…and another battle is behind me. And what can I say… the traitors are everywhere. Lord Quiksqueek was defeated. Again.;)

…but let me start slowly from the very beginning.

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I’ve arranged the battle trough Polish Warhammer Fantasy Battle forum – Border Princes with Piotrek (he plays Orcs and Goblins). We supposed to play in the beginning of July, but due to some unexpected events we were forced to re-schedule the battle until last Thursday. The battle for 1500 points when I finally will be able to play me second freshly finished Doomwheel and try out how exactly Assassin is making out in battlefield conditions. We played in Bunkier Store, here in Warsaw, where there is nice table available with plenty of terrain pieces.

Background Story

Remember Grey Seer Quiksqueek and his miserable fate? How he have lost battle after battle after battle? He was in continuous disgrace. He could not show his face to Lords of Decay, unless he will do something big, something praiseworthy. Something worth the story that will be repeated by small ratlings in bred holes. So far, he has failed to do anything even close to famous deed. His last encounter with Ogres Warband was a disaster and he barely fled the battle intact. He supposed to find some slaves to the warp mines and instead of that – Ogres emerged. That was unexpected twist of events. Ogres are tough, Ogres are not a good miners. They are too hard to discipline and unpredictable . So Lord Quiksqueek tried to explain to himself:

It was all on purpose. I fled the battle to spare all the fuss with transporting unreliable slaves to the mine. The Council would not be happy with that situation. This is actually way better. Good-good.

Lord Quiksqueek’s mood got definitely better and got back for seek for slaves. Weak and reliable slaves – like goblins for example. Yes. Goblins would make perfect slaves. His  small reinforced army passed through Black Mountains into Border Princes. There are plenty of Greenskins bands wandering around. Easy, perfect loot for Quiksqueek. After two weeks of seeking possible target, finally Clan Eshin scouts deliver good news. Greenskins ahead! Small Goblins war band occupy the watchtower. Even better! The tower is most probably full of Goblin treasures! The most perfect of days for Lord Quiksqueek! The slaves will be for Council of Thirteen and Goblin gold for himself! He quickly remind himself warp token exchange rate for gold.  Small fortune, that what he will find in the watchtower! All was need to be done was to defeat and capture those Goblins… piece of cheese…

…..

Trrrraitors! Trrraitiors stab my back in the moment of my glory! – anger of Lord Quiksqueek was indescribable. Clan Eshin Scouts were reporting of small band of puny goblins, but when the Skaven army arrived at the watchtower, some completely different sight has been occurred… There were Greenskins, all right, but most of the not so small at all army, were big Orcs and Trolls! And only handful of Goblins! And now it was too late to withdraw.  The only chance for Quiksqueek was to take the watchtower and get rid of Orc Warboss and his band…

The Forces

Lord Quiksqueek’s Skaven Army

Grey Seer Quiksqueek

Warlock Engineer Zzapvolt (level 2)

Clan Eshin Assassin Shide the Silent

Battle Standard Bearer Raddrish The Last

25 Stormvermin with Ratling Gun

30 Clanrats with Warpfire Thrower

30 Skaven Slaves

and 2 Doomwheels

Warboss Gurokk Skullstompa’s Warband

Orc Warboss Gurokk Skullstompa

Goblin Shaman Glit The Stench

11 Trolls

30 Orc Big ‘Uns

2 units of 5 Goblin Riders

Goblin Wolf Chariots

Forest Goblin Spider Chariot (for purposes of the game it was counted as Wolf Goblin Chariot)

and one Goblin Rock Lobber

Deployment

The watchtower was in the middle of the battlefield. It was the old hideout of Orcs warband. Skaven happened to surprise the tower unprotected while Orcs were returning from one of the raids.

Skaven army was south of the tower.

Grey Seer Quiksqueek and Battle Standard Bearer have joined unit of Stormvermin (along with hidden Shide the Silent – freshly recruited Clan Eshin Assassin). Warlock Engineer has joined unit of Clanrats.

