Archived from groups: rec.games.miniatures.warhammer (More info?)
Oops, I sent this before it was finished. Here's the complete post.
Right, now the summaries are up month 2 can officially begin, so here's my
second instalment:
THE STORY SO FAR
I have so far managed to assemble a basic core for my army and, as assembling
and painting imaginary models is a lot quicker than assembling and painting the
real thing, I've had time to work out a basic backstory for my army and its
leader. This is deliberately fairly basic and nonspecific - Kourzan's history
can be fleshed out later and I like my characters to start of with something of
a blank slate (if they start their gaming life with a trail of dead
Bloodthirsters left behind them anything they actually do in battle will be
something of a let down, after all...) However, I want to give my army a place
in the events affecting Naggaroth at the moment so a basic backstory is helpful
to give the army a theme. As I've already elected to give my army a ranged
focus supported by fast cavalry, I also wanted to incorporate this into the
backstory.
The tale of Dark Elf nobles is invariably a tale of bloodshed - for those few
who lack the necessary vicious streak, it is the tale of their blood being
shed. That Kourzan of Har Ganeth has survived both as a noble and as a military
commander reveals all that needs to be said of his character.
Kourzan's story contains little that is atypical for one of his kind. He began
his military career as a corsair raiding the coasts of the Old World. His
initiation in the way the Dark Elves wage war was one of cruelty, assassination
and a rise through the ranks that might have been regarded as suspiciously
rapid among lesser races, but which went unremarked among his kin.
As a commander of small raiding parties, Kourzan's attacks were directed
principally against settlements along the Estalian coast. Though most of his
assaults met little resistance he was called upon to engage local garrisons on
several occasions. In these encounters Kourzan exhibited a certain caution as a
commander, preferring to rely on missile fire to weaken the enemy before
committing his corsairs to the fray. A favoured tactic was to allow his enemies
to advance before outflanking them with fast cavalry, cutting them off from
support and from the settlements they were charged with defending.
Although this proved a useful distraction which permitted unengaged raiding
forces from the Black Ark to pillage the defenceless settlements at will,
Kourzan's defensive tactics were those of a military strategist better suited
to large open-field engagements than raiding actions. Kourzan's approach was
regarded as having only a limited application in a raiding party, and during
the events leading to the Chaos incursion into the Empire he was recalled to
Naggaroth. His new command was an army being readied to reinforce the invasion
of Ulthuan, but events overtook these plans. When Morathi's Cult of Slaanesh
revealed itself and marched on Lustria, factions in Naggaroth were quick to
take advantage of the power vacuum left by Morathi's absence, as the Witch King
was still pursuing counter-insurgency measures against the invading High Elves
led by the White Sword of Hoeth.
During this period of political instability individual nobles, once bound by
fear to the Witch King and his consort, found themselves having to judge
shifting political currents and choose sides. The military forces at their
command stayed with their commanders, few of whom wanted to leave Naggaroth and
risk dispossession if they found they had chosen poorly. Kourzan proved to be
politically astute, allying himself with Crone Hellebron who, with the support
of the Temple of Khaine, was quick to secure Naggarond for her cause. In so
doing she became the de facto ruler of Naggaroth in Malekith's absence.
Hellebron was eager to defend her position against Morathi, who she knew would
attempt to retake the city. She ordered the bulk of her forces loyal to her who
had remained in Naggaroth to stand ready for the Cult's attack, and Kourzan was
among those in that faction. However, at the same time Hellebron knows that the
Dark Elves won't tolerate any failure to capitalise on the gains made in
Ulthuan, nor the loss of slaves or revenue from a reduction in raiding
activities. Therefore, with her position secure for the time being, Hellebron
is once again sending forces to fight in Ulthuan and along the coasts of the
Old World. Kourzan and his army are once again being prepared for an assault on
Ulthuan, though it may again be that his force is required elsewhere before
these plans come to fruition.
Now, what do I need in order to assault Ulthuan? Last month I muttered about a
need for Dark Riders - I have £24.50, which isn't quite enough for the minimum
5 Dark Riders I'll need. As it stands my army lacks punch, as all its attacks
(bar those of Kourzan himself) are at S3. Spear-armed Dark Riders could assist
there, but they are fragile and I'd rather buy complete units where possible.
