I’ve exactly four weeks now until the Woehammer Old World Narrative Event – Shadows Over the Border Princes, kicks off.

Firstly, a blurb on the event and what I need to include in my list. The event takes place over two days at Battlefield Hobbies in Daventry, UK. They’ll be five games, three on the first day and two on the second. The first game will see players use a 1,000 point list as a soft intro to the campaign. For the remaining rounds players will use a 1,500 point list, but that list needs to include the models that were in their 1,000 point list.

There’s a few other important points during this campaign. The first, being that it is essentially good versus evil. Players will still be competing to have as any wins as they can to be crowned the best general but they also have to complete tasks within each game in order for their side to earn an overall victory in that round. For example the number of enemy characters killed by each side in the third scenario will determine the alliance winner, but the game itself is still coming down to victory points as in a normal game of Old World.

The second point, is that I have to include at least two characters in my list as there is a possibility that if the alliance I’m on loses that third scenario I’ll need to give up one of my characters in the following round as a hostage.

Finally, in the last round, there’s a doubles game. So I’ll need to team up with another player from my alliance to take on two of the opposing alliance players.

So that already has some key things that will affect my list building:

• At least 2 characters, one of them being fairly cheap that’s not going to put me at a massive disadvantage if I lose them for one game.
• I’ve got to have a 1k list inside my 1.5k list.
• My list will need to be fairly well-rounded for the final game when I’m paired up with another player.

What about the other scenarios? If I want my alliance to do well and achieve overall victory in the campaign, what do I need to do?

Scenario 1
This is a fairly simple 1k pitched battle scenario at 1,000 points. However, I need infantry or monstrous infantry in my list to take and hold three objectives spread across the middle of the battlefield. Holding the most objectives will give the alliance the win.

• I need enough infantry units to hold three objectives, but they also need to be able to get there. Being Dwarfs, that will be a hard task.

Scenario 2
If the alliance wins scenario 1, then they are the defender in scenario 2, which is an ambush scenario. If the defender’s general is slain then the battle ends in a decisive victory for the attacker. Otherwise it continues until turn 6 where it will be decided by victory points.

• So I’ll need a tough general and guard unit to try and make his survival a little easier.

Scenario 3
The winner of the previous scenario will be the attacker in the 3rd scenario. This is another pitched battle scenario but here I’ll need to kill as many opposing characters as possible for the alliance to claim victory, while the game itself will come down to victory points. Everyone will need at least two characters in case they give one up at the end of this battle. But you don’t want to give away to many opportunities for the opposing alliance to claim points.

• Keep the number of characters to a minimum.

Scenario 4
This is a rescue mission. Whichever alliance lost the previous battle will need to give up a character as a hostage. The other side has to attack and release them (them being placed at the back of one of the opposing units as a hostage marker). If the majority of the hostages are released across all the games that weekend then the attacking alliance is the victor. But on a personal level, this game will come down to victory points for the individual win.

• I’ll need a unit or two which can chase down an enemy unit and defeat them in combat. That’s a hard one with Dwarfs….

Scenario 5
This is the doubles game. 3,000 points a side over six rounds and it all comes down to teamwork and victory points at the end. Well-rounded teams will win this out.

List Building

Just a quick review of the points I need to think about when building this list:

• At least 2 characters, one of them being fairly cheap that’s not going to put me at a massive disadvantage if I lose them for one game.
• I’ve got to have a 1k list inside my 1.5k list.
• My list will need to be fairly well-rounded for the final game when I’m paired up with another player.
• I need enough infantry units to hold three objectives, but they also need to be able to get there. Being Dwarfs, that will be a hard task.
• So I’ll need a tough general and guard unit to try and make his survival a little easier.
• Keep the number of characters to a minimum.
• I’ll need a unit or two which can chase down an enemy unit and defeat them in combat. That’s a hard one with Dwarfs….

So two characters, one General that’s fairly beefy and another that I’m not afraid to give up. But really with enemies having access to Wizards, I’ll need one of those to be a Runesmith at the minimum. With 1k in the first game and a demand for infantry, I’m thinking the main general will be present at this battle.

