15 Jul 2015
New Ogre Kingdoms Characters: Part 1
The Cheapies
Okay, I had fun posting my overhaul of Yhetee units, and decided I might make an infrequent series a wish-list/idea dump for units in a future Ogre army book. Today, it's cheap characters!
Have you ever made yourself an army list and realized you were under by 100 points and had already given everyone command groups? In that moment, did you crave for a character with a points value in the double digits? Well, no longer! (Or not, since this is unofficial). I have two proposals for filling out the Ogre character rooster: one cheap but usable ogre support and one sorely-needed Gnoblar character! Both of them have a somewhat humorous Orcs & Goblins feel, but would fit into the fluff nicely. I hope you guys find it a good read.
Gadget Lads
While many Ogres travel to distant lands to serve as mercenary warriors, a few end up in more artisanal professions. Having earned the rudiments of engineering, they return to the Mountain of Mourn and are nicknamed Gadget-Boys by their comrades. They are considered the most cultured among Ogre society, demonstrated by how often they make fart jokes.
This interest in machinery makes them gravitate to the company of Gnoblars. Because of this, most are somewhat distrustful of Gadget Lads, respecting their ability to create Gadgets but wondering what kind of self-respecting ogre spends so much of his time with Gnoblars. Gadget Lads are sometimes called by a more disdainful name: Ear-Nibblers. Ogres mark Gnoblars as their own by biting their ears, and so Ogres sneer that Gadget Lads make a dainty nibble instead of a proper chomp.
On the other hand, Gadget Lads are immensely popular among Gnoblars. While the prestige attached to being the Tyrants pet is still greater, Gnoblars can expect a relatively comfortable life under the Gadget Lads tutorage. They are taught to operate weapons and machinery, the most promising students even becoming the closest thing Gnoblars have to military elites: Spring Gnoblars. Best of all, only a few get eaten. These benefits inspire such admiration that many a Gnoblar will think twice before inevitably stealing from the Gadget Lad. None of this is to say the Gadget Lad is a big softie. On the field of battle, he combines the guile of a Gnoblar with the brute strength of an ogre to deadly effect.
M WS BS S T W I A Ld Points
6 3 4 4 4 4 2 3 8 70
TROOP TYPE: Monstrous Infantry (Character)
EQUIPMENT: Light Armour, Hand Weapon
SPECIAL RULES: Fear, Ogre Charge.
Fraternizes with Gnoblars: Any ogre who spends his time around Gnoblars is derrided. A Gadget Lad cannot be the General of an Ogre army. Gadget Lads CAN join units of Gnoblars. Gnoblar units are subject to their Inspiring Presence, treating each Gadget Lad as if he were The General. This occurs even if a Gadget Lad is the Battle Standard Bearer.
He Knows a Trick or Two: Gnoblar units led by a Gadget Lad are allowed to pick ONE Tactical Upgrade and ONE Technological Upgrade. Upgrades are listed below.
GNOBLAR TACTICAL UPRGRADES
Gnoblar Trappers . 25 Points
Gnoblar Piggy-Backers .. . .15 Points
GNOBLAR TECHNOLOGICAL UPGRADES (ONLY AVAILABLE WHEN LED BY A GADGET LAD)
Sky-Blocker Standard....................................................30 Points
A Splatapult...................................................................30 Points
Spring Gnoblars.............................................................30 Points
Gnoblar Piggy-Backers
Clambering onto a mates shoulders, the diminutive Gnoblar suddenly has a height advantage over most humans.
A Gnoblar unit with the Piggy-Backer upgrade is able to make stomp attacks against enemy infantry and War Beasts.
The Splatapult
The Splatapult is an invention so unpleasant it would impress a Skaven engineer. These little catapults are loaded up with, well, pieces of faeces, and fired upon the enemy in the hopes of goading them into an indignant rage. Against more short-tempered warriors, it tends to work.
The Splatapult is a shooting attack fired by the Gadget Lad.
Splatapult
Range 18 Strength 1 Multiple Shots (D3+1)
Any enemy model or unit hit by the Splatapult must take a Leadership test at the start of its next movement phase. If it fails, the target MUST attempt to charge the unit which fired upon it. This applies to targets with the Frenzy special rule, which take test to charge if their Berserk Rage leadership test is passed. Any target hit by a Splatapult attack is subject to Hatred (Gnoblars) special rule for the remainder of the game.
