 |
Newsletter September 2001 |
|
|
Newsletter September 2001 |
|
Next meeting:
Saturday September 8th 2001, at St. Johns Church Hall, Norrie St., Drury, starting at 9a.m.
Games arranged:
Morning session: 9.30 am to 1.00pm
| Graeme & Marcel vs Carson | WH40K | 1000 points |
| Paul vs Daniel | WH40K | 1500 points |
| Andrew (Village) vs Peter (Trade Route) | WHFB | Campaign (Road) |
| Glenn (Silver Mine) vs Allan (Trade Route) | WHFB | WFB Campaign (Sacred Grove) |
| Antony (Village) vs Damien (Workshop) | WHFB | WFB Campaign (Shrine) |
Afternoon session: 1.30pm to 5.00pm
| Graeme vs Marcel vs Carson vs Paul vs Daniel | WH40K | 500 points each |
| Glenn vs Antony | WHFB | Campaign |
| Allan vs Peter | WHFB | Campaign |
| Damien vs Andrew | WHFB | Campaign |
| Noel Tobin v Ken Snow | Rapidfire | 1000 points |
Copy for the news letter needs to be to me by week before we meet .- Kevin
The following is a contribution from sub-editor Peter Colson, and the opinions expressed are not necessarily that of other members of the South Auckland Miniature Wargames Club, although undoubtedly they are the RIGHT opinions to have, and he has kindly deemed you all worthy to know and hence share this wonderful and enlightened opinion.
| Okay, no rumours this month. Just a few words from your humble sub-Ed. |
| First off, BATTLE REPORTS DAMNIT! Write them, or there will be hell to pay |
| Next, quick mention of Inquisitor. |
| THANKS to you lot that patiently entered a game of Inquisitor. I am sketchy on the rules, and everyone else knew none at all. I think we got the basics down a bit, and learned just how powerful Marine characters are. I’ve got a few scenarios prepared, and shall again try them out, this time fewer players per game, and specific objectives, and possibly a campaign to start on… |
| I promise, I’ve tweaked it a little, and think it’ll be more interesting this time. |
| Anyone that wants a go, just tell me on the day, I’ll have all the stuff ready, just bring yer butts along and try it out |
| Thirdly, a Warhammer Fantasy Tournament… |
| I’m wanting to run a tournament this December club meeting, with prize money up for grabs |
| But first, I want some indication on who will want to take part, so I can figure out which will work best for the tourney. Show your interest, I’ll appreciate it greatly. |
| Now, the Dark Utopia Campaign… |
| Firstly, some slight alterations |
| After seeing that multiple villages are USELESS, and everyone was staking them, we have determined that having 2 villages allows an additional Special unit. |
| I’ve actually developed this further. |
| If you have any number of villages, you are allowed Unit Champions. Also, you can allocate some of your villages to further bonuses. 2 villages may be allocated to give you another ‘Special’ unit (non war-machine of course), and 3 villages may be allocated to give you another ‘Rare’ unit (non war-machine). However, each of your villages may only be allocated to one thing each game. So, if you had four villages, you could allocate 2 to a Special unit, and the other 2 to another Special unit, OR you could allocate 3 to a Rare unit, and the last village cannot be allocated to anything (you need 2 previously un-allocated villages to allocate to giving you another special unit) |
| Also, I’ve altered the terrain generator table to make the chance of getting a village one less, and Workshops one more |
| The other change is for units gaining ‘Elite’ bonuses. |
| Already, if you capture a standard, you get the bonus. |
| Additionally, I think it would be good if a unit breaks/destroys a unit rarer than it (Core breaks Special or Rare, or Special breaks a Rare unit) that had a Unit Strength equal or greater than its own when it became engaged in combat. |
| Hope you like this, I think it seems fair, especially since some units now are not allowed standards (making beating flagellants absolutely worthless were it not for adding in the rule I just wrote above) |
A Dark Utopia
A Warhammer Fantasy Campaign
| In the year 2501 of the Imperial Calendar, a discovery was made that should never have known the light of day. Dark promise and tainted hope gave rise to mighty empires, and crushed them utterly in the blinking of an eye. The pages of history never turn to this damned chapter, and the few that know of it will not speak of it… well, those with a mind unblighted. |
| In the southern stretch of the Old World, three mighty mountain ranges meet. The Grey Mountains, running north to mark bounds between Empire and Brettonia, the Black mountains running east to west from the Worlds Edge Mountains to the Grey, marking the southern reaches of the Empire and the beginning of the Border Princes, and the Vaults tracing between the south of Brettonia and Athel Loren, and the north of Tilea and Estalia. These three vast mountain chains, indomitable and eternal as time itself, meet in the centre of three lands borders, Empire, Loren, and the Border Princes. Where this wall of mountains meet, there is a vast valley, with many great ravines dug deep into the rock, as if the very hand of the Creator gouged out a gash in the land. |
| A gash, indeed, a festerous wound, for there is unspeakable evil within. Greater than the lust of Chaos, greater than the vanity of Undeath, greater than the malice of Druchii, greater even than the corruption in every human heart, there is an evil in this land that simply should not be. |
| Birds instinctively avoid flight above the peaks of the valley, mountain cats walk miles out of their way, and even the mighty and noble dragons of the Chasm Glades will not tread this land if avoidable. |
| For millennia after millennia, no man had ever set foot in this cursed paradise. No Dwarf ever set pick to stone to create stronghold. No elven towers rise from the rock. No tunnels of the warp-vermin, Skaven, are dug. Greenskins have not befouled the land, and even Daemons have never summoned strength to brave the troubled vale in all the history of the world. |
| It was an untouched soils the boots of the first intrepid explorers crushed under-heel unwittingly. |
| No-one knows who first found this land, but brigands and frontiersmen from the Empire, Brettonia, and the Border Princes started speaking in hushed tones of a promised land ripe for plunder, ready to be raped by whatever Lord will lay claim |
| It quickly grew to become local legend, and authorities and powerful factions from neighbouring nations started to lend weight to such claims of a new land previously unknown. |
| Eight sought to gain power through this land. Eight walked blindly to their doom through the Passes Eight, to confront themselves, their opponents, and the unspeakable evil of time untouched. |
| Eight passed between the dread Monoliths, with archaic writing in a forgotten tongue, proclaiming TERRIBILIS EST LOCUS ISTE! |
| Who will return? |
| Eight armies marched upon the field. The fair High Elves, under banners resplendent in golden sunbursts and stylistic waves, spear tips gleaming, helmets shining, marching stalwartly to war. |
| Two vast hordes of shambling undead stumble through the crevices of the dark Vale, unintelligible moans filling the air, crows and carrion birds picking away at the decomposing flesh of the ghastly soldiers. |
| Two opposing armies of lizardmen, totems held high, the chittering of the Shamans drowned out by the bestial roars of the beasts of burden and other immense reptiles, march to war to accommodate the grand designs of their ancient masters. |
| Under cover of darkness, the sadistic children of Khaine stalk. The cruel Druchii, under the command of Lord Maraka’lith Onyx-blade, seem particularly intent on the land, and revel in its taint. |
| A sea of green-skinned bodies floods the Vale, malevolence and brutality a burning desire in each and every heart. |
| And the stalwart soldiers of the Empire exert their military force, rank upon rank of frontiersman marching to the beat of the drums of war. |
| Already in the earliest outset, prominent figures have emerged, the dangerous men have been singled out, and reputations are building. The fore-runners, those who would be conquerors are known. The fanatical zeal of the prophetic Lizardmen has shown itself, the reptilian leader of this enigmatic race, who Imperial Records name only ‘The Beast’, beating down opposition with strength of muscle and weight of numbers. |
| The green-skin warlord Khan Snot Thrower has made a number of daring attacks where military presence is unable to react quickly, and is slowly building his forces in an effort to claim this valley as his own. |
| The insidious blood-leach, the vampire, as yet to be named, suffers competition poorly, and has already turned aside the army of the other vampire in the Vale, there is room enough for one immortal alone. |
| And through the use of crushing and brutal tactics and confounding strategies, the Imperial Lord Karlson Leitdorf is becoming a man equally marked and feared by the other factions warring for this tainted land. |
| A storm is brewing in clear skies, it only remains to see where the first drop will fall. |
Battle Reports
First off, before we start the battle reports, it’s time to grumble. WE NEED MORE BATTLE REPORTS! You lot have got off pretty easy thus far, it’s time to get hard-line, you WILL be writing battle reports, or you won’t be playing. Empty threat, but you get the idea.Those of you in the fantasy campaign, next month onward I (Peter) will be enforcing the History Is Written By The Victors rule, whereas if you win your game, but DON’T write a battle report, you don’t get any new territory, and your opponent will get the new territory if he writes the battle report.
Your battle reports do not need to be long, in fact it would be a big help if they’re kept short, concise, and to the point. Write it as a story, write it as a first-hand account from your leader, write from your point of view (players point of view), use it to abuse the inadequacies of your opponent, WHATEVER! Just write them.
Thanks
-Peter
Damien (Vampire Counts) beat Wade (Dark Elves)
Out of the 7 units Wade had in his almighty Dark Elf host, he only left with 2 at the end. Only the Dark Elf left flank holding against the massed onslaught of the Undead forces (20+ repeater crossbow shots are NASTY). Wades Workshop territory was also taken by the Vampire Counts forceDamien (Vampire Counts) beat Glenn (Vampire Counts)
BWAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAA!!!
(Translation)- My Vampire Counts completely stomped the other Vampire Counts army by the 5th turn. Also forgot to use my spiffy little Victorious General ability
Peter (Empire) beat Anthony (Lizardmen)
(Extract from Ye Personal Diaries of Lord Karlson Leitdorf)-
Illuster Zehnte, 2509.
Victory.
On our third day in this accursed Vale we found the invaders my scouts and outriders had advised me about.
