Ogre Hunting Party
Grade: 2a
Source: Dave "StyrofoamKing" Seidman-Joria and Catferret (PDF)
Setting: Mountains of the East / Empire Fringe
Ogre Hunters are solitary figures who wander the mountains. They remain aloof from other Ogres, either by preference or forced into exile. Their favorite companions are animals, like young Sabretusk cubs. Their least favorite companions are gnoblar trappers, which sometimes flock around an Ogre Hunter. They offer to carry the hunter’s many weapons and provide him with snacks, in hopes that he will not hurt them too much. Like the Hunter, the trappers wrap themselves in pelts to protect themselves from the cold mountain air.
Special Rules
Greenskins: Unlike Goblins, Gnoblars do not tend to work closely with Orcs. However, for all intents and purposes, they count as 'Greenskins'. They do not suffer Animosity, but suffer the rule known as 'Bicker' (see below.)
Bicker: At the start of your turn, at the end of the Recovery phase, roll 1D6 for each Gnoblar henchmen that is not in combat: on a roll of 1, it does nothing but issue insults at the nearest Gnoblar. It may not move, shoot, or cast magic this turn. Once a Gnoblar henchmen gains "That Lad's Got Talent", he loses the rule for Bicker, having put such childish games behind him.
Ideas Above Their Station: If the Ogre Hunter is killed, the Gnoblar with the highest leadership takes over as leader (or, if tied, the Gnoblar with the highest experience takes over). A replacement Ogre Hunter may be purchased, in which case he becomes the new leader.
Distasteful Company: Most hired swords will refuse to work for the Ogres or Gnoblars, as they know that they are just as likely to eat them as fight with them. Ogre Hunter warbands may only hire the following hired swords: Hobgoblin Scout, Gnoblar Botcher and Ninja Gnoblar. If your warband does not contain an Ogre Hunter for any reason, you may hire an Ogre Bodyguard and/or Ogre Slaver- however, if you rehire another Ogre Hunter, all other Ogres must leave the warband.
Choice of warriors
An Ogre warband must include a minimum of three models. You have 500 gold crowns which you can use to recruit and equip your warband. The maximum number of warriors in the warband is 20.
Heroes
Ogre Hunter: You must have one Ogre Hunter. No more, no less.
Trappers: You may include up to 3 Trappers.
Sabre-Baiter: You may include 1 Sabre-Baiter.
Henchmen
Gnoblar Fighters: You may include any number of Fighters.
Flingers: You may include up to 7 Flingers.
Sabretusks: You may include up to 3 Sabretusks.
Starting Experience
Ogre Hunter starts with 20 experience.
Trappers start with 8 experience.
Sabre-Baiters start with 0 experience.
Henchmen start with 0 experience.
Ogre Hunting Party Skill Table
Special Skills
Crude Belch: Ogres and Gnoblars eat almost anything. Consequences are to be expected from those inconsiderate enough to consume a rich meal before battle. A Hero with this 'condition' may unleash his noxious fumes on all enemies engaged in close combat. Those that do not pass a Ld test suffer a –1 ‘to hit’ modifier for the turn. The Hero must wait until a new enemy engages him in combat before he relieves himself again.
Scent Hound: The Ogre or Gnoblar has the keen nose of an expert tracker. The hero spots Hidden enemies from two times as far away as other warriors (ie, twice his Initiative value in inches).
Sabre Trainer: Whenever a Sabretusk cub rolls a 1 for Untamed, if it started the turn within 6” of this hero, you may move the cub 3D6” towards any model within 12” of it that it can see (instead of towards the nearest model).
Maneater (Ogres only): Ogre Hunters shun the companies of others, but they do travel far and wide, observing other the customs and skills of other cultures from afar . This Ogre may immediately learn one skill from the Shooting or Academic skill lists. This skill may be taken only once. Ogres only.
Bull Charge (Ogres only): Ogres learn to use their vast bulk in a charge, trampling the enemy to the ground. When charging, an Ogre with this skill may attempt a single attack with a +1 ‘to hit’ modifier rather than making his normal attacks. If successful the enemy model is automatically knocked down. Ogres only.
Bellowing Roar (Leader only): An Ogre leader expects challenges to his authority. One of the best ways to suppress a mutineer in the ranks is to give his ear drums a good pounding. This skill may only be taken by the warband leader, allowing him to reroll the first failed Rout test. Ogres only.
Set Traps (Gnoblars only): Trappers are experts at dropping snares. A Trapper may set a trap if he spends a turn doing nothing else (he may not set traps if he's just recovered from being Knocked Down). Place a marker in base contact with the Trapper. When another model, friend or foe, moves within 2" of the marker he risks setting off the trap: roll a D6. On a score of 3+ he has triggered the trap and suffers a S4 hit (note that the Trapper won't trigger his own traps). If the trap did not wound the model, the injured model has multiple wounds, or it didn't trigger, the 'victim' may finish his move- However, if the model was knocked Down or Stunned, place him 2" from the marker. Regardless whether the trap was triggered or not, the marker is removed. Gnoblar only.
