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2015/08/28 02:05:48
Subject: The Triskelion War Game 1: Riot (PICS - fully painted armies, terrain etc)
Welcome to our newest and most ambitious campaign yet. The Triskelion war will be played over multiple worlds in the same system, from Hive cities, to strange moons, the cold of the void and across blasted trench systems as the war expands.
The main protagonists are the Imperium, the Eldar and Chaos, but the armies present include PDF, armed civilians, cultists, renegades, Arbites, Sisters of Battle, the Inquisition, Ecclesiarchy, marines, Traitor Legions, Harlequins, Craftworld Eldar, Mechanicus, Dark Mechanicus, Imperial Guard (Death Korps of Krieg, Droop Troops, Rangers, Armoured Battle-groups) and later in the campaign, Titans from all the main combatants.
All the models and terrain will be from the collections of our little wargaming band. Everything used in the campaign will be painted and modelled to a high standard. Most of us have completed multiple new armies to field in the Triskelion War.
Introduction
The Triskelion system (try-SKEE-lee-on) is in a galactic backwater, marginal in most respects but currently of slightly increased use to the Imperium by way of being close enough to Cadia to support efforts against the 13th Black Crusade. It has 17 planets.
System Overview
Triskelion I
Deathworld (lava). Penal colony maintained by Arbites, includes low-value wards of the Inquisition
Triskelion II
Chemworld. Promethium mines present. Production is marginal, but currently of use in support of Cadia. A small Space Marine garrison present.
Triskelion V
Hive/Agri world. System capital and main inhabited planet. Marginal atmosphere, marginal agriculture – historic farming techniques are being abandoned, with the land being progressively converted to more efficient protein-vat farms.
The five hive cities (Ameti, Brodal, Chote, Dukat and Erd) are concentrated on the single large continent, with only small scattered subsistence farming/fishing on the islands. The hive cities are relatively evenly spaced around the coast, with the centre of the continent until recently of no economic use due to harsher climactic conditions.
The atmospheric and climactic conditions, combined with the need for stronger constitutions to work in the Promethium mines on Triskelion II, means abhumans of various types are not uncommon in any of the hives. Small communities entirely of abhumans can be found in the more remote parts of the planet, and in the dorms on Triskelion II.
Increasingly, Triskelion’s Imperial tithe has been met by manpower, both from the hives and from the defunct farming communities. This has been managed in a creative fashion, by bringing in remnants of destroyed units from the frontlines. These experienced cadres are absorbed into the PDF and fleshed out with local conscripts, retaining the skills and knowledge of the remaining veterans while preserving time-honoured traditions and uniforms along the way. The revitalised unit is exported when it has been fully re-equipped and trained, and re-inducted into the Imperial Guard.
For this reason, the centre of the continent has become a training grounds, covered in random trenchlines, bunkers and craters. The hive cities have also gained significant stockpiles of equipment, both from the remnants units exchanging their older gear, and from Adeptus Mechanicus warehouses and manufactoria present in each city.
A small but continuous stream of commercial trade runs through the main starport (outside the primary hive city, Ameti), as a waystation between the outer regions and the Core.
Triskelion VI Dead world (ash waste). Inquisition interdiction maintained by a small force of Grey Knights. Known to few now living, this world was an Eldar planet subjected to Exterminatus in earlier times.
Triskelion VII
Asteroid Belt. A solar anomaly, the belt is far larger than usual for an unformed planet (the usual origin of an asteroid belt) and contains fragments at least one world, and possibly several, that were once both whole and inhabited. Xenos archaeotech has been found from time to time, drawing imperial scholars and treasure hunters alike.
Triskelion VIII
Gas giant. Minor gas mining activities. The Ecclesiarchy maintains a shrine to St Celestine on the largest moon, pilgrims and the Ministorium functionaries being guarded by a small priory of Sisters of Battle.
Triskelion XVII
Dead world (no atmosphere). The Imperial Navy man a small station on this cold rock to monitor and maintain pickets and warning stations at the outer markers of the system.
Government
Based in Ameti, the Planetary Governor and local Colonel of the Imperial Guard, Alois Phineas regards Triskelion V as his retirement plan – the best Governorship money could buy; by “voluntary tithe”, of course. This far out the Imperium cares little how planets are run, as long as tithes are met and commitment to the empire is unquestioned.
