Dark Crusade

In 2001 Citadel Journal magazine hosted a massive Warhammer 40,000 battle report.

Citadel Journal wasn't a natural home for battle reports, but it saw an exception with the Dark Crusade battle played in Copenhagen. This was staged in a hired venue with a massive board measuring 640 square feet. Jervis Johnson & Graham McNeill travelled to document the event organised by Bo Tulstrup, then head of sales in Denmark.

Citadel Journal 46 described the set-up and CJ47 detailed the battle.

Sides had overall objectives but each army also had a secret personal objective. The big prize was an inactive Warlord titan. Tyranids were allied to no one and would descend from orbit during the game.

In some ways this game is a crude prototype of Apocalypse ^↗ which streamlined the rules to enable the bulk of forces usually only fielded at Epic ^↗ scale. The inclusion of the WD253 Vehicle Design Rules meant Titans, Thunderhawks and Baneblades were in play. Abaddon commanded a Warhound titan. Ghazghkull was on the field, but it isn't clear which Ork warband he joined. Forced march movement rules were used to try and ensure all forces could get their licks in. Units automatically failed morale checks on any casualties at all. Stunned or immobilised vehicles were destroyed. Replacement tokens were used to bring on reinforcements to ensure the game didn't become too one-sided.

The Orks aimed to draw off the Dark Angels while Abaddon the Despoiler assaulted the space-port. Surprisingly, the most accurate fire came from Ork looted artillery.

The Imperium was drawn into conflicts on two fronts, with Tyranids and Chaos elements to their rear. Drifting spore mines exploded amongst the Imperial Guard infantry. Summoned daemons set about the space-port defenders. The Imperium destroyed the Chaos elements amongst their midst. Abaddon the Despoiler deployed from his Thunderhawk.

With pretty much everything in effective weapons range carnage abounded. Reinforcements continued to pour in. The Tyranids turned on the Chaos forces. Ghazghkull fell to the last Dark Angel warrior. Chaos forces breached the space-port. Abaddon fought and defeated Azrael in close combat. The forces of Chaos claimed ultimate victory.

The published battle report is more detailed.

In the final page of the report Jervis Johnson described the reviving properties of Danish ale and how he'd change the special rules if he had to do it all over again. Johnson found that the forced march rules lacked some nuance, running past defending forces unchallenged, and the reinforcement rules needed some restrictions because there was simply too much reentering play.

Tyranid player Claus Jorgenson won Man of the Match. Good stuff!