The First Drops of Blood Fall

The Brigand War Campaign kicked off Saturday evening into Sunday Morning! Several armies converged on Blood Grove, their goals were their own, their intentions … to spill the blood of their enemies!

Some came to apprehend the Brigand King, Lord Hannibal of the Outcasts of Athel Loren, the others seeking to destroy hated enemies or claim glory for their people or clan. A few of the group managed to complete two battles, some put one under their belt. We had three seasoned players and four new players. It was a good time for all to learn a new game system and get some much needed battle experience!

A brief battle report is posted here at Rysm Tower http://loreseeker.blogspot.com/2009/11/brigand-war-1st-round.html
Below are the battle results

(Army - Massacre/Solid Victory/Marginal Victory/Draw/Loss)

Wood Elves Brigand King-0/1/1/0/0

High Elves-1/0/0/0/1
Ogre Kingdoms 0/1/0/0/1

Lizardmen-0/0/0/0/1

Dwarves-0/0/0/0/1

Bretonnians-1/0/0/0/1

Dark Elves-0/0/1/0/1

Here is a breakdown of the points achieved by each army based on performance in the battles.

Wood Elves
First Battle - Lizardmen (1000pts)
MV – 15, Heros – 2 = total 17pts

Second Battle - Dwarves – (1500pts)
SV – 20, Heros – 2, BSB – 5, = 27pts

Total Score – 44pts

Bretonnians
First Battle - Dark Elves (2000pts)
Loss – 0, General - 3

Second Battle Allied Battle (Dark Elves and Ogres)
Results were a massacre but since Allied battle is shared and confusing for scoring, both High Elves and Brets get a Marginal Victory for pts and all heroes killed.
MV – 15, General x2 – 6, Heroes – 2, = 23

Total Score – 26pts

High Elves
First Battle – Ogre Kingdoms (1500pts)
Loss

Second Battle – Allied Battle (Dark Elves and Ogres)
Results were a massacre but since Allied battle is shared and confusing for scoring, both High Elves and Brets get a Marginal Victory for pts and all heroes killed.
MV – 15, General x2 – 6, Heroes – 2, = 23

Total Score - 23pts

Dark Elves
First Battle – Bretonnians (1500pts)
MV – 15, General – 3, = 18pts

Second Battle – Allied Battle (High Elves and Bretonnians)
Loss – 0, General – 3, Character – 1 = 4pts

Total Score = 22pts

Ogre Kingdoms
First Battle – High Elves (1000pts)
SV – 20, General – 3, Hero -1 = 24

Second Battle – Allied Battle (High Elves and Bretonnians)
Loss – 0, General – 3, heroe – 1 = 4

Total Score = 28pts

Dwarves
First Battle – Wood Elves (1500pts)
Loss – 0, General – 3 = 3pts

Total Score = 3pts

Lizardmen
First Battle – Wood Elves (1000pts)
Loss – 0

Total Score – 0pts

Brigand War Warhammer Campaign

In less than three weeks a bunch of my friends and cousins will meet for a day of Warhammer Fantasy battles. This will be a large kick off for a small campaign we are running. Below is a list of my Wood Elf units with names to spice up the flavor. If the army does well we will collect points and I will be able to assign small upgrades to particular units. This is a nice upside, but has an equal downside. The unit gives extra points if they are destroyed, and the unit loses its ability if it is destroyed. The bonuses might be short lived!

The Outcasts of Athel Loren
Main Army Battle Roster

Leader – Lord Hannibal, the Renegade
Spellsinger Sulina Whiteleaf
Spellweaver Yuriel Whiteleaf
Branchwraith – Trindal the Black Rose
Noble - Princess Ilyara the Windtouched

Glade Guard 1 – Ariel’s Host
GG 2 – Loren Marksmen
Wardancers – Swift Blades
Dryads 1 – Black Briars
Dryads 2 – Blood Grove (lvl 2 trait "Feared") Now cause Terror
Treekin – Gnarled Jaws
Wild Riders – Twilight Ghosts
Glade Riders – Silver Spears
Warhawk Riders – Screeching Death
Waywatchers – The Faded Leaves
Treeman – Old Rosebud

This is most of the units at my disposal. I thought about taking an Eternal Guard unit, but I'm not sure they will really suit me well. Maybe in the future I will add them to a larger game, but for this one I think the introduction of treekin is enough for now.

