Hi! Here’s a battle report from a game I played last week. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed playing and writing it!
Rules
I made my first scenario fort this battle :
Synopsis
The Goblin lords managed to retreat from the last battle as best they could, leaving their troops to be shredded by the Dwarf war machines. As each returned to their respective camps, enough troops remained to attempt a new offensive. However, they needed time to regroup, as Goblins are naturally undisciplined.
A Dwarf scout, despite his short legs, managed to track the Goblin lord back to his camp. This was the place to strike! A lightning offensive could eradicate the Goblin threat from the region once and for all.
Army Composition & Special Rules
- Dwarfs: 1,000-point army.
- Goblins: 650 base points + 650 reinforcement points.
- Special Rule: All Dwarf units gain the Scout special rule.
Reinforcements (Goblins):
At the start of each Goblin turn, roll 1D6 to determine if reinforcements arrive:
- Turn 1: 6+
- Turn 2: 5+
- Turn 3: 4+
- Turn 4+: Automatic (0+)
Reinforcements enter from a board edge within 12" of the table corner (on the Goblin deployment side). They are deployed and act normally, but they cannot charge on the turn they arrive.
Objectives
Primary Objective:
At the end of Turn 6, players earn 1 point per Unit Strength (US) located in the lower part of the map (the Goblin deployment zone), specifically within 12 inches of the camp.
Secondary Objective: The Goblin Totems
Two Goblin totems are placed on the sides of the map. The power of the Chaos Gods lingers here; it will empower Goblins who pray to it or punish those who neglect it.
At the end of each turn, if the player has more US within 3" of a totem than their opponent, they claim its power. Effects are applied immediately and last until the end of the next turn. Roll 1D6 on the following table:
| Roll | Effect |
|---|---|
| 1 | Dwarfs: The stone shatters and becomes unusable; the Dwarfs gain +1 Victory Point for the final tally. Goblins: The unit gains a +3 Morale/Nerve bonus for one turn. |
| 2 | Petrification: A random enemy unit is turned to stone. It gains +2 Defense (max 6+) but cannot move for one turn. |
| 3 | Divine Might: A random allied unit gains Crushing Strength (+1) and Piercing (+1) for one turn. |
| 4 | Corrosion: A random enemy unit loses 2 Defense until the next turn (minimum 2+). |
| 5 | Growth: A random allied unit grows in size, gaining +2 Height and +2 Speed for one turn. Base size remains unchanged. |
| 6 | Divine Wrath: A random unit controlling the totem suffers the wrath of the gods: it takes 1D6+2 hits with Crushing Strength (3). No Morale check is required. |
Army lists
Dwarfs [1000]
Shieldbreakers (Infantry) Regiment [150]
- Mead of Madness [10]
Shieldbreakers (Infantry) Regiment [160]- Brew of Haste [20]
Berserker Brock Riders (Cavalry) Regiment [205]- Hann’s Sanguinary Scripture [10]
Steel Behemoth (Monster (Chariot)) 1 [245]
Flame Priest (Hero (Infantry)) 1 [65]- Fireball (6) [0]
Faber Ironheart [1] (Hero (Large Infantry)) 1 [175]
Goblins [1300]
[Base] Rabble (Infantry) Horde [125]
[Base] Rabble (Infantry) Horde [125]
[Base] Trolls (Large Infantry) Horde [195]
- Det’ Packs [0]
- Staying Stone [5]
[Backup] Fleabag Riders (Cavalry) Horde [285]- Gorp’s Explodo’matic Bangstiks [20]
[Base] Mawpup Launcher (War Engine) 1 [75]
[Base] Sharpstick Thrower (War Engine) 1 [60]
[Backup] Goblin Blaster (Monster (Chariot)) 1 [65]
[Backup] Winggit (Monster) 1 [120]- Bombs Away! [0]
[Backup] King (Hero (Infantry)) 1 [115]- Jareth’s Pendant [15]
- Groany Snark [30]
[Backup] Flaggit (Hero (Infantry)) 1 [65]- Lute of Insatiable Darkness [25]
- Bane Chant (2)
[Base] Wiz (Hero (Infantry)) 1 [70]- Ej Periscope [5]
- Lightning Bolt (3) [20]
- Bane Chant (2) [20]
Battle report
It was during the second afternoon snack that the Goblins heard an unmistakable sound: the heavy, rhythmic thumping of steel boots, accompanied by a low hum of grumbles and growls. The Dwarf contingent had arrived, and they were not in a good mood.