Infiltration (Gnoblars only): A Gnoblar with this skill is always placed on the battlefield after the opposing warband and can be placed anywhere on the table as long as it is out of sight of the opposing warband and more than 12" away from any enemy model. If both players have models which infiltrate, roll a D6 for each, and the lowest roll sets up first. Gnoblar only.
Netter (Gnoblars only): Each game, the hero starts with 3 Nets. These may not be sold, traded, or given to another warrior- if not used during the game, they assumed to be stashed away or fallen apart. The next game, the hero will start with 3 nets, without penalty or cost. Gnoblar only.
Ogre Equipment List
Hand-to-hand Combat Weapons
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Cleaver | 5 gc |
| Ogre Club | 10 gc |
| Sword | 10 gc |
| Spear | 10 gc |
| Double-handed weapon | 15 gc |
Missile Weapons
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Harpoon Crossbow | 50 gc |
Armour
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Light armour | 20 gc |
| Helmet | 10 gc |
Gnoblar Equipment List
Hand-to-hand Combat Weapons
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Dagger | 1st free/2 gc |
| Club | 3 gc |
| Cleaver | 5 gc |
| Sword | 10 gc |
| Spear | 10 gc |
| Double-handed weapon | 15 gc |
Missile Weapons
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Sharp Stuff | 1st free/3 gc |
| Throwing Knives (Heroes Only) | 15 gc |
| Slings (Flingers Only) | 2 gc |
Armour
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Light armour | 20 gc |
| Shield | 5 gc |
| Helmet | 10 gc |
Miscellaneous
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Rope & Hook | 5 gc |
| Pigback Mount (Heroes Only) | 50 gc |
Heroes
1 Ogre Hunter
145 gold crowns to hire
An Ogre Hunter is the nucleus around which the warband gathers. He maintains order in his company by issuing threats and bribes or using violence.
| M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | Ld |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 8 |
Weapons/Armour: A Ogre Hunter may be equipped with weapons and armour chosen from the Ogres equipment list. Unlike other models Ogres don't have free daggers, even though they might carry one reserved for eating, the most sacred activity in their life. Ogres never fight with daggers in close combat.
Special Rules
Leader: Any warrior within 6“ of the Ogre Hunter may use his Leadership when taking Ld tests.
Huuuuge: Ogres are big, massive and frightening creatures. All ogre models cause fear. All ogres are Large targets. Ogres also ignore all alone tests. An ogre can never have Ithilmar or Gromril or heavy armour - they don't make it in such sizes! All ogres have a warband rating of 20 plus experience (instead of 5).
Slow Witted: Although Ogres are capable of earning experience and bettering themselves they are not the smartest of creatures. Ogres only improve at half the rate of everyone else. They must earn twice the usual number of experience points to gain an advance.
Don't Fight with Eating Knives: Ogres don't use daggers for fighting, just for eating. They don't carry them on the battlefield. If forced to, by losing a weapon or not carrying any weapon, they will fight unarmed. But since their physical strength the -1S penalty does not apply, but the +1 enemy armour save still does. They may make more than one unarmed attack, depending on their Attacks value. Note that you cannot combine this unarmed attack with another weapon, so it doesn't count as an additional attack like the dagger would. It can only be made if the ogre doesn't have any other weapons at his disposal.
Lazy: An Ogre Hunter is far too preoccupied with Hunting to worry about pretty stones—that’s a Gnoblar’s job! If any of your Gnoblar heroes are able to search for wyrdstone or Rare Items, the Ogre Hunter does not add an exploration dice or search; they may only explore and search if all other gnoblar heroes are unable to (ex. Taken out of action).
Central Figure: The gnoblars flock around the Ogre Hunter, and take strength from his presence. If he is taken out of action during a game, the warband is automatically at Rout level, regardless of the number of casualties.
Sabre Trainer: See Special Skills.
0 – 3 Trappers
30 gold crowns to hire
Trappers are seasoned gnoblars who have spent several years trapping in the wild. They’ve lasted longer than most due to their wits, keener senses, or pure grit.
| M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | Ld |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 6 |
Weapons/Armour: Weapons and armor chosen from the Gnoblar equipment list.
Special Rules
Veteran Tracker: A trapper starts with ONE of the following Special Skills: Infiltration, Set Traps, Netter, or Scent Hound. You must choose this skill upon the hero’s purchase. See the Special Skills rules for details.
0 – 1 Sabre-Baiter
20 gold crowns to hire
A Sabre-baiter is a professional decoy, with experience luring in fearsome foes (before running like hell).
| M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | Ld |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 5 |
Weapons/Armour: Weapons and armor chosen from the Gnoblar equipment list.
