Rounding out the player contributions to our Warhammer 40k narrative campaign is the Ianthe Sub-Sector from Paul (our fearless campaign gamemaster). Paul is tugging on many, many puppet strings behind the scenes in the campaign, but he also found time to contribute his own custom sub-sector. Behold, the Ianthe Sub-Sector!
Continuing with the player contributions to our homebrew narrative campaign (Caluphel Awakenings), here we have a rich tapestry of lore sent in by Alex highlighting his Occulta Manticora Sub-Sector. The region is home to his Salamanders faction, the Crusade of Fire.
He’s also provided several maps of individual star systems in the sub-sector. Be sure to click the images to view the large versions so you can read the gazetteer info that he came up with as well!
Here is a map showing the major star systems of the Juventius Sub-Sector, home of the Juventius Free Regiment (John’s renegade [?] Imperial Guard faction in our Caluphel Awakenings campaign). Look for future game reports and mini-campaigns set in the sprawling worlds of the Juventius Sub-Sector!
Here’s another look at one of the factions taking part in the Caluphel Awakenings campaign: the 42nd Auxiliary Armored Fist Relief Battlation, better known as Jim’s glorious armored Imperial Guard tank army!
Buckle up, because Jim has provided an absolute treasure trove of photos of his amazing figures and vehicles. We’re a family-friendly site here at Comrade’s Wargames, but I think the term “tank porn” probably applies here.
Let’s lead off with this stunning and atmospheric photo of a lone Leman Russ, silhouetted against the darkening sky.
Chills, man.
Oh, you want more? Jim’s got you covered. Check this out.
Not good enough? Maybe you want to see a superheavy? Feast your eyes on Big Papa.
Just amazing work from Jim. And so much of it — he’s been working on this army off and on since 1997!
Anyway, here’s the lore he came up with.
The 42nd Auxiliary Armored Fist Relief Battalion is an ad hoc fighting force made up from survivors of Imperial battle fleets forced out of the warp after the catastrophic advent of the Cicatrix Maledictum — the great warp storm that rent the galaxy asunder and ushered in a new dark age for the Imperium of Man.
In the chaos that followed the warp storm, fragmented Imperial Guard units on the Eastern Fringe found their way to Caluphel Prime, where a motley collection of strike cruisers and troop transports anchored in high orbit and considered their options. Virtually no senior officers survived the journey, leaving this ad hoc battalion mostly leaderless, even as it faces the gathering storm on Caluphel.
A temporary leader arose — a Knight Commander named Argos. He was chosen from among his peers to lead a reactionary armored force to the planet’s surface. Of Argos, not much is known — either of the man himself, nor the legend that he may become.
And now, for something completely different…
Paul had an opportunity to introduce his nephew and a couple friends to the grim darkness of the far future. It was a lot of fun! Read on for a battle report…
The Imperial Outpost on Navarro had reported a darkening of the Warp. A few experienced Astropaths knew what this portended, but the others did not, and foolishly reached out with their minds before going insane. And as surely as the inevitability of death, the Great Devourer descended.
This battle blooded a younger generation in the ways of Warhammer 40,000. On one side we had a strange mixture of Salamanders, Imperial Guard and stranded cadre of Tau Fire Warriors, adrift in the void. On the other side, we had the Tyranid swarm.
The three new bloods (Kahlil, 13, and Elliot and Langston, both 9) opted to play the side of good. It was explained to these three that this is 40k, and there really is no such thing as “good,” but they heeded not our advice.
The Tyranid side was commanded by the elder generation, Paul and Mary (ages withheld out of decency). The kids were allowed to choose 2 units each from Paul’s model collection — whatever they wished. (Elliot had brought his own painted Tau and Salamanders). In the end, this totaled 40 Power Level. Paul and Mary then took enough models to get to 40 PL as well.
The Imperials won initiative and moved their forces out from behind the western outposts. A sole Leman Russ advanced with support from the two Tau units. On the other side of their line, a Hammerhead tank and a Tau Broadside chose to stay behind cover, while a squad of Salamander Reivers advanced. As luck would have it, the Leman Russ lacked any line of sight after movement, so could not get off an initial volley. Not so the Hammerhead, which launched its smart missiles and railgun at a nest of Termagaunts out in the open. Half were blown up and the rest fled.
Morale went up on the side of the table with the kids. Mary and Paul were nonplussed.
Next it was the Tyranids’ turn. Mary and Paul advanced a Hive Tyrant and its guards into the center of the table, while sending Gaunts up both edges. A Carnifex advanced up the right side, while in the back a Tervigon spawned a new unit of Gaunts.
In the Nids’ shooting phase, the Hive Tyrant blasted apart a Tau drone that had foolishly decided to separate from its cover. On the other flank, a dozen Gaunts shredded a Salamander with an utter storm of devourer slugs.
As the game progressed, the Imperial and Tau units moved up again and shot, this time the combined firepower of the Broadside and Hammerhead to shatter the advancing Carnifex. But the Tyranids responded by charging and ripping apart a complete Tau Strike team.
It was at this point that Imperial and Tau forces began to squabble amongst themselves, with the Imperials calling for a melee charge, only to be denied by the Tau. A deliberate exchange of friendly fire was threatened. Meanwhile, the Tyranids advanced ever closer.
The game was called after 3 rounds. The Tervigon had spawned more Gaunts, but had also (in the interest of coolness) charged and engaged the Leman Russ in melee combat (putting it at a severe disadvantage). On the other side of the field, the Hive Tyrant shredded the Hammerhead from 13 wounds down to 1 but somehow it remained a-hover.
Bedtimes and parents were calling, so we ended the game then. The Imperials/Tau alliance was slightly ahead on kill points, but given the loss of the Fire Warriors and impending doom of the Leman Russ and Hammerhead, the tide was definitely turning had the game continued. The good guys would have been hard pressed to deny the Tyranid horde.
In the end however, all kids agreed that this was “the coolest game ever”. Elliot was given some painting lessons and sent home with an assignment to paint some terrain. We’ll see what the next generation brings to the table next time!
Thanks to Paul for the game writeup and photos! We’re going to need a closer look at those gorgeous new Tyranids you’ve got…
