And More

Connor wants to play Warhammer 40k.  He likes Tau (I do too), so that he has someone to battle I started a small Tyranid army, mostly on their looks.  They are very cool aliens-ie looking.  Here's my first 6 Hormagaunts, only 20 more to go, and they will be... 200 points out of 1500.  Lots of painting in my horizon.

The Battle at Frank's Cove (Part 2)

Cpt. Shae and Gorten were cheerfully playing cards when an out of breath sea dog bursts into the makeshift galley and informs his captain of the imminent battle.  Seeing the look of concern in his friend’s face, Gorten offers his aid.  Shae quickly rounds up as many troops as he can (one full unit of seadogs plus some riflemen), gets 1 ^st Mate Hawk, Lady Ayanna and Mstr. Holt, his Mangler and Buccaneer and sets out to aid Fionna’s defense.  Gorten took his four gunners along with him.

 

By the time they arrive at the battlefield, Fionna has already been defeated, but she has bought enough time for Capt. Shae to set up his defenses.  The assailers have also brought up reinforcements from their ships.  The Trolls have an extra Swamp Troll and an Impaler, Karachev had his Widow Makers disembarked,  and the Cryxian forces added a unit of Bane Knights and Bane Lord Tartarus to the mix.

 

Gorten setup his group mostly to the right of the house, the sea dogs to the left and the jacks in the middle.  The Trolls took the right this time, not wanting to be duped again, Venethrax had the honor of taking the centre and Karachev setup to his left.

 

Charge!

 

The fight was short and brutal.  Unfortunately most of the brutality was inflicted on the pirates.  Lady Ayanna and Master Holt run up to hide behind some low walls, feeling safe from retribution due to range and wallage.  Alas it was not, Master Holt was killed by a well placed shot from Grimm Angus.  In return the pirates did nothing.

 

Gorten vs the Trolls.

After exchanging a few shots and killing a couple of Bane Knights and Mechanithralls, a large melee ensued on Shae’s left.  His brave Sea Dogs managed to kill one of the Cryxian bone jacks and a couple of Winterguard.  Regrettably, his brilliant plan to kill Karachev with the Mangler was unhinged when one of the Winter Guard Rocketeers made four tough saves in a row, blocking the only charge lane.  After that the battle went downhill expeditiously.  Shae was popped by a Widow Maker for ½ his health.  The Mangler wasn’t able to even hit the Khadoran Spriggian that was cuddling next to Karachev, how it missed the 10 foot tall, barely mobile pile of steel is a mistery.  In return they turned it into a pile of scrap.  Best that it was destroyed, lest its cortex survive and cause more mishaps.

 

Shae used to be where the 2 bane knights are.

A couple of Sea Dogs and 1 ^st Mate Hawk charged Bane Lord Tartarus.  The privateers managed to hit, but not kill him, sadly Ms. Hawk missed her first attack, and wasn’t able to kill him with her second.  Lord Tartarus then killed the two seadogs turning them into Bane Knights, who proceeded to charge Capt. Shae and kill him.  Had that not worked, Karachev’s whole command was in a position to damage him.

1st Mate Hawk vs.... everyone, not good odds.

 

On Gorten’s front, his gunners were hitting, but not damaging anything.  Venethrax was hit several times, but due to spells and spare focus his armor was astronomical. Once the Mechanithrals got into hand to hand with the Gunners, they lost all effectiveness.  Gorten went down fighting, unable to kill anything though.  Failed to kill a Bonejack, failed to kill the Satix Sea Witch, failed to kill the Impaler Troll, failed to kill the Swap Troll.  On the other hand, Grimm Anguss and Venethrax did not fail.  They killed him dead.

 

Gorten's last hura!

 

The Battle at Frank's Cove (Part 1)

The battlefield is set, the pirates are defending on the right.

Fiona, in the thick of things, rallying her troops.

The pirates of Frank’s Cove have finally cause enough trouble to demand action.  An allied taskforce of Khadorans with some troll guns for hire in tow have come to put an end to the privateers.  Unfortunately for everyone, a small Cryxian band decided it was time for the pirates to die as well.

