Chaos claims thee - 2

Well 2011 is so far proving to be pretty poor on the hobby front. I haven't managed to paint much since my last post. A couple of extra 80s chaos warriors (bottom 2) a chaos warrior from the 90s (middle pictures).

Also managed to paint up an old Runequest Broo from the early 80s as a beastman Shaman and an early 80s citadel evil cleric as a chaos sorcerer (top pictures).

I'm now off for a week long family holiday in Wales followed by a visit from the in-laws over Easter which means another two weeks of no hobby time Ho-Hum.

Jon

Chaos claims thee!

Spring is here which means I find myself under a barrage of spring cleaning jobs from she who must be obeyed. Weekends now seem to be taken up with sorting out the garden, clearing out the garage (and even worse rumours of clearing out the loft) in between children's sporting events and washing thing (bikes,car motor bike).

Anyway between all this I've managed to find some time to paint up some chaos warriors for my WFB army. I decided to go for a chaos undivided army rather than a chosen power but I didn't want to go down the black and silver/gold route favoured for chaos armies these days.

I played around with some colour schemes and decided on this red and green combo which I'll carry over to the rest of the army.

The miniatures are all pre-slotta citadel miniatures chaos warriors circa 1984 (except the guy in the bottom picture who is a very early post slotta circa 1985). There are a few conversions with bits from my bits box, because a) I had some duplicates and b) some of the lead weapons where very bent.

These guys could be warriors or marauders depending on the pts of the army. As warriors this unit weighs in at circa 1000pts for 12 models ............

I've got another 15 or so of these old school warriors as well as a unit of old school beastmen to go with them. Some characters and a few odds and sods to add to the baggage train. I might throw in some Mantic Abyssal Dwarfs as allies to.

Cheers Jon

Can you guess what it is yet?

I'm not exactly breaking records on the painting front at the moment. All the usual suspects work, family, etc etc have conspired to cut down my hobby time. I have managed to put together and paint this chaos spawn though.

A long time ago I bought a metal GW chaos spawn model. I didn't really like it and it end up in the bits box were a few pieces were used in other projects and the rest just sat there until last week. I was looking for something else in my bits box when I started finding bits of this model.

One thing lead to another and with a good rummage for other interesting parts I ended up with the thing in the pictures. I rather like it I have to say. It's now going to form the centre piece of a Warhammer chaos army that I've been slowly building up for a while now.

Cheers Jon

beer and beards - 7

The Baggage train is finally finished for my dwarf army. In WFB 3rd edition most armies can have a baggage train (and in fact require one if they want to field mercenaries). They also play apart in the Mighty Empires campaign I hope to run one day. For each 1000pts spent on the army the baggage requires a wagon and 5 camp followers. The camp followers are armed with improvised weapons and can fight if the baggage encampment is attacked. The idea of doing some non combatant vignettes appealed to me so I'm going to do baggage trains for all my armies.

I've made a baggage train big enough for a 3000pt army although my dwarfs are only 2000pts at the moment. I've cheated slightly and mounted smaller groups of models on 40x40mm bases but I'm going to count them as four figures. If you're really eagle eyed you may notice the baggage train is a dwarf short, hopefully ebay will furnish me with one of those Citadel dwarf villagers miniatures from the 80s soon.

The three wagons are grudge wagons from the skull pass box set picked up on ebay for pennies. The wagons are pretty much as they came. I fiddled with the loads on the tops a bit for some variety and added a couple of flags just to pep them up.

The dwarf chef has been in my bits box for years is from citadel and I think came with the Gob lobber catapult (sadly long gone). The dwarfs with tools are from Ral partha and sold as dwarf engineers they're Bob Olley sculpts and look great as baggage types in my opinion. They must be beardlings though as they're tiny. The three beer swilling dwarfs with the barrel of Bugmans XXX are also Bob Olley sculpts I picked them up on ebay so I have no idea what range they came from. They do show scale creep of at its finest though as these guys are huge.

The dwarf army is so close to being finished now, up to the 2000pts level. At some stage I'll go up to 3000pts but right now I'm sick of painting dwarfs. Which is a problem as I have 10 crossbow dwarfs left that need to be finished but I just can't muster the enthusiasm.........

Jon

Durin's Gap - part 2

Turn 1

Thane Gudnam felt a sense of pride as with practised ease the dwarf battle line formed up. Warriors made final checks on their equipment and officers shouted commands. Staring out at the enemy Gudnam saw they had started to advance as if compelled by some silent order. A hush descended on the dwarfs as Gudnam stepped forward and opened the book of grudges that he carried. As he read aloud from the ancient book he could see the effect it had on the dwarf's around him they gripped thier weapons tightly, stood that bit taller and seemed to grow in confidence. Gomil leader of the hammerers shouted "incoming!" seconds later with a hideous scream a skull flew over the dwarven army and exploded behind them in a shower of razor sharp bone fragments. Turning to the nearby cannon crew Gudnam shouted "show these abyss born scum what a really war machine looks like" moments later a sound like thunder echoed off the mountains flanking Durin's gap the battle had began.


