points)
Sergeant Fury (Bolt Pistol and Chainsword +2 points)
Trooper Rentworth (Flamer +5 points)
Troopers Thorn and Volnair (Missile Launcher +15)
6 Troopers with Lasgun

Second Section (50 Points)
Sergeant Squath (Laspistol and Chainsword)
Trooper Festunal (Grenade launcher +5 points)
Troopers Morgan and Baird (Missile Launcher +15)
6 Troopers with Lasgun

Third Section (50 Points)
Sergeant Narduar (Bolt Pistol and Chainsword +2 points)
Trooper Withnail (Grenade launcher +5 points)
Troopers  Bogstrop and Fairweather (Missile Launcher +15)
6 Troopers with Lasgun


Dossgoff’s Clawz

Warboss Dossgoff (Powerclaw, Shoota, ‘eavy Armour, Stickbomz) 90 points

4 Lootas (Deffgun) 60 points
Lootamek (Kustom Megabalsta, Meks toolz) 15

Ork Nob (Slugga, Powerklaw) 41 points
12 Orkboyz (Slugga and Choppa) 72 points
Orkboy (Big Shoota and Choppa) 11 points



THE GAME

The Boy wanted to play his Orks all on his own, so Amanda and The Girl joined my side, each taking one section of Imperial Guardsmen.

(Remember: click on the pictures for a bigger version)


We set things up and then the Guard went first…


TURN ONE


The Boy and his Boyz

All the Guard moved up through the cover of small stands of trees, consolidated their positions, and had a look out for the enemy.


Sergeant Squath’s Second Section (played by Amanda). I’m not sure why everyone but the Missile Launcher team was deployed in the woods… Maybe they figured it might be a better firing position out in the open…?


Squath’s Section, on the right flank, spotted some heavily armed Xenos to their front and lit them up!


A stream of deadly lasgun fire and a couple of dead-on shot from the Grenadier took out three of the Lootas and sent the remaining two fleeing off the table and out of the area of operations.

(As it turned out the Missile Team could spot no targets from their position and were unable to fire…)

This was a good first contact for the Guard. Things were looking up indeed!

Over on the other flank Sergeant Narduar’s Third Section spotted a rather HUGE Xeno cresting a hill followed by a horde of other angry looking beasties. The squad rained down fire upon them – but despite some direct hits on the big one… the shots only seemed to make him angrier.


Unchecked by the fire from the Guard, the Orks storm over the hill and the Warboss and Big Shoota laid down some withering fire at the run. Troopers Withnail, Bogstrop and Fairweather (the Grenadier and Missile Launcher Team!) were wounded by the fire and taken out of action.


Guard Troop Headquarters commanded by Lieutenant Proxnaz held a position on a low rise and from there directed the actions against the Xeno enemy.


Section One and Three shared a position in a stand of jungle trees. (this is before Third Section took their initial casualties)


TURN TWO


First and Second Sections move out! First section advanced towards the cover of the woods to their front while Second Section began a flanking maneuver – having determined the Xenos threat to their immediate front had been neutralized.

Third section consolidated their position in the woods and spread out to the area vacated by First Section’s departure, and cleared their wounded comrades from their firing positions.


Third Section’s Missile Team got a shot off and blew an Ork to bitz.


Third Section and the Ork Mob exchanged wild ineffective shots. The Orks attempted an assault – but it failed as they couldn’t close the distance.


TURN THREE


Amanda commanding Third Squad pours fire down on the Orks before they disappear from view behind the woods.


First squad consolidates it’s position in the woods, but doesn’t want to move to the front of the woods lest they be assaulted. They stayed on at the back side of the woods hoping to pour flanking fire on the Orks should they assault Third Section’s position.

The Troop Headquarters Autocannon pumped a few shots into the mob, but failed take any down. And Sergeant Rozchance… y’know, with the Sniper Rifle… turns out he’s a pretty piss-poor shot… (he should probably leave the sniping to the abhuman Ratlings…)

Third Section ineffectively fired on the Orks. The Orks returned fire and took down another two guardsmen.


And then the Orks assaulted Third Section’s position… and wiped them out! The Guard were a little shaken by this turn of events!

