- OVERVIEW -

he grim, stubborn solemnity of the Dark Angels has earned them few friends over the millennia, least of all among the Space Wolves of Russ. Long ago, these vaunted Space Marine Chapters developed a rivalry that would have likely turned into open warfare if not for the many threats to the Imperium that demanded their attention. Instead, both sides must content themselves with a clash of champions whenever they meet.

This mission can be played before any other Warhammer 40,000 mission where either Chapter or both are involved. If you are about to engage in a game between Dark Angels and Space Wolves, that's perfect. However, it's admittedly a rare occurrence. If your Dark Angels army or your Space Wolf army is engaging any other force, however, you can still play out this rivalry.

It's not hard to imagine that your army is part of a larger Imperial effort, one that happens to include the rival Chapter. Thus, even if you're about to face Tyranids, for example, it is conceivable that your Champions would settle their grudge before joining ranks to fight off the Xenos threat.

- ARMIES -

What does all this mean in game terms? The Dark Angels player selects a champion from the Independent Characters in his army list, the Space Wolf player does the same from his, and you fight out a pre-game match based on the special rules below.

Ah, but what if you only have one side? For example, let's say you have a Dark Angels army, and you're facing off against a Tyranids player. In that case, the Tyranids player gets to select a champion from Codex: Space Marines just like you did. Hopefully you have a representative model on hand — if not, a Tyranid (or whatever other species you're facing) on the right-sized base will do in a pinch.

- MISSION SPECIAL RULES -

Select a Champion. Each side must select a Space Marine champion from their army list to participate in this match. The champion must be an Independent Character, and cannot be a Monstrous Creature or be riding a vehicle. If you do not have a model that fits these criteria in your army, you may select an individual model that isn't a Monstrous Creature or riding a vehicle and treat it as if it were an Independent Character for this match. If one player doesn't have a Space Marine army, then he may select a champion from Codex: Space Marines and play the match with an appropriately sized model.

[OPTIONAL] The Stakes. If you're up for more than just re-creating historic rivalries, follow this special rule after you determine the winner of this mission. The Independent Character selected by the loser cannot be used in the full-fledged follow-up game of Warhammer 40,000 (he's busy recovering from his wounds). If you do not play Dark Angels or Space Wolves and fielded a proxy champion who lost, then tally up the points he was worth and remove models from your army to match that loss in points.

- SET UP -

1) Lay out a 4' x 4' table area. Next, alternate placing two to five city terrain pieces all over the table (Alpha-level game terrain per the Cities of Death expansion guidelines). Try to leave some room between the buildings like a normal settlement would have. Roll off to earn the right to choose who goes first.

2) Agree on the centerpoint of the table. Imagine a 12"-radius circle around this point. Deploy the champion who's going first anywhere on this ring. Deploy the other champion on the opposite side of this imaginary circle from the first one. Thus, at the start of the 1st turn, your champions will be 24" apart.

- MISSION OBJECTIVES -

This pre-game mission is your basic grudge match. Whoever is reduced to 0 Wounds or less first has lost (presumably beaten within an inch of his life, not slain). The survivor is the winner...until next time the two Chapters meet.

- GAME LENGTH -

Ideally, you should play until one side is victorious. Alternately, you can limit this mission to a total of 6 turns and still have a good go of it. If you choose to limit the turns, then the champion who's reduced to the lowest number of Wounds at the end of the final turn has lost.

- LINE OF RETREAT -

If any units are forced to fall back, they will do so toward the table edge closest to where they first deployed by the shortest route possible.