This battle report saw Mark Watts (Chaos) face off against Richard Helliwell (Blood Angels).
WD156 Battle Report – Space Marine (Chaos at Kadavah)
Category Archives: Peter Holland
Writing a Sci-Fi Tabletop Wargame – Part 5
Our past posts:
- Part 1 – What genre should the game be?
- Part 2 – What scale should the game be and what type of game?
- Part 3 – How long should a game take and what measurements should we use?
- Part 4 – How big should the gaming area be and what should the smallest element represent?
So the results of last weeks votes are as follows:
So this gives us some extra direction when it comes to writing the rules, as we know that each element will represent a Battalion strength unit and that the game will be played on a four foot square area. Excellent! If we factor in that we also want the game to last no more than two hours and that all the measurements will be carried out in inches, we only have perhaps two more votes to go before we get into the nitty gritty of the rules themselves.
Base Shape
This may not seem important to some people, but the base shape can define a lot of things in regards to measuring distances as well as movement. For example a rectangular base would mean that you have to take into account that the base is wider than it is deep and so wheeling and turning become a factor in movement. A round base negates that factor as everything can be measured from the base edge without too much concern, though if you want flanking inside the game having round bases makes this difficult. Alternatively, there’s the option to have a square base, which makes turning and wheeling less of an issue, and can include flanks for the various edges IF we want that as a factor in our game.
Base Size
Our playing area is going to be 4 foot square and so this will have a slight impact on base sizing. We can’t have large bases because of fitting enough of them inside the game. But we can’t have too small either as we want enough models on the base to make it look the part.
There we have it! Next week we will start looking at factions and whether we should include the ability to construct our own or write rules for pre-made factions (or both).
Model Showcase – Kruleboyz Gutrippas
So I’ve completed my first unit in prep for the battle of the skies in Northampton on 26th March.
I’ve gone for an off-green skin tone to try and represent an unhealthy living for these greenskins from living in boggy marshes and swamps.
Skin
- Undercoat Mechanicus Standard Grey
- Wash with Carroburg Crimson
- Drybrush Fenris Grey
- Glaze over highlights with Moot Green.
Shields
- Base coat with Mechanicus Standard Grey (the whole model was based in this colour).
- Paint with Yriel Yellow
- Wash with watered down Fire dragon Bright
- Recess shade with Agrax Earthshade
- Wash the lower half of the shield with Agrax Earthshade.
- Wash the last quarter with Nuln Oil (watered down).
- Highlight extreme edges with Flash Gitz Yellow.
Next up I’m going to start painting three Boltboyz and the Swampcalla.
Merry Chistmas!
Merry Christmas from everyone at Woehammer! We hope that the Red Gobbo brings you all that you wish for and more!
To celebrate Christmas I thought I would look back over our first few months as a site and revisit our most popular posts to date!
This was out first post to reach over 2,000 views and was on the very popular subject (as you’ll see) of AoS competitive army lists.
Next up was one of our earlier Classic Battle Reports from White Dwarf, this time from White Dwarf 148 and the Battle of Blood Keep.
A more recent post this time, with the top three competitive lists from the Everwinter Grand Tournament in the US.
Our first (and to date only) 40k competitive list review also came in December with the coverage of the three lists from Swedish West Coast GT.
Our final top 5 post was about the Warhammer 40k Battleforce Boxes, how much they would cost and what your got inside them.
Rogue Trader Collection – 24/12/21
Just a quick update this week, as I’ve not had a huge amount of time to get things done.
But I’ve fixed up the wall with green stuff ready for painting. I’m still in two minds about the bear rug though…..
So with all the pieces complete it’s just going to be a matter of making some posters and banners to go on the wall and then sticking the whole thing together. It’s only taken two months….
Top Three 40k Lists from the Sunken City GT (West Branch – Michigan, US) 18/19th December 2021
I’ve done a number of top 3’s now for Age of Sigmar, so today I thought I would branch out and cover a top three for 40k. This time we’re back in Europe and looking at the West Coast GT held in Bohus, Sweden.
