Orcs in the Webbe

Introduction

This is a solo scenario designed to give players at a loose end a diversion from incessant slaughter. It uses a solo mechanism first appearing in my dinosaur-hunting game Tusk which I take this opportunity to shamelessly plug, details on how to order it are at the bottom of the page.

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"So 'e like' 'orses, fair enough, we all 'as a bit o 'orse in the stew. But no', d'a Cap't say 'e want' the 'orse 'live. 'live !. T'a ride !"

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To maintain good relations with their allies, your unfortunate section has been detailed to capture a wild stallion to which your esteemed and noble Dark Elven ally has taken a fancy to. On no account is the beast to be killed (or eaten).

You can use any miniatures you have just create a section as normal using the section creation rules in Flintloque - War in Catalucia (5025), they can be found (as if you didn't know) on page 46.

The Stallion

The stallion moves as per a Light Horse on page 84 of Flintloque - War in Catalucia (5025). Where and how far it moves each turn will be determined by the reaction table below.

The stallions action for that turn is determined by a die roll at the beginning of the turn. The events of the previous turn may effect the stallions reaction. The table is read from left to right and one roll is made on the first appropriate column. Only one roll is made per turn. The results are read off the table and actions occur in the correct phase, the stallion always performs it's actions first.

W= Withdraw
Move at Slow March, avoiding any Blocking, Difficult or Bogging terrain. Must end movement no closer to any assailant than it started. If this is impossible then the stallion has an Attack result.

F= Flight
Move at Quick March away from the nearest assailant. Movement avoids Blocking, Difficult or Bogging terrain and must end no closer to any figure than it started. If this is impossible then the stallion has an Attack result.

PF= Panic Flight
Move at Double March directly (180 degrees) away from the nearest assailant. Any assailant in the way of the fleeing stallion is trampled. 1D10 is rolled, and the score is taken to be the difference between the two rolls after a Melee roll and therefore the horses Impact to the unfortunate trampled individual. They must then take a Steady Check as normal.

A= Attack
Move at Quick March towards nearest assailant and engage in Melee.

G= Graze
Move 1cm in a random direction, avoiding any Blocking, Difficult or Bogging terrain.

The stallion can sustain 10 wounds in Melee in total before it is killed . To capture it, three wounds must be inflicted upon it in Melee in the same turn (from any number of attacks). In Melee the stallion has a +3 melee modifier. It's high wounds total reflects the attempts to subdue the horse rather than kill it outright.

The assailants cannot use weapons to attack but unit status, character, and race modifiers all count in close combat. Any two assailants can use a net between them. If the stallion passes between to assailants with a net it is entangled in it. Once entangled all attacks against the stallion have a +3 melee modifier. However, the two assailants with the net count as only one attack between them, and both suffer the same bad effects if they lose a round of combat.

Terrain

You can place whatever terrain you think is appropriate. The more difficult terrain, the harder it is. Equally you can have a section of any size, but obviously bigger sections have an advantage.

Expanding the Scenario

You could easily add a second player to the mix, with both sides trying to catch the horse or maybe even some outraged farmers trying to protect thier property. You could also add more horses if you wanted too. Any additional side could be controlled by a second player or even using the Solo Play rules on page 89 of Flintloque - War in Catalucia (5025).

Webmaster's Notes

"Horse Flesh" was first published way back in the 1998 in a small publication edited by Matthew Hartley called "The Tub". It has been updated for use with Flintloque 3rd edition and first appeared here on Monday 14th December 2009 as part of Orcs in the Webbe's 2009 Countdown to Christmas Advent Calendar.

Matthew's dinosaur-hunting game, Tusk, has recently been released in PDF format from Wargames Vault for a few shiny English pounds (other currencies also accepted of course). It can also be purchased in printed form from Irregular Miniatures who also stock a massive range of 6mm miniatures with which to play the game.