Orcs started north of the tower.

Orc Warboss Gurokk Skullstompa has joined Trolls. Bannawava Black Orc Big Boss and Goblin Shaman has joind Big Uns’.

Turn 1 (Skaven)

Skaven needed to get to the tower as soon as possible and  before Orcs. So they moved, but carefully – Stormvermin and Slaves moved to the front, but Clanrats stayed back – only Warpfire Thrower moved in the front of the unit – the crew lighten up the firestarter – just in case any approaching Trolls or Orcs decide to charge…

Meanwhile both Doomwheels rolled ahead. On the western flank – Old Mark 5. Doomwheel rolled at almost its highest possible speed (I rolled 16 for the move on 3D6!) and new Mk 7. Doomwheel on the east was just a little bit slower.

…but before all of these actions were even planned in Quiksqueek’s head – Gurokk Skullstompa ordered two small units of Wolf Riders to proceed with fast vanguard moves. They got very close to the Skaven lines.

Zzapvolt concentrated pure energy from Winds of Magic and converted it into electric charge. Bright Warp Lightning has emerged from his blade and struck two Big Uns’ killing them at sight!

Both Doomwheels were about to show power of Clan Skryre as well. First, old Doomwheel shoot the lightnings and killed one of the Wolf Riders, and new one killed 3 Wolf Riders form the eastern unit. In the same moment, barrel in Ratling Gun began to spin faster and faster – and then the crew cried: ‘Kill-Kill!’ and shoot the series of 7 shoots at western small regiment of Wolf Riders. One was hit and killed. That’s was too much for these Greenskins – they panicked  and ran away and even proximity of Warboss  didn’t help to change their mind.

Turn 1 (Orcs & Goblins)

There was the time for CHAAAAARGE!  – Gurokk Skullstompa shouted. He wanted to protect the tower and his precious loot inside. The vermin appeared out of nowhere and now they needed to exterminated.  Both chariots charged Doomwheels, but in the middle of the battle – trolls hesitated a little seeing Warpfire Thrower in the front of Skaven line, so instead of them Big Uns’ were ordered to charge the Warpfire Thrower and Clanrats. Warpfire Thrower stand and shoot, but the flame was too weak to reach running Orks.  There must have been scared of green fire burning upon the wind, because they slowed down right before the Warpfire Thrower and they failed to charge.

Meanwhile panicked Wolf Riders rallied and Trolls advanced trough the forest to face the unit of Stormvermin. Second, eastern unit of Goblin  Wolf Riders ran around the watchtower and flanked the Clanrats.

Goblin Shaman casted two spells: first was Gork’ll Fix It on Stormvermin. The second one were Curse of Da Bad Moon  causing magical vortex travelling trough the middle of Clanrats. Lucky for Skaven the not many of them were sucked in into the warp – only 4 Clanrats and Warpfire Thrower died.

Rock Lobber thrown big large rock on the back of Stormvermin unit. The accuracy of Goblin crew was not perfect,  so the rock scattered and killed only one Stormvermin, but managed to hit Ratling Gun. The gun crew was smashed and what’s was left was the wet bloody puddle.

Western Doomwheel was impacted by charged Chariot, and was broken from combat. Fortunately The Chariot was to slow to catch fled machine. On the eastern flank it was similar situation, but with one significant difference – Doomwheel controller hold his nerve and he didn’t fled the combat. He is going to bite back soon…

Turn 2 (Skaven)

Tower was close. And the treasures inside seemed to be even closer. Lord Quiksqueek was sure – it all will be his soon…

So, therefore Slaves were forced to attack Wolf Riders, and Stormvermin charged Trolls. There was no other option here – if Trolls were not attack by Skaven, they will charge soon enough. And charge of Trolls could do too dangerous. S o first option felt like better choice. After all Stormvermin are the best, and they have aid of hidden Clan Eshin agent…

At the same time Zzapvolt and The Clanrats ran quickly into the tower. The treasures there needed to wait for a while, first Skaven guarded all the entrances and prepared themselves for any incursions. Orcs were near…

Old Doomwheel rallied and soon it will release another portion of Clan Skryre famous electric power!