Spring Gnoblars
With springs tied to their feet, these Gnoblars leap over the heads of surprised infantry to wreak havoc within the unit. Having served their purpose as distractions, they attempt to scamper back to their comrades. Not all are quick enough.
Spring Gnoblars may ONLY be used on units classified as Infantry or War Beasts. At the start of the first round of combat, the player may choose to activate his spring Gnoblars. These little pests leap over the heads of the first rank and into the second, causing all manner of disturbances. Regardless of what weapons the unit is armed with, the SECOND rank may not attack during the combat phase. All other ranks attack normally, following their respective special rules, weapon benefits and formation benefits.
At the end of the combat phase (but before resolving combat results) each model in the enemys second rank makes an initiative test. For every model that passes, remove a Gnoblar as a casualty. For every roll of a 6, the enemy model loses a wound (they may take armour and ward saves as usual).
The Sky-Blocker Standard
Using old sails scavenged from shipyards, the Gadget Lad constructs a standard of epic height and width. Designed to allow units of Ogres to march toward the enemy without being picked off by pesky arrows, it also poses a risk to flying creatures.
The Sky-Blocker follows the rules of a standard. Additionally, the Sky-Blockers size obscures line of sight. For the purposes of line of sight shooting and spell-casting, a Gnoblar unit with the Sky-Blocker is treated as infinitely high terrain, thus blocking any models behind them.
Because the sails are buffeted by wind, a unit must roll a D6 at the start of their movement phase and consult the following chart:
D6 Effect
1-2 The wind direction changes and the Gnoblars must fight to make any forward progress. The units Movement speed is reduced by 1.
3-4 The wind is but a light breeze. The unit moves as normal.
5-6 The wind is strong, but blows in a favourable direction. The units movement speed is increased by 1.
The Sky Blocker is lost if the unit ever makes a flee reaction. If the unit is hit by a flaming attack or spell from the Lore of Heavens, the standard is destroyed. Flying/Hovering units which pass within 3 of or charge the unit must take a dangerous terrain test. The Sky Blocker cannot be a Battle Standard.
GADGET LAD OPTIONS:
May upgrade light armour to heavy armour............................4 Points
May choose to be armed with one of the following:
- Additional Hand Weapon.......................................................2 Points
- Ironfist..................................................................................4 Points
- Great Weapon......................................................................11 Points
- A single Ogre Pistol...............................................................5 Points
- A brace of Ogre Pistols..........................................................10 Points
- Harpoon Launcher.................................................................10 Points
May Carry a Battle Standard:.................................................20 Points
- Has access to a magical standard with a points limit of.........75 Points
May take magic items to a total of..........................................30 Points
Gnoblar Crook
While Ogre culture is built upon the concept of strength and more strength, advancement in Gnoblar society is all about guile. Theft is therefore an integral part of Gnoblar life. Gnoblars steal food and drink, weapons and junk. They steal for survival, for pleasure, for revenge and for no reason at all. The most prolific kleptomaniacs amass such a horde of useless junk (and, lost among the scrap, the occasional treasure) that they become almost respected by their Greenskin peers. These are Gnoblar Crooks, and their feats of burglary are sanctified in a way similar to how Bretonians celebrate the feats of Knights.
Their penchant for pickpocketing has been honed over a long career, and so they often fulfil a similar role to the tribe elder. This loose form of internal governance is mostly ignored by the ogres, who have more pressing thing to worry about (mainly food). It does complicate matters that a Crooks tribal authority can be easily circumvented by a Gnoblar running under the legs of their ogre master, though this is not always a risk-free strategy.
In their careers of thievery, Crooks occasionally come into possession of valuable objects. Most Gnoblar know the story of Mip Heavy-Pockets, an intrepid Gnoblar Crook who liked to accompany Ogre Ivory Road raiding parties. He would hang back until the fight was over and strip the dead of their trinkets. On one such occasion, he was searching the corpse of an Imperial arch-mage and found a scroll. While showing it off to his mates back at the tribe, he uttered the binding words and accidently unleashed achain lightning spell. This inadvertently killed two thirds of the tribes ogres and singed Tyrant Drud Thigh-Wobbles moustache. According to legend, Mip managed to intimidate the remaining Ogres into submitting to their new tyrant, Mip Storm-Bringer. This unprecedented regime lasted a full afternoon, ending when Mip split his ale onto the scroll. The next day, the tribes butcher served Drud an especially tasty Gnoblar Casserole.
