Nagash vs Karl Franz Ascendant

James Brett and I decided to play a 6,000pt game on the weekend, pitting Nagash against Karl Franz Ascendant and Balthasar Gelt, Incarnate of Metal in a game where hopefully their power wouldn't completely dominate the game. 

This is not really a battle report, but I was taking some pictures with my phone as we went along, so I thought I would give an account of how things panned out. I apologise for the quality of some of the photos. Nagash wasn't painted anyway, so I didn't bother to bring my good camera along - and now I regret that decision. Obviously I need more practice with this phone camera if it is going to serve as my backup.

Empire Army
I knew Nagash would be in the enemy army, but that was about it. I decided fielding really large units of knights would probably mess up the game balance, so I focused on big infantry blocks instead. I figured a unit of 60 Halberdiers with 2 horde detachments of 30 would be good for a laugh (and potentially scary), so that was the most exciting thing in my list. Apart from Karl Franz Ascendant, I guess. He's OK too...

• Karl Franz Ascendant
• Balthasar Gelt, Incarnate of Metal
• Arch Lector on War Altar with Armour of Fortune, Great Weapon, Shield
• Ludwig Schwartzhelm
• Warrior Priest with Great Weapon, Heavy Armour
• Engineer
• Captain with Full Plate Armour, Shield, Sword of Striking
• Captain with Full Plate Armour, Shield, Sword of Might
• Battle Wizard (Level 2, Lore of Light) with Dispel Scroll
• 60 Halberdiers with Full Command
• 30 Halberdier detachment
• 30 Halberdier detachment
• 16 Inner Circle Knights with Full Command
• 16 Knights with Great Weapons, Full Command
• 60 Greatswords with Full Command
• 60 Flagellants with Prophet of Doom
• 15 Reiksguard Knights with Full Command
• 4 Demigryph Knights with Full Command
• Great Cannon

The Cannon was basically an afterthought. I decided it would be worth having, just to give Nagash something to think about. Other than that, I had no shooting. There's not much point trying to shoot the Undead to death.

Undead Legion Army
James knew I would be taking both KFA and the fancy version of Balthasar Gelt, so decided to give Nagash a bit of backup in the form of a blender Vampire Lord. He also threw in the End Times Krell, figuring he was likely to tag along wherever Nagash went. The other main unit of note was the 15 Vargheists, weighing in at about 700 points.

• Nagash
• Vampire Lord (Level 1, Lore of Vampires) on Hellsteed with Ogre Blade, Talisman of Preservation, The Other Trickster's Shard, Quickblood, Red Fury, Heavy Armour, Shield
• Tomb King with Armour of Destiny, Great Weapon
• Krell, Mortarch of Despair
• Vampire BSB (Level 1, Lore of Vampires) with Dragonhelm, Dispel Scroll, Heavy Armour, Great Weapon
• 40 Crypt Ghouls with Ghast
• 40 Crypt Ghouls with Ghast
• 40 VC Skeleton Warriors with Light Armour, Shields, Full Command, Banner of Swiftness
• 16 TK Skeleton Archers with Full Command
• 16 TK Skeleton Archers with Full Command
• 30 Zombies with Standard, Musician
• 5 Dire Wolves with Doom Wolf
• 5 Dire Wolves with Doom Wolf
• 15 Vargheists with Vargoyle
• 2 Fell Bats
• 2 Fell Bats
• Corpse Cart with Balefire
• 6 Black Knights with Full Command, Lichebone Standard
• 5 Hexwraiths with Hellwraith
• Hierotitan
• Casket of Souls
• Necrosphinx
• Terrorgheist
• Terrorgheist
• Varghulf

The list is notable for all the things I didn't bother with - magic standards, small disposable units with which to help control the game... Such subtlety was lost on me when I started thinking of units of 60 models.

The Game

Deployment, after James makes his vanguard moves. we didn't bother with alternating deployment. We were both a bit worried that James would run out of room on his side if he couldn't reshuffle things as he went along. I would not recommend a regular 6x4 table for games larger than this one.

Moonstruck Aftermath - Part 6

This is the final part of my account of the recent tournament, Moonstruck. You can find the previous part here.