The Orks then consolidated their position in the woods, hoping to turn around and assault their way through the rest of the troop…


TURN FOUR


Five of the Orks died in a storm of fire from the two remaining Sections and the HQ team… First Section’s flamer doing most of the work, but a well placed missile from Third Section did it’s fair share of the work…

The Orks returned fire and prepared to assault First section – THREE MORE Orks were taken down in Overwatch fire and then their assault FAILED (I think The Boy rolled snake-eyes for their assault distance!)


TURN FIVE

The remaining Orks die in a repeat of the previous turn’s fury of fire…


When the firing from the woods the Orks occupied stopped Lieutenant Proxnaz called for his guardsmen to cease firing. First section was ordered into the woods and they stormed into the position – finishing off wounded Orks and checking for survivors among Third Section - though there was no sign of the hulking mamoth of a Xeno that had been leading them. There was a blood trail... but no one seemed to anxious to go chasing off after it when there was wounded to deal with.

Third Section was gutted, four were killed in action (including the grenadier loader for the missile launcher team) Two others had to be evacuated to the hospital facilities in the rear and will need extensive cybernetic replacement parts if they’re to fight again. Sergeant Narduar and the three other survivors, though wounded, refused to be evacuated. Instead they were patched up and finished the patrol. The Section, with it’s heavy losses will likely be rotated out of the line and have to work up some new replacements from the Reserve Commandos.


For the most part everyone seemed to have fun. The rules are wildly different from the other miniature systems we have played together as a family (Savage Worlds, Force on Force, Ambush Z, all the “Song of…” games, Frostgrave, etc). Most are a bit more dynamic – play going back and forth between players more quickly. Even in Hordes of the Things/DBA – which is the most U-go-I-go-ish type game we’ve played – there’s still an element of activation and the possibility of elements NOT doing anything on any given turn. The idea that ALL units on one side move, and then ALL those same units can fire, and then all those same units that are close enough could do ANOTHER move and fight in a close assault seemed CrAzY to these guys… But I think we’ll be playing it again – especially when their friends get some of their forces together.


Coming soon on Tim’s Miniature Wargaming Blog:

Last of the Jungle Fighter Infantry coming up… Then a couple of Heavy Bolter teams and a Sentinel Walker and that force will be complete… 

Saturday, November 28, 2015

40K Imperial Guardsmen – Old Meets New and Valhallans


A few more items for My collections of Warhammer 40000 Imperial Guard forces…

(Remember: click on the pictures for a bigger version):


First, the whole squad of Valhallans. (The figures above are from Games Workshop. They are © and ™ Games Workshop and painted by myself and posted here entirely without their permission.).

I have no plan to do an entire force of Valhallans… I thought it might be fun to have a squad to use in a Only War or Rogue Trader role-playing game – as a desperately small force garrisoning some extremely distant, cold planet at the ass-end of the Imperium…  


These are actually Copplestone Castings Future Wars figures I happen to have kicking around that were in great coats so I did them up in the same camouflage as a possible command element. The Commander-type has been converted with a genuine GW Bolt Pistol. Not sure what sort of flag to put on that pole…

They are Neo-Soviets (or something like that) If ever I needed more troops to garrison some extremely distant, cold planet at the ass-end of the Imperium, I’d probably pick up a few more of these. Most of the Neo-Sovs aren’t in greatcoats, but they are clearly in some sort of cold weather clothing and would fit right in with the rest of these...


A few Rogue Trader era Citadel miniatures from Games Workshop. (© and ™ Games Workshop and painted by myself and posted here entirely without their permission.). They were all missing arms so I converted bits of newer Cadian Imperial Guard arms to make them whole again. I like using older "rogue Trader Era" figures as my "Veterans" - the fellow in the middle is going to be my new Company Commander for my Cadian-ish Guard. The Old School Grenadier is going in a Veteran Squad and the fellow with the lasgun... well... I'll probably just slip him into a regular squad (or maybe a Platoon Command team) and see if anyone notices... 


Coming soon on Tim’s Miniature Wargaming Blog:

Finishing up the Jungle Fighters… that’s my plan… 

Monday, November 23, 2015

More 40K Imperial Guard


Over the weekend I finished up another Jungle Fighter squad of Imperial Guardsmen.