M WS BS S T W I A Ld Points
4 3 4 4 4 2 4 2 6 45
TROOP TYPE: Infantry (Character)
EQUIPMENT: Hand Weapon, Throwing Weapon
SPECIAL RULES: Beneath Contempt
Pick-Pocket: When a unit with a crook engages in close combat with an enemy character who has one or more magic items, the Crook may attempt to steal the enemys shiny trinkets! At the beginning of combat, roll a d6. On a 4+, the Crook is able to steal the characters enchanted item, talisman, or arcane item. The crook cannot pickpocket armour weapons or banners, theyre simply too big! If the character has more than one eligible magic item, roll a d6 to randomly determine which is stolen. Having stolen something shiny, the crook automatically reforms within the unit to the back rank, scurrying away with his booty.
If the Crook fails the 4+ roll, he has been caught red-handed. Offended by such underhand tactics, the enemy character must pass a leadership test or be forced to issue a challenge against the Crook. As much as he would want to, the Crook cannot decline the challenge. If the stolen-from character or his unit character kill the Gnoblar Crook in close combat or his unit is over-run, the magic item reverts back to its original owner.
Theyll Never Find Me: Gnoblar Crooks may be deployed as hidden characters as described in the Warhammer Rulebook. They may join any unit of infantry or monstrous infantry (and thus may join units of Ogres as hidden characters). A crook can never be the army General.
UPRGRADE
Shiny Magics: Gnoblar Crooks have been known to loot arcane colleges in search of shiny magics. Crooks take a bound spell. The bound spell can be selected from the Signature Spells of any of the eight main Lores of Magic as described in the Warhammer Rulebook. The power of the bound spell is -2 of the respective spells unmodified casting value. If you take multiple Gnoblar Crooks in your army, they may not take the same scroll.
GNOBLAR CROOK OPTIONS:
May take an additional Hand Weapon.........................................2 Points
May take ONE bound spell (as per the shiny magics rule).........30 Points
May take Magic Items to a total of..............................................20 Points
Don't have time to do a massive in-depth explanation of my proposals but I hope the possibility for fun is self evident. I am particularly interested in the Gadget Lad's trolling potential.
Thoughts?
The Cheapies
Okay, I had fun posting my overhaul of Yhetee units, and decided I might make an infrequent series a wish-list/idea dump for units in a future Ogre army book. Today, it's cheap characters!
Have you ever made yourself an army list and realized you were under by 100 points and had already given everyone command groups? In that moment, did you crave for a character with a points value in the double digits? Well, no longer! (Or not, since this is unofficial). I have two proposals for filling out the Ogre character rooster: one cheap but usable ogre support and one sorely-needed Gnoblar character! Both of them have a somewhat humorous Orcs & Goblins feel, but would fit into the fluff nicely. I hope you guys find it a good read.
Gadget Lads
While many Ogres travel to distant lands to serve as mercenary warriors, a few end up in more artisanal professions. Having earned the rudiments of engineering, they return to the Mountain of Mourn and are nicknamed Gadget-Boys by their comrades. They are considered the most cultured among Ogre society, demonstrated by how often they make fart jokes.
This interest in machinery makes them gravitate to the company of Gnoblars. Because of this, most are somewhat distrustful of Gadget Lads, respecting their ability to create Gadgets but wondering what kind of self-respecting ogre spends so much of his time with Gnoblars. Gadget Lads are sometimes called by a more disdainful name: Ear-Nibblers. Ogres mark Gnoblars as their own by biting their ears, and so Ogres sneer that Gadget Lads make a dainty nibble instead of a proper chomp.
On the other hand, Gadget Lads are immensely popular among Gnoblars. While the prestige attached to being the Tyrants pet is still greater, Gnoblars can expect a relatively comfortable life under the Gadget Lads tutorage. They are taught to operate weapons and machinery, the most promising students even becoming the closest thing Gnoblars have to military elites: Spring Gnoblars. Best of all, only a few get eaten. These benefits inspire such admiration that many a Gnoblar will think twice before inevitably stealing from the Gadget Lad. None of this is to say the Gadget Lad is a big softie. On the field of battle, he combines the guile of a Gnoblar with the brute strength of an ogre to deadly effect.
