....Your in for a Big Surprise...in The Burbs

The Burbs Neighbourhood Watch
Mordheim Style

Our occasional Mordheim campaign has moved a step closer on it's journey as the warbands now move into the outskirts of the city on their trek to 'The Great Prize'.

The game being played on Halloween, had a suitably 'scary' theme. If you've seen the film 'The Burbs' the games namesake, you'll get the idea. (If you haven't, you should, it's early Tom Hanks at his best).

Gunnery School Lay down fire as they fall out of windows

Round three, 'The Burbs' was a different affair from the previous two outings with the bands moving into a more urban environment, things closing in a bit more. The number of bands were down a bit with my Gunnery School Cadets, Ian's Green Skaven (dressed up for Halloween and masquerading as Goblins and Spiders (nice touch)), Dave's Sisters of Sigmar, and Barry with his Skaven (who won the last round) being the only bands to venture out into the streets on an All Hallows Eve.

The Sisters get a fright from the Skavolins

The four bands squared up and there was a good amount of reward available, seven shards, with an entry into a building being diced to see if it contained loot. If it did then there was a good chance it was being cared for by a member of the local Neighbourhood Watch, namely a Grave Guard.

So without much ado, the bands set about it with Dave's Sisters quickly searching a couple of buildings, while Iain's Skavolins sneaked into position to intercept the Sisters. Meanwhile the Gunnery Cadets climbed into the ruins while keeping a weather eye on Barry's Skaven as they sniffed out some shards.

The game proved to be pretty short and bloody. Dave's Sisters, not being too numerous to start with had trouble with the local Guard and then Iains's Skaven who took an early toll and Dave took the side of discretion after loosing three or four of his number in quick succession.

The Gunnery School faired little better and after three of their number failed to climb up into a ruin, they finally managed it, manfully took out one of the Grave Guard in a trice, and then all three failed their climbing checks and left out of action two of their number and the Gunnery Officer stunned. The rest of the Cadets lined up and let rip two volleies at Barry's advancing Skaven as they moved towards the Watchtower but only managed to take one out and wing another and managed to loose another two gunners to return fire. The Gunnery school then decided to quit the field, leaving the table to the rats. Quite fitting for Halloween really.

Iain's Skavolin advance en-masse towards his opponent
and the tower

Barry's Skaven had a task on their hands with the Grave Guard, loosing three of his number to them, and tying up several of his number for a couple of rounds, and lost his Assasin to the Guard who appeared, quite rightly in the tower once searched.

Meanwhile the Skavolin advanced through the ruins and deserted building in search of booty, and all to no avail, with what was left of it appearing in Barry's searching. Iain, having seen off Dave's Sisters now moved to the centre to chase off the rear guard of Barry's band, taking out the last couple of stragglers and surrounding the tower with it's lone Guard and it's treasure. Deciding that the odds were he would loose more than he would gain from tussling with the 'hoody' he called it a day with Barry routing from the table with the lions share of the loot and Iain in possession of none but the field (except the tower).

Iain's Skavolin see off the last of Barry's Skaven
- but don't dare tussle with the tower guardian

So Iain claims victory in the third round, his second so far and managed to not loose a single figure. The rest of us retired to lick our wounds and replace our loses for the next round. As the bands move into the city proper, they search through the academic quarter in search of the Library and it's famed treasure.

Maybe the Cadets can prove their mettle then. They better...