(All of the figures pictured in this post are from Games Workshop. They are © and ™ Games Workshop and painted all by myself and posted here entirely without their permission.)

(Remember: click on the pictures for a bigger version):


Jungle Fighter Squad.

I had hoped to get in a game over the weekend against The Boys Orks, but that didn’t happen… Perhaps this afternoon... or tomorrow...? 

I have one more squad to finish up now, plus a couple odd extra guys to fill out some Special Weapon teams, two Heavy Bolters and crew to finish a Heavy Weapons Squad and a Sentinel Walker. So close…

Of course then there’s the Tallarn… and the Cadians… some tanks…


Coming soon on Tim’s Miniature Wargaming Blog:

The Valhallans or a game report of these guys in action! 

Friday, November 20, 2015

40K Imperial Guard Valhallan Test Figure

A week or so ago I bought a squad (less one) of 40K Imperial Guard Valhallans off ebay. I thought it would be fun to have a small unit of them – for an encounter in some Sci-fi RPG/skirmish scenario (Only War? Rogue Trader!?) – where they are a ridiculously small detachment at a distant outpost at the ass-end of space….




They arrived just in time for the first dusting of snow here in Saskatoon.



I painted up one sample figure to test the camouflage pattern. I had done a couple small samples on a piece of paper. Normally with this sort of camouflage I have at least three different colours in there, but here I kind of felt “less is more”.




I’m pretty happy with the way this chap turned out. I’ll do up the rest shortly - after I finish the squad of Jungle Fighters I’m currently working on, but probably before I finish the last squad of them…


My daughter, who is nine, has also been working on some 40K stuff lately - Eldar! So far she has finished these - a Farseer and an Avatar of Khaine. I was pretty impressed with these so I asked if I could post them here to share with you all. I'll admit I helped a bit with the assembly of them and a little bit with the painting of the Avatar's legs as we were trying to figure out how to get that molten-on-the-inside look, but she took over from there and the rest is all her work. 

I am NOT looking forward to doing battle against the Eldar... 


Coming soon on Tim’s Miniature Wargaming Blog:

Imperial Guard Jungle Fighters…

(not calling them Catachans anymore as mine will be from a different world…more on that soon…) 

Perhaps we'll see The Girl's Howling Banshees and Wraithblades when she finishes them up. 

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

More 40K Guardsmen

Here are a few more 40K Catachan Imperial Guard...


(All of the figures pictured in this post are from Games Workshop. They are © and ™ Games Workshop and painted by myself and posted here entirely without their permission.)

(Remember: click on the pictures for a bigger version):




Lascanon and crew!




A few more squaddies to finish out a section of infantry.




A not-so-in-focus pic of an ancient Rogue Trader era 40K figure I recently stripped of its previous paint job to repaint as a “Veteran” guardsman.




Another not-so-in-focus pic (I’m going to go ahead and pretend that the camouflage was so good that the camera couldn’t differentiate it from the background…) of an Imperial Guard Sniper – this one will be part of a platoon command team.


Coming soon on Tim’s Miniature Wargaming Blog:

More of these Imperial Guardsmen likely. I have two more infantry squads to finish up with a few extras figures for a couple Special Weapons teams, two Heavy Bolter teams to finish up a Heavy Weapons team, and possibly a Sentinel Walker… and that should be it… for now…

Then perhaps some 18th century Rangers and possibly some Song of Drums and Tomahawks.

Friday, November 13, 2015

Imperial Guardsmen and Last of the English Civil War Horse

Well not the LAST last… I do still have one more batch of mounted to finish up at some point, but likely the last I’ll be finishing up for now. Interests are shifting and when that happens it becomes excruciatingly painful to stay focused on stuff I’m no longer interested in – no matter how much “sense” it makes to finish up the last few bits. It was hard enough to finish these – and I was only able to do so because they were half done. The others will have to wait until I catch the ECW bug again.

In addition to the three elements of Horse I have another 10 elements (80 figures) of Pike, 8 elements (48 figures) shot, and a gun and crew of four… I do have a few more Scottish horse inbound – which I may get to painting when they arrive (because new and shiny stuff is always fun to paint).

