Chaos Dwarfs for Warmaster

Chaos Dwarves are the masters of a vast Empire to the east of the World's Edge Mountains, where forges spew forth smoke and fire and the very landscape itself is a blasted wasteland of volcanic ash. Chaos Dwarf armies tend to have large contingents of Orc and Hobgoblin slave soldiers.

Special Rules for Regiments of Renown:

1. Blunderbusiers shoot at a range of 15cm. Count enemy armor saves as two worse than normal when shot by blunderbussiers

2. Hobgoblin wolfboys shoot at a range of 15cm. They have a 360 degree arc of fire.

3. Earthshaker mortars follow the same rules as Undead Skull Chuckas on page 70 of the Warmaster rule book.

4. The Death Rocket follows the same rules as the Dwarf Flame Cannon on page 70 of the Warmaster rule book.

5. A Great Taurus can be ridden by a General, Wizard, or Hero. The Great Taurus flies and causes terror.

Spells:

A Chaos Dwarf Wizard may cast any of the following spells:

Meteor Storm: The wizard hurls flaming stones from his fingertips toward the enemy, battering everything in its path.

5+ to cast. Range: 30cm

Draw an imaginary line 30cm long extending from the Wizard's stand in any direction you wish. Each unit under the line takes three shooting attacks worked out in the usual way. Note that this spell can easily affect several units and will affect all units that fall beneath its path, including your own. Unengaged units can be driven back by the Meteor Storm as with ordinary shooting. Engaged units cannot be driven back, but carry over any hits that are scorred into the first round of combat. Hits caused by the Meteor Storm count as having been struck in the combat itself.

Volcanic Eruption: The wizard calls forth a storm of magma from beneath the earth.

6+ to cast. Range: 30cm

Each enemy unit within 30cm of the wizard stand takes D3 attacks worked out in the normal way. Roll separately for each enemy unit. A unit is not driven back by the Volcanic Eruption. Engaged units carry over any hits scored into the first round of combat and hits caused by the Volcanic eruption count as having been struck in the combat itself.

Flaming Hand: The wizard's hand glows like molten steel as he calls forth the strength of the forges of the earth.

4+ to cast: Range: Touching.

This can only be cast if the Wizard has joined a unit in combat. The spell automatically makes three attacks on one enemy unit which is touching the unit the Wizard has joined. These are worked out in the usual way. Any hits scored are carried over into the first round of combat and count as having been struck in combat.

Word of Fear:The wizard speaks a blasphemous litany that instills fear in the hearts of his enemies...

4+ to Cast. Range: Touching

This spell can only be cast if the Wizard has joined a unit in combat. The unit he has joined counts as causing terror for the duration of the combat phase.

Notes on modeling: Most of this army can be adapted from the current range of Dwarf and Orc and goblin figures from Games Workshop. If you are keen to have your Chaos Dwarves festooned with silly hats, feel free to ladle on the Green Stuff (Chaos Dwarves are, after all, Slaves to Fashion). The Earthshaker can be made fairly easily by using the Empire mortar (avaliable from Fanatic) and replacing the crew with dwarfs. Good luck on the Bull Centaurs, Death Rockets and Great Taurus, although there are some 15mm farm animals in the Demonworld line that might make a good basis for the Great Taurus and the Bull Centaurs. Slap some wings on one of those cows and go to town. Happy modeling.

I would love to hear any comments on these rules. E-mail me at benedict@tranquility.net