Missions

Playing this legendary mission

Ignis Sector Assault represents the actions of the Salamanders, led by Vulkan himself, against the left flank of the defensive line of the Urgall Stronghold, held by Mortarion's Death Guard. It can, however, be used to represent other positional assaults: the players may adapt the forces involved, provided one takes the role of the Attacker and the other that of the Defender.

Use the core mission sequence from the Age of Darkness Rulebook, with the following modifications:

• Step 1: this mission is selected instead of the listed core missions. The players then determine who plays the Attacker and who plays the Defender. The Attacker's army must have the Loyalist allegiance, the Defender's the Traitor allegiance.
• Step 5: do not select a deployment map — use the one given below, with the zones shown on it.
• Step 6: the Attacker places certain units in Reserves, as detailed in Spearhead Sector; no other unit of the Attacker may be placed in Reserves.
• Step 6: all allied detachments in the Defender's army are placed in Reserves as the Second Wave.
• Step 7: the Defender deploys all the units in their army first, but the Attacker takes the first turn.
• At the end of player turn 4, the Defender rolls a dice: on a 4+, a fifth game turn is played before the battle ends.

The battlefield: Ignis sector

The Defender's table half should have more terrain representing defensive barriers, trench lines and bunkers. The Attacker's table half should be relatively flat, with more open ground lightly cluttered with tank wrecks or drop pods.

Victory conditions: gaining ground

Primary objective

• Capture the primary mission objective markers.

Secondary objectives

• Slay the Warlord (3)
• Giant Killer (2)
• Last Man Standing (3)
• First Strike (2)

This mission uses an objective marker worth 3 placed in the centre of the battlefield, as well as two markers worth 2 at the locations marked with an objective symbol on the deployment map.

Mission special rules

The Attacker uses Spearhead Sector. The Defender uses Preliminary Bombardment, Second Wave and the Journal Tactic tactical battlefield asset (page 40 of The Isstvan V Dropsite Massacre – Part One).

Armies

The Attacker represents the Iron Warriors Khalekaorus force. Their primary detachment must be drawn from the Legiones Astartes army list and the Iron Warriors Faction, and their army must include at least one Lord of War (Lord of War) unit.

The Defender represents the traitor force of the Alpha Legion and the Mechanicum. Their primary detachment must be drawn from the Mechanicum army list and should include an allied detachment drawn from the Legiones Astartes army list and the Alpha Legion Faction.

Sectors

The battlefield is divided into four sectors, as shown on the map below. The players can refer to it during the battle or mark out the sectors on the table to keep track easily. To score victory points in this mission, the players must control these sectors.

Objective markers

The objective markers are placed as shown on the deployment map.

Victory conditions

Primary objectives: the charge of the Khalekaorus

The Defender must hold objective markers, while the Attacker must push forward to control higher-value sectors and score victory points.

• Attacker: at the end of each of their player turns, they score 2 victory points per sector they control.
• Defender: at the end of each of their player turns, they score 2 victory points per objective marker they control.

Secondary mission objectives

• Last Man Standing (2)
• Slay the Warlord (2)

Attacker

• Overrun (Overrun) (4)

Defender

• Break their Strength (Break their Strength) (6)

Mission special rules

This mission uses the Reserves, First Contact and Turning of the Tide mission special rules.

Armies

The Attacker represents the Loyalist force. Their army is drawn from the Legio Custodes army list, with a Points Limit of 3000 points.

The Defender represents the Traitor force, with a Points Limit of 3000 points. Their primary detachment is drawn from the Legiones Astartes army list and the Thousand Sons Faction, and their army must include an allied detachment of at least 500 points drawn from the Daemons of Tzeentch army list.

Playing this legendary mission

Use the core mission sequence from the Age of Darkness Rulebook, with the following modifications:

• Step 1: this mission is selected instead of the listed core missions. The Attacker and Defender roles are set by the choice of armies, as above.
• Step 4: no objectives are placed. Instead, the Defender may place up to two Warp Rift markers (3″ blast templates or templates of equivalent size) at the locations marked on the deployment map, with only one marker per location.
• Step 5: do not select a deployment map — use the one given below, with the deployment zones shown on it for each player.
• Step 6: the Defender places all units drawn from the Daemons of Tzeentch army list in Reserves, in a separate Incursion reserve.

