Gaming in the Age of Darkness

Collecting an Army

The Imperium of Mankind is being torn apart by brutal civil war. The Space Marine Legions and their Primarchs, once paragons of humanity, have turned upon one another; and Warmaster Horus, first amongst Primarchs, seeks his father’s title of Emperor over all Mankind. Allied to the Traitor Warmaster’s cause are foul Daemons, brought forth by heretics worshipping dark powers, which surge from the darkness between the stars intent upon the Emperor’s death for their own unknowable reasons. Standing resolute in the face of such horrors are the Emperor’s own Talons, though they are few; the golden and undaunted forces of the Legio Custodes and the soulless maidens of the Sisters of Silence. Every other faction at large in the Imperium, be it the innumerable ranks of the Imperial Army, the towering war machines of the Questoris Households, the disciplined and highly elite Solar Auxilia, or the byzantine organisation of the Mechanicum, is also at war, divided by factionalism, ambition and ancient hatred. Some side with Horus and his promise of freedom from tyranny and oppression, while those most dutiful cleave to their oaths of loyalty to the Emperor. Others still cast off loyalties to all masters and seek independence and personal glories. An entire galaxy burns with the fires of war, and Horus, responsible for it all, leads his forces against the Throneworld of Terra to meet the Emperor in a final confrontation which will determine the fate of millennia of humanity’s history.

This incredible setting, filled with tragedy and heroism, provides endless opportunities for collecting, building, painting and gaming. Perhaps you’re inspired to collect vast armies and fight out the epic battles described in the background. Maybe you find yourself drawn to the idea of painting beautiful display figures and building scenic snapshots of apocalyptic war zones within which to display them. Maybe it’s all about collecting and assembling the most amazing war machines you can conceive of, creating and painting incredible battlefields, the innards of void ships, or finding a good excuse to spend an afternoon with like-minded friends, painting or gaming together. In truth, there is no right or wrong way to go about engaging with the hobby – it’s best to find what you most enjoy and go for it. From playing in your local club or Warhammer store, or attending competitive and narrative events to world-class painting competitions, there are endless possibilities to have fun.

Modes of Play

Below, you’ll find an array of different rules and guidelines to suit all hobbyists, from collectors who play occasional games, enthusiastic newcomers playing games with unknown opponents, groups of hobbyists who regularly meet up with their friends, to veteran gamers who’ve spent years honing their forces for competitive matches.

The core rules are everybody’s starting point but, as everyone enjoys the Warhammer hobby in different ways, this section of the book introduces a variety of ways to approach your games such as Narrative Play and Campaign Play, as well as the various themes and narrative campaigns that are presented in other Horus Heresy publications. Each offers an alternative experience, but it’s important to note that elements of each can be mixed and matched to create whatever kind of gaming experience you want – they are a toolbox, providing inspiration and options to get the dice rolling and allow you to play with your collection of Citadel and Forge World miniatures on the tabletop.

You will also find a guide to building battlefields, the rules for creating your army, and the core missions which make up Narrative Play. So, whether you are looking to wage war in one of the myriad deadly environments of the galaxy, play a team game, or fight battles as part of an escalating narrative campaign, there are numerous ways of playing to enable you to do so. A galaxy of war awaits you!

Narrative Play

At its heart, the Horus Heresy – Age of Darkness is a narrative game intended to recreate the myriad conflicts of a galaxy-spanning civil war. The aim of Narrative Play is to create a sense of verisimilitude of the Age of Darkness and give players an authentic Horus Heresy experience, even when playing a game which has no pre-defined or player-created story. With this in mind, the core missions described later in this rulebook provide context and different objectives for players to pursue to add a narrative dimension to games which amounts to more than simply killing the enemy.

The core rules as laid out in this book and those described in the next section, Preparing for Battle, make up the Narrative Play mode. Narrative Play is in many ways the default way of playing games which are set in the Age of Darkness, and exists to facilitate all standard one-off battles with a story inspired by the events set forth in the background and the Black Library novels. Such games can range from friendly matches between members of an existing gaming community to ‘pickup’ games in your local games store or gaming club, played between people who have never enjoyed a game against one another before. Making use of the rules as presented allows both players to begin their game on an even footing and to have a relatively balanced and fairly matched battle. With Narrative Play, remember to play to the spirit of the game – the Horus Heresy – Age of Darkness is about creating great stories and ensuring that everyone enjoys their gaming experience. To aid all players to experience the grandeur of the Age of Darkness as it is intended, players are encouraged to use Games Workshop’s and Forge World’s Horus Heresy models bedecked in era-appropriate armour and heraldry. These models should be clearly recognisable as the unit they are intended to represent in the rules and be fully painted whenever possible.

