Goliath Gangers - Once Blind

As all Goliath gangers are meat heads that are bred for hard labour in some worker's union manager's

nightmare of a refinery plant that are also jacked up on drugs to continue their existence in said labour sites. I figured weight lifters would be a good source for names. But decided to use wrestlers for inspiration instead, as I have more of an interest in the material, I also used some feuds to make up the backstory to the characters as well.

This blog seems to be really messed up with formatting, some new lines using Headings for font, making it size 16 and bold. Other times indenting and not centering, usually weird stuff happens when I add pictures. Please don't adjust your monitors, it's just the demons in my computer trying to escape.

Once Blind gang

Lex Galan could have had it all, he was a rising star in Wasteland Wide Fighters. Surviving multiple fights against the likes of Nikita in the fighting pits, and spreading Goliath's influence throughout the harshest levels of the under hive. There was just one critical moment that cost him his title as leader of the gang. His gang was to stop any kinds of interruptions while House Goliath met with the House Escher to broker a large trade agreement. Stimm-elixirs are vital to the survival of House Goliath, with them the hulking laborers can toil endlessly in the refineries without much rest. But Lex and the rest of the "Butch Deadlifts" were busy taming their craving to escape the dredges of their harsh lives. Sting tried to convince the others that they needed to be alert for their duty, but they all ignored him.  House Orlock took advantage of their inebriated state, sabotaging refineries and looting their mineral deposits. The Over-Tyrant was furious, disowning all of the neglectful gangers that followed Lex. Sting was outraged at the outcome, he left Lex's gang without a word to his former leader.

Now an outcast, Lex Galan was miserable, still needing a fix of stimm-elixir to starve off the symptoms of withdrawal. After several fake highs from the drugs, and hitting rock bottom once while he wasn't able to find a fix. Lex came across preachers from House Cawdor called "The Divine Twilight". Tengus Astin was practiced at finding the down trotted of the under hives, speaking publicly outside of factories, neutral territories to the sick and unsupported in their daily lives. He would bring the light of the Emperor, giving them half truths that would bring them into House Cawdor. (more on him and The Divine Twilight next post.)

Listening to their teachings, he realized that he was part of a whole and that his addiction was greater then himself. Salvation wasn't in the stimms, it was in faith. With his new teachings fresh in his mind, which was now cleansed of his stimm-elixirs, he vowed to clean up House Goliath. His first target would be "The Four Headsmen." led by Flik Blair. Flik was a staunch believer in the continued stimm enslaverment of the rest of House Goliath, defeating his gang would be one step to taking down WWF as a whole.

Meanwhile, his fellow gang members that had been exiled with Lex were experimenting with other xenos drugs that might give them the same high. "Stardust" and "Emperor's Rain" were only a few of the drugs that Animal and Hawk were using between laboring in whatever refinery that would take them on. One of the side effects of the drugs was that it would change the colour of your skin and veins, making them glow in unusual colours. Some of the other gangers were worse off, unable to function with their addiction. Lex invited Animal and Hawk to his new gang, Once Blind. He would help them through their dependency, as the Emperor never turns away from those most in need.

Bruno and Steele were able to keep working in House Goliath. Steele gave a rousing speech, but the Over-Tyrant was unimpressed. It was only when Steele acted like an animal, biting chairs and spitting out stuffing into the Over-Tyrants face, that he would realize that "Steele" and "Bruno" would make great entertainment in the fighting pits and were hired back. Wasteland Wide Fighters had become corrupt and uncaring about the members of their stable, fellow members would die young from stimms or dangerous work environments. Bruno and Steele would leave the WWF in search of redemption for their slave brethren. Hearing about Lex's new gang, the Once Blind they decide to join him on his journey to dethrone House Goliath.