Game 6 - Battleline
Johannes Scherpenhuizen, Wood Elves

• Spellweaver (Level 4, Lore of Life) on Elven Steed with Earthing Rod, Talisman of Preservation 
• Naestra and Arahan on Ceithin-Har (Dragon)
• Glade Captain on Elven Steed with Battle Standard, Charmed Shield, Hail of Doom Arrow, Opal Amulet, Asrai Spear
• Spellsinger (Level 2, Lore of metal) on Elven Steed with Dispel Scroll
• 10 Glade Guard with Full command, Trueflight Arrows
• 10 Glade Guard with Full command, Trueflight Arrows
• 18 Glade Guard with Full command, Trueflight Arrows
• 8 Wild Riders with Shields, Standard, Champion, Gleaming Pennant
• 7 Sisters of the Thorn with Standard Bearer, Standard of Discipline
• 5 Wardancers
• 5 Wardancers
• 5 Wardancers
• Great Eagle
• Great Eagle

Comp Score: 2

After winning my previous game, I found myself back up on Table 2. Presumably this meant I was still top of the pile of people who had actually lost a game. It turned out Hannes had not lost one at all yet, so I guess that made sense. Adam Camilleri was playing Charles Black on Table 1 beside us (yes, Mr Calamari really had made himself at home there - hadn't moved since Game 2), and after comparing notes we came to the conclusion that Hannes might be able to win the event if he utterly smashed me in terms of the win and table quarters, but only if Chuck beat Adam. I couldn't reach 1st place, but if I beat Hannes and Adam won, I'd probably get 2nd... Anyway, it seemed there was everything to play for.

Ah, leafy tree dragon. We meet again! He had been running around with no wings attached, but Hannes kindly repaired him in preparation for having his photo taken.

Moonstruck Aftermath - Part 5

This is part 5 of my account of the recent tournament, Moonstruck. You can find the previous part here.

Game 5 - Battleline
Matt Sellick, Ogre Kingdoms

• Slaughtermaster - lvl 4 Great maw. Sword of anti heros, d/scroll & tali of pres
• Slaughtermaster Gen- lvl 4 heavens. Great wep, Hell heart, Armour of destiny
• Hunter on Stonehorn - Sword of striking, dragonhelm, giantbreaker, harpoon launcher, ironfist,
• Bruiser BSB: Death cheater, Rune Maw, heavy armour,great wep.
• 11 ogres. F/C iron fists
• 8 ogres. F/C iron fists
• 1 sabretusk
• 1 sabretusk
• 4 maneaters: standard, Dragonhide banner (scout/swiftstride)
• Ironblaster

Comp Score: 4

Ogres again! What was it with Ogres? After losing my previous game, I kind of assumed that I would be pushed properly off the top tables and fade safely into anonymity in the middle of the room. Turns out that wasn't quite right. There were a lot of people who had won 3 games at this point, but I seemed to be on top of them, presumably thanks to losing no points due to comp and taking the odd table quarter. So I plummeted all the way from Table 1, back down to Table 4.

Matt's army was a bit different from the previous two Ogre armies. There was not an Irongut in sight, and there was an actual Hunter on a Stonehorn! Truly ruly! I mean, I know you can put a Hunter on a Stonehorn, but I don't think I've ever seen anyone actually do it. This match-up looked pretty good for me, really. Apart from the Stonehorn, the army lacked a real number of high-strength attacks. And the magic lores were not those that were likely to lash out and kill my stuff. I wasn't sure I could crack the gutstar (bullstar? Ogrestar? How about Ogstar?), but in this win-loss-draw system, I probably wouldn't need to.

Back on Table 4 again.

Moonstruck Aftermath - Part 4

This is part 4 of my account of the recent tournament, Moonstruck. You can find the previous part here.

Game 4 - Meeting Engagement deployment
Adam Camilleri/Admiral Calamari, Ogre Kingdoms

• Skragg the Slaughterer
• Bruiser, BSB, Rune Maw, Great Weapon
• Firebelly, Level 2, Additional Hand Weapon, Ruby Ring of Ruin, Dispel Scroll
• 9 Ironguts, Full Command, Look out Gnoblar, Banner of Swiftness
• 3 Ogres, Additional Hand Weapon, Bellower/Standard
• 10 Gnoblars, Standard
• 10 Gnoblars, Standard
• 10 Gnoblars, Standard
• 8 Maneaters, 4 Additional Hand Weapon, Banner/Musician, Gleaming Pennant, Scout/Poison
• 4 Leadbelchers
• Gorger
• Gorger
• Gorger
• Sabretusk
• Sabretusk
• Sabretusk
• Ironblaster

Comp Score: 4

Well after winning too many games on day 1, I guess it was inevitable that I would eventually find my way onto Table 1, where Adam had been making himself at home for the last couple of rounds. He had even dealt with the unstoppable silliness of Tim's army using my 4 Wyverns. 

Looking at Skragg's rules, I decided that the only way to kill him would be to do it before he got into combat with my infantry. Once he started wading through single wound models, he'd quickly become too tough to handle. So my basic plan was to murder him with Durthu. I also noted all the Gnoblar units with standards - clearly Adam had paid attention to the player pack when he'd made his list. 

