Honda Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 As some of you know from my crusade thread that some of our group recently attempted to play a historical refight of the "Battle for the Docks", which unfortunately didn't pan out due to most of the Orks not showing up. That was also before I had a chance to read about that part of the battle in "Helsreach". So now I am just a tad older, but a bit wiser and I wanted to offer up some thoughts for your consideration to help my next attempt at this battle. Scenario: The Orks have beached their giant submersibles and are attempting to overwhelm the forces in the dock area. The Imperial forces, such as they are, are desparately attempting to hold on until reinforcements can arrive. Terrain: Will still have the Orks enter from the waters edge, but do a better job on the docks and surrounding area. It seemed clear that there was quite a bit of urban development like we would expect to see at a typical busy port. Ork Forces: We'll still use the standard Ork codex with the same restrictions as before, except that with rare exception, it did not seem like there were a lot of vehicles unloading from the Ork landing craft, so I am considering only allowing infantry and walkers. All infantry would still have the "Without Number" rule. Your thoughts on that? Imperial Forces: I am thinking of structuring the Imperials to allow for refights at all points levels, not just Apocalypse. So, if you wanted to give it a try at 1000 pts, that would be fine, as would something larger. The Templars listed below do not cost any points, but are allocated on a fixed basis depending on the size of the game. So, except for the Black Templars unit, the Imperial side is composed of the following unit type from Codex:IG - Any number of Conscript squads, per codex entry - These squads would represent the armed dock workers. Each squad would be led by an Imperial Storm Trooper equipped as a standard trooper (not the Sergeant) and replaces one of the Conscripts. Just like in the story, you'd have these large mobs of guys who don't really know what they are doing, carrying a lasgun and the only reason they have any effectiveness at all is because they get to start in cover and there can be up to 50 of them in a squad. That ties to the book, but I'm not sure whether I would load them up to 50 or run something a little more tactically flexible like 30. Templars...sigh this is a little tougher to figure, but since it is supposed to represent what happened in the book, I figure it's close. For games of 1000 pts or less: 1 x Grimaldus, no servitors attached 1 x Emperor's Champion, this would represent Bayard 1 x Apothecary, as equipped from the Command squad For games of up to 1500 points, add 3 Crusaders as listed in the Troops section of Codex:BT. For games of up to 2000 points, add 4 more crusaders for a maximum of 10 Templars total. Above 2000 points, do not add any more Black Templars. Victory Conditions: The goal of the Orks is to destroy every human on the table. The humans are to survive until the end of the game. Roll for game length beginning on Turn 5. Just using simple maths at 1000 points, you'd have around ten dockworker squads + a small contingent of Templars. That seems like it would be an interesting and different sort of battle as a one off. So, thoughts, comments, criticisms? Cheers, Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/270524-armageddon-scenario-battle-for-the-docks/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
HellJumper117 Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 I actually don't think Bayard was at the docks. It doesn't say he was, but it doesn't say he wasn't either. There was Grimaldus, Nerovar (Apoth), Bastilan, Primaus and Atarion. Though technically Troven (who was the pilot for the Thunderhawk) can be included... All in all, sounds really really fun! Source: I have the book beside me :P Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/270524-armageddon-scenario-battle-for-the-docks/#findComment-3295118 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheCrimsonLancer Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 All the Templars were at the docks, but they were really spread out and I doubt Bayard and Grimaldus would have been within a hundred yards of each other. I would suggest having Bayard at 2000+ points only, so something like this: 1000: Grimaldus, Apothecary, two initiates 1500: add three initiates 2000: add Bayard and two initiates Also, since they were all spread out, maybe make them all ICs so they can help out individual guard squads. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/270524-armageddon-scenario-battle-for-the-docks/#findComment-3295418 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeruvar Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 Dont forget the one assault initiate that the stood his ground in front of the dockworkers and guardsman. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/270524-armageddon-scenario-battle-for-the-docks/#findComment-3295425 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Honda Posted February 1, 2013 Author Share Posted February 1, 2013 All the Templars were at the docks, but they were really spread out and I doubt Bayard and Grimaldus would have been within a hundred yards of each other. I would suggest having Bayard at 2000+ points only, so something like this: 1000: Grimaldus, Apothecary, two initiates 1500: add three initiates 2000: add Bayard and two initiates First off, thanx for the feedback! I like the above recommendation, so will amend the scenario to this. Also, since they were all spread out, maybe make them all ICs so they can help out individual guard squads. I had thought about this as well and think it's a good idea. I think I'll add that rule as well, but also let more than one IC join a unit. Would everyone be Ok with that? I'm very curious now to play this out just to see if there is any ebb and flow or whether the Orks just steamroller the Imperium. I suspect that the dockworker units are going to have a problem with Leadership, but that could be bolstered by adding a Templar. At the same time, they really shouldn't be expected to hang tough in the face of a unit of Orks assaulting them, so we'll see. This has been very helpful. Thanx for taking an interest in this. I am very intrigued by how this might play out. Cheers, Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/270524-armageddon-scenario-battle-for-the-docks/#findComment-3296016 Share on other sites More sharing options...
HellJumper117 Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 Well, some of the dockworkers actually fled halfway through the fight. Maybe you can put it in such a way that the Stormtroopers are like the sergeants and if they get taken down they take a morale test? Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/270524-armageddon-scenario-battle-for-the-docks/#findComment-3296019 Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvih Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 As I recall each group of "conscripts" at the dock was accompanied by a Stormtrooper, so indeed it'd make sense to have a Ld 7 Stormtrooper as a "sergeant" in each squad. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/270524-armageddon-scenario-battle-for-the-docks/#findComment-3296181 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeruvar Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 Make Andrej a special character like Scout master Tellion. I love that guy, always makes reading his parts in the book fun. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/270524-armageddon-scenario-battle-for-the-docks/#findComment-3296790 Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvih Posted February 2, 2013 Share Posted February 2, 2013 Make Andrej a special character like Scout master Tellion. I love that guy, always makes reading his parts in the book fun. Not a bad idea. Liked Andrej as well, other than the ending every damn sentence with a "question", a style of speech that annoys me to no end wherever I encounter it Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/270524-armageddon-scenario-battle-for-the-docks/#findComment-3296979 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Honda Posted February 2, 2013 Author Share Posted February 2, 2013 Not a bad idea. Liked Andrej as well, other than the ending every damn sentence with a "question", a style of speech that annoys me to no end wherever I encounter it I suspect that was how ADB wanted to convey a Canadian accent, at least that was how I interpreted it as I was reading. Regarding the ST as sergeant for the conscript squads, that was my intention, even if I hadn't explicitly stated that. I will make that clearer when I re-post the scenario rules. And Andrej was one of my favorite characters in the book. Cheers, Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/270524-armageddon-scenario-battle-for-the-docks/#findComment-3297114 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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