Lex was amassing his old gang to take on the champion of the Wasteland Wide Fighters, Flik Blair. They ambushed "The Four Headsmen" taking an early advantage in their fight, but the xenos drugs were no match for the real stimm infused gangers. Flik had Lex cornered, when Sting arrived, motivating his would be rival to fight back against Flik.Lex pushes back against Flik, injuring the champion, but before a fatal blow is struck. Larry Ginhand saved the leader of the Headsmen, throwing a smoke grenade at Lex

There was no sight of "The Four Headsmen", but Sting would now join Lex and the rest of the Once Blind to hunt down their former masters.

Lex and Sting, fighting together after a falling out.

Leader - Lex Galan

Ranged Weapon - "Krumper" Rivet Cannon
Melee - Axe 

Total - 230 credits

Ganger - Sting

"Renderizer" Serrated Axe

Total: 100 credits

Battle Brothers Hawk & Animal

 

Champion - Hawk

Smoke Grenade, Boltgun

Total: 180 credits

Champion - Animal

Stub/Plasma combi-pistol, Power Hammer

Total: 220 credits

Ganger - Hacksaw

Brute Cleaver, Grenade Launder 

Total: 135 credits

Bruno and Steele, fighting for their kin's freedom

Ganger - Steele

Fighting knife, Stub Cannon

Total: 90 credits

Juve - Bruno

Spud Jacker, Stub gun

Total: 45

Some of your eagle eyed readers might have noticed the new game mat I have to show off the Goliath. That's right, I picked up Rogue Trader used from a friend. It would be great to be able to use some of these models in necromunda. I would vote the Starstriders would be a better fit as the Gellerpox models don't really have much in the sense of ranged weapons.... well besides bile and sputtum which might be the most effective ranged weapons in 2020.

Gellerpox infected storm the bridge

Next on the Hobby Desk

I seem to be running a bit behind on the battle reports now. I have soon to be two crusade battles to post. As well as a WarCry campaign that Rachel and I played today. Not to mention the backstory for the Cawdor gang that has been sitting on my desk for ages. 

I blame it on working mornings, making me super lazy after work, but there is definitely time to get stuff done. Gotta stay motivated!

Crusade painting with a chance of Khorne

With Crusade games every 2 weeks, I felt like I needed to finish up a few units to make it look like a consistent army. Especially when one of those models was kitbashed and only a base for one of our games. I assembled the cherubs for the Battle Squad, just need to pain that one up to finish the squad. (and remove the chibi model that I use as a stand in.)

With the purchase of the Sisters Repentia box, I painted up 5 more Repentia to finish off the squad of 4 that came in the Sister premium box.

The Repentia Superior that came in the box I kitbashed into a Dialogus. I added a Grey Knights staff to distinguish her from her sister in similar cloth. Might add some litanies if I can find the bits.

The Tech-Priest Manipulus Advectius Volo is keen on using ancient technology, if a interface isn't readily available, then your secrets are all that much more secure.

A feat of technical might, Advectius has been able to run Doom on his mechanical augmentations. It plays on anything!

Skeleton keys and 3.5" floppy disks are the most secure in the grim dark due to their obscurity in the Imperium. It also is handy to save his progress on Doom.  

In typical Jon fashion, I got completely distracted by yet some more Khorne models. I think this was due to how small the Repentia girls were, I needed to take a bit of a break and do some muscle-bound, hard slab Khorne dudes. Also these models had been in my portable paint tool box for over a year I am sure. 

White Dwarf had a 3-6 player Warhammer Underworld game mode called Arena Mortis, which now they have up for Pre-Order as a full on box set that fleshes out the rules. I just was looking at the rules for it in the White Dwarf issue, seems like a fun game, letting you upgrade one member of a warband and fight over one objective in the center of the board. Seems like it could be a fun distraction and more options would have more replay ability.

As with all the Underworld warbands, Magore's Fiends can also be added to the Khorne Daemons I painted up earlier for Age of Sigmar.

Magore's Fiends ready to collect skulls.