Looking at my options in the army list, I was basically restricted to
characters, the Reaper bolt throwers and the Manflayers if I wanted complete
units. The Manflayers had the advantage of great weapons, but somehow I didn't
see them joining the army until later in its career if only for fluffy reasons.
In the end I decided to go for the option I've criticised WD gamers for doing
themselves - spending the money on character conversions. I justify this on the
basis that I will need magic users at some stage and the sorceress will add
another model to next month's Dark Riders (unless I decide not to get them
again then), and in any case I've still got money left over for a bolt thrower.
So, with all this in mind my purchases this month are:
Morathi body £3
Morathi pegasus left side £2.50
Morathi pegasus right side £2.50
Morathi pegasus head £1
Cauldron of Blood Hag Queen £4
Reaper Bolt Thrower £10
Cold One Knight Standard arm £1.50
Total: £24.50
This would give me the £25 I'd need next month for the Dark Riders and, with
the Dark Elf I still have left over from last month, also gives me the Battle
Standard Bearer ready for when I add the executioners to my army. The sorceress
is a simple conversion - reposing Morathi's spear arm to make the weapon look
more dynamic and giving her the Hag Queen's head. Components from the plastic
set and the Hag Queen's sword could further differentiate the model. At a later
stage I may replace the spear top with a staff top from a DE Sorceress, but
that's not in my budget at the moment. The horse would have the wing holes
filled in with green stuff and the head spikes filed away (not because I don't
like them but to make it look like a more normal DE steed).
My army to date therefore looks like this:
Kourzan, Dark Elf Noble: Great weapon, heavy armour, Sea Dragon Cloak
Dark Elf Noble: Battle Standard Bearer (Hydra Banner). Heavy armour
Dark Elf Sorceress: Level 2. Dispel Scroll, Seal of Ghrond, Dark Steed
30 Dark Elf Warriors (spears, shields, full command)
16 Dark Elf Warriors (repeater crossbows)
Reaper bolt thrower
Total: 1,122pts
Well, pointswise I'm over halfway to my goal of 2,000pts already. Dropping the
standard bearer (let's face it, the Hydra Banner's something of a waste at S3)
will allow me to use this army in 1,000pt games readily enough, though the
sorceress will be rather exposed until next month.
Over to you lot until month 3.
Philip Bowles
Oops, I sent this before it was finished. Here's the complete post.
Right, now the summaries are up month 2 can officially begin, so here's my
second instalment:
THE STORY SO FAR
I have so far managed to assemble a basic core for my army and, as assembling
and painting imaginary models is a lot quicker than assembling and painting the
real thing, I've had time to work out a basic backstory for my army and its
leader. This is deliberately fairly basic and nonspecific - Kourzan's history
can be fleshed out later and I like my characters to start of with something of
a blank slate (if they start their gaming life with a trail of dead
Bloodthirsters left behind them anything they actually do in battle will be
something of a let down, after all...) However, I want to give my army a place
in the events affecting Naggaroth at the moment so a basic backstory is helpful
to give the army a theme. As I've already elected to give my army a ranged
focus supported by fast cavalry, I also wanted to incorporate this into the
backstory.
The tale of Dark Elf nobles is invariably a tale of bloodshed - for those few
who lack the necessary vicious streak, it is the tale of their blood being
shed. That Kourzan of Har Ganeth has survived both as a noble and as a military
commander reveals all that needs to be said of his character.
Kourzan's story contains little that is atypical for one of his kind. He began
his military career as a corsair raiding the coasts of the Old World. His
initiation in the way the Dark Elves wage war was one of cruelty, assassination
and a rise through the ranks that might have been regarded as suspiciously
rapid among lesser races, but which went unremarked among his kin.
As a commander of small raiding parties, Kourzan's attacks were directed
principally against settlements along the Estalian coast. Though most of his
assaults met little resistance he was called upon to engage local garrisons on
several occasions. In these encounters Kourzan exhibited a certain caution as a
commander, preferring to rely on missile fire to weaken the enemy before
committing his corsairs to the fray. A favoured tactic was to allow his enemies
to advance before outflanking them with fast cavalry, cutting them off from
support and from the settlements they were charged with defending.