Phineas has carefully cultivated an image of a jovial, toadying and moderately ineffective political appointee, becoming widely known to all factions as “Fat Phineas”. His background as a retired Rogue Trader is known to only his closest associates.
Prior ties to Rogue Traders have served Phineas well, drawing much of their trade through Ameti spaceport; most of it is even legitimate.
Likewise, he works hard to maintain relations with all Imperial agencies in the system, seemingly bumbling his way into relationships where favourable outcomes for the agencies have nevertheless established wide networks of obligations owed and favours due.
The best of the cadred units sent to Triskelion for rebuilding have found their way into Phineas’ personal regiment, “Phineas’ Few”. Similarly, not all of the archaeotech is ceremonially turned over to the Ecclesiarchy Inquisitors or Adaptes Mechanicus Techno-mages.
Under Phineas, Ameti has rapidly become dominant among the five hives.
Current Situation
A few months ago civil disturbances – never unknown in any hive – began to escalate in all the hives. With Phineas’ PDF assisting the Arbites those in Ameti have so far been kept in hand, but the other hive cities have gone ominously quiet.
Communications – always patchy due to atmospheric conditions – have ceased altogether. A PDF column sent a week earlier to investigate Brodal has not been heard from since.
Today, a small delegation from Erd arrived and sought conference with Phineas, purportedly to put him in the picture regarding events to date. Sequestered with Phineas and his advisors, they openly attempted to bring him to the side of chaos – first with honeyed words and bribery, then by force. In the ensuing fight all the chaos delegates were slain
By some arcane means, the death of the last chaos delegate was the signal for a general uprising in Ameti.
Phineas looked over the smoking barrel of his master-crafted bolt pistol at the corpse of the last delegate at his feet – their cloaks and robes had hidden hideous mutations, natural weapons that passed all scanners.
“Imagine them thinking I’d want to join them! Tentacles, claws, boils – where’s the profit in that? Time to call in my markers I think, and put a stop to this.”
Forces and Factions
Spoiler:
Forces and Factions
Adeptes Arbites
Police the hive cities and staff the penal colony.
Adaptes Astartes
Small garrison guarding Triskelion II and at the naval base on Triskelion XVII. Others may be in transit to the front.
Grey Knights
Small picket on Interdiction duty Triskelion VI
Inquisition Three separate parties: one overseeing the Interdiction, another monitoring for proscribed archaeotech from the asteroid belt, a third recently arrived to follow up reports from Astropaths of disturbances in the warp at Triskelion.
Ecclesiarchy
Strong presence at St Celestine’s shrine, significant presence in Ameti to manage pilgrims, standard presence in other hives.
Sisters of Battle
Small priory at St Celestine’s shrine.
Imperial Guard/PDF
Strong presence in all hives. Given the nature of tithing on Triskelion, these are of all sizes and types, with a wide variety of equipment to be seen.
Adaptes Mechanicus
Present in all five hives to support the rebuilding of units, they also have an interest in the archaeotech from the asteroid belt. Technomancers have divined the presence of a major xenos relic in the belt.
Invisible to outsiders, the Mechanicus in the Triskelion system have a strong proportion following of the Omnissiah schism.
Commissariat Standard presence for an IG recruiting world.
***************************************
Eldar The Eldar have long monitored the Mon Keigh from the Webway following the desecration of their world. One of their revered ancient titans was secreted in the belt before their world died, and they are now in a position to recover it.
If a little revenge was to accompany this, all the better.
***************************************
Chaos Infiltrators have long been at work in the hive cities to disrupt support for Cadia, and have significant followings of cultists, mutants and traitor loyalist units (some unknowingly).
Each of the four fallen hives has been dominated primarily by followers of one of the chaos gods. Armouries have been opened, and renegades already march on Ameti.
Small warbands of Chaos Space marines have already started arriving – whether for the glory or to pursue portents of a significant relic are unknown yet.
Various reinforcements are in transit, via normal space and from the warp.
Should Chaos learn the true nature of the relic, competition among the factions to capture it for the glory of their specific god is likely to be fierce….
Like all great wars, it just takes a spark to ignite the conflagration....