Sepulchral Guard surrounding Magore's Fiends

With how quick some of the GW boxes go out of print, it becomes a bit of a hassle to track down even boxes that were released a year ago. I found one box of the Corpsewrack Mausoleum for Warcry (now boxed as Sigmar's Mausoleum and doesn't come with the Warcry rules and tokens) on multizone.ca They also had some of the bushido miniatures which seemed to be out of stock other places. 

I like to support locally when I can, but when stock is scarce, online is the way to go. I did pick up Blackstone Fortress Ascension locally, but that might be the next miniatures that start to go out of print. 

Another box that I'll pick up soon is the Apocalypse box, as at the time Pilon picked it up when it came out, but having my own box would be nice.

For Rachel's birthday, one of the gifts I purchased for her are some of the mouslings from Reaper Bones. A singing bard was the miniature she was really excited to get, it also came with a knight and thief. 

Rachel pulled out the rest of her mice, turns out she has about 20 of these little guys. Originally, we bought these to play some frostgrave first edition, and now there is a second edition out of the game. I believe she has about 7 that are close to ready to be based and clear coated, but I think she wasn't sure what base she wanted to do for them.

Next on the Hobby Desk

I had another crusade battle with Pilon, should get that up soon hopefully. As for painting, I spray primed a bunch of models as this weekend to work on through winter, the Corpsewrack Mausoleum being one of the sets I primed.

 

Crusade Battle #4 Dormant Powers

 After proper medical attention to most of the sister, it seems that the Hospitallers are something close to miracle workers when it comes to bringing their patients back from the dead. Canoness Praxima was restless throughout the whole ordeal, if they didn't stop the repairs on the webway, the Khar Sorvi could spread their heresy to any corner of the universe. They might even join the Craftworlds against their fight against the Imperium of Man! The notion made Pramixa's gut wrench in opposite directions. This was getting out of hand!

Another crusade battle against Pilon, this time at my place on Sunday. We continued with 35 PL, as I got a bit distracted with my painting. While Rachel went to visit her folks in Fort Saskatchewan, she traded off some of her Sylvaneth (just the extras, she does plan to play WarCry, and hopefully Age of Sigmar in the future still) to a nice guy in Cold Lake that was kind enough to meet her in Lloydminster as she was driving through.

Skitarii reinforcements

But I thought RACHEL was selling her stuff? But that looks like Ad-mech for Jon, I hear you say ALTOGETHER. *waits for garbled crowd to repeat what he just typed* That's correct, I have exchanged Rachel's toys for my own, this is the level of my plastic addiction! I bought Rachel Between Two Cities of Mad King Ludwig as partial payment for the Skitarii she picked up for me.

With the Kataphron Destroyers as troop choices, I can now field them as a Battlion Detachment along with my two 5 robot squads of Ranger and Vanguards, this would also mean Belasarius Cawl would be the HQ or the Tech-Priest Dominus that I have yet to assemble. 

Anyways.... We have a battle on our hand.

Stoic Partisan - Patrol Detachment

No Force Org Slot

Repentia Superior Thessa - 2PL

HQ

Canoness Praxima - 3PL

Troops

Battle Sisters Squad Alwyn - 7PL

Elite

Acro-Flaghellants -2PL

Sisters Repentia - 6PL

Dialogus - 2PL

Fast Attack

Seraphim Squad - 4PL

Heavy Support

Penitent Engine Father Henry - 3PL

Stoic Partisans Ad-Mech - Patrol Detachment

HQ

Tech- Priest Manipulus Advectius Volo - 4PL

Troops

Skitarii Rangers FR-702  5PL

Total: 38PL

Khar Sorvi Patrol Detachment

HQ

High Stormwarden Oktai Thunderlord - 5PL

Troops

Scout Squad  Longsword -4PL

Fast Attack

Assualt Squad Stargaze - 12PL

Heavy Support

Centurion Devestator Squad Starheart - 14PL

Eradicator Squad Firestorm -5PL

Total: 40PL

Well, we were both planning to run 35, but Battlescribe had updated the night before and change some of the PL, also there seems to be discrepancies between the PC version and the mobile version. Might just stick with the codexes next time.

