Tuesday 10 June 2014

Stemming the Tide - Part 1

OK, so it's taken me a while to get this online. As I had mentioned previously, a group of us attended Little Wars at the Moorabbin Town Hall a bit over a week ago and played a 14,000 point per side display game of Warhammer Fantasy. I took plenty of photos, however it was pretty busy and there wasn't time to handle the game as a proper battle report. Here is what we've got instead. The report covers multiple posts. You can find the main page here.
14,000 points per side, 6 hours to play up to 8 turns... What could go wrong?
Stemming the Tide

The Chaos army was enormous – far larger than the reports had led them to believe. The Emperor himself Karl Franz had ridden north to meet the advancing threat, however as mighty as his army was, they were not prepared for what was coming and they now knew it. Archaon's hordes were a dark stain across the horizon – a seemingly endless tide of steel and death. As the full scale of the invasion had started to become apparent, the Emperor had made a difficult decision. The Empire forces would have to fall back, and quickly. If they were caught out in the open, here on the southern steppes of Kislev, they would be slaughtered.

The order was given and the bulk of the army withdrew at best speed toward the relative shelter of the cities to the south. However, the enemy was now too close for their retreat to go unnoticed, and the advance elements of the Chaos host raced to cut them off. Not being one to shirk from battle, Karl Franz himself led a rearguard action to buy time for the rest of his soldiers to escape. Only after the site of their valiant stand was chosen did the scouts report that the Everchosen himself rode at the head of the onrushing Chaos forces...

This battle uses the Invasion! scenario from the Warhammer Fantasy 8th edition hardcover rulebook. As per the scenario rules, the battle was played lengthwise on a 8' x 6' table, with control of 3 defensive positions and the 4 quarters of the table deciding the victor. The Chaos invaders were able to recycle lost Core units from the table edges of any quarters that they controlled. Assuming we had time, the game would go for 8 turns.

I ended up making the army lists for both sides. A number of brave volunteers raised their hands when I asked for people to help me run this thing on the day. The Empire were commanded by Nick Cook and me, whilst the Chaos forces were under the control of Tim Stewart and Ben Leopold.
CHAOS
LORDS
  • Archaon on Dorghar
  • Galrauch, The Great Drake
  • Daemon Prince of Nurgle
    • Magic Level 4; Chaos Armour; Daemonic Flight
    • Scaled Skin
    • Dragonhelm
    • Sword of Striking
  • Daemon Prince of Slaanesh
    • Magic Level 2; Chaos Armour; Daemonic Flight
    • Sword of Might
    • Allure of Slaanesh
  • Daemon Prince of Khorne
    • Chaos Armour; Daemonic Flight
    • Sword of Swift Slaying
HEROES
  • Exalted Hero of Nurgle on Daemon Steed
    • Great Weapon; Barding; Chaos Armour; Battle Standard
    • Talisman of Preservation
  • Chaos Sorcerer of Tzeentch on Disc of Tzeentch
    • Lore of Metal; Magic Level 2; Chaos Armour
  • Exalted Hero of Khorne on Daemon Steed
    • Halberd; Barding; Chaos Armour; Shield
  • Exalted Hero of Nurgle on Daemon Steed
    • Halberd; Barding; Chaos Armour; Shield
  • Exalted Hero of Tzeentch on Daemon Steed
    • Halberd; Barding; Chaos Armour; Shield
CORE
  • 46 Chaos Warriors of Slaanesh
    • Halberd; Chaos Armour; Shield; Standard; Musician; Aspiring Champion
  • 25 Chaos Warriors of Tzeentch
    • Chaos Armour; Shield; Standard; Musician; Aspiring Champion
  • 25 Chaos Warriors of Nurgle
    • Chaos Armour; Shield; Standard; Musician; Aspiring Champion
  • 24 Chaos Warriors of Khorne
    • 2nd Hand Weapon; Chaos Armour; Standard; Musician; Aspiring Champion
  • 30 Chaos Warriors of Khorne
    • Halberd; Chaos Armour; Shield; Standard; Musician; Aspiring Champion
  • 40 Chaos Marauders
    • No Mark; Flail; Standard; Musician; Marauder Chieftain
  • 32 Chaos Marauders of Khorne
    • Great Weapon; Standard; Musician; Marauder Chieftain
  • 30 Chaos Marauders of Nurgle
    • Flail; Standard; Musician; Marauder Chieftain
  • Chaos Chariot of Tzeentch
  • Chaos Chariot of Tzeentch
  • 20 Chaos Warhounds with Vanguard (Dogstar!! - don't ask...)
SPECIAL
  • 40 Chosen of Nurgle
    • Halberd; Chaos Armour; Shield; Standard; Musician; Chosen Champion
    • Razor Standard
  • 28 Chosen
    • No Mark; Great Weapon; Chaos Armour; Shield; Standard; Musician; Chosen Champion
  • 10 Chaos Ogres
    • No Mark; Great Weapon; Heavy Armour; Standard
  • 10 Chaos Ogres of Khorne
    • Great Weapon; Heavy Armour; Standard; Musician; Ogre Mutant
  • 5 Dragon Ogres
    • Great Weapon; Light Armour
  • 18 Chaos Knights of Tzeentch
    • Barding; Ensorcelled Weapons; Chaos Armour; Shield; Standard; Musician; Doom Knight
  • 10 Chaos Knights of Slaanesh
    • Barding; Lance; Chaos Armour; Shield; Standard; Musician; Doom Knight
  • 18 Chaos Knights of Nurgle
    • Barding; Ensorcelled Weapons; Chaos Armour; Shield; Standard; Musician; Doom Knight
  • 13 Chaos Knights of Khorne
    • Barding; Ensorcelled Weapons; Chaos Armour; Shield; Standard; Musician; Doom Knight
    • Banner of Swiftness
RARE
  • Hellcannon
  • Giant
  • Giant
Models in Army: 441
Total Army Cost: 14095

