Maximillian Strikes Back; Battle at Bad TurnpikeFollowing the disastrous
Battle at Strangler's Pass, the Altdorf XIX retreats before the Greenskins tide to the crossroads at Bad Turnpike. Knowing that the Orcs will need to take these crossroads to continue their push into the Stram Valley area, Baron Maximillian von Mauritz allows his army to rest and regroup nearby for a few days while reinforcements are being mustered. Just as the XIX is considered to have regained enough strength and marches to fortify the crossroads, the Greenskin drums are heard across the field like approaching thunder. There will be no prepared defences - each army rushes to deploy from its marching column to slug it out.
We used the awesome scenario generator from White Dwarf to cook up a new challenge and got an interesting one - a head-on Meeting Engagement, where we both had to take and hold an objective at the centre of the table. As built-up objectives usually give headaches in WFB because you'll be wanting to move a big regiment right on top of it (tricky to do if the objective is a building), we decided to make the objective a crossroads. It was flanked on both sides by a house, meaning the battlefield was effectively divided into a narrow centre with the objective in it, and two flanks which would have a hard time supporting the centre, but which would be an excellent playground for fast units.
The Greenskin Horde
Dordak da Pulpa's "Fun Lovin' Greenskins" make a mad dash towards the Bad Turnpike crossroads. Still foaming at the mouth over their earlier victory, their overconfidence would soon be the death of themThe Baron's Own
The Baron's Own halberdiers regiment, undisputed solitary heroes of the previous battle at Strangler's Pass, once again musters at the centre of the battle line. In this picture, their banner is much better lit than before. Unfortunately, we used indirect sunlight in this battle's pics (ie. open garage door) which came out looking rather dull. C'est la guerre.Dennis had chosen not to take a Vanguard so I had a ball moving my Hussars (DoW Light Cav), Pistoliers, and Pegasus Captain to make a swift move around the right flank.
The main forces marched onto the table and I just barely managed to get all my battalions lined up properly - good! The Knights went to threaten the left flank backed up by the battalion of Spears, while the Swordsmen and Halberdiers marched resolutely towards the crossroads. My artillery had an excellent position on a hill looking straight down the road the Greenskins were taking to the crossroads, but, of course, some Misfires soon came my way and my battery on the whole was a bit of a disappointment again.
The Altdorf XIX Light
The Altdorf XIX's Light Brigade rushes around the right flank. In the foreground are the Pistoliers - further ahead of them are the Hussars. If one looks closely, a unit of Wolf Riders is visible just left of the rock formations across the river which marked the right edge of the battlefield. For kicks, notice the bridge which was built in under half an hour during a months-long scenery building frenzy last year (We have a river, we have roads, uhm, do we have a br... D'OH!). A further scenery highlight might be the individually based trees - they were purchased on Tenerife, glued to the round plastic gizmos that used to come with a bag of chips, flocked, varnished, presto. None of those silly "clumps" that GW suggests. With a removable centre section, sheesh...Light Brigade Operations
Here, brave young Wilhelm von Mauritz Esq. places himself before a large mob of Orc warriors sent to thwart the Light Brigade's operations. Even the mere diversion of a heavy unit may be counted as a success for the Light Brigade - the Orcs would not take the bait of this overly transparent trap though, although Wilhelm was forced to flee a charge and ended up fleeing off the board, failing to rally for three consecutive turns 
Rolling Thunder
In the centre of the table, the Baron's Own accept the advance charge of a large mob of Greenskin cavalry, and get flank support from the Spearmen battallion. Naturally, due to 'orrid dice rolls, this battle was lost, the Spearmen ran and lost their banner, but the Baron's Own stood firm and butchered the Boar Boyz in the next round, reclaiming the banner of the Spearmen. Oh well. In the back one can see Dennis' better half engaged in conversation with a little girl from around the neighbourhood. The silly lady thought Warhammer was something "impulsive" that we'd outgrow soon enough - until she learned we've already been playing for nearly seven years. She went strangely quiet after that 
Further to the rear, the sadly familiar sight of cannon crew trying to get their gun to work.The Centre
With the Orc Boarboys routed, Baron von Mauriz has some time to regroup his battalions for the final push towards the crossroads, currently occupied by several large mobs of Orcs, Black Orcs, and Big 'Unz. A lot of bloodshed still lay ahead. At the extreme left of the field, meanwhile, the Knights were doing a good job gradually chopping their way through a fully ranked up regiment of Orc warriors (from the front, no less), while the Light Brigade continued to play chicken with the Orcs to the right.
One might considef the scratchbuilt house another scenery highlight - we built some four houses and a farmhouse so big it is hardly practical in battle Payback Time
As the forces meet on the Crossroads, the Empire has its first major success - the Swordsmen manage to hold against the onslaught of the Big 'Unz, and a rear charge by the Pistoliers sees them turning tail! To the far rear one can see the very happy (not to mention dashingly handsome) features of the General commanding. Revenge indeed!The Final Hunt
As his army collapses around him, the Orc warlord rushes to aid his faltering boyz on the left flank - only to arrive too late! The Orc Boyz break and are run down by the Knights, and the Orc Warlord suddenly finds himself very much alone, facing the fury of Huntsmen, drunken students (Duellists), and a very angry Fire Wizard who now casts practically unopposed as both of the Goblin witches have been rendered inoperable.
Bleeding profusely from previous wounds, only one more was needed to finally put this beast out of the Empire's misery. To Dennis' credit, he had his little noise familiar from a previous picture make the Ward Saves, and she rolled an amazing string of 6's which saved the Warlord to fight another day. Fine with me - the rest of the army lay in tatters, the Black Orcs were routed (a first!), and the crossroads were firmly mine.And so the battle ended. The XIX had fought hard to regain its honour and had prevailed. The Orcs ran back to the pits they came from as fast as their smelly feet could carry them. The Warlord escaped, battered but alive, and would no doubt be back sometime later, with a new horde to try and pillage and burn his way across the Empire. Baron von Mauritz oversaw the consolidation of the battlefield with a firm glass of brandy in hand and wondered what drove those green monsters here every week.
They probably didn't know what else to do, he concluded, drank his brandy in one gulp, and retired to his pavillion tent.
--GH