I have a feeling I’ll be moving onto the Seven Years War for a spell as we are reaching that area of history in the books I’m reading with the kids. So expect some colourful men with muskets in the not too distant future.

I was also inspired by Millsy’s Mad Mega-post of the Astra Militarum’s Military Might and dug out a few of my own Catachan figures to finish up.

(Remember: click on the pictures for a bigger version):



English Civil War Horse – figures from Old Glory.


These are a few old Cobalt 1 figures I picked up from Black Hat Miniatures a while back. I thought they might work for player characters in a Rogue Trader game.


These are some really old GW Imperial guard (well… some of them may have been “pirates”…?) that I thought I’d use as “veterans” in my Imperial Guard companies.


Here, with some previously painted figures of similar vintage, is a complete veteran squad. Dang, I was sure I had ten of them for a full squad…. I must have missed someone!?

I can just imagine the Lascannon gunner tellin’ stories “You young pups have it easy, back in the day we didn’t haul our lascanons around on wheeled carriages – or grav sleds like those sissy Eldar – no sir! We humped them around and fired them from the hip like the badass muthas that we were!”


Proxy Catachan type… not sure where he cam from? I want to say Kryomek…? But I don’t know for sure…


Some more assorted Catachan types… all Games Workshop figures.

For the Catachan-type imperial guard  I have a company command, one complete platoon (Platoon HQ plus three squads), a couple special weapon teams (snipers, demolitions), an second (understrength) “proxy” (I-Kor Void figures) platoon (Platoon HQ plus two squads), a veteran section (above), a Sentinel walker, and two Abhuman squads (Ogryn and Ratling). I think pictures of most of them are posted on my 28mm Sci-Fi Gallery. Still to do is a third complete (Platoon HQ plus three squads), a couple more figures to make another special weapons team (probably plasma and melta guns – for up close and personal tank destruction!) and possibly another Sentinel walker…? Which isn’t much, in the grand scheme of things, so I’m feeling like I should just finish those up! Not sure if it’s a viable force in 40K… but it’s what I have collected up, so… just have to make due.


Coming soon on Tim’s Miniature Wargaming Blog:

I’ll likely shift focus and start painting some Seven Years War stuff and very likely some more 40K stuff! 

Monday, November 9, 2015

New Song of Blades and Heroes Campaign - sort of...


This past weekend I started off a new A Song of Blades and Heroes campaign. Large parts are borrowed from Song of Deeds and Glory (character development, injuries and survival, etc.), but I’ve added a bit more of an area control element with options to use as a more abstract area control game or with a map. I don’t completely have the rules completely hammered out, but when I do I’ll probably post them here. The first bit of Saturday evening was just going over what I had so far with the players that showed up. As I didn’t have  a map prepared yet we went with the more abstract area control element to begin with.

To save some time most of us decided to use warbands we’d created a month ago for the new fall campaign and I decided, instead of doing a bunch of erasing on our campaign sheet to start them as they originally were, we would just use them “as is” with the losses taken and experience gained as I think each warband had only played one game.


GAME ONE

The Girl’s Kobolds fought Rick’s Adventurers over a shrine/temple site.


SCENARIO

The rolled the Take The Land Scenario – victory points were awarded for holding each of three objectives for a turn (which were pretty much ignored) or whoever defeated their foe (either from eliminating them from the table or forcing them to surrender) or if either group held all three objectives at the end of a turn.


FORCES

The Clan of the Broken Mug (The Girl’s Kobold warband)
Territories: Village, Pasture

Yimoyik – Koblold Leader – 1XP
Q 3+, C 2, 44 points
Short Move, Leader

Shlugak – Koblold Shaman  – 1XP
Q 4+, C 2, 33 points
Short Move, Magic-User

Koblold Chosen Archer – 1XP
Q 4+, C 2, 26 points
Short Move, Gregarious, Shooter (Medium), Good Shot

