Rogue Trader, 40K: Battle of Jadeberry Hill

 

This follow up scenario to Battle at the Farm appeared in White Dwarf  94: Skirmish on Rynn's World. Written by Rick Priestly, it was more of a challenge. The Space marines are on a hill defending the entrance to a vital road underpass. The tunnel goes under the River Pakamac leading into the capital New Rynn. However they are trying to buy time for the capital to complete its defences before the ork's assault. The figures are mostly from the Space Ork Raiders boxset and plastic marines from 1987 vintage.

The Orks are trying to get as many troopers through the tunnel, to regroup on the other side of the Pakamac River, ready to assault the capital. You don't necessarily need a GM. The marines could do some additional dice rolling and book keeping.

The scenario is difficult for the Space Marines. They are waiting for the order to withdraw and have to stop orks from entering the tunnel. If the defences take too long time, more marines will die and more orks enter the tunnel. If the defences are completed early they can make a quick get away

Some lucky orks make a dash for the tunnel

The ork player doesn't really have a strategy. Just push forward shooting and get as many troopers into the underzoom as possible. There are some abandoned cars and vehicles that can be used as cover. (And er no, they cant repair and drive them!) So maybe some of the force can give covering fire, whilst the others try to rush past the Space Marines into the tunnel. 

The scenery was tricky for this one: a big hill with a tunnel, a big road, vehicles and humorous plastic acquarium plants for trees. When I first played this (autumn 1987) we used books for hills placed on the dining room table covered with an upturned Subbuteo cloth. The underpass entrance was a semi circle of black card. Fast forward to the present day: the road is from Dark Future game 1988, scenic tiles, hills and bought jungle. 

Using cover: Marines in woods and Orks behind abandoned cars

Anyhow, we are introduced to two new characters: Huron Grimm commander of the City Guard. He's a Crimson Fist and his Marine detachment were seconded to the New Rynn planetary defence force as the Governer's guard. The Ork Assault Grenadiers are commanded by the 'moody albino Captain Ulruc of Mergabenurga'.

They are out and about today in HKE units ('...hunter, killer, eater.) and "it's D-Day: destroy, despoil, devour, that sort of thing" Back then 40K authors had a lot of tongue and cheek humour. (Check out the article Sunstroke in Red Giant#1)

"Gerr-aaht of me way" "Oh yeah....you and whose army?"

Anyway a great little scenario from Rick P. we played it a couple of times. But like The Farm there isn't a lot for the Ork commander to do. Ulruc just pushes his troops into the tunnel taking down as many space marines as possible. The marine commander, Huron Grimm, has to do more tactical thinking than the farm battle. There is mounting pressure as the ork's receive more reinforcements whilst he is waiting for the city defences to complete. If things go FUBAR, he is under a lot of pressure to destroy the tunnel. Thus cutting of his escape - a pretty 'Grimm' situation. 

 Adapted from Skirmish on Rynn's World, by Rick Priestly
For educational purposes!