Hello again!
Time for more SUFFER! (Shadowwolf’s Unofficial, Fluffy, for Fun use, Extraordinary Rules)
This time, I've dug through all of the 6th edition Steam tank rules (see annual 2002 for the full 6th edition rules) and refitted them to fit the 7th edition Steam Tank, so this is mostly GW rules, but updated by me.
Feel free to copy or distribute any version or entry of the SUFFER and, if you do not like it, change it to your liking.
Any and all comments on these rules are appreciated, as it is the purpose of SUFFER to make the rules as good as possible!
Any and all suggestions are also welcome! Is there anything that needs more rules, an update to 7th edition or just some screwy completely new rules, feel free to post here and I'll have a look upon it!
If you try them out, please leave a comment!
Additional Steam tank Rules
These rules are designed to let players customize their steam tank, much like it was done in the 6th edition of warhammer.
All steam tank versions follow the basic rules for the Empire Steam Tank in the Empire army book.
How to use:
Simply add the SUFFER parts to the end of the existing text under the appropriate headline in the Steam Tank section.
STEAM TANK
Equipment.
The Steam Tank can be armed differently by replacing either the Steam gun turret, the hull main cannon, or both. The cost will vary with what weapons you purchase for the Steam Tank.
Steam Tank Pts cost Additional wounds gained
Basic (Cannon and Steam gun) 300 +0
Additional boiler +25 +0
Hull weapon replacement
Steam Tank Volley Gun +25 +0
Siege Cannon +35 +0
No hull weapon -25 +1
Mortar (automatically selects no turret weapon) -75 -2
Turret weapon replacement
No turret weapon -25 +0
Fighting platform +95 +0
Handgunner Emplacement +95 +0
Building up Steam Points
An additional boiler can be pulled on a wagon behind the Steam Tank, to give it some extra pressure. The additional boiler adds 1 steam point to the total of steam points loaded, but brings down the Steam Tank’s armour save to 3+, as the boiler system is now more vulnerable.
Shooting Phase
Volley Gun
The Steam Tank volley gun is a smaller version of von Meinkopt’s successfull invention, fitted to the hull of the tank. It may be fired upon targets in the front arc of the Steam Tank that is visible to it. This costs 2 SP and can be done even if the tank has moved or is in close combat. Remember that the Steam Tank crew has a ballistic skill of 4!
The Volley Gun fires like an ordinary Helblaster Volley gun (see page 48 in the current Empire book), with the following profile:
Range Strength Shots/barrel Armour Save Notes
24” 4 Artillery dice -2 Helblaster volley gun
The Steam Tank suffers a strength 6 hit with no saves possible for each misfire rolled when firing the volley gun. If you roll the “Destroyed” result on the misfire chart the Steam Tank also takes D3 wounds with no saves possible.
Siege cannon
A Siege cannon is a huge gun, used to knock down the walls of fortresses and buildings. The Siege cannon follows the rules for the main cannon, but costs 4 SP to fire, has a strength of 10, a range of 24” and causes D6+2 wounds on a wounded target. Against buildings and castle walls, the Siege cannon causes 2D6 wounds. If a misfire is rolled on the first artillery dice when firing the Siege cannon, the Steam tank takes D3 wounds with no saves possible and no shot is fired.
Mortar
To mount a mortar in a Steam Tank, you have to remove the roof of the tank, so no turret weapon can be equipped. The mortar is fired as a normal Empire Mortar, which can be fired even if the tank has moved that turn, with the following profile. If you roll a misfire when rolling for the mortar, the Steam Tank automatically suffers D3 wounds.
The Steam tank is also equipped with two swivel guns, that can be fired at targets in the flank and front arcs of the Steam Tank if the mortar is not fired that turn. They follow the the rules for handguns and uses the ballistic skill of the Engineer Commander.
Weapon Range Strength Damage Armour save
Mortar 6”-24” 3 1 -1
Mortar, under the hole - 6 D3 none
Swivel gun 24” 6 1 -4
Engineer Fighting Platform
The unusual design of the War wagon was combined with the steam tank by master engineer Von Zeppel, who also gave his name to the modified tank. From this platform, a fighting crew of trainee engineers could fight, bringing a myriad of experimental weaponry to the field of battle.
The Fighting platform is mounted on top of the Steam Tank and carries six trainee engineers to battle. The trainee engineers armed with missile weapons may shoot even if the tank has moved, with no penalty for moving and shooting. They may fire upon enemies all around the Steam Tank. Remember that the Master engineer can still fire his repeater pistol!
The engineers count as characters riding a chariot (see page 64 of the warhammer rulebook) with a 5+ armour save. Randomize missile fire hits between the tank and the engineers; 1-5 steam tank, 6 Trainee engineer. The Empire player may choose which engineer to remove as casualty.
As long as the Steam Tank is operational, the Engineers count as unbreakable. If the Tank is destroyed, remove them from play along with the tank.
Profile M WS BS S T W I A Ld
Trainee Engineer 4 3 4 3 3 1 3 1 7
Equipment: Light armour, hand weapon and experimental weapon (total armour save 4+)
In addition to their hand weapons, the trainee engineers are armed with different experimental weapons.
• A Hochland long rifle (see page 47 of the Empire army book)
• A repeater Handgun (see page 47 of the Empire army book)
• A Blunderbuss (flame template, str 3, armour piercing, more details in the (coming) SUFFER weapons entry)
• A man-catcher (killing blow, require two hands)
• A ball on a chain (3+ strength on the first turn of any combat, require two hands)
• A hook-halberd (1+ strength, 2+ strength against cavalry models)
Handgunner Emplacement
The WarWagon platform Von Zeppel mounted on the Steam tank carrying his name, has been both modified, destroyed and improved over the years. On one occation, where the Von Zeppel tank was aiding a Stirland army against a Skaven inkurison, the platform carried a regiment of state Handgunners instead of the normal Engineer crew, as they had been brutally murdered the day before the battle was to take place. The concept was very successful, the hangunners raining down fire upon the ratmen as the steam tank rolled over the rest.
The Handgunner emplacement carries 12 Handgunners on a platform mounted on the top of The Steam Tank. The Handgunners may shoot even if the tank has moved, with no penalty for moving and shooting. They may fire upon enemies all around the Steam Tank and the platform is so geniously constructed, so that the handgunners do not block line of sight for each other. Remember that the Master engineer can still fire his repeater pistol!
The Handgunners count as characters riding a chariot (see page 64 of the warhammer rulebook) with a 5+ armour save. Randomnize missile fire hits amongst the tank and the engineers; 1-5 steam tank, 6 Handgunner.
Close combat
Close combat against the fighting platform
Enemies in close combat with the steam tank’s front and flanks may choose to attack the engineers instead of the tank. Roll to hit as normal.
The engineers can strike at enemies at the front and flanks of the tank, but not at the rear. The Trainee engineers armed with missile weapons must use their hand weapons in close combat. They may not shoot while in close combat.
Close Combat against the Handgunner Emplacement
Enemies in close combat with the steam tank’s front and flanks may choose to attack the Handgunners instead of the tank. Roll to hit as normal.
Three handgunners can fight to the front and four to each of the flanks. No handgunners may fight enemies in the rear of the Steam Tank. They must use their hand weapons in close combat and may not shoot whilst the Steam Tank is engaged in close combat.
Shadowwolf