Although this proved a useful distraction which permitted unengaged raiding
forces from the Black Ark to pillage the defenceless settlements at will,
Kourzan's defensive tactics were those of a military strategist better suited
to large open-field engagements than raiding actions. Kourzan's approach was
regarded as having only a limited application in a raiding party, and during
the events leading to the Chaos incursion into the Empire he was recalled to
Naggaroth. His new command was an army being readied to reinforce the invasion
of Ulthuan, but events overtook these plans. When Morathi's Cult of Slaanesh
revealed itself and marched on Lustria, factions in Naggaroth were quick to
take advantage of the power vacuum left by Morathi's absence, as the Witch King
was still pursuing counter-insurgency measures against the invading High Elves
led by the White Sword of Hoeth.
During this period of political instability individual nobles, once bound by
fear to the Witch King and his consort, found themselves having to judge
shifting political currents and choose sides. The military forces at their
command stayed with their commanders, few of whom wanted to leave Naggaroth and
risk dispossession if they found they had chosen poorly. Kourzan proved to be
politically astute, allying himself with Crone Hellebron who, with the support
of the Temple of Khaine, was quick to secure Naggarond for her cause. In so
doing she became the de facto ruler of Naggaroth in Malekith's absence.
Hellebron was eager to defend her position against Morathi, who she knew would
attempt to retake the city. She ordered the bulk of her forces loyal to her who
had remained in Naggaroth to stand ready for the Cult's attack, and Kourzan was
among those in that faction. However, at the same time Hellebron knows that the
Dark Elves won't tolerate any failure to capitalise on the gains made in
Ulthuan, nor the loss of slaves or revenue from a reduction in raiding
activities. Therefore, with her position secure for the time being, Hellebron
is once again sending forces to fight in Ulthuan and along the coasts of the
Old World. Kourzan and his army are once again being prepared for an assault on
Ulthuan, though it may again be that his force is required elsewhere before
these plans come to fruition.
Now, what do I need in order to assault Ulthuan? Last month I muttered about a
need for Dark Riders - I have £24.50, which isn't quite enough for the minimum
5 Dark Riders I'll need. As it stands my army lacks punch, as all its attacks
(bar those of Kourzan himself) are at S3. Spear-armed Dark Riders could assist
there, but they are fragile and I'd rather buy complete units where possible.
Looking at my options in the army list, I was basically restricted to
characters, the Reaper bolt throwers and the Manflayers if I wanted complete
units. The Manflayers had the advantage of great weapons, but somehow I didn't
see them joining the army until later in its career if only for fluffy reasons.
In the end I decided to go for the option I've criticised WD gamers for doing
themselves - spending the money on character conversions. I justify this on the
basis that I will need magic users at some stage and the sorceress will add
another model to next month's Dark Riders (unless I decide not to get them
again then), and in any case I've still got money left over for a bolt thrower.
So, with all this in mind my purchases this month are:
Morathi body £3
Morathi pegasus left side £2.50
Morathi pegasus right side £2.50
Morathi pegasus head £1
Cauldron of Blood Hag Queen £4
Reaper Bolt Thrower £10
Cold One Knight Standard arm £1.50
Total: £24.50
This would give me the £25 I'd need next month for the Dark Riders and, with
the Dark Elf I still have left over from last month, also gives me the Battle
Standard Bearer ready for when I add the executioners to my army. The sorceress
is a simple conversion - reposing Morathi's spear arm to make the weapon look
more dynamic and giving her the Hag Queen's head. Components from the plastic
set and the Hag Queen's sword could further differentiate the model. At a later
stage I may replace the spear top with a staff top from a DE Sorceress, but
that's not in my budget at the moment. The horse would have the wing holes
filled in with green stuff and the head spikes filed away (not because I don't
like them but to make it look like a more normal DE steed).
My army to date therefore looks like this:
Kourzan, Dark Elf Noble: Great weapon, heavy armour, Sea Dragon Cloak
Dark Elf Noble: Battle Standard Bearer (Hydra Banner). Heavy armour
Dark Elf Sorceress: Level 2. Dispel Scroll, Seal of Ghrond, Dark Steed
30 Dark Elf Warriors (spears, shields, full command)
16 Dark Elf Warriors (repeater crossbows)
Reaper bolt thrower
Total: 1,122pts
Well, pointswise I'm over halfway to my goal of 2,000pts already. Dropping the
standard bearer (let's face it, the Hydra Banner's something of a waste at S3)
will allow me to use this army in 1,000pt games readily enough, though the
sorceress will be rather exposed until next month.
Over to you lot until month 3.
Philip Bowles
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram