GROG in the snow

There hasn't been a GROG (Gloucestershire Retro Oldhammer Gamers) winter game for some years now. Even the Halloween game that was our most regular has been paused for a bit. Hopefully life for all members is a bit more settled now and we can get back to some good ol' quarterly wargaming!

This February's game (it's always half term week for the winter game as Christmas is so busy) was a cross-country skiing challenge Alpine Dwarf style. Harry introduces the game-

According to Dwarven History, the Alpine Dwarf challenge is rooted in the skiing traditions of the Norse Dwarves.

Early inhabitants revered the God Ullr as both the god of skiing and the hunting god. Historical research suggests that Ullr was a very ancient god, with ties to magic.

The Alpine Dwarves compete every year for this title and the honour of wearing these runes on their uniforms.

The activity that developed into this annual contest were initially training exercises for the Norse Dwarf Alpine Rangers as an alternative training to the regular Dwarven army. Norse Dwarf skiing regiments organized training into: shooting (Standing and prone), shooting at mark while skiing at top speed, downhill race among trees without falling! … and a long race on flat ground while carrying rifle and military pack. They also train in rock and ice climbing.

More recently the Alpine Rangers have been training with ice skates. Ice skates were first developed by Finn Mcswift  from shank or rib bones of elk, oxen, reindeer to make traveling in icy winter conditions easier and faster when hunting around the northern lakes. 

Many years ago during a particularly harsh winter the Goblins raided the dwarf Kings court and stole the Christmas presents. The rangers went after them and recovered most of the presents and saved Christmas. To celebrate this event the King came up with an annual challenge for the rangers to compete for the highest honour given to a ranger.

The challenge consists of a ‘race’ in which the best Alpine rangers are chosen each year to compete against each other. They set out from the Kings court and find as many presents as they can and return them to the king in the fastest time possible. They ski a cross-country trail divided into four sections with shooting rounds. Depending on the shooting performance, extra time is added to the contestant's total skiing time. The best shots get to head out on the next stage first and then they are followed by the rest after they have spent their time penalties based on their shooting performance. They gain time bonuses for each present they return with. The Ranger with the shortest total time wins.

For each shooting round, the Ranger must hit five targets or receive a penalty for each missed target. (They must miss a turn for each missed shot).

So, they Ski the first part of the course, then, on reaching the first check point the shoot at prepared targets. They then head out on the next stage at intervals based on their shooting… and shoot again upon reaching the next checkpoint. During the next stage they shoot on the move without stopping before reaching the final checkpoint for the last shoot before the climb back up to the king's Mountain. 

The King proclaims the great race on!

Beardy ones line up at the starting line... to place their dwarfs!

After a first round of target shooting they're off down the slope, with barely a turn between them.

Until Mike uses some crafty dynamite to bury everybody whilst the steep slope offers some serious speed for him to grab a head start.

A slight detour over the meltwater rapids yields a hidden present.

At the bottom of the slope the first river section must be jumped... or crossed with the help of a lumberjack and handy pine tree.

Once across the first checkpoint is reached for another round of shooting.

Whilst they wait to hit the target a sabretooth tiger lopes out of the crags to see what all the noise is about. Mike's up in that cleft because he somewhat misjudged a ski jump, but at least he's the other side from the tiger!

Meanwhile, up the back, a yeti breaks cover. He's mad at being disturbed by the explosion! Too slow for those pesky skiers, he will nevertheless hang around for their return!

Father Christmas gifts some new toys whilst the mountaineer helps them to the top of the next slope and the marshal makes sure there's fair play. The sabretooths keep on coming...

For those with skates the frozen lake offers a fast route around the mountain.

Up top there are presents galore waiting. Enough to tempt the dwarfs into yeti country where the abominable snowmen are waiting.

Chris takes a fast run down the steep slope and barely manages to avoid flying striaght off the edge of the table.

Paul picks up presents galore as he takes to the rails.

Luckily they're just close enough together for his skis to slide over the rickety bridge.

Heading off on the third stage of the course past the trading post, Mike comes face to face with a lurking sabretooth and completely fails to hit it with his blunderbuss.

The race up the final slope begins. Thanks to a long run up and some good shooting I was out in front, but a lack of snowshoes left me trudging painfully slowly up the incline. Would the sabretooth and yeti hold off the others long enough?

No. Falling easily to blunderbuss fire the last obstacles were out of the way and those with snowshoes and cramp-ons made it up both the snowy rise and the icy cliffs.

A mad dash for the finish across the last stretch, a tight finish once points for shooting in the last stage were added in.

