Storm of Vengeance

Overview of narrative scenarios for Warhammer 40,000 2nd edition.

Second edition games were typically played by drawing mission cards but an alternative mechanism was included in the boxed set. By 1996 the game designers hewed closer to these thematic narrative driven games.

These scenarios employ novel set-up mechanisms, special rules and special victory conditions. They usually assume fixed battlefield layouts and sometimes dictate the participants.

Battle for Armageddon by Andy Chambers & Bill King

This booklet was included in the 2nd edition box and consisted of three linked missions that only required the miniatures in the box. That is, two ten man Space Marine Tactical squads, twenty Orks, 40 Gretchins, and a cardboard Ork Dreadnought. Required scenery was limited to ruined wall corners included in the box, though it isn't difficult to fabricate your own using cardboard.

These games were a good introduction to the game's mechanics. Each mission comes with suggested tactics for each player. Suggestions for varying the missions are included.

Against the Odds

This battle has a 5-man combat squad face down 30 Gretchins.

High Ground

5-man combat squad versus 15 Orks. Not to be confused with the mission card of the same name from WD193.

The Battle for the Bridge

This battle involves all the forces in the box.

The Strongpoint by Jervis Johnson (WD169)

A year later a fourth mission was added that required two of the bunkers that were detailed in the same issue.

Wrath of Ulthwe by Gav Thorpe (WD203)

White Dwarf 203 includes an Imperial Guard vs Eldar scenario. This 1500pt game represents Eldar reprisals against a slight from the inhabitants of a human world. The Imperial Guard's Commissar Lorr special character must defend a control station. To this end they can place battlefield obstacles and call up reinforcements. The Eldar can outflank the Imperial Guard with random board edge deployment and are restricted in their HQ choices. Eldar are restricted to a single Warlock from their character allowance. "Historical" forces are listed for flavour.

If you squint at it, this looks like an early form of the 3rd edition style structured missions.

Blood Scent by Mark Brendan (WD210)

This scenario sees Blood Angel Space Marines attempting to escape a Tyranid-infested jungle. As such, players need to cover 80% of the board with suitable terrain. The Blood Angels have to be from the 2nd & 10th companies, so no Terminators allowed.

Scourge of the Damned by Gav Thorpe (WD212)

White Dwarf 212 includes three scenarios for the Sisters of Battle, enough for a mini-campaign. Codex Sisters of Battle is intended as a supplement for other Imperial armies so these scenarios that only use the Ecclesiarchy recommend the games be played at 500-750pts each. The scenarios are titled Defend the Shrine, Liberate the Relic, and Pierce the Darkness.

Storm of Vengeance by Andy Chambers, Andrew Kettlewell, Jervis Johnson & Gav Thorpe (WD213)

Storm of Vengeance is a multi-battle campaign for control of the planet Piscina IV.

With the release this month of the Ravenwing Attack Force box and the Storm of Vengeance scenario pack, everyone's been going absolutely crazy about the Dark Angels here at Games Workshop!

White Dwarf 213

This issue announced the release of the Storm of Vengeance supplement ^↗ and included the "Purge!" scenario by Gav Thorpe & Jervis Johnson.

Storm of Vengeance Box Set

The box set included the scenarios book, player briefing booklets for Orks & Spaces Marines, a card & plastic building, and a warp portal card template.

Prerequisites

The campaign relied on other supplements.

• Dark Millenium

• Codex Angels of Death

  • Codex Ultramarines or Codex Space Wolves could be used instead

  • Rules for substituting Codex Imperial Guard were included in the appendix

• Codex Orks

  • Rules for substituting Codex Chaos were included in the appendix

Battles

Each battle included historical forces which I expect almost no one attempted to recreate in detail.

Veteran Sergeant Naaman and Company Master Belial had their own character profiles.

Lightning Attack by Iain Compton (WD216)

This is a thinly-veiled advert for the Falcon grav-tank. Only consider playing if you have a load of Eldar grav vehicles.