Pride of Lions Playtesting: Hobgoblins of The Jade Flame

David McBride from Splintered Light a producer of 15mm scale fantasy miniatures (LINK) is working on the 2nd Edition of his fantasy battles game Pride of Lions, offering a selection of army bundles for those interested in participating in the Playtesting for the game. These armies provide a mixture of very interesting figures and at 15mm scale represent a very approachable and interesting hobby project.  

The game is played on 2x2 foot squares and focuses primarily on the aftermath of a magical apocalypse in a fantastical world, where the worst excesses of warlocks and other magic users has scoured the traditional fantasy world and left the barbaric tribes of monsters which most of us will recognize (trolls, orcs, beastmen etc) to inherit the remains, not all of the 'civilized' peoples are gone but as mentioned, are greatly depleted in scope and capability. I thought this was a particularly interesting setting and I needed to take a hiatus from 40k for a bit, thus I decided to participate in this playtest. 

I picked up 3 warbands,  those being Hobgoblins, Black Root Bog, and Pig-Faced Orcs, in addition to these warbands I wanted to work on 2x2 boards specific to each one's native territory.  The first of the warbands that I opened up was the Hobgoblins, which included a unit of firey hellhounds, human barbarian infantry, and monstrous flame giants to accompany the metal-clad lines of hand weapon/shield warriors and spear-armed infantrymen. The hobgoblins and their attendant allies and creatures represented one of the more well-equipped and well-armed warbands in the game and I felt that as a result, they must have a territory appropriate to supply this wargear.  I settled on a desecrated Dwarven hold as their territory and went with a simple dwarf icon in the center of a stonework grid.  

An admittedly simple motif, but one that I hope to use in other games and other scales as well.  

Playing around with some potential scatter and Hobgoblin paint schemes this evening. My plan is give the dwarven pillar a similar baleflame green cast as the burning skull held by the wizard. Given the decisive lack of foilage in dwarf mountain-homes, clusters cursed rune stones felt like an interesting alternative to provide scatter for the board. 

Stay tuned for more of Warhammer 40,000's narrative battle reports with Part 3 of the Hamlis Valley Campaign, and for other updates on the Pride of Lions Playtest.

Your Favorite Madman

 

Jornath: Map of the World.

Just a short one this afternoon, I wanted to show the full world map I have made for Jornath. I am going through and creating more specific regional maps to continue to detail the specific areas of combat operations on the world of Jornath. 

In addition to regional maps, I have some infographics and force breakdowns planned once I have posted the third part of the Hamlis Valley fight, which will hopefully establish more clearly the total Ork and Imperial force dispositions of the mid-war period.  

-Your Favorite Madman-

Jornath: The Hamlis Valley (Part 2 of 3)

.26 Months Since Fall of Usamilplatz.

Link to Part 1 [HERE]

After many months of difficult fighting in the Northern theatre, the Imperial forces won a hard-fought victory in the Liberation of Saltzkhost, the breaking of Kaptain Gutpulla's forces in the Katarinaplatz by massed, disciplined las fire would become the foundational stuff of planetary propaganda. The Kaptains death caused a short period of internecine conflict to determine the new regional commander of the 'Dakka Boyz' warband, which ultimately ended in Blood Axe Clan fashion after the wider 'Kore' command structure controlled by Feeld Marshul Skrollbach intervened to "appoint" the Big Mek Bazzgazer Deffzappa to control of the remainder of the Dakka Boyz in the Saltzkhost region. The now Kastallan Deffzappa, enjoyed a sudden influx of Blood Axe clan warriors and light machines which began filtering from the suburbs and villages around Saltzkhost back towards what had once been W542, but was now known as "Fort Squigbelly"  

Beyond the success in Saltzkhost, the rest of the north was in difficult straights, the Mechanicus offensive to free their pledge city of Usamilplatz had completely stalled in the months since the Emerald Scream. Skitarii Formations and Mechanicus-aligned Cohorts or Guildmusters had been totally enveloped by Ork warbands in Korsnokrat, nearly dissolving the Offensive's right flank. A constant supply of aerial supply drops by Precpian and specialist Imperial Guard Regiments have managed to keep the 35,000 Imperial soldiers in Korsnokrat fighting under the weight of strategic alien artillery fire from Fort Squigbelly, and constant hit-and-run raids by 'Speed Freaks' warbands. 