14x Koblold Warriors – 1XP each
Q 4+, C 2, @15 points
Short Move, Gregarious


Jackson’s Jedi (Rick’s Band of adventurers)
Territories: Village, Wood

General Jackson – Human Infantry Leader
Q 3+, C 4, 70 points
Leader

The Boot – Human Warrior
Q 3+, C 3, 30 points

Boromir – Human Warrior
Q 3+, C 3, 30 points

Virgil – Human Elite Archer
Q 3+, C 3, 50 points
Shooter (long), Unerring Aim

Legolas – Elite Elf ARcher
Q 2+, C 3, 70 points
Shooter (long), Unerring Aim, Good Shot

Curly - Dwarf Warrior
Q 3+, C 4, 34 points
Short Move

Stormy – Halfling Veteran
Q 4+, C 3, 18 points
Short Move


THE GAME

(Remember: click on the pictures for a bigger version)


Rick and The Girl set up and get started.


The Girl’s Kobolds swarm the mountain pass!


After a marathon like dash one of the girls Kobold’s snuck past Rick’s adventurer’s to grab the third objective location (which the adventurer’s had failed to post a guard on!?) winning her the game!?

I totally didn’t see that one coming… Koblods FTW!

It did not come without a cost, however. A Koblod chosen archer and a Kobold Warrior died in the engagement and another was injured (but will recover by next game!).

Tha Adventurer’s only casualty, Virgil – the Elite Human Archer, died of his wounds as well!

The Clan of the Broken Mug gained a Temple/Shrine site and collected 15 gold from the existing village and pasture. Not really enough to replace her losses…

Jackson’s Jedi slunk back to their village and only collected 15 gold as well…


GAME TWO

In the second game – played concurrently with Rick and The Girl’s – Dave’s goblin horde four The Boy’s new Bugbear warband over The Vale of Horses a broad pasture with a herd of wild horses… I think both warbands were thinking they would be mighty tasty!


SCENARIO

They rolled Burn Them Out scenario – Dave’s Goblin’s were defending a new barn they’d erected for the horses of the vale when The Boy’s Bugbears came along wanting to burn it down and scatter the Goblins to claim the Vale of Horses for themselves!


FORCES

The Dark Mantle - Dave's Goblins
Territories: Village, Wood

Jorlund – Dark Elf Leader – 1XP
Q 2+, C 3, 88 points
EVIL! Heavy Armour, Leader

Loos – Goblin Standard Bearer – 1XP
Q 4+, C 2, 15 points
Standard Bearer

5x Goblin Warriors (Nogg, Crad, Truj, Shos, Brez) – 1XP each
Q 4+, C 2, 15 points

5x Goblin Light Infantry (Orch, Lesh, Pinn, Dorg, Crod) – 1XP each
Q 4+, C 1, 8 points

4x Goblin Archers (Nich, Onjj, Plug, Drin) – 1XP each
Q 4+, C 2, 21 points
Shooter (Medium)


Clan Break Skull - The Boy's Bugbears 
Territories: Village, Wood

Nasdreg XIV – bugbear Leader
Q 4+, C 4, 65 Points
Slow, Big, Long Move,  Leader

Horgrift – Bugbear Elite Warrior
Q 4+, C 4, 47 points
Slow, Big, Long Move, Steadfast

Thrklod - Bugbear Warrior
Q 4+, C 3, 35 points
Slow, Big, Long Move

Manchuck - Bugbear Warrior
Q 4+, C 3, 35 points
Slow, Big, Long Move

Thur - Bugbear Warrior
Q 4+, C 3, 35 points
Slow, Big, Long Move

Vlur - Bugbear Warrior
Q 4+, C 3, 35 points
Slow, Big, Long Move

Old Ronrut - Bugbear Warrior
Q 4+, C 3, 35 points
Slow, Big, Long Move



Dave’s Goblins all set up within one Long of the “barn” in the center of the table. The Boy’s Bugbears could set up within one Short of any edge – but not within one Long of any of Dave’s Goblins. Three of them are carrying torches (marked with red glass bead)


The Bugbears rushed in smashing and stomping – but the Goblin’s held them off – for a spell…


Bugbears were even knocked down!


A gruesomly killed Goblin caused some of his kin to run, but they quickly rallied and continued their brave defence of their ramshackle barn-like building.


Eventually they started suffering more losses…


Finally a Bugbear broke through and set fire to the building. At that point the Goblins decided to call it a day and fled!

