„Legends tolds that in Albion is ancient tower hiding powerful knowledge” – Truthsayers words were magical to all knights gathered in Beauville castle great hall. „My lord” – said sir Roget – duc de Beauville son – „Can we go there? This wise men cannot lie, I have contact in Brionne and can provide fleet for us, to go there and get it”. Duc Tancred, wise and brave men heard voices of his knights and guests – „we should take it, for the Lady and for the King”. Duc stand up – all knights and servants fell silent – „sir Roget, my son let’s organize few ships and galleon to protect them, sir Louis – let gather our retinue, we should march to Brionne when sir Roger came back.” Truth sayer, druid of ancient cult of Mother Earth smiled – maybe those knights will help him with ancient problem keeping tower.
So be it, Bretonnians from borderland of Parravon and Quenneles under Duc Tancred de Beauville arrived to misty island of Albion, after several days of march, lead by mysterious Truthsayer they arrived to the mystical tower, but from the mist other force came. „So it begun” – said Duc.
Bretonnian right flank.Damsel Agnes on the right flank.Chaos Knights on left flank.Most of Chaos force was placed on right flank.Strongest Bretonnian units were in front of them. Two headed, mutated by warp Chaos dragon.First turn belonged to horde of Chaos deamons and warriors. First charge belonged to Bretonnian Pegasus knights.They managed to break Chaos Knights, but…… knights rallied.Chaos spawn of Slaanesh charged.Everything moving, situation changed a lot.Flamers of Tzeentch with they god inside moving insanely forwards.As I forgot mounted squires, Marian borrowed me Bergerac bowmens.Lady Agnes spured her horse and moved to cast Master of Woods. Charge! Charge! Charge!Damsel Caroline tried to take down Tzeentch wizard. With damsel Agnes almost destroyed his disc.Trenuchet tried to hit dragon but without success. Misfire was my first effect.Knowing no fear, Knights of the Realm charged. Deamons of Tzeentch came back to Chaos domain.Pegaus knigts charged from back. Grail Knights took almost every charge.Chaos lord was probably in shook smelling wine drunk by young Bretonnians knights – „How they could drink that shit?”Pegaus knights retreated and flying away as fast as possible. Mere yards before reaching archers magic killed wounded spawn.Fight continued with many lack from Bretonnian side in case of morale. Finally remnants of the Knight Errant units said enough and runned away. Dragon used breathe fire and burned some archers with flame and acid. Tzeentch wizard charged on flank, but without doing many loses was without chance and was pursued by Knights of the Realm.Run away lads said lady Caroline.„Who runs away one day, can fight another day.” – old Bretonnian peasant quote.Trebuchet crew did last stand, without chance – but they passed they leadership test before.
Summary: – great game, probably more talk than game as I was there for around 6,5 hour. – we played in 6/7 edition on 2,000 points per side. – we did some mistakes, at least we will not repeat them in the future 🙂 . – Leśnica in Wrocław and going to Marian mansion is trip of around two hours using legs and city communication, still it was good to be there again.
„Somewhere in the north Bretonnia Khorne warriors party landed from the sea and were looking for long forgotten tomb of ancient Khorne warrior, which name was cursed in past and only in they sagas is sung as ‚Bloody whip for Bretonnians’ – damsel of the lady Eleonora had dream about horrors buried in ancient grave, she warned duc Tancred de Beauville to ride forth, as they were on the road in area of tomb – so Bretonnians ordered by they duc had to investigate a tomb, when they appeard – another party emerged from the forest.”
Today we played with Basiorek in Bolter on one thousand points in classical 6th edition of WFB with 7th edition rulebook. Basiorek was playing Khorne army from Norsca or even more to the north, while I was playing my classical Bretonnians from barony of Beauville. As I have to mention some armies from Old World and areas far beyond can be still done with use of current Games Workshop offer – look HERE.
Photos done from Khorne side were done by Basiorek, from my side were done by me.
