However, given the somewhat fluid nature of our gaming I decide that rather than write the whole campaign up and then play it, I'd play a game, then pick the next scenario from one of these sources based on what happened in the game. The result, hopefully will be a narrative approach to playing some games and one that will hopefully throw up some characters and encourage us to paint up some new units. I knew that the two key armies would be Vampires and Empire, and that means that I can swap and change sides as the scenario (or protagonists) demand, adding Ogres or Dwarfs to the Empire side or using the Daemons or Orcs to bolster the Vampires.
Anyway, with all that preamble I scoured the book for a starting scenario and settled on Plunder and Pillage as a starting point, with the Vampires starting by raiding a sleepy Imperial settlement.
Here's the map set-up (created using the excellent Battle Chronicler free software):
(The thing in the top right is actually a mysterious forest, not a mysterious Swamp)
Here then are the briefings for the two forces:
Empire Briefing
You are Petre von Gausser, noble son of Nordland, unjustly banished to this grim southern corner of the Province in disgrace. (She said she was 13 and she looked at least 14. Bloody lying halflings).
Your only hope is to redeem your reputation by martial might, but here in this quiet backwater the chances of that happening look slim.
Or so it seemed.
Recently nearby settlements have come under attack, inhabitants slaughtered, the houses plundered and burned to the ground. The local yeomen are in fear, they speak of mysterious sounds and sights after dark, of unquiet graves, of a menace stirring deep in the nearby Hakenholz Forest. Obviously they are delusional dim-witted yokels, but there might be the chance for a bit of action, followed by a cushy posting back somewhere civilised.
Tonight, however all seems still and you are on the point of retiring to your room with a bottle of Bretonnian Red Wine and some Specialist Woodcuts, when you hear a commotion in the courtyard below. The pistolier patrol has returned in great haste and their sergeant is calling out in fear. “The dead are coming!!”
The battle begins as the shambling forces of the undead hove into view.
You have lit the warning beacon atop the tower and unleashed the emergency carrier pigeon to the nearby town of Ingwerstadt. Now you must do your best to hold up the forces of undeath and protect the nearby houses whilst you pray to Sigmar for reinforcements.
Your Forces
Petre von Gausser - Empire General on foot with Sword of Justice, Shield and Handgun
Von Gausser Guard - 29 Empire Halberds, full command
Sons of Nordland - 5 Pistoliers
Old Fusty – Mortar
You may deploy these anywhere within 6” of the Tower
You have sent for reinforcements, you have no idea how long they will take to arrive, or what they may turn out to be.
The Vampires have the first turn.
Objective
Stop the undead ransacking and burning the nearby buildings. There are five buildings in total to protect, not including your watchtower. Obviously getting the watchtower ransacked, or burned would look very bad on your CV.
Vampire Briefing
You are Markus Von Sternik, scion of the mighty Vampire Lord Olaf von Sternik. Many years ago your Lords physical body was shattered by the Elector Count of Nordland and his minions scattered deep into the Hakenholz forest, his power forever vanquished. Or so the overweening Empire General thought.
Over the years you have bided your time and quietly re-built your strength and forces. Now at last the time seems right to strike back at the hated Nordlanders. To start with you must sow fear amongst the ignorant human cattle that have settled the fringes of the Hakenholz. In time they will learn to pay you tribute, and feed you with their blood, but for now you must terrorise them and take what you need to build your army. You have already destroyed several small settlements, snatched the few things of value they possessed and bled the corpses dry. Tonight seemed to be about to take a similar course, but it appears that there are troops in the area and they are foolish enough to offer fight.
Small matter, it will be good practice for the hordes at your command...
The battle begins as your forces prepare to fall on the unsuspecting settlement. In the distance you can see a small Empire force gathered about their watchtower
Your Forces
You may pick an army of up to 1600 points.
This follows the usual restrictions, except you may not take any Lord level characters (Markus is still not at his full powers) and you may spend no more than 150pts on magic items.
Your forces will deploy no more than 12” from the east table edge.
You have the first turn
Objective
Ransack and then burn the five buildings on the battlefield. Each building may contain things of value, so you should always try and ransack it before applying flame.
If you can destroy the Watchtower that would be excellent, but it is not the primary mission.
There are enemy troops in the area, destroy them if you can, but avoid a prolonged fight, the time to destroy them all will come...
Other Rules
Ransacking and Burning.
A building may be ransacked by any core foot unit that spends a complete turn, unopposed in a building.
A building may be burned by any unit that spends a turn unopposed in base contact with the building. At the end of the turn roll a D6, on a 3+ it catches fire, on a 1 or a 2 a clumsy undead incident has taken place and the fire hasn't caught. Try again next turn, adding 1 to the dice.
Troops that can re-generate may not attempt to burn buildings (though they may still ransack).
Empire Reinforcements
From the first turn you can dice for reinforcements.
I kept the details of these from the Empire player until they arrived. There were three forces in total each of which had to be diced for. On turn one each force would arrive ona 5+, on turn two on a 3+ and automatically on turn three. They would all start from the Empire board edge to the west.
The forces were
Lvl 2 Empire Wizard (randomly determine his lore and spells when he arrives)
10 Handgunners, full command
8 Knights, full command, standard of steel
Warrior Priest, Crimson Amulet
10 Crossbows, full command
50 Spearmen, full command
Ogre allies
7 Ogres, Full command
Bruiser
3 leadbelchers
Game Length
The game will last 8 turns.
Victory Conditions
Each building ransacked is worth one point. Each building burned is worth one point. If the Vampires score 5 points, it's a draw, if they score 6 they win. Anything else is victory to the Empire.
So that's the set-up.
Tomorrow I'll post how it went.
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