The Bugbears only suffered one casualty – Old Ronrut. Old Ronrut wasn’t long for this world anyway, and died of his wounds.

The Bugbears added the Vale of Horses to their territories and collected 15 gold from the Village and Wood they already owned. Not enough to replace a good old Bugbear warrior like Old Ronrut, but that seems to be a common theme to this first round of the new campaign system…

Dave’s goblins suffered even worse… Two of his warriors had been gruesomely killed on the battlefield. He’s suffered six other casualties as well – four spearmen and two archers. Luckily none of them actually died! Two suffered serious enough injuries that they will miss a game, two others will be -1Q for their next game and the other two will be fully recovered from their (relatively) minor injuries! Dave collected 15 gold for his Village and Wood.


GAME THREE

After Dave and The Boy finished up, Patrick and I set up a game. My Halflings had discovered an old Witch’s Cabin in the woods and decided to claim it as our own. just after our arrival Nuri, Lord of the Frosted Vale, and his band of Dwarvish thugs arrived and decided the old witch should be under THEIR “protection”…

SCENARIO

We rolled the Place of Power scenario – which we decided should be the Witch’s Cabin.


FORCES

The Halfling Hollow Defence Committee
Territories: Village, Field

PIC
Randall Ferfut – Halfling Leader  – 1XP
Q 3+, C 3, 54 Points
Short Move, Leader

Baldwin the Bold – Halfling Wizard – 1XP
Q 4+, C 1, 26Points
Short Move, Magic-User

5x Halfling Spearmen – Nigel, Noddy, Francis, Terry, and Orville – 1XP each
Q 4+, C 2, @11Points
Short Move,

2x Halfling Veterans – Sandy and Grenf – 1XP each
Q 4+, C 3, @18 Points
Short Move,

3x Halfling Villagers – Hollis, Berg, Kinkle – 1XP each
Q 4+, C 1, @6 Points
Short Move, Shooter (short)

5x Halfling Archers – Corky, Narned, Finkwit, Albernak, Ronwen – 1XP each
Q 4+, C 2, @17 Points
Short Move, Shooter (Medium)


Nuri, Lord of the Frosted Vale (Patrick’s Dwarves)
Territories: Village, Wood

Nuri Frostbeard – Dwarf Commander – 1XP
Q 2+, C 3, 95 points
Leader, Fearless
(Originally he was C4 but was seriously injured in battle over a Dragon’s Egg

Burik One-eye – Elite Warrior – 1XP
Q 3+, C 4, 46 points
Short Move, Steadfast, Fearless

Ertha Peakmaiden – Elite Warrior
Q 3+, C 4, 46 points
Short Move, Steadfast, Fearless
No XP because she was a new recruit, replacing her sister Valia who died in the battle over the Dragon’s Egg

Alvin “Bootless” Goodbarrel – Halfling Theif – 1XP
Q 3+, C 1, 16 points
Short Move, Stealth, Free Disengage

Duri Frostbeard– Elite Dwarf Archer – 1XP
Q 3+, C 3, 38 points,
Shooter (Medium), Short Move, Good Shot


THE GAME



The Halfling Hollow Defence Committee, lead by Randall Ferfut, spies Nuri, Lord of the Frosted Vale, and his band of Dwarvish thugs crossing the creek beyond the Witch’s Cabin.


Slowly, but surely the brave Halflings advanced and advised the Dwarves this was now part of Halfling Hollow and they’d best clear off!


Duri Frostbeard stepped forward and put an arrow through poor Orvill Softoes


Due to the Greusome nature of Poor Orvil’s death, the courage of some of the Halflings wavered and they were temporarily put to flight.

(At least it wasn’t a total route like when Kane Pickledrum took an arrow in the throat at Dragon’s Pass…)


Terry Baconrind stood firm, not wanting to leave the side of his fallen comrade. Nuri Frostbeard himself charged in against him, hoping to set the rest of the Halflings to flight.


Inspired by Terry’s stand the rest of the Halflings recovered their courage and returned to the fight. Francis Breadboard was the first to come to Terry’s aid.


The rest of the Halflings swarmed in as the situation with Terry and Francis looked pretty desperate with all the Dwarves ganging up on them….