A breakthrough into the Mechanicus' logistics and command train on the C14 Highway had only barely been avoided in a nightmarish confrontation between Marshal Lukos M05's Outrider Cohort and the Dread Mob of Gratzogg Worldfang, which saw over 100 of Prima Jama's Sydonian Dragoons destroyed and countless Seyberys Raiders butchered. Marshal Lukos would die in the resultant explosion of his melta bomb cooking off the ammunition store of an Ork Stompa. 

Seeing the difficulties in the North and with the center theatre heavily suppressed by Astartes and other Transhuman forces, the newly planetside 537th Army Group Vahland of the Imperial Guard, diverted their IX Corp, comprised of the 87th and 50th Divisions into the Usamiljen mountains. The IX Corp would link with the command of the so-called Army Group North or 1AG(L) {1st Army Group - Local} in the staging areas at Guffmans Platz and would use the primary highways to move into position to support the Mechanicus efforts in Usamilplatz

Leading the 87th Division's advance into the Saltzkhost region was the 220th Antinar Deepers, a Mechanized Infantry Regiment with multiple campaigns won against Chaos warbands in the Manchvellian Crusade.  It would be the 220th, backed by two armored regiments from the 1AG(L) , the 9th Uval AgriCav and 1st Vendistad Motorworks Guildmuster (1VMG) which would lead the Divisions' speartip into the Hamlis Valley, part of a larger thrust by IX Corp to break open the Encirclement of Korsnokrat and get the Mechanicus Offensive back on track. 

The 220th Antinar Deepers, 9th Uval AgriCav, and 1VMG would begin preparation for the attack on Fort Squigbelly at Marker 522, right along the edge of the C14 Highway Northwest of Saltzkhost, from there, under artillery cover in the early morning hours the trio of regiments would blitz into close range of the alien installation where the 220th would prepare a fortified beachhead at the Southwestern gates and await the arrival of following infantry and motorized regiments, who would seize the orkish batteries and clear the fortress fully. 

As the 220th Antinar Deepers move through the Hamlis Valley they come under more and more precise alien artillery and exotic weapons fire.

The 8th Company, under Captain Sonos, are met a few hundred meters outside the gate by a counter-assault of Ork armor and heavy infantry. 

Platoons of Guardsmen dismount despite the Aliens crashing into their column, unleashing torrents of close range las-fire into the foe

Elite Ork infantry dismount as more and more Imperial tanks are burst by close assaults from Ork warriors or pierced by long-range Mega-Blastas and Kannons 

It has become clear that the battle is turning against the Imperials, many tanks are destroyed and Infantry Platoons are dismounted and scattered across the area under direct assault by alien infantry or vehicles.

As morning dawns fully, it becomes clear to 87 Division Command that the attack is in a great deal of trouble, requests are made to the Navy for CAS, which materializes around 8 o'clock in the form of lightning and thunderbolt fighters that strike targets for much of the morning, eventually allowing for the withdrawal in order of the 1VMG, and the eventual organization of the scattered 9th Uval AgriCav who had largely been pushed widely off course in the night by Ork armor. 

The 8th Company of the 220th Antinar Deepers would be reduced nearly to a man holding their positions in a rearguard as their remaining companies withdrew under fire back to Marker 522.   Captain Sonos and his command staff would be slain, after they were engaged by Ork Meganobz, who forced themselves inside their command chimera. 

The largest grouping of 8th Company men remaining by 11:00a would stage a final symbolic push to take the alien banner flying outside the Fortress' Southwestern gate. 

The last of 8th Company would fall in the ascent to the banner of the Dakka Boyz warband. Though unconfirmed, estimations are that the final living officer in control of 8th Company was 2nd Platoons Sgt. Nolan Bethilde.  