So let me introduce to you Harek Whitebeard a Dwarf King who has mustered his troops to counter the evil threat encroaching on the Border Princes south of his hold.

Harek Stonebrow (Dwarf King) – 237 Points
– Hand weapon
– Full plate armour
– Oathstone
– Shield
– Master Rune of Skalf Blackhammer
– 2x Rune of Shielding

My thinking being, that I want him to be fairly tanky, hence the shield and 2x Rune of Shielding. I’ve also given him an Oathstone, so that he and the unit he is with automatically pass any panic tests. This should make them good for claiming those objectives in the first scenario.

But who should he go with? Luckily, as he’s a King, I can include a nice big unit of Longbeards in the core choice. With Strollaz rune on the standard, I’ll be able to give those short stumpy legs of theirs a little running start as well. I’ve chosen to take 19 of them as I’m a firm believer in an army looking like an army, and I want a slot for my King to fit in nicely.

Harek’s Hearthguard (Dwarf Longbeards) – 309 Points
– 19 Dwarf Longbeards
– Elder (Champion)
– Standard Bearer
– Strollaz’ Rune
– Musician
– Hand Weapons
– Shields
– Drilled

But I need something else that can get up the field on that first scenario and hold objectives. Rangers are perfect for this! Leaving them as is and equipping them with shields should mean they can put up a fight for those centre objectives as well.

The Deepcrag Stalkers (Dwarf Rangers) – 120 Points
– 10 Dwarf Rangers
– Heavy Armour
– Shields
– Hand Weapons

But I need at least one other infantry unit if I’m to try and claim three of these objectives. Ironbreakers hold the line well and are hard to shift in a fight, so these would be great for the third objective. I’ll go for 10 models here, as then I can fit in some additional fun stuff as well (by fun, see artillery).

The Blackrock Bulwark (Dwarf Ironbreakers) – 171 Points
– 10 Dwarf Ironbreakers
– Ironbeard (Champion)
– Standard Bearer
– Musician
– Full Plate Armour
– Shields
– Hand Weapons

Finally I always like to include a little artillery. We’ll go with the tried and tested Cannon here, so in it goes.

Helga (Dwarf Cannon) – 100 Points
– Cannon
– Hand Weapons
– Light Armour

Rather than some runes on the Cannon, I thought here, may be a good opportunity to add in the cheap hero that can be given away as a hostage for the fourth scenario. So meet Gottri Cogthane a Dwarf Engineer with a handgun who’ll be babysitting the cannon.

Gottir Cogthane (Dwarf Engineer) – 58 Points
– Handgun
– Hand Weapon
– Heavy Armour

That gives me my first 1,000 point list for the first game and what will make up the bulk of my army for the other scenarios:

===
Harek’s Expedition [995 pts]
Warhammer: The Old World, Dwarfen Mountain Holds
===

CHARACTERS [295 pts]

Harek Stonebrow (Dwarf King) – 237 Points
– Hand weapon
– Full plate armour
– Oathstone
– Shield
– Master Rune of Skalf Blackhammer
– 2x Rune of Shielding

Gottir Cogthane (Dwarf Engineer) – 58 Points
– Handgun
– Hand Weapon
– Heavy Armour

CORE [309 pts]

Harek’s Hearthguard (Dwarf Longbeards) – 309 Points
– 19 Dwarf Longbeards
– Elder (Champion)
– Standard Bearer
– Strollaz’ Rune
– Musician
– Hand Weapons
– Shields
– Drilled

SPECIAL [271 pts]

The Blackrock Bulwark (Dwarf Ironbreakers) – 171 Points
– 10 Dwarf Ironbreakers
– Ironbeard (Champion)
– Standard Bearer
– Musician
– Full Plate Armour
– Shields
– Hand Weapons

Helga (Dwarf Cannon) – 100 Points
– Cannon
– Hand Weapons
– Light Armour

RARE [120 pts]

The Deepcrag Stalkers (Dwarf Rangers) – 120 Points
– 10 Dwarf Rangers
– Heavy Armour
– Shields
– Hand Weapons

Only just for the three units to claim the three objectives in the first scenario, but they’re backed up by a little fire power to try and clear those objectives first. As for getting this list up to 1.5k there’s a few things I want to include. Namely a Runesmith as a minimum for some ant-magic.