Game length

At the end of battle turn 5, the Defender rolls a dice: on a 1, a sixth battle turn is played before the battle ends; otherwise, the battle ends immediately.

Victory conditions

Mission special rules

This mission uses the Daemonic Incursion, Battlefield Assets*, Reserves and Seize the Initiative mission special rules.

* See the Journal Tactica The Isstvan V Dropsite Massacre – Part One.

Armies

This legendary mission pits the Attacker's Legio Custodes army against the Defender's Daemons of Slaanesh army.

Attacker (Legio Custodes)

The Attacker selects an army of at most 1500 points, made up only of units in which every model is of the Infantry type. It may not include any Tribune unit and must include a Bastion Captain, who represents Medraut “the Unforgiven”.

Defender (Daemons of Slaanesh)

The Defender selects an army of at most 1500 points, which must include an Ascendant Lord of Slaanesh (Ascendant Lord of Slaanesh). It may include at most one allied detachment; if selected, it must be drawn from the Solar Auxilia army list and have the Sublime Cohort (Sublime Cohort) Cohort Doctrine.

Game length

This mission has no turn limit: the battle ends if, in the End Phase of any turn, one of the two armies has no models left on the battlefield that do not have the Routed Status, or as soon as the Breakthrough victory condition is met.

Playing this legendary mission

Use the Cleansing Protocol mission sequence from the Journal Tactica Zone Mortalis, with the following modifications:

• Step 1: this mission is selected instead of the listed Cleansing Protocol missions. The players then determine who plays the Attacker and who plays the Defender. The Attacker's army must have the Loyalist allegiance, the Defender's the Traitor allegiance.
• Step 3: at least one large door must be placed in each section of the battlefield, between each sector, as shown on the deployment map. Their exact position may vary depending on the terrain layout used.
• Step 4: no objectives are placed.
• Step 5: do not select a deployment map — use the one given below.
• Step 6: the Attacker may not place any units in Reserves. The Defender must place their entire army in Reserves.
• Step 7: do not roll: the Attacker deploys their entire army in sector Alpha, and the Defender takes the first player turn.

Victory condition: Breakthrough

If, at any point in the battle, the Attacker has at least one unit without the Routed Status wholly within sector Delta, and the Defender no longer has any models without the Routed Status in sector Gamma or in sector Delta, the battle ends and the Attacker wins. In any other case, the Defender wins.

Mission special rules

Sectors Alpha, Beta and Gamma have the Confined Space (6) Special Rule, and sector Delta the Confined Space (10)* Special Rule.

This mission uses the Breach Action (Breach Action) Zone Mortalis mission special rule. The Defender also uses the Attack Waves special rule.

* The Ascendant Lord of Slaanesh, a mandatory selection in the Defender's army, can therefore only be deployed in sector Delta.

Armies

This legendary mission pits the Attacker's Solar Auxilia army against the Defender's Legiones Astartes Iron Warriors army; the factions can, however, be changed to represent a similar ambush at another point in the Horus Heresy.

Attacker (Solar Auxilia)

The Attacker selects an army of at most 3000 points, made up only of units in which every model is of the Vehicle or Walker type. It may include at most one allied detachment; if selected, it must consist of at most two Legiones Astartes Xiphon Interceptors, as an exception to the Crusade Force Organisation Chart.

Defender (Iron Warriors)

The Defender selects an army of at most 3000 points, made up only of units in which every model is of the Vehicle type, with no model whose Movement Characteristic is 0 or “-”. It may not include any allied detachment.

This army is divided into a Patrol Section and a Reaction Force. The models in the Patrol Section may not total more than 50% of the army's points value, and any unit including models of the Super-heavy and/or Flyer Sub-type must be assigned to the Reaction Force.

Game length

At the end of battle turn 4, the Defender rolls a dice: on a 1 or 2, a fifth battle turn is played before the battle ends; otherwise, the battle ends immediately.