All members of the 8th Company, 220th Antinar Deepers would be posthumously awarded the Steel Anchor by the Antinar Martial Prefecturite, and the Unity Ribbon of the Jornath Campaign by the Office of the High Civitan Jornath. 

In the late afternoon, following the attack. IX Corp was met with the stark realization that many dozens of armored vehicles had been lost, alongside several hundred men and women without any Imperial asset having even set foot within the Ork Fortress. New plans would be drawn up and static lines several kilometers to the southwest and south would be established, to fence in the worst of the alien fast-moving vehicles. 

With Fort Squigbelly still under Ork control, the 50th Division would have to contend with an additional approach by Ork armor, and the increasingly more precise artillery and laser weapons fire in their effort to free Korsnokrat from encirclement. 

Stay tuned for the next action in the Hamlis Valley. 

-Your Favorite Madman-

Jornath: Saltzkhost Liberation.

 

With Ork warbands growing more powerful in the Hamlis Valley, and giving a great deal of resistance to Imperial forces in the Usamilplatz Offensive, there is more of an impetus than ever on PDF and Imperial Guard forces in the northern theatre to breakthrough.  The following is a 'challange mission' a set of scenarios designed for a single player within our gaming club that is a historical refight of moments within that player's armies lore, these were designed in mid-9th edition 40k, and so the rules reflect that. Much of my narrative player rules and frameworks are still in the process of being updated to 10th edition. That being said, there would be little needed effort to take this mini-campaign and its attendant rewards and update them to the games current edition. I have opted to place this between Hamlis Valley Parts 1 and 2, as in the chronology of events in Jornath's Northern Theatre, the Liberation of Saltzkhost occurs between the events of those two parts. 

This mission is intended to be played by Chris (most notable of Sippin' on Paint Water) and his 1st Usamiljan Fusiliers which you can read about here.  

To access the original file for this mini-campaign go here 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lore Summary:


It is the fourth year of the Battle for Jornath shortly after the successful completion of Operation Gray Jewel freed Fortress Behras from encirclement by Ork warbands, your Cohort has been tasked to move along the coastal roads back into the north, taking advantage of the mass rout of aliens through the Ctre Valley to cut deeply into contested territory and shore up the flanks of a planned Mechanicus and Crater Cohort Offensive aiming for their pledge city of Usamilplatz. To that end your Cohort ,alongside the Idirian 334th and the 56th Lumberman's Guildmuster have been tasked with the recapture of Saltzkhost, that most important of cities to the cultural providence of the northern Jornathii. This news has had great impact on morale for the men, this plus the recent victories of the army in the field have the whole of the Cohort in good spirits despite the occasional roadside ambush by Gretchin along the coastal roads.


As the cohort continues deeper into the mountains, the rumbling echo of massed bombing runs and the rolling tank battles of other arms of the Imperial counter offensive resonate off the mountains. The force encounters its first resistance against a dug in Blood Axes warband with three stolen leman russ tanks outside the village of Devlo, which caused two dozen casualties within the Guildmuster and one of the Idirian Sentinels to be destroyed in the opening salvo. After breaking open that particular nut, the last sixty kilometers to the vicinity of Saltzkhost, were plagued with regular and persistent attacks by Ork outriders, ambushers, and the occasional air strike.


Finally after nearly a month, your formation has reached the outer limits of Saltzkhost, The Idirians move off to the northwest to secure the heights above the town, and the Guildmuster moves into the woods to the East, giving you the honor of securing the town. It is here that you and your officers develop the parameters of Operation Vengeful Deliverance to secure Saltzkhost. It is in the opening forays into the city by the Cohorts scouting elements, and the subsequent push to retrieve a downed sentinel pilot that you discover the presence of the Adepta Sororitas Order sworn to defend the Cathedral of St. Katherine is still active within Saltzkhost’s old quarter.


