for this kind of smaller skirmish/scouting party narrative game, I recommend adding a 'no behemoths' agreement to the 'no lords' and 'no unique heroes'.
Got the game in, did have to play against my own boys - piloted by my bro, but he's not familiar with Old World so it was more or less playing against myself. Disciples of Arkhan (tomb kings mortuary cult, me) ++ Characters [304 pts] ++ Mortuary Priest [147 pts] (Hand weapon, Level 2 Wizard, General, Skeletal Steed, Talisman of Protection, Scarab Brooch, Necromancy) Mortuary Priest [157 pts] (Hand weapon, Level 2 Wizard, Battle Standard Bearer, Skeletal Steed, Warding Splint, Necromancy) ++ Core Units [340 pts] ++ 5 Skeleton Horse Archers [71 pts] (Hand weapons, Warbows, Light armour, Chariot Runners, Master of Horse (champion)) 5 Skeleton Horse Archers [71 pts] (Hand weapons, Warbows, Light armour, Chariot Runners, Master of Horse (champion)) 2 Tomb Swarms [78 pts] (Hand weapons (Venomous bites and stings), Ambushers) 3 Necroserpents [120 pts] (Lashing tails and venomous fangs (Hand weapons), The Terrors Below) ++ Special Units [355 pts] ++ Tomb Scorpion [77 pts] (Decapitating claws, Envenomed sting, Heavy armour (Bone carapace), Ambushers, The Terrors Below) Tomb Scorpion [77 pts] (Decapitating claws, Envenomed sting, Heavy armour (Bone carapace), Ambushers, The Terrors Below) 3 Skeleton Chariots [147 pts] (Hand weapons, Cavalry spears, Warbows, Master Charioteer (champion), Standard bearer, Musician) 2 Carrion [54 pts] (Hand weapons (Beaks and talons)) --- Created with "Old World Builder" [old-world-builder.com] vs. The Barrow Host (vampire counts, my bro) ++ Characters [341 pts] ++ Vampire Thrall [221 pts] (Hand weapon, No armour, Level 1 Wizard, General, Nightmare, The Flayed Hauberk, Biting Blade, Master Of The Black Arts, Supernatural Horror, Dark Magic) Wight Lord [120 pts] (Lance (when mounted), Heavy armour, Shield, Battle Standard Bearer, Skeletal Steed, Talisman of Protection, Burning Blade) ++ Core Units [250 pts] ++ 5 Dire Wolves [46 pts] (Claws and fangs (Hand weapons), Doom Wolf) 5 Dire Wolves [46 pts] (Claws and fangs (Hand weapons), Doom Wolf) 5 Black Knights [158 pts] (Lances, Skeletal Hooves, Heavy armour, Shield, Barding, Hell Knight, Standard bearer, Musician) ++ Special Units [158 pts] ++ 5 Black Knights [158 pts] (Lances, Skeletal Hooves, Heavy armour, Shield, Barding, Hell Knight, Standard bearer, Musician) ++ Rare Units [249 pts] ++ 5 Blood Knights [249 pts] (Hand weapons, Lances, Iron-Shod Hooves, Full plate armour, Shield, Barding, Kastellan [Lord Of The Night], Standard bearer) --- Created with "Old World Builder" [old-world-builder.com] ++ Narrative ++ Through ghastly divination and careful study of a captured library in Araby, Arkhan the Black had discovered the approximate location of certain relics of Nehekhara that might prove useful to his efforts to revive his fell master. These relics, plundered by grave robbers centuries ago, he now believed to be buried in a series of long forgotten barrows in the old world, the graves of petty kings and tribal chieftans who rose to power on their stolen wealth, only to die out and be forgotten by history. Arkhan's attentions at the time were focused squarely on Khemri, as Settra's campaign in the north provided a prime opportunity to strike at Nehekhara's capitol and perhaps even reclaim the Black Pyramid itself, so instead of retrieving the artefacts himself he chose to send his disciple Sethon, one of his most capable disciples, to find the hidden barrows and retrieve their treasure. Sethon knew the barrows would likely be defended by the skeletal remains of the grave robber kings and their servants, their corpses animated by the fell power of the artefacts they stole. But the ancient liche, steeped in necromantic power, was confident that he could compel the obedience of such lesser undead. His plans of returning to Arkhan with both the artefacts and a new undead host to wield against Khemri were dashed, however, when one of his army's advance scouting parties discovered one of the hidden barrows. They found that it had already been occupied and its skeletal defenders conscripted by a coven of vampires, survivors of the Von Carstein wars and refugees from the Scouring of Sylvania. As the scouting party made their way back towards Sethon's main host with news of the barrow's location and the vampire threat, a hunting party of the vampires and their minions raced ahead to cut them off. ++ Battle Report ++ With no infantry in the Vampire Counts hunting party, one of the key weapons