If I am honest, I made a few mistakes in this game. Again we were using the Meeting Engagement deployment rules. Adam won the roll to choose sides, and had to deploy his whole army before me (except the Maneaters and Gorgers. So half his army, I guess). I then deployed knowing that he would probably have the first turn, and I kind of got ahead of myself. Without having to worry about elements starting in reserve, Adam had deployed the bulk of his forces fairly centrally on the front of his deployment zone. I spent too much of my attention trying to ensure my main elements were within Alarielle's circle of influence, and failed to remember that his gutstar had the Banner of swiftness. I put my key unit far too close to the gutstar, basically. He only needed something like a 7 on the dice to charge me in the first turn. I had put Durthu a bit further back, for some reason convinced that he was in greater danger. My other mistake was what I did with my Dragon Princes, Dryads and Unicorn Mage. I put them all a fair distance from my main forces, intending to guarantee that I could seize the two table quarters to my right, and sweep on around the enemy flank/rear. Something about those 35 point table-quarter-stealing units of Gnoblars offended me. Maybe the fact that I had completely forgotten a similar unit in game 2 as it lurked outside of the game proper. Anyway, I had allocated several units and the ability to raise more, all for a couple of table quarters when really I should have kept them in a position to assist the rest of my army.

I forgot to take photos of deployment. Here we are in the middle of Adam's first turn. Having failed to charge Alarielle's unit, he set about blocking it up with Sabretusks. I hate those things.

Moonstruck Aftermath - Part 3

This is the third part of my account of the recent tournament Moonstruck. You can find the previous part here.

Game 3 - Battle for the Pass
Viv Gleeson, Undead Legion

• Vampire Lord (Level 4, Lore of Vampires) on Barded Nightmare with Heavy armour, Shield, Ogre Blade, Talisman of Preservation, The Other Tricksters Shard, Red Fury, Quickblood, Beguile
• Tomb Banshee
• Tomb Banshee
• Necromancer (Level 1, Lore of Death) with Dispel Scroll
• 41 Skeleton Warriors with Light Armour, Shield, Full Command, Banner of Swiftness
• 18 Skeleton Archers with Standard
• 18 Skeleton Archers with Standard
• 5 Dire Wolves
• 5 Dire Wolves
• 5 Dire Wolves
• 5 Dire Wolves
• 5 Vargheists
• 5 Vargheists
• 9 Black Knights with Barding, Lance, Heavy Armour, Shield, Standard, Champion
• Screaming Skull Catapult
• Screaming Skull Catapult
• Black Coach

Comp Score: 1

Viv! We meet again. The Blender Lord himself was my next opponent, and this time around he was sporting a painted army. Excellent! Unfortunately it looked like a pretty frightening army for mine, which was less excellent. Flaming catapults? Durthu was displeased. Actually, all of my units were displeased, except the Dragon Princes who thought such considerations were quaint with their fancy asbestos Dragon Armour...

I got briefly excited in the lead-up when it occurred to me that Alarielle would get to use her Touch of Purity rules, which mean she wounds on a 2+ and inflicts D6 wounds in combat against Forces of Destruction. Viv then informed me that allying Vampire Counts with Tomb Kings actually makes your army less evil instead of more evil (even though as a person it makes you more evil instead of less evil)... The point was conceded that Alarielle would do D6 wounds against Viv himself as he was a bad man, but this would not help me in-game.

The game began with plenty of threats about how the Black Coach would have flaming attacks by the time it made combat (yes, it can do that), how the Blender Lord could take Durthu in a single turn, and how I was going to Dwellers off said Blender Lord before such a confrontation could take place. 

The Undead set up. There was a horrible Temple of Skulls hill thing in the middle, but nary a model would balance on it and so we swapped it out for something a little flatter and rules-laden. Did you know my army theoretically required 5 army books? High Elves, Wood Elves, Vampire Counts, Khaine and Nagash. I blame Lore of Undeath. And End Times. Anyway, it came in useful here...

Moonstruck Aftermath - Part 2

This is part 2 of my report of the recent tournament Moonstruck. You can find part 1 here.

Game 2 - Meeting Engagement deployment
Damien Stallard, Ogre Kingdoms

• Golgfag Maneater
• Firebelly (Level 2, Lore of Fire) with Dispel Scroll, Potion of Speed, Additional Hand Weapon
• Bruiser with Battle Standard, Talisman of Preservation, Enchanted Shield, Heavy Armour, Additional Hand weapon
• 6 Ogres with Standard, Iron fists
• 10 Gnoblars with Standard
• 6 Ironguts with Standard, Standard of Discipline
• 6 Ironguts with Standard
• 6 Leadbelchers
• 6 Maneaters (Stubborn/Swiftstride), 3 with Additional Hand Weapons, Standard, Champion
• Gorger
• Sabretusk
• Sabretusk
• Sabretusk
• 3 Mournfangs with Standard, Heavy Armour, Ironfists, Dragonhide Banner
• Ironblaster

Comp Score: 4

A pretty good score from the first round meant I moved up to Table 4 for the second game (The Dwellers decided to keep the tables ranked, presumably so that they could keep an eye on the naughty people on the top tables). It also turned out I had gone from playing the "best painted" army of the event, to playing the "second-best painted" army. All the eye candy for me!