We played The Ritual, Pilon was the defender, he can score 10 pts for preforming an action on the Ritual Site, we could both score 10 for objectives if we controlled two or more and/or controller more then the opponent.

I was looking through the rules, and I swear I saw that they changed objectives to tagging them and walking away, only changing hands once an opponent was within engagement range, but I can't see the rule in the book at all. Am I crazy?

Deployment first turn

 I wasn't able to get first turn which REALLY would have been nice. I had to check to see if seize initiative was still in the rules, but I am pretty sure it was taken out for 9th.

Stargaze's Assault Squad fly through the air, leaving a charcoal cloud from their jump packs behind them, landing only a few meters away from the Sister's first line of defense. Arco-Flaghallents seething with uncontrollable drug induced rage at the sight of the nearest enemies. The squad is ripped into with several shots from bolt pistol fire. Only one manages to stay on it's feet.

Centurions trudge up the middle of the battlefield, firing a steady stream of bullets.

The Repentia Sisters are caught off guard, Thessa was barely able to scream at them to fight with the Emperor's fury before they are torn to pieces. Thessa neural whip coils around a marine's arm sheering them from the bulky warrior's body, a weaker foe would crumble to the ground at the psycho-conductive whips mental embrace.

Sister Mylantra and her Seraphims descend onto the ruins, volleys of molten slang spray onto the Eradicator Squad. Two of the three instantly turn into blobs of super-heated sludge, splattering onto the battleground.

Pilon informs me that he didn't notice that the Eradicator Squad can fire TWICE if they are shooting at one a single target, these new models are nasty!

Stargaze cleaning up the remaining Repentia

Centurion Devastator Squad unflinchingly advances, pounding the Sisters with Grav-cannon and missiles, highly accurate at close range.

High Stormwarden Oktai Thunderlord stands before the shattered webway, communing with the wraithbone, only to be interrupted by the unexpected arrival of the Seraphim.

Unstoppable, Stargaze leads his squad over to the skitarii rangers who were securing an objective on the lower section of the map, taking a few casualties to bolt pistol fire before charging in.

I really feel like there wasn't much action on my side of things, as even before my turn half my force was wiped out, did you see Father Henry? No? That's because he died so quickly! No upgraded flaming for him!

Already, Mylanthra wants to flee the fight.

This time, there isn't a climatic battle in the middle of battlefield

Dialogus had to save the remaining Skitarii from being scrap metal!

Alpha strike was a big factor in this game, before my turn, Repentia, Superior and the Penitent Engine were destroyed. The Skitarii Rangers aren't able to do a whole lot of damage with such a small squad, they also don't want to move if they are hoping to fire their Transuranic Arquebus. Could have deployed a bit further back too. Next time I guess.

For winning, Pilon choose to give his Librarian, Psychic Might, adding an additional Psychic power he can cast in the psychic phase.

Next on the Hobby Desk

More crusade! played another game with Pilon today, hopefully this write up won't take as long.

Bountiful Khorne harvest

Daemon have jumped in line on the paint desk, their nefarious plan of not being part of the grey tide has succeeded. Their legion grows along with the Flesh Hounds that I previously painted for WarCry.

The two Bloodcrushers are going to be used for WarCry, as a normal unit has 2 more then I actually own. (I am even pushing that as one has a daemonic icon, what daemon of khorne would fight with an icon instead of a sword?) 

The bloodletters were crowding the paint desk, as it seemed that's where there home was. We had a gentlemen's agreement that they would move out if I painted them up as well as their buddies (who were sleeping beside the paint rack, drinking and partying throughout the night. Mostly waiting for their proper bases to come, which took slightly over a month to show up.)

Bloodletters ready for bloodshed

This rowdy bunch is off the desk.