of the Tomb Kings force - the terror's below - was rendered useless. Worse, though they were able to shut down the opposing vampire's blasts of dark magic, the necromantic superiority of Sethon's students was itself largely wasted, as their undead opponents were little affected by leadership penalties and psychological attacks. Expendable chaff units on both sides were sacrificed while the main offensive units tried to position for advantageous charges. When combat was finally met in earnest, the Tomb Scorpions were able to bring down the wight lord battle standard bearer and shred through most - but not all - of his black knight retinue. However, the superior force and armour of the enemy heavy cavalry, particularly the fearsome blood knights, eventually won out, smashing through the necroserprents, chariots, and even the scorpions, before turning on the liche priests. Deciding discretion was the better part of valour, the liche priests sacrificed one unit of horse archers to delay pursuit. This, along with the Incantation of the Desert Wind, bought just enough time for the remaining horse archers and both liche priests - all that remained of the scouting party, to escape the battle. ++ Victory Points ++ Barrow Host victory points 71 - 5 horse archers slain 78 - 2 tomb swarms slain 77 - tomb scorpion slain 77 - tomb scorpion slain 120 - 3 necroserpents slain 147 - 3 chariots slain 50 - chariot banner captured 54 - 2 carrion slain 674 total victory points Disciples of Arkhan victory points 120 - wight lord slain 50 - bsb slain 46 - 5 dire wolves slain 46 - 5 dire wolves slain 40 - 5 black knights reduced to under 25% 302 total victory points Result: Crushing Victory for the Barrow Host ++ Post-Battle Narrative ++ A malignant halo of dark magic cracked and shimmered around Sethon, attesting to the anger concealed behind his expressionless burial mask, as his acolytes recounted how the unexpected vampiric opposition had claimed his prize and destroyed a scouting party full of precious animated constructs. This news after other scouting parties had reported sighting multiple mortal armies in the region. It seemed Arkhan was not the only one to have discovered the location of these forgotten tombs and their treasures, and now it seemed a simple retrieval mission was going to become a long and complicated campaign. Though he seethed beneath the surface, the ancient rasp of Sethon's voice remained steady as he thanked his servants for their report, and dismissed them from his presence. Once he was alone, he opened a sealed, gilded chest in the corner of his tent, and began picking through the ancient scrolls within. Against the malignant power of vampires, necromantic mastery alone would not suffice. But necromancy was far from the extent of Sethon's arcane talents....
I really like the extra fluff - great stuff and thanks for putting in the effort. I will attempt to incorporate some of it in the story for the next round
Currently looking at this for a scouting party: Disciples of Arkhan (using Mortuary Cult rules) scouting party - priest, skeletal steed, lv2, necromancy, general, talisman of protection, scarab brooch - priest, skeletal steed, lv2, necromancy, bsb, warding splint - 5 horse archers, light armor, chariot runners, champion - 5 horse archers, light armor, chariot runners, champion - 3 necroserpents, terrors below - 2 tomb swarms, ambushers - 3 chariots, full command - tomb scorpion, ambushers, terrors below - tomb scorpion, ambushers, terrors below - 2 carrion 999 points I like this as a scouting party with everything mounted or flying or ambushing. Multiple necromancy casters should still that 'Arkhan the Black' feel even though this game is too small to properly represent him. The light armor and chariot runners on the horse archers are kind of wasted points, but I needed them to hit the mortuary cult's increased core requirement. In a more typical thousand point mortuary cult list I'd have extra core stuff in the form of some slower blocks of ushabti or spearletons, but that would cut into the scouting party feel.
for this kind of smaller skirmish/scouting party narrative game, I recommend adding a 'no behemoths' agreement to the 'no lords' and 'no unique heroes'.
Results of my first mission was a narrow victory for my warriors of chaos! 879 points against 786 points for Rob’s high elves. 😈
Good work and thanks for posting the score
Got the game in, did have to play against my own boys - piloted by my bro, but he's not familiar with Old World so it was more or less playing against myself.