Winds of Magic were not generous – they provide not too much power- it was sufficient enough to cast Bless with Filth (making Stormvermin halberds poisonous) and to try to cast Skitterleap. Gobin Shaman dispelled this one. Too bad for the Skaven army and Quiksqueek. Skitterleap was meant to teleport him to better ans more secure location. Anything would be better than those hideous Trolls ahead.

Doomwheels’ lightnings were cumulating, but suddenly in both power generators something unexpected and wrong happened! Both malfunctioned!.  In first – old Mark 5 model – all the electric charged were directed into the wheel’s warp generators. The mechanism was powered with true burst of speed! In second Doomwheel also went something bad with the charge, but in its case – it caused some damage to the machine but thankfully nothing disastrous.

Maybe the lightnings of eastern Mark 7 Doomwheel were not released, but the rats and and Warlock Engineer inside managed to kill some chariot Goblin crew and they forced them to retreat. Pursue was not fruitful. Apparently the malfunction was worse than it looked at first sight – Doomhweel slowly rolled after definitely faster chariot…

The most important events were about to occur in the middle of the battle, where brave Stormvermin attacked Trolls. Quiksqueek was about face Warboss Gurokk Skullstompa.  One of Stormvermin dropped his clothes and armour and took out hiss hidden green glowing blade.

‘Clan Eshin kill!’

It was Shide the Silent, Assassin, whose Weeping Blades were the best weapon against hose bulky Trolls. Unfortunately the spell of Gork’ll Fix It was still upon all unit of Stormvermin and Shide was also struck by this curse (you have to re-roll ll 6s, both in to hit and to wound rolls), and he  managed to kill only one Troll. He laughed diabolicly, proud of himself…but all of the sudden the mortal wounds he inflicted began to heal and Troll almost instantly were standing back on his feet. He regenerated his wounds! Shide’s laugh died immediately…

Rest of Stormvermin managed to  kill only one Troll. In return Trolls killed Raddrish The Last (Battle Standard Bearer), over confident Shide The Silent and one Stormvermin.  In spite all the losses, Skaven won the combat (thank to the banner and the slowly rhythmical drum of regiment’s musician). Golden Crown of Command on Gurokk’s head shined brightly – this magical item were increase his willpower and all Trolls thanks to his influence became too stubborn to even think to flee the combat.

Nearby Slaves forced to flee unit of Wolf Riders and instead of pursuing them, they turn into direction of Trolls.

Turn 2 (Orcs & Goblins)

Gurokk Skullstompa was furious! Rats in front, rats in the flank  and rats in his tower! That was enough! All of this is ending right now!

Big Uns’ Orcs charged into the tower. The entrances to the tower allowed only to ten Orcs fight against ten Clanrats.

Chariot on the eastern side fled the battle, and one on the western side charged the Doomwheel again.

Goblin Shaman repeated his magic tricks – first he casted Girk’ll Fix It on Clanrats and released The Curse of Da Bad Moon again. Both spells were failed to dispel by Lord Quiksqueek. It was not only Curse of the Bad Moon but also feel like Horned Rat abandoned Quiksqueek! Magical vortex passed trough the tower over the Stormvermin. 7 of these elite warriors were sucked in!

Rock Lobber misfired and the throwing mechanism jammed for some time. At least here the threat was stopped for now.

The east side: old mark 5. Doomwheel was charged by chariot and he lost the combat, but again (!) he fled them and stopped near to the edge of the battlefield.

Big Uns’ were storming the tower. They killed 8 of defenders and Clanrats killed back only two of big Orcs. Skaven comparing to Orcs are small and weak, so this fight was very uneven. But Zzapvolt hidden in the remaining Skaven warriors shouted: Rats! Steadfast! and surprisingly Clanrats listen and stand firm. Orcs were pushed back. Hurray!