With Big Boss Groarny Snark absent, the Goblins drew straws to decide who would go and see what was happening. Limpfoot was the unlucky winner. To encourage him, his comrades poked him out of the camp with a sharp spear and unintelligible threats.
As he approached the forest, the wretched creature came face-to-face with the Dwarf column. Leading the way was the Steel Behemoth, a mass of smoking scrap metal christened “Old Bertha” by her crew, advancing with the subtlety of a mountain landslide. Limpfoot didn’t even have time to scream: he was flattened by the machine. “Wait, I heard something on the lower right axle,” grumbled the Chief Engineer through his periscope, “we’ll need to check the wheel alignment.”
From the camp, the Supreme Sorcerer Sharlazuk Yellowfinger (only two weeks into his training) watched the scene through his spyglass. “Bah, nobody liked him anyway.” The crowd of Goblins in front of him nodded in agreement.
Magnar Stonebeard, the priest, led the march. To him, this mission was an insult: his King had sent him to sweep away Goblins when there was an ale barrel inventory to finish. However, the recent incursion and the previous Goblin victory had changed his plans: the rest of the vermin had to be cleared out immediately. Magnar stroked his beard, adjusted his reading glasses, and consulted his precious Book of Grudges. “Let’s see… Greenskin section… page 452… ‘Notorious rudeness and sock theft.’ Alright lads, let’s clean this up properly. We’re not staying here all winter.”
Turn 1
The Goblins, outnumbered, were waiting for the return of their King, who had gone to seek reinforcements in neighboring lands. Seeing themselves as more numerous than their opponents (despite their poor fighting skills), they headed toward the sacred stones, blessed just the day before by Sharlazuk to receive the power of the Greenskin god, Stinkwind. However, Goblin gods are fickle and often have surprises in store…
The Trolls, spotting the Behemoth, agreed to share it—a leg or a Dwarf for everyone. They moved into position to receive them. Sharlazuk, meanwhile, threw a few lightning bolts, a spell he was still trying to master. It managed to singe a Dwarf’s beard, while the Goblin artillery pierced a shield. Minor damage, but a win is a win!
Stonebeard was delighted to see so many Goblins approaching. He figured it would save the Dwarfs’ short legs some walking. A crucial choice lay before him: trample the Greenskins to leave them no chance, or attack the Trolls, who were more dangerous? He felt that the ancestral Goblin stones might grant them a power he feared as much as he despised. Therefore, the Brock Riders and Bertha charged the Goblin horde. “The Trolls can wait; they’re next!” The battle was decisive. A green mash dripped onto the grass. As it charged, the Behemoth destroyed the ancestral stone with a deafening crash: no more magic would ever flow from it.
Turn 2
The Trolls were looking for the Behemoth. Their tiny brains couldn’t keep up with its rapid movement and its top speed of 9 km/h. After a minute of searching, they found it and decided unanimously to stand in front of it to see who had the biggest arms— the steel monster or themselves.
On the East flank, the Goblins couldn’t help but charge the Dwarfs. More numerous but far less effective, they could do nothing against the “beer-sacks.” Sharlazuk grew frightened and thought the Trolls were remarkably brave. He positioned himself behind them, barking orders to try and save face. Meanwhile, on the East flank, the Goblin horde saw a regiment of Shieldbreakers. Thinking of their own numbers and size, they liked their odds. A swarm of Goblins fell upon the Dwarfs, who, despite taking a few casualties, did not flinch and managed to push them back.
The Goblin gods are chaotic, and their designs are incomprehensible to anyone with a full brain. Seeing that the horde was failing to break the Dwarf defense, Stinkwind sent a lightning bolt toward the horde, causing heavy losses in their own ranks. Was it to motivate them or to punish their inefficiency? No one will ever know…
The Brock Riders, intoxicated by their latest victory, continued their deadly run, smashing through a makeshift piece of Goblin artillery along the way.