Both sides deployed, Bretonnians praying to The Lady of the Lake.Knight of the Realm with full command group.Archers in skirmish with full command group.Men at arms with full command group and Joanna – army standard bearer.Both armies from my side.First turn belonged to worshipers of Khorne, then Bretonnians send they infantry forward, while knights were waiting.First charges belonged to Bretonnian side.On Bretonnian left flank mounted squires fought well and pursued Chaos Hounds.If knights do not broke they enemy, they will be fastly overruned…… which happend.On left flank of Bretonnians Grail Knights broke Chaos Knights and mounted squires deal well with Chaos Hounds.Turn four, when Chaos started winning on Bretonnian right flank. Battles standard tried to stop them, finally fled joining Knights of the Realm.Charge!Archers tried to shoot Chosen Chaos Warriors…… but finally decided to flee and live another day.Final 6th turn.
Summary: – at the end we counted scores and Basiorek owned 732 to my 712 – so with such love difference it was draw. – great game on smaller points, hope to repeat it in the close future. – it’s funny, I know Basiorek because of our common friend Klocek for many years and we played a lot of Warhammer: Invasion card game, but it was first time we played tabletop game and it was WFB 🙂 .
„When the dust of battle settled, the crypt was found empty, and the Chosen of Khorne withdrew into the forest with the coffin. Duc Tancred ordered his squires to scout next day, as night fell, a few of the best have convinced the duke to move now.”
Warhammer Fantasy Battle is so called „dead” system – but still there are people who play it. It’s square based system, where units move in formations (although some of them move as skirmishers and few of them circle wheel bases – like Night Goblin fanatics). „Dead” system – system which is not supported by it publisher. Games Workshop (GW) closed line of development for Warhammer Fantasy Battle (called in short WFB) when I started my current job (around 2016). To this day in they offer are many models for Age of Sigmar, which can be used to play in WFB (some of them are models released during 7/8th editions of WFB). So what we had in past? Games Workshop released following armies:
Bad guys were: – Chaos (after 5th edition it was separated on Chaos Warriors, Beastmen and Deamons) – here are all of them, – Chaos Dwarfs, – Dark Elves, – Orcs and Goblins, – Skaven army, – Vampire Counts.
Good guys released: – Bretonnia, – Dwarfs, – Kislev, – High Elves, – The Empire, – Wood Elves (up to 5th edition). So called neutral: – Dogs of War, – Kingdoms of Ogres, – Lizardmen, – Tomb Kings. – Wood Elves (from 6th edition).
Those mentioned are armies that were in WFB, still around half of them can be fielded with the current line of GW models.
When I looked on the shelf in the shop, I realized that probably the easiest armies to be collected now are demons of Chaos.
Nowadays from Games Workshop offer will be impossible to assemble: Bretonnians, Dogs of War, Kislev, Tomb Kings. Not easy but still possible will be creating something for Dwarfs, High Elves, The Empire, Wood Elves. Still many units are not in the offer – but it’s will be mentioned in next article.
What is still avaible in the Games Workshop offer? We will start from bad guys – Grand Alliance Chaos which covers in some way armies from past: Beastmen, Chaos Warriors, Deamons of Chaos and Skavens.
1. Chaos Warriors, old mortal Chaos – now called Slaves to Darkness: – models for characters – wide range, – Chaos Warriors on foot and on horse, – Chaos Marauders on foot and on horse, – Chariots, – Spawns, – character on Manticore.
2. Chaos Beastmen, called now Beasts of Chaos, even better choice than they Northern co-believers: – Gors – typical core infantry, – Ungors – typical cannon fodder, – Ungor Raiders – skirmishers with bows, – Chaos Warhounds, – Bestigors – elite infantry, – Centigors (they are usualy drunk, still avaible), – Dragon Ogres, – Ghorgon, – Cygor, – Cockatrice, – Tuskgor Chariot, – some characters as well.