Tom Ogden – Black Templars
Tom won the event with 5 wins from 5 and 491 battle points.
HQ
———-
Chaplain Grimaldus (140 pts)+
– Litanies: Litany of Divine Protection, Fires of Devotion & Litanies of Hate
High Marshal Helbrecht (160 pts)+
Primaris Chaplain (85 pts)++
– Litanies: Litany of Hate
– Canticle of Hate
– The Crusader’s Helm
Troops
———-
14x Primaris Crusader Squad (247 pts)+
– 5x Primaris Initiate w/chainsword & Heavy Bolt Pistol
– 8x Primaris Neophytes w/chainsword & Bolt Pistol
– 1x Primaris Sword Brother w/Power Axe & Heavy Bolt Pistol
14x Primaris Crusader Squad (247 pts)++
– 5x Primaris Initiate w/chainsword & Heavy Bolt Pistol
– 8x Primaris Neophytes w/chainsword & Bolt Pistol
– 1x Primaris Sword Brother w/Power Axe & Heavy Bolt Pistol
Elites
———-
Primaris Apothecary (Warlord)(115 pts)+
– Chapter Command: Chief Apothecary
– Selfless Healer
– The Aurillian Shroud
Redemptor Dreadnought (180 pts)+
– 2x Fragstorm Grenade Launchers
– Macro Plasma Incinerator
– Onslaught Gatling Cannon
Fast Attack
———-
5x Inceptor Squad (375 pts)+
– x2 Plasma Exterminator
– The Crux Obsidian
– Inceptor Sergeant: Champion of the Feast
3x Attack Bike Squad (180 pts)++
– 3x Multi-Melta
Heavy Support
———-
6x Eradictor Squad (270 pts)++
– 5x Eradicator: 5x Bolt Pistol
– Eradicator Srgt
Detachments
———-
+Patrol: Black Templars
++Patrol: Black Templars
Total Points: 1999 pts
John DeFrank – Orks
John managed 4 wins from 5 and 473 battle points.
No Force Org Slot
———-
Nob on Smasha Squig (65 pts)+
– Proper Killy
– Stratagem: Big Boss
Nob on Smasha Squig (65 pts)+
– Headwoppa’s Killchoppa
– Stratagem: Extra Gubbinz
HQ
———-
Beastboss on Squigosaur (Warlord) (145 pts)+
– Big Killa Boss
– Beasthide Mantle
Warboss (105 pts)++
– Brutal but Kunnin
– Attack Squig
– Da Killa Klaw
– Kombi-Scorcha, Power Klaw
– Stratagem: Big Boss
– Stratagem: Extra Gibbinz
Troops
———-
10x Beast Snagga Boyz (110 pts)+
– Weapons: 9x Choppa, 9x Slugga
– Beast Snagga Nob
10x Beast Snagga Boyz (110 pts)+
– Weapons: 9x Choppa, 9x Slugga
– Beast Snagga Nob
10x Gretchin (50 pts)+
– Weapons: 10x Grot Blaster
10x Boyz (100 pts)++
– Weapons: 9x Choppa, 9x Slugga
– Boss Nob: Choppa, Power Klaw
10x Boyz (95 pts)++
– Weapons: 9x Choppa, 9x Slugga
– Boss Nob: Big Choppa, Choppa
Elites
———-
10x Burna Boyz (140 pts)+
– Weapons: 8x Burna, 8x Stikkbombs
– 2x Spanner: Kustom Mega-Blasta
5x Meganobz (175 pts)+
– Boss Meganob: Kustom Shoota, Power Klaw
– 4x Meganob: Kustom Shoota, Power Klaw
5x Kommmandos (55 pts)++
– Boss Nob: Power Klaw
– 4x Kommando: Slugga & Choppa
Fast Attack
———-
4x Squighog Boyz (105 pts)+
– 4x Squighog Boy: 4x Saddlegit Weapons, 4x Stikka
– Bomb Squig
4x Squighog Boyz (105 pts)+
– 4x Squighog Boy: 4x Saddlegit Weapons, 4x Stikka
– Bomb Squig
5x Stormboyz (55 pts)++
– 4x Stormboy: Choppa & Slugga
– Boss Nob: Choppa
Heavy Support
———-
Kill Rig (190 pts)+
– Frazzle
– Spirit of Gork
Kill Rig (190 pts)+
– Squiggly Curse
– Spirit of Gork
Dedicated Transport
———-
Trukk (70 pts)+
Trukk (70 pts)+
Detachments
———-
+Patrol: Orks – Goffs
++Patrol: Orks – Goffs
Total Points: 2000 pts
Brenton Weiss – Adeptus Mechanicus
Brenton managed four wins from five and 440 battle points.