EMPIRE
LORDS
  • Karl Franz, The Emperor on Barded Warhorse
    • Ghal Maraz
  • Arch Lector on War Altar
    • Armour of Destiny
    • The Mace of Helstrum
    • Horn of Sigismund
  • Marius Leitdorf
  • Kurt Helborg, Reiksmarshall of the Empire
  • Grand Master
    • Barding; Full Plate Armor; Shield; Warhorse
    • Giant Blade
    • Talisman of Endurance
  • Grand Master
    • Barding; Great Weapon; Full Plate Armor; Warhorse
    • Dragonhelm
    • Dawn Stone
  • Grand Master
    • Barding; Full Plate Armor; Shield; Warhorse
    • Sword of Bloodshed
    • Potion of Strength
    • Luckstone
  • General of the Empire on Griffon
    • Great Weapon; Full Plate Armor; Shield
    • Bloodroar
  • General of the Empire on Griffon
    • Full Plate Armor
    • Ogre Blade
    • Enchanted Shield
    • Bloodroar
  • Wizard Lord
    • Magic Level 3; Lore of Light
    • Fencer's Blades
  • Wizard Lord
    • Magic Level 4; Lore of Life
HEROES
  • Ludwig Schwarzhelm
  • Luthor Huss
  • Warrior Priest on Warhorse
    • Barding; Great Weapon; Heavy Armour;
  • Warrior Priest
    • Great Weapon; Heavy Armour
  • Warrior Priest
    • Great Weapon; Heavy Armour
  • Warrior Priest
    • Great Weapon; Heavy Armour
  • Witch Hunter
    • Brace of Pistols; Light Armour
  • Witch Hunter
    • Brace of Pistols; Light Armour
  • Captain of the Empire
    • Great Weapon; Full Plate Armor
  • Captain of the Empire
    • Great Weapon; Full Plate Armor
  • Captain of the Empire on Pegasus
    • Full Plate Armor; Shield
    • Sword of Might
    • Swift as the Winds
  • Battle Wizard on Celestial Hurricanum
    • Magic Level 2; Lore of Heavens
  • Battle Wizard on Warhorse
    • Magic Level 2; Lore of Death
  • Battle Wizard
    • Magic Level 2; Lore of Shadow
  • Battle Wizard
    • Magic Level 2; Lore of Light
  • Battle Wizard
    • Magic Level 1; Lore of Light
  • Battle Wizard
    • Magic Level 2; Lore of Fire
  • Battle Wizard
    • Magic Level 2; Lore of Metal
  • Battle Wizard on Warhorse
    • Magic Level 2; Lore of Beasts
  • Master Engineer
    • Hochland Long Rifle
CORE
  • 40 Knights of the Inner Circle
    • Barding; Lance; Full Plate Armor; Shield; Standard; Musician; Warhorse; Preceptor
    • The Steel Standard
  • 40 Knightly Orders
    • Barding; Great Weapon; Full Plate Armor; Standard; Musician; Warhorse; Preceptor
  • 40 Knightly Orders
    • Barding; Lance; Full Plate Armor; Shield; Standard; Musician; Warhorse; Preceptor
  • 70 Halberdiers
    • Halberd; Light Armour; Standard; Musician; Sergeant
  • 60 Halberdiers
    • Halberd; Light Armour; Standard; Musician; Sergeant
  • 40 Swordsmen
    • Light Armour; Shield; Standard; Musician; Duellist
  • 20 Handgunners
  • 16 Crossbowmen
    • Standard
  • 16 Crossbowmen
    • Standard; Musician
  • 40 Spearmen
    • Spear; Light Armour; Standard; Musician; Sergeant
  • 30 Free Company
    • 2ndWeapon; Standard; Musician; Sergeant
SPECIAL
  • 16 Reiksguard Knights
    • Barding; Lance; Full Plate Armor; Shield; Standard; Musician; Warhorse; Reikscaptain
    • Banner of the Eternal Flame
  • 5 Demigryph Knights
    • Barding; Lance; Shield; Standard; Musician; Preceptor
  • 5 Demigryph Knights
    • Barding; Lance; Shield; Standard; Musician; Preceptor
  • 60 Flagellants
    • Flail; Prophet of Doom
  • 35 Greatswords
    • Great Weapon; Full Plate Armor; Standard; Musician; Count's Champion
    • Razor Standard
  • 5 Pistoliers
    • Brace of Pistols; Light Armour; Warhorse; Outrider with Repeater Pistol
  • 5 Pistoliers
    • Brace of Pistols; Light Armour; Warhorse; Outrider with Repeater Pistol
  • 5 Outriders
    • Repeater Handgun; Light Armour; Musician; Warhorse; Sharpshooter
  • 12 Pistoliers (Kislev Horse Archers)
    • Brace of Pistols; Light Armour; Musician; Warhorse; Outrider
  • Great Cannon
  • Great Cannon
  • Great Cannon
  • Mortar
RARE
  • Steam Tank
  • Helblaster Volley Gun
  • Helblaster Volley Gun
Models in Army: 599
Total Army Cost: 14134