Jean D'Noir gave the silent order for her army to advance. With low moans and the creaking of ancient armour they set of at a shuffle towards the dwarf line. On her right the ghoul pack loped forward eager to taste dwarf flesh. Closing her eyes Jean started to chant softly she opened her mage sight and saw the winds of magic blowing across the skies above her. multi coloured clouds of pure energy. With her mage sight Jean could see the thin strands of dark magic that connected her to each undead warrior in her army. Jean continued to chant drawing the black coiling energy of dark magic down into her body and then sending it back out towards her undead charges as she watched the the strands of dark energy grew visible thicker. Her spell complete jean was jolted back to her senses by a loud noise like rolling thunder. As she watched an iron ball slammed into a regiment of skeletons smashing aging bone and rusted armour into dust scything down several skeletons before burying itself in the ground.


Turn 1 kicked off with the undead advancing as fast as they could towards the dwarf line. While the dwarfs chose to whittle down the living dead with their superior firepower. The dwarf cannon took out several skeletons while the undead catapult overshot by some distance. Jean cast a spell to increase the range of her control over her undead from 12" to 24". while Gudnam used his magic book to enthuse the dwarf warriors unit giving them +1 LD. in the reserve phase they undead continued to move toward the dwarf line.

Turn 2

Engineer Sargent Kila Rockheart watched as the ghouls ran towards his regiment of thunderers. Calmly he gave his orders in a loud clear voice "Take aim!, Mark you targets!, "Fire!" There was a satisfying roar of black powder weapons being unleashed. Through the flashes and smoke of discharging weapons Kila saw several of the loathsome undead plucked of their feet by lead bullets.

With a big grin he turned to his regiment"well done la..........". Several of his charges stood looking sheepish their faces blackened, beards smoking and horribly mangled arquebuses in their hands. Kila shook his head "How many times? Don't use so much bloody powder!"

Jean watched as the dwarfs cannon fired again blasting more of her army to dust. Turning to the nearby catapult she shouted "Silence that infernal machine!". As the catapult crew worked to fire their machine Jean pulled a handful of human teeth from a pouch on her belt "I think some reinforcements might be in order" she said. Chanting softly she sucked in a mouthful of dark energy and blew it softly over the teeth in her palm before throwing them onto the ground. As her spell finished she mouthed one word "Arise". All around her skeleton warriors burst from the ground.

Turn 2 saw the undead continue to advance at all speed towards the dwarf lines. More undead fell to crossbows, handguns (although three dwarfs managed to misfire) and cannon fire(removing 6 zombies). Jean cast a spell to raise seven new skeletons. The undead catapult managed to land a shot on the dwarf cannon killing a crewman.

Turn 3

Killa Rockheart had to admit that although the dwarf built aquebus his regiment carried were a marvel of modern technology there were definitely areas for improvement. Loading time was something that really needed to be worked on"reload RE...LOAD!" Killa shouted panic entering his voice as the filthy horde of Ghouls broke into a ragged charge.

The ghouls were on the thunderers in seconds and a vicious melee broke out Killa swung his aquebus two handed like a club as he attempted to hold two slavering ghouls at bay. Distracted as he was Killa didn't noticed the ghoul behind him until it's venomous teeth sank into his arm.

Jean allowed here self a smile of satisfaction as the ghoul pack on her right flank swarmed all over the dwarven regiment. Using their numbers the ghouls pulled down the dwarf warriors clawing and biting them as they bore them to the ground. The dwarfs broke throwing down their weapons and fleeing the ghouls following close behind hacking at the fleeing dwarfs. Jean watched with a mix of fascination and revulsion as some of the ghouls fell on the dead bodies of the dwarfs and began to feed.

Turn 3 saw things really hot up. The undead started to close to within charge range. The ghouls charged the thunderers and beat them in combat forcing the dwarfs to rout (ghouls cause fear so the dwarfs broke automatically) several ghouls failed to follow up the dwarfs but stayed to feed on the dead (nice) while the rest gave chase to the routing dwarfs. Seeing the thunders rout the dwarf cannon crew panicked and fled too.

The undead artillery failed to land on target again. Jean cast a second summon skeletons spell adding three more skeletons to the seven from last turn, leaving her with only a couple of magic points left.