The entire Khorne Daemons

With this I now have a budding painted Khorne army of:

Warhammer 40K

Patrol Detachment

HQ

Karanak - 4PL, 75pts

Troops

10 x Bloodletters with banner & instrument - 4PL, 105pts

Elite

3 x Bloodcrushers  with banner & instrument - 7PL, 160pts

Fast Attack

5 x Fleshhounds - 4PL, 100pts

Total: 19PL, 440 pts

I didn't include the 3 metal bloodletters as they don't fill out a fill squad. Once I finish off some of the Ad-mech and Sisters, I might have to paint up a Khorne Daemon Prince to boost the list past 500 pts, I also have a metal Skulltaker that should be painted up too.

I was going to add the breakdown for Age of Sigmar points as well, but it seems Karanak is no longer seen as a Leader for a Khorne army, but the Skulltaker still is. (I hope so they just released a new... model....so did Karanak...) Well that's just silly.

If (when) I paint up the rest of the Slaanesh and Nurgle, I am sure a general daemon list would be close to 2K.

I have been eyeing up the Sigmarite Mausoleum (formerly known as the Corpsewrack Mausoleum when it was bundled for Warcry, adding in rules for the terrain into warcry) to use for Warcry. Rachel could hear my wallet opening and suggested that I painted up her Awakened Wyldwoods instead, as I had more drive to paint them up.

I went for birch trees in a fall transition, they turned out pretty nicely if I do say so myself.

Rachel's Ylthari's Guardians from Warhammer Underworld

After taking the pictures, Rachel did inform me that she still wanted to work on their bases, she has this weekend off so maybe she will put in some painting time.

Added some flock on the sides for moss.

Next on the Hobby Desk

I want to get a backstory together for the Necromunda gangers before posting about them, I have a crusade battle report to post.

 

Crusade Battle #3 - KHAAAAN!!!!

With their mission complete, the Stoic Patrons intercept vox chatter with the other Khar Sorvi, it seems that they were close to what they were looking for. Canoness Praxima knew the dangers of dabbling in technologies that weren't sanctioned by the Adeptus Mechanicus and time was of the essence. Deep beneath the surface of the planet was an old refinery, it had been a site of several battles between the Iybraesil Eldar and the Imperium ages ago. A patrol detachment of Adeptus Mechanicus joined the Sisters, lead by Tech-Priest Advectius Volo with his Rangers, their specialty was to seek out unsanctioned technology to be destroyed, or so they claim.

Sister Alwyn noticed an off white structure within the ruins, she had seen Eldar travel through them before it. A Webway Gate, though this one was in overgrown with local flora, one of the arcs had been smashed into several pieces behind it. The Sisters of Battle would need to move in and claim the Xenos tech before they did, who knows what untold horrors the Eldar warp device might inflict.

Pilon and I decided on a 35 PR crusade battle this time, which meant I needed to do some assembling and painting. As you can see from the Dialogus being invisible till the end of the game when she is substituted for a Battle Sister, it could have went better. 

I mostly focused on the Tech-Priest Manipulus, kitbashing his legs from the Skorpekh Warriors from the new starter set. He is armless so he shouldn't be too hard to fight. I will magnetize the weapon options too. It seems that the Tech-Priest didn't learn from the previous mission about how dangerous unsanctioned technology can be. (But it does look pretty cool!)

With how many of the Battle Sisters Squad that had fled last game, I decided to bolster the Repentia Squad for this game, bumping them from 4 to 9, making them much more useful! (and survivable)

Before both armies, stood the shattered Webway, it's spirit stones still beating within the wraithbone structure, Praxima knew that this gate needed repairs, but did the Khan figure out a way to sing to the wraithbone? She didn't want to find out, the gate must be destroyed!

Turn one deployment, The Relic

The Adepta Sororitas took the first turn, hoping to take out some of the close combat units. With the White Scars ability to fall back and still shoot and charge, it wouldn't tie them up for too long! I drew Spirit of Marty letting me roll a 5+ to let the unit shoot or fight before being taken off the board.