Deployment

The Chaos right flank, which was heavy with Khorne units and largely under Ben's command
The Chaos left flank, which contained the Nurgle contingent and was controlled by Tim.
Archaon himself, lurking in the second wave of the Chaos forces
Galrauch is one ugly Dragon/Daemon/Thingy
The Chaos forces deployed first and filled the centre of their front line with Knights and Dragon Ogres. Behind them were the Ogres, Daemon Princes, Galrauch and Archaon himself. On the Chaos right were the Khorne infantry, supported by Chariots, the Tzeentch Knights, the Hellcannon and a pair of Giants. The Chaos left consisted mainly of Nurgle infantry, including the huge regiment of Chosen, and a pack of Chaos Hounds.
The Empire deployment, rough as it was.
This is the defensive position on the Empire left flank, just forward of the half-way line on the table.
The second defensive position, in the centre of the Empire lines
The final position was just a fortified hill, at the back of the Empire lines. If the fight came down to this position, things were probably not going well for the Empire.
The Empire right flank
Karl Franz, the Emperor. With Ludwig Schwartzhelm, his personal banner bearer. And friends.
A shot along the Empire lines.
The Empire forces could deploy anywhere more than 12” from the enemy, and arranged themselves in a rough arc that included 2 of the 3 defensive objectives (both of which were occupied by Crossbowman regiments). A line of fast cavalry sat in front of the Empire left flank, which was dominated by a regiment of 40 Inner Circle Knights led by their Grand Master and Marius Leitdorf. Other forces on that flank included a Steam Tank, Griffon, and the Reiksguard led by Kurt Helborg. Regiments of Halberdiers and Flagellants stood in front of the central objective, whilst Karl Franz and Ludwig Schwartzhelm skulked in another large unit of Knights behind the building. The Empire right contained the White Wolf Knights, Halberdiers, Demigryphs, Swordsmen and Spearmen, as well as another Griffon. A regiment of Greatswords sat at the back of the Empire lines, occupying the final objecive and defending the Cannons arrayed there.
The doggies sneak foward.
Having deployed so freely, the Empire declined to vanguard any units. The Chaos Hounds hurried forward on the Chaos left flank, and then the battle commenced.