M WS BS S T W I A Ld Points
6 3 4 4 4 4 2 3 8 70
TROOP TYPE: Monstrous Infantry (Character)
EQUIPMENT: Light Armour, Hand Weapon
SPECIAL RULES: Fear, Ogre Charge.
Fraternizes with Gnoblars: Any ogre who spends his time around Gnoblars is derrided. A Gadget Lad cannot be the General of an Ogre army. Gadget Lads CAN join units of Gnoblars. Gnoblar units are subject to their Inspiring Presence, treating each Gadget Lad as if he were The General. This occurs even if a Gadget Lad is the Battle Standard Bearer.
He Knows a Trick or Two: Gnoblar units led by a Gadget Lad are allowed to pick ONE Tactical Upgrade and ONE Technological Upgrade. Upgrades are listed below.
GNOBLAR TACTICAL UPRGRADES
Gnoblar Trappers . 25 Points
Gnoblar Piggy-Backers .. . .15 Points
GNOBLAR TECHNOLOGICAL UPGRADES (ONLY AVAILABLE WHEN LED BY A GADGET LAD)
Sky-Blocker Standard....................................................30 Points
A Splatapult...................................................................30 Points
Spring Gnoblars.............................................................30 Points
Gnoblar Piggy-Backers
Clambering onto a mates shoulders, the diminutive Gnoblar suddenly has a height advantage over most humans.
A Gnoblar unit with the Piggy-Backer upgrade is able to make stomp attacks against enemy infantry and War Beasts.
The Splatapult
The Splatapult is an invention so unpleasant it would impress a Skaven engineer. These little catapults are loaded up with, well, pieces of faeces, and fired upon the enemy in the hopes of goading them into an indignant rage. Against more short-tempered warriors, it tends to work.
The Splatapult is a shooting attack fired by the Gadget Lad.
Splatapult
Range 18 Strength 1 Multiple Shots (D3+1)
Any enemy model or unit hit by the Splatapult must take a Leadership test at the start of its next movement phase. If it fails, the target MUST attempt to charge the unit which fired upon it. This applies to targets with the Frenzy special rule, which take test to charge if their Berserk Rage leadership test is passed. Any target hit by a Splatapult attack is subject to Hatred (Gnoblars) special rule for the remainder of the game.
Spring Gnoblars
With springs tied to their feet, these Gnoblars leap over the heads of surprised infantry to wreak havoc within the unit. Having served their purpose as distractions, they attempt to scamper back to their comrades. Not all are quick enough.
Spring Gnoblars may ONLY be used on units classified as Infantry or War Beasts. At the start of the first round of combat, the player may choose to activate his spring Gnoblars. These little pests leap over the heads of the first rank and into the second, causing all manner of disturbances. Regardless of what weapons the unit is armed with, the SECOND rank may not attack during the combat phase. All other ranks attack normally, following their respective special rules, weapon benefits and formation benefits.
At the end of the combat phase (but before resolving combat results) each model in the enemys second rank makes an initiative test. For every model that passes, remove a Gnoblar as a casualty. For every roll of a 6, the enemy model loses a wound (they may take armour and ward saves as usual).
The Sky-Blocker Standard
Using old sails scavenged from shipyards, the Gadget Lad constructs a standard of epic height and width. Designed to allow units of Ogres to march toward the enemy without being picked off by pesky arrows, it also poses a risk to flying creatures.
The Sky-Blocker follows the rules of a standard. Additionally, the Sky-Blockers size obscures line of sight. For the purposes of line of sight shooting and spell-casting, a Gnoblar unit with the Sky-Blocker is treated as infinitely high terrain, thus blocking any models behind them.
Because the sails are buffeted by wind, a unit must roll a D6 at the start of their movement phase and consult the following chart:
D6 Effect
1-2 The wind direction changes and the Gnoblars must fight to make any forward progress. The units Movement speed is reduced by 1.
3-4 The wind is but a light breeze. The unit moves as normal.
5-6 The wind is strong, but blows in a favourable direction. The units movement speed is increased by 1.
The Sky Blocker is lost if the unit ever makes a flee reaction. If the unit is hit by a flaming attack or spell from the Lore of Heavens, the standard is destroyed. Flying/Hovering units which pass within 3 of or charge the unit must take a dangerous terrain test. The Sky Blocker cannot be a Battle Standard.
