NMRIH First Batrep (testgame)

Played my first ever game of No More Room in Hell (set in 1888) made lots of mistakes, forgot skill bonuses etc. I learnt alot so its all good. I ran out of time so only managed to play six turns. I imagine when I start the campaign properly it will be much quicker next time.

The scenario I had set my party was that the road had been blocked by fallen trees and there carriage could not get pass the blocked road. They where to go to the nearby town visible in the distance to seek assistance or to borrow some tools to remove it themselves. Approaching the village they come across a man wondering aimlessly down the road as if drunken.

Game starts.

Rules where all standard the only thing I changed was the deployment of the zombies at first I used a scatter dice and a D10 from the centre to deploy but this was a little to random. So for further spawnings I divided the board into six sectors and rolled a d6 per zombie and deployed the zombies into the sectors rolled. This still needs working on spontaneous zombie appearance in a sector with the party is in seems silly and melee get started too quickly and bogs them down. I'm fine with the zombies appearing when searching building etc but will tackle then when I come to part two.

The sectors where numbered  as follows in the above picture moving down the right side and back up the left 1, the top field, 2, the Ruins 3, field in front of the Ghurkas 4, the field to the left of the party 5, The Forest (this count as rough terrain) 6, the field at the top elft

Post game: Changed the armament of the Ghurkas as initially they where armed with knives but they where extremely ineffective at wounding zombies so in future games the Kukri's carried will be classed as machetes much better weapons. What do you think?

Characterwise.  They all start with 1 Ammo and 1 Food (ammo is used to reload when failing an ammo test and can be shared amongst the group)


Sir Theo. Shot caller, Sword, Pistol, Blademaster, Nerves of Steel, Sterner Stuff
William.  Backup, Sword, Pistol, Club, Two Fisted

Bo'Sun. Backup, Teeth (chomp chomp), Zombie Stomper, Horribly Scarred.
Ghurka Trackers. Sheeple x 4, Rifle, Knife, Blademaster.

Set in a rural area and the total points value of the party totalling 500 (rounded up) the Starting Dice Grave per turn is 9. (Number of dice rolled per turn, any rolling a 4,5,6 cause a zombie to spawn). Gunfire etc add diceto this pool showing the noise attracting more zombies. (this gets quite big quite quick as the RoF of the weapon is used. Luckily not many SMG's where in use in the 1880's).

Anyhow here we go my first AAR.

Deployment

Sir Theo's Group deployment.

Zombies deployed using the scatter method.

Turn 1

Sir Theo and his colleagues approaches the apparently drunken man. 'Hello there are you ok sir?' Sir Theo says as he walks towards him. The man just replies 'braaaaaiiiinnns' and lunges at Sir Theo.

Sir Theo and William draw there pistols. 'Stand back Sir or we will open fire' the zombie takes another step forward and Sir Theo and William unload there pistols into the man with no effect the Ghurka tracker quickly bring up there rifles and open fire to protect there master's bringing the man down.  Sir Theo studies the man on the floor riddled with bullet holes and as he looks up and can see many more of these strange men approaching towards them. Shouting to his comrades  'Form a firing line on me and prepare your weapons'

Man swaying drunkenly in the road.

Hello there are you ok sir?

Zombies advance

Braiiins the drunken man lunges at Sir Theo and is riddled with bullets as he charges.

Sir Theo group won the initiative this turn and approached the seemingly drunk man. advancing to within 3" Sir Theo halts as the man swipes at him (I didn't want sir Theo to react aggressively to the first encounter with the zombie, so no actions apart from movement).

Zombies Turn
The Zombies then all advanced beginning to form groups towards Sir Theo's party as the Zombie tried to engage Sir Theo in melee. The whole group snapfired the last shot from the Ghurka on Sir Theo's flank bringing him down after surviving fire from the rest of the party.


Sir Theo was lucky rolling a 10 to hit he had to make an ammo roll but fortunately passed his test.