The Emerald Scream, that most devious of events in the history of the War for your world caused a great deal of havoc when it occurred, the majority of the Cohort was fully engaged in street to street fighting around the city, when the communications blackout took place. For the Fusiliers this meant a grinding halt to the Cohorts advance and that all units immediately dug in until such time as the communications came back online. You and your command staff spent the better part of two hours working to bring the vox back online before you resorted to runners. Slowly you reeled in the furthest afield assets and moved to condensing your aims while you figured out a clearer picture of what was occurring. It was not until nearly three days later that you discovered of the collapse of the Idirians and the brutal fighting the 56th Lumbermans had undergone which only barely contained a significant Ork breakthrough along your south, and even then Precpian Airborne had needed to be deployed in a desperate night drop, and units from the logistics column had gotten involved in the fighting. It is from a bedraggled Precpian Captain, that you learned of the scope of the event.

All across your lines the Orks have redoubled their attacks, laying into the push with a new found vigor that sorely tests your efforts. In some places Precpians, and regrouping Idirians join in the effort. A week on, and the situation has normalized to a point that you feel optimistic you can continue in your efforts to retake the city, with a focus on retaking the Cathedral.

  Challenge Rules Summary:

• This Scenario costs 10 Intelligence Points to play, these points are earned in Modules for completing special objectives and are pooled across a faction. Failure in this mission will give this scenario reward to the Dakka Boyz [Blood Axe Ork] Army.  To see overall points available, consult the Intelligence Points Pool

• This is a three part scenario, majority victory in these parts will earn victory in the scenario and will give you access to the associated reward listed below. 

• There are specific enemy forces to fight in this battle, their list is presented below before the mission. 

• You will get 500 Points each to build two armies to play this scenario, you may take 1 unit with the <Imperialis Veterans> keyword from the Charter of Heros for free in each list, any additional units from the charter will cost CP as normal.

• You will select which of the two lists to use for one of the first two games, the other list will be used for the other game. The surviving models from both lists will be used in the final game with a small force of Sisters of Battle to supplement their strength. 

Reward for Victory: 

You may use this as a free Relic, available to any Character Unit in your army. 

Shroud of St. Katherine

Martyrs Example {Aura}: While a friendly [Jornath] Infantry unit is within 6” of this model that unit will receive +1 to its Attack statistic, and will not suffer the modifier for being below half strength when testing for retreating models. While a friendly [Imperial] model without the [Jornath] keyword is within 6” it will receive +1 Attack on turns it makes a Charge or Performs a Heroic Intervention. Sacred Relic: If the bearer of this relic is slain, place a marker on the point where this model was killed to represent this relic. This will become a new secondary objective for the Imperial player worth 5 VP if it can be moved to the Imperial Players board edge in their deployment zone. To pick up this relic, an imperial character or infantry unit must move to within 3”, if it does so it is in possession of the relic. If this unit is killed, the relic is lost and dropped again. If the relic is not recovered, the opponent gains 5VP instead.

Scenario 1: The Tölen Cafe

Mission Briefing

The Tolen Cafe, was a major rallying point for the greenskins in Saltzkhost, being used as a battery for Ork emplaced guns, it took a major effort to dig the Orks out of the shelled ruin. 

Mission Rules

Take the City: The Imperial player is the attacker. 

Primary Objectives

Victory points are awarded for meeting victory conditions as follows:

Take and Hold (Progressive): At the end of each player’s Command Phase, the player whose turn it is scores 5 victory points for each of the following conditions they satisfy (for a maximum of 15 victory points)

• They control one or more objective markers 

• They control two or more objective markers

• The control more objective markers than their opponent controls 

Silence the Guns: Scored at the end of the game on turn 5, each of the Ork Big Gunz is worth 3VP for the Orks if alive, and 3VP for the Imperials if destroyed. 