The dwarfs passed their fear checks and the dwarf warriors charged the zombies and the Hammerers led by Thane Gudnam charged the skeleton regiment. The dwarf warriors in an abject display of combat ability failed to kill any zombies while losing two of their number resulting in another auto break result. The Hammerers showed the rest of the army how to do it smashing up four skeletons and watching more crumble as instability took hold.

Turn 4

Thane Gudnam swung his hammer two handed in a wide arc smashing another skeleton into dust. All around him the hammerers were pushing forward over piles of rusted armour and broken bones that had been skeleton warriors. As the fight swung in the favour of the dwarfs the magic binding the skeletons started to unravel and skeletons collapsed into heaps. "Destroy them! destroy them all " shouted Gudnam sensing victory.

Kurt Ricter slashed his evil glowing rune sword across the back of another dwarf. Centuries of hate and frustration gave strength to his blow. Unlike the zombies he led, Kurt was self aware. In life he'd been a hero to his people in death he was a slave to a wizard aware of his undead life yet with no control of it Kurt took his anger out on the fleeing dwarfs around him.

Turn 4 saw the ghouls reforming having chased the thunderers of the table. The dwarf crossbows attempted to charge the zombies in the flank as the chased the fleeing dwarf warriors however fear got the better of them and they failed to charge. The hammerers destroyed the skeleton regiment. Heni Trollsbane the dwarf slayer charged the ghouls feasting on the dead thunderers and dispatched them all in a single round of combat.

Turn 5

Olaf Gunnison quarreller Sargent of a crossbow regiment stared across the battlefield. With the dust, smoke and noise it was hard to tell what was going on. His gut told him things weren't going well and his gut was rarely wrong. As he wondered what orders to give his regiment the wind seemed to clear the dust and smoke for an instant. There stood some distance away was a female manling dressed in red and carrying a staff. Olaf quickly decided on his new orders "Shoot the witch!"

Jean cursed it was hard to tell what was going on as the battle descended into chaos. Out of the dust and smoke a fierce looking dwarf wielding two vicious axes appeared heading towards her as fast as his stubby looking legs could carry him. Jean didn't need to think twice, drained of energy she was powerless to stop the evil looking dwarf, she turned on her heels and ran. Quickly outpacing her purser Jean started to relax and then she screamed as a crossbow bolt buried it's self in her thigh.

Turn five saw the magically summoned skeletons charge the hammerers in an attempt to stop them. The undead catapult continued to lob skulls randomly around failing to hit anything at all. the zombies continued to cut down fleeing dwarfs. The ghouls headed towards the rear of the hammerers hoping to set up a charge next turn. Jean headed away from the dwarf troll slayer putting her in front of the dwarf crossbow regiment.

The hammerers smashed the skeletons to pieces. While Heni Trollsbane headed towards Jean. The crossbows shot jean taking two of her three wounds.

Turn 6

Thane Gudnam and the hammerers gave a great cheer of victory as the last of the skeletons facing them collapsed. "victory!" shouted Gudnam instead of a roar of dwarven approval he was expecting his cry was meet with animalistic howls and shouts of panicked dwarven voices coming from the rear of his regiment. Suddenly panic reigned all around Gudnam. Gomil the hammerer leader fell forward a vicious creature in dirty rags raking his back with filthy razor sharp talons. "Hold HOLD!" shouted Gudnam even as the dwarfs broke in flight.

Jean D'Mort cried with pain she was hurt bad and she knew it. In front of her dwarf warriors were re-loading their deadly crossbows. Behind her the evil looking dwarf with the axes was closing in fast. Summoning every last ounce of power Jean started to chant the words of a spell of flight to allow her to escape her predicament. The spell was simple but in her panicked state and with pain flaring through her leg she fumbled the words. She heard the twang of crossbows being fired looking up she just had time to say "Oh sh........." Jean D'Mort was dead.

Turn 6 saw the battle come to a bloody end. The ghouls charged into the rear of the Hammerers regiment cutting down dwarfs and forcing them to rout. The zombies chased the dwarf warriors of the table. Jean tried to cast a flight spell but failed an intelligence test so was shot dead by the dwarf crossbows instead.

Aftermarth

Olaf Gunnison peered into the dawning light of morning from behind the improvised barricade that surrounded the baggage train. It had been several hours since the last undead attack on the survivors of the dwarf army and in the improving light it seemed the undead were gone.

The dwarfs losses in battle had been so heavy that Olaf a mere Sargent was the most senior officer left alive. He and his crossbows had retreated to the baggage train as darkness fell organising the camp followers Olaf and the survivors had fought of several undead attacks over night as wounded and lost dwarfs had emerged out of the darkness to seek the safety of the baggage train.