Dice Grave total 16

Turn 2

Sir Theo now aware of the danger of the oncoming undead advances forward a little and forms a firing line. Turning to his comrades and giving the order to fire at will. The three trackers on the right flank of Sir Theo open fire on the two nearest zombies bringing one of the fell creatures down.

Sir Theo, William and the Ghurka on the left flank  all open fire on the zombie advancing towards them down the road hitting numerous times but none proving fatal. William's pistol gave an ominous click click click as he ran out of ammo.  'Dam these creatures are tough' he says aloud to William.

The nearest zombies drew near and smelling flesh charged engaging a Ghurka and Sir Theo in melee. A group of zombies approach the groups left flank out of the nearby fields. The Ghurka drew his Kukri and met his foe slashing him across the stomach and arm but the zombie continued to fight on. Sir Theo drew his sabre and dispatched his opponent with ease removing an arm and striking its head from its body.

Sir Theo's party advance and open fire on the approaching Zombies.

the remaining zombies smelling flesh charge into melee.

More zombies arrive and begin to  quickly surround the party.

Sir Theo won initiative again and party all advance 3" and open fire, William misses completely and rolled a 10 also failing his ammo roll and will have to spend a turn doing nothing whilst he reloads. The Ghurkas on the right flank open fire on the two approaching zombies bringing one down. The zombies having started within 6" charge towards the party all of which snapfire and either missed or failed to wound. Sir Theo passed the gut check with ease for being charged and then won the initiative in melee easily rolling a 9 to the zombies 3 and hacked him apart with his sword. The Ghurka passed his gut check also, won initiative but failed to hit the zombie. The melee continued into the next turn ( this was my first mistake, the combat should of continued with the zombie rolling to hit the the Ghurka again and so on until one party is destroyed. I then realised this in the next turn. But to me it seemed quite brutal so the way combat will work will be to roll off for initiative each round fought , the winner then rolls to hit, rolls to wound and so on until there is a winner.)

Zombies Turn
8 Zombie reinforcements arrive this turn mostly in the four sectors around Sir Theo and co  these mostly bunch up and advance. This will need working on a bit more I think.

Dice Grave 20 (in hindsight I forgot to add the snapfire shooting to this total throughout the rest of the game)

Turn 3

The Ghurkas on the right flank seeing there comrade struggle both draw there kukri's and wade into the combat to help him. Sir Theo seeing another group of undead approaching from the left advances to the hedgerow and takes aim winging one the zombies but not causing any damage. The Ghurka on this flank takes careful aim with rifle and with a well placed head shot brings one down as the other two charge in. Williams quickly reloads his revolver. The Ghurkas on the right flank made short work of there single opponent hacking him apart with there knives. The Ghurka on the left has no such luck and is dragged down by the two zombies and they begin to feast on his still warm corpse. Sir Theo Grimaces at the sight but remains stalwart.

The three Ghurkas hack down there opponent.

Ghurka on the left flank is brought down and feasted upon.

More Zombie Spawn and advance.

Sir Theo moves to the hedge and opens fire missing and running out of ammo. The Ghurka next to him opens fire and kills one of the approaching zombies. The three Ghurkas win iniative and with some lucky rolls manage to kill there opponent in the first round (knives only kill a zombie on a roll of 1-3 so only a 30% chance).

Zombies Turn
The Ghurka on the left is charged by the two zombies, his snapfire missed and they engage him in melee he passes his gut checks but loses the initiative on the first round, they hit they wound he dies and they begin to feast. Sir Theo the only one able to see over the hedgerow passes his gut check at the sight. (multiple zombies are harder to killer as they receive bonus's in combat the more they outnumber you).

4 Zombies spawn in the neighbouring two sectors giving the group some breathing space but the group on the left are slowly forming into very big group.

In the heat of the game I had forgotten the Ghurka's all had the blademaster skill which adds plus to there Initaive score in melee (this may have resulted in some ties and dice may have been re-rolled in there favour)

Dice Grave 13

Turn 4

Sir Theo seeing what the disgusting creatures were doing to his comrade brandished his sabre at them and in a commanding voice said 'Sic em Boy' Bo'sun went straight through the hedgerow bringing one of the creatures down to the ground and proceeded to rear it to pieces. Sir Theo hopped over the hedge and swiftly chopped through the remaining creatures neck putting it down. Meanwhile William and the three Ghurkas took aim at the approaching zombies and opened fire killing the zombie advancing down the road and one crossing the field towards them.