Playing this legendary mission

Use the core mission sequence from the Warhammer: The Horus Heresy rulebook, with the following modifications:

• Step 1: this mission is selected instead of the listed core missions. The players then determine who plays the Attacker and who plays the Defender. The Attacker's army must have the Loyalist allegiance, the Defender's the Traitor allegiance.
• Step 4: no objectives are placed; instead, the Attacker may place Disguised Wrecks (see below).
• Step 5: do not select a deployment map — use the one given below, with the deployment zones shown on it for each side.
• Step 6: the Defender must place their Reaction Force in Reserves. The Attacker must place their entire army in Reserves.
• Step 7: do not roll: the Defender deploys their Patrol Section in their deployment zone, and the Attacker takes the first player turn.

Victory condition: Survive the Assault

If, at the end of the battle, at least one model from the Defender's Patrol Section has not been removed as a casualty, or if all units in the Attacker's army — except those of the Flyer Sub-type — have been wiped out, the Defender wins. In any other case, the Attacker wins.

Mission special rules

This mission uses the Vectored Attack Runs special rule. The Attacker also uses Staged Reinforcements and Disguised Wrecks; the Defender uses Hour of Reckoning.

Victory conditions

Primary objective

• Distress Beacon placed in the exact centre of the battlefield.
• 5 victory points for the Loyalists if a unit controls the Beacon at the end of the game.
• 5 victory points for the Traitors if they control it at the same moment, for Silence the Call.

Secondary objectives

• Solemn March: 2 points if squad Alepho ends within 6" of the Beacon.
• Purified Ruins: 1 point per enemy unit destroyed in the central 12" area around the Beacon.
• Not One Step Back: 2 points if the Loyalist warlord survives.

Deployment and forces

The Loyalist defender deploys in one table quarter. The Traitor player deploys along the two remaining long edges, more than 18" from any Loyalist unit. The Beacon is placed in the exact centre of the table; 3 to 5 major ruin pieces are arranged around it to create lanes of advance and a cluttered centre.

Loyalists

Ultramarines. A unit of Saturnine Terminators (or an equivalent unit of elite Terminators) represents squad Alepho. Support from tactical, veteran, Contemptor or recon units reinforces the methodical character of this relief march.

Traitors

Word Bearers, World Eaters or a composite force. Optional support from the Night Lords represents the harassing air strikes.

Special Rules

Game summary

Squad Alepho must advance through a constrained environment, break through enemy screens and reach a central point whose possession gives the whole mission its meaning. The Loyalist player is less concerned with destroying the enemy than with keeping a core force able to reach the beacon and survive there. Opposite them, the Traitors exploit the ruins, blind spots and attritional pressure to wear down the Loyalist advance before the final clash.

Final victory

• Loyalist major victory: control of the Beacon and Alepho survives.
• Loyalist minor victory: control of the Beacon without Alepho surviving.
• Traitor major victory: Alepho destroyed and control of the Beacon.
• Traitor minor victory: no Loyalist controls the Beacon at the end of the game.

Victory conditions

Primary objective

• Three objectives are placed in the defensive zone: Blood Gate, Reliquary and Inner Wall.
• The defender scores 3 points for each objective they control at the end of the game.
• The attacker scores 3 points for each objective captured at the same moment.

Secondary objectives

• Last of the Colossi: 2 points for the defender if at least half of the Colossus unit survives.
• Break the Giants: 2 points for the attacker if the Colossus unit is destroyed.
• The Price of the Siege: 1 point for each unit completely destroyed in the opposing defensive zone.

Deployment and forces

The defender deploys in one third of the table, around a line of fortifications, a gate or a ruined citadel. The attacker deploys more than 18" from any enemy unit. A table rich in ramparts, broken statues, shrines and rubble reinforces the sacrificial character of this battle.

Defenders

Blood Angels, with the option of adding Shattered Legions elements. A unit of elite Terminators represents the Colossi.

Attackers

Sons of Horus, World Eaters, Death Guard or any composite Traitor force suited to a brutal siege.

Special Rules

Game summary

The defender must manage an extended line, absorb successive assaults and accept that some positions serve first to slow the enemy rather than stop them. The attacker seeks to overwhelm the defensive zone by multiplying breaches, wearing down the Colossi and turning each local gain into a general collapse.

Final victory

• Blood Angels major victory: at least 2 objectives defended and Colossi still present.
• Blood Angels minor victory: at least 2 objectives defended.
• Traitor major victory: 2 or more objectives captured and Colossi destroyed.
• Traitor minor victory: more objectives controlled than the defender at the end of the game.

