Three-Way Treasure hunt, Take Two

...with two new players! This time it was in the tearoom again and I had to provide all the terrain, but with a little improvisation it went quite well.

Scenario: Treasure Hunt

New Company:

• Lothar, Leader (P); Q3+, C3, Leader, 60 pts
• Antar (P), Q3+ C3, Group Fighter, 36 pts
• 3 halberdiers, Q4+ C3, Dashing, 27 pts each
• John, bowman; Q3+, C3, Shooter: Long, 44 pts
• Vladimir, bowman; Q3+, C3, Shooter: Long, 44 pts
• crossbowman; Q4+, C3, Shooter: Medium, Good Shot, 33 pts

Beastmen:

• Beastmen Chieftain (P); Q4+ C4, Leader, Forester, Tough, 80 pts
• Bestigor, Q4+ C4; Savage, Forester, 40 pts
• 4 Gors, Q4+ C3; Savage, Forester, Dashing, 36 pts each
• 1 Minotaur Warrior, Q3+ C4, Big, Savage (probably)

Undead:

• Zombie Lord (P); Q5+ C5, Leader, Undead, Short Move, Slow, 35 pts
• 2 zombies; Q6+ C4,  Undead, Short Move, Slow, 8 pts each
• Lich (P); Q3+ C2, Undead, Magic User, Terror, 86 pts
• 3 human skeletons; Q3+ C2, Undead, 26 pts each
• Wraith; Q3+ C4, Undead, Free Disengage, Flying, 72 pts

Game

The primary goal was to obtain a large piece of starmetal, useful for any of participating factions or their employers.

This must have been quite a scene... Five undead and a chest, standing there for quite a while (undead player hoped for the others to try and fail discovering treasure at other locations) and then the Wraith, full of elan, says:"Ssssoo, how about checking that chessst?" ...more blank stares from assembled skeletons... "Sscrew it, I'm out to get those archersss!"

...which were his lasst words. The wraith attacked Vladimir who didn't believe in things supernatural and therefore tied the combat without even blinking. Lothar was of a different world oppinion however, and sent a halberdier to free the poor soul, which he did. 

In the next round the beastmen failed to do anything but look tough, and one of the skeletons finally discovered the treasure. Somehow the news got to Lothar, who ordered a full scale assault. In the attack humans managed to dispatch a Lich and grab the treasure. 

Some of the beastmen finally woke up and rushed my left, but only managed to knock down Antar.

The undead however avenged their lost, first by a skeleton impaling itself on the top of a halberd, and then by a coordinated action that killed the unbelieving Vladimir in a horrible way. Note that I got the morale rule wrong, as Antar should have been dispatched. (Also, do characters without LoS to a gruesome kill have to test their morale? I guess not...)

Even though thrown off the balance, men of the New Company manned up and charged the Beastmen, dispatching the two audacious Gors. Unortunately, Beastmen chieftain finally gathered enough willpower to stop chewing fresh spring leaves and started bellowing orders. In the resulting melee, the crossbowman was brutalized and the New Company played the flock'o'sparrows piece again, with the top sparrow fleeing furthest.

After that some came back, some didn't and things went south in general.

Hero of the painful end was this halberdier, who faced off with a minotaur, even managed to knock him down ("Sigmar send his greetings, scum!") and only fell after being outnumbered.

Summary:

The game went quite well, considering that both Beastman and Undead players were newbies. It would even be quick if it wasn't for the protracted chase and slaughter in the end; it would be definitely faster in a campaign (I'd bottle out as soon as I'd have the chance). Both new players were often hurt by turnovers and heroic approach (and honestly, Zombie Lord and zombies are good as a joke or NPCs, but hardly playable) but the Beastmen got the lesson and acted as a gang - after losing two gors to men. They both liked the easy rules but were not so fond of the randomness, compared to Mordheim. However, they were willing to play again. I'll try to get a campaign going - if it succeeds, great, more shall follow, if it fails, Hello, Skulldred :-)