Orc Mob

Grade: 1a
Source: Town Cryer #6, revised in Mordheim Annual 2002 (PDF)
Setting: Mordheim
Author: Mark Havener

Lore

Orcs enjoy fighting and looting more than anything else. Because of this, an Orc’s life is spent in constant battle – either with his fellow Orcs or some other enemy. With its wealth of opponents and loot ready for the taking, Mordheim offers the perfect opportunity for an aspiring Orc Warboss to prove himself.

Among the races of the Warhammer world, none enjoy the prospect of a good looting more than Orcs and Goblins. For this reason many Orc warbands have been drawn to the city of Mordheim and the wyrdstone that lies hidden there. Of course, Orcs would much rather ambush other warbands and take their wyrdstone than collect it themselves, but their goals are the same as any other warband – collect as much treasure as possible!

Special rules

Distasteful Company: Many Hired Swords refuse to work for Orcs, as they know that Orcs are just as likely to eat them as fight alongside them. Orcs may only hire the following Hired Swords: Pit Fighters, Ogre Bodyguards or Warlocks.

Animosity: Orcs and Goblins enjoy nothing more than a good scrap, unfortunately they’re not always very discerning about who they scrap with! To represent this, at the start of the Orc player’s turn, roll a D6 for each Henchman who is either an Orc or a Goblin. A roll of 1 means that the warrior has taken offense to something one of his mates has done or said. Do not roll for models that are engaged in hand-to-hand combat (they’re already scrappin’!). To find out just how offended the model is, roll another D6 and consult the following chart to see what happens:

Animosity Result

D6	Result
1	“I ’Erd Dat!” The warrior decides that the nearest friendly Orc or Goblin Henchman has insulted his lineage or personal hygiene and must pay the price! If there is a friendly Orc or Goblin Henchman or Hired Sword within charge reach (if there are multiple targets within reach, choose the one nearest to the mad model), the offended warrior will immediately charge and fight a round of hand-to-hand combat against the source of his ire. At the end of this round of combat, the models will immediately move 1" apart and no longer count as being in close combat (unless one of them fails another Animosity test and rolls this result again). If there are no friendly Orc or Goblin Henchmen or Hired Swords within charge reach, and the warrior is armed with a missile weapon, he immediately takes a shot at the nearest friendly Orc or Goblin Henchman or Hired Sword. If none of the above applies, or if the nearest friendly model is an Orc Hero, the warrior behaves as if a 2-5 had been rolled on this chart. In any case, the warrior in question may take no other action this turn, though he may defend himself if attacked in hand-to-hand combat.
2-5	“Wud Yoo Say?” The warrior is fairly certain he heard an offensive sound from the nearest friendly Orc or Goblin, but he’s not quite sure. He spends the turn hurling insults at his mate. He may do nothing else this turn, though he may defend himself if attacked in hand-to-hand combat.
6	“I’ll Show Yer!” The warrior imagines that his mates are laughing about him behind his back and calling him silly names. To show them up he decides that he’ll be the first one to the scrap! This model must move as quickly as possible towards the nearest enemy model, charging into combat if possible. If there are no enemy models within sight, the Orc or Goblin warrior may make a normal move immediately. This move is in addition to his regular move in the Movement phase, so he may therefore move twice in a single turn if you wish. If the extra move takes the Orc or Goblin warrior within charge reach of an enemy model, the warrior must charge into close combat during his regular movement.

Choice of warriors

A Orc Mob warband must include a minimum of three models. You have 500 gold crowns available to spend. The maximum number of warriors in the warband may never exceed 20.

• Orc Bosses: Each warband must have 1 Orc Boss: no more, no less!
• Orc Shamans: Your warband may include up to 1 Orc Shaman.
• Orc Big ‘Uns: Your warband may include up to 2 Orc Big ‘Uns.
• Orc Boyz: Your warband may include any number of Orc Boyz.
• Goblin Warriors: Your warband may include any number of Goblin Warriors.
• Cave Squigs: Your warband may include up to 5 Cave Squigs.
• Trolls: Your warband may include up to 1 Troll.

Starting experience

• The Orc Boss starts with 20 experience.
• The Orc Shaman starts with 10 experience.
• Orc Big ‘Uns start with 15 experience.
• Henchmen start with 0 experience.

Orc Mob Skill Table

	Combat	Shooting	Academic	Strength	Speed	Special
Orc Boss	✓	✓		✓	✓	✓
Orc Shaman				✓		✓
Orc Big ‘Un	✓	✓		✓		✓

Orc Mob Special Skills

Orc Mob Heroes may use the following Skill table instead of any of the standard Skill tables available to them.

’ard ead

The warrior has a thick skull even for an Orc. He has a special 3+ save on a D6 to avoid being stunned. If the save is made, treat a stunned result as knocked down instead. If the Orc also wears a helmet, this save is 2+ instead of 3+ (this takes the place of the normal helmet special rule).

waaagh!

Orcs are aggressive creatures and some are experts at bulldozing charges. The warrior may add +D3" to his charge range.

’ere we go!

Orcs often charge even the most fearsome opponents. The model may ignore fear tests when charging.

da cunnin’ plan

Only the Boss may have this skill. The warband may re-roll any failed Rout tests as long as the Boss is not out of action.

well ’ard

The Orc has a thick, dark-green skin, possibly indicating Black Orc blood. Such is the toughness of the Orc that he may add +1 to any armour saves.

’eadbasher

Orcs have massive physical strength and some of them even learn to aim their blows at the heads of their opponents, with obvious results. Any knocked down results which the Orc causes in hand-to-hand count as stunned results instead.

Orc Mob equipment lists

Pricing:

Orc Equipment List

The following lists are used by Orc Mob warbands to pick their equipment.

Hand-to-hand Combat Weapons

Item	Cost
Dagger	1st free/2 gc
Club, Mace or Hammer	3 gc ✏️
Battle axe (Axe)	5 gc
Sword	10 gc
Spear	10 gc
Halberd	10 gc
Double-handed weapon	15 gc
Morning Star	15 gc

Missile Weapons

Item	Cost
Bow	10 gc
Crossbow	25 gc

Armour

Item	Cost
Light Armour	20 gc
Shield	5 gc
Helmet	10 gc

Goblin Equipment List

Hand-to-hand Combat Weapons

Item	Cost
Dagger	1st free/2 gc
Club, Mace or Hammer	3 gc
Sword	10 gc
Spear	10 gc
Ball and Chain	15 gc

Missile Weapons

Item	Cost
Short Bow	5 gc

Armour

Item	Cost
Shield	5 gc
Helmet	10 gc

Miscellaneous

Item	Cost
Squig Prodder	15 gc
Mad Cap Mushrooms	25 gc

Special Equipment

Orc Mob have access to the following special equipment when purchasing items from the Trading Post, outside their starting list:

Ball and Chain

Cost: 15 gc
Availability: Common (Goblins only)

This is a huge iron ball with a chain attached, used by the dreaded Night Goblin Fanatics to deal out whirling death. Enormously heavy, it can only be used when combined with Mad Cap Mushrooms.

Range: Close Combat
Strength: As user +2

Special Rules

Incredible Force: Because the Ball and Chain is so heavy, normal armour does very little to protect against it. No armour saves are allowed against wounds caused by a Ball and Chain. In addition, any hit from a Ball and Chain is very likely to take off someone's head (or at least break some ribs!). Therefore, any hit that successfully wounds will do 1D3 wounds instead of 1.