HQ
———-
Skitarii Marshal (Warlord) (55 pts)+
– Relic: Cantic Thrallnet
– Warlord Trait: Battle-Sphere Uplink
Tech-Priest Dominus (105 pts)+
– Macrostubber
– Magi
– Relic: The Omniscient Mask
– Volkite Blaster
Tech-Priest Manipulus (120 pts)+
– Logi
– Magnarail Lance
– Relic: Raiment of the Technomartyr
Troops
———-
20x Skitarii Rangers (230 pts)+
– Ranger Alpha: Galvanic Rifle
– 19x Galvanic Rifle
10x Skitarii Rangers (110 pts)+
– Ranger Alpha: Galvanic Rifle
– 9x Galvanic Rifle
10x Skitarii Rangers (110 pts)+
– Ranger Alpha: Galvanic Rifle
– 9x Galvanic Rifle
Elites
———-
5x Sicarian Infiltrators (95 pts)+
– Infiltrator Princeps: Flechette/Taser
– 4x Infiltrators: Flechette Blaster, Taser Goad
5x Sicarian Infiltrators (95 pts)+
– Infiltrator Princeps: Flechette/Taser
– 4x Infiltrators: Flechette Blaster, Taser Goad
5x Sicarian Infiltrators (95 pts)+
– Infiltrator Princeps: Flechette/Taser
– 4x Infiltrators: Flechette Blaster, Taser Goad
Fast Attack
———-
3x Ironstrider Ballistarii (255 pts)+
– 3x Twin Cognis Lascannon
Ironstrider Ballistarii (255 pts)+
– 3x Twin Cognis Lascannon
9x Pteraxii Sterylizors (171 pts)+
– Steylizor Alpha
– 8x Phosphor Torch, Talons
Flyer
———-
Archeopter Fusilave (150 pts)+
– Command Uplink
Archeopter Fusilave (150 pts)+
– Command Uplink
Detachments
———-
+Patrol: Adeptus Mechanicus – Mars
Total Points: 1996 pts
Top Three AoS Lists from General’s War #46 (Warsaw, PL) 19th December 2021
These were the top three lists from General’s War #46 held on 19th December 2021.
Piotr Kurkowski – Lumineth Realmlords
Piotr won the event with threw wins from three and 79 points. Beating an off-meta Nagash Soulblight Gravelords army in the first round, a Nagash Petrifex Ossiarch Bonereapers list in the second round and a Sons of Behemat list in the final round with four mega-gargants.