Victory conditions

Primary objective

• Three fortified objectives are placed on the table: North Bastion, Shield Generator and Inwit Gate.
• The attacker scores 4 points for each fortified objective destroyed or controlled at the end of the game.
• The defender scores 4 points for each fortified objective intact and controlled at the same moment.

Secondary objectives

• Mountain-breakers: 2 points if at least one Tekathikos unit ends in the enemy deployment zone.
• Giant Slayers: 2 points if all Tekathikos units are destroyed.
• Under the Guns of the Ramparts: 1 point per unit destroyed within 12" of a fortified objective.

Deployment and forces

The defender deploys all their forces in the table half containing a fortress, bunkers or Aegis lines. The attacker deploys in the opposite half, up to 12" from their table edge. The terrain should showcase a real fortified line, with firing angles, siege obstacles, armoured gates and chokepoints.

Attackers

Iron Warriors. One or more units of heavy Terminators represent the Tekathikos, ideally supported by dreadnoughts, breacher squads and heavy weapons.

Defenders

Imperial Fists, with recommended support from tactical units, heavy support, interception elements and specialised assault units.

Special Rules

Game summary

The attacker must concentrate their power on clearly identified fortified points, open a breach and then exploit that rupture before the enemy re-forms their line. The defender seeks to slow the breakthrough units, preserve their key positions and use their hunting groups when the Tekathikos expose themselves.

Final victory

• Iron Warriors major victory: at least 2 fortified objectives destroyed or captured, with Tekathikos present in the enemy lines.
• Iron Warriors minor victory: more fortified objectives neutralised than defended.
• Imperial Fists major victory: majority of fortifications held and Tekathikos destroyed.
• Imperial Fists minor victory: majority of fortifications intact at the end of the game.

Victory conditions

Primary objective

• Four objectives representing refinery platforms are placed on the table.
• Each platform intact and controlled by the Loyalists at the end of the game is worth 3 victory points.
• Each platform sabotaged or controlled by the Traitors is worth 3 victory points to them.

Secondary objectives

• Svenor's Resistance: 2 points if a non-Terminator Loyalist unit survives within 3" of a platform at the end of the game.
• A Taste for Raiding: 2 points if the Emperor’s Children destroy at least two units around different platforms.
• Brutal Intervention: 2 points if the reinforcing Terminator unit destroys an enemy unit after its arrival.

Deployment and forces

Place 4 objectives representing the refinery platforms. The defender deploys their initial forces around these facilities; the attacker may only place part of their army on the table, up to half of their forces, with the rest starting in reserve. A table of pipelines, tanks, cranes, walkways, snow, ice sheets and industrial flames greatly reinforces the mission's identity.

Loyalist defenders

Imperial Fists. Auxiliaries from the Solar Auxilia or the Militia can represent the armed workers and colonists. A unit of Saturnine Terminators then intervenes as a decisive reinforcement.

Traitor attackers

Emperor’s Children. Fast, assault or mobile harassment units are particularly well suited to the logic of successive raids.

Special Rules

Game summary

The Loyalist side must spread its forces around several sensitive points, accept an initially defensive posture, then exploit the arrival of its reinforcements to regain the local advantage. The Traitor attacker seeks to strike fast, pick their targets and disrupt enemy reactions before the VII^th Legion Terminators stabilise the front.

Final victory

• Loyalist major victory: at least 3 platforms saved.
• Loyalist minor victory: more platforms saved than sabotaged.
• Traitor major victory: 3 or more platforms neutralised.
• Traitor minor victory: as many or more platforms sabotaged than saved.

Victory conditions

Primary objective

• A large central objective, the Circle of Honour, is placed in the middle of the battlefield.
• The World Eaters score 5 victory points if they control it at the end of the game.
• The Ultramarines score 5 victory points if they still hold it at that moment.

Secondary objectives

• Indurate Glory: 2 points if the Indurate destroy the unit representing the Invictarus Suzerains.
• Hold the Line of Honour: 2 points if at least half of the Suzerains survive.
• Beneath the Nails: 1 point for each unit destroyed in close combat within 12" of the centre.

Deployment and forces

The Circle of Honour is placed in the centre. The Ultramarines deploy within 12" of this objective, the World Eaters more than 18" from the centre, from a long edge or along an agreed assault line. A table of ruins, pits, broken statues and open charge lanes particularly suits this mission centred on the head-on clash.