Sir Theo and Bo'sun charge the feasting zombies

Zombies are bought down in melee

More Zombies spawn and begin to advance

Sir Theo won the initiative again and with Bo'sun passed there gut checks and charged the feasting zombies. Bringing them both down in the first round of combat. William opened fire on the zombie in the road and blew it away, the Ghurka's opened fire and kill one of the tow approaching zombies.

Zombies turn

The zombies spawned 2 this turn right in from of Sir Theo and another opposite the Ghurkas (this is what I mean by needing some working through zombies appearing from nowhere).

Dice Grave 17

Turn 5

Sir Theo wiping the blade on the corpses clothing looks up to see another approaching 'Sic em boy' he says to Bo'sun watching his canine companion go charging off toward the zombie. Reloading his pistol he looks around taking stock of what s happening to his comrades.

The three Ghurkas take aim with there rifles bringing another creature down with accurate fire. The remaining zombie makes into melee with one of the Ghurkas whom after striking many blows upon it managed to bring it down by severing its head at the neck. William draws a bead on the zombie heading towards him putting a shot through each of it eyes taking it out of the fight for good.

Bo'sun reaches his target and rips it apart making short work of it. Turning to return to his masters side another creature springs from the bushes and try to grab hold of him unable to comprehend what was happening to it  the second zombie is torn limb from limb by the dog.

The Ghurka fought for his life and just as he was beginning to tire the zombie stumbled and he managed to wedge his kukri through the undead things skull getting a killing blow.

William and the Ghurkas bring down two more zombies

Bo'sun charges and rips a zombie apart

The remaining zombie charges into the Ghurkas being hacked down after a long struggle.

Bo'sun is charge by a spawning Zombie

Which gets ripped limb from limb for even thinking about it

Sir Theo's side wins iniative. Sir Theo reloads his pistol using up his ammo point. William and the Ghurkas open fire and bring 2 of the 3 zombies down approaching them. The remaining zombie charged into a Ghurka and after 6 rounds of combat eventually was bought down. Bo'sun passed his Gut check charged the zombie and ripped it a new one.

Zombies turn 
6 Zombies spawned this turn mostly the opposite end of the table.  One spawned right in front of Bo'sun which charged into him and was ripped to bits for his trouble :D go Bo'sun.

Dice Grave 15

Turn 6

The large group of zombies made it over the fence into the field with Sir Theo and Bo'sun and smelling flesh began to advance towards him. Sir Theo shouted to William 'I need the strength of your sword arm my friend' William looked his way and seeing the large group drew his own sabre and charged. Seeing William heed his words he whistled to Bo'sun  and said 'Sic em Boy.

 More zombies appeared in front of the Ghurkas and began there charge towards them. The Ghurkas bough there rifles up and unleashed a volley bringing one down before engaging the remaining one with there blades. The creature dived straight at the Ghurka in front of him its clawed hands ripping across his midriff and spilling the mans guts distracted by the fresh blood spilled the Ghurkas two comrades hacked the creature to pieces.

Sir Theo, William and Bo'sun pitted themselves against the zombies in front of them pairing off fighting tow creatures each. William parried and struck many a glancing blow slowly shearing off limbs and wearing his foes down eventually overcoming both his adversary's . Sir Theo made a quick two handed slash and felled both his opponents in single blow. Bo'sun slowly bore both his opponents down using his low muscular body to knock them off balance bringing them low then striking swiftly, grabbing them by there necks and shaking them until there necks broke.

The zombies surge forward.

A zombie is taken down by rifle fire as they charge into combat it reaches the Ghurkas line and brings one of them down and begins to feast.

Zombie and Ghurka trade blows

Sir Theo, William and Bo'sun charge into the approaching horde

After a gruelling combat they are all destroyed.