Random: The only way to wield a Ball and Chain is to swing it around in large circles, using your body as a counter-weight. Unfortunately this is not a very controllable fighting style, and as soon as he starts swinging his Ball and Chain, a warrior starts to lose control. The first turn he starts swinging the Ball and Chain, the model is moved 2D6" in a direction nominated by the controlling player. In his subsequent Movement phases, roll a D6 to determine what the model does:

D6	Result
1	The model trips and strangles himself with the chain. The model is taken out of action. When rolling for Injury after the game, a roll of 1-3 means the model is out permanently, instead of the normal 1-2.
2-5	The model moves 2D6" in a direction nominated by the controlling player.
6	The model moves 2D6" in a random direction. If the player owns a Scatter dice (available from Games Workshop stores), roll that to determine direction. If not, then roll a D6: 1 – Straight Forward, 2-3 – Right, 4-5 – Left, 6 – Straight Back.

If the Ball and Chain wielding model moves into contact with another model (friend or foe), he counts as charging into close combat, and will engage in close combat until his next Movement phase. Opponents wishing to attack a Ball and Chain wielding model suffer a To Hit penalty of -1, as they must dodge the whirling ball to get close enough to strike. The Ball and Chain wielder cannot be held in close combat and will automatically move even if he starts the Movement phase in base contact with another model. If the model moves into contact with a building, wall, or other obstruction, he is automatically taken out of action. In addition, a ball and chain wielding Goblin is much too busy trying to control the spinning weapon to worry about what others are saying about him behind his back, so ignores the special rules for Animosity.

Cumbersome: Because the Ball and Chain is so heavy, a model equipped with one may carry no other weapons or equipment. In addition, only a model under the influence of Mad Cap Mushrooms has the strength to wield a ball and chain.

Unwieldy: The great weight of the Ball and Chain can easily tear ligaments or pull a wielder's arms out of their sockets. While someone under the influence of Mad Cap Mushrooms will not notice such effects, when the drug wears off he will be in great pain. To represent this, at the end of the battle the controlling player must roll for Injury for each model that used a Ball and Chain, just as if the model had been taken out of action. If the model was actually taken out of action normally, just roll once for Injury – there is no need to make a second roll.

Squig Prodder

Cost: 15 gc
Availability: Common (Goblins only)

This item is a long pole with a trio of spikes at the end. It is used by Goblin Squig herders to keep their livestock in line. Cave Squigs will recognize a Squig prodder and automatically give the bearer more respect, as they've all been on its pointy end more than once!

Special Rules

To represent this, a Goblin with a Squig prodder can keep all Cave Squigs within 12" from going wild, instead of the normal 6" (see the Minderz special rule under the Cave Squig entry). In addition, a Squig prodder is treated exactly like a spear in hand-to-hand combat.

Heroes

1 Orc Boss

80 gold crowns to hire

An Orc Boss is a tough and brutal warrior, who will throw his lads into any fight that he thinks he can profit from. He is the strongest, toughest and most barbaric member of the warband and if any of his Boyz think otherwise, the band may soon find itself with one less member!

Profile	M	WS	BS	S	T	W	I	A	Ld
	4	4	4	4	4	1	3	1	8

Weapons/Armour: Orc Boss may be equipped with weapons and armour chosen from the Orc Equipment List.

Special Rules

Leader: Any warrior within 6" of the Orc Boss may use his Leadership characteristic when taking Leadership tests.

0 – 1 Orc Shaman

40 gold crowns to hire

Orc Shamans are outcasts from Orc society. They are gifted by the Orc gods Gork and Mork with powers they can neither understand nor completely control. Many join roaming Orc warbands where they are no longer shunned for their abilities, but respected for them.

Profile	M	WS	BS	S	T	W	I	A	Ld
	4	3	3	3	4	1	3	1	7

Weapons/Armour: Orc Shaman may be equipped with weapons and armour chosen from the Orc Equipment List.

Special Rules

Wizard: An Orc Shaman is a wizard and uses Waaagh! Magic.

No Armour: An Orc Shaman may never wear armour.

