"Rumours of a plague sweeping Falrora have drawn the attention of
your forces. Investigate the eerily quiet remains of the once bustling city and
search for any signs of life."
The Purging of Falrora is our very first PVE Mission, used
with the prototype mission design kit. Combining elements from an RPG, RTS
games and miniature war gaming, it felt like a huge success. The game consists
of several 'Stages' to complete, including bonus objectives - all of which can
yield rewards to help get through the mission. A GM (Game Master) will oversee
a game, but it can also be a player who is participating.
We played two battles of the same mission, one with a co-op
of Blood Angels (40k) and The Order (customised Infinity + 40K armies), and second
game with Tau. Today, we will focus on the Co-op game, but for those curious,
we will have the Tau mission discussed briefly afterward.
Some thoughts from the Players before we get stuck into it!
"PVE has always
been a fascination of mine in video games, this game style has finally brought
it to the tabletops, giving players a real sense of adventure.
My favourite
part was the unexpected scripts written in like the Baneblade blowing a crater
sized hole in the adjacent building and the inclusion of item drops to help
with boss fights."
- Stu, war game connoisseur , hobbyist and 40k fan (Blood Angel Player)
"To have story
progression in a tabletop miniature war game is a huge leap forward, eventually
we all get bored of finding new army lists to smack each other down with."
- Nic, miniature profile engineer and veteran gamer (The Order Player)
" I think my
favourite part was when the Necromancer first appeared- very epic and game
changing.
Overall I was impressed with the game, very well thought out and
structured. It was refreshing to play a game with real narrative."
- Rowan, gamer and customisation enthusiast (Tau Player)
So, the players had 1000pts to share with no restrictions.
They split the limit into 500pts each. Let the games begin!
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| Deployed and ready to roll! |
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| Mk27 Marines, ready for battle! |
He didn't know what it was. Not quite unease, not quite
fear. But something unsettled the marine as he donned his Mk27 Power Suit. Had
it been the normal call of war: gunfire and the sound of people fleeing in
terror, he would know what to think. How he would react to the threat.
This however, was different. With little warning it was like
the populace of Falrora had consumed itself. All that remained of this once thriving city
was...
His thoughts were interrupted as the Ionic Rail Cannon Tank
slowed to a halt.
"Heat signatures detected." declared the tank
commander.
The captain of the investigation team reviewed the
information on his combat visor's HUD. "Now that is a surprise."
"Why's that?" came a reply.
"I knew we'd have some party crashers, but they came
earlier than I thought."
Two Rhino Tanks, complete with Tactical Squads, pulled up. They
were from the Blood Angels Chapter of Space Marines. Also in the nearby city
ruins was a small detachment of Scouts armed with sniper rifles, prepared for
trouble.
Equipped with blood red power armour, the sergeant of the
Tactical Marines approached the small unit of Mk27 Marines, in a peaceful, but
reserved stature.
"Hail, brother." said the Blood Angel Sergeant.
"Hail." replied The Order Captain.
The Blood Angels had met us on other battlefields before.
We, The Order, had been known to assist with disasters, but only in secret, and
only if it was important. The Order's relationship was generally unfriendly with
the Imperium - due to differing beliefs and political standpoint. However, the
more lenient factions of the Imperium, such as the Space Marines were not
always rivals, but sometimes 'neutral'...even allies on occasion. In the din of
battle, small grievances are overlooked in the fight for survival, or against
the common enemy.
Before any further exchange, a blood curdling howl echoed in
the distance. Shambling shadows and rotted, disfigured civilians came crawling
out of every nook, cranny and street.
The 'Purging of Falrora had begun.
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-The Mission-
The goal of the players is to complete objectives and
survive the mission. The Purging of Falrora has 6 Stages of varying size,
complete with rewards and hidden objectives.
STAGE 1: Investigate the ruins and defeat the Insane
Soldiers
The players had to navigate several zombie markers that
could be triggered by venturing too close or by fighting nearby. A bonus objective
was in place that if the players defeated all the zombie markers that they
would receive a reward.
The two players took their time clearing markers, as one
wrong move could prove disastrous. As progression was made, zombies would come
rushing from nowhere, threatening infantry and even armoured vehicles.
The
Blood Angel Rhinos had taken damage from the flurry of attacks!
The armies were going for the bonus objective before
tackling the Insane Soldiers. When contact was finally made, the Insane Soldiers
managed to damage the Mk27 Marines, a feat the zombies had failed to achieve so
far.
Before finishing off the Insane Soldiers, the players had
destroyed all the zombie markers, earning them their first reward: a choice
between a profile boost or a 'Mystery Flamer'. The Mystery Flamer's power
depended on a dice roll, and sadly it took shape in its weakest form, but it
was still a handy weapon against the legions of the undead.
