King of the Vile and Grunts - book reviews

Grunts - Mary Gentle

I was reading an article on someone else's blog about books that were doing gritty before G R R Martin. This was one on a list of ten that caught my attention, and as it is cheap on the kindle I decided to give it a go.

Here's the article.
10 authors who wrote gritty realistic fantasy before g r r martin

This was a strange one, not what I was expecting at all. A group of Orc's find a dragon's horde of strange weapons, the horde is cursed, you become what you steal, they stole M16 they became the Orc Marine Core.......

As for the writing of the book, well to start the style I difficult to follow, choppy disjointed, but half way through the book I found it easier to read and follow. I don't think this is because I got use to the style, I believe the quality of writing actually improve, not the first time I have seen this happen to an author either.

Very fun concept, glad I read it, first half was a real struggle, but we'll worth it for the court Marshall scene in the second half of the book, bad guys get guns, no one is safe :)

King of the Vile - David Dalglish

I started this book when it first came out, but stopped after I couldn't remember how the previous book in the series ended, so I went back to Prison of Angles* skim read it to remind myself of the details. Then got distracted by the above book, and then Dance of Chaos came out (another series by the same author).  I decided it was time to read it, so I knuckled down and got back into King of the Vile.

Glad I did as well, with a refreshed memory this book made more sense and I really enjoyed it.

Complicated overlaping subplots which all lead to the progression of the main world plot. This book was masterfully woven into a comprehensive story, having read David's work of many years now I am furrowly impressed at how he has improved as an author.

Syponsis
Harruq struggles to hold the captial together. Tar'lack is captused. Vile attack north, all the old heroes on the move. Angels split their faction.  One Angel faction falls.
Heroes come together to face the new danger. End

A good set up for the next book, I am now eagerly awaiting!




*(deliberate spelling mistake/in joke)

Grimgors Orc's & Goblins vs Stormfiends & Warriors of Chaos - four 1500 pts armies

In celebration of my annual aging, I asked some friends to join me for an evening of warhammer Fantasy Battle.
1500 pts per army, 2 Orc and goblin players and 1 Warrior of chaos player and Skaven! let the hilarity insue.


Orc army
Grimgor, Incarnate of Beasts
Orc Shaman, level 4, big Wagh
Orc boss with BSB, Charmed shield.
30 black Orcs, Da immortalz.
50 orc boys , musician and standard
Goblin army
2 Goblin Shaman, level 2, little Wagh
2 Goblin big bosses on Wolfs
Goblin boss with BSB
2 units of 40 night goblins, nets and 3 fanactics between them.
5 wolf riders.
10 Trolls
Mangler Squig
2 doom divers
Rockblobber
Pump wagon
Warriors army
20 warriors of chaos, Mark of nurgle.
Festus
Chaos sorcerer, level 4, lore of Nurgle.
Champion with BSB
Warshrine, Mark of Tzeentch
Hellcannon
Skaven Army.
Grey Seer, 4++ and earthing rod.
Chieftain, Armour of Destiny, Halberd.
Warplock, with Doomrocket
Warlock with Obsidian amulet.
3 units of 40 Slaves, muscian and champ
9 gutter runners, poison and slings
10 Jezzials
Warp Lightning Cannon
3 Storm Fiends, with Rattling Cannons.
Magic
Orcs - Gaze of Mork, Fists of Gork, Hand of Gork, Foot of Gork.
Goblin - Gift of the Spider God, Itchy nuisance, Night shroud.
Skaven - Skitterleap, Warp Lightning, Scorch, Cracks call.
Warriors - Curse of the leper, Rancid visitations, Blades of purification and something (i have forgotten, but it was never cast anyway)
Deployment

Left to right - wolf riders, Da immortals with Grimgor, Night goblins with bsb and goblin shaman, Mangler Squig, Wolf Hero, Doom diver, Wolf Hero, Trolls, Orc boys with BSB, Doom diver, Night goblins with shaman and Night goblin boss, Pump wagon, Rock lobber.

Left to right - Stormfiends, Jezzials, Hellcannon, Slaves, WLC, Slaves with characters, Slaves, Warriors with characters, warshrine.

Scouting gutter runners.

Skaven and Warriors turn 1

Skaven advance, and take up firing positions, Gutter runners occupy the building. Warriors creep forward.

Magic blows weakly (1-1 on the dice) shrine fails to cast, warp lighting is dispelled.

Hell cannon kills some goblins.

Gutter runners unleash a hail of poison on the pump wagon, killing all the small green crew.

Skaven cannon tries to kill Grimgor, miss but kill a couple of the Immortals.

Rattling cannons of the Stromfiends, unleash a hail of warp lead on the orc boys, killing a third of them.

Rattling cannon friendly fire casualties.

Orc's and Goblins turn 1

Night goblins fail animosity decide to charge the building with the gutter runners, kick out their fanactics either side of the building.

Orc flank advance's. Wolf riders go behind the warshrine.

And the juicy centerfield moves forward.
Magic again is weak (1-1) grimgors bound wildform is dispelled.

Rock lobbed kills some slaves.

Doom diver does a wound to a fiend.

The other doomdiver kills 2 of the Hellcannon crew.