Attackers

World Eaters. A unit of heavy Terminators represents the Indurate, ideally supported by assault troops, dreadnoughts and other fast melee units.

Defenders

Ultramarines. An elite unit represents the Invictarus Suzerains, backed by disciplined tactical troops, structured fire support and counter-charge units able to defend a perimeter of honour.

Special Rules

Game summary

The World Eaters player must force the decision in the centre before the rise of their own fury makes their units harder to coordinate. The Ultramarines defender seeks to hold the zone of honour, wear down the Indurate and let time work in their favour until the enemy assault starts to unravel.

Final victory

• World Eaters major victory: Circle of Honour taken and Invictarus destroyed.
• World Eaters minor victory: Circle of Honour taken.
• Ultramarines major victory: Circle of Honour held and Indurate neutralised.
• Ultramarines minor victory: Circle of Honour held at the end of the game.

Primary objectives

Onslaught missions use primary and secondary mission objectives. The primary objective generally requires controlling objective markers to score victory points. They represent critical points or resources to be held, and follow the core mission rules, with a few exceptions specific to the format.

A unit cannot control an objective if:

• one of its models is Stunned, Pinned, Suppressed or Routed;
• the unit is engaged in a combat;
• the unit is embarked on another model;
• the unit contains models of the Vehicle type.

Attacker's scoring

Each objective marker is worth a number of points equal to its current value when the Attacker controls it during their Victory Sub-phase. The number shown on the marker is this value. The Line (X) and Vanguard (X) Special Rules may modify it depending on the mission.

Defender's scoring

The Defender's units do not score simply by controlling objectives: they lose Line (X), gain Vanguard (2) if needed, then become eligible to score under certain conditions.

The Defender also scores 1 Victory Point in each of their Victory Sub-phases for each objective the Attacker does not control.

Prepare the Battlefield

The recommended amount of terrain is the same as for the core missions. The players do not roll off for the first piece of terrain: the Defender always places the first piece. Once all terrain has been placed alternately, the Defender may remove one piece that is wholly within the Attacker's half of the table.

Victory conditions

Primary objective

• Control the assault objective markers.
• The mission uses 4 markers with a starting value of 1.
• In each of the Attacker's Victory Sub-phases, they score the value of one controlled objective.
• Each other controlled objective advances one sector towards the Defender's edge.

Secondary objectives

• Slay the Warlord (1)
• Giant Killer (1)
• Last Man Standing (2)
• First Strike (1)

Special Rules

This mission uses Advancing Objectives, Battlefield Assets, Reserves and Seize the Initiative.

Game summary

Each turn, the Attacker must choose between scoring one objective immediately or advancing the others they control: the pressure builds turn after turn. The Defender must break that control, occupy the lanes of advance and force the Attacker to spread out their Line units.

Victory conditions

Primary objective

• Control the assault objective markers.
• 4 objectives, starting value of 1.
• In each of the Attacker's Victory Sub-phases, one controlled objective scores its points.
• Each other controlled objective advances one sector towards the Defender's edge.

Secondary objectives

• Slay the Warlord (1)
• Giant Killer (1)
• Last Man Standing (2)
• First Strike (1)

Special Rules

This mission uses Advancing Objectives, Battlefield Assets, Reserves and Seize the Initiative.

Game summary

The Attacker must secure the centre, then turn their control of the table into advancing objectives. The Defender uses reserves arriving from the short edges to threaten the flanks, cut the lines and contest the advanced objectives.

Victory conditions

Primary objective

• Control the assault objective markers.
• 4 objectives, starting value of 1.
• In each of the Attacker's Victory Sub-phases, one controlled objective scores its points.
• Each other controlled objective advances one sector towards the Defender's edge.

Secondary objectives

• Slay the Warlord (1)
• Giant Killer (1)
• Last Man Standing (2)
• First Strike (1)

Special Rules

This mission uses Advancing Objectives, Battlefield Assets, Reserves and Surprise Attack.

Game summary

The Attacker tries to exploit a brutal start to seize the tempo, but both sides' firepower is curtailed on the first turn. The Defender always deploys first and seeks to absorb the initial impact before regaining control of the objectives.