Campaign Play

The story of the Age of Darkness is told through campaign books, supplements and other publications which present exciting battle narratives and the epic deeds of legendary characters. Such publications present rules for recreating the battles of the Horus Heresy, translating them from the page to the tabletop. Campaign Play is a variant of Narrative Play concerned primarily with playing famous battles, and presents additional rules for an interconnected series of games with persistent characters and a driving narrative. Players are encouraged to use terrain which evokes the battles they are playing, as well as make use of the characters and armies which took part in those battles. Campaign Play uses missions in the same way as Narrative Play, however, each one is based around a key battle from the background of the Horus Heresy, and provides an interesting twist on the core mechanics of the game. It might tell the story of a desperate redoubt, for example, in which one side faces utterly overwhelming odds but must try to hold out for a time. Or maybe it will describe an ambush or a thrilling game of cat and mouse between two forces. Campaign Play is a fantastic way to add character to your armies and the battles they fight.

The specific campaign missions included in Horus Heresy – Age of Darkness publications are, of course, only a small sample of what Campaign Play can achieve. Further inspiration for designing original missions can be found in Black Library novels and other Games Workshop publications, plus the background section of this book. Campaign Play rules also provide a framework of interesting alternative systems and scenarios with additional rules to adapt to your own games, allowing you to decide if you wish to play a different version of the events described while using different armies, or play in a completely different setting. You may also find it adds to your Campaign Play experience to create your own characters and objectives, using the campaign rules only as guidelines while allowing your own story to develop as your games unfold. While this may take more work, it will make the campaign unique to your gaming group and will ultimately be worth the extra effort put in by those involved.

Army Selection

In a game of the Horus Heresy – Age of Darkness, each player will control a single force, usually referred to as an ‘army’. The first step in assembling an army is to decide on its Allegiance, of which there are two to choose from: Loyalist or Traitor. This choice is mostly thematic and serves to help place the game within the confines of the Horus Heresy, although some special rules do target models based on their Allegiance and most of the campaigns presented as part of the Horus Heresy campaign books will have rules that affect armies of specific Allegiances.

Any army must consist entirely of models with the same Allegiance. Most units available to the various Factions of the Age of Darkness do not have an Allegiance stated in their Army List entry, in these cases the Allegiance chosen for the army determines the Allegiance of these units. Some units’ Army List entries will specify an Allegiance for that unit, these units may only be used in armies of the appropriate Allegiance. The choice of Allegiance is not determined by a Detachment’s Faction, but instead is a thematic choice. It is perfectly acceptable to have an army of Loyalist Sons of Horus or Traitor Ultramarines; the chaos of the Horus Heresy saw all manner of strange alliances and base betrayals during the destructive years of its reign.

In situations where two players have both selected the same Allegiance, one army is still considered to be fighting for the opposing Allegiance for that game. Incidents of friendly fire, purposefully false intelligence and sabotaged communications were far from uncommon during the Horus Heresy, and tipped the balance of several campaigns. Both players should agree which one of them will represent the opposing force for that game. Similarly, an army representing a force that remains neutral in the grander scheme of Horus’ treachery must still select an Allegiance.

Before beginning the army selection process, both players will need to agree on a points limit. The ideal range for a game of the Horus Heresy – Age of Darkness is around 2,000-3,000 points, with the rules written for games between forces of 3,000 points. For normal play, both players will use the same points limit, but this does not need to be the case if all players agree to the use of asymmetric (uneven) points values. Additionally, some missions and specific subsets of the Horus Heresy – Age of Darkness rules may specify a range of points values that must be used for games played using those rules.

Army List Entries

The rules for your Forge World and Citadel miniatures are found either in the relevant Liber Army List books, campaign books or as a download from the Games Workshop website. In any case where multiple versions of a unit’s rules are available, always use the most recently published version.

Regardless of where this information is found, it is known as an ‘Army List entry’ or ‘Profile’. Each Army List entry describes a unit of Forge World or Citadel miniatures, and includes everything you will need to know in order to use that unit in a game of the Horus Heresy – Age of Darkness.

Age of Darkness Force Organisation

Once they have agreed on a points limit, the players can choose their forces. To do so, they will select a number of units from a single Age of Darkness Army List, counting the points cost of each unit as stated on its Army List entry until the agreed upon total is reached. The total points value of the army’s units must not exceed the agreed upon limit. As detailed in each of the Age of Darkness Army Lists, all of the units available to players are organised into broad categories which will inform you in regards to the role they play in an army – these categories are known as ‘Battlefield Roles’. These Battlefield Roles are: HQ, Elites, Troops, Fast Attack, Heavy Support, Lords of War, Primarch and Fortifications. Some Army Lists, Rites of War or other special rules may introduce new categories, assign alternative names to existing categories or switch the categories of certain units, but such exceptions will be clearly explained in the given Army List.

