River Pirates

Through a combination of good fortune and spying, several warbands have
overheard of the impending arrival of a river pirate s/smuggler s ship to the

now deserted, crumbling quays of Mordheim. Even the toughest river pirates
are loath to use the docks of the Cursed City and so they must be carrying
some very rare contraband indeed. Obviously, any warband worth their salt is
interested in taking the cargo for themselves. The timing of the shipment has
been learnt, and as the warbands close they can see the exact location as the
ship docks and weighs anchor.
Terrain
Each player takes it in turn to place a piece of terrain, either a forest, hill, or
other similar item. We suggest that the terrain is set up within an area roughly
4' x 4'. On one long table edge, place a long strip of blue cloth or something
similar to represent the river Stir and the quayside. In the centre of the strip of
river, place a suitable model to represent the river boat (a piece of card 3" x
8" will suffice). The riverboat should be touching the landward edge of the
river to show that it is docked.
Set-up
Multi-player. In a multi-player game, the warband with the highest rating
starts on the dock, waiting for their contacts to arrive (the ship has just
docked). This warband is deployed up to 12" from the ship and cannot be
forced to rout. In addition to its normal warband, they get reinforcements as
outlined below, who never leave the ship. These models are the ship s crew
and will not leave the vessel, but will fight all comers (apart from their
contacts). The other warbands start at the edges of the board furthest from the
ship.
Two-Player. During a two-player game both players start in the far corners
and must make their way to the smuggler s ship to steal the cargo.
No warband may make use of catacombs or other skills as the information
provided only gave the vague area as being the docks. It was not until they
got so close they actually saw the ship slowly move up to the wharf it is now
docked at.
Special Rules
Messin' about on the river
The rules for boats in Mordheim can be found in Empire in Flames in issue 24
of Town Cryer.
Voluntary Rout of the Ship. In the multi-player and two-player games, the
vessel may not start to leave the dock until the forces guarding it have
suffered 25% casualties. If this should occur then the ship takes four rounds
to get under way, leaving from the nearest water table edge and moving at 6"
per turn.
Cargo. The goods being smuggled are in crates, half of them, already
unloaded onto the docks are the other half waiting on the top deck to be
unloaded. Each crate can be carried by a single model at normal move rate
(no running allowed). Two models may carry a crate, in which case they may
run. While carrying a crate, the model may not fire any missile weapons or
use any spells. If attacked, the crate will be dropped, ready to be carried by
anyone coming into contact with it. Once a model escapes off the board with
a crate, it may not return. Each crate in the possession of a warband at the
end of the game earns them a roll on the cargo table overleaf.
Should a warband rout while any of its members have crates, the goods are
lost if the model is within charge range of any non-engaged opponents.
The boat has ten crates for multiplayer games and seven for two-player
games.
Ship s Crew
The ship has a crew made up of a Captain and six Smugglers. In a
multi-player game the crew are controlled by the Defending warband
although they may never stray more than 6" from their ship. In a two-player
game the crew have their own turn which takes place after the players. They
will fire upon and or charge any warriors that come into range (of either side)
but otherwise will not move.
Profile M WS BS S T W I A Ld
Captain 4 4 3 3 3 1 4 1 8
Equipment: The captain is armed with a sword, a brace of pistols and wears
light armour.
Skills: the Captain has the following skills: Expert Swordsman, Pistolier and
Acrobat.
Profile M WS BS S T W I A Ld
Smuggler 4 3 3 3 3 1 3 1 7
Equipment: The smugglers are armed with swords, pistols and wear light
armour.
The Pirate crew increases the defending warband rating by 45, but they will
surrender when they fail a Rout test (taken separately from the Defending
warband).
swivel guns
Additionally the ship has two swivel guns (see below). One of these is
located at the front of the poop deck, the other on the prow of the ship.
Swivel guns follow most of the rules for Blackpowder weapons: Move or
Fire, Prepare Shot, but have some exceptions as noted below.
Cumbersome: The user is at -1 Initiative and -1 Movement throughout the
battle. Also, Swivel guns may never be fired twice per turn, or fired if the user
moved, no matter what Skills the user may have.
Blackpowder Rules: The normally optional rules for Blackpowder weapons
on page 164 are always in effect for Swivel guns, due to the unpredictable
nature of the local materials used in their construction.
Special Ammunition
Swivel Guns use non-standard ammunition types, which must be bought for
each game. Each type only lasts one game, so if it is used in a game it cannot
be used again until another supply is bought. Before firing, the Gunner must
declare which type is being used, if he has more than one type available in the
game.
Ball Shot
Range: 36" Strength: 5 Armour Save: -2
A Swivel Gun firing these heavy lead balls can stop even a charging Ogre
dead in his tracks!
Concussion: The impact of the heavy lead projectile is enough to rattle even
the hardiest warrior. Treat any resulting Injury rolls of 2-4 as a Stunned result.
Chain Shot
Range: 24" Strength: 4 Armour Save: -1
These lengths of chain and linked metal don t cause as much damage, but can
entangle an enemy model and bring him to his knees.
All Wrapped Up! Enemy hit by Chain Shot which are not wounded are
Knocked Down on a roll of 4+, even if they normally can never be Knocked
Down.
Grape Shot
Range: 24" Strength: 3 Armour Save:
Very small pellets, rocks, metal scrap, even rock salt are poured into the
barrel from prepared canisters, producing a cloud of shrapnel when fired.
It s Everywhere! If a hit is scored, D6 other enemy models within 4" of the
target and also in Line of Sight will automatically take a single hit. If the
original target was in the open, no hits can be applied to models in cover
though (only if the original target was in cover can hits go to models in cover
as well). The closest enemy model to the target must take the first hit, then
the next closest, and so on. Models in Hiding will also count towards being
close to the target, and can be hit as well. There is no Armour save modifier
from Grape Shot hits. Pirates know to duck out of the way when they hear a
Swivel gun going off, and thus are never hit by friendly grape shot!
Ending the Game

