South  Auckland Miniatures Wargames Club

Newsletter - April 2004

Next meeting:

Saturday May 8th 2004, at St. Johns Church Hall, Norrie St., Drury, starting at 9a.m.

Games arranged:  

Morning session:

1 Kevin v Jason WAB   2000 pts
2 Arthur v Glen T WHFB 2000 pts
3 Barry v Anthony WHFB 2000 pts
4 Wade v Damien WHFB 2000 pts
5 Dan B v Pete WHFB 2000 pts
6 Paul v John WHFB 2000 pts
7 Free for others

Afternoon session:

1 Arthur v Damien WHFB 2000 pts
2 Glen T v Pete WHFB 2000 pts
3 Mark v Garth WHFB 2000 pts
4 John v Wade WHFB 2000 pts
5 Kevin v Jason LOTR
6 Barry v Paul WHFB 2000 pts
7 Dan B v Anthony WHFB 2000 pts

Copy for the Newsletter

Copy for the news letter needs to be to me by week before we meet .- Kevin

 

Pete's Bitz

Rightio, so what's up in the wide wonderful world of Wargaming?
Online Forums
Okay, still haven't got word from Kevin yet (I'll bug him at club)(who here has a death wish - KC), so until such time feel free to go to http://www.nzrealm.com/whfb/
It's a forum Paul set up to cover my Fantasy Campaign, since then it's branched off to become a more general, sociable wargaming forum populated by a few nutters from our club.
Pete's Fantasy Campaign 'The Brorvarld Campaign'
It's set to become interesting, but Storm of Chaos is just that much MORE interesting, so I'm putting my campaign on hold until September. This allows us to get our preparations for Storm of Chaos in.
Storm of Chaos
This is set to become rather a struggle for all concerned. There are various rumours floating around the net from information gleaned from Games Days and seminars and so on, but from what I gather, playing with one of the Storm of Chaos lists (Middenlanders, Seafarers, von Carsteins, Be'Lakor's Daemon Host...) will mean your victories are more worthwhile and contribute more to the campaign. Also, games played in Games Workshop stores will apparently be worth more than games played at home or games clubs, as the staff can verify the game happened, and that cheating wasn't involved, and whoever won DID win (it's easier to cheat at home)
Also, does anyone have anything special for Storm of Chaos in mind, to do at Games Club? We don't have THAT much time to prepare.
Club Emblem and Banner
I just ask that SOMEBODY show some interest in this.
I'd like to see the club have an Emblem, a nice simple design to symbolize our club and what it does. It would be good to put on club newsletters/forums, flyers to advertise the club, could be printed onto shirts to be worn by Club members taking part in tournaments, etc.
I'm partial to the design of a sword through a dice. If you have any ideas, tell me, or someone else who will tell me. There are no ideas too stupid to suggest.
Likewise a club motto would be good. My personal favourite is the quote of Julius Caesar as he began is conquests, a latin phrase of three short words that translates to 'the die is cast' (i.e. thrown the dice and taken a chance).
I'll track it down some time. If anyone else has a short motto to add, again, tell me. I'll detail all thoughts in the newsletter.
Again, an informal nickname for the club could be useful, as the South Auckland Miniature Wargames Club (our institutional name) is a bit of a mouthful. A while ago I suggested the Templars, considering we play in a church hall. If anyone else has any suggestions, I'd like to hear them.
My opinions and suggestions are only that, personal opinions and suggestions reflecting MY taste, and not to be considered that of the Club as a whole, that's why I want some suggestions from a lot of people, and then for us to have a bit of a vote on this.
Hopefully we can get it sorted before the Fields of Blood tournament (likely to happen around September), as it's unlikely to have been sorted by NIcon.
Once those small details have been sorted, Club Banners can be made for gaming events.
The Points Ladder
Again I must state, if I have missed something on this, you haven't notified me of it. Do so.
Contributions to the Club Newsletter will be marked down in the following months' Points Ladder from this point on.
The way the Ladder works is as such:
Each Arranged Game played - 5 points
Winning and Arranged Game - 5 points
Drawing an Arranged Game - 3 points
Writing a Battle Report for the Newsletter - 15 points
Making a Newsletter Submission - 10 points
Absence from your Arranged Games without contacting your opponent or a club official - 30 points deduction from your current score
And this months tally on the Points Ladder:
Damien - 97
Barry - 80
Peter - 80
Anthony - 56
Arthur - 50
Jason - 50
Kevin - 46
Wade - 41
Paul - 40
Glen O - 15
John - 15
Philfy - 15
Blom - 10
Garth - 10
Harry - 5
-Pete

 

The Newsroom…..

 

Jim: howdy boys and girls, well do we have a treat for you gamers today! Here in the Newsroom we have none other then the great Andy Chambers…..

 Bob: man I’m hungry……what can an ogre eat around here?