November and Battling for Time

November is two days away, which means after those two days Dragon Age: Origins is 3 days further! My writing skill is insufficient to begin to tell you how well Bioware made Mass Effect. It is probably my preferences that make it such an awesome game to me, but no one can refute the list of awards it received either. A Sci-fi epic RPG game, character customization, interaction with companions, a variety of skills-weapons-armor, tons of background and lore, an interesting story with a vast world to traverse, should I go on? What can we expect from Dragon Age: Origins? I believe we can expect everything that made Mass Effect successful, in a Fantasy setting, and more. I dig a nice side romance story in all my RPGs, when a game throws one in that is done well, I am a very happy gamer.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is due out the 11th. I am not the die hard COD player that so many people out there are, I recently jumped into COD4 for the Xbox 360 when it was first released. I played COD3 for computer, so this was the first leap back onto the console. What attracted me most was the adaptation from WW2 and previous wars to the Modern Day. The weapons are familiar, the game was done well, and I actually succeed (to a point) in the online multiplayer game! Many of my friends play it and are eager to jump onto Xbox live and hook some people up!

November 21st, a day that will rock the Warhammer world as several armies converge on an area sandwiched between Bretonnia, Athel Loren and the Eastern Mountains. Several forces are arrayed and will possibly be present to wage war, High Elves, Wood Elves, Brettonians, Ogre Kingdoms and Dwarves. We might see an appearance by Dark elves, and maybe even lizardmen if my brother shows.

There was already a minor skirmish of Wood Elf and Dwarf forces. The Wood Elves closed the flanks swiftly and routed two warmachines, but just as they turned to smash the Dwarven center, a beautiful but foreboding elven horn sounded from the forest. The general of the army looked to his Wild Riders and sounded the retreat, the elves vanished into the forest, lacking a few Dryads and wardancers from the encounter. This game was to help the commander of the Dwarf forces to cut his teeth on the warhammer rules. It is one thing to see them on paper and another to experience them on the game table!


I read Rosario+Vampire Four and started on book five. The manga is great! Tsekune, a human, gets involved with different types of monsters at his new school. Moka - a vampire-the most powerful monster, Kurumu-hot succubus-my favorite!, Ginei(aka Gin) a werewolf and hot shot, and Yukari-11yr old witch who has the hots for Moka. Awesome cast of characters, GREAT drawings, a good fun story with great encounters. It is a really good Manga and I would recommend it to anyone interested in chasing down a new book!

The Brigand War - Campaign Traits

Warhammer Campaign - Starting post http://loreseeker.blogspot.com/2009/10/chaos-prince-war-campaign.html

Below are details for the upcoming Warhammer campaign. This post details traits that can be applied to warhammer units based on points scored during the campaign. Below is a tentative list of players in the campaign.

Myself as Lord Hannibal - Wood Elves
http://loreseeker.blogspot.com Rysm - Bretonnians
http://finklestale.blogspot.com Finkle – Dwarves
Thiridhren, Warden of the White Tower - High Elves
Castion (possible Warriors of Chaos player)
Borgoth - Dark Elves (possible)
Sir David – Ogre Kingdom Player (possible)


Warhammer Campaign Traits/Upgrades
-Points are earned for every +20 points gained through battles.
-When a unit gains a level 1 trait it must wait until three other units are upgraded before upgrading to a level 2 trait.
-Each upgrade costs 1 point.
-You cannot stack level 1 traits with other level 1 traits. Once a unit has a level 1 trait it stays with it until the end of the campaign or it is destroyed.
-A level 2 upgrade costs 1 points at the time of purchase.
-Any unit with this bonus that is destroyed, fleeing at the end of the game or flees off the table loses the trait/traits.
-A unit that is destroyed in the previous manners gives 1 victory point for each trait it has to the opposing general.