Defenderz of Da Dakka Hut

+ Configuration +

Clan Kultur: Blood Axes

+ HQ +

Krang Zo’ Snikblasta

Big Mek w/ Kustom Force Field [5 PL, 85pts]: 6. Might is Right, Super Cybork Body, Warlord

+ Troops +

Boyz [5 PL, 95pts]

. Boss Nob: Big Choppa, Choppa

. 9x Ork Boy w/ Slugga & Choppa: 9x Choppa, 9x Slugga, 9x Stikkbombs

Gretchin [2 PL, 50pts]

. 10x Gretchin: 10x Grot Blaster

Scrappa Gubbin Krews [50pts]

.2x Scrappa Gubbin Kews with ‘eavy shootas

+ Elites +

Nobz [6 PL, 105pts]

. Boss Nob: Big Choppa, Choppa

. Nob: Big Choppa, Choppa

. Nob: Big Choppa, Choppa

. Nob: Big Choppa, Choppa

. Nob: Big Choppa, Choppa

+ Heavy Support +

Big Gunz [Legends] [3 PL, 69pts]

. Big Gun: Kannon

. Big Gun: Kannon

. Big Gun: Kannon

++ Total: [21 PL, 454pts] ++

The Tolen Hotel was known as “The Dakka Hut” by the Orks, its defense was coordinated by Krang Zo’ Snikblasta, and while the Orks within lacked in numbers they sported a large number of emplaced weapons dug into the ruins. 

Scenario 2: The Sheyltov Housing Development

Mission Briefing

The Sheyltov Housing Development was the furthest northeastern extent of the city, which overlooked the primary highway facing the Orks holding to Saltzkhost’s north. This area became the focus of brutal attacks by Ork vehicle-mounted infantry.

Mission Rules

Hold the City: The Imperial player is the defender. 

Primary Objectives

Victory points are awarded for meeting victory conditions as follows:

Take and Hold (Progressive): At the end of each player’s Command Phase, the player whose turn it is scores 5 victory points for each of the following conditions they satisfy (for a maximum of 15 victory points)

• They control one or more objective markers 

• They control two or more objective markers

• The control more objective markers than their opponent controls 

Major Bludeye’s Armored Kore

+ Configuration +

Clan Kultur: Blood Axes

Detachment Command Cost

+ HQ +

Major Bludeye

Big Mek in Mega Armour [6 PL, 95pts]: 6. Might is Right, Da Krushin' Armour, Kustom Shoota, Tellyport Blasta, Warlord

+ Troops +

Boyz [5 PL, 90pts]

. Boss Nob: Choppa, Slugga

. 9x Ork Boy w/ Slugga & Choppa: 9x Choppa, 9x Slugga, 9x Stikkbombs

+ Fast Attack +

Warbuggies [Legends] [3 PL, 33pts]

. Warbuggy: Twin Big Shoota

+ Heavy Support +

Gunwagon [11 PL, 195pts]: Big Shoota, Da Booma, Killkannon

++ Total: [25 PL, 413pts] ++

One of many local Big Meks leading the rolling tide of scrap vehicles, Major Bludeye was a major coordinator of several pieces of Orkish armor that threatened the Imperial defense line

Scenario 3: The Cathedral of St. Katherine

Mission Briefing

The Cathedral of Saltzkhost became a rallying point for the 1st Usamiljen Fusiliers at the height of the fighting, it was here that they broke the back of the Orks holding the city, their battered platoons regrouping before the cathedral’s steps to hold back the alien invaders. 

Mission Rules

Hold the City: The Imperial player is the defender.

Attrition: Imperial Player uses remaining forces after the previous two games, factoring in all loses. Characters will go to full wounds, Vehicles will gain 1 damage bracket from where they ended their game. 

Defenders of the Shrine: Imperial player may add 250 points of Sisters of Battle to his army.  This detachment of sisters has the Shroud of St. Katherine. 

Primary Objectives

Victory points are awarded for meeting victory conditions as follows:

Survive (Progressive): The Imperial Player scores full primary VP in

• Turn 1 if he has more than 500 points remaining, 

• Turn 2 if he has more than 500 points remaining

• Turn 3 if he has more that 400 points remaining, 

• Turn 4 if he has more than 250 points remaining,

• Turn 5 if he has more than 250 points remaining. 

• The Ork scores full VP in turns where these conditions are not true.