As Olaf rubbed his tired eyes he see saw two figures emerge out of the morning gloom "Stand to!" shouted Olaf. All around him weary dwarfs manned the baricades clutching weapons. A voice called out in dwarvish " Stop pointing those ruddy crossbows at me or I'll shove me axe up your jacksee lad" Olaf quickly reconisged Heni the troll slayer covered in ichor and bone dust and supporting a heavily wounded dwarf."I think the Thane might need a bit'o help" shouted Heni.

Result a draw

The Battle of Durin's Gap - part 1

Jean D'Noir stared out into the hazy morning light at the assembling dwarf host and cursed loudly she hadn't expected to meet an army coming west through Durin's gap but there they were anyway blocking her path east. She knew the Dwarfs must have come from Khazd-Norn but what were they doing here? It didn't seem to matter now the dwarfs were rapidly forming up for battle and if she was to complete her mission they would have to be dealt with. Durin's gap was a narrow strip of flat land traveling east to west through the southern grey mountains here at it's narrowest point there was no way Jean's army could carry on east with the dwarfs formed up in front of them. "It looks like we'll have to make them move" Jean sighed to the two undead warriors stood at her side.

Jean scanned the enemy lines and counted four regiments of dwarfs. She turned to walk away just as the dawning sun caught something large and metallic. Jean shielded her eyes and saw a large cannon being wheeled into place in the centre of the dwarf line she cursed loudly again. Turning to the two passive undead warriors at her side Jean spoke "return to your regiments and prepare for battle"

Thane Gudnam was woken with a start by a stocky dwarf in full armour "think we got a problem thane" said the dwarf. Grabbing his gear the thane followed the dwarf towards the edge of camp. Gudnam put his dwarven crafted spyglass up to his eye and scanned the western horizon as the undead host focused into site the Thane grinned "Looks like we won't have to march all the way to the plain of winds" he said cheerfully the enemy have come to us. He turned to Gomil the leader of the Hammerers regiment "Form the troops up, missiles on the wings, infantry and artillery in the centre" Gomil turnned sharply and hurried off.

Gudnam raised his spyglass again "These undead really are a foul sight" he mused to himself. Skeleton warriors stood eerily still tattered rags blowing in the morning breeze, rusted weapons and battered shields held firmly in their bony grip. Nearby a unit of zombies waited rotting flesh barely holding in liquefied inner organs. Gudnam fought back the urge to gag as one zombie lifted a severed hand to its mouth. Screeching on the breeze drew the thane's attention to the far end of undead battle line were a pack of feral ghouls scraped and bickered over a corpse. Next to the ghouls Gudnam saw a catapult it's skeleton crew working hard to load it with what looked suspiciously like a skull.

Gudnam turned towards his army "It's going to be a long day" he said to no one in particular.

Above the two armies deploy for battle.

Hopefully this will be the first of several battles in a little narrative campaign between my new undead and dwarf armies. I hope to get a full write up with pictures on the blog in the next couple of days. I have posted up a little background story for the campaign (see the post below this one) and this post gives you the background to the first battle a meeting engagement between two detached forces in a narrow mountain pass.

The rules used for this battle were WFB 3rd edition (not really a surprise there) and the two armies where 1000pts each. I used the Warhammer armies book lists as a guide but basically ignored some of the min/maxs and rules for low level characters as unit champions because at 1000pts these conditions where a little to restrictive. On to the armies

The Dwarven detachment from Khzad - Norn

General - Thane Gudnam -level 15 dwarf hero with heavy armour, double handed weapon and the book of grudges (level 1 enthuse spell)

Heni Trollsbane - level 10 troll slayer hero with magic axe (frenzied)

11 Hammerers (+4 shock elites) including standard,musician and leader equipped with heavy armour,shields and double handed weapons

10 thunderers with arquebus and light armour

10 crossbowdwarfs with crossbow and light armour

20 Dwarf warriors including standard,musician and leader equipped with light armour and shields

1 3 man cannon

1 baggage train of one cart and 5 camp followers



The Undead column of Jean D'Noir

Jean D'Noir - Level 15 necromancer

Kurt Ricter - Level 10 undead hero with light armour, shield magic sword (baneblade) leading the zombies

Harald Kruger - level 10 undead hero with light armour shields and magic spear (hellhoned)
leading the skeletons

3 man undead catapult with screaming skull ammunition

19 skeleton warriors including standard and musician equipped with spears, shields and light armour

29 zombies including standard and musician equipped with bones, clubs and severed limbs

20 Ghouls equipped with poisonous claws, teeth and a bad attitude

Next the battle as it happened............