Leviathan mission sequence

1. Choose the Leviathan mission.
2. Choose armies.
3. Prepare the battlefield.
4. Place objective markers.
5. Declare mission Reserves.
6. Deploy armies.
7. Play the Leviathan mission.
8. Determine the victor.

1. Choose the Leviathan mission

The players roll off to determine who will be the Attacker and who will be the Defender. They then agree on one of the Leviathan missions, or roll a dice on the following table:

2. Choose armies

Each player builds their army list with a Points Limit of 3000 points, following the rules of the Age of Darkness Rulebook. Once all lists are complete, each player may look at the others' lists, except for choices that a Special Rule requires to be kept secret. A player may no longer change their list after looking at an opponent's. Two additional Detachments are available in Leviathan missions:

3. Prepare the battlefield

At the start of step 3, the players mark out a flat surface of at least 120 × 180 cm (4′ × 6′) for a 3000-point battle, with some room around it for accessories, dice, Reserves and models removed from play. The Attacker then places the terrain. The players first decide which terrain is available; for a Leviathan mission, the suggested amount is as follows (everyone is free to adapt it to their collection):

• Terrain areas: two large areas of about 10″ × 10″ at most and four smaller areas of about 6″ × 6″. For each, the players decide before moving on to the next step whether it is light, medium or heavy.
• Terrain pieces: six pieces no larger than 4″ × 4″ each — either Impassable Terrain that blocks Line of Sight, or small or medium buildings that are not controlled by any player at the start of the game. The buildings may be replaced by medium or heavy terrain areas of the same footprint, representing ruins.

No terrain may overlap the base or footprint of another, or extend beyond the edges of the battlefield. A piece of terrain that cannot be placed is discarded from the battle; if possible, the player who was placing it may choose another.

Once the terrain is placed, the Defender chooses the table edge that will be the Attacker's battle edge, to which the Attacker's deployment zone is adjacent as shown on the mission map.

4. Place objective markers

The players place all the objective markers required by the mission chosen in step 1, following its own rules.

5. Declare mission Reserves

The players roll off. The loser first declares the units they intend to place in Reserves; once these are noted on their army list, the winner does the same. Each player must deploy at least one unit on the battlefield at the start of the game, unless a Special Rule states otherwise. During step 6, further units may only be added to Reserves if there is no position where their player can legally deploy them: they are then placed there immediately.

6. Deploy armies

The Attacker deploys all units in their army that are not in Reserves in their deployment zone. A unit that cannot be legally deployed there is placed in Reserves — if the Reserves mission special rule is not being used, it is set aside and takes no part in the mission, without counting as Removed as a Casualty. The Defender then deploys their army in the same way in their own deployment zone.

7. Play the Leviathan mission

The player who deployed first in step 6 takes the first Player Turn. All Leviathan missions last at least four Battle Turns. At the end of the fourth, the player with the fewest Victory Points may roll a D6: on a 1-3, the battle ends; on a 4+, one additional Battle Turn is played, then the battle ends.

8. Determine the victor

At the end of the battle, the victor is the player who has scored the most Victory Points, from the primary objective or the secondary objectives of the mission played.

Leviathan mission objectives

Sectors

Leviathan missions divide the battlefield into sectors; their victory conditions require interacting with these sectors in different ways.

Objective markers

Leviathan missions may also include objective markers on their deployment map. They follow all the rules on pages 308-309 of the Age of Darkness Rulebook; each mission specifies how and when they score Victory Points.

Leviathan secondary objectives

These secondary objectives are always in play in a Leviathan mission, but their value varies from one mission to another. Some are listed for only one player: only that player can then score them.

• Break their Strength (X) (Break their Strength): if, at the end of the battle, a player has no Vehicle models left on the battlefield, their opponent scores X Victory Points.
• Last Man Standing (X) (Last Man Standing): if, at the end of the battle, a player has more units on the battlefield without any models with the Routed Status than all their opponents combined, they score X Victory Points. Cannot be scored if the battle ends through the Sudden Death rule.
• Overrun (X) (Overrun): if, at the end of the battle, a player controls units with models in the opposing deployment zone, they score X Victory Points. If any of those models has the Super-heavy Sub-type, the value of X is doubled (if several units are in the opposing zone, the player chooses only one of them to score this objective).
• Slay the Warlord (X) (Slay the Warlord): if an enemy High Command choice is Removed as a Casualty, for any reason, before the end of the battle, their opponent scores X Victory Points (once per battle only, regardless of the number of units concerned).

