Victory is Vengeance Campaign

[Brother Tyler]

In a recent topic in Amicus Aedes, some members extolled the virtues of the Victory is Vengeance campaign system from The Horus Heresy Book Three: Extermination. This campaign was brought up as an Age of Darkness counterpart to Warhammer 40,000: Kill Team.

While the Victory Is Vengeance (ViV) rules are mentioned here and there within this forum, there isn't a dedicated topic that I could find. Since one of the members asked about it, I thought we'd start this discussion so that members can discuss their experiences playing the campaign.

As a primer, the campaign was set upon Isstvan in the aftermath of the drop site massacre, with small bands of loyalist survivors battling for survival ("Survivors Strike Force") against small bands of traitors sent to destroy them ("Destroyers Strike Force"). The focus was on small commando-style raids, and instead of creating forces unit by unit, strike forces were built up model by model. Each player built up a complete strike force in a manner similar to a Kill Team command roster (i.e., a stable of models from which to choose the actual models to use in the game). The campaign utilizes resources (both sides are cut off from robust logistical support). Each player's strike force may consist of up to three non-unique CHARACTER models (i.e., no Primarchs), with one of those models being designated as the principal hero leading the strike force. Models in a strike force can be from different legions. With the options for multi-legion strike forces and the unit types available, there is a lot more customization possible in ViV than in Kill Team. One key difference, though, is that in ViV, only Heroes and leaders gain experience - rank and file models do not gain experience.

While the campaign itself was set during a specific point in time, the rules can be applied to any number of smaller campaigns fought throughout the Horus Heresy.

[FlamingDeth]

Hey, that's the thing I asked about! So three characters and some amount of mooks on the roster?

 

In the other thread massive customization was brought up. How granular are we talking here? It sounds like there are more options than kill team but I'm wondering how deep it gets. More like shadow war? Are there rules for things that would typically be decorative on normal models, like scopes or rappelling gear etc? Stat modifications and skill trees for characters?

[Petitioner's City]

Excellent idea, Brother Tyler. This could be the basis of tournaments and other ideas.

[Marshal Rohr]

Hey, that's the thing I asked about! So three characters and some amount of mooks on the roster?

 

In the other thread massive customization was brought up. How granular are we talking here? It sounds like there are more options than kill team but I'm wondering how deep it gets. More like shadow war? Are there rules for things that would typically be decorative on normal models, like scopes or rappelling gear etc? Stat modifications and skill trees for characters?

Nothing like scopes and repelling gear but you can make a two-men sniper team that function as an ad-hoc unit and depending on your supply level your power armor or bike might not work. Instead of being constrained to a single squad you can nominate three heroes, that gain action points based on what they do in a battle, but also suffer permadeath. So if you’re looking for things like scopes and specialized gear you’d do it by the models you choose, and not from a wargear list. If you want a sergeant with a special bolter you’d pick a seeker sergeant leading tactical legionaries. That kind of thing.

[FlamingDeth]

I suppose I need to become more familiar with the various unit types in HH then, since it sounds more archetypal, like "take this unit type if you want a sneaky guy, take this type if you want a stabby guy etc."

 

I saw some pictures when attempting to Google this up that included dreads? Were those just flavor pictures or can you include things like dreadnoughts and terminators and the like in limited numbers? Also, which book would I find the rules for this in, and which book(s) would I need to make playable?

[Old-Four-Arms]

I suppose I need to become more familiar with the various unit types in HH then, since it sounds more archetypal, like "take this unit type if you want a sneaky guy, take this type if you want a stabby guy etc."

 

I saw some pictures when attempting to Google this up that included dreads? Were those just flavor pictures or can you include things like dreadnoughts and terminators and the like in limited numbers? Also, which book would I find the rules for this in, and which book(s) would I need to make playable?

 

Greetings frater,

 

The full ruleset can be found in FW's "Extermination" (HH3). Below link gives you the force building restrictions.

 

 

https://www.adepticon.org/wpfiles/2015/HorusHeresyTacticalStrike.pdf

 

 

 

Regards,

 

Old-Four-Arms

[Zebulon]

I am minded to follow this...

 

Especially as my HH forces are limited in number and not all built; opportunities for a decent roster therefore... :tu:

[Beren]

In the linked restrictions for adepticon it says that mortal armies cannot be taken. Given that it specicifically says 'for this event', would that mean that there's nothing stopping me from using SA/ICaM units outside of that event? (competetiveness aside).

[Brofist]

Awww boy. VisV and Tac Strike are really fun ways to play, but there are oversights and balance problems. My group ended up combining Tactical Strike with the Victory is Vengeance campaign system. Took two years to playtest it, but we expanded the rules a bit and made some modifications to emphasize balance. If you want to try a combined ruleset I have a B&C thread for it you can check out:

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/topic/350675-announcing-tactical-strike-plus-a-new-way-to-play-hh/

 

The rules are here:

https://tacticalstrike.powerfisted.com/

[Brofist]

In the linked restrictions for adepticon it says that mortal armies cannot be taken. Given that it specicifically says 'for this event', would that mean that there's nothing stopping me from using SA/ICaM units outside of that event? (competetiveness aside).

It's in the basic rules, not just the adepticon pack.

 

We got rid of this restriction in TS+, so if you wanted to run adhoc squads of SA or Milita with Marines you totally can

[Ripper.McGuirl]

The TS+ rules are probably a better place to start than the packet I made for Adepicon. When I ran that, it was very much intended for a one day event To run with a minimum of complications and a maximum amount of “these guys didnt read the rules, are hung over, and half of them won’t show up” planned for.