Damien's army was a far cry from your normal Ogre list. It had nothing really resembling a "gutstar", and was led by a hero-level character in Golgfag Maneater. Golgfag gets to select 2D6x10 points' worth of magic items before each game, which is pretty funny. Unfortunately he had rolled snake eyes in the first round, so he was clearly due something better. Apparently not, as Damien picked up the dice and once again rolled double ones! Of course, he then confessed that he was hanging out for a 10+ so that he could choose the Wizarding Hat, so I'm more than half convinced the dice were just trying to save him from himself. He ended up with the Sword of Striking and Charmed Shield - a far more practical selection than the Hat would have been (I heard that he did indeed get to choose the Wizarding Hat in a later game, so eventually he got to live the dream. I don't know how that worked out for him game-wise though)...

Damien had a beautiful army, but I don't seem to have a lot of good photos of it. Sorry! We ignored the water on the end of the field, as all it would have done was shorten the table.

Moonstruck Aftermath - Part 1

Moonstruck is over, and despite the best efforts of some of the participants in the "Call of the Wintermoon" team competition, everyone survived with relatively minimal psychological damage.

As usual I'll write up what happened in my games, try to be brief, and probably fail. At least you know what to expect...

I've explained my list before, but here it is again for convenience:

• Alarielle, Incarnate of Life 
• Durthu 
• High Elf Noble (BSB) with Sword of Might, Enchanted Shield, Dragon Armour 
• Wood Elf Spellsinger (Level 1, Lore of Undeath) on Unicorn with Dragonbane Gem 
• High Elf Noble with Dragonhelm, Heavy Armour, Great Weapon 
• 18 Maiden Guard (Lothern Sea Guard) with Spears, Bows, Light Armour, Full Command 
• 18 Maiden Guard (Lothern Sea Guard) with Spears, Bows, Light Armour, Full Command 
• 18 Dryads with Branch Nymph 
• 6 Treekin 
• 5 Dragon Princes of Caledor with Standard, Musician 
• 5 Sisters of Avelorn 
• Eagle Claw Bolt Thrower 
• Eagle Claw Bolt Thrower

I ended up with a 4 out of 5 for comp, which clearly suggested that the comp panel had similar doubts to my own about whether Alarielle would be enough to make the rest of the list competitive.

Game 1 - Battleline deployment
David Travers, Empire

• General of the Empire with Sword of Anti-Heroes, Dawnstone, Enchanted Shield, Full plate armour
• Battle Wizard Lord (Level 4, Lore of Life)
• Captain with Battle Standard, Griffon Banner, Full Plate Armour, Shield
• Warrior Priest with Heavy Armour, Great Weapon, Ironcurse Icon
• Master Engineer
• 38 Halberdiers with Full Command
• 28 Swordsmen with Full Command
• 10 Inner Circle Knights with Full Command
• 5 Outriders
• Great Cannon
• Mortar
• 24 Flagellants
• 3 Demigryph Knights with Champion, Standard
• Steam Tank
• Helblaster Volley Gun

Comp Score: 4

Moonstruck: Going back to my Worldroots?

I mentioned previously that Moonstruck had sold out, and that I am one of those who entered. The tournament is in a few weeks, so I really need to make a list.

This will be my first tournament since Cancon in late January, and it is also my first using the End Times rules. This means 50% Lords, access to the Lore of Undeath, and Legion lists, as well as Battlescrolls from the End Times books. This all stacks up to mean that I have absolutely no idea what to expect. The scope for the creation of terrifying armies has increased dramatically, and I don't have a feel for how well the comp system will reign it in.

With all this in mind, I took a long time to come up with an army. I couldn't really make an army based on what I expected to meet on the table, because I have no idea what that will be. What I needed was a concept I wanted to play with, and eventually I settled on one I have been wanting to use for a long time: The Court of the Everqueen.

From a background perspective, the High Elf Everqueen holds court in the forests of Avelorn (or did, before the End Times). She is protected by a maiden bodyguard, and the forests are full of forest spirits and the like, much like Athel Loren. It has always seemed like a good theme for a list, however the High Elves never had the ability to put things like Treemen into their list, so any effort to recreate the army as a whole would generally have been using Wood Elves.

The End Times changed this, by combining the different Elf armies into lists like the Host of the Phoenix King and the Host of the Eternity King. Suddenly it has become possible to field forest spirits alongside High Elves. I don't really know how long the End Times rules are going to be doing the rounds, so it makes sense to take the opportunity to finally field my Avelorn list at Moonstruck.