Sadly bringing up the rear dwarfy-me decided to open the present he'd carted all the way around, hoping it wasn't the snow shoes that would have given him the edge. It wasn't. A collapsible wheelbarrow would have made no difference at all. At least it gives him something to ride home it.

Thanks to Harry for hosting (and freeing up my studio of the big snowy boards!), to all the GROGgers near and far who joined in and to Jamie Loft at Old School Miniatures who got John Pickford to sculpt a full set of Alpine Dwarfs! Go get yourself some right now.

GROG in the snow

The Reign of the Lichemaster, games day 2- La Maisontaal!

 

And so, the time had come. Time to get my recreation of the 3rd ed rulebook table (built by Wayne 'the Duke' Millard) out for a big game. A confrontation between the forces of Kemler (ensconced in La Maisontaal following his success in the scenario Vengeance of the Lichemaster from the Citadel Journal) and an army from Talabecland seeking to reclaim the abbey for their patron deity.

For many months after the sack of La Maisontaal by Heinrich Kemler no word of the deed escaped to the north of the Grey Mountains. As the Lichemaster began to grow his undead hordes by raiding highland villages the rumours began to spread of a terror in the hills.

Witch Hunter Ivan Hellspring was returning from a pilgrimage into Bretonnia when he heard of the disappearance of Duke Tancred and his entourage. Tracing their likely route and finding the wrecked homesteads along the way, he eventually came to the ruins of La Maisontaal and beheld from a distance the horror squatting there. The Witch Hunter galloped rapidly to Talabheim to confer with his peers, hoping to raise an army from Talabecland that would care enough for the fate of the monastery to rid their patron god’s shrine of the necromantic heresy.

This is the army that has marched to La Maisontaal to confront Kemler in a grand battle before the abbey gates.

Deployment. A straight fight between the Empire and Undeath. All the possible extras had been negated by the outcome of the previous day's games so this was a case of army lists as written, go!

Imperial Centaurs march down the Empire right flank. Wait, exclaim the Undead generals, is that a unicorn? Why yes, it is. Nasty for Undeaders that can be...

A view from the picturesque hamlet of Smallsbury.

Battle lines drawn up, with the dead monks of La Maisontaal defending their home, the ex-Bretonnians of Duke Tancred occupying the middle ground and Kemler with his Frugelhofen campaign troops down the far end.

Who puts catapults behind the only massive trees on the table?

The dead villagers of Frugelhofen don't want no livin's in their new abode thank 'ee kindly.

Such concentration from the Empire players... Tactics or just a pretty heavy drinking session the night before?

The Estalian Inquisition, a troupe of witch hunters and a swarm of angry peasants ready to march on the abbey, pitchforks and torches in hand.

As the core of the skeletons shamble forwards  the sole artillery of the Empire line tears them to pieces.

Hand cannon and crossbows overcome their nerves to further decimate the advancing skeletons, providing extra reinforcements for a bit of necromancy later on.

Thumped by Screaming Skulls, the great cannon start to wilt. The undead knights successfully charge and rout the Imperial archers, over-running into the nearest cannon crew and ending up perilously close to the pistoliers.

Below La Maisontaal the red paladins of the Estalian Inquisition, lead by Cardinal Kum Fitcher, attempt to send the ex-monks back to their graves.

The breach is held.

Deciding to keep well away from the unicorn, Kemler and his cronies charge across the river to join the fight in the centre of the table. Ranlac the Black, riding his chariot beside the Lichemaster, has a whole bunch of his master's Magic Points enshrined within his banner.

Left without his Centaur escort, the general on his unicorn scouts for a suitable target.

And espies the dead dwarves of Gimbrin's Mine.

The fight at the abbey is fierce. Bagrian slays the cardinal but he and his unit are destroyed by the red paladins. The witch hunters advance towards the breach in the wall. The peasant mob stops two skeletal chariots in their tracks before the missile troops can be mown down.

The Krellingtons block the road out of the village.

Combat is joined in the middle of the field as Empire troops lock spears with the bony masses. 

Two fresh units of skeleton warriors and one of skeletal cavalry are summoned forth to fight again.

The angry mob storms the abbey.

The witch hunter commander slays the resident Wraith and reclaims the holy site for the Empire. Will he allow its rededication to Taal or insist on a shrine to Sigmar?

The Empire line begins to crumble as units break and flee.

Halberdiers hold the bridge, denying the left flank to the undead.

Bad light, hangovers and long trips home called an end to proceedings. La Maisontaal had been retaken, cleansed of the abomination. Kemler and his lieutenants had lost plenty of troops but lived to fight another day, fleeing once more into the wilderness. There would be some sheepish faces around the Empire camp fires that night (and a strong smell of drying urine) as explanations for cowardice were given. The an emissary would be sent out to find the reason the dwarfs had failed to give their support...