Bertha, the Behemoth, began belching its thickest smoke and charged straight ahead. The Trolls, in their infinite stupidity, thought they could stop the machine with their bare arms. “Twelve tons of hydraulic pressure against flesh and muscle?” the engineer snickered. “That’s mathematically offensive.” The impact was brutal. The Goblins, in their cunning, had strapped twelve barrels of black powder to the backs of the unfortunate Trolls. The explosion could be heard for miles, followed by a long silence. When the smoke cleared, the Dwarfs surveyed the damage: a third of their nearby troops had been wiped out.
With the West heavily guarded by the Dwarfs, Faber Ironheart decided to join the battle on the East flank. The Goblins were trampled by the Dwarf army, but their numbers were such that they resisted the assault. “Not for long!” Faber grumbled.
Turn 3
A war horn sounded. In the distance, the thud of cavalry accompanied by shrill screams and a mechanical whirring signaled the arrival of King Groarny Snark, back with reinforcements. Bursting through the West flank, they moved into position to join the fray. The King and the Winggit targeted the Dwarfs from a distance, who suffered some losses. Sharlazuk, facing the imposing Behemoth, turned tail and ran, screaming curses and firing random lightning bolts into the crowd of Dwarfs in front of him.
His head popped under the weight of the war machine like an egg under a Dwarf’s boot. The Dwarf engineers savored the moment, failing to notice the squad behind them. Panicking, the Brocks refused to charge and preferred to keep a low profile. The Shieldbreakers turned around, ready to face the new threat. On the East flank, the wretched Goblins were finally trampled by Faber and his regiment of Shieldbreakers.
Turn 4
In the West, the Goblin Fleabag Riders advanced toward the Brocks, holding steady to charge as soon as the order was given. Groarny, supported by the Winggit, launched explosives at the Shieldbreaker regiment. Unable to engage them in melee, the Dwarfs were routed. Only Stonebeard remained. Reminiscing about his ancestors, he threw one final fireball at his enemies. But Groarny dodged it using his flying machine and ran him through with his sword. The Goblin sovereign knew many “beardies” remained in the area, but he paused for a minute to savor the moment.
Turn 5
The charge of the Fleabag Riders was decisive. Cavalry against cavalry. Hammers against spears (and explosives). It was a carnage: not a single Brock was spared, though the courage of the Dwarfs was acknowledged among the Goblin ranks (which is rare enough to mention). The dying screams of the Dwarfs reached Faber. Seeing the damage his army had sustained, he decided to sound the retreat. It wasn’t a flight; it was an indignant departure. “We’re leaving! This place stinks anyway, and the beer is poorly brewed!”
Bertha, the Behemoth, backed away belching thick black smoke, serving as a shield for the infantry who retreated in tight ranks, insulting the Goblins’ ancestors with every step. They left behind a scene of slaughter, but above all, a promise: Dwarfs have long memories, and next time, they would bring bigger hammers.
The Goblins celebrated their victory by finishing their snacks, unaware that somewhere in a stone fortress, a scribe was already sharpening his quill to write their names in the Book of Grudges.
The Goblins had won the battle this time, but the Dwarfs firmly intended to wipe this green scum from the region!
Battle Notes:
-
The Sacred Stones dealt 5 damage to the Goblins. Aside from the bonus point earned by the Dwarfs for destroying one of them, the powers provided no benefit during the game, as they targeted units that were not engaged in combat.
-
The Goblin reinforcements arrived just in time: one turn later would have meant their defeat.
-
Bertha wins the trophy for the most damage dealt, massacring a Goblin horde and the Trolls.
-
The Troll explosion caused 5 hits on 3 Dwarf units (plus the Goblin mage), resulting in massive damage.
-
The Brock Riders are truly formidable against Goblins.
-
The Fleabag Riders vs. Brock Riders fight was won solely thanks to a “Vicious” reroll (missing the morale check by only 1).
-
Dwarf magic dealt zero damage.