The Ghurkas destroy the feasting creature.

Zombies one the initiative this turn, 2 spawn 1 add to the large group now totalling  6 and approaching horde status this group moved closer to Sir Theo. The two zombies in the field with the Ghurkas charge in one being taken down by snapfire. The remaining zombie brings one of the Ghurkas down and begins to feast. His comrade within range of Sir Theo pass there guts check at the sight.

Sir Theo's Turn
The two remaining Ghurkas draw there Kukris and charge the feasting creature (no guts check required to charge as feasting zombies count as suppressed). Destroying it after 7 rounds.

Sir Theo, William and Bo'sun all pass there guts checks and charge the approaching horde pairing off into individual combats, Sir Theo one initiative in the first round hit 3 times and caused 3 wounds. William (forgot abut his two fisted skill which grants an extra to hit dice) went 8 rounds before finally defeating his two opponents. Bo'sun now starting to tire took 9 rds before destroying the last remains from this group.

FIN

Ran out of time and had to pack up at this point as I have no dedicated game room. The SWMBO demanded I giver her back the kitchen work surfaces with all my stuff spread about.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE. If there any tips, anything you don't like please say so and I may not of thought of it and this will be the way future batreps will be done.

Thanks for reading I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

Background for my No More Room In Hell 1888 Campaign

Been tweaking this background for a few weeks now. Its set in the Empire of the Dead world So the first bit as the stage in what this game is set and has been borrowed from the West Wind site.

Empire of the Dead is set in an age where a steampunk Victorian empire rules the world. An Empire fuelled by an extraordinary discovery. The mineral that has come to be known as Infernium.

But all is not well, dark shadows from our deepest nightmares stalk the smog shrouded streets of London an ancient evil is rising from defeat.


The very soul of man is at risk, it will take every ounce of out strength to survive.


God Save the Queen

Character background

Sir Theophilus Algernon Tanner (Theo) is a member of the Cloakstaff Gentlemen club of London. Born in India in 1860  he spent his childhood and teenage years with his father who at the time was training Nepalese recruits for the newly founded second battalion of the Queens 1st Ghoorka Regiment. 

Theo thus began training for a military career at an early age intent of following his fathers footsteps.  Theo was also a keen hunter and was a proficient duellist and marksman.

When his father fought and died in the Second Afhgan war of 1878 and Sir Theo inherited his fathers land and title he decided to change his plans and became a hunter. The quest for trophies took him all over the world Africa for its Lion's and other savage beasts.

Sir Theo soon however grew bored with hunting these mundane creatures and one night on a hunt in the jungle for an Indian Tiger overheard a conversation between his Nepalese trackers telling stories of  the Meh-Teh (yeti) whilst eating there evening meal around the camp fire. Enthralled by the numerous tales of sightings and sometime attacks Sir Theo decided he would be the first man to capture or kill a Yeti

Recruiting skilled trackers from amongst the Ghurka recruits Sir Theo his English bull terrier Bo'sun and his best friend William set off in to the Himalayas searching for the Yeti.

Many where the rumours but very little physical evidence or any siting. After searching for two months rumours filtered in of attacks in a couple of mountain villages peaked his interest. Descriptions of the attacker where that of a tall fur covered man shaped creature, its victims where often slashed or had large bite marks.
Leading his hunting party to the village last rumoured to have been attacked he questioned the villagers hen and set off with his trackers into the mountains. For several days and nights his skilled trackers searched for clues to the beasts whereabouts to no avail.

On the seventh night whilst the party where asleep the two men who where on watch went missing large footprints where found and blood stains in the snow lead off deeper into the mountains. Sir Theo leaving William and four men to guard the camp Sir Theo nd Bo'Sun led his remaining men in pursuit of revenge for there fallen comrades and managed to track  the beast to a shallow cave in the nearby mountains.