Da Dakka Guard

+ Configuration +

Clan Kultur: Blood Axes

Detachment Command Cost

+ HQ +

Kaptin Azrul Gutpulla

Warboss [5 PL, 105pts]: 6. Might is Right, Attack Squig, Da Killa Klaw, Kombi-rokkit, Power Klaw, Warlord

+ Troops +

Boyz [5 PL, 90pts]

. Boss Nob: Choppa, Slugga

. 9x Ork Boy w/ Slugga & Choppa: 9x Choppa, 9x Slugga, 9x Stikkbombs

Boyz [5 PL, 90pts]: Trukk Boyz

. Boss Nob: Choppa, Slugga

. 9x Ork Boy w/ Slugga & Choppa: 9x Choppa, 9x Slugga, 9x Stikkbombs

Gretchin [2 PL, 50pts]

. 10x Gretchin: 10x Grot Blaster

+ Elites +

Nobz [6 PL, 90pts]

. Boss Nob: Choppa, Slugga

. Nob: Choppa, Slugga

. Nob: Choppa, Slugga

. Nob: Choppa, Slugga

. Nob: Choppa, Slugga

Nobz [6 PL, 98pts]

. Boss Nob: Choppa, Power Klaw

. Nob: Choppa, Slugga

. Nob: Choppa, Slugga

. Nob: Choppa, Slugga

. Nob: Choppa, Slugga

+ Fast Attack +

Stormboyz [3 PL, 65pts]

. Boss Nob: Power Klaw

. 4x Stormboy: 4x Choppa, 4x Slugga, 4x Stikkbombs

Warbuggies [Legends] [3 PL, 33pts]

. Warbuggy: Twin Big Shoota

+ Heavy Support +

Big Gunz [Legends] [2 PL, 46pts]

. Big Gun: Kannon

. Big Gun: Kannon

Gunwagon [11 PL, 195pts]: Big Shoota, Da Booma, Killkannon

+ Dedicated Transport +

Trukk [4 PL, 70pts]

++ Total: [52 PL, 932pts] ++

Kaptin Gutpulla was the overall ork commander of the alien's Saltzkhost garrison, it was Gutpulla that ordered Bazgazer Deffzappa to lead a breakaway host of the Dakka Boyz Warband, north of the city, claiming the Hamlis Valley from the 334th Idirian at Wilset 542, and fortifying the area against repeat attacks by Imperial elites. Gutpulla was eager to prove his own merits to his “Feeld Marshul” by crushing the Fusilier's push into the heart of the city. 

Campaign Battle Honors Rules Summary: 

• A single unit can be selected by the owning player at the end of a battle. That unit can roll for a Battle Honor within the Crusade Rules Charts for Weapon Enhancements, Battle Traits, and Psychic Fortitudes within the Corebook, their Codex, or any of the Crusade specific mission packs. The normal stipulations for unit type will still apply. 

• Once a unit has been given a Battle Honor, they are considered a “Veteran Unit” and are added to the “Charter of Heros”. This unit may be added to lists inside the same module where it earned its Battle Honor with no additional cost. 

• In games outside of the module where a unit earned its battle honor, you can pay CP equal to the number of Battle Honors a unit has to unlock the unit for use in your list.

• A unit retains all of its Sub-Faction Keywords once it becomes a veteran unit, but also gains one of the following keywords in addition, depending on its overall faction.  

• <Imperialis Veterans>

• <Hereticus Veterans>

• <Dynastic Elite>

• <Scions of Khaine>

• <Aristocracy of Commorragh>

• <Masterful Performers>

• <Tendrils of the Hive Mind>

• <Dead ‘Ard> 

• <Cadre Elite>

• A Unit may not be given Battle Honors in consecutive games, without the approval of all other members of the campaign.

• A unit can not be given more than 3 Battle Honors in total. If you choose to give a unit with 3 Battle Honors another Honor, the Squad’s Leader will become a Character, gaining wounds until they have 4. However, they will lose all other squad members, but will be able to access the Crusade Relics as other Character Models. 

 Thank you for Reading!  

I'll be back soon with Part 2 of the Hamlis Valley 

Your Favorite Madman