Special Rules
Bait: Whenever a model declares a charge against a Sabre-baiter, he may immediately move 1D6” in the opposite direction of the charger. This may cause him to move outside of the charger’s charge range, in which case, the charge failed. You may only use this ability once per turn, and only if the Baiter isn’t knocked down, stunned, or in hand-to-hand combat. If the charging model is a Sabretusk, you may move the baiter 2D6” instead, and may maneuver around any models in your path (potentially causing the Sabretusk to charge someone else!).
Henchmen
0+ Gnoblar Fighters
15 gold crowns to hire
The best fighters in the whole mass of Gnoblars... which, of course, is a relative term.
| M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | Ld |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
Weapons/Armour: Weapons and armor chosen from the Gnoblar equipment list.
Special Rules
Bicker: (see above)
0 – 7 Flingers
20 gold crowns to hire
Flingers are the Gnoblars who are either too incompetent to wave their sharp sticks in the air without letting go of them, or are smart enough to know that the Fighters always die first.
| M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | Ld |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
Weapons/Armour: Weapons and armor chosen from the Gnoblar equipment list.
Special Rules
Bicker: (see above)
Scrap Slinger: A Flinger may throw 3 pieces of Sharp Stuff every turn, instead of the normal 1. (This does not combo with Knife Thrower, nor apply to throwing knives).
0 – 3 Sabretusk Cubs
50 gold crowns to hire
Sabretusks are agile, giant felines with tusks jutting from their lower jaw. It is common for a young hunter to keep a Sabretusk or two around to help sniff out his next meal.
| M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | Ld |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 4 |
Weapons/Armour: Tusks and primal ferocity!
Special Rules
Fear: Sabretusks are huge feline predators and thus cause fear.
Animals: Sabretusks are animals, and don’t gain experience.
Untamed: Sabretusks don’t bicker. However, at the start of each turn, roll 1D6 for each Sabretusk not in combat. On a 1, it does not move normally this turn. Instead, it moves 3D6” to the nearest non-sabretusk model; this counts as a charge. If it charges another member of your warband this way, after combat, move it 1” away.
Charge: Sabretusks are slavering creatures that overpower their opponents when they charge. Sabretusks fight with 2 attacks instead of 1 during the turn they charge.
Tough Hide: Sabretusks have a natural 5+ armor save.
Special Equipment
Ogre Club
10 gold crowns
Availability: Common (Ogres only)
Ogre clubs are crudely fashioned with bindings, spikes, and studs, and the craftsmanship and size of the club an Ogre wields is an indication of his status. These clubs are normally used for knocking out food so that it can be dragged back to the cave without losing much blood, but are also perfect for breaking enemies defence in a fight. An Ogre trusts his club and will eat it only in the direst of circumstances.
Range: Close Combat
Strength: As user
Special Rules: Concussion, Crushing attack
Concussion: Ogre clubs are excellent to use for striking enemies senseless. When using an Ogre club, a roll of 2–4 is treated as stunned when rolling for Injuries.
Crushing Attack: Ogre clubs may be wielded with impressive strength imposing –1 to enemy armour saves. Also the Strength of the attack is considered one higher for parry attempts by the defender, so a S3 model may not parry attacks by a S5 Ogre wielding the club. Crushing Attack only applies if the Ogre uses the club with both hands.
Harpoon Crossbow
50 gold crowns
Availability: Rare 10 (Ogres only)
Little more than a crude crossbow hybrid, scaled up for the sake of a titanic marksman.
Range: 30"
Strength: 5
Special Rules: Move or fire, Prepare shot
Sharp Stuff
1st Free / Second 3gc
Availability: Common (Gnoblars only)
A gnoblar always has random objects to throw.
Range: 8"
Strength: 2
Special Rules: No Limit, Thrown Weapon, +1 Armor Save, Stuff Thrower
No Limit: Sharp Stuff does not count towards the limit of missile weapons a Gnoblar can carry.
Thrown Weapon: Gnoblars throwing Sharp Stuff suffer no penalty for moving and shooting, nor for throwing over half range.
Armor Save: All targets hit by Sharp Stuff receive +1 Armor Save.
Stuff Thrower: If combined with the Shooting skill 'Knife Thrower', a Gnoblar is allowed to throw three pieces of scrap instead of the normal one. He may not throw three pieces of "stuff" and three knives in the same turn.
Pigback Mount
50 gold crowns
Availability: Common (Gnoblar Heroes Only)
A gnoblar hero may ride a luckless gnoblar, who is forced to carry them piggyback.
| M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | Ld |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 2 | - | 2 | - | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
Like a Mount: Uses the following standard rules for Mounted Combat in the PHB: cannot climb, uses movement of mount, can jump obstacles up to 2”, and uses Mounted rules for Spears. Cannot Infiltrate.
Not Like a Mount: Unlike a mount, a gnoblar on Pigback does NOT count as a large target, may enter buildings, and doesn’t gain +1AS. May not wear barding.
Extra Hand: The Pigback has 1 free hand to hold a weapon. It starts with a free dagger, but may given a club or axe. Alternatively, may be given a shield (this increases the rider’s save by +1, but the mount cannot attack).