Civil War!A Warmaster Battle Report between two 1000 pt Undead armies.
To re acquaint myself and my opponent with the Warmaster Fantasy rules I played a small game this weekend using models from my own army. We each had identical 1000 pt armies of Undead Tomb Kings, and played on a symmetrical board. We would be using the Warmaster Armies list but playing with the Warmaster Ancients rule set.
We would play a six turn game, until one army reach break point, otherwise whoever had the most troops next to the pyramid would win at the end of the 6th turn.
Nehekhara…Land of the Dead…Once a thriving civilisation, now a lifeless shell of its former glory. Here amid the burning sands and crumbling ruins dwell the Tomb Kings, Undead rulers of a once mighty empire. Their armies of skeletal warriors are utterly loyal to the Undead royalty, and will fight relentlessly to defend their King’s honour.
When two rival Tomb Kings clash, the bones of thousands of warriors litter the sands.
So it was that Rhubba Ti Ti, King of Khar-Eh-On, gave the command to invade the neighbouring kingdom of Djeli-beh-bi, ruled over by the evil Liche King Mum-Ra the Ever Living.
Rhubba Ti Ti knew that the secret to Mum-Ra’s evil power lay within the pyramid at the heart of his empire. If the pyramid could be captured, Mum-Ra would be forced to surrender.
Rhubba Ti Ti’s legion entered the cursed land of Djeli-Beh-Bi and proclaimed their intention to put an end to Mum Ra’s evil reign. In response, Mum Ra summoned his minions and the battle lines were drawn.
Legend - TK =Tomb King, LP = Liche Priest, S1 S2 = Skeletons, A1 A2 = Archers, C1 C2 = Chariots, H 1 H 2 = Cavalry, C3 = Carrion, B = Bone Giant.
Rhubba Ti Ti commanded 2 units of Skeleton Warriors, 2 units of Skeleton Archers, 2 units of Chariots, 2 units of Horsemen, 1 unit of Carrion and 1 Bone Giant. He was assisted by 2 Liche Priests, one riding in a chariot. His units were evenly deployed across the battle line, two brigades of Infantry, and two brigades of Cavalry and Chariots.
Mum-Ra commanded 2 units of Skeleton Warriors, 2 units of Skeleton Archers, 2 units of Chariots, 2 units of Horsemen, 1 unit of Carrion and 1 Bone Giant. He was served by 2 Liche Priests. Mum-Ra himself rode into battle in his chariot. His army was gathered together into one big brigade of Infantry and one brigade of Cavalry and Chariots.
Turn 1Mum-Ra ordered the attack. The large infantry brigade was ordered to advance into a nearby palm grove, but were not yet in position so could not make progress. Mum-Ra cursed. The Bone Giant was ordered forwards and set off across the sands towards the pyramid. Mum-Ra then ordered his cavalry brigade forwards and they also advanced into forwards positions.
The Carrion refused to move from their roost, despite Mum-Ra’s threats. So the Undead characters moved up field ready for next turn.
Rhubba Ti Ti surveyed his army lining up across the battle field. A splendid sight it was! In fact he was so pleased with the neat rows of warriors lined up at his command that not a single order was issued this turn!
The army stood still while the characters moved ahead to scout the field.
Turn 2Mum-Ra’s infantry took cover in the palm grove ahead of them, providing arrow support to the pyramid. The Carrion were ordered to fly over the Sphinx, and despite a Blunder by the Liche Priest, they obeyed and took up position.
The Chariots and Cavalry sped across the sand, forming line adjacent to the pyramid in the centre of the field.
Even the Bone Giant got the idea and lumbered onwards into the shade of the pyramid.
The characters then took up positions behind the line of advance.
Liche Priests summoned the ancient spirits of evil to curse the enemy Chariots, striking both units with Doom and Despair.
Mum-Ra laughed insanely at the pitiful enemy army.
Rhubba Ti Ti sounded the advance. On the right, the Liche Priest ordered his Cavalry and Chariots forward around the cactus grove. Sighting the enemy cavalry ahead, the priest then ordered the Cavalry to charge! The Chariots, still affected by the Doom and Despair, wheeled around the enemy to threaten their rear. On the left, the Carrion were ordered to swoop across the field and land to the rear of the enemy Cavalry. If the enemy were pushed back they would now be destroyed.
In the centre an infantry brigade was ordered to advance into the cactus and provide bow fire support into the combat. The Bone Giant was also ordered forward to threaten the enemy centre.
The characters held back, except for the Liche priest mounted in his battle chariot, who charged forwards to assist his Cavalry detachment in the upcoming fight.
Chanting filled the air as a curse of Doom and Darkness was inflicted on the enemy Carrion by the Sphinx. In the combat, the Priest in his Chariot failed to raise any skeletons to help in the fight.
Bow fire shot out of the cactus forest and pushed back enemy Chariots from the battle line by the pyramid.
In the close combat, the charging Cavalry and Liche priest inflicted four hits on the enemy, but their enemy fought back like daemons, inflicting seven hits in return. The Cavalry and Priest were pushed back and pursued by Mum-Ra’s Cavalry, and were destroyed in the continuing combat.
Rhubba Ti Ti’s trap had failed and he had lost a unit of Cavalry and Priest in one fell swoop.
Mum-Ra’s victorious troops reformed themselves to face the Carrion and Chariots that were lurking to their rear.
