Despite having played Warhammer on and off for over 40 years my actual grasp on the rules is not all that strong. Usually I rely on my opponent (if I'm playing Stephen) or copious flicking back and forth through the rules (if I'm playing Kenton). I decided that with Stephen isolated on the Island of Men it was probably about time I got a better handle on things. In part this was inspired by the arrival of Battle March which I decided would mean I could play some small solo games of an evening during which I'd learn the rules a bit better. This plan was slightly thwarted by Battle March being mostly sold out everywhere. However Settra's Fury - which contains an earlier version of the Battle March rules was still available, so I got a copy of that from Element games.
Battle March, for the uninitiated is for small 500-750 point games of Warhammer on a smaller table - a slightly odd 30"x44". There are a few restrictions/tweaks to army selection and (at least in Settra's Fury) two scenarios and three different deployments giving a total of six basic scenarios.
I decided for this first game to go with 500 points a side of Empire and Orcs. And then after trying to put two armies together immediately put it up to 600 points. No spell casters in this game and the only magic item was a shield for my Empire General, just to use up some spare points.
The armies converge (new river pressed into service to mark the edge of the battlefield)
The Orcs had three units of boys, one with additional hand weapons, one with warbows and one with board and sword. They also had some boarboys. They were led by a Warboss and had a Big Boss BSB.
The Empire took a unit of pistoliers, some handgunners a big block of spearmen and a unit of White Wolves. They were led by a captain on Warhorse and had a BSB on foot.
The Orcs ordered a general advance and at the end of their turn had control of three objectives, netting them 30 victory points. The warbows also managed to pick off a couple of handgunners.
On the Empires turn the White Wolves launched a charge at the Orcs.
The Pistoliers meanwhile failed their Impetuous test and launched themselves at the Orcs with additional hand weapons.
They paid dearly for their imprudence and were hacked down.
On the far side of the battlefield the Empire general somewhat rashly issued a challenge.
Both sides swung at each other to no effect.
The White Wolves beat the Orcs who Fell Back in Good Order and turned to fight the knights once more.
In the Orc turn the boarboys launched themselves at the handgunners. Despite taking a casualty on their way in they crashed home.
This went as expected and the Furtwang "Bluebells" were hacked to pieces.
The malevolent pig jockeys turned their attentions toward the Wissenlanders.
Who were suddenly in considerable danger.
Back at the Knights, the General realised he'd been lucky to get away with fighting the warboss and, when the inevitable challenge war roared, pushed his champion in the way.
He was duly hacked down but the rampaging knights pummelled several Orcs to death.
However the end result was a dead draw and both sides remained locked in place.
In the Empire turn the Wissenlanders were left with little choice but to face the boarboys.
The Orcs, sharpened their choppers and prepared to drive home.
With no champion left the General was forced to once again face his hulking green opponent.
The challenge ended in a draw, with both sides taking a wound - the warhorse kicking the Orc Warboss in the head after the General had whiffed his attacks!
However in the rest of the fight, the knights,were cut down to a man before they could swing.
The General duly turned tail and ran.
In the Orc turn the boarboys did what boarboys are meant to do and charged.
The Wissenlanders were forced to fall back in good order.
The Empire turn saw the boar v spear fight end in a dead draw, shorn of their charging bonuses the Orcs were not as potent and ranks and flags evened the odds.
However it was but delaying the inevitable. A fierce rear charge by the Warboss and his boys sealed the fate of the Empire spearmen and victory belonged to the Orcs!
That was surprisingly good fun. And very useful in me learning a few of the core and special rules a bit better.
I think in the next game I'll try tooling up the characters a bit - it's extra things to remember but they're a real difference maker in combats.
Think I'll save spellcasters for a future game though - slow and steady for now.