The men approached the cave with caution a footprints and blood splatter marks on the floor led them into the gloom of the cave. All of a sudden the beast struck ripping apart the four men at the front of the group the beast was far from ape like it would of better been described as having features of that of a wolf. Its coat was a reddy brown colour streaked with grey, its face was elongated and shaped like that of a wolf its long slavering tongue lolled out from its fanged mouth. Its hands ending long razor sharp slashing talons. It howled out a long piercing cry  of a wolf and as it turned on them its eyes gleamed like glowing red coals and charged again

Fourteen men attempted to slay the beast. Surviving a volley of rifle fire it slashed and rent the men asunder.  Sir Theo after emptying his revolver into the beast as it ripped his comrades apart drew his sword and charged the beast. After briefly trading blows with the enraged beast Sir Theo was slashed across the face and knocked unconscious.............The last thing he saw was Bo'Sun diving at the beast and latching onto its arm and trying to drag it down.


Awakening two weeks later in a bed in the village of Dhaka his head swathed in bandages his friend William described to him how after waiting for a day for his return they set off in search of there missing friends and comrades. The scene that welcomed them shocked and sickened the men. The cave was strewn with the ripped apart carcasses of the hunters. Entrails and bloody coated the walls and entrance to the cave. Whilst searching the cave for any survivors they had found Sir Theo with Bo'sun his loyal dog standing over him emitting a deep growl as William approached them. Shushing to calm the dog Bo'sun eventually let the men come near Sir Theo had nast gash across his face and was barely concious Bo'sun was not unscathed either his rear left paw had been torn off and he had several deep slashes across his face and body.

Sit Theo and Bo'sun where taken to a nearby village where they where taken to the local doctor to get there wounds treated. Whilst waiting for Sir Theo to recover consciousness William and the remaining four trackers returned to the cave to find some clue as to what had happened. Very little was found to explain the slaughter found there and William could only hope his friend would recover to explain what manner of creature had done such a terrible thing. Strange  footprints of a barefooted man leading away to the west where the only clue found but no tracks of any beast could be found leading from the cave.

Sir Theo decided to retire back to England to his family's estate. To regain his strength and  to investigate this strange creature he had come across. To honour his loyal dog Bo'Sun Sir Theo commissioned a prosthetic foot to be made so Bo'sun no longer hopped about on three legs.

Arriving at his fathers old home back in London he set about investigating this wolf-like creature, making enquires at various university's, sending letters to doctors, professor, exploreres anyone he could thing of who could but to no avail.


One evening Sir Theo was dining at home when he was visited by a gentleman who introduced himself as Lord Thomas Cloakstaff.  Lord Thomas explained that he was aware of his quest regarding these mythical  wolfmen and was arware of what had happened to Sir Theo in the Nepal and that if would come to a meeting at his Cloakstaff Gentlemen's Club he would be able to help him with his quest. Sir Theo eager for a lead on the wolfman agreed to attend at once.

 Arriving at Lord Cloakstaff's club he was led into a private antechamber where several gentlemen where already seated smoking pipes and sipping brandy.

Lord Cloakstaff then entered. "please be seated Sir Theo, I am going to have to ask you to swear loyalty to me and the members of this club before we go any further. What you hear here must not be made common knowledge lest panic ensues amongst the more common folk". Sir Theo Agreed without hesitation as he was intrigued as to how this clandestine meeting was turning out.

Lord Cloakstaff accepting Sir Theo's word then went on to explain about all the mysterious circumstances occurring since this new mineral Infernium had been found. All sorts of creatures thought to be mere superstition or myth had started to appear and where interfering with the research and use of this new found source of energy.

Lord Cloakstaff explained to Sir Theo that the particular type of creature he had tracked and fought with was known as a werewolf and went on to say how lucky he had been to have survived without being killed or  infected with its Lycanthropic curse. The tales astounded Sir Theo, Vampires, Werewolf's, Men dabbling in dark magic's where all described to him.

Lord Cloakstaff then offered Sir Theo the chance to join his club to help fight back against these creatures.
Sir Theo without hesitating agreed at once this was just the sort of thing he had been looking for.

Welcome Sir Theo as your first task I require you and your men to go a small village in the Devonshire Moor's. A doctor friend of mine has requested my assistance a number of villagers have gone missing and some farmers have been reporting livestock being fond maimed and torn apart. I'd like you to investigate it for me.



