PanzerKaput’s Slow Descent Into Madness and The Age Of Sigmar Spearhead

I have made a start on my eight Spearhead and this is my favourite one, the Soulblight Gravelords, as it is Vampires and what is not to like about Vampires. This is the First Battleline unit for them and it is the Deathrattle Skeletons. Bedecked in rusting weapons and wearing the fading scraps of once-proud armour, Deathrattle Skeletons are the unflinching core of many a Soulblight vampire’s army. Not only are they tireless, remorseless warriors, but also diligent workers in the fields of the Deathrattle Kingdoms, ruled over by Wight Kings as the shining ideal of Nagash’s entropic necrotopia.

While not the greatest of soldiers individually, Deathrattle Skeletons advance across the battlefield in an unending tide of clanking bones and steel, and make up for their shortcomings with sheer numbers. Even those who think they’ve struck down their grinning, soulless opponents find that the death-magics of Shyish cannot be denied, and the skeletons rise again for another go.

Here are some more pictures of games that I have been playing.

I am so enjoying the game but only recently have I managed to start chalking up some victories as I get my head around the rules and the factions.

First game is Daughters vs Seraphon, close battle but win for me and my Daughters

Another Victory for me as I played Ossiarch Bonereapers

I so love the aesthetics of the Nighthaunt faction with the feel of the nightmare made true and I consider this faction as the faction that have got me into AoS. I friend of mine then give me Lady Olynder, and I really love the model and the way it floats, will create a Nighthaunt army one of these days, over I have created my Soulblight army, lol.

I have painted her mainly using contrast paints and washes and it has come out nicely and contrast really works foe these models.

She is the Mourning Bride, the Unrequited Queen, the Veiled Lady and the Mortarch of Grief. She is despair made manifest, gloom given form. She is Lady Olynder, and in her are bound all the sorrows and anguishes of the realms. Her power transcends the melancholic, for she exudes mind-crippling waves of pure desolation. Mortals in her presence are overwhelmed by a gloom so heavy that only the strongest willed can stay upright. Most fall to their knees, mentally battered by their own utter hopelessness. It is a sorrow potent enough to cause a mother to forsake her child, a warrior to lay down his sword and accept the inevitable, to stop a beating heart.

As the Mortarch of Grief, she is surrounded by an aura of absolute misery – this miniature does an impressive job of capturing the bleakness. Hovering above the ground in her ghastly bridal dress and veil, little can actually be seen of her form other than the outline of a skull. Her bridal train, ruined and shredded, flows out behind her, with a wisp of this ethereal garment attaching the miniature to its base. Thorny vines of grave-roses, which sprout wherever she floats, wrap themselves around her waist and up to her headdress, which itself resembles a thorned briar. In her right hand she wields the Staff of Midnight, an ornate stave topped with a polished gemstone of vitrified grave-sand. She is accompanied by 2 macabre Banshee Handmaidens, horrifying skull-faced spectres. Each carries a gift – an ensorcelled grave-sand hourglass given by Nagash himself which can be smashed asunder with lethal effect, and a sealed casket, the contents of which are a mystery; hardly likely to be anything at all positive.

Yes I have actually played some games of AoS Spearhead and the following pictures of from the first few games where I was learning, and I am still learning, the rules.

But my first impressions of the game and the format are what I love about it.