Allegiance: Lumineth Realmlords
– Great Nation: Syar
– Grand Strategy: Prized Sorcery
– Triumphs:
Leaders
———-
Sevireth, Lord of the Seventh Wind (345)*
Vanari Lord Regent (155)*
– General
– Command Trait: Goading Arrogance
– Artefact: The Perfect Blade
– Lore of Hysh: Lambent Light
Scinari Cathallar (145)*
– Lore of Hysh: Total Eclipse
Battleline
———-
10 x Vanari Auralan Wardens (145)*
– Lore of Hysh: Speed of Hysh
10 x Vanari Auralan Wardens (145)*
– Lore of Hysh: Lambent Light
30 x Vanari Auralan Sentinels (450)*
– Lore of Hysh: Protection of Hysh
– Reinforced x 2
Units
———-
1 x Hurakan Spirit of the Wind (265)*
1 x Hurakan Spirit of the Wind (265)*
Core Battalions
———-
Battle Regiment*
Total Points: 1985 pts
NB: – With the recent points update from Battlescroll: Gods & Heroes this list would now cost 2,085 points due to the +20 points for the Sentinels and is no longer a valid list for Age of Sigmar
Tomasz Litman – Ironjawz
Tomasz also managed three wins from three beating a Stormcast list with Vindictors and two units of reinforced longstrike crossbows in the first round, an off-meta Slaves to Darkness list in round two and a Soulblight Gravelords Grave Guard army in round three.
Allegiance: Ironjaws
– Warclan: Bloodtoofs
– Grand Strategy: Dominating Presence
– Triumphs: Inspired
Leaders
———-
Megaboss on Maw-Krusha (480)**
– General
– Boss Choppa and Rip-tooth fist
– Command Trait: Mega Bossy
– Artefact: Amulet of Destiny (Universal Artefact)
Megaboss on Maw-Krusha (480)*
– Boss Choppa and Rip-tooth fist
– Artefact: Destroyer
– Mount Trait: Fast ‘Un
Orruk Warchanter (115)*
– Warbeat: Get ‘Em Beat
Orruk Warchanter (115)*
– Warbeat: Fixin’ Beat
Orruk Weirdnob Shaman (90)**
– Lore of the Weird: Da Great Big Green Hand of Gork
Battleline
———-
3 x Orruk Gore-gruntas (150)*
– Jagged Gore-hackas
3 x Orruk Gore-gruntas (150)***
– Jagged Gore-hackas
3 x Orruk Gore-gruntas (150)***
– Jagged Gore-hackas
3 x Orruk Gore-gruntas (150)***
– Jagged Gore-hackas
Core Battalions
———-
*Warlord
**Command Entourage – Magnificent
***Hunters of the Heartlands
Total Points: 1995 pts
NB: – With the recent points update from Battlescroll: Gods & Heroes this list would now cost 2,075 points due to the +20 points for the Gore-Gruntas and is no longer a valid list for Age of Sigmar
Robert Rajkowski – Soulblight Gravelords
Robert also managed three wins from three, facing off against a Tree-Revenant Sylvaneth list in the first round with Alarielle, a Kruleboyz Gutrippas spam list in round two and another Tree-Revenant Sylvaneth List with Alarielle in the last round.
Allegiance: Soulblight Gravelords
– Lineage: Avengorii Dynasty
– Grand Strategy: Hold the Line
– Triumphs: Indomitable
Leaders
———-
Big Drogg Fort-Kicka (525)*
– Allies
Necromancer (125)*
– General
– Command Trait: Master of Magic
– Artefact: Arcane Tome (Universal Artefact)
– Lore of the Deathmages: Decrepify
Vampire Lord (140)*
– Universal Spell Lore: Levitate
Battleline
———-
60 x Deadwalker Zombies (345)*
– Reinforced x 2
40 x Deadwalker Zombies (230)*
– Reinforced x 1
Units
———-
Zombie Dragon (295)*
– Cursed Mutation: Urges of Atrocity
Zombie Dragon (295)*
Core Battalions
———-
*Battle Regiment
Total Points: 1955 pts
WD155 Battle Report – Warhammer Fantasy (Battle of Red Axe Pass)
This battle report saw Nigel Stillman (Goblins) face off against Alan Perry (High Elves).
Writing a Sci-Fi Tabletop Wargame – Part 4
So following on from our previous articles;
- Writing a Tabletop Wargame – Part I
- Writing a Sci-fi Tabletop Wargame – Part II
- Writing a Sci-fi Tabletop Wargame – Part III
Our latest votes are in and you’ve all voted that games should take up to two hours and that measurements should be carried out in inches.