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The Blood Angel had found the discarded Flamer in the
street, fuel tank full and ready to go. How it found its way there, nobody
knew, but the previous owner didn't have a use for it anymore.
"More coming from the street, 2 o'clock."
With a great gout of flame, the zombies were set alight, causing
the street to flash with disfigured silhouettes and a grim, orange light. They
didn't feel the pain, but their bodies gave out as they were burned to ash. So
far everything was proceeding smoothly, but some mad soldiers at the end of the
road were causing trouble.
"Sergeant, what is the situation?" a Tactical
Marine asked.
The Sergeant spoke to the entire squad through the com link
in their helmets: "We're unsure, but the Scouts have discovered some Stormtroopers.
Half of them have lost their minds and are firing upon us, while there are
another 10 or so locked in a freight container - probably by their insane
comrades. The plan is to put the insane soldiers down, then rescue their
comrades."
A split second after he finished, there was a deep hum,
followed by a crack of light. Before he had a moment to consider what just happened, electrified zombie corpses flew through the air and fell at the feet of the
Sergeant. He then looked at the Order's prized Ionic Rail Cannon Tank and
smiled.
"We really should get one of those."
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| Ionic Rail Cannon Tank opens fire, despite the encroaching zombies... |
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STAGE 2: Escort the 'survivor Stormtroopers' so they can activate the corrupted Baneblade's Cannon
The players successfully cleared the zombies and the Insane
Soldiers with little damage.
However, they had been alerted to stay clear of
the nearby building by the GM. The surviving Stormtroopers they had just rescued were aware of an
insidious threat within the city, only known as the Necromancer. The
Stormtroopers were sure he was hiding
with his minions in a nearby building. Their plan was to blow it up with the
battered and worn Baneblade battle tank. Look out!
The Stormtroopers made their way to the Baneblade and fired. The explosion didn't scatter. Thus ended Stage 2...
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| Kaboom! |
STAGE 3: Defeat the Necromancer
Should the players defeat the Necromancer, a model would
receive a powerful armour enhancement, dubbed as a suit of 'Reforged Dark
Armour' by the GM. It was mighty indeed!
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The dust settled after the Baneblade's Volcano Cannon hit its mark... and what the Mk27 Marines saw troubled them greatly. A legion of zombies and gut-wrenching Plague Marines had been hiding
within the building all along. They had even crossed it on their way to free
the Stormtroopers trapped in a freight container.
"Bah, dark magic." spat the nearby Blood Angel
Sergeant.
"Indeed." replied The Order Captain. "That
must be why our scanners didn't pick them up. They must've been cloaking their
presence."
There wasn't time for anything else to be said. The recently
freed Stormtroopers entered a combat formation and joined the other warriors,
ready to open fire. Despite this unexpected occurrence, the investigation teams
had a tactical advantage.
Of the outcome, only time would tell...
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The players methodically shot down the closest zombies,
saving the Ionic Rail Cannon Tank's weapons for the Necromancer and his Plague
Marine minions.
Some of the zombies managed to climb up and attack some of The
Order's Fire Warriors, but they were beaten back by a disciplined close combat.
The Necromancer himself had retreated to a nearby freight
container, casting evil magic in an attempt to repel his oppressors. He
managed to inflict some mild damage, but his little force was only a
distraction for what was to come.
Eventually, the Blood Angels and Fire Warriors overwhelmed
his minions with raw firepower, but it was a Melta Gun shot that finally broke the practitioner
of dark magic.
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"Fools..." he gurgled. "You cannot stand
before the coming darkness. You are not prepared."
After his body hit the ground, it vanished in a cloud of
dark, violet swirl of smoke. Was he actually dead? No one could be sure.
"...Target eliminated."
The update was sweet news for some of the soldiers that felt
his wrath, but the victory was short lived. Yet again, more signs of life were
detected: foul cultists performing a summoning ritual - lead by Plague Sorcerers.
The Order Captain called to his forces, "Men, ready
your weapons and storm those ruins! Make haste!"
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STAGE 4: Stop the Ritual: Kill the Cultists
Our two players had dealt with the Necromancer, but more
threats appeared on the radar so to speak, as two Sorcerers, Cultists and more
Plague Marines appeared, hiding in the ruins for a ritual.
The players couldn't deal with the threat quickly, as the
Necromancer had caused the army to spread out over several locations.
What came next was horrifying.
