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While I was mostly kidding with my posts before with the thrush and so on, I do think that arrogance being defeated by someone small, someone that the great power considers irrelevant and unworthy of notice... well, it's kind of a theme in Tolkien's books. The black arrow is just an ordinary arrow. And Bard only succeeds because Smaug is so arrogant and careless that his doesn't notice this small vulnerability.

But I guess in terms of actual rules that might be unsatisfying. Because really, to really be Smaug, he would be able to destroy whole armies by himself. He destroyed a powerful and wealthy kingdom by himself. It wasn't some other great power that killed him, it was his own arrogance, and a small arrow.

 toasteroven wrote:
While I was mostly kidding with my posts before with the thrush and so on, I do think that arrogance being defeated by someone small, someone that the great power considers irrelevant and unworthy of notice... well, it's kind of a theme in Tolkien's books. The black arrow is just an ordinary arrow. And Bard only succeeds because Smaug is so arrogant and careless that his doesn't notice this small vulnerability.

But I guess in terms of actual rules that might be unsatisfying. Because really, to really be Smaug, he would be able to destroy whole armies by himself. He destroyed a powerful and wealthy kingdom by himself. It wasn't some other great power that killed him, it was his own arrogance, and a small arrow.

And that is bad game design.

A monster capable of ruining your opponents solo unless he's lucky at rolling 6s is never a good model to have.

Yeah, you are completely right. I was more going for a general observation of what Smaug would be like if you took the character, as it exists in the books, and put him straight in the game.

I think you'd want rules that allow him to be hurt/killed by great heroes but not volume of fire.

Maybe something like:

Vulnerable spot - A character may choose to target his one vulnerable spot at -5 to WS or BS. Successful hits and wounds to that spot may not be saved and inflict d6 wounds.

You want a ruleset that makes him powerful, but not all-powerful.

Look at the K'daii Destroyer. The rules for that match its fluff, and it's a terrible model.

Yeah, 10 wounds, T10 and what is, almost equivalent to, a 2++ is a bad idea. A simply Scaly Skin (2+) save is more than enough when combined with that statline.

I also think that breath weapon is both a little complicated and a little overpowered. Stick to it being 3D6 (or re-rolls to wound with template) or alternatively being able to fire it every turn (personally think all breath weapons should do this btw)

The Terror thing, again, is also a little over the top. Maybe just stick to Terror, but say that Dwarves take a -1, or even ItP Dwarf models must test.

Chink in the Armour is a nice idea, but a little hard to achieve. I think it'd be better (and more cinematic ) if it was something that could be exploited by any model with the Sniper special rule.

Hatred (Dwarves) and Dwarves hating him, as someone said, is a good addition, and so would be Immune to Psychology.

Other than that, it's good, and I appreciate the effort of bringing this great character to the Warhammer World!

Here is how i would run Smaug

Smaug - 700 points

M___WS___BS___S___T___W___I___A___Ld
6_____7____0____8___8___8____2___*___9

Special Rules: Fly, Instrument of Terror, Flying Weapon. Blacken Scales, Thunderstomp, Killing Blow, Immense Target, In the Hearts of Men, I am Fire I am... Death, Invulnerable, Tiny Chink, Enemy of Dwarves

Special Rules: Monster, Terror, Fly, Instrument of Terror, Flying Weapon. Blacken Scales, Thunderstomp, Killing Blow, In the Hearts of Men, I am Fire I am... Death, Invulnerable, Tiny Chink, Enemy of Dwarves, Immense Target,

Instrument of Terror: Amongst the oldest and largest of Dragons in the known world, Smaug Cause Fear in even Bravest of warriors. Units in Base contact with Smaug must take a fear test, (Even if normally Immune to psychology)

Flying Weapon, Smaug may make one breath weapon attack per round, Smaug use this weapon in one of two ways, Either as ranged weapon using the template within 12” S5, Multiple wound x3 in a straight line from the front arc. Or in Close combat Smaug may use his Breath weapon to do 3d6 S5 x3 instead of normal attacks. No Armour saves may be made against these attacks.

Blacken Scales, Smaugs thick scales protects him from even the mightiest of blows, Smaug has a 1+ Skaly Skin save that cannot be modified above a 4+, In addition he has a 4+ ward Save, and a 2+ WS against Flaming attacks and all spells from the lore of Fire.

Tiny chink: Smaug has but one tiny chink in his armor, when attacking Smaug with a multiple wound or HKB hit that successful wounds, roll an addition D6, 1-5 you have missed your mark, and this rule does not apply. On a roll of a 6 your attack does D3 wounds instead of 1.

I am Fire Iam… Death: A unit that has failed its Instrument of terror check cannot Use the stead fast, Generals Inspiring presence or Hold your Ground special rules.

Immense Target: So large is Smaug that If you can see him he cannot gain cover modifiers.

Enemy of Dwarves, Smaug has the Hated Special rule against Dwarve, Dwarves count as rolling a 6 for the Army Special rule when Smaug is in the opponents army.

Here is how I would run Smaug.


2000 pts

M: 6
WS: 7
Bs: 1
Str: 8
T: 7
W: 10
I: 1
A: 6
Ld10

Unit type: monster

Special Rules: Large Target, Fly,

I am Fire... : Smaug has a Str 5 flaming breath weapon that he may use every turn. If used in combat it causes 3d6 hits instead of 2d6

I am... Death: Smaug is immune to Fear and Terror. In addition he counts as causing Terror, even to models that are normally immune to it.

My armor is Iron: Smaug has a 1+ armor save and a 4+ ward save. His ward save is increased to a 2+ against flaming attacks.

My teeth are like swords: Smaug's melee attacks have Heroic Killing Blow.

The lash of my tail... A Thunderbolt!: Smaug's Thunderstomp causes 3d6 hits instead of d6

Wyrmtongue: Smaug is a lvl2 wizard who knows the Fireball and Fate of Bjuna spells

Not sure about your Tiny Chink rule in the opening post. What about D6 or D3 wound multiplier ranged missiles?