In keeping with the confusing nature of the End Times, there is now more than one version of the Everqueen to choose from. I have decided to go for the full-blown crazy version of her: Alarielle, Incarnate of Life. She's ridiculously powerful, but she's 540 points. And the plan is to surround her with some pretty sub-par stuff to fit my theme, so I figure she will be OK. Here is the list I think I am going to use:

• Alarielle, Incarnate of Life
• Durthu
• High Elf Noble (BSB) with Sword of Might, Enchanted Shield, Dragon Armour
• Wood Elf Spellsinger (Level 1, Lore of Undeath) on Unicorn with Dragonbane Gem
• High Elf Noble with Dragonhelm, Heavy Armour, Great Weapon
• 18 Maiden Guard (Lothern Sea Guard) with Spears, Bows, Light Armour, Full Command
• 18 Maiden Guard (Lothern Sea Guard) with Spears, Bows, Light Armour, Full Command
• 18 Dryads with Branch Nymph
• 6 Treekin
• 5 Dragon Princes of Caledor with Standard, Musician
• 5 Sisters of Avelorn
• Eagle Claw Bolt Thrower
• Eagle Claw Bolt Thrower

The list should be interesting. Alarielle gives everything within 12" Regeneration, and can heal wounded models each turn as well as having her Life magic to work with. It could mean things like Treekin and Dryads grow a fair bit of spine so long as they stay within her range. A few of the characters have fire protection to help resist Flaming Attacks - the easiest way to bypass Regeneration. Durthu is the only significant combat punch in the list, although at least I have a moderate amount of shooting.

The characters. I need to re-base Durthu, I guess. Sigh.

Going retro

No, this is not a suggestion that I have decided to become an Oldhammerer or something like that.

There may be an element of spoiler in this post, so if you're trying to avoid finding out what has been happening in the End Times, don't read on. I think by now most people that care are across things, though.

The destruction of the background that I have known and loved as a Warhammer player has left me more than a little bit nostalgic. I have not yet read the final End Times book, but I will do so when it arrives on my doorstep (I have ordered a copy). I've read the other ones though, and it's pretty clear where things are heading. And by the end of the Thanquol book, there's really not much left of the world. In fact, I am somewhat curious to see how the remaining events can fill a whole book. Apart from Nagash's undead forces, the only major settlements left standing against the Chaos and Skaven in the old world seem to be Karaz-a-Karak, Averheim and Athel Loren. Perhaps the Forces of Order are done, and all that remains is the Forces of Destruction bickering over the ruins.

I have always been an Elf player at heart. My first armies were High Elves and Wood Elves, and despite sometimes spending years without touching those models (I've been avoiding them recently because they're just too popular), I've always considered them to be the true heart of my collection. It is somewhat strange then, that the thing I find most depressing about the events of the End Times is not the destruction of Ulthuan. Nor is it the smoking ruin that remains of the Empire, which I focused almost exclusively on for the last few years. Instead, it's the obliteration of the Dwarfs.

They may not have always made for the most enjoyable games, but the Dwarfs have always felt like an important part of the Warhammer background. Their glorious history, sad decline and grim determination to hold on to what was left gave them a strong identity and depth of character that I always found appealing. And they had great models back when I started playing in 4th edition (Marauder Dwarfs 4eva!) The ruined holds made some of the best background for things like Warhammer Quest, and glorious campaigns to retake them were probably the most appealing in terms of potential campaign material.

The End Times is basically the end of all that. The Skaven have given the Dwarfs such a pasting that nothing really remains. And if I fail to let go and move with the times, the Dwarfs will be a large part of the reason why.

Anyway, it's with these thoughts in mind that I am finally breaking out of my hobby malaise and painting something. Now that he is dead, it seems the perfect time to paint up Thorgrim Grudgebearer. The same could be said of Belegar, Kazador and Kragg (all of whom I have kicking about), but Thorgrim feels too iconic to ignore, and I feel the need to work on him before he fades into irrelevance. I want to paint him (and maybe some of his contemporaries) up and take him for a bit of a spin on the battlefield.

Now, I have never really liked the more recent "viking boat" model of Thorgrim. I'm a traditionalist, and I like the original model. I've had a second-hand one for about 10 years, which means it's probably his turn for some love and attention (although he is by no means my longest-suffering model). I've re-based him to be consistent with the more recent model (which can actually rank up properly in a unit), and he's just about good to go.

Back in black. And really not fitting on his new 40x60mm base. Barge-ass.

In keeping with the retro-ness of it all, I think I'll basically be painting him like GW did. That's not my habit at all, but I am feeling very nostalgic at the moment.

Yep, that's the biggest pic I could find on the net. Behold his tininess. I'll do something about the flags. Mine lacks banner poles at the moment - I'll have to make some. 

On a road to nowhere?

My hobby efforts have stagnated of late. After a frenzy of activity preparing for and reporting on Heffengen and then Cancon, I am a little burned out. However, that is not the true source of my recent lack of motivation. What has really been killing my hobby mojo is the End Times and the threat of 9th edition coming close behind. 

The End Times books have been coming thick and fast since End Times: Nagash first appeared in August last year. The fifth and final book in the series is due to be released on Saturday. That's 5 supplements in 7-8 months. The level of uncertainty caused by this steady stream of change has made it incredibly hard to focus. In fact, it's been hard to even really absorb everything that has happened. I've managed to read each part of the story before the next one arrived (sometimes barely), but that's about the limit of it. I really have not had a chance to make use of any of it at all.

The Battle of Heffengen - Part 6

This post is the final part of the report on the Battle of Heffengen. You can read part 5 here.

Chaos Turn 6

Chaos Final Turn

The Empire army had been pushed back. It was time for the Chaos forces to land a decisive blow.

The steam tank finds itself fighting both skullcrushers and blood knights

The Battle of Heffengen - Part 5

This post is part 5 of the report on the Battle of Heffengen. You can read part 4 here.

Apologies if the photos are starting to get worse. As evening fell and the light deteriorated a bit, it got harder to take decent shots without a flash.

Chaos Turn 5

Chaos Turn 5. The comet finally arrives!

The Battle of Heffengen - Part 4

This post is part 4 of the report on the Battle of Heffengen. You can read part 3 here.

Chaos Turn 4
Walach Harkon's Blood Dragons

• Wal Walach Harkon
• Ter1 Terrorgheist
• Ter2 Terrorgheist
• Ter3 Terrorgheist
• Ter4 Terrorgheist
• BK1 7 Blood Knights
• BK2 5 Blood Knights
• BK3 5 Blood Knights
• Blk1 15 Black Knights
• Blk2 10 Black Knights
• Blk3 10 Black Knights
• BC Black Coach
• Vg1 Varghulf
• Vg2 Varghulf
• Geist1 8 Vargheists
• Geist2 7 Vargheists

Chaos Turn 4. The Blood Dragons arrive.

The Battle of Heffengen - Part 3

This post is part 3 of the report on the Battle of Heffengen. You can read part 2 here.

As noted at the end of the notes for turn 2, a decision was made at the start of turn 3 that from turn 4 onward, the Chaos players would be permitted to target Karl Franz with shooting attacks. The decision seemed logical as the reason I gave for protecting him was that Gurug’ath wanted the satisfaction of killing him personally, and Gurug’ath was long gone. Also, the great and glorious Emperor looked set to not move for the entire game, and I figured it might encourage him to get a bit more involved.

To cushion the blow a bit, we decided that units wishing to shoot at him had to pass a Ld test first, as they struggled to overcome their standing orders.

Chaos Turn 3

Chaos turn 3.

The Battle of Heffengen - Part 2

This post is part 2 of the report on the Battle of Heffengen. You can read part 1 here.

Before we continue, I should mention that there are a great many characters involved in this game, however most of them are moving as part of larger units, and so I didn't note them down. There was also a Tzeentch sorcerer kicking about on a flying disc who I didn’t bother to track (because, you know, priorities). You’ll just have to bear with me and accept that some of the detail didn’t make it onto the maps.

Chaos Turn 2

Chaos Turn 2

Time to engage

The Battle of Heffengen - Part 1

Welcome to the first part of our battle report recreating the Battle of Heffengen from the End Times: Nagash source book. This was a 40,000 point per side game, with 8 players. We had 2 photographers, 2 scribes fighting over the same Google Doc on separate computers, and several others on hand to help and distract as needed.

As with the previous large battle reports of Hel Fenn and Finuval Plain, I will present the game in a narrative style, covering the important events of the game in the story. Hopefully it won’t be too hard to follow (or take too long to read).

This time I have also included the bullet point notes taken during the game, down the bottom of the page. So if you don't want to read the story, you can go down there and get confused. Good luck.

Introduction 

The situation was desperate. The great Auric Bastion to the north had been breached, and a Chaos horde now rampaged through the Empire. The Emperor was scrambling to muster a defence. The hastily assembled force was mighty indeed, however it was by no means guaranteed to be enough to halt the enemy’s advance. Karl Franz knew  this, but he also knew that he was out of time. They could wait for no more reinforcements; they had to make their stand. The battle would take place a mile north of the city of Heffengen, on the banks of the river Revesnacht.

The Empire army had been in position for less than a day when the Chaos tide was upon them. Rain had been descending in a constant drizzle, dampening spirits and turning the fields to mud. There was little grass to be seen now, with the damp weather and oppressive lack of sunlight becoming a regular feature in these generally dark times.

The Empire forces were already arrayed for battle as the enemy approached. A stream of scouts and refugees had given them ample warning of what was coming. The Emperor stood upon a low hill behind the centre of the line, his hand idly stroking Deathclaw’s feathered head. The mighty griffon rested next to him, glaring toward the horizon as the Chaos legions advanced. Doubtless his keen eyesight could make out far more than the humans waiting anxiously around him.