0 – 2 Orc Big ‘Uns

40 gold crowns to hire

Orc society is a savage hierarchy where only the toughest survive and rise through the ranks (often atop the bodies of other challengers). Big ’Uns are such rising stars, and they carry out the orders of the Orc Boss. If the Boss ever falls, it is up to the Big ’Uns to decide on a new leader (usually through personal combat).

Profile	M	WS	BS	S	T	W	I	A	Ld
	4	4	3	3	4	1	3	1	7

Weapons/Armour: Orc Big ‘Un may be equipped with weapons and armour chosen from the Orc Equipment List.

Henchmen

(Bought in groups of 1-5)

Orc Boyz

25 gold crowns to hire

Orc Boyz are savage and tough. They fear nothing that they can get their bare hands on, though they are even more ignorant and superstitious than most other beings in the Warhammer world. They form the core of any Orc warband.

Profile	M	WS	BS	S	T	W	I	A	Ld
	4	3	3	3	4	1	2	1	7

Weapons/Armour: Orc Boy may be equipped with weapons and armour chosen from the Orc Equipment List.

Special Rules

Animosity: Orc Boyz are subject to the rules for Animosity (see Special Rules for details).

Goblin Warriors

15 gold crowns to hire

Goblins are often used as cannon fodder (as well as a food source in lean times!) by their larger Orc cousins. They are usually not as well equipped as Orc Boyz, having to make do with whatever the Orcs do not want or cannot use.

Profile	M	WS	BS	S	T	W	I	A	Ld
	4	2	3	3	3	1	3	1	5

Weapons/Armour: Goblin Warrior may be equipped with weapons and armour chosen from the Goblin Equipment List.

Special Rules

Animosity: Goblin Warriors are subject to the rules for Animosity (see Special Rules for details). Note: A Goblin Warrior who fails his Animosity test and rolls a 1 for the result will never charge an Orc Henchman, though he will still use any missile weapons to attack as normal. Goblins are far too afraid of Orcs to challenge them individually.

Not Orcs: Orcs don’t expect much from non-Orcs, and are therefore not unsettled if Goblins or Cave Squigs break or get cut down in battle. In fact, they expect as much from these weaklings! Therefore, when testing to see if an Orc Warband needs to take a Rout test, each Goblin Warrior or Cave Squig taken out of action only counts as half a model. Therefore, a band of 5 Orcs and 10 Goblins (15 models) would only have to take a test if 4 models fell (4 Orcs or 8 Goblins, or some combination thereof ).

Runts: Goblins may gain experience but if they happen to roll ‘That Lad’s got talent’ they are immediately killed by their Orc overlords for becoming too ‘mouthy’ (remove the Gobbo from the roster).

0 – 5 Cave Squigs

15 gold crowns to hire

Goblins raise the deadly Cave Squigs. These creatures are a curious blend of animal and fungus, and are composed mostly of teeth, horns, and a nasty temperament.

Profile	M	WS	BS	S	T	W	I	A	Ld
	2D6	4	0	4	3	1	4	1	5

Weapons/Armour: Big gob and brutality! Cave Squigs never use or need weapons or armour.

Special Rules

Movement: Cave Squigs do not have a set Movement characteristic but move with an ungainly bouncing stride. To represent this, when moving Squigs, roll 2D6 for the distance they move. Squigs never run and never declare charges. Instead, they are allowed to contact enemy models with their normal 2D6" movement. If this happens, they count as charging for the following round of close combat, just as if they had declared a charge.^❓

Minderz: Each Cave Squig must always remain within 6" of a Goblin Warrior, who keeps the creature in line. If a Cave Squig finds itself without a Goblin within 6" at the start of its Movement phase, it will go wild. From that point on, move the Squig 2D6" in a random direction during each of its Movement phases. If its movement takes it into contact with another model (friend or foe), it will engage the model in hand-to-hand combat as normal. The Cave Squig is out of the Orc & Goblin player’s control until the end of the game.

Not Orcs: See Goblin Warriors entry for rules.

Animals: Cave Squigs are animals of a sort and so do not gain experience.