Disciples of Arkhan (tomb kings mortuary cult, me)
++ Characters [304 pts] ++
Mortuary Priest [147 pts] (Hand weapon, Level 2 Wizard, General, Skeletal Steed, Talisman of Protection, Scarab Brooch, Necromancy)
Mortuary Priest [157 pts] (Hand weapon, Level 2 Wizard, Battle Standard Bearer, Skeletal Steed, Warding Splint, Necromancy)
++ Core Units [340 pts] ++
5 Skeleton Horse Archers [71 pts] (Hand weapons, Warbows, Light armour, Chariot Runners, Master of Horse (champion))
5 Skeleton Horse Archers [71 pts] (Hand weapons, Warbows, Light armour, Chariot Runners, Master of Horse (champion))
2 Tomb Swarms [78 pts] (Hand weapons (Venomous bites and stings), Ambushers)
3 Necroserpents [120 pts] (Lashing tails and venomous fangs (Hand weapons), The Terrors Below)
++ Special Units [355 pts] ++
Tomb Scorpion [77 pts] (Decapitating claws, Envenomed sting, Heavy armour (Bone carapace), Ambushers, The Terrors Below)
Tomb Scorpion [77 pts] (Decapitating claws, Envenomed sting, Heavy armour (Bone carapace), Ambushers, The Terrors Below)
3 Skeleton Chariots [147 pts] (Hand weapons, Cavalry spears, Warbows, Master Charioteer (champion), Standard bearer, Musician)
2 Carrion [54 pts] (Hand weapons (Beaks and talons))
--- Created with "Old World Builder" [old-world-builder.com]
vs. The Barrow Host (vampire counts, my bro)
++ Characters [341 pts] ++
Vampire Thrall [221 pts] (Hand weapon, No armour, Level 1 Wizard, General, Nightmare, The Flayed Hauberk, Biting Blade, Master Of The Black Arts, Supernatural Horror, Dark Magic)
Wight Lord [120 pts] (Lance (when mounted), Heavy armour, Shield, Battle Standard Bearer, Skeletal Steed, Talisman of Protection, Burning Blade)
++ Core Units [250 pts] ++
5 Dire Wolves [46 pts] (Claws and fangs (Hand weapons), Doom Wolf)
5 Dire Wolves [46 pts] (Claws and fangs (Hand weapons), Doom Wolf)
5 Black Knights [158 pts] (Lances, Skeletal Hooves, Heavy armour, Shield, Barding, Hell Knight, Standard bearer, Musician)
++ Special Units [158 pts] ++
5 Black Knights [158 pts] (Lances, Skeletal Hooves, Heavy armour, Shield, Barding, Hell Knight, Standard bearer, Musician)
++ Rare Units [249 pts] ++
5 Blood Knights [249 pts] (Hand weapons, Lances, Iron-Shod Hooves, Full plate armour, Shield, Barding, Kastellan [Lord Of The Night], Standard bearer)
--- Created with "Old World Builder" [old-world-builder.com]
++ Narrative ++
Through ghastly divination and careful study of a captured library in Araby, Arkhan the Black had discovered the approximate location of certain relics of Nehekhara that might prove useful to his efforts to revive his fell master. These relics, plundered by grave robbers centuries ago, he now believed to be buried in a series of long forgotten barrows in the old world, the graves of petty kings and tribal chieftans who rose to power on their stolen wealth, only to die out and be forgotten by history. Arkhan's attentions at the time were focused squarely on Khemri, as Settra's campaign in the north provided a prime opportunity to strike at Nehekhara's capitol and perhaps even reclaim the Black Pyramid itself, so instead of retrieving the artefacts himself he chose to send his disciple Sethon, one of his most capable disciples, to find the hidden barrows and retrieve their treasure.
Sethon knew the barrows would likely be defended by the skeletal remains of the grave robber kings and their servants, their corpses animated by the fell power of the artefacts they stole. But the ancient liche, steeped in necromantic power, was confident that he could compel the obedience of such lesser undead. His plans of returning to Arkhan with both the artefacts and a new undead host to wield against Khemri were dashed, however, when one of his army's advance scouting parties discovered one of the hidden barrows. They found that it had already been occupied and its skeletal defenders conscripted by a coven of vampires, survivors of the Von Carstein wars and refugees from the Scouring of Sylvania.
