Epic War - Midnight Campaign Part VIII: The Short Bearded Line

Under the eaves of the Forest of Thrall, the Orks continue their unflinching advance south into the Squat homelands.  They have strength in numbers but little do they know, Commander Bofur is lying in wait for them!  Even having built one set of entrenchments on this territory, Bofur knows it is not enough.  The cards are still stacked against his brave warriors.  He hopes to make the Ork filth pay for every inch they take!
The Orks have 6,000 points of forces while the Squats have 4,000 points plus one set of entrenchments to defend with. 50VPs are required for victory. The ruleset is Net Epic Evolution.
Here we see an overview of the battlefield.  The Squats are at the bottom of the picture while the Orks are at the top.


A look along both lines.  The usual proxies apply along with 5 battlewagons representing a unit of Gobsmashas.


 The Ork line.  They seem unconcerned about the Squat defences, simply eager for battle!


The Squat line.  The entrenchments will provide vital cover for the Retributor and Ironshield tanks!  Also, because their army was on first fire campaign orders against the advancing Orks, they gain initiative on turn 1 and can deploy an extra 15cm further forward than usual.


An overview of deployment from the other side of the board.


A squad of Berserkers and Bikes forget that Bowelburnas have no requirement to see their targets!


The Bowelburnas show no mercy, intent on burning the woods to the ground!  With devastating effects!  A whole unit of Berserkers and several bikes are incinerated!


As the turn progresses, the Squats mow down unit after unit of Bad Moons and also annihilate a Stompa!  The Squats also suffer losses with two squadrons of Ironhammers being blown apart and an Overlord Airship which smashes into the ground in a spectacular fireball!  The Orks roar in approval as the Airships have proven to be utterly elusive in every battle until now!


As the Orks advance upon the Squat lines, scores of Bad Moon Boyz and a unit of Spleenrippas are cut down!  With strength in numbers on their side though, the Orks deal out some punishment of their own, blowing apart almost all of the Ironhammer tanks!


Gutrippa and Lungbusta tanks are next to feel the wrath of the Squats!  Meanwhile, their bikes ignore the Boarboyz, instead pouncing upon the charging Snakebite Boyz!   Trikes slam in to Warbuggies and then find themselves counter-attacked by Nobz bikes!


 An overview of the battlefield after the action phase…



 The Orks have taken significant losses, but so too have the Squats whose defensive line looks weak as the Orks close in on them!



 Before the end of Turn 1, close combat has still to be resolved!



 Ork Copters ambush Gyrocopters and are counterattacked by Squat bikes.  Meanwhile, the Evil Sunz clash with Squat Bikes…



With both sides taking punishment!




Back in the centre of the board, more combat ensues in the woods!




Which sees the Squats trikes brutalised!




The Snakebite boyz are caught off-guard by the powerful Squat bikers…




…and are slain in their droves!  Die Ork filth!




At the end of Turn 1, both sides hold 4 objectives apiece.  Despite significant casualties, none of the Ork formations have been broken!  The same cannot be said for the Squats as two Ironhammer squadrons and a full detachment of Berserkers were wiped out!




And with the Orks closing in, many of the Squat objectives look to be vulnerable next turn!



End of Turn 1: 
Squats 20VPs
Orks 29VPs



The Squat Colossus deals out as much death as possible, slaughtering Bad Moon Boyz in their droves.  Bonebreaka tanks strip off the last of the praetorian’s void shields, just as a supporting Skullhamma rolls forward…



Its cannons roar and punch a hole in the Colossus’ hull! A flashback triggers internal explosions which blow the entire bridge apart!  The Squats are frozen momentarily by the loss of their flagship Praetorian!




It is in this stunned moment that Bonecruncha tanks (proxied with Scorchas) roll forward and target Commander Bofur himself!  The entrenchments fail to protect him from the incoming attack and he too is slain!




Brokenhearted by the loss of their Commander, the Squats opt to go out in a blaze of glory and engage as may enemy units as possible!




Bikes throw themselves at the Ork attackers while Nobz pick off more Gyrocopters, breaking the company!



 In an act of sheer desperation, Squat bikes and trikes target Kommander Kraggle and his entourage!



 …and Rhinos engage Gobsmashas (proxied by Battlewagons)!




After the action phase things are looking grim for the Squats who are being completely overrun by the rampaging Orks!




Another view of the table post-action phase.




Note that, bottom left, Nobz bikes are not illegally engaging the Airships, they touched the base to fire at the floaters but their shots failed to bring down an all-important second Overlord!




After close combat, very little of the Squat force still lives!  Worse still, Kommander Kraggle survives!



The Orks have utter dominance and have taken 6 of the 8 objectives!



A final look at the battlefield as the VP threshold was exceeded.  
End of Turn 2:
Squats 36VPs 
Orks 68VPs; overwhelming victory to the Orks!



Ork casualties…several clans broke this turn!




But so too did most of the Squat force!




Only a few of their units survive the battle.  It is a pitiful sight for these proud Squats to behold.




The Orks still have a large number of survivors - including Kommander Kraggle who successfully saw off the Squat trike that attacked him!   




Another battle in the war for Midnight next week!  Watch this space!


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