So onto the cast of this tale.

Sir Theophilus Algernon Tanner

William

Bo'Sun

 

The Four Trackers (no names yet)

Named That Dog Results!

The name that dog poll is now closed, Votes have taken place across several forums, facebook and of course here on my blog.

Here are the results

A: Brutus 5 votes

B: Bullseye 12 votes

C: Bo'sun (Boatswain) 12 votes


Soooooooo we have a tie situation. I decided to get my lovely assistant (my youngest daughter Leila) to roll a D10.

ODDs = Bullseye
EVENs = Bo'sun.

Drum roll.......................................... and its a 6 So Bo'sun is the winner! Huzzah! I can get the background finished for my party now and get my campaign started. Thank you all for taking part.

Name That Dog!

The Poll will end tomorrow morning 0900 hrs and I will add them all up. There are votes from Facebook, Board Of The Living Lead  and here Votes so far. VOTE PLEASE!

A: Brutus 4

B: Bullseye 7

C: Boatswain (Bo'Sun) 7

Name That Dog! and This Weeks Update

Been busy making terrain this week, made some hedgerows from pan scourers these are still wip but you get the idea. I'm now upto 24 out of 30 zombies finished. the last 6 are built and undercoated ready to be basecoated (tonight hopefully).


The hedges on right are nearly finished they need the bases to have sand added the ones on the left are waiting distressing.

Here is my latest batch of Zombies and the horde so far. I if I get my last batch finished tonight I will get the bases done on all of these and get them varnished later in the week (fingers crossed).

My second order arrived from Square Orange Games great service BTW they have good discounts on a lot of wargaming goods and free shipping worldwide. So I have the Empire of the Dead Gentlemen and Lycaon boxed sets to make a start on (this will be after my first game). Also include in this order was my Canine companion for my Wulfen Jaegars shown in the previous post. Apologies for the pictures this week the battery is playing up on my main camera so some of these are a bit wishy washy from my mobile phone. You can't really see it but his lefy hind leg is actually a stump with a proxy lower leg done. I didn't realise this when buying him but I like him even more now for it.

I've written some of the background for my party which I hope to finish this week I need to fit this chap into the story somehow. I have a few ideas but I need to work it into the story so far better.

I'm stuck for a name for this fellow so I'm going to ask you guys to vote in the comments and by Wednesday I will close the poll tally up the votes and select the name from that.

A, Brutus

B, Boatswain

C, Bullseye


The game might get delayed until mid August as I got some real life stuff kicking off  in the next few weeks and I'm going to lose some of my spare time whilst it gets dealt with (School appeal).

Heres my party of survivors for No More Room In Hell 1888, I have some civilian characters to be painted up but they will only be a few and play a minor role.

Here a wip pic they are the start of criminal gang I'm still sourcing members and bits for them though at the moment these are from Artizan Designs Wild West range. Bat Masterson and Dodge city Marshals. The chap on the right I have modified his cowboy hat into a bola to fit it more into the English theme.

This weeks update and a big THANK YOU

First of all the big THANK YOU goes to Colin or cmnash of http://downamongtheleadmen.blogspot.co.uk has very kindly sent me a sheet of laser cut roof tiles from Warbases to help me with my building project for NMRIH 1888 and Empire of the Dead. I think the tiles are far to good to go on the cottages that I have just finished so I will keep them and make a new building sometime next month. A big thank you sir you are gentlemen and a scholar!


Here some pictures of the finished buildings and scenery. I've managed to get some scouring pads to make some hedges but not done anything with them yet

The three cottages are finished, Though I have notice in the pictures I need to paint the underside of the roof's doh! I change the roof's  design at the last minute realising I wanted to have figures on the top of them. So they have been reshaped to accommodate that. The scale has still crept a little the chimneys are a little to large I wanted to be able to have some cover on top of them.

Finished four members my Wulfen Jaegar Club.

Group shot with the first members all thats left is the dog (which is due any day now).