Level 1 Traits

Lucky – be it protection of a diety or just plain luck, these guys can credit a piece of their survival to it. Once per battle reroll successful to hit rolls in the shooting phase and reroll scatter dice for templates that hit the unit.

Fated- This unit is destined for greatness making them tougher to kill. Once per game this unit may reroll failed armor saves.

Steady – This unit has weathered encounters with fierce units and thus may reroll panic tests. If this unit rerolls panic test it must reroll at its own leadership, not that of a general or other modifiers.

Bloodthirsty – This unit craves battle and doubles its effort to cover the battlefield with their enemies blood. This unit may reroll failed rolls “to wound” during the first round of combat.

Dirty Fighting – This unit knows how to cheat to win and is not shy about tossing dirt in their enemies face, going for the knees or biting. In the first round of combat one enemy engaged against this unit is -1 to hit

Nimble Blades – This unit has customized their weapons to be lighter or they are just naturally faster with weapons. This unit gets +1 to their initiative.

Unit Fighting Style – This unit has learned several tricks throughout their campaign and improved their methods of dispatching foes. This unit receives +1 to WS.

Marksmen – this unit does not suffer the first -1 penalty incurred when shooting. If the unit is shooting over half range, it does not suffer -1, If the unit is shooting at skirmishers, under half range it does not suffer -1, but if the unit is shooting at skirmishers over half range it suffers a -1, instead of a -2 total.

Level 2 Traits

Hardened – This unit is tough as nails and will stand to the last man. This unit can reroll all break tests.

Feared – This unit has made a name for itself among its foes for being ruthless in combat and relentless in its treatment of enemies. This unit causes Fear. If the unit already causes fear it then causes Terror.

Protected – This unit has scavenged the battlefields and improved their armor in vulnerable places enemies like to strike. The unit is protected by a +6 ward save.

Deadly Ammo – sharpened arrowheads, heavier shot, regardless of the type of ammunition used, this unit specializes in dealing death from a distance. All armor saves caused by this unit are taken at an additional -1.

Divine Intervention – These fellows carry religious or divine trinkets with them to battle. They know in the time of their greatest need they will be protected. Once per game the unit takes armor saves normally, but is also allowed a +5 ward save.

Dire Charge/Expeditious retreat – this unit throws caution to the wind to get into the fight and adds +1 inch to their charging range, in contrast they also know how to break contact, gain altitude and return to base, receiving +1 inch to their total flee distance.

Expert Flankers – This unit is adept at maneuvering around the battlefield unseen and taking their foes by surprise. Do not deploy this unit normally, instead it is placed in reserves until it is called upon. Starting in the movement phase of turn 2, during compulsory movement sequence, rolled a D6. On the roll of a 4+ the unit enters on the table edge of a flank. Determine the side of the table based on a D6. A roll of 1-3 represents the owning players left side, 4-6 is the right side. If the unit fails to enter on turn to, continuing rolling, turn 3 roll on a 3+, turn 4 a 3+, turn 5 a 2+ and turn 6 an 2+. If the unit fails to enter by turn 6 it is considered destroyed for scoring purposes, obviously they lost their way, were hindered by enemy movements, or went to the local tavern for drinks. The unit enters during compulsory movement phase, thus can not declare charges. The unit may move in the remaining moves phase, but only at regular speed. The unit cannot march due to the cautious nature of its arrival due to surrounding enemies. No characters can be included with the unit, the unit may still shoot or cast magic if it is allowed. The unit counts as moving even if it does not move in the remaining moves phase, for the purpose of calculating shooting.


Players of the campaign feel free to comment publicly on thoughts, changes, questions and concerns in the comment section here, and please follow up with an email to the entire group of players.

~Rafe of Wolf's Rest