3. Chaos Deamons with current name in offer as four different demoinc powers, so: a) Blades of Khorne – deamons of Khorne: – there are greater deamon of Khorne – Bloodthirster as well as many other units which were used in WFB in past. Most popular core units from 6th are: – Bloodletters – minor deamons of Khorne, – Flesh Hounds. I don’t remember special or rare units but Mighty Skullcrushers probably appeard in 7th or 8th editions.
b) Disciples of Tzeentch – deamons of Tzeentch: – of course we start with Kairos Fateweaver and Lord of Change as lords, – Horrors of Tzentch, – Screamers of Tzeentch, – Flamers of Tzeentch, – Horrors of Tzeentch, – Burning Charoit of Tzeentch, – some characters as well.
As we can see summoning horde of Tzeentch is even easier than those of Blood God.
c) Hedonites of Slaanesh – deamons of Slaanesh: – at start – Keeper of Secrets and Shalaxi Helbane – both can be used as Greater Deamon of Slaanesh, – Deamonettes of Slaanesh, – Seekers of Slaanesh which looks like Mounted Deamonettes of old, – Seeker Chariot of Slaanesh, – some models which looks like good addition to Chaos Warriors. – some characters as well.
For me not many, but deamonettes could fit well in Cult of Slaanesh from 6th edition Storm of Chaos.
d) Maggotkin of Nurgle – deamons of Nurgle: – at start – Great Unclean One, – Nurglings – small and happy deamons of disease, – Plagueabearers of Nurgle, – Beast of Nurgle, – some characters as well.
It seems all, maybe I missed something for those Chaos power.
e) Skaven army seems to be well covered in Age of Sigmar: – at start named and by many favourite character Thanquol and his rat ogre Boneripper, – Doomwheel – one of those funny stuff you don’t like to come near your cavalry units, – Hell Pit Abomination – effect of Skaven most advanced technology, – Warp Lighting Cannon – another rare unit avaible to Skavens in the GW offer, – Screaming Bell, – Stormvermin – some better infantry unit avaible to the Skaven horde, – Gutter Runners, – Weapon teams – including Ratling Gun, Warpfire Thrower or Warp-Grinder, – Night Runners – another skirmishing infantry, – Plague Censer Bearers, – Rat Ogors, Giant Rats and Packmaster – Rat Ogors – old Rat Ogres, – Clanrats – core unit of many Skaven armies. – Plague Monks, – Warplock Jezzails of clan Skryre, – Verminlord avaible as four different models, – some characters as well.
As I realized that I started writing it some months ago and due lack of time I wasn’t able to publish it I publish it now as part I.
Everyone should remember – that Age of Sigmar uses round bases and WFB uses square bases. In case of getting army books – eBay, Allegro or other internet shop, maybe someone sell it. Of course everything is also in .pdf – I prefer paper books.
Today we played in Bolter.p, Wrocław, PL, 2 on 2 game – building armies around Border Patrol composition from 6th edition. Each army had 500 points – it was 2000 in total on the table. We had ambitious plan to play scenario – but it will wait for better day.
First turn belonged to Chaos Warriors and Skaven – they moved forward.Then Bretonnians and Dwarfs started they turn. Four Dwarf crossbowmen were losed during first turn from Skaven shooting. Then domwheel came on 2nd turn so close.Both knights unit managed to charge and broke doomwheel.Archers and light cavalrty on our right flank performed well.Knights of the Realm charged Skaven, which spread panic among Chaos Warriors……which runned toward Bretonnian knights.Knights Errants came back after chasing Doomwheel off the board.Warpfire flamer took down two young knights. Seeing they friends dying from devil device knights charged – warpfire thrower exploed when they tried to shoot knights.Dwarfs advanced to help they allies. Trolls with stupid faces advanced toward bolt thrower.Eager to show they value Knight Errants charged on the flank.Together they repelled Chaos Warriors.Lone mounted squire fled to save his live.