But the most important part of the battle was here. Trolls against Stormvermin. Because of Curse of Da Bad Moon the regiment of Stormvermin were partially wiped out. There was very little chance they will stand against Trolls for a long time.  Gurokk Skullstompa  called for challenge – and brave Fangleader stepped forward. The fight was fierce – and Fangleader survived,  protected by the Horned Rat himself. Skaven God saved him from certain dead (Orc Warboss hit twice and rolled two 1s to wound!). But the grim laugh of Vermin Lord echoed over the battlefield. The Fangleader was saved, but not for long. Trolls killed 3 Stormvermin and that was enough to force all regiment to flee! Trolls with ease caught them. All was lost! Quiksqueek barely escaped death but it was nothing left!

Clanrats hidden in the watchtower were shaken from fear. There was very little chance to hold their position, but if they could make it until the sun goes down. Nobody knows what might happen then…

Turn 3 (Skaven)

East: Doomwheel is wheeling to the middle, and on the west, old Doomwheel rallied.

Meanwhile Slaves made their decision. They didn’t want to go back to the mines! They preferred to die here, right now with quick death. It still better than work in warp mines. So they charged Trolls. Wise or stupid? Who cares… they just only slaves…

Rallied Old Doomwheel released two lightnings and destroyed pursuing Spider Chariot, and during release of the third charge – something went wrong and Warlock Engineer lost control of the steer.

Doomwheel turned into the middle, near to the trolls.

New Doomwheel, on the east, also malfunctioned, but this time all the electric power overcharged the generator and destroyed the machine.

Slaves of course were massacred in the combat by Trolls, and remains were pursued and caught. Nice, quick death. Blessing for Skaven Slaves…

…and the rats in the tower were preparing for another attack of the Big Uns’.

Turn 3 (Orcs & Goblins)

And the attack took place soon enough! Orcs charged the tower one more time! At the same time Trolls faced direction to the tower.

The combat was one sided – 7 Clanrats died. And only few were to scared to protect the loot inside. Even Zzapvolt decided it’s better to retreat… The battle for watchtower was lost.

Lord Quiksqueek was defeated, but he was not resigned with his fate. We will lick his wound and will be back soon to revenge. Meanwhile he need to make up some story to tell to Lords of Decay. His seek for their glory was not looking good…

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After battle notes:

• well, I realize my army is not specially competitive. Way too small regiments of Slaves and Clanrats to even stand and fight against Trolls or Orcs (tough bastards!), but still I have so much fun, despite the defeat.
• Doomwheels are fun! I have third one – it need assemble and paint it. I’ll do this and make the game even more awesome:)
• Assassins could make lots of damage. My rolls were not good though, and this Troll regeneration is annoying. I will give Shide The Silent more chances though.
• My rolls were statistical all right during whole battle, but I had no luck in two very important moments:  dispelling  (twice!) Curse of Da Bad Moon which killed 10 Stormvermin and Ratling Gun! Damn! I don’t have so much luck with magic in my last four battles. It has to change – spells supposed to be my greatest advantage.
• I should operate Doomwheels more efficiently. In this battle they have been stuck with those annoying chariots. Next time – I need better planning for them.
• I would love to change my army list, but still I don’t have enough painted miniatures to make any significant change – slowly I’d be able to rebuild my army, and I’ll  push the plot in different direction. For the time being, Grey Seer Quiksqueek will be raised form the dead again and his struggle to please The Council of Thirteen will go on:).

Plans: I already arranged the re-match with Piotrek and his Orcs and Goblins for September, but this time his army will include more Goblins. So maybe this time I’ll manage to win the battle and deliver new slaves to the mines? Hopefully:). And meantime on my workbench: Blood Angels Terminators, Infinity Reverend Custodier and Screaming Bell. And beside that I’ve started to arrange my collection in order to choose some part of it to take to my next big trip (Australia, New Zealand and Asia) – and with this – there’s plenty of work…ufff..