Mission special rules

These rules only apply in the missions that list them; they replace certain aspects of the core rules or add new options.

Armies

Both players must include at least one Lord of War unit in their army.

Sectors

The battlefield is divided into four sectors, as shown on the map. To score Victory Points in this mission, the Attacker must control these sectors.

Objective markers

The objective markers are placed as shown on the map. Each has a value of 2.

Mission special rules

Reserves and Seize the Initiative.

Victory conditions

Attacker's primary objective

At the end of each of their Player Turns, the Attacker chooses a sector in which they have a unit wholly within and scores a number of Victory Points equal to that sector's number. If that unit includes a model with the Super-heavy Sub-type, they score 2 additional Victory Points.

Example: at the end of their turn, the Attacker has units in sectors 1, 2 and 3, one of which, in sector 2, includes a Super-heavy model. If they choose sector 2, they score 4 Victory Points (2 for the sector, plus 2 for the Super-heavy model).

Defender's primary objective

At the end of each of their Player Turns, the Defender scores a number of Victory Points equal to the value of each objective marker they control.

Secondary objectives

• Last Man Standing (2)
• Slay the Warlord (2)
• Attacker: Overrun (4)
• Defender: Break their Strength (4)

Sectors

The battlefield is divided into four sectors, as shown on the map. To score Victory Points in this mission, the players must control these sectors.

Objective markers

Each sector has an objective marker at its centre. Its value depends on control of the sector by the player controlling the marker:

• that player also controls the sector: value 3;
• no player controls the sector: value 2;
• their opponent controls the sector: value 1.

Mission special rules

Reserves and Seize the Initiative.

Victory conditions

Attacker's primary objective

At the end of each of their Player Turns, the Attacker scores 2 Victory Points for each sector they control.

Defender's primary objective

At the end of each of their Player Turns, the Defender scores Victory Points for each objective marker they control, according to the value described opposite.

Secondary objectives

• Break their Strength (3)
• Slay the Warlord (3)
• Attacker: Overrun (3)
• Defender: Last Man Standing (3)

Sectors

The battlefield is divided into four sectors, as shown on the map. To score Victory Points in this mission, the players must control these sectors.

Objective markers

Each sector has an objective marker, placed as shown on the map, whose value is equal to its sector's number.

Mission special rules

Reserves and Seize the Initiative.

Victory conditions

Attacker's primary objective

At the end of each of their Player Turns, the Attacker scores 2 Victory Points for each sector they control.

Defender's primary objective

At the end of each of their Player Turns, the Defender scores a number of Victory Points equal to the value of each objective marker they control.

Secondary objectives

• Last Man Standing (3)
• Overrun (3)
• Attacker: Break their Strength (3)
• Defender: Slay the Warlord (3)

Armoured Spearhead mission sequence

1. Choose the Armoured Spearhead mission.
2. Choose armies.
3. Prepare the battlefield.
4. Declare mission Reserves.
5. Deploy armies.
6. Play the Armoured Spearhead mission.
7. Determine the victor.

1. Choose the mission

The players agree on one of the Armoured Spearhead missions, or roll a dice on the following table:

2. Choose armies

Each player builds their army list with a Points Limit of 3000 points, following the rules of the Age of Darkness Rulebook. Once all lists are complete, each player may look at the others' lists, except for choices that a Special Rule requires to be kept secret. A player may no longer change their list after looking at an opponent's.

3. Prepare the battlefield

At the start of step 3, the players mark out a flat surface of at least 120 × 180 cm (4′ × 6′), with some room around it for accessories, dice, Reserves and models removed from play. They then decide which terrain is available; for an Armoured Spearhead mission, the suggested amount is as follows (everyone is free to adapt it to their collection):

• Terrain areas: four areas of about 6″ × 6″. For each, the players decide before moving on to the next step whether it is light or medium.
• Terrain pieces: four pieces no larger than 4″ × 4″ each — either Impassable Terrain that blocks Line of Sight, or small or medium buildings that are not controlled by any player at the start of the game. The buildings may be replaced by medium or heavy terrain areas of the same footprint, representing ruins.

