A cynical wargamer at Pollenzo MMXXI

Ciao! 

As mentioned in a previous post I brought my "Band of Brothers" Reikland Mercenaries warband to the "Warlords of the City" Mordheim Pollenzo MMXXI narrative event. 

In this post I will tell about this amazing event from my perspective, for overall event coverage please refer to the organizers' social media channels. I encourage you to check out tables, warbands and the whole background story of the event.

So I have my warband built and painted and my background story written, I am ready to go! I packed my stuff and hit the road!

 

Pollenzo is a frazione (parish) of Bra in the Province of Cuneo, a Piedmont, northern Italy counting 748 inhabitants. For some unknown reasons it is home of one of the most enthusiast and hardcore Mordheim community in Italy!

Pollenzo is actually interesting beyond Mordhiem as it is a ancient Roman archaeological site (!), you can easily find more info about on the internet (Wikipedia and the such) which I will not copy paste here. Before the event I had a walk around and took some pictures.

I also did join the first 2020 event and I was impressed and amazed by the huge quality step up they were able to achieve with respect to the quality of the tables. Also, in 2020 there were 10 participants (4 from the local club and 6 external guests), in 2021 there were 20 participants all external guests.

Game 1

In the first game I am facing a Marienburg Mercenaries warband painted with the red and green Hocland scheme and interesting use of Black Fortress models. Fully kitted heroes with dueling pistols, archers, swordsmen and the classic Elf Ranger and Ogre Bodyguard. My list is actually fairly similar, just cheaper equipment but better BS. As hired swords I opted Halfling Scout and Dwarf Troll Slayer.    

The Scenario is Wyrdstone Hunt with 3 shards placed by the organizers.

 

 

I carefully place my marksmen to get good table coverage and push the Youngbloods to get the shards. My opponent gets to the high ground with the Elf and his marksmen. I am a little more reckless but I am partially saved by the average BS of the enemy archers. Still, only one out of two Youngbloods is able to get back with some wyrdstone, the other is killed in the attempt.

The game is stalling but he has an Ogre pushing on the left so I decide to force the issue with the blunderbuss moving it forward to claim the third shard next to the fountain.

He somehow manages to survive the hail of arrows and finally discharges his weapon on 3 enemy warriors, including the Captain! An archer goes OOA and the leader is knocked down. He is now out in the wind, blunderbuss unloaded so he pulls out his two daggers and gets ready to fight.

The other Champion maneuvers to flank the Ogre but he is charged in an alley by an ambitious Youngblood who mercilessly guts him.

At this point we are both testing for Rout but nobody wants to give it up! So the Blunderbuss markseman charges into the other Youngblood defeating him only to be then butchered by the backup swordsman and recovered Captain who picks up the wyrdstone shard for himself.

 

On the left flank the Slayer and the Champion bravely confront the Ogre-swordsman-Younglblood trio. The Dwarf meets his doom by the hand of the Ogre but the Champion is able to put OOA both the swordsman and the Youngblood before being finally crushed by the Ogre.

At this point I voluntarily rout leaving the Marienburgers standing victorious.

In the end damages are limited, I have to recruit a new Youngblood and hire a new halfling but I am still able to purchase a new marskman with longbow and purchase a longbow for the marksman with blunderbuss.

Game 2

In the second game I am facing the Cult of the Possessed in the Chance Encounter scenario. The table we are playing on is an amazing scratch built masterpiece. Unfortunately it turns out to be quite challenging for the low models count close combat oriented Chaos worshippers and the game ends turn two with an unlucky failed rout test.

We both make good loot and level up our henchmen. I actually roll a "the lad's got talent" and a crossbowmen becomes a trigger happy hero. I am also able to hire an Ogre and buy a couple lucky charms.

Game 3

The final game is the classic Skirmish scenario but limited to 5 turns and without Rout Test. I am facing the virtuous knights of Bretonnia. As much as I love the Bretonnians (I am working on a warband myself) I have to admit they are not very performing... Anyways myself and my opponent are not top tier and at this point we are playing for the glory.

I do not have pictures as we were running late, we actually had to end the game at turn 4 and weather through a rain of meteors sent from the friends of the Facebook group 😅 

My warband has higher rating and the Ogre alone is able to power through several opponents.