In a dramatic twist the goblins fail to kill any Gutter runners, who in return kill a hand full of goblins. Greenies lose by one, fail their break test.

And are run down by the Skaven Nynja's.

Skaven and Warriors turn 2

Warriors charge the wolf rider, he flee's! Redirect at the orcs, but fail to make the distance.

Slaves charge the second Wolf riding goblin boss, he holds. What the hell has happened to the magic (1-1) again it fails to blow. Shrine fails, Skitterleap is dispelled.

Gutter runners, take out a doomdiver.

Stormfiends unleash amother hail of warp lead again at the Orc boy's. Killing half the remaining mob.

Who lose their nerve, break and run.

No Idea why I took this photo.......

Goblin boss on wolf is hacked down by massed slaves.

 Orc and goblin turn 2

Waagh!  is called by the orcs.

And Da Immortalz fail to make the charge distance to the Warriors of chaos. Oh shit!

Trolls charge slaves, Orc boys rally.

See that red smear...there on the wall.......it use to be a fanatic!

Wolf riders loupe round into the backfield.
The winds of magic finally pick up (6-1) Gift of the Spider God is cast on Da immortals.

A Doom diver kills 2 skaven snipers.

One of the goblins get confused and rides backwards into battle, Goblin arrows fail to do any damage against the Warp cannon crew, clatter against the cannon frame work.

Trolls attack and stomped a lot of slaves, but fearing there master's whips and taking heart in their numbers, they hold.

 Skaven and Warriors turn 3

                   
Skaven leaders move into a new unit, and order their own to turn and face the wolf's in the backfield. Jezzials swiftly reform to shoot at the same wolf's. Warriors creep up trying to avoid the manglar Squig. Blades of purification is cast on the Warriors. Warp Lightning at the doomdiver fails to wound. Cracks call is powered by the Seer's warpstone tokens, but is dispelled.

Jezzials then proceeded to missed every shot at the wolf riders.

Skitterleap moves the doomrocket engineer behind the black orcs.

And the skaven WMD destroys most of the unit.

Warp Lightning Cannon tries to shoot out the giant Squig, HITS! STR 10!.............

One wound, oh dear sorry warriors I tried.

Stormfiends are determined to finish of these orcs, but leave 2 standing.

Trolls continue to smash through the slaves.

 Orc and goblin turn 3

Manglar Squig bounces through the Warriors killing 4. Grimgor and the few boys he has left charge the Warriors.

Sneaky Night goblins side step to close, and realise a fanatic, through the trolls into the slaves and then onto the Stormfiends. (Nice play Drew) kills a handful of slaves and a precious Fiend.
Magic blows strong (6-5) Orc Shaman casts the Warpath (boosted foot of Gork) but his aim is off and it misses the target and then wanders of the battle field bored (and maybe a little embarrassed at missing).

Orc boss, carrying the BSB and the last boy, charge the slaves. Skaven chieftain issues a challenge, but both sides call it a draw and the tickle fight continues.......

Skaven win by a musician and reform to face.

Wolf boys charge the cannon and slaughter the crew.

Chaos warriors kill all of Da Immortalz before they can strike. Chaos Lord challenges Grimgor. Wounds are exchanged with no clear winner. But the weight of the other casualties is to much for the big orc and shaman, they flee only to be run down.

Victorious warriors!

Skaven and Warriors turn 4

Slaves Charge the cannon hunting wolf's, closing the door clips the mangler Squig, in it's deathroes it kills a lot of slaves.

Jezzials turn to shoot the Trolls.
Magic (4-3) the grey seer uses his magic to skitterleap himself to the Trolls flank, and cracks call Down their rank.
Stormfiends turn to get a clear line of fire on the Trolls

Skaven Chieftain and Orc BSB continue their tickle fight, but robbed of their flank and charge bonus, the 2 orcs  realise how badly out numbered they are and try to run for the hill, but they are not quick enough and are chased down.

Gutter runners assault the building killing the Rock Lobber crew. (and I then forget about them for the rest of the game).

 Orc and goblin turn 4

Fanatic whirls towards the Stormfiends, but falls an inch short. Last remaining Doom diver, hits the Fiends killing another.

Trolls are stupid and stumble forward.

Skaven and Warriors turn 5

Exposed grey seer scurrys back into the wolf killing slaves.

A combination of cracks call and warp bullets, kills half the remaining trolls.

 Orc and goblin turn 5

Stupid trolls stumble forward again, Goblin boss on wolf makes an assassinaction run on the grey seer. But fails and chased away by the slaves.

 Skaven and Warriors turn 6
                   
Focused fire on the Trolls finishes them off.

 Orc and goblin turn 6

Fanactic continues to spin happyily, while the goblin boss flees on his wolf.

End of battle thoughts....

Stormfiends are filthy, especially 3 with Rattling cannons. But I feel it could have been mitigated some, if the goblin artillery had focused fire on them.

Wasn't the most enjoyable of games, poor dice luck for my opponents coupled with the absolute devastation the Skaven ordinance can deliver, de-moralised them, the game ended up very one sided, and even my team mate felt he had very little part to play in the game as I shot every thing down. 

Sorry guy's I'll play a fun for everyone lists next time.