The players roll off. The winner chooses a piece of terrain and places it anywhere on the battlefield, then the opponent does the same, and so on alternately until all terrain has been placed. No terrain may overlap the base or footprint of another, or extend beyond the edges of the battlefield. A piece of terrain that cannot be placed is discarded from the battle; if possible, the player who was placing it may choose another.

Once the terrain is placed, the player who lost the roll-off chooses the deployment zone they will use in step 5; the other player takes the remaining zone.

4. Declare mission Reserves

The players roll off. The loser first declares the units they intend to place in Reserves; once these are noted on their army list, the winner does the same. Each player must deploy at least one unit on the battlefield at the start of the game, unless a Special Rule states otherwise. During step 6, further units may only be added to Reserves if there is no position where their player can legally deploy them under the mission's deployment rules: they are then placed there immediately.

5. Deploy armies

The player who chose their deployment zone in step 3 deploys all units in their army that are not in Reserves in that zone. A unit that cannot be legally deployed there is placed in Reserves — if the Reserves mission special rule is not being used, it is set aside and takes no part in the mission, without counting as Removed as a Casualty. The other player then deploys their army in the same way in the remaining zone.

The deployment rules are the same as for the Leviathan pack (coherency, embarking, Dangerous Terrain, 2″ distance from enemy models).

Victory condition: Tank Killer

Primary objective

• Armoured Spearhead (page 37 of the Journal Tactica Battle of Tallarn).

Secondary objectives

• First Strike (5) (First Strike)
• Giant Killer (1) (Giant Killer)

At the end of Battle Turn 4, the player with the most Victory Points wins.

Mission special rules

Reserves, Counter Offensive (Counter Offensive), Seize the Initiative and Armoured Force.

Deployment

Each player has a primary deployment zone (6″ strip) and a secondary deployment zone (12″ strip along their table edge), as shown on the map.

• Primary zone: only units made up entirely of Vehicle models — including Transports with models of other types embarked.
• Secondary zone: only units that include no Vehicle models, unless those models also have the Fast Sub-type.

Victory condition: The Spoils of Cunning

Primary objective

• Armoured Spearhead (page 37 of the Journal Tactica Battle of Tallarn).

Secondary objectives

• First Strike (6)* (First Strike)
• Last Man Standing (9)† (Last Man Standing)

* In this mission, First Strike (X) can only be scored for attacks made by a unit made up entirely of Infantry models.

† In this mission, only units made up entirely of Vehicle models are counted for this secondary objective.

At the end of Battle Turn 4, the player with the most Victory Points wins.

Mission special rules

Reserves, Counter Offensive (Counter Offensive), Seize the Initiative and Armoured Force.

Deployment

In this mission, each player must place in Reserves at least half (rounding down) of the units in their army that include at least one Vehicle model.

Each player has a primary deployment zone and two flank zones, 18″ deep, as shown on the map.

• Flank zones: only units made up entirely of Vehicle models — including Transports with models of other types embarked.
• Primary zone: only units that include no Vehicle models, unless those models also have the Fast Sub-type.

Adding Assets to a mission

The players may add this rule to any mission, in addition to its usual special rules. They then follow these additional steps:

1. If the mission does not designate an Attacker and a Defender, the players choose the roles before the choose armies step, or roll off: the winner chooses their role.
2. When choosing armies, each player selects Assets for a total of Asset Points not exceeding the maximum set by the Points Limit (see the table), and notes them on their army list.
3. The rules for each Asset specify where and when it is placed and how it is used. If both players must place Assets at the same time, a roll-off determines who places theirs first. An Asset with no specified placement may be placed anywhere on the battlefield.

Selecting Assets

Each Asset has a name followed by its Asset Traits, a cost in Asset Points, and a description of its setup and effects during the battle.

Asset markers

Markers can be any size (a 40 or 60 mm base is recommended) and must be modelled to clearly show the Asset they represent.

• Models can move across an Asset marker, and a model may end its move on it.
• An Asset marker does not block Line of Sight, whatever is modelled on it, and rules that move models or terrain have no effect on it.

Designer's note: a very elaborate or irregularly shaped marker can make it awkward to place models at the end of a move. In that case, mark its centre with a substitute, such as a small coin, on which to place the models, until the original marker can be put back.