Then Ertha Peakmaiden cleaved poor Francis Breadboard and his giant shield in two…


The hideous cry and fountain of blood set many of the Halflings to flight AGAIN! Terry Baconrind himself could stand it no further and turned to flee, only to be cut down by Nuri Frostbeard.


Hoping to capitalize on the flight of the Halflings Nuri Frostbeard, Burik One-eye and the traitor Alvin “bootless” Goodbarrel, surged forward to keep them fleeing. But Ronwen  Clearbrew caught Nuri in the thigh with a well-placed (lucky) shot and caused him to stumble, at that moment Corky Oldroot fired a second shot and caught him in the chest – under his arm – and Nuri Frostbeard fell…


The Dwarves held steady, but traitor Alvin “bootless” Goodbarrel was shaken and fearing the retribution the Halflings might exact on him should the rest of his Dwarven companions fall, fled, temporarily and sought cover behind Ertha Peakmaiden. Alvin’s flight was cut short when Ertha chided, “are there no MEN among your kind…?”

Sandy and Grenf Burfoot, the two most experienced in the ways of war took this opportunity to charge Burik One-Eye – hoping their numbers might take the giant of a Dwarf down. Nigel, inspired by the brothers, joined in.


Before the Massive Dwarf could be taken down, however, the rest of the band came to his aid. Sandy was taken down by Ertha Peakmaiden, and then finished off with a quick stab from the treacherous Alvin… Burrik took a wild swing with his axe and took Nigel’s head was cut clean off.  With the loss of his brother on one side and being sprayed with Nigel’s blood from the other, Grenf lost his will to carry on and turned to flee, only to be stabbed in the back by Alvin…

This put the rest of the warband to flight again…


With all of the spear swordsmen gone, Randall Ferfut rallied the remaining archers and made one last desperate attempt to drive off the dwarves under a hail of arrows.

Alvin caught one of those arrows and was taken out of action. Then Ertha Peakmaiden was also felled by and arrow – though there may have been some dark magic at work as well…


Burik One-Eye, fearless and enraged, charged the Halfling archers on the hill and, despite being surrounded and outnumbered, cut three more Halflings down before they finally gave up and fled…

The Halflings losses were severe. Orvill Softoes, Francis Breadboard, and Nigel Withershins were all brutally slain in the battle. Sandy and Grenf Burfoot and Terry Baconrind died of their wounds later in the day. Ronwen Clearbrew’s leg was shattered and won’t be able to fight for some time. Hollis Neircreek and Corky Oldroot were also wounded in the fight, but will likely be back on their feet in short order… a paltry 15 gold was raised by the village folk… not nearly enough to equip and train up enough new villagers to replace these losses….

The traitorous Alvin Goodbarrel’s injuries proved grave, but, unfortunately not fatal…  Ertha Peakmaiden died of her wounds and Nuri Frostbeard’s injuries required expensive surgery – depleting the Dwarves coffers… The old witch better come up with some good potions, because this foul little patch of the valley was hardly worth the blood that was spilled over it otherwise…

Amanda also had a warband present Saturday night, but being the odd one out decided to have an early night – we had been out late the night before at our biweekly Savage Worlds/Realms of Cthulhu game. Perhaps her women warriors will see some action next week!

Hopefully by next week I’ll have finished up the campaign rules and we’ll forge ahead with some more of this campaign!


Saturday had been a busy day. Before these skirmish games in the evening…


I’d hosted a four and a half hour, five-player game of Warrior Knights… It was pretty awesome. The Boy and I played with Bruce (who runs the Savage Worlds/Realms of Cthulhu game on Friday nights), Bob (who plays in the Savage Worlds/Realms of Cthulhu game on Friday nights), and my friend Jasper who I haven't seen since he moved away to Edmonton a dozen years ago... despite the fact that he moved back to Saskatoon a few years ago, we just haven't had the opportunity to meet up...? Hopefully I'll see him again before another decade passes! 

Oh, and the kids and I played an ECW-DBA game on friday - if you missed that report…


Coming soon on Tim’s Miniature Wargaming Blog:

Working on some English Civil War horse and 40K Imperial Guard. Hopefully I’ll be able to post some pictures of those before the week is though.