Game One – Riot (thanks to Derek for taking up the writing baton)
Having recently survived an ambush by a delegation from the other four hives on Triskelion, Col. Phineas (planetary governor and ranking IG officer on Triskelion) is called on to quell riots - armed civilian mobs are getting out of hand.
In keeping with a civil action, heavy and special weapons have not yet been issued.
Loyalist OB: Phineas Cmd Squad, three squads of Antipodean Ranger recruits (10 strong, lasguns and grenades only) and one PDF squad
Insurgent OB: Three mobs of civilians (10-15 strong, autoguns only), six squads of cultists (10 strong, autoguns only or autopistol and hand weapon only)
Deployment: (6x4) The loyalists and civilians are randomly placed around the board, and two cultist squads turn up each turn, starting with turn one (entry point randomly determined for each squad). Loyalists have the first turn.
Objectives: Insurgent objective is to kill all the loyalists; the loyalist objective is to assemble and survive, if necessary by withdrawing from the table.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Colonel Phineas and retinue
The situation is fluid – who are loyalists and who are insurgents?
Armed civilians have taken to the streets
More boil from every building
Ominously, some of the ‘civilians’ look quite fanatical and well organised
Phineas and retinue are caught in a crossfire between rioters and Ranger recruits + PDF units who have arrived on scene
[
Civilians charge the Rangers; not many make it to contact, and fight is short and bloody
Phineas remembers discretion can be the better part of valour, and takes cover.
An odd moment – PDF troops seeking a comms point (secondary objective) pass cultists trying to reach Phineas. This doesn’t work out well for the PDF squad.
More cultists arrive….
…and more…
Phineas and the last surviving Ranger recruits begin to withdraw
The insurgents spot the retreat, and rush to intercept
The loyalist units have to battle their way clear
Ultimately however, the effort to wipe out the first two recruit squads has left the insurgents too far from Phineas to stop him getting away.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Phineas turns to his remaining staff “That was a little too close – this is no ordinary riot, we need to get help.”
A fascinating game, and the low tech starting forces gave a real “riot” feel.
The Civilians (cultist stats, lower Ld) were remarkably effective with Rapid Fire 24” autoguns – too effective. After some discussion we decided in future games we will run them as having single shot Assault 18” ‘civilian weapons’ (similar to Ork shooters).
Next Game: Now Phineas needs rescuing from a hive sector gone mad. Time for the Arbites to don the riot gear….
This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2018/05/30 01:36:56
The decals on the Cadians. You need to gloss varnish then matt varnish the shoulder pads so you can't see the transfer clear back ground that GW decals have.
As for the civilians, why not give them pistols instead? It suits what most of them are armed with and makes them a lot less effective.
2015/08/28 02:14:13
Subject: The Triskelion War Game 1: Riot (PICS - fully painted armies, terrain etc)
Swastakowey
2015/08/28 14:09:13 Subject: The Triskelion War Game 1: Riot (PICS - fully painted armies, terrain etc)
Very cool, everything is pretty perfect except...
Yeah, the decals ended up silvering, but not until after the Matt spray went on. Very annoying - I will get around to re painting the shoulder pads at some point to fix it.
Lord Corellia
2015/08/28 14:14:13 Subject: The Triskelion War Game 1: Riot (PICS - fully painted armies, terrain etc)
Where are those models from?
Which ones? I'm guessing you mean the civilians (and Phineas's retinue)? Those are some of Derek's amazing collection of figures. I'll ask if he can remember the manufacturer, but I expect it will be a wide variety of sources (many 20+ years old!)
the_Armyman
2015/08/28 15:46:18 Subject: Re:The Triskelion War Game 1: Riot (PICS - fully painted armies, terrain etc)
Nice start to the campaign. Can't wait to see the Arbites take the field!
Then tune in for the next two games - they will deliver plenty of Arbites goodness!
This is awesome. The power of the weapons becomes a lot more apparent when everyone is T3. Low model hero forces facing a horde is actually hard to pull off if you don't severely nerf the BS and range of the goons.
I too would like to know the source of the civilian models.
2015/08/29 11:09:33
Subject: The Triskelion War Game 1: Riot (PICS - fully painted armies, terrain etc)
Swastakowey
2015/08/28 14:09:13 Subject: The Triskelion War Game 1: Riot (PICS - fully painted armies, terrain etc)
Very cool, everything is pretty perfect except...
Yeah, the decals ended up silvering, but not until after the Matt spray went on. Very annoying - I will get around to re painting the shoulder pads at some point to fix it.
The trick is to gloss varnish the surface before the decal goes down, then matt varnish to seal.
Great report too. Nice Riot feel.
2015/09/02 15:40:41
Subject: The Triskelion War Game 1: Riot (PICS - fully painted armies, terrain etc)
I can't say enough how impressed I am with this whole thing. You guys are what 40k was meant to be. Something similar to this is what I have been aspiring to since I started playing roughly 4 years ago. Cheers!!! Keep up the amazing work!!!
2015/09/05 18:36:15
Subject: The Triskelion War Game 1: Riot (PICS - fully painted armies, terrain etc)
Hasselfree MIniatures - some of my favourite non-GW miniatures come from here. I've bought from them a few times and they've been a pelasure to deal with.
http://www.hfminis.co.uk/
As for civilians stats, I'd give them WS and BS 2 with no armour and LD 5 armed with auto pistols. This way even the Cultists can look good next to them
Waiting to see a Banewolf take the field. If I remember correctly part of their lore is the fact that they are often employed in riot-type situations that are spinning out of control.
You say Fiery Crash! I say Dynamic Entry!
*Increases Game Point Limit by 100*: Tau get two Crisis Suits and a Firewarrior. Imperial Guard get two infantry companies, artillery support, and APCs.
2015/09/09 08:18:44
Subject: The Triskelion War Game 1: Riot (PICS - fully painted armies, terrain etc)
Those civilians are mostly from Copplestone Castings' Future War and Wargames Foundry's Street Violence ranges, with a couple of Hasslefree minis in there (for example, the little girl with teddy bear holding the pistol gangsta-style).
2015/09/09 22:34:48
Subject: The Triskelion War Game 1: Riot (PICS - fully painted armies, terrain etc)
Thanks for all the feedback - makes writing these things up worth it.
Are... Are those Guardsmen wearing NZDPM?
Why yes, yes they are. Plenty more of them to come as well (I have an entire army of them completed)
As for the civilians etc., the bulk of the civilian figures are from the Foundry Street Violence range, with a handful of Hasselfree figures mixed in (zombie hunters!).
Phineas himself though is an actual GW 1980s Rogue Trader model.
The PDF are late 80s/early 90s GW Imperial Guard (including penal unit figures)
Should be a few more rare/unusual figures featuring as the campaign progresses.
In the fourth picture, far right second from the bottom. Any idea what mini that is? The guy below him and the two above him are from Foundry's SV "Yossa's Bonehead Skins" but I can't see the other one on the Foundry website.
2015/09/10 18:57:05
Subject: The Triskelion War Game 1: Riot (PICS - fully painted armies, terrain etc)
Space Marines: Jacks of all trades yet masters of GRAV CANNONS!!!.
My Star Wars Imperial Codex Project: http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/641831.page It has 7 HQs, 2 Troop types with Dedicated Transports, 5 Elite units, 5 Fast Attack units, 6 Heavy Support units, 2 Formations with unique units not in the rest of the codex, and 2 LOW choices.
‘I do not care who knows the truth now, tomorrow, or in ten thousand years. Loyalty is its own reward.’ -Lion El' Jonson
2015/09/11 00:35:55
Subject: The Triskelion War Game 1: Riot (PICS - fully painted armies, terrain etc)
Gordy, an epic Orks vs Marines battle report of yours was the reason I decided to finally quit stalking and create a Dakka profile. I just had to comment in that battle report! Your stuff is an inspiration, the pinnacle of 40k: amazing armies playing epic games on fantastic terrain with a great storyline.
Project log and campaign featuring Orks, Imperial Guard, Marines, Tyranids: http://www.xhorikwar.blogspot.com/ Currently focused on our Horus Heresy campaign with White Scars, Death Guard and Imperial Militia.
I'm guessing you mean the civilians (and Phineas's retinue)? Those are some of Derek's amazing collection of figures. I'll ask if he can remember the manufacturer, but I expect it will be a wide variety of sources (many 20+ years old!)
If I remember correctly part of their lore is the fact that they are often employed in riot-type situations that are spinning out of control. 
5000 