The Reign of the Lichemaster, games day 2- La Maisontaal!

The Reign of the Lichmaster, games day 1

 

Last weekend was a celebration (or commiseration) of my 40th and Mr Matthew Streety's 50th birthdays. It was also the culmination of a decade of army painting and featured a board I've wanted to make since I was 11 and which has been four months in the planning and making. A group of very excellent Oldhammerers came together for two days of playing semi-linked battles, getting all my armies onto the table.

Here's a brief rundown of what happened on day 1 along with some pretty pictures.

GAME 1- BRAINBITER

On the tip of a peninsula out in the Sea of Chaos the High Elves have built a temple to guard a fearsome Chaos blade. Unable to destroy it, they have buried it deep, surrounded it with fortifications and stand guard over it day and night. Two forces have heard the rumour of the blade. From Norsca the tribe of the Horny King have set sail to claim it for their lord. From the west the Fimir are mustering, hoping that by claiming the blade as their own they can restore their standing with the Chaos powers.

The High Elves position to defend the temple against marauders.

A thick mist rolls in as a horde of Fimir approach the temple.

Barbarians swarm in from the other flank...

...with a mammoth!

I didn't play in this game and only got fleeting glimpses of it so can't give a blow by blow account. But as I understand it the High Elves began by seeing they were vastly outnumbered and deciding to try and gain an advantage... wielding the chaos blade themselves! 

The elf lord appeared from the temple, raising the blade high, mounting his steed and taking to the sky.

Meanwhile the reavers rode out to engage the foe, breaking and rallying several times whilst harassing the flanks.

The Fimir swiftly engage the bulk of the high elf infantry. With all that mist around nobody's quite sure where the wizards are, even Paul (commanding the Fimir)!

Proving to be more than a match for even the wardancers, the Fimir make short work of the elven blocks. It's the old 25mm vs 40mm base question, and I'm not sure it got any closer to an answer here. They seem to be well worth the high price tag with multiple wounds and attacks for rank and file.

On the left flank the barbarians press back the rest of the even defenders, deciding not to pick a fight with their fragile allies until the blade is out of the elves' hands.

Ultimately the elves were decimated, but the game ended before either side could acquire their chaos blade, forcing a draw.

GAME 2- GUNS ON THE RUN

The dwarves of Karak a Kapow have pledged their fearsome armoury to the Empire emissaries riding to overthrow the Lichemaster. Unfortunately their arch-nemesis, the night goblins of the Leering Lune Cult and their neighbours the Clan of the Grinning Visage, have chosen just this moment to launch their all-out attack on the hated stunties.

This was a long but narrow board, representing a fortified dwarven valley and (hopefully) giving enough space for 5000 points of night goblins to line up whilst not making the far board edge too far for short dwarf legs to run.

Defenders prepare to meet the first wave of the goblin assault.

Boar Knights crest the hill, ready to roll up the goblin flank.

The night goblins in all their glory.

A goblin-eye-view of the enemy.

A mixture of limbered guns, ready to roll, and guns ready to fire spread through the dwarf line.

A mass of squigs charge out front. The hoppers were to destroy most of the dwarven artillery whilst amok squigs caused havoc in the lines. 

Goblins broken from missile fire turn and flee, but not before a handful of fanatics have broken out and headed for the foe. Meanwhile the chariot ploughs straight for the main gate and the wyvern drops inside the fortress from above.

Cannon pound the goblin line. The destruction of the chariot sends more units scurrying back to the mountains.

With ranks thinning on both sides the squigs continue their relentless advance.

The remnants of the defence in front of the gate. 

The dwarves valiantly defended their home, slaying the mighty wyvern and even eventually driving off the squig menace. However they had been pinned not far from their starting positions and hadn't managed to get a single gun out to support the Empire contingent.



GAME 3- FOOD FOR FOUGHT

Nobody knows better than the halflings of the Moot that an army marches on its stomach, and the one set for La Maisontaal has a lot of stomachs! The grain harvest is underway to prepare for the siege, but a host of ogres and trolls have been flushed out of the mountains by the goings-on there and are also looking for their next meal…

Ogres and trolls espy their next meal, whilst the halflings hurry to herd their livestock to safety.

Ogres rapidly single out the juiciest-looking cows, whilst the trolls chase after sheep, chickens and the hafling peasants.

Halfling villagers abandon the fields, withdrawing behind the hailstorm of slingshots from the brave militia.

Whilst most of the stones bounce off, there are casualties among the trollish ranks. Up from the rear stomps the bulk of Dowser, the faithful wartoise!

The halflings aren't going down without a fight, and the trolls start paying the price.