Thorri Doreksson (Dwarf Runesmith) – 65 Points
– Hand Weapon
– Heavy Armour

He’s fairly bare bones, and is only in the list to dispel and possibly give up points in scenario three. Which means I need to give him some body guards, but a unit that isn’t going to get into trouble. As we’ll be increasing the core limit as well it gives me the perfect opportunity to include some Thunderers.

Doreksson’s Wardens (Dwarf Thunderers) – 121 Points
– 11 Dwarf Thunderers
– Hand Weapons
– Heavy Armour
– Shields

I love excuses to play new units that I’ve not included before. This will be no exception. A unit of Imperial Dwarf Mercenaries.

The Grimwall Phalanx (Imperial Dwarf Mercenaries) – 195 Points
– 18 Imperial Dwarf Mercenaries
– Veteran (Champion)
– Standard Bearer
– Musician
– Thrusting Spears
– Heavy Armour

We’ve also got to include another artillery piece in there, its the law. I love the Organ Gun, so that’s the last piece of the puzzle.

Bertha (Organ Gun) – 120 Points
– Organ Gun
– Hand Weapons
– Light Armour

With that my list for the narrative event is complete. I’ll be doing awful, but having fun while I do it.

The Full List

===
Harek’s Expedition [1496 pts]
Warhammer: The Old World, Dwarfen Mountain Holds
===

CHARACTERS [360 pts]

Harek Stonebrow (Dwarf King) ❖ – 237 Points
– Hand weapon
– Full plate armour
– Oathstone
– Shield
– Master Rune of Skalf Blackhammer
– 2x Rune of Shielding

Gottir Cogthane (Dwarf Engineer) ❖ – 58 Points (1k List)
– Handgun
– Hand Weapon
– Heavy Armour

Thorri Doreksson (Dwarf Runesmith) – 65 Points
– Hand Weapon
– Heavy Armour

CORE [430 pts]

Harek’s Hearthguard (Dwarf Longbeards) ❖ – 309 Points (1k List)
– 19 Dwarf Longbeards
– Elder (Champion)
– Standard Bearer
– Strollaz’ Rune
– Musician
– Hand Weapons
– Shields
– Drilled

Doreksson’s Wardens (Dwarf Thunderers) – 121 Points
– 11 Dwarf Thunderers
– Hand Weapons
– Heavy Armour
– Shields

SPECIAL [271 pts]

The Blackrock Bulwark (Dwarf Ironbreakers) ❖ – 171 Points (1k List)
– 10 Dwarf Ironbreakers
– Ironbeard (Champion)
– Standard Bearer
– Musician
– Full Plate Armour
– Shields
– Hand Weapons

Helga (Dwarf Cannon) ❖ – 100 Points (1k List)
– Cannon
– Hand Weapons
– Light Armour

RARE [240 pts]

The Deepcrag Stalkers (Dwarf Rangers) ❖ – 120 Points (1k List)
– 10 Dwarf Rangers
– Heavy Armour
– Shields
– Hand Weapons

Bertha (Organ Gun) – 120 Points
– Organ Gun
– Hand Weapons
– Light Armour

MERCENARIES [195 pts]

The Grimwall Phalanx (Imperial Dwarf Mercenaries) – 195 Points
– 18 Imperial Dwarf Mercenaries
– Veteran (Champion)
– Standard Bearer
– Musician
– Thrusting Spears
– Heavy Armour

❖ – Denotes units inside the 1k list for the first scenario

Now the trouble is painting it. Out of that lot, I’ve got paint:

• Engineer
• 10 more Longbeards
• Cannon crew
• 18 Imperial Dwarf Mercenaries….

Wish me luck!

Here are all the scenarios for the weekend: