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Dwarf v Orc battle report

I decided to make up my own scenario involving the dwarfs defending their stronghold. The idea was to make the orc force larger overall but split them up and give other advantages to the dwarfs (good terrain, exploding barrels, dwarf statues give an advantage to them, etc) A heroic last stand for the dwarfs.

We both thought that some units didn’t feel right underground, such as chariots and war machines for the orcs, wyverns, boar boyz, gyrocopters, grudge throwers. We decided the dwarfs also had anti-magic runes throughout their stronghold, so magic wasn’t allowed for the orcs either.

The battle took place on an 8ft x 4ft table that represents a dwarf stronghold. The dwarfs have a 2 tiered hill in the centre, this represents stairs leading up to a throne. The statue lets any dwarfs within 12” reroll psychology tests. The beer barrels let the dwarf player select one unit per turn within 6” as “Defender of the Beer”, this unit gets to reroll missed hits every turn. The doors can either be locked and barred, or open (dwarf players choice) It’s a strength test to break down a door.

Here’s the whole map.
http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr279/waylander2/DwvOGBatRep001.jpg
I’ve marked the tunnels with numbers, because my army list is written out that way.







Here’s the background for the battle;


http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr279/waylander2/SilverRoadWarstitle1.jpg


The Silver Road is a central route that comes in from the easterly Wolf Lands. It’s western opening bypasses the dwarven capital city Karaz-a-Karak, while the eastern end is haunted by the orc-infested ruins of the old dwarf mine, Mount Silverspear. Now known more commonly as Mount Grimfang, after the orcish warlord who captured it. In olden times the pass was the scene of the bloody battles of the Silver Road Wars.



(We’re fighting a battle that took place 3,890 years ago)



Timeline, Imperial Year -1367

The Silver Road Wars have been raging for 20 years now. The orcs are trying to conquer Mount Silverspear, the richest remaining dwarf stronghold and mine.

Orc Warboss Urk Grimfang leads the current Waaagh! There have been many casualties in the war. Orc and goblin bodies are littered outside the dwarven gates, creating a carpet of armour, broken bones and meat. Thousands of carrion crows pick at the remains of the orcs. Here and there rise the ribbed humps of boars and wolves, and from among the squalling birds comes the odd glint of iron. Overwhelmed by sheer numbers the dwarfs have reluctantly abandoned their outer defences, retreating to the relative safety of their dwarven stronghold.

With their numbers dwindling every day the dwarfs have called all their troops into one room for a last stand. They wait in the royal chamber, guns ready, weapons unsheathed, hearts racing. The distant shouts of orc voices echo down the tunnels, they will be here soon……

Maybe Urk Grimfang will make a mistake, maybe the stout dwarfs will survive to tell their heroic tales ….. could Mount Silverspear retain it’s name?




4,500 point Orc and Goblin army

Throne Room - total = 1,984

(Lord)…. (general) Black Orc Warboss, riding boar, hvy ar, Enchanted Shield, Effigy of Mork, Shagas Sword
(Hero)…. Black Orc BSB, hvy ar, War Banner

5 Spider Riders (spear, shield)
33 Orc Boyz, add chops, lgt arm, full cmd (general here)
32 Orc Boyz, add chops, lgt arm, full cmd (BSB here)
24 Savage Orcs, add chops, full cmd
24 Savage Orcs, add chops, full cmd
24 Savage Orcs, add chops, full cmd
3 River Trolls


Tunnel 1 …. total = 506
(Hero)…. Black Orc Big Boss (hvy ar, sh)
30 Orc Boyz, sh, chop, lgt arm, full cmd
1 Giant

Tunnel 2 …. total = 520
(Lord)…. NG Warboss (amulet of protectyness, great axe)
28 Night Goblins (shields, Netters) full cmd
1 Squig Herd (6 NG’s, 9 Squigs)
1 Giant

Tunnel 3 …. total = 510
(Hero) ….NG Big Boss riding a Giant Cave Squig (Wollopas One Hit Wunda, Brimstone Bauble)
8 Squig Hoppers
5 Spider Riders (spear, shield)
1 Giant

Tunnel 4 …. total = 478
25 Black Orcs (shields, hvy armour) full cmd
1 Squig Herd (6 NG’s, 9 Squigs)

Tunnel 5 …. total = 501
(Lord) …. Black Orc Warboss (hvy ar, sh, Battleaxe of the Last Waaagh!)
31 Orc Boyz (add choppa, lgt ar) full cmd

Grand Total = 4,499






Unsure which runes he took for some of his characters I’ll borrow his army list Tuesday
3,500 point Dwarf army

(Lord) …Dwarf Lord on Shieldbearers (+1 T, 4+ ward,
(Lord) …Daemon Slayer (axe of ASF, plus 2 attacks)
(Hero) …Dragon Slayer (+1 str, +1 attack…)
(Hero) …BSB (std of +1 combat res to all dwarfs within 12”)
(Hero) … Thane (oathstone, extra attack….other runes)
(Hero) … Thane (not sure)

10 Thunderers (shields)
10 Thunderers (shields)
10 Quarrellers (GW)
20 Dwarf Warriors (hvy ar, sh) full cmd
20 Longbeards, (hvy ar, sh) full cmd
1 Cannon
4 Bolt Throwers
20 Ironbreakers, full cmd
20 Hammerers, full cmd
10 Miners
10 Troll Slayers
10 Troll Slayers
1 Organ Gun
2 Flame Cannons


This battle represents the final stand of the dwarf king. He’s gathered his most elite troops to defend the stronghold. In game terms the dwarf player can take 0-8 special units











Dwarf deployment;

Dwarf left flank http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr279/waylander2/DwvOGBatRep008.jpg

Dwarf Right Flank http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr279/waylander2/DwvOGBatRep006.jpg

Dwarf Centre http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr279/waylander2/DwvOGBatRep007.jpg

The Dwarfs have a unit of miners at the entrance to tunnel 5, they’re equipped with explosive detonators. They destroy that tunnel on a 4+ turn 1, 3+ turn 2.

There are two slayer characters guarding two of the tunnels on their own.
http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr279/waylander2/DwvOGBatRep005.jpg



Orc Deployment;

Orc Left Flank http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr279/waylander2/DwvOGBatRep010.jpg

Orc Right Flank http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr279/waylander2/DwvOGBatRep012.jpg

Orc Centre http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr279/waylander2/DwvOGBatRep011.jpg

For the initial deployment there’s 2,000 points of Orcs v’s 3,500 points of Dwarfs. I thought Urk Grimfang should also be at the front. He’s one of 2 characters deployed, the other is a black orc BSB.





Orcs win the roll for first turn.




Orc Turn 1

The savage orc unit on my far right squabbles, and gets left behind. Grimfang’s unit squabbles, and he kills 3 of his orcs. The trolls pass stupidity. Everything else moves up. No shooting and magic means a quick turn.
http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr279/waylander2/DwvOGBatRep015.jpg

http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr279/waylander2/DwvOGBatRep014.jpg




Dwarf Turn 1

The miners fail to detonate tunnel five. The dwarfs don’t move.
The dwarfs are unlucky with their shooting, they must be nervous with the pressure of defeating Grimfang. A flame cannon misfires. The other sets fire to one savage orc. The dwarf cannon in the centre of the hill misfires and blows up.
Dwarf quarrellers aim at the exploding barrel in front of my generals units, the explosion kills 2 orcs from my BSB unit, 1 orc from generals unit, and 1 savage orc (1d6 str5 hits to every unit within 6”)
The organ gun fires at my river trolls, inflicts 4 wounds which kills one. The bolt thrower do minor damage to the BSB unit.
Not a great start for the dwarfs.




Orc Turn 2

The reinforcements arrive this turn, those units are deployed but can’t move this turn.


Using the same numbering system as shown earlier…..

Tunnel 1 .... Black Orc Hero leading 30 orc boyz with shields, choppas, full cmd. And one giant (total of 506 points)
http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr279/waylander2/DwvOGBatRep019.jpg



Tunnel 2 …. NG Lord (am of protectyness, GW), 28 NG’s (sh, netters, full cmd), 1 Squig Herd (6 NG’s, 9 squigs) and 1 giant ….. Total = 520
http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr279/waylander2/DwvOGBatRep020.jpg



Tunnel 3 …. NG hero on a giant cave squig (wollopas one hit wunda, brimstone bauble), 8 squig hoppers, 5 spider riders, 1 giant . Total = 510
Because the door is closed to this tunnel we used the same idea as space hulk. My O&G units are represented by coins. The dwarfs know there’s something coming, but can’t see them.
http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr279/waylander2/DwvOGBatRep021.jpg




Tunnel 4 …. 25 Black Orcs (sh, hvy ar, full cmd), and 1 squig herd (6 NG’s, 9 squigs) …Total = 478
http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr279/waylander2/DwvOGBatRep022.jpg



Tunnel 5 …. Black Orc Lord (hvy ar, Battleaxe of Last Waaagh!) leading 31 orc boyz (add choppas, full cmd) … Total = 501
http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr279/waylander2/DwvOGBatRep023.jpg



My spider riders charge his organ gun. No wounds at all, I win, he holds his ground.

Two River Trolls charge his bolt thrower, we decide he’s close enough to clip the hammerer unit as well. No wounds to the crew. A troll vomits over the general, trying to melt the dwarf kings armour. Under the green mess the dwarf king is uninjured, now smells, and is very angry. One troll is then smashed to the ground by the dwarf king, the other runs for his life.

http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr279/waylander2/DwvOGBatRep024.jpg

http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr279/waylander2/DwvOGBatRep025.jpg





Dwarf Turn 2
The dwarf miners blow up tunnel five, my orcs now have to run around to an adjacent tunnel.
http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr279/waylander2/DwvOGBatRep027.jpg


The spider riders kill one organ gun crew, he holds.
Shooting is much more effective this. Lots of orcs from Grimfangs unit are shot, they fail their panic test and flee.
http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr279/waylander2/DwvOGBatRep026.jpg




Orc Turn 3

The River Troll and Grimfangs unit (my general) rallies.
My BSB orc boyz unit charges his hammerers, containing dwarf general on shield.
Savage orcs with blue heads charge his troll slayers on the far right.
At tunnel 3 there’s a loud booming noise as something behind it tries to smash the door down (it’s actually a giant) but he fails his strength check and the door stays on it’s hinges (these dwarf doors are well made)

The other two doors are smashed down. Tunnel 2 by a giant. Tunnel 4 by black orcs, the black orcs face a lone Daemon Slayer. He hit’s the Black Orcs first (ASF axe) but the black orcs opt for shields and hnd wpns and deflect all his attacks. One black orc wounds the slayer once.

http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr279/waylander2/DwvOGBatRep030.jpg


The spider riders manage to kill the last two dwarf crew on the organ gun. The BSB v Hammerers fight sees me killing 3 hammerers, and 4 orcs are killed. I pass my break test thanks to the reroll.
http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr279/waylander2/DwvOGBatRep031.jpg


The savage orcs have 19 attacks with choppas against the 10 troll slayers, I cut down one dwarf for no return.

Here’s a birds eye view of the battlefield at this stage;
http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr279/waylander2/DwvOGBatRep029.jpg

I’m not feeling very confident at this stage. Despite my new units appearing, I keep bouncing off his dwarf units on the hill. I need to get into combat asap, I can’t delay because of his war machines.





Dwarf Turn 3

Not much movement. Lots of shooting, but nothing flees. The spider are destroyed by thunderers. The lone river troll survives a bolt thrower shot. Savage orcs and my generals unit take a barrage of missile attacks.

The Daemon Slayer fight continues, this time he kills one black orc and I can’t wound him (he’s toughness 5) This dwarf character is now holding up 979 points worth of orcs.
The blue head savage orcs kill 2 slayers… again they can’t be broken.




Orc Turn 4

My generals unit won’t reach combat, and they’re reduced to 12 models anyway. So I decide to charge Grimfang out his unit at the quarrellers. I thought it was the orcy thing to do, and he has a 1+ armour save, so he should be okay. The shocked xbow dwarfs quickly reload at the charging black orc lord on his boar, a few bolts hit him but they can’t penetrate his armour. He steams into combat, kills 3 quarrellers. The dwarfs easily pass their break test.
http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr279/waylander2/DwvOGBatRep034.jpg


Savage orcs charge the defenders of the beer (dwarf warrior unit) killing 2, they loose combat (frenzy gone) but don’t flee.
http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr279/waylander2/DwvOGBatRep035.jpg


The giant coming out of tunnel 3 charges the Dragon Slayer guarding the door. He stoops down and yells right in the face of the Dragon Slayer. Drool and bad breath covering the slayer. The giant then looks perplexed because the little fella hasn’t run off.

http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr279/waylander2/DwvOGBatRep033.jpg


The Daemon Slayer combat and the troll slayer/sav orc combat continues.

We decide to have some random cave-ins using the big 5” template. One lands right ontop of my Giant Cave Squig killing it, and also kills 3 squigs and 3 spider riders.
http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr279/waylander2/DwvOGBatRep040.jpg




Dwarf Turn 4

The Ironbreakers flank charge Grimfang. What he’s planning to do here is to attack with them first, then overrun into the flank of my BSB unit. Beat them because I won’t have ranks and pursue out of the way of my possible flank charges. A good plan.

Shooting phase… the flame cannon on my far left fires at the exploding barrel. The template kills 3 NG’s, the explosion kills a further 2 NG’s and 3 squigs. My NG with war boss unit flees. Two bolt throwers kill a giant. 1 bolt thrower and 10 thunderers kill the other giant.
http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr279/waylander2/DwvOGBatRep041.jpg


In combat the final giant manages to land his club on the small dragon slayer, killing the dwarf hero.
The Daemon Slayer kills one black orc, the black orc champion inflicts a wound back on the dwarf. The slayer is down to his last wound, if I can cut him down it’ll give me three extra units. (one with a Black Orc lord carrying the Battleaxe of the Last Waaagh)

The dwarven Defenders of the Beer go into a killing frenzy, and defeat the savage orcs. Pursue them, and catch them.

The main combat..... As expected his iron breakers can’t wound Grimfang, Grimfang aims all his attacks at the dwarf BSB, easily killing him (that could come in useful later on)
Grimfang then fails his break test and outruns the dwarfs. The Ironbreakers smash into the flank of my BSB orc unit. After unlucky rolls from him, I end up loosing the combat by only 4 (can’t use generals Ld now) and pass my break test.


http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr279/waylander2/DwvOGBatRep043.jpg

http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr279/waylander2/DwvOGBatRep044.jpg




Orc Turn 5

Grimfang rallies.
The lone River Troll charges the dwarf thunderers, survives the barrage of shots, and eats one dwarf. The troll loses combat, but because of Grimfang pass the break test.

After crushing the Dragon Slayer my giant decides he likes the wee orange haired fellas and charges 10 troll slayers in the flank. He chuckles as he jumps up and down, but then slips and falls over. In typical comedy style he lands right ontop of a squig hopper, crushing the poor old crazy goblin. The cavern floor shakes as he lands on his back, my giant takes a wound from the fall. The troll slayers then hack at his feet and shins (ouch) 3 more wounds.
http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr279/waylander2/DwvOGBatRep046.jpg


Daemon Slayer and black orcs is a stalemate.

The savage orcs kill all but one last troll slayer. This dwarf figure even has a bare ass, my dwarf opponent turns him backwards, and he moons my savage orcs just like in braveheart
http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr279/waylander2/DwvOGBatRep047.jpg


My savage orcs and the unit Grimfang used to be in flank and rear charge the Ironbreakers. This is now one big combat with 5 units involved.
After the dust settles 5 ironbreakers, 1 Hammerer, 1 Savage Orc and 7 orc boyz are killed. I just win. The Hammerers hold, but the Ironbreakers roll 11 for Ld flee and are caught.

http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr279/waylander2/DwvOGBatRep045.jpg

http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr279/waylander2/DwvOGBatRep049.jpg





Dwarf Turn 5

His dwarf warriors (Defenders of the Beer) turn to face my savage orc unit.