• Low model count. This means that I am not suffering from fatigue from painting a ton of figures or my mind wonders, which happens a lot. The largest force I have painted is the Nighthaunts, the largest Spearhead on model count in the game, and they had only 34 models.
• The rules have been thought through and play well. It is the standard AoS rules, so learning this you are learning AoS too, but they are easy to learn, nice colour coding on the phases and the game is played over 4 turns.
• Its not about killing the opponent, the game is about controlling objectives and scoring points each turn for having them. Also the command decks and the Twist cards also have ways to score extra points, but killing your opponent is fun :D.
• Talking of cards, each player has a set of 12 Battle Tactic cards that they draw and use to either score points by achieving them or using them to gain the advantage during the game. The cards are the same for but players but you can only have a maximum of three in your hand at any one time but you can play or discard them and once used they are discarded.
• Twist Cards and the board, The board is only 30”x22.4”, the specified size for Spearhead games, and features pre-printed objective markers for your armies to fight over. The four pieces of terrain are ideal for adding extra dimensions to your games, creating opportunities for cover and ambush. Though the size might seem small at first, it is actually the right size for the game and it has two sides to it, Ghyran: The Realm of Life is characterized by lush landscapes, vibrant flora, and the forces of nature. It is a place of regeneration and vitality, where the Sylvaneth protect the natural world from corruption. This is the Jade of the green and on the other side you have Aqshy: The Realm of Fire, dominated by volcanic landscapes and raging flames, is inhabited by factions that harness the destructive power of fire, including the Fire Slayers, a dwarf faction known for their fiery tempers and relentless pursuit of Ur-gold. This is the Fire of the title. Also included are 6 themed twist cards that are themed to each side and they are drawn at the start of each round and they have different effects and ways to score extra points and give a bonus to the underdog, the guy with the less points.
• The Underdog mechanic is simple, if you have less Victory Points you are the Underdog and the game helps balancing that out with the Twist cards that give bonuses to them.
• The games are quick, usual games in just over an hour.
• I dont need to bring a ton of terrain and stuff to play it, quick setup, quick game, and fun. I do really like the format as a gateway into the larger Match Play AoS and also the Spearhead in it own right. I hate to say this but GW have actually got this one right.

Below are some pictures from my first few games.

I have to admit that I really like the Witch Hunters, and Vampires, that Games Workshop do and I have collected a few of them, painted fewer, lol. These are Haskel Hexbane and Brydget Axwold, two of the witch hunters from the Warhammer Underworld set Hexbane’s Hunters, I have have to get around to painted the rest of the set up.

I have enjoyed painting them as a small side project and they are fun to paint.

This is my seventh Spearhead for AoS and one of my favourites too. I wanted that deep green, jade colour for there uniforms matched with a deep red and a rose gold colour armour.

Although, at its core, the tactical doctrine of Sigmar’s mortal armies relies upon massed firepower and defence in depth, there are times when Freeguild commanders must be more flexible. On occasions where the deployment of a full army corps is not viable, smaller formations such as the Castelite Company will be dispatched to seize vital ground and defend it against threats.

Commanded by an experienced Cavalier—Marshal who has displayed particular adaptability and initiative in the face of the enemy, a Castelite Company specialises in absorbing the fury of an enemy attack before
unleashing a devastating riposte in return. Freeguild Steelhelms form a sturdy core, advancing into battle with shields locked together, relying on discipline and faith to hold the line against whatever horror comes at them. With this anvil in place, the process of breaking the enemy upon it can begin. An Ironweld Great Cannon sends bone—shattering ordnance blasting through the enemy ranks, while the Cavalier-Marshal leads a thunderous counter—charge to sweep them from the field. Freeguild Cavaliers sing Sigmarite battle-hymns as they crush the opposition beneath the grinding hooves of their destriers or bash in their skulls with hammers and flails.

This Spearhead army consists of the following units:
GENERAL
Freeguild Cavalier—Marshal
UNITS
10 Freeguild Steelhelms
5 Freeguild Cavaliers
1 Ironweld Great Cannon

Freeguild Cavalier-Marshals command their Free City’s forces from horseback, and are nigh-unstoppable on the charge. They galloping hard into the enemy, seeking the perfect moment to collapse their battleline in a single decisive attack. Though they often carry the weight of a Dawnbringer Crusade upon their shoulders, these Marshals are inspiring champions who are well used to leading by example.

I really need to name the champion.

Ironweld Great Cannons are massive artillery pieces, which act as the roaring bastions of a Castelite formation. Protected by thick oaken gun-shields affixed to the cannon’s fore, the crew tirelessly load, fire, and reload their weapon to ensure a relentless barrage of firepower upon the enemy.