Revenge of the Doomlord - Battle Report

 Revenge of the Doomlord! Classic, classic, battle report and scenario from White Dwarf way back in the day. Mid 90s glory days! Remember it well.

By request, got this one onto the table, but using Midgard rules. Good excuse for me to tidy a few armies up, get some things built that have sat around too long and so on.

This is actually the second time we've played this scenario, having done it circa 2013 but nowhere near as well as we do it nowadays.

One major event in this game was we had to rerack slightly, due to the Undead commander getting a *bit* too overconfident with Dieter Helsnicht and getting him killed way way way too early, effectively ending the game haha. You know who you are!

Part 1

As the undead begin assembling and it became obvious a battle was to happen, there was a scramble for Imperial reinforcements from the North. Helsnicht diverted off all of his cavalry to meet this and tie them up, allowing his main lines to concentrate on attacking the town.

Accordingly, a smaller game using Erehwon rules happened a couple of days prior to the main game, with the results being kept secret to the GM, who would control the winners as appropriate reinforcements. This meant the players on the day knew something was going to turn up, but no idea what.

Each model was treated as a standalone activation, to promote the skirmish elements of this encounter.

Undead cavalry waiting their moment. They have all the time in the world.

Imperial cavalry arrives

Outrider heads straight out and shoots down the closest wight, signalling the advance

It very soon became a complete confusion of individual fights, but who would win?

Part 2

Table setup, with the village of Beeckerhoven waiting on the undead advance

Imperial positions

Undead begin their long advance towards the walls and town

Almost immediately the Doomlord swoops straight towards the village to menace the place.

At this point, he got himself killed by that mounted Imperial commander, so we had to rewind and start again from a suitable point.

So, Undead then begin pushing into the town with their faster moving units, while the main lines follow rapidly.

Pressure starts to tell on the defenders, who are doing a decent job of it, but being forced back

Just in time, the Imperial reserves begin arriving, under cover of a magical fog.

Poor skeletal crossbowyers find a bloody great war wagon charging out of the mist at them suddenly.

The reserves from the North appear (as they were successful at breaking through in part 1 above) and attack the undead supporting artillery.

Combat reaches the main defensive line, who need to hold until those reserves can march to assist.

Steam tank blows up on arrival, because of course it does.

Lines begin to buckle under attack from all sides.

War wagon crushes ANOTHER unit.

Imperial reserves start piling into the undead flank, forcing them to redraw their lines.

and it finishes with another combat between commanders, before Helsnicht takes to the air and leaves the armies to their fate.

Final result: Undead victory on table, Empire moral victory.

Great fun, great game, in spite of the fuck up early doors (I said be careful!)