 Jim: I mean Andy Chambers. One of the original members of the warhammer creating groups. A sovereign in his own right! An international…….well why don’t we just talk to the man himself? So Andy, can I call you Andy...Andy? Mr Chambers?

 Bob: (bburrp)…..man I hope I don’t get gas from that snack, the wife will kill me!

 Jim: Bob……did you just eat Andy Chambers?

Bob: Who? Bah! Who cares? Now for the line-up….

 Jim: Bob! Your freaking huge gullet just swallowed the great and wonderful Andy Chambers! I mean really….

 Bob: Jim? Is he really going to be missed? Well for this month’s line-up let’s have a look at the up and coming Ogre Kingdoms.

 Jim: Andy chambers……just like that……well anyway folks the Ogre kingdoms have a few things set in concrete. They are looking to be released Christmas this year so look for a few special presents under the tree this year from Santa.

 Bob: That’s right Jim and they have some units all setup for sculpting as well. They already have a box set of 6 ogres in Plastic. They also have those incorrigible Knoblars in a box of 24. And also in the works are the Ogre hunters, supposedly with their hunting Sabre tooth tigers…….mmmm nice kitty.

Jim: Ahhhhh thanks for that Bob. They also have a tyrant in the making which will be the ogre Lord and also what they aptly named the Butcher who will be their equivalent of a spellcaster, although what spells ogres use and need will be to say none the least, strange.

 Bob: Now look here Jim! We Ogres deserve equal rights! We can cast spells as well! Our graceful nimble fingers twirling through………How the hell do we have a spellcaster?! Oh well also in the pipe works and in fact almost completed is the old Dogs or War unit Menghil’s Manflayers. A Dark elf unit with human skin cloaks…….mmmmm human. Man I’m hungry!

 Jim: well folks, before Bob goes off on a feeding frenzy I want talk a bit on the Summer of Chaos…

 Bob: God here we go………yeah Pizza Hutt I’ll have a super deal thanks, I‘ll have a human pan based…..nah hold the goblins……

 Jim: anyway, what I have to say is this. Beware. Some of the lists are very nasty indeed although at face value they seem alright but there are some very powerful nasty combo’s waiting for the unwary. The nasty Dark Elf anointed on a Cold One who strikes first at strength 7 with killing blow. The unit itself can flee and automatically rallies the next turn before charges are made. The Tzeentch daemon list with power level 8 bound spells running around. The seemingly unstoppable hoard of the Vampire counts, but these are just to name a few things that may impede your victories for a long long time. Well that’s the lot from us this month folks so until then, I’m Jim Johnson.

 Bob: so what sort of sides can I get with that…….Pepsi, who the hell drinks Pepsi?! Sorry what was that?

 NOTE: No Andy chambers were harmed during the making of this article however he has decided to leave GW and will no longer be working for the development team for 40k.

 

Battle Reports

 

The Wrong Turn, a Lord of the Rings scenario

 The Fellowship, Kevin and Ivan.

The bad guys, 30 goblins (10 bows, 10 spears and 10 sword and shield) and a cave troll. Arthur, Dean and Jason.

The fellowship take a wrong turn while travelling through Moria, goblins assault them from all sides, and they need to cut their way out.  Any goblins killed can re-enter from one of the 4 doorways to the cavern at the start of the next turn.  There are always 30 goblins and the troll on the board.  At least 3 members of the fellowship must reach a point 36 inches from the door they entered from, before turning back to leave by the same door.  Good win if 5 or more of them leave by the door, Evil automatically win if they kill Frodo.  The cavern is a 4ft x 4ft board, with lots of obstacles.

 Aragorn, Gandalf and Boromir legged it for the far end of the board, getting there and almost back again before the game ended.

Gandalf cast light and a terrifying aura in the first few turns, then used Will to immobilise the troll most turns, and even a sorcerous blast to knock over a few goblins.  He killed a few in combat too.  Aragorn used all his Might by the end of the game, he killed loads of goblins on the way, just as you would expect from a super hero.  Boromir killed loads of goblins too, and made use of his horn nearly every turn, he didn’t lose any combats.

 Legolas, Gimli and the hobbits stayed near the door.  The goblins managed to get lots or re-inforcements coming in from the door the fellowship hoped to leave by, lucky beggers, even though a 6 was needed to enter there.

 Legolas bow was succesful, but he was eventually slain by goblin arrows, though he hid behind walls for some of the game, what a wuss.   Gimli was like a little tank, goblin arrows bounced harmlessly off his armour, and he killed a fair few in combat too.  In the end it took 7 goblins and the cave troll to take him down, he managed to beat them off for a couple of turns, but then he ran out of Might.  The 4 hobbits despatched a few goblins, but when Legolas was killed and Gimli surrounded they made a run for Gandalf, Aragorn and Boromir.  Merry didn’t make it.  Frodo put on the Ring and ran for the door, he nearly got there, but the rules for the Ring were checked.  On the roll of a 5 or 6 the bad guys get to control Frodo, guess what, the bad guys rolled a 5, he was close to loads of goblins when he took it off, and too far away from help.  He didn’t last the turn, even with his large store of Fate. 