 

Crow looking for a better place to hide.

Fiona the Black organized the beach defenses.  Thankfully Crow and his cutthroats as well as a Mule and a talon were available boost her small sea dog band.  Thamar’s blessing was not on her this day though, the Khadorans were lead by Karachev commanding a fearless unit of Winter Guard and a heavy jack, in command of the Trolls was Grimm Angus with his trusty Impaler Throgh’h, Pire Troll and Axer as well as a unit of pig bushwackers.  The Cryxian advance included a unit of Satix raiders with their witch, a horde of Mechanithralls with a brute, and a couple of bone jacks.  Venethrax lead his devlish horde ashore.

 

Arghhh, Cryixians coming

Karachev's amphibious group.

The pirates did not hold much hope that reinforcements would arrive in time, but they held as best as they could.  Crow’s took position behind some walls (figures) on Fiona’s left, the pirate rabble took cover in the ancient ruins to the right and Fiona took the centre with her jacks.  On the beach, Cryx took the far right, the Trolls were dupped into taking the centre and Karachev’s forces deployed on the far left.

 

 

Good mule, good mule.

Troll Axer about to bite it .

The battle started well for the pirate defenders.  The mule managed to kill the Mechanithrall’s Brute as well as a few Satix raiders, Crow’s cutthroats finished all but two of the witches, which promptly failed their morale test, and failed to rally for two more turns.  After finishing the witches, Crow watched as the Troll Axer closed with the mule (but not close enough), he instructed his men to fill it with poisoned arrows.  And fill it they did.  The Axer died to three well placed arrows (excellent dice rolling).  In return, the Mule was scratched by the pig bushwackers and a pirate died to a well placed blunderbuss shoot.

 

 

Things changed once the forces got into melee.  The pirates charged the Winter guard unit, but only managed to kill a couple of the Khadoran pigs.  In return, all but one of the pirates was massacred. 

 

Bushwackers picking off the Mule bit by bit.

 

 

The Mule had one last hurrah! Before its demise, it fired at Venethrax and managed a critical.  This sent him flying on top of his troops, this killed a couple of more mechanithrals and most importantly another of the annoying stichthralls.  It was then shot by the Trolls and charged by Mechanithralls and a bonejack.  The Mule died a heroic death.

 

Fiona looking mightily alone.

 

 By now Fiona was all alone, but she didn’t give up, in a last act of vengeance she used all her magic might to finish off Throgh’h (the Troll Impaler), which had rashly advanced into range.  The died to either:  a charge by Karachev, shot to pieces by Grimm Angus, chopped to pieces by Venethrax, we don’t know.  Her body was not found after the battle but all three officers claimed the honor of killing her.

Death by mechanithralls or .....

Death by Karachev?

It don't matter, death came swiftly.

Battle at "Arrollo Mojado"

The stage is set, a battle must ensue.

The warring factions meet in a small valley bifurcated by a small river.  There are thickets to one side and small hills on the other.

The units are followed by a company breakdown and points (fusiliers - grenadiers - cazadores)

Armies: 

Patriots (792 points):

Jose De San Martin                (204)
Artillery Battery (2 guns)            (88)
7^th Argentine (4-0-1)               (154)
8^th Argentine (4-0-1)               (154)
Militia (3-0-0)                              (48)
Militia (3-0-0)                              (48)
Granaderos a Caballo (2)         (96)

Royalist (784 points):
Jose Ordonez                           (232)
Artillery Battery (2 guns)             (88)
2^nd Burgos (4-0-1)                    (144)
Arequipa (4-0-0)                       (112)
Chiloe(4-0-0)                             (128)
Dragones de la Frontera(2)       (80)

Patriot Setup:

The patriots decide to form up the 7^th & 8^th Argentine Battalions in the centre of their line with the two militia battalions on their left flank and the Granaderos a Caballo on the right.  The artillery was deployed in a small hill to the left.