Conclusions

All in all a great day! 3 games under the belt played on beautiful tables against awesome opponents: true gentlemen, passionate hobbists and sportsmen. The overall organization was just perfect and such a nice opportunity to meet in person many fellow Mordheimers.

I go home happy as a little boy on Christmas Day with a box of candies, a bottle of red wine and a custom dice 😊

 

Band of Brothers Mordheim Warband

 

Ciao!

I want to share the "Band of Brothers" Reikland warband I have been working on for a while and which I am planning to play on October 3rd 2021 at the "Warlords of the City" Mordheim Narrative Event in Pollenzo.

As required by the organizers I also wrote some background story for my brave mercenaries, hope you like it!

Concealing the discomfort coming from the injuries to the left arm and the forehead, the officer walked into the office of General Roald Sulzberger and stood to attention.

"Captain Hoffman report to Sir General." he spoke in a firm voice. The general slowly raised his gaze from the papers that cluttered his desk, stared at his subordinate with arrogance, and then, slumping noisily into his chair said:

“Captain welcome, better late than never… I'm really curious to know what happened. I hope you realize that due to your delay, my girls were unable to attend the prom. The fact is really unfortunate since they cared so much. They couldn't wait to wear the new dresses I had given them!"

Rutger Hoffman stiffened his jaw but managed to stay calm.

"Sir, according to the orders received, the Company was on time at the rendez-vous with the ferry to escort Miss Sulzbergers during the last leg of their journey to the Capital. Unloading operations took much longer than expected. The quantity and the size of the luggage exceeded any reasonable expectation. It also took the ladies a few hours to freshen up and choose what clothes to wear for the trip."

The General listened absently, cleaning his fingernails with a letter opener.

"The march then proceeded slowly, punctuated by countless breaks including snacks, refreshments, card games and even a game of badminton!"

Hoffman continued.

“When we arrived in Kleindorf we were greeted with enthusiasm by the population. They thought we were the backup they had sent for. The village had been under attack by bands of Beastmen for days, and they had sent several relays for help. Needless to say, no messenger made it out of the woods around the village alive and we weren't their reinforcements. At that moment I made the decision to defend the village, without our help they would have had no escape. We fought for three days and three nights and finally managed to disperse the attackers. In this regard, I would like to point out some soldiers who have distinguished themselves in a part-"

The captain's report was abruptly interrupted by the general who, red with anger, had sprung to his feet and, banging his fat ringed hand on the desk with fury, began to yell at Hoffman:

“Captain, shut up, I've had enough! You have disobeyed specific orders and endangered the lives of my daughters who I was told they also had to take care of the wounded! I don't even want to think what horrors you exposed my little girls to!"

As Sulzerberg gasped, the Captain replied:

“Sir, the whims of your spoiled offspring had by now delayed us by more than half a day on the schedule. Continuing further, the darkness would have surprised us in the forest with far worse results. In addition, the lives of over a hundred families, including elderly and children, depended solely on us. I made the only decision I could have."

“And so you are guilty of treason and sedition! Captain, you are a deserter and an insolent! You are under arrest and suspended from command with immediate effect!”.

A heavy silence fell into the small room. Hoffman had realized he had passed the mark but could no longer bear the nonsense of his superiors, particularly that slimy and corrupt parasite of Sulzerberg. The general had not dismissed him and therefore he stood at attention waiting.
Sulzerberg, for his part, had recovered from the fit of anger and was now sitting thoughtfully rubbing his temples. Then he let out a grunt of satisfaction and, glaring at the captain, said to him:

“Captain, I could have you and your men executed today. And Sigmar knows how much I would like ... On the other hand, I cannot deny your qualities as a fighter and commander. By virtue of the latter, I want to offer you a way out. Collect what's left of your Company and go to Mordheim. Bring me a cart full of wyrdstone and you will be forgiven... And now get out of here, by tomorrow at dawn you have to be on the move!"

Captain Hoffman saluted and took the door.
Lieutenant Schott and Sergeant Major Lemberger met him as soon as they saw him.

“Gentlemen, recover the men who are still capable of fighting and let's get ready to leave. Schott, I saw that a Halfling Scout and a Dwarf Slayer are bivouacking by those campfires, ask them if they are interested in joining us for a fair pay. Let's go to Mordheim..."