Battle Sites: Archaon’s March Toward Middenheim

At the start of the Storm of Chaos campaign, the Forces of Darkness are deployed to the east of Middenheim. As the Attackers march westward toward the city, they must overcome the Forces of Light, who are trying to delay Archaon’s vast host and his allies. The Forces of Darkness must overcome all resistance and either destroy or take control of several key battle sites. As these locations fall to Chaos, paths to other battle sites become available to the Attackers. Some of these paths lead directly and quickly to Middenheim but are more heavily defended against the forces of Chaos and their allies. Other paths are easier going but will take longer for the Forces of Darkness to traverse. By winning more and more battles, the Attackers will speed their approach to the city. However, if the Defenders are victorious, they will slow the inevitable advance of the invading horde and buy time for Valten and the allies of Emperor Karl Franz to arrive and help drive off the attack.

On the Storm of Chaos web site, players can check out the details of each battle site by clicking on the appropriate area of the interactive map. All of the details of that battle site will be displayed: a report on which side is winning, a scenario to use for battles fought in the area, a list of any special rules that apply to battles fought there, and suggested hobby projects associated with the scenery and scenario of the battle site.

Special Battle Sites and Events

In addition to the regular battle sites where anyone in the world can fight and report a Warhammer battle, there will be several special battle sites tied to scheduled Storm of Chaos events that will be played at U.S. Games Days, Battle Tours, game shops, and other special occasions. The outcome of the battles fought at these special sites will influence how games are played at an associated regular site. For instance, if the Forces of Light successfully defend a black powder magazine at a special site, they may be able to field an extra black powder war machine at no points cost at all battles fought at the associated regular site. However, if the Forces of Darkness destroy the magazine, the Defenders of the Empire may run low on ammunition and have trouble keeping up a steady rate of fire in battles fought at the regular site. Players can participate in the battles at the special sites only by attending these Storm of Chaos events – so keep an eye peeled on the news pages of White Dwarf, the GW web site, and the special Storm of Chaos web site for announcements of events in your area.

The Siege of Middenheim

Of course, so determined is the horde that Archaon leads, it is doubtless that some of the attacking forces will reach Middenheim. How many armies make it and how quickly the advance proceeds will determine the strength of arms that will lay siege to the city in the final stage of the campaign. Thus, success at the various battle sites will translate into a decided advantage in the final siege. If the Forces of Light have managed to slow and delay Archaon’s advance, the Attackers will start far from the city walls, and the Middenheimers will have the advantage of many reinforcements and defenses. If, however, the advance of Archaon’s horde and his allies has been swift, the Forces of Darkness will be able to mount a fast and powerful assault on the city walls. Thus, the battles that precede the final siege are crucial and will help to determine the ultimate fate of the city of Middenheim.

The Storm and the Future of Warhammer

Will Middenheim prove an impenetrable bastion, the line in the sand that no enemy of the Empire shall cross? Or will the great city be sacked by the Forces of Darkness and become little more than a ruined shell of a city where mutants, the dead, and other monstrosities walk the streets? By participating in the Storm of Chaos, you will help answer these questions, and the Games Designers will be taking note. The outcome of the campaign will affect the story of the Old World. Thus, the Storm of Chaos is your chance to contribute to the future history of Warhammer! Prepare your forces now. The storm approaches. Rise up and do your part.

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- Article by Eric Sarlin and Ken Kennedy