Kurt Helborg, Grand Master of the Reiksguard and Marshall of the Empire’s armies, strode up the hill toward Karl Franz. “My lord, the army stands ready.” He hesitated slightly before contining hurriedly, “I would ask you again my lord, please reconsider your position. It’s not safe to fight from the back of a beast such as this,” he gestured toward Deathclaw, who finally turned his gaze from the distance to glare at the presumptuous, outrageously moustached human instead. Helborg pressed on, “It is the duty of the Reiksguard to protect the Emperor. We cannot do this if you are out of our reach.”

“We have had this discussion already, Master Helborg. Nowhere on a battlefield is truly safe, and I prefer the vantage point that Deathclaw provides. He has protected me in countless battles before,” Karl Franz continued to distractedly scratch the griffon’s head, whose expression seemed to Kurt to become somehow smug as he continued to stare at the leader of the Emperor’s bodyguard. Helborg opened his mouth to continue his protest, but Karl Franz finally turned to look directly at him and stifled his protests with a raised hand. “The other commanders are ready to report,“ he said.

General Gotfrei Talb of Ostermark and Garrat Mecke, Lord General of Talabheim, arrived simultaneously from either direction, dismounting as they approached. Talb was a no-nonsense man who Karl Franz knew would command dutifully and bravely. He bowed briefly before reporting, “My lord, the east flank stands ready. The river anchors our flank, and the Ogre mercenaries are prepared. The priest Luthor Huss assures me that the doom-seeking fanatics in the front lines will give the enemy hell.”

Mecke was slightly less efficient in his presentation, clearly revelling in this opportunity to display his credentials for the vacant position of Elector Count of Talabecland. “My lord, the assembled soldiery of Talabheim stands ready on the western flank. The artillery and ranged troops are arranged to make maximum use of the hills, and my troops stand ready to crush these Chaos upstarts with a series of counter-charges of my devising. I assure you, the west flank is in capable hands.” 

He looked set to continue, but the Emperor cut him off, “Thank you, generals. I’m certain the battle preparations are well in hand. You’d best return to your positions, however,” he said with a quick glance at the enemy lines, which seemed to be approaching at pace.  “I don’t think we will have long to wait.”

*****

Gurug’ath, Great Unclean One of Nurgle and Baron of the 6th Pestilential Circle, chuckled happily as he hauled his immense, grotesque bulk toward the waiting lines of Empire soldiers. Legions of daemons surrounded him, and his forces stretched almost out of sight to the east and west as they formed a line of battle, even as they advanced. There would be no pause before the opening of hostilities, no calm before the storm. The Chaos forces had spent far too long pent up behind the humans’ bastion to the north, and Gurug’ath himself had spent months trapped within the very fabric of the wall. The frustration had been overwhelming for all of them, and the swathe of destruction they had carved as they rampaged south had done little to assuage their irritation.

The coming battle looked promising, however. Nurgle whispered constantly in Gurug’ath’s rotting ear. The human emperor would command the coming battle, and victory here would leave an open path into the Empire’s undefended interior. Thousands of disgustingly healthy humans awaited the pestilential gifts that Gurug’ath would generously bestow. Whole cities would receive from Nurgle’s wondrous bounty of plague and disease. It would be beautiful.

Gurug’ath could hardly contain his joy at the promise of what lay ahead, but first there needed to be a reckoning. His pride demanded it. He had spent months trapped within the Auric Bastion, and it had been very, very boring. Someone would pay for wasting so much of his time, and the leader of the human Empire would suit well enough.

“The human Emperor is mine to toy with,” he boomed in a deep, reverberating voice. “None shall touch him but me. You can have your fun with his followers instead, my children.” He looked around him at the hundreds of deamons leaping, shambling and crawling towards their human victims. He could tell they were almost as excited as he was.