Turn 1
The Chaos centre pushes forward
The Empire lines wait as the Chaos forces advance
The view from the Empire centre
Eeek, run!
The Chaos forces advanced across the field. On the Chaos right, a Giant gave an enthusiastic bellow and set off toward the Stirland Pistoliers. In the face of the monstrosity, they ignored their orders to stand and fire, turning and fleeing around the defensive position on the flank and straight off the battlefield. The Giant staggered about disappointedly, holding things up behind him. On the other flank, the Chaos Hounds that had bounded forward so enthusiastically a moment earlier suddenly pulled up short when they spotted the Volley Gun waiting in the forest, and barely moved at all.

Seeing the obvious concern of the Hounds, the Nurgle Daemon Prince cast Fleshy Abundance upon them, giving them Regeneration. Blue Fire of Tzeentch shot from Galrauch toward the Outriders, killing 3 of them. The hideously deformed Dragon then tried to cast Infernal Gateway upon the Flagellants in the centre, however this was dispelled by the battery of Empire Wizards. Seeing Galrauch's failure, the Tzeentch Sorcerer on his Disc resolved not to make the same mistake and instead unleashed boosted Searing Doom with irresistible force. The resulting blast felled 7 of the Inner Circle Knights, however the backlash wounded the Sorcerer and the Slaanesh Daemon Prince.

The Empire forces were generally a little more circumspect than their approaching foe, however the remaining Pistoliers raced forward and skidded to a halt immediately in front of the Chaos Knight regiments in the centre. They opened up with a full volley from the pistols, however not a single enemy was felled. The Flagellants rushed forward with a chorus of doom-laden speeches, bad singing, general wailing and clanging bells.
The Empire centre responds to the Chaos opening moves.
The Empire right flank moves up behind the Flagellants
The Pistoliers make a nuisance of themselves, but don't manage to inflict any actual damage.
The Flagellants head out on their own.
The Dragon Ogres eye the approach of the Flagellants warily.
The War Altar unleashed the power of Banishment upon the Chaos Hounds, however their magically regenerative powers ensured that only 4 of them died. One of the Light Wizards then cast Speed of Light with irresistible force, energising the Flagellants but consuming no less than 21 of the Swordsmen around him in a colossal detonation caused by his loss of control.
The Chaos Hounds shrug off the worst of the enemy efforts, including a completely harmless Helblaster volley 
Magic is a dangerous thing. One small loss of control, and BOOM, half your friends are gone. Not a good way to make more friends.
The Khorne Daemon Prince on the Empire left was laid low as a shot from the Steam Tank's cannon blasted into his chest, before the remaining Outriders hosed him with bullets and finished him off. The Handgunners unleashed a volley at the Tzeentch Sorcerer who had been lurking behind him, blowing him off his sorcerous Disc. The Cannons took aim at Galrauch, however 2 of the shots glanced harmlessly off his magical scaly hide (1s to wound), whilst the remaining one misfired and forced the crew to clear the blockage, costing them valuable time. One of the advancing Giants was wounded by a volley of crossbow bolts, however the Chaos Hounds' concern over the danger posed by the Volley Gun proved unfounded when it failed to kill a single one of them.