HQ

HQ stands for Headquarters unit. A Headquarters unit might be a determined Solar Auxilia lord marshal thrust into the heart of the Horus Heresy or a mighty Space Marine praetor at the head of a Legion task force. These models are amongst the most powerful in the game and, as leaders, they have access to more special equipment than anyone else. They are not invincible, but can provide a powerful spearhead for an attacking army and a strong core for a defensive one.

Troops

These represent the most commonly available soldiers in an army. This does not necessarily mean that they are poor fighters – the category includes warriors ranging from the post-human warriors of the Space Marine Legions to the humble auxiliary levies of the Imperialis Militia. Typically, these are the warriors who make up the bulk of an army. Their main tactical role is that of consolidating the gains of the army and defending the objectives that have been taken by more specialised units.

Heavy Support

Heavy Support units are the big guns of the army and comprise the heaviest items of equipment and the toughest creatures. Assigned to the heaviest fighting, and to destroy the most dangerous foes, these units are vital for any army to claim victory.

Fortifications

Fortifications are battlefield defences, and include everything from barricades to towering fortresses. They are typically Buildings and/or battlefield debris that your army has either constructed or captured just before the start of the battle.

Lords of War

Lords of War are among the most destructive weapons deployed during the wars of the Horus Heresy, outmatched only by the awe-inspiring firepower of an orbital bombardment. They include towering battle Titans, Super-heavy Vehicles and the largest and most imposing Fortifications.

Primarch

The Primarchs are the sons of the Emperor; the most powerful warriors and cunning generals of their age, there were only a handful of other warriors that could compare to these icons.

Other Battlefield Roles

Some Horus Heresy supplements may introduce other types of Battlefield Role and they will include all of the rules you need to include them as part of your army.

Force Organisation Charts

The maximum and minimum number of units from each Battlefield Role required for a given army is defined by a Force Organisation chart, of which there is one basic chart available for an army fighting in the Age of Darkness. Where additional Force Organisation charts are available, each army should select a single Force Organisation chart to use as the basis of their force.

The standard Force Organisation chart for games set in the Age of Darkness is the Crusade Force Organisation chart. Other Force Organisation charts are available for players to use in other supplements, and some Army Lists may present specific variants for use with that list. In all cases, these charts will adhere to the same set of basic principles.

One box on a Force Organisation chart allows you to make one selection from that part of your army list. Dark boxes indicate compulsory selections, which must be included as part of the army, while the lighter boxes indicate optional choices, which are only included as part of the army if the player in question chooses to do so. If constructing an army using the Crusade Force Organisation chart, this would mean that an army would be required to take at least one HQ choice and two Troops choices. These compulsory choices are intended to ensure that the core of each army is illustrative of the force represented by the Army List in use, and that all armies are capable of properly participating in the varied missions available to players in the Horus Heresy – Age of Darkness.

Sometimes, a single choice in a Force Organisation chart may allow you to select more than one unit, or to vary the Battlefield Role of the unit selected. In all cases, such deviations from the normal procedure will be fully explained in the Army List or publication that presents such a Force Organisation chart.

Detachments

Most Force Organisation charts, including the Crusade chart illustrated below, comprise several Detachments. Each Detachment within a Force Organisation chart is a discrete set of units, effectively a sub-Force Organisation chart, that allows players to customise their army further or to include additional forces when playing larger games. All Force Organisation charts in the Age of Darkness rules include a Primary Detachment – this Detachment is compulsory and must be taken as part of the army. The army’s Warlord must also be selected from the Primary Detachment of its Force Organisation chart and all compulsory slots must be filled before other optional Detachments may be taken. Any other Detachments listed as part of a Force Organisation chart are considered optional – a player may choose to incorporate them into their army or not, at their own discretion. However, if a player decides to include an optional Detachment then all compulsory slots from that optional Detachment must also be filled. Regardless of its type, either Primary or optional, all models in a single Detachment must be of the same Faction and all models in the army must be of the same Allegiance.

As an example, the Crusade Force Organisation chart consists of three separate Detachments: the Primary Detachment, a Lords of War Detachment and an optional Allied Detachment. A player using this Force Organisation chart to build an army would be required to fill all compulsory slots in the Primary Detachment, in this case, one HQ slot and two Troops slots, before selecting any other units, and all of the units selected would have to be of the same Faction. Once these compulsory slots are filled, the player is free to select additional optional units for the Primary Detachment as allowed by the agreed points total, or to select units from the optional Allied or Lords of War Detachments. If any units from the Allied Detachment are selected then any compulsory slots present in that optional Detachment would have to be filled as well.