Royalist setup:

The royalists, having the river closer to them, decided to setup the 2^nd Burgos battalion in line on the centre, with Arequipa & Chiloe formed in column for a quick advance on their right.  The artillery setup on a small hill to their far right and the Dragones de la Frontera took the left flank.

The patriots begin the battle by deploying their artillery further forwards on the hill.  All infantry move forwards and fan out.  The Granaderos A Caballo advance but try to take cover behind the closes forest.  The royalists move forwards as well, Dragones de la Frontera manage to ford the river, Chiloe deploys in line, unfortunately, Arequipa does not and stays in column formation, with the patriot artillery staring down into it.

The royalists get stuck in the river.

Dragones charge Granaderos!

The royalists start the battle on a high note, Dragones de la Frontera successfully charge the Granaderos a Caballo causing a great deal of disorder without suffering much in return.  The Granaderos a Caballo fleed towards their commander, back centre of their lines with Dragones hot on their heels.  Arequipa took some damage from the artillery, the shock prevents its officers from deploying the troops, it remains in column.  2^nd Burgos tries to find a ford in the river, but fails.  Chiloe stands its ground and lets the Artillery have a volley, causing a few casualties and seeding some disorder in the battery.

Dragones take two volleys and the Granadero's charge.

                Seeing the Dragones in their rear San Martin orders the 7^th & 8^th Argentine to do an about face, fortunately for the cavalry the 7^th gets their orders mixed up and just stand their ground.  One of the militia battalions also turns to face the cavalry, evidently San Martin holds them in high regard.  Expecting a fierce volley the Dragones move to get away from the 8^th, almost making it, they take few casualties.  The Granaderos take prudence by the rains and keep moving away from the Dragones towards the cover of the militia battalions.

                On the far royalist side, by the river, 2^nd Burgos manages to start moving across the river, Arequipa finally gets their bearings and deploys in a line, while Chiloe keeps pouring fire into the patriot artillery battery.  The royalist artillery limbers up and begins to move to a more advantageous position.

                Unfortunately for the Dragones, the Patriots get first turn and they unleash a deadly volley into them followed by a charge by the Granaderos a Caballo who had wheeled around and rallied somewhat.  This destroyed the unit.  The 2^nd Burgos and Arequipa keep moving across the river while Chiloe keeps the artillerists’ heads down with some impressive fire.  The royalist artillery advances and sets up behind the river, in a more central position.

Patriot artillery is charged by Chiloe.

                Seeing the patriot artillery suppressed, Chiloe battalion seizes the opportunity and orders a charge, which succeeds in driving the artillery back with no casualties to Chiloe.  Unfortunately for Chiloe, the Granaderos a Caballo managed to get around their own troops and get a nice line on them.  After some musket fire from the Militia battalions the depleted Granaderos charge Chiloe, sealing their doom.  Chiloe repulses the charge and scatters the remaining horsemen from the field of battle.

                In the mean time, 7^th & 8^th Argentine kept pouring fire into Arequipa battalion.  2^nd Burgos, being fairly unscathed, kept moving up field trying to lessen the gap between it and the Argentine battalions.

Chiloe repels the Granaderos a Caballo charge.

                This is where we called the game.  Both sided took casualties, the patriots lost the Granaderos a Caballo and their 2 gun Battery, the royalists only lost the Dragones de la Frontera.  Looking at the remaining battalions, on the royalist side, Arequipa was on the verge of fleeing (only had 2 casualties left), Chiloe was about ½ dead and 2^nd Burgos and the artillery battery were pretty intact.  The patriots were much better off, neither 7^th nor 8^th Argentine had significant casualties and the two militia battalions were unscathed.

Ending positions.  The Royalist battery is to the left, behind 2nd Burgos & the river.

                Twas another fun game, the river proved to be a pain in the arse.  Looking back, 800 points seems to provide a good balance of units for a medium size game.  With setup the game took about 3 hours, again, we had to refer to the rules many times and we also changed a few on the fly. 

The royalist forces marching towards the inevitable.

Dragones de la Frontera before their epic river crossing