As the scouting party made their way back towards Sethon's main host with news of the barrow's location and the vampire threat, a hunting party of the vampires and their minions raced ahead to cut them off.
++ Battle Report ++
With no infantry in the Vampire Counts hunting party, one of the key weapons of the Tomb Kings force - the terror's below - was rendered useless. Worse, though they were able to shut down the opposing vampire's blasts of dark magic, the necromantic superiority of Sethon's students was itself largely wasted, as their undead opponents were little affected by leadership penalties and psychological attacks.
Expendable chaff units on both sides were sacrificed while the main offensive units tried to position for advantageous charges. When combat was finally met in earnest, the Tomb Scorpions were able to bring down the wight lord battle standard bearer and shred through most - but not all - of his black knight retinue. However, the superior force and armour of the enemy heavy cavalry, particularly the fearsome blood knights, eventually won out, smashing through the necroserprents, chariots, and even the scorpions, before turning on the liche priests. Deciding discretion was the better part of valour, the liche priests sacrificed one unit of horse archers to delay pursuit. This, along with the Incantation of the Desert Wind, bought just enough time for the remaining horse archers and both liche priests - all that remained of the scouting party, to escape the battle.
++ Victory Points ++
Barrow Host victory points
71 - 5 horse archers slain
78 - 2 tomb swarms slain
77 - tomb scorpion slain
77 - tomb scorpion slain
120 - 3 necroserpents slain
147 - 3 chariots slain
50 - chariot banner captured
54 - 2 carrion slain
674 total victory points
Disciples of Arkhan victory points
120 - wight lord slain
50 - bsb slain
46 - 5 dire wolves slain
46 - 5 dire wolves slain
40 - 5 black knights reduced to under 25%
302 total victory points
Result: Crushing Victory for the Barrow Host
++ Post-Battle Narrative ++
A malignant halo of dark magic cracked and shimmered around Sethon, attesting to the anger concealed behind his expressionless burial mask, as his acolytes recounted how the unexpected vampiric opposition had claimed his prize and destroyed a scouting party full of precious animated constructs. This news after other scouting parties had reported sighting multiple mortal armies in the region. It seemed Arkhan was not the only one to have discovered the location of these forgotten tombs and their treasures, and now it seemed a simple retrieval mission was going to become a long and complicated campaign.
Though he seethed beneath the surface, the ancient rasp of Sethon's voice remained steady as he thanked his servants for their report, and dismissed them from his presence. Once he was alone, he opened a sealed, gilded chest in the corner of his tent, and began picking through the ancient scrolls within. Against the malignant power of vampires, necromantic mastery alone would not suffice. But necromancy was far from the extent of Sethon's arcane talents....
I really like the extra fluff - great stuff and thanks for putting in the effort. I will attempt to incorporate some of it in the story for the next round
Thanks! Feel free to change or rewrite any of it to better fit the overall campaign story, of course.
Lets see if I can talk my room mate into a game. He was hype for old world when it released, but recently has been more invested in blood bowl.
Currently looking at this for a scouting party:
Disciples of Arkhan (using Mortuary Cult rules) scouting party
- priest, skeletal steed, lv2, necromancy, general, talisman of protection, scarab brooch
- priest, skeletal steed, lv2, necromancy, bsb, warding splint
- 5 horse archers, light armor, chariot runners, champion
- 5 horse archers, light armor, chariot runners, champion
- 3 necroserpents, terrors below
- 2 tomb swarms, ambushers
- 3 chariots, full command
- tomb scorpion, ambushers, terrors below
- tomb scorpion, ambushers, terrors below
- 2 carrion
999 points
I like this as a scouting party with everything mounted or flying or ambushing. Multiple necromancy casters should still that 'Arkhan the Black' feel even though this game is too small to properly represent him. The light armor and chariot runners on the horse archers are kind of wasted points, but I needed them to hit the mortuary cult's increased core requirement. In a more typical thousand point mortuary cult list I'd have extra core stuff in the form of some slower blocks of ushabti or spearletons, but that would cut into the scouting party feel.
What board size do you reckon? I’m tempted to go 4x4 at 1000pts, but maybe 4x6 would be better?
Go with what you can. I'd say 4x6 gives you a better space to represent the battle of pace and maneuver you might expect from scouting forces clashing