Summary: – great, fast game. – next time we should play two on two with more points, as some armies works better on more points. – thank you guys for good time!
Today we played with Tomek battle on 1250 points per side, using 7th edition rules. Tomek played Chaos Warriors and I was playing Empire and Kislev force.
Empire and Kislev.
Knights Panthers lead by their captain.
First turn belong to Empire – 6 vs 1 on rolling who is first.
This time cannon managed to destroy chariot.
Chaos spawn in it madness moved fastly forward.
Empire and Kislev light cavalry on flanks
Ungols tried to shoot down enemy beasts.
Leaving last living hound was mistake.
Pistoliers did the same on the other flank.
Spawn charged by knights survived first round of hand to hand combat and was joinded by marauders with flails.
Ungols horse archers declared retreat from Chaos knights. One last hound came to Winged lancers, smelling mear.
Knights Panters armour was too much for northmen – jet they were weakend by spell of Nurgle.
Cannon lost all his targets, as all were in combat.
Ungols managed to kill two Chaos Knights.
After killing Chaos hound lancers rolled too low and were charged by both – Chaos chariot (Dragon Ogre model) and Chaos Warriors.
Few turns later boyar leading unit heavily wounded left field on his loyal steed.
Situation on right flank was better than on left.
Pistoliers joined fight.
First Knight Panther losed in this combat.
Situation of handgunners doesn’t look well.
Knights Panther’s lowering they lances.
Handgunners from Bergsburg left field in panic.
Summary: – it was our first game and first Tomek’s game after eight years. – we played on smaller points and we agreed to play on at least 2,000 points next time. – it was nice game and final result could be something around draw.
🇵🇱 W sobotę, 23.11.2019, udało nam się spotkać w większym gronie i zagrać w stary, dobry Warhammer Fantasy Battle, VII edycję, w formule zbliżonej do turniejowej. Atmosfera była znakomita – zupełnie inna niż na ostatnim turnieju, w którym brałem udział całe wieki temu. Na rozgrzewkę graliśmy na 1000 punktów.
Wielkie podziękowania dla wszystkich zaangażowanych: Dominika z Kostki Domina, Pawła Botora, Planszóweczki oraz wszystkich uczestników.
Pierwsza gra była przeciwko zielonoskórym Pawła „Botora”. Bretonnia ustawiła się w szyku bojowym.
🇬🇧 On Saturday, 23 November 2019, we managed to gather in a larger group and play some old, good Warhammer Fantasy Battle, 7th edition, in a tournament-style format. The atmosphere was excellent – very different from the last tournament I played in ages ago. As a warm-up, we played at 1000 points.
Many thanks to everyone involved: Dominik from Kostka Domina, Paweł Botor, Planszóweczka, and all the participants.
The first game was against Paweł “Botor”’s Greenskins. The Bretonnian battle line was drawn up and ready for battle.
🇵🇱 Podsumowanie: – Świetna atmosfera, fantastyczni ludzie, mnóstwo terenów i pomalowane armie – dokładnie tak, jak powinno wyglądać granie w WFB. – Zająłem pierwsze miejsce od końca, co jest całkiem dobrą motywacją, żeby jeszcze raz przemyśleć własne błędy. – W dwóch grach dostałem porządnie, a w ostatniej również przegrałem wyraźnie, choć tym razem nie była to już masakra. – Powinienem był posłuchać Mariana, ale uparłem się na armię w pełni konną – i to był błąd.
🇬🇧Summary: – I should have listened to Marian, but I insisted on bringing a fully cavalry-based army – and that was a mistake. – Great atmosphere, great people, plenty of terrain, and painted armies – exactly how a game of WFB should look. – I finished last, which is actually a pretty good motivation to rethink my mistakes. – In two games I got beaten badly, and in the last one I also lost clearly, although this time it was not a massacre.
Tancred’s Tabletop Tales 