The game ends when all of the warbands have routed except for one, when all
of the crates have been removed from the table or if the ship leaves the table.
If the defending force routs voluntarily then the ship s crew will attempt to
put under way, but the game continues if two or more attackers remain (they
can still make off with crates). At the end of the game, the warband with the
most crates is the winner (if two warbands have the same number then the last
to rout wins). If a warband remains, it is assumed to pick up all the remaining
crates (up to the number of models it has left in play) and make off with them.
Those crates dropped by fleeing foes, or by casualties are not collected as
they are too far away and in dangerous territory.
Experience
+1 Survives. If a Hero or Henchman group survives the battle, they gain +1
Experience.
+1 Winning Leader. The leader of the winning warband gains +1 Experience.
+1 Per Enemy Out of Action. Any Hero earns +1 Experience for each enemy
he puts out of action.
+1 Per Crate Stolen. If a Hero or Henchman from an attacking warband take
a crate from the battlefield he earns +1 Experience.
Cargo
Any crates that are removed from the battlefield may be prised open after the
battle for the goods that they contain. Roll 4D6 and consult the following
table:
4D6 Result
4 Gems worth 100gc. Fence value 40gc, or worn adds +1 to rarity
finds. Also enclosed is a pack of Tarot cards.
5 Blunderbuss and shot.
6 Medicine chest, can be used as D6 doses of Healing Herbs or as
a one off to allow a re-roll on the Hero serious injury table (unless the
result was pit fight, captured, etc)
7 Suit of Heavy armour.
8 Elven Cloak.
9 D3 shields and swords.
10-11 Beer, worth 2D6 gcs per crate, on a D6 roll of a 6 there is one
dose of Bugman s Ale.
12-16 Food, worth D6gc per crate, including one clove of Garlic for
each member of the warband. May also include on a D6 roll of 6:
D6 Result
1-2 Dark Venom (1 dose)
3-4 Black Lotus (1 dose)
5-6 Crimson Shade (1 dose)
17-18 Clothing, worth 2D6gc per crate
including D3 sets of toughened leathers
19 Luxury goods, worth 4D6gc per crate, hidden inside is (1-3) a
Wyrdstone pendulum or (4-6) a set of Cathayan Silks.
20 Blackpowder, worth 5D6 per crate, contains one pack of
Superior Blackpowder.
21 D3 Crossbows each with Hunting Bolts (same as Hunting
Arrows) for one game.
22 D3 Elven bows.
23 Hunting Rifle.
24 Suit of Gromril armour.
The Defending warband s reward is 25gc reward per crate remaining on the
battlefield.

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Through a combination of good fortune and spying, several warbands have

overheard of the impending arrival of a river pirate s/smuggler s ship to the

Ending the Game

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