0 – 1 Troll

200 gold crowns to hire

Trolls are not intelligent enough to recognize the value of gold, but large amounts of food can often instill a certain loyalty in them.

Profile	M	WS	BS	S	T	W	I	A	Ld
	6	3	1	5	4	3	1	3	4

Weapons/Armour: Trolls do not require weapons to fight but often carry a big club. In any event, Trolls can never be given weapons or armour.

Special Rules

Fear: Trolls are frightening monsters which cause fear.

Stupidity: A Troll is subject to the rules for stupidity.

Regeneration: Trolls have a unique physiology that allow them to regenerate wounds. Whenever an enemy successfully inflicts a wound on a Troll roll a D6, on a result of 4 or more the wound is ignored and the Troll is unhurt. Trolls may not regenerate wounds caused by fire or fire-based magic. Trolls never roll for Injury after a battle.

Dumb Monster: A Troll is far too stupid to ever learn any new skills. Trolls do not gain experience.

Always Hungry: A Troll requires an upkeep cost. This upkeep represents the copious amounts of food that must be fed to the Troll in order to keep him loyal to the warband. The warband must pay 15 gold crowns after every game in order to keep the Troll. If the warband lacks the gold to pay the upkeep, the Boss has the option of sacrificing two Goblin Warriors or Cave Squigs to the Troll in lieu of buying food (Trolls eat nearly anything). If this fee is not paid (either in gold or in warband members) the Troll gets hungry and wanders off in search of food.

Vomit Attack: Instead of his normal attacks, a Troll can regurgitate its highly corrosive digestive juices on an unfortunate hand-to-hand combat opponent. This is a single attack that automatically hits with a Strength of 5 and ignores armour saves.

Large Target: Trolls are Large Targets as defined in the shooting rules.^✏️

Waaaagh! Magic

Waaagh! spells are used by Orc Shamans. They are rituals of a sort, howling prayers to the boisterous Orc gods Gork and Mork.

Waaaagh! Magic are used by Orc Mob Shaman, Night Goblins Shaman

D6	Result
1	Led’z go
2	Oi! Gerroff!
3	Zzap!
4	Fooled Ya!
5	Clubba
6	Fire of Gork

Led’z go

Difficulty: 9

The Shaman’s howling invigorates the ladz to fight even harder for Gork and Mork.

Any Orc or Goblin within 4" of the Shaman will automatically strike first in hand-to-hand combat regardless of other circumstances. The spell only lasts until the caster is knocked down, stunned or taken out of action.

Oi! Gerroff!

Difficulty: 7

A huge, green ectoplasmic hand pushes an enemy away.

Range 8". Moves any enemy model within range D6" directly away from the Shaman. If the target collides with another model or a building, both suffer 1 S3 hit. Note: Very handy for dropping people from high buildings with. May not be cast on models in hand-to-hand combat.

Zzap!

Difficulty: 9

A crackling green bolt of WAAAGH! energy erupts from the Shaman’s forehead to strike the skull of the closest foe. This energy easily overloads the brain of a weak-willed opponent.

Range 12". Causes D3 S4 hits on the closest enemy target, with no armour saves allowed.

Fooled Ya!

Difficulty: 6

The Shaman disappears in a green mist, confusing his enemies.

No enemy may charge the Shaman during their next turn. If the Shaman is engaged in hand-to-hand combat he may immediately move 4" away.

Clubba

Difficulty: 7

A huge, green club appears in the hand of the Shaman.

The ectoplasmic club counts as a normal club with +2 Strength bonus and gives the Shaman +1 attack as well. This spell lasts until the Shaman suffers a wound.

Fire of Gork

Difficulty: 8

Twin bolts of green flame shoot from the Shaman’s nose to strike the nearest enemy model.

Range 12". Each of the two bolts causes D3 S3 hits; the bolts can either be fired both at the closest enemy target or split between the two closest enemy targets.