The Armies

Gurug'ath's Chaos Horde

• GUO Gurug'ath, Exalted Great Unclean One
• Blood1 60 Bloodletters
• PB1 50 Plaguebearers
• PB2 50 Plaguebearers
• Gor 60 Gor
• CWoS 46 Chaos Warriors of Slaanesh
• Chos1 40 Chosen of Nurgle
• CWoN1 40 Chaos Warriors of Nurgle
• Hor1 40 Horrors
• Mar 40 Marauders
• CKoN 20 Chaos Knights of Nurgle
• CKoT 20 Chaos Knights of Tzeentch
• CWoK1 30 Chaos Warriors of Khorne
• Chos2 30 Chosen
• DO 9 Dragon Ogres
• Troll1 16 Trolls
• Mino1 14 Minotaurs
• Mino2 12 Minotaurs
• Beast1 12 Beasts of Nurgle
• Crush1 6 Skullcrushers
• Crush2 6 Skullcrushers
• OgreK 10 Chaos Ogres of Khorne
• Ogre 10 Chaos Ogres
• CWoN2 30 Chaos Warriors of Nurgle
• Pest 30 Pestigor
• CW1 30 Chaos Warriors
• CW2 30 Chaos Warriors
• CKoK 13 Chaos Knights of Khorne
• HC1 Hellcannon
• HC2 Hellcannon
• HC3 Hellcannon
• HC4 Hellcannon
• SG1 Soulgrinder
• SG2 Soulgrinder
• MoK 32 Marauders of Khorne
• MoN 30 Marauders of Nurgle
• M1 25 Marauders
• Beast2 8 Beasts of Nurgle
• Dog1 18 Chaos Hounds
• Dog2 10 Chaos Hounds
• Dog3 13 Chaos Hounds
• Nurg 12 Nurglings
• Drone 6 Plaguedrones
• Cm1 through to Cm7 Chimeras
• C1 through to C16 Chariots
• G1 through to G4 Giants
• Shag Shaggoth
• Raz 3 Razorgor
• Un 24 Ungor
• Blood2 4 Bloodcrushers
• Troll2 6 Trolls
• MH 5 Marauder Horsemen
• CKoS 10 Chaos Knights of Slaanesh
• SC1 Skullcannon
• SC2 Skullcannon
• FH 10 Flesh Hounds
• DPoS Daemon Prince of Slaanesh
• DPoN1 Daemon Prince of Nurgle
• DPoN2 BONUS Daemon Prince of Nurgle
• Blood3 28 Bloodletters
• D 20 Daemonettes
• Beast3 5 Beasts of Nurgle
• Fskn1 20 Forsaken
• Fskn2 14 Forsaken
• F 15 Furies
• CWoK2 24 Chaos Warriors of Khorne
• CWoT1 25 Chaos Warriors of Tzeentch
• M2 24 Marauders
• CWoT2 18 Chaos Warriors of Tzeentch
• CWoK3 18 Chaos Warriors of Khorne
• Chos3 18 Chosen of Nurgle
• Fskn3 21 Forsaken
• Hor2 20 Horrors
• PB3 20 Plaguebearers
• WS Warshrine

Karl Franz's Empire Defenders

• KF Karl Franz on Deathclaw
• WWolf 60 White Wolves
• ICK1 40 Inner Circle Knights
• ICK2 40 Inner Circle Knights
• Hal1 72 Halberdiers
• Hal2 60 Halberdiers
• Hal3 60 Halberdiers
• Great1 60 Greatswords
• Sword1 50 Swordsmen
• Flag1 50 Flagellants
• Flag2 60 Flagellants
• Reik1 32 Reiksguard
• Demi1 10 Demigryphs
• Demi2 9 Demigryphs
• Ogre 18 Ogres
• IGut 13 Ironguts
• MF 4 Mournfangs
• Flag3 30 Flagellants
• Flag4 40 Flagellants
• Demi3 5 Demigryphs
• Demi4 3 Demigryphs
• Sp 40 Spearmen
• Sw1 40 Swordsmen
• Sw2 40 Swordsmen
• Great2 35 Greatswords
• Great3 36 Greatswords
• Hal4 35 Halberdiers
• LB1 4 Leadbelchers
• LB2 3 Leadbelchers
• Sword2 35 Swordsmen
• FC 30 Free Company
• HG1 30 Handgunners
• HG2 20 Handgunners
• HG3 20 Handgunners
• HG4 20 Handgunners
• XBow1 20 Crossbowmen
• XBow2 19 Crossbowmen
• XBow3 16 Crossbowmen
• Reik2 16 Reiksguard
• Sword3 19 Swordsmen
• Great4 20 Greatswords
• Ar1 21 Archers
• Ar2 20 Archers
• Ar3 10 Archers
• HG5 12 Handgunners
• HG6 10 Handgunners
• K1 14 Knights
• K2 10 Knights
• Pst1 12 Pistoliers
• Pst2 5 Pistoliers
• Pst3 5 Pistoliers
• Pst4 5 Pistoliers
• Pst5 5 Pistoliers
• Out1 5 Outriders
• Out2 5 Outriders
• GC1 through to GC8 Great Cannons
• M1 through to M4 Mortars
• HRB1 through to HRB3 Hellstorm Rocket Batteries
• VG1 through to VG6 Volley Guns
• WA War Altar
• ST1 through to ST5 Steam Tanks
• Hur1 through to Hur3 Celestial Hurricanums
• Lum Luminark
• Grf1 through to Grf4 Generals on Griffons
• Peg1 through to Peg5 Captains on Pegasus
• Ar4 8 Archers

Deployment

Both sides are deployed. We didn't even bother with a screen. Everyone was so busy placing things that nobody cared what was going on over the other side.

Right there is about 70,000 points of models, another cameraman and an elbow...