Now we can start getting into some more detail of the game, such as the gaming area and the smallest element of the game.
Gaming Area Size
There are a few things we need to take into account here. The first is that we wold like the game to take up to two hours. Therefore, we have to consider this when we think about our gaming area, a smaller gaming area may result in either more detailed rules or a ruleset where it becomes difficult to kill units, this is because with a smaller gaming area there will be less units on the board and therefore you want those units to be in play for a longer period of time in order to have the opportunity to survive till the games end.
Likewise, if the table is too large then there will be many more units on the table and the rules will have to be adjusted to make them either easy to kill or make it so that there movement or range becomes a lot further than you would expect in order to make it across the gaming area.
I’ve therefore narrowed these options slightly to ensure that the rulesets don’t become too influenced by these affects.
Smallest Element
Our next question is about the smallest element in the game, what should this represent. I’m using this to classify air and ground units only, as with the space combat element, we’re going to assume the elements are the individual ships themselves.
There are a number of options to go with here and these will have an affect on the way in which the overall ruleset is contructed. For example, should we go with a single base representing a squad of men, or should it represent an entire Regiment? Should it be an individual tank or should it be a squadron of tanks? If we choose a base representing a squad or a single tank then we have to write the rules to represent this, likewise if the elements represent a platoon, battalion or even a brigade. So the question here is what level do you want individual battles to take place at?
All the options below are based roughly off the modern military formations of the British Army;
INFANTRY
- Section (Consisting of roughly 8 men)
- Platoon (3-4 Sections)
- Company (3+ Platoons)
- Battalion (3+ Companies)
- Brigade (3+ Battalions)
- rigade (3+ Battalions)
- Division (3+ Brigades) (Infantry & Armoured Mixed)
- Corps (2+ Divisions) (Infantry & Armoured Mixed)
ARMOUR
- Troop (3+ Tanks)
- Company (3+ Troops)
- Battalion (3+ Companies)
- Brigade (3+ Battalions)
- Division (3+ Brigades) (Infantry & Armoured Mixed)
- Corps (2+ Divisions) (Infantry & Armoured Mixed)
Next week we’ll look at basing our elements and whether they should be on round or rectangular bases and what base size they should be on.
Napoleonic Wargame Free to Download
I’ve added a page to the website called Wargame Rules. In there you will find any rules for scenarios or wargames that I write. At the moment its pretty empty apart from one item which is Clausewitz.
Clausewitz is the Napoleonic wargame I’ve been working on for a number of years now. This is still very much a work in progress but I’m pleased to say it’s at a stage now where I feel comfortable releasing it for public consumption.
What is Clausewitz?
Clausewitz is a Corp level game designed primarily for 6mm Napoleonic warfare. I always wanted a Napoleonic game which focused on the whole battle but where what the individual battalions actions were still important to the outcome. Therefore in Clausewitz although the basic unit is the Brigade, those brigades are made up of individual elements called Battalions or Squadrons. Think of this like individual models inside a squad in a game like 40k or AoS.
The key features of Clausewitz include:
- A departure from the traditional IgoUgo turn sequence and instead relies upon chips drawn from a bag to represent a Generals actions in the turn (with each turn representing 10 minutes of battle).
- The game is driven by your Generals, they must position themselves and activate the right units at the right time in order to win the day.
- Objectives – There are six objectives and units can only claim an objective (and therefore score points) if a General has ordered them to do so.
- Mini-Game – there is an optional fun mini pre-game to the main event in which your light troops determine the deployment zone in the upcoming battle.
- Formations matter! Brigade formations and individual unit formations are presented in an intuitive fashion. The players must ensure that their units are in the right formations for the task at hand!
Alternatively there are two mods on Tabletop Simulator just for Clausewitz, the first being the test bed which is used to test the various rules as they are implemented or adjusted and the second being the Battle of Elchingen 1805, where the Austrians attempt to defend against the French advance.
So why not give it a go and send your feedback to help me improve it?