Battle was met on the fields near the river Wein, an area that will be used extensively as a trade route.
Sound tactics and stout defence won the day for my kinsmen and I, my master Del taught me well, and I utilised the strategies he tutored me in to excellent effect. Our adversaries were lost before we ever gripped sword-hilts, truly.
The pathetic oaf leading that bestial rabble doesn’t know his arse from a hole in the ground… well, they occupy the same place now, shallow grave, a-ha. My humour is most dry, oh yes.
Fully 100 of those hulking beasts lined up against us, and my brave men systematically destroyed them without recourse. Concentration of force, my old tutor drilled into me, and thus I did in kind and my men drilled bullets and bolts into those reptilian curs. My only regret is the loss of five of our esteemed Knights of the Imperial Order of Averland to the behemoths the reptiles brought with them. I shall have to find a way to counter those massive axes before we next cross swords.
One quarter of the lizards fell to blackpowder and bowstring, another quarter to heavy shelling, and the rest were accounted for when they finally reached our battle-lines and found that steel courses through the veins of our menfolk. They didn’t live to make that mistake again.
News of our great and valiant victory has spread amongst my settler train, a village is to be placed here in honour of this great victory, Eisenburg, ‘the iron land’. And the devotion and wonder I see in the eyes of the lads here, I do not doubt the ranks of the soldiery will be swelling in short order. Already there is heavy order going back to my estate foundries for steel cuirasses and deulling pistols. The nobles wish to play.
Peter Colson (Empire) beat Wade (Dark Elves)
"How do you separate Elf men from boys?"
"I don’t know, how?" someone chuckled drunkenly
"With a crowbar!"
The punchline was met with raucous laughter from those gathered around the fire.
Soldiers everywhere singing off-key and laughing at crude jokes, swilling from brandy-jugs as they warmed their hands around the cook-fires in the encampment.
Another victory. Their second in four days, the men were jubilant, celebrating the fact that they were still among the living.
A little way off, on a raised hill, stood the Commanders Pavilion.
In here the men gathered were of high office, and the mood all business.
The men out by their fires were celebrating their still being alive. The men in this tent were working hard to keep them that way.
"We need a way to neutralise those damned crossbowmen, I won’t have my men mad into pin-cushions whilst they can yet fight. Damocles, are your men opposed to cleaning up the shooters next time?"
Damocles, a Grand Master of the Knights of the Imperial Order of Averland, stood well into 7-foot tall, with a slight frame, white hair, and ropey old muscles. He somehow managed to merge dignity with the appearance of a tough, grizzled veteran.
"The veterans in the Order will keep tight reign of the younger hot-heads, m’Lord Leitdorf"
"Excellent" Karlson Leitdorf replied. "Those beast-riders may pose a problem to the infantry, although I’m sure we can all account for the fact that when they were hit hard and fast they scattered like straw in the wind. Lars, I hope you aren’t averse to chasing down enemy cavalry? Your wolves have already proven themselves worthy, and they more than likely have quite a reputation after eliminating half of the ruling class of that little elven incursion. I’ll need you to do that again next we meet those lithe scum. Daeric, your crossbowmen might do best if held back next time, at least until those elf shooters are dealt to, I don’t want a repeat of todays culling. Infantry commanders, I want you all to familiarise yourselves with those dragon-cloaked bastards you came up against today, find a way to deal with them, they were carving you up and no mistake. Hmmmmmm, I might have to bring along my personal guard to take care of those pale-skinned devils next time. Yes. Yes that should be it. Return to your tents, men. Tomorrow we go hunting"
Leitdorf flashed a truly malevolent grin as his seconds turned and left the tent. It was almost too easy.
Kevin (French) Beat Arthur (German)
As the Germans surrged forward The French commander looked down his battle line and thought "HELP". He had never seen such a motely crew of misbegotten misfits. firing at extreme range the german tanks blew up several tanks causing one unit to flee entirely. The French commander ordered his men forward to better cefensive positions. But as his men where running for cover a new assualt force of Panzer III's and motorcycle infantry swept round his left flank, threatening not only his mortar battalion, but the whole army if not stopped. What could do this? What could save them now ? The only thing standing in the way was a company of Hotchkiss H35's !!! The French comander began to contemplate a life in a POW camp. The Panzer's charged the H35's and got so close they could see the french crew through the vision slits before they fired. BOOM. When the smoke cleared there stood 3 H35's 2 smoking Panzer III's and a third runnign for the hills, The french commander stood a little stunned by this. But the infantry where still closing. It was at this moment that the artillery decided that hitting fast moving targets was not that hard. There ended the proud German Infantry Battalion. Things just went down hill for the Germans from there.
This newsletter is edited by Kevin Carberry so anything you would like included in the newsletter should be sent to me at 48 Beaumonts way, Manurewa, South Auckland. Phone 2670319, kevin@profax.co.nz
Robert "Dictator" Davies is the Club President so any queries, problems, issues or suggestions about the club should go to him at 14 Grebe Street, Manurewa. Phone 2670899.