STAGE 5: Defeat
the Plagued Abomination
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A foul stench filled the air, and many soldiers gagged. It
almost seemed like the atmosphere itself darkened and flickered with a dim
light. At their feet, intestines slithered their way like snakes towards a pile
of rotting meat that began to move. Eventually, with an explosion of gore and
wretched organs, a Greater Daemon of Plague emerged with a guttural laughter. It
was a Great Unclean One: it's resilience and deathly touch was legendary...
it's foul presence was with them now.
"COME...EMBRACE."
It's voice echoed into their skulls, it even resonated with
their souls. There was no escape. If they couldn't defeat it, they would surely
die a disturbing and foul death. The persona of the daemon was that of warmth
and even paternal love, but to take the offer of such a creature would be the end, it would be like embracing death itself.
The creature would be destroyed, or they would die trying.
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| Zombies arrive, destroying the Blood Angel Rhino |
The two players now faced their greatest challenge yet: a
Great Unclean One had materialised into the physical world. Worse yet, more
zombies had been drawn to the fight and to top it off, the two Sorcerers and
their minions were on the attack. A triple trouble it seems, and virtually
nowhere was safe!
The Ionic Rail Cannon Tank was getting struck by zombies,
the Mk27 Marines were engaging the Sorcerers while the bulk of Fire Warriors
and the Blood Angels were attempting to damage the Great Unclean One.
Fortunately, there was a bonus objective. A Vendetta Gunship
had just arrived in their deployment zone. If a unit could deliver the
Necromancer's Orb to that Vendetta, one of the players could receive a deadly
'Slaughter Sword' - a melee weapon that could turn the tide. A Blood Angel
Rhino had been committed to this task, although some more zombies had appeared
to threaten it.
Amidst the chaos, the Fire Warriors and Stormtroopers
managed to defeat the cultists and the first Sorcerer. However, many more foes
needed to be defeated before they could rest easy...
 |
| Bonus Objective: Get the Necromancer Orb to the Vendetta Gunship! |
The Great Unclean was a deadly force, wreaking havoc on the
The Order's Fire Warriors and slaying many of the Blood Angel's Tactical
Marines. However, slowly but surely, the allied force was coming together and
bringing the beast down. A Fire Warrior even managed to inflict damage on the
creature in close combat! What bravery!
The Blood Angel Rhino had delivered the bonus objective to
the Vendetta, granting the reward of a 'Slaughter Sword'. The players agreed
that a member of The Order's Mk27 Marine unit should receive it, and it was an excellent
choice.
 |
| Special delivery coming through! |
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| With the Dark Reforged Armour suit and the Slaughter Sword upgrades, one of the Mk27 Marines was almost invincible! |
With the Slaughter Sword, a warrior from the Mk27 unit was able to defeat the Plague Marines and the second Sorcerer. With this achieved, a united effort to defeat the Great Unclean One
was being carried out.
Several firing lines had been established, and through
attrition and patience, the recently emerged zombies had been destroyed. But
was this the end of the undead horde?
Eventually, with much dedication and sacrifice, the Great Unclean One was defeated. With this,
the final stage of the PVE Mission began...
STAGE 6: Escape!
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With a great
roar, the Great Unclean One exploded in a shower of pestilent blood and gore.
Some of the rescued Stormtroopers threw up as a wriggling piece of gut landed nearby
on the ground, crawling towards them. The Blood Angel Sergeant stomped it with
his heavy boot.
"Daemonic
filth." he spat.
Before
victory could be enjoyed, once again they were in danger. The Great Unclean One's death howl had drawn
the attention of an innumerable zombie horde!
The Sergeant
sighed, "By the Emperor... what next?"
A low
rumbling came from the barely functional Baneblade. The Stormtroopers had
managed to start it up... one last time.
"C'mon,
get in." The Stormtrooper Sergeant barked.
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The players
had access to the Baneblade to help them escape. The goal was to get to their
Deployment Zone with the Vendetta Gunship. An unending tide of zombies was threatening
to overwhelm them! At this stage of the game, destroying a unit of zombies
would only cause them to reappear near a board edge. Fight them off and escape
was the goal.
The players
managed to fire the Baneblade's Volcano Cannon along with its support weapons
and maneuver themselves to safety. Some units did not survive the escape, and
even less survived the mission as a whole, but it was a battle to
remember.
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| Any survivors of the battle escaped with the Vendetta Gunship! |
For the record, the game took about 4 hours, and was spanned over approximately 20 Turns! Hope you enjoyed it.
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GAME #2
A second
game of this mission took place a couple days later with a Tau player. Some of the
events worked out differently, but it too was a great game - challenging and rewarding. Like the game several days before, it took around 4 hours and was roughly 27 Turns.
Some pictures
of that game are below:
The Order take some shots at the Ork Bomber, to no avail.