Father Henry takes cover in the dense Barbed Venomgorse

The Sisters Repentia, now bolstered with the faithless that had fled from battle, show their faith in the Emperor by blindly charging into the Vanguard Veteran Squad. Needing to use a Stratagem to allow them to charge after advancing. They succeeded in taking out 2 of their numbers, much better to charge then be charged by them. As they do mortal wounds when they slam into you.

Thessa facing down Khan 

The sound of several jump packs firing in union ruptures the din of combat, the Assault Squad has arrived, unleashing bolter pistol fire into the Sisters Repentia before charging into them. Revving their chainswords, butchering the whole squad.

Father Henry moves in to flame the Khan and the Assault Squad, taking out 4 models, and causing one wound on the Khan. 

After combat.

Assault Squad falls out of combat to shoot at Henry before charging in. Don't think I was able to Overwatch because from the pictures they seemed to have survived getting into combat which doesn't really happen with Heavy Flamer units.

The Librarian takes to the center of the battlefield, claiming the webway for the Khan. Father Henry bathes the Khan in flames.

I believe the rangers tried to get closer to the action only to be shot at by the Khan, and also be very ineffective at shooting back.

Battle Sisters hold the line against the Venguard Veteran Squad

Turgen Swiftspeer's bike engine revs up as he takes off in a wheelie towards Alwyn's Battle Sisters, his armor badly damaged from the previous battle against the sisters. From the look of it, only one of his hearts had been punctured in the previous battled.

Chief Librarian Oktai Thunderlord reaches towards the wraithbone, psychic energy pulsing from his finger tip. The light blue wraithbone twitched on the ground, swaying in it's place on the ground. 

Sister Mylanthra, leader of the Seraphim, witnessed the wraithbone move on the ground. Psychic energy rippled across the battlefield, the wraithbone lifting from the ground. Mylanthra screams, "Sisters, descend on the witch!" They land between the psycher and the webway.

Two of her sisters in battle fall, the voice of Saint Lucia echos in their head, "Pain insists that I stand my ground." they stand up with the last ounce of their strength to shoot at the Heretical Librarian. Leaving Mylanthra to finish him off.

The skitarii side of the force didn't fair very well this battle, only Tech-Priest Advectius Volo taking out the two Assault Marines in combat.

The Martyred Lady Lucia's voice came to Mylanthra as Librariand and her exchanged sword slashes, parrying and dodging on her wings. Both adversaries charged back into the fight at once, killing each other in unison.

Rolled a 5 on of the Spirit of the Martyr, letting Mylanthra fight once more in battle before being slain.

Battle Sisters capture the middle only to be blown off of it by the Eleminators.

Canoness and Dialogus clean up the scout squad, making sure they aren't able to claim the center objective. The Canoness seems to get herself into combat every game, with her staff she actually can do some good damage.

Pilon charged in with the Eliminators as they were his only squad left. Securing the relic but not able to score until the non existent turn 6.

With the Battle Sisters mostly wiped out, the Khan Sorvi take the webway. defending the area till their reinforcements could arrive to repair the webway. Canoness Praxima beats a tactical retreat, what's the point of an act of martyrdom if there isn't a crowd to tell the tale of your brave deeds? 

This was a bloody battle, while playing I asked Pilon if White Scars can retreat, shoot AND charge. He double checked today and it's actually they can fall back and charge back in, not shoot as well. Boy that would have made a difference! Oh well, now we know, and knowing is half the battle!

Next on the Hobby Desk

Somehow Daemons have taken over the hobby desk, jumping in line to get some contrast paint on them. The 90x52 oval bases I ordered finally showed up, so I finished up one of the Bloodcrushers, and well there was only three and the other two were half finished, now the unit (as I only have three from the lot earlier this year.) is done as well as 10 Blood letters. 

This game was closer to the beginning of August, today I had another crusade game with Pilon, so hopefully I can continue to get posts up in a reasonable about of time.