 The cave troll did hardly anything, being immobilised by Gandalf nearly every turn.  He helped defeat Gimli, but the goblins could probably have done it without him.

 The game was pretty close.  The bad guys had loads of luck, getting priority for most turns, and getting re-inforcements back onto the board in the most advantageous places, so the Fellowship did well to almost make it out of the door.  All in all a fun game, and definitely one that is on the “play again another day” list.

 

Peter (Cult of Ulric) beat Wade (Dark Elves)
Another stunning victory for the Cult of Ulric!
I hate bolt throwers... SO much. The damned things wasted so many of my troops, it was simply evil!
And the repeating crossbows didn't help matters much. It's a damned good thing I brought along skirmish screens, or else I'd have been in a spot of trouble.
As it was I'd placed some Kislevite Gryphon Legion on the far left with Teutogen Guard support, the centre battle line was held by three units of Warriors of Ulric, and the right flank was left with a small throwaway unit of Warriors of Ulric, and Wolfkin.
The dark elves had Cold One Knights on my left flank, followed by corsairs, repeater crossbowmen, spearmen, bolt throwers, and more spearmen.
The Cold One Knights foolishly charged the Teutogen Guard (I gave them little say in the matter, hehe) and were soundly beaten.
The Warriors of Ulric closest to the left flank, accompanied by the Ar Ulric, advanced and took the hill, standing resolute (to gain the +1 combat resolution from being on Higher Ground) and repelled the attack of the Corsairs, who then rallied to find themselves in combat with both the Warriors with Ar-Ulric, and the Gryphon Legion. The few that lived fled the field, and my units wisely held their ground.
The skirmish screens of archers dwindled rather quickly, leaving my middle unit of Warriors of Ulric free to charge the dastardly crossbow-wielding Elves, and after many disappointing rounds of combat, managed to beat them (the Warriors of Ulric unit was, by then, MUCH smaller) and chased them off the table.
The last sizeable Warriors of Ulric unit had trouble getting through the largeish Spearmen unit accompanied by an evil, EVIL dark elf character! Oh the cheese of it all! Eventually that unit too fell, and an advance on the Repeater Bolt Throwers was made.
The small unit of Warriors had a harder time of it, considering they found an unexpected assassin, who just so happened to chew through almost the entire unit. But with such a small unit being all that remained of the Dark Elf lines, it was a fairly conclusive victory in my favour.
MORE GLORY FOR ULRIC!
Peter (Cult of Ulric) narrowly defeats Paul (Khornate Mortals) ?
Okay, I don't remember this battle as a draw, but it's marked down in me little book as such, so I must've JUST squeezed out enough victory points to make it count.
Essentially his army consisted of a Hammer of the Gods unit of Chaos Knights, with an Aspiring Champion and Chaos Lord in the unit, a couple of Chariots of Khorne, Marauder Horsemen, Furies, hounds hounds hounds, spawn spawn spawn spawn.
I managed to eat my way through all the Spawn, munch most of the dogs, and ding the damned Furies, but my Lord and his Knights simply bounced off the Chaos Knights after a few rounds of combat (absolutely pitiful rolling) and that was, pretty much, the extent of the game. I spent the rest of the game moving around the terrain to hold up the Chaos Knights.
A re-match proved more entertaining, however, with the wholesale slaughter of Khorne Boy's army bar one spawn and one chariot, MUAAAAAHAHAHA!!!
VICTORY for the Wolf God!

Kevin (French) stalled Arthur (Germans)

Playing down the length of the table the advantage was going to be with the motorised Germans. But when it came to dicing table edge the French won giving them the cover of the forest over looking the village in the middle of the table. As expected the French had barely made it half way through the trees before the Germans had take the village. The French tanks began to form up along the tree line as the Germans charged across the open ground between the village and the Forrest. When all looked lost the last of the French go in place and with what can only be called surprising accuracy the French gunners not only stopped the attack and all but destroyed the Germans attacking strength. what of the much vaunted French artillery ? Bunch of useless louts sat in the trees drinking coffee. making up 2/3's of the army and only fired one shot all game !!!! and that missed !!!!!!!!

 

Club Information

This newsletter is edited by Kevin Carberry so anything you would like included in the newsletter should be sent to me at  kevin@profax.co.nz

Peter "Evil Gnome" Colson is the Club President so any queries, problems, issues or suggestions about the club should go to him at colson@xtra.co.nz or deathloveswar2@hotmail.com (for e-mails with attachments only), monday-thursday, and all day friday and saturday (09) 298-7293