Turn 2
The Chaos advance continued unabated. The wounded Giant and the Khorne Warriors nearby both roared and charged toward the tower on the Chaos left flank, however they both failed to reach their objective. The air was filled with hissing bolts as the Crossbowmen fired upon the Giant, however no shots struck home.
The Chaos right flank closes in.
The Pistoliers try to take on the entire Chaos army single-handed
We got this...
The larger unit of Pistoliers that failed to hold their nerve
The Slaanesh Daemon Prince gets waaay out ahead of the rest of the line
The remaining Outriders find themselves outclassed.
I'm all aloooone, there's no-one here besiiiiide me: Badass Daemon Princes don't need no friends.
The Slaanesh and Khorne Knights, Khorne Marauders and a Chariot all charged toward the Pistoliers blocking their path, however one regiment turned and fled when the Slaanesh Daemon Prince joined in the fun, and fled back toward their own lines. The Daemon Prince altered his course and managed to reach the depleted Outriders, carving them apart before landing in the midst of the fleeing Pistoliers and slaughtering them. The Chaos Knight units both connected with the remaining Pistoliers and made comically short work of them, before the Khorne Knights ignored the restraint of their rivals and overran alone toward the Empire lines.
The advance of the Chaos left flank.
The Khorne Knights overrun alone
The Chaos Hounds throw themselves into the flank of the Flagellants
Dragon Ogres vs the world
The Dragon Ogres didn't like the idea of engaging the magically enhanced Flagellants, and settled for halting close in front of them. The Chaos Hounds were instead sent into the flank of the doom-loving lunatics, which went predictably well for them when 11 of the Hounds were flayed to death before they had a chance to strike. The Flagellants were turning to pursue the fleeing survivors when it became apparent that the Dragon Ogres had miscalculated and gotten too close – the Flagellants still ran into them, despite their attempt to follow the enemy to their flank. A collective “uh-oh” could be heard from the Dragon Ogres as the Flagellants crashed into them, and also from Galrauch who had landed immediately behind.
The realisation that this would happen brought a collective "uh-oh" from the Dragon Ogres, Galrauch, Tim and Ben. This was the situation most to be avoided...
A Flagellant's eye view across the lines
The Nurgle Daemon Prince took pity upon Galrauch's apparent plight, casting Fleshy Abundance upon him in an attempt to improve his chances of survival. Galrauch himself hurled a Bolt of Change at the War Altar, which glanced off the magical protection of the Arch Lector on top. An attempt to cast Acquiescence upon the Flagellants was dispelled, and a boosted casting of Plague Wind proved to be too much for the power remaining to the Nurgle Daemon Prince.
The Inner Circle Knights crash into the Slaanesh Daemon Prince
In this turn we actually remembered to roll for Marius Leitdorf's “eccentricities”, and he promptly went into a berserk rage (presumably over having been forgotten the previous turn) and charged headlong into the Slaanesh Daemon Prince, dragging the regiment of Knights along with him. The Daemon waited calmly for the charge, beckoning toward the frenzied Elector Count in a mocking gesture. Marius accepted his challenge and brandished his mighty Runefang... but never got to use it. The Daemon Prince hacked him brutally from his saddle before he could strike, and the glorious charge of the Knights ground to an abrupt halt.
Marius brandishes his Runefang with unbridled enthusiasm just before his fateful challenge
The War Altar sent forth another blast of Banishment, this time toward Galrauch. Despite his temporary regenerative powers, he lost 3 wounds. Speed of Light was once again cast upon the Flagellants with irresistible force, however this time the foolish Wizard paid with his life as well as those of his 7 closest Swordsman friends. The scorched and tattered remnant of the unit was not sorry to see him go.
On the Empire right flank, the Griffon looked to move into a position to get involved in the game.
The Steam Tank continued its Daemon Prince-hating ways, blasting a great gaping hole through the chest of the Nurgle Daemon Prince and killing him with a single shot. The Crossbowmen in the tower showered more bolts upon the approaching Giant, leaving him teetering on a single wound.

The Dragon Ogres had very apprehensive been about engaging the Flagellants, their fears proved well-founded. With an enthusiastic wail the doom-lovers whipped themselves into a frenzy before laying into the beasts with magically boosted potency. Not a single Dragon Ogre was left to strike back, and the Flagellants barely slowed before crashing into Galrauch. The daemonic Dragon roared his defiance, but there was more than a hint of concern in his blazing red eyes.
The Dragon Ogres are reduced to a red mist as the Flagellants carry on enthusiastically into the heart of the Chaos army. Their overrun needed a 7 to reach Galrauch, and of course the way things were going, they did it easily. Now the half-dead beastie would have to face a horde of WS10, I10 lunatics.
All was not going well for the Chaos players...

You can read the next part of the report here.

8 comments:

  1. YES!!! Baron Vlod, the mad prophet of Crumschdtatt has finally seen the table! All hail Baron Vlod!

    Oh, and there was other stuff there too...?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Not a lot. In Tim's eyes at least, it was all about the doggies.

      Delete
  2. Now this is a game of Warhammer. So much purple though,

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're not one of them purple-hatin' purplehaters are you, Chris? Can't be hating on the purple.

      And yes, I need to paint up some more of my Empire stuff in some other colour schemes. I'm not responsible for the Chaos stuff, though.

      Delete
  3. I'm very much enjoying how successful the Flagellants are so far! It's wonderful to see them on the table top, and it's even more wonderful to see them not just getting shot off! That's what, a 670 point unit?

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    Replies
    1. Ummm 730pts? I've always maintained that Flagellants can be great when they're supported properly. Light magic is the single best way, and they get seriously scary.

      Delete
    2. Oh, yeah, you are right. I was being wishful and thinking they were 11 points per model!

      Delete
  4. Quite an enjoyable read so far!

    ReplyDelete