GADGET LAD OPTIONS:
May upgrade light armour to heavy armour............................4 Points
May choose to be armed with one of the following:
- Additional Hand Weapon.......................................................2 Points
- Ironfist..................................................................................4 Points
- Great Weapon......................................................................11 Points
- A single Ogre Pistol...............................................................5 Points
- A brace of Ogre Pistols..........................................................10 Points
- Harpoon Launcher.................................................................10 Points
May Carry a Battle Standard:.................................................20 Points
- Has access to a magical standard with a points limit of.........75 Points
May take magic items to a total of..........................................30 Points
Gnoblar Crook
While Ogre culture is built upon the concept of strength and more strength, advancement in Gnoblar society is all about guile. Theft is therefore an integral part of Gnoblar life. Gnoblars steal food and drink, weapons and junk. They steal for survival, for pleasure, for revenge and for no reason at all. The most prolific kleptomaniacs amass such a horde of useless junk (and, lost among the scrap, the occasional treasure) that they become almost respected by their Greenskin peers. These are Gnoblar Crooks, and their feats of burglary are sanctified in a way similar to how Bretonians celebrate the feats of Knights.
Their penchant for pickpocketing has been honed over a long career, and so they often fulfil a similar role to the tribe elder. This loose form of internal governance is mostly ignored by the ogres, who have more pressing thing to worry about (mainly food). It does complicate matters that a Crooks tribal authority can be easily circumvented by a Gnoblar running under the legs of their ogre master, though this is not always a risk-free strategy.
In their careers of thievery, Crooks occasionally come into possession of valuable objects. Most Gnoblar know the story of Mip Heavy-Pockets, an intrepid Gnoblar Crook who liked to accompany Ogre Ivory Road raiding parties. He would hang back until the fight was over and strip the dead of their trinkets. On one such occasion, he was searching the corpse of an Imperial arch-mage and found a scroll. While showing it off to his mates back at the tribe, he uttered the binding words and accidently unleashed achain lightning spell. This inadvertently killed two thirds of the tribes ogres and singed Tyrant Drud Thigh-Wobbles moustache. According to legend, Mip managed to intimidate the remaining Ogres into submitting to their new tyrant, Mip Storm-Bringer. This unprecedented regime lasted a full afternoon, ending when Mip split his ale onto the scroll. The next day, the tribes butcher served Drud an especially tasty Gnoblar Casserole.
M WS BS S T W I A Ld Points
4 3 4 4 4 2 4 2 6 45
TROOP TYPE: Infantry (Character)
EQUIPMENT: Hand Weapon, Throwing Weapon
SPECIAL RULES: Beneath Contempt
Pick-Pocket: When a unit with a crook engages in close combat with an enemy character who has one or more magic items, the Crook may attempt to steal the enemys shiny trinkets! At the beginning of combat, roll a d6. On a 4+, the Crook is able to steal the characters enchanted item, talisman, or arcane item. The crook cannot pickpocket armour weapons or banners, theyre simply too big! If the character has more than one eligible magic item, roll a d6 to randomly determine which is stolen. Having stolen something shiny, the crook automatically reforms within the unit to the back rank, scurrying away with his booty.
If the Crook fails the 4+ roll, he has been caught red-handed. Offended by such underhand tactics, the enemy character must pass a leadership test or be forced to issue a challenge against the Crook. As much as he would want to, the Crook cannot decline the challenge. If the stolen-from character or his unit character kill the Gnoblar Crook in close combat or his unit is over-run, the magic item reverts back to its original owner.
Theyll Never Find Me: Gnoblar Crooks may be deployed as hidden characters as described in the Warhammer Rulebook. They may join any unit of infantry or monstrous infantry (and thus may join units of Ogres as hidden characters). A crook can never be the army General.
UPRGRADE
Shiny Magics: Gnoblar Crooks have been known to loot arcane colleges in search of shiny magics. Crooks take a bound spell. The bound spell can be selected from the Signature Spells of any of the eight main Lores of Magic as described in the Warhammer Rulebook. The power of the bound spell is -2 of the respective spells unmodified casting value. If you take multiple Gnoblar Crooks in your army, they may not take the same scroll.
GNOBLAR CROOK OPTIONS:
May take an additional Hand Weapon.........................................2 Points
May take ONE bound spell (as per the shiny magics rule).........30 Points
May take Magic Items to a total of..............................................20 Points
Don't have time to do a massive in-depth explanation of my proposals but I hope the possibility for fun is self evident. I am particularly interested in the Gadget Lad's trolling potential.
Thoughts?