Near tunnel 3 (next to where the fallen giant is) the flame cannon hits an exploding barrel. This kills all the spider riders and 1 squig hopper.
I think he fires at least two bolt throwers at my general an misses (lucky for me)

At last the blue head savage orcs kills the final troll slayer.

The Daemon Slayer kills 3 Black Orcs, including the champion.

My BSB orcs kill 5 Hammerers, 2 orcs die. Both units hold their ground, continuing to battle it out. I must admit i did expect my BSB unit to flee earlier. My only saving grace is i have a war banner on my BSB, and those dwarfs are striking last with only a 5+ armour save (i actually think he would have won this combat by taking shields, and choosing sh/hnd wpn for this combat)
http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr279/waylander2/DwvOGBatRep051.jpg





Orc Turn 6

I declare the Waaagh attempting to get a long ranged flank attack against the Defender of the Beer unit, but I only 1 for movement and just fall short. Savage orcs charge the Defenders of the Beer. That ends roughly even, but I lose frenzy.
http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr279/waylander2/DwvOGBatRep052.jpg


Grimfang charges a bolt thrower, kills all the crew with his 6 attacks at strength 7. Overruns into the thundered unit that’s already fighting the troll. Both of them cut down most of the dwarfs. The thunderers flee, are easily caught by both of my fighters. Smash into a bolt thrower (won’t be able to kill it, but it’ll stop him firing)
http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr279/waylander2/DwvOGBatRep053.jpg


The squig hoppers charge the flame cannon, kill one dwarf. The crew kill 2 squig hoppers, and the squig hoppers flee 3”.


Daemon Slayer kills more Black Orcs.

The blue head savage orcs that killed the troll slayer unit charge his long beards. Bounce off, some fall to dwarves axes, and they run away.
http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr279/waylander2/DwvOGBatRep054.jpg


The BSB orcs v Hammerers continues.




Dwarf turn 6

I kill all the hammerers, most of the orcs are dropped. The dwarfs win combat, I flee and I’m caught by the dwarf king.
http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr279/waylander2/DwvOGBatRep056.jpg

Shooting kills as much as he can. The Daemon slayer hacks into the Black Orcs.
Defenders of the Beer unit defeats my savage orcs, pursues into another unit, but can’t attack further this round.






Game ended here. We added up the victory points, and the game ends in a draw.


Post game thoughts…. Really enjoyed that scenario, made a change from a pitched battle, and the dwarfs looked great defending their stronghold. It turned out to be fairly well balanced, but I wasn’t that interested in the end result. The exploding barrels seemed to do a lot of damage, but then again maybe without them the dwarfs would be overwhelmed. Man of the match has to be the Daemon Slayer, I should have put my squig herd against him to take him down with a rampage. But it was a good day, and a relaxed game.

Love it, love it, love it. Thanks for the post, and great scenario. The Demonslayer holding the tunnel on his own was brilliant.

This kind of gameplay is high on my list once I get the rest of the army painted.

Thanks!

RZ

A+. Great battle report for what sounded like a grand old battle.

Wow, what an epic game! I think it's great that it ended in a draw. This kind of large-scale scenario makes me think of the second LOTR movie and the urkai-hai (sp?) horde descending on the stronghold in waves, but the defenders holding on for dear life.

Thanks all, glad you enjoyed it. It was a fun game

Yeah we liked the image of a single dwarf holding up a whole tunnel of orcs as well Red_Zeke

I just read this. It was epic. This is how I like to play the game, with a story behind it and character to it, not just lets fight and see who wins. Granted those games can be fun too.

I would have liked to see the two generals duke it out in the end and see how long that slayer would hold the tunnel.

Great report and sounds like a brialliant game! i love the image of the single slayer holding back the horde