Dowser the wartoise tramples his way through the trollish throng, which fails regeneration checks left, right and centre.

The ogres finally catch up to the cows, but the halfling knights fight a furious hit and run battle to protect their herd.

Even beset by four huge trolls beating on his shell, Dowser holds firm. The trolls break and run for the hills.

The halflings form up into a mob for one last stand. The ogre chief pursues the mayor, figuring his pony will make a nice snack. The rest of the ogres grab a cow each and beat their retreat.

The wartoise gives chase, but its short legs can't keep up with the ogre lead.

The halflings lost several cows to the ogre band, but kept the majority of their crops and livestock (and citizens!) safe from capture. The trolls suffered a somewhat embarrassing loss of 60% of their force and came away with a pitiful haul. Just as well they're feeding much fewer mouths now!

GAME 4- FLIGHT FROM LOREN FOREST

Scouts reported the approach of a great Empire host, riding hard towards the Grey Mountains. Fearing they were about to face an Imperial crusade the orcs of the mountains have fled eastwards into Bretonnia… through Loren Forest! The elves of the forest will not tolerate such foulness in the heart of their woodland realm and have surrounded the camp in the night. No orc may be allowed to leave!

Waking up to find themselves surrounded, the orcs spread out and scatter in all directions.

Glade riders patrol with bows at the ready.

A sneaky dragon and some wardancers lurk and wait for the prey to get close enough.

Savage orc Snortas try to make a break for it...

...and run into a forest guardian.

As the army spreads out the wolfriders break clear and make their getaway. Meanwhile the black orcs sit resolutely and wait for trouble to come to them.

Despite outnumbering the wood elves 2:1 a combination of treemen, dragon and narrow escape routes dooms the orcs to never make it beyond the edge of Loren Forest again.

GAME 5- VALLEY OF DOOM

Ever since his embarrassment at the battle of La Maisontaal, Gnawdoom has sworn to have his revenge. He has spent his time gathering what forces will still follow him and plans a covert raid into the monastery from below, hoping to steal the Arca Chaotica and the Mechanical Warrior, thereby robbing Kemler of his power. As they make their way through the mountain pass towards a secret tunnel they encounter a rival force coming the other way. The Bourgeoias have also felt the draw of the Black Ark and want it for    themselves!

The skaven advance towards a secret tunnel leading below La Maisontaal.

At the far end of the valley the Slaaneshi host of the Bourgeoise is also on its way to the abbey.

As they funnel between the hills the skaven launch their attack. Warpfire Throwers, Jezzails and Poison Wind Globes make short work of the leading units of Marauders whilst a cunningly placed magical quicksand divides the force and prevents them charging. 

As a unit of clanrats swarms into the tunnel to retrieve the Arca Chaotis the screaming bell tolls out... and promptly shakes itself apart. Maybe the valley sides rebounded the sound too much? The bell collapses on top of the unfortunate slaves pulling it. The skaven artillery fares little better, wiping out more rats with explosions from their own contraptions than chaos managed all game. The storm vermin and skavenslaves push the chaos thugs back towards the quicksand, but only manage to further doom their own troops and the skavenslaves pursue into the magical bog.

The dragon ogre chases off one of the warpfire teams, whilst the beastmen attempt to run down another. Only for the shaman (who had recently discovered he was the best fighter in the unit) to charge screaming into the quicksand and perform his final disappearing trick. The skaven retrieved the Arca Chaotis and fled, leaving the chaos band stuck in the mud and licking their wounds.

THE OUTCOME

All these games would have an impact on the second day of gaming.

Since the daemon blade had not been captured by either the Fimir or barbarians it did not pass into the lineage of either an Empire or Undead champion and so was unavailable for the battle.

With the dwarves trapped in their mountain hold their artillery would also be unavailable for the Empire's use in the coming battle. At least the halflings managed to save enough food that stomachs would not be empty on the march, so no morale penalty for the state troops.

The wood elves having dealt with the orcs the border of Bretonnia was kept free from the greenskin menace. This gave the border patrols enough freedom to stop Kristoffe Erlee in his attempt to recruit vampires and raise an undead dragon, so these would not be present on the Undead side.

Lastly the skaven having reclaimed the Arc meant that Kemler's magic would be less powerful than otherwise and the dead monks of La Maisontaal would be unable to power the Mechanical Warrior. Since the Bourgeoise had failed to meet up with the Estalian Inquisition the fanatics would remain obedient to the witch hunters and not change sides mid-battle.

So... much that could have been was not and the battle began as a pretty straight fight between the forces of the Empire and Undeath. More on that next!

The Reign of the Lichmaster, games day 1