SoBH Campaign 1 - Dwarves vs Rats

All Creatures Rat and Small

This page is a base to catalogue my first fantasy "Songs Of Blades and Heroes" campaign with my gaming buddy MacSver. I have moved the campaign page to this post to make room at the top for the second campaign (so for those avid readers this isn't anything new, just a bit of re-organising)

The basic warband makeup is Dwarf vs Ratmen: Initial Warband Compositions.

  

Battle #1: First Blood in the Hill

 

Battle Aftermath:

Valgen Maest: 6 Victory Points, 1 Campaign Point
Blightvale Autho-RAT-y: 3 Victory Points

We'll deal with the Rats first, as it's a bit simpler. The thrower and fleeing warrior made a full recoveries, one of the rat swarms is injured and misses the next battle, but the other 2 casualties (Scout and swarm) are confirmed deceased. 15 Gold coins were gained following the defeat and whilst exploring the surrounding countryside an unusual looking boulder with a lock was found. Unfortunately the lock proved too difficult for the rats and they couldn't open it.

The dwarven crossbowman and the elite warrior succame to thier injuries and died. 40 gold coins were gained following the victory, but when searching the area the remaining crossbowman became feverous and will fight the next battle with an increased quality score.

Now things become complicated. Once the dust settled, it was realised that the dwarven leader had been played as a dwarven leader and not as a dwarven magic user as listed. The confusion came from the term "Leader" not being enough to get the bonus's, etc combined with our lack of match practice. In the end it made little real difference - no magic was used, the figure was only in the fringes of the battle, no real advantage was seeked or gained and we had fun.

 

Battle #2: Blood On The Frozen Tundra

So MacSver has used all his cash and points and rejigged Valgen Maest to be the Dwarven Commander he was meant to be from the core book rosters:

• Valgen Maest: DWARF COMMANDER 95 Pts
  Quality 2+, Combat 4Short Move, Leader, Fearless:

Battle Aftermath:

Valgen Maest: 3 Victory Points, 1 Campaign Point
Blightvale Autho-RAT-y: 2 Victory Points

Running CP Total: Dwarves 2, Rats 0

Injuries:

• Dwarf: The cavalry-dwarf and his bear died of their wounds.
• Rats: All make full recovery

Income:

• The Dwarves 60 Gold for winning. In the aftermath the warband came across a caravan of traders and managed to trade and extra 20 Gold. (total 80 gold)
• The Ratmen managed to scavenge 25 gold after the battle (loser income + underdog bonus). On their scuttle away they happened on another strange looking boulder with a lock on it, but again couldn't open it. (total 25 gold)

Battle #3 Target in the Trees

MacSver had been busy spending his hard earned cash from the second battle. A Healing potion was purchases to give his Elite warrior a little backup, and two new recruits arrived in the camp - A crossbowman and a magic user:

• Klob Garathal: CROSSBOWMAN (Chainmail, Crossbow) 24 Pts
  Quality 4+, Combat 3
  Short Move, Medium Shooter
• Delgar Faderg: MAGIC-USER; (dagger) 41 Pts
  Quality 4+, Combat 3
  Short Move, Magic-user

Battle Aftermath:

Valgen Maest: 0 Points
Blightvale Autho-RAT-y: 1 Campaign Point

Running CP Total: Dwarves 2, Rats 1

Injuries:

• Dwarf: The Thief suffered a serious wound, so will be out for the next battle (but back to full strength after that), whilst the magic user is permanently "Not All There", so his quality is worsened by one.
• Rats: No casualties

Income:

• The Dwarves accrued 1d6 x 5 Gold for for their efforts.On their way back home they happened on a strange looking boulder with a lock on it (and probably lots of frustrated rat claw scratches surrounding it) , but couldn't open it.. (total ?? gold)
• The Ratmen managed to scavenge 50 gold after the battle. Whilst exploring the area they happened upon an old Watchtower, which they made theirs (+1 to initiative rolls at the game start/setup). (total 50 gold)

Battle #4: Pulsating Power in the Pillars

With several of the combatants reaching the "magical" 3 experience points there were quite a few improvements made for this battle.

The improvements in the rats were mostly pretty basic - boosting their Combat score to try and compete with more powerful dwarven opponents. The Swarm master, though, had managed to train a swarm to carry him aloft, and he gained the mounted skill (via the buy-a-mount-and-half-the-skill-cost loophole). Magic user also joined the ranks, with the hope that some Transfixing way also help the toe-to-toe battles.

MacSver went for the more subtle approach of improvement to his experienced warriors. Free Disengage for his best warriors and fearless for his longest standing standard warrior. Some extra oomph was also added to the ranged section of the warband with an improved quality for one crossbowman and a new recruit by way of a javelin wielding skirmisher.

Battle Aftermath:

Valgen Maest: 0 Victory Points
Blightvale Autho-RAT-y: 2 Victory Points. 1 Campaign Point

Running CP Total: Dwarves 2, Rats 2

Injuries:

• Dwarf: The 2 crossbowmen died of their wounds. The Skirmisher had a serious wound that will keep him out of the next battle.
• Rats: No casualties.

Income:

• The Dwarves searched around and found 30 gold (and bagged an additional 40 as an underdog bonus): 70 total.
• The Ratmen looted 60 Gold.
• Neither warband had any results during the exploration phase.

Battle #5: Hold the Ground

With the rat tactics being to outnumber the enemy, two new warriors were added to the warband. The second Elite Warrior joined the ranks of the Dwarves, along with a replacement crossbowman. the Thief was back from his convalescing period.
Battle Aftermath:

Valgen Maest: 2 Victory Points - Win by slaughter!
Blightvale Autho-RAT-y: 7 worthless Victory Points

Running CP Total: Dwarves 3, Rats 2

Injuries:

• Dwarf: The crossbowmen fully recovered from his rat bites.
• Rats: The leader recovered, but the rat shaman, experienced warrior and a swarm are gone for ever.

Income:

• The Dwarves searched around and found 40 gold.
• The Ratmen looted 30 Gold.
• Exploration was a bit more eventful this week. The dwarves stumbled upon an Eldritch Graveyard. Whilst poking about for any valuables "left behind" the unhappy dead spirits rose and attacked. The thief became injured and will be suffering a reduction in quality for the next battle. In the confusion of the retreat, the ratmen became lost as they tried to regroup and will suffer a -1 to their initiative roll next battle.

Battle #6: Slaughter in the Swamp.

Valgen bolstered his dwarven force with a couple of new recruits: a third crossbowman and a skirmisher. MacSver also re-iterated that he was retiring his magic user. Not only was he a Q5 liability, but he didn't feel that magic fitted into his view of the Dwarve theme. The rats, with limited funds, could only afford to replace one of their fallen from the last battle. An experienced warrior was replaced with a Ratman Champion, who is comparable in stats.


Battle Aftermath:

A draw, so no Campaign points for either warband.

Campaign Outcome
Victory to Valgen Maest's Dwarves
(3 Victory Points against 2)

And Finally some thoughts on our inaugural campaign