Turn 3Mum-Ra laughed maniacally and ordered the counter attack. Carrion swooped across the land beside the enemy Chariots that were trying to outflank the Cavalry. The victorious Cavalry fresh from their combat last turn, wheeled around to engage the enemy Chariots but could not make the turn quick enough. The Bone Giant was ordered to engage and lumbered towards the enemy Chariots but also could not make the distance. Instead the second Cavalry detachment was ordered to charge the enemy Carrion, and swept into combat with them. Finally the Chariots that had been driven back by shooting last turn were also ordered to engage the Carrion, so they charged in to attack the giant vultures’ flank. More Chariots repositioned to completely surround the Carrion, ensuring their destruction.
Mum-Ra’s priests chanted words of power and both enemy Chariots units were cursed with Doom and Despair
The close combat was brief, the enemy Carrion were destroyed by the Chariots for no loss, with Mum-Ra’s chariots then advancing into Rhubba Ti Ti’s chariots for good measure, smashing apart one of the enemy machines.
Mum-Ra laughed to see such destruction. The enemy had now lost their flyers and a unit of Cavalry while his forces were still at full strength.
Rhubba Ti Ti sighed at the incompetence of his subordinates and decided to order his troops himself. First, he sent his remaining Cavalry and Chariot detachment forward towards the pyramid, then ordered the Cavalry to charge the enemy Cavalry nearest to them. The Chariots, prevented from charging by an evil spell, were instead sent around the rear of the pyramid to disrupt the enemy formations and force an enemy priest to take cover in the woods.
The Bone Giant was then ordered forwards to threaten the flank of the enemy Cavalry, but he ground to a halt before building up enough speed to charge.
Rhubba Ti Ti then advanced towards the combat himself, while his remaining Priest moved across to command the infantry.
The Priest then used his powers to curse the enemy Chariots fighting on the right flank with Doom and Despair. This meant that both Chariot units In the fight were now cursed and unable to pursue!
The left flank Chariots fired at the enemy Bone Giant, driving it out of the cover of the pyramid.
In combat, Rhubba Ti Ti called on the spirits of his ancestors to instil deadly fighting prowess into this Cavalry.
The horsemen smashed into the enemy Cavalry, and over two rounds of combat, reduced them to a single stand, although they did lose one of their own in the process. On the right, the Chariots fought each other but failed to destroy any more stands, then Mum-Ra’s troops reformed out of the combat as they were unable to pursue.
The counter attack had faltered and Mum-Ra was poised to strike !
Turn 4Mum-Ra cackled to himself. On the right, his priest ordered the Carrion and Cavalry to attack the enemy Chariots, and they charged in.
Mum-Ra’s Chariots then surged forwards to attack the enemy Cavalry and also threaten Rhubba Ti Ti, forcing him to retreat behind the Bone Giant.
Only the Bone Giant failed to listen to orders this turn and stayed put.
Mum-Ra’s priests once again succeeded in cursing the enemy Chariots with Doom and Despair this turn.
Arrows poured out of the palm grove towards the enemy Chariots positioned by the pyramid, but thanks to their Undead nature, they refused to give ground and were unharmed.
On the right, the enemy Chariots were destroyed by the Carrion for no loss. By the pyramid, the enemy Cavalry were also destroyed by Mum-Ra’s chariots.
Mum-Ra’s troops then repositioned to take ground from the enemy.
Mum-Ra had now killed four enemy units, and lost none of his own. Only one more and the enemy would be broken!
Rhubba Ti Ti decided that he had to commit his infantry if he had a chance of turning the tide. The Priest ordered the archers and warriors to charge out of the cactus forest and attack the enemy Chariots flank. They obeyed and combat was joined.
The remaining infantry then took their place at the edge of the forest to provide archer support.
Rhubba Ti Ti then ordered his Bone Giant into the fray to charge the enemy Chariots already engaged by the infantry.
His last remaining Chariots were ordered to chase off the enemy priest by the pyramid and then harass the Carrion.
The priest chanted again, and this time Skeletons emerged from the sands and rose up to attack the rear of the Chariots engaged by the archers. The Chariots were now well and truly surrounded!
Archers in the cactus grove shot at the unengaged enemy Chariots and drove them far from the combat, colliding with the Cavalry and Bone Giant by the pyramid.
Rhubba Ti Ti’s last Chariot unit fired at the enemy Carrion, also driving them back into the Cavalry.
In the combat, the archers, Bone Giant and Raised Dead destroyed two Chariots, although the Bone Giant was sorely wounded in the fight. The last Chariots was forced to retreat , but the Bone Giant decided not to risk destruction by pursuing.
Instead, the archers advanced into a new combat against the second of Mum-Ra’s Chariot units, while the Raised dead and Bone Giant repositioned.
The archers and their supporting infantry managed to smash one chariot and drive the rest back, before the archers retreated behind the cover of the pyramid, with one stand gone
Rhubba Ti Ti had thrown back Mum-Ra’s minions from the pyramid, but was still yet to destroy any units.
Turn 5Mum-Ra bellowed with laughter and ordered his army to finish the job. Carrion were sent screeching into the archers that had caused so much damage last turn.
The Bone Giant was ordered to assault the newly raised dead and prevent them from causing more trouble.
Other units repositioned to maximise their bow fire against the enemy Chariots.
Mum-Ra’s priests were unable to add any spells to the combat this turn.
Arrows from Mum-Ra’s archers and Chariots drove back Rhubba-Ti-Ti’s Chariots and Bone Giant but failed to kill anything.
The Bone Giant smashed into the flank of the Raised Dead and destroyed one stand for no loss before grinding to a halt, locked in combat.
The Carrion swooped in, taking damage from bow fire and losing a stand in the close combat, but their attacks were enough to finish off the enemy archers, and with that, break the army of Rhubba Ti Ti.
Victory to Mum-Ra the Ever Living!