Allies in the Age of Darkness

During the Age of Darkness, the forces of the Imperium and the Traitors alike were torn apart by war and suspicion. Any Force Organisation chart which includes more than just a Primary Detachment may be composed of units of two or more of the Factions that make up the various armies fighting in the Horus Heresy, as long as each individual Detachment is entirely comprised of models of a single Faction. When your army incorporates units from more than one Faction, this section tells you how those models will interact with each other.

In some cases, as more Army Lists are released in future publications, it may be initially unclear which Faction a certain army should operate under. In such cases, the players should agree on a Faction for that Detachment before the game begins.

The Age of Darkness Allies chart shows the relationship between these various Factions which, in turn, dictates how units of those Factions behave in battle when included as part of the same army.

The Warlord

When choosing your army, you must nominate one model to be your Warlord. Unless specified otherwise, this must be a Character model and a HQ choice from the Primary Detachment of the army. If you do not have any appropriate Character models in your army, then select any other model in your army to be the Warlord. The model you choose as your Warlord must be from the Primary Detachment of the Force Organisation chart in use, unless another rule specifically states otherwise. In some cases, a model will have a special rule that dictates that the model in question must be selected as the Warlord, such as a Primarch. When this is the case, that model is always the Warlord regardless of any other factors. An army may not include more than one model that must be selected as the Warlord, unless another special rule contains an exception to this rule.

Warlord Traits

Your Warlord is a potent force upon the battlefield. Not only are they a mighty hero, with all the skills and renown you might expect from the leader of a great army, but over the course of a long career they will also have picked up specialised abilities, which we refer to as ‘Warlord Traits’. Each Warlord has one Warlord Trait, chosen during army selection, from the list of Core Warlord Traits (or another list of Traits made available as part of that model’s Allegiance or Faction) and noted on the player’s Army List or roster. Some special rules attached to certain Factions or models may allow a Warlord to select Warlord Traits other than those presented in the Core list – such rules will specifically note which other Traits may be selected.

Death of the Warlord

If your Warlord is removed as a casualty during a game, any abilities or special rules granted by their Warlord Trait are immediately lost. If the Warlord Trait in question conferred a special rule that allows an unusual method of deployment from Reserves (such as conferring the Outflank ability on certain units), that special rule is immediately lost and the affected units must instead deploy from Reserves in the normal fashion.

Core Warlord Traits

These traits are available to any Character model selected as an army’s Warlord, regardless of Faction or Allegiance.

Age of Darkness Mission Format

All Horus Heresy – Age of Darkness missions follow a standard format and are divided into the following sections. If a given mission does not offer any advice in one or more of these sections, simply use the standard rules presented in this rulebook.

The Armies: Any restrictions on the selection of the armies involved, be they limits on total points values, Factions allowed or other restrictions will be described here.

Setting up the Game: Any restrictions or requirements regarding the arrangement of the playing surface or the scenery to be used in the game will be described here.

Deployment: Any variations in the manner in which armies are placed on the table, or in the deployment maps to be used, will be described here.

First Turn: This section describes how to select which of the players will take the first turn of the game.

Game Length: The number of turns of which the game will be composed is described here.

Victory Conditions: The manner in which the game is won is described here. If any of the standard Primary or Secondary Objectives are used, they will be listed here.

Mission Special Rules: Any special rules to be used in the mission will be listed here – those that are unique to that mission will also be fully detailed.

The Age of Darkness Missions

To begin with, an Age of Darkness mission will need to be selected for the game. Players can either select a mission from the list of those available that is agreeable to all involved or roll randomly on the table. In the case of some campaigns or variant forms of play, the list of available missions may be different, or set missions may be specified by the campaign. In these cases, the publication in which the campaign or game variant is found will explain how to select a mission.

Age of Darkness Mission Table

Placing Terrain

After you have determined what mission you are playing and arranged a space in which to play, you must then place terrain from your collection to set up the battlefield.

Terrain may be placed by the simple expedient of each player taking turns to place an individual piece or so that they form an attractive battlefield, and can be themed in ‘sets’ (a power generator and industrial buildings, etc) or simply placed roughly evenly across the table and then randomised via the use of a Scatter dice and 2D6. For ease of play, try to leave a gap of at least 2" between each discreet area of terrain to allow for the clear passage of Infantry models.

Depending on which mission you are fighting, it may also have specific instructions on the terrain and its set-up. In addition, if you are playing through a particular campaign, you may have a particular style of terrain or special rules that you can use to further theme your battlefield.

The Battlefield

For most games of Horus Heresy – Age of Darkness, the battlefield will take the form of a flat, stable surface of any size or shape acceptable to the players; although a rectangular area measuring 6’ x 4’ is considered the standard size. The battlefield is considered to be Open Terrain for all rules purposes. A unit cannot voluntarily move or be placed beyond the edge of the established playing area, unless that unit or the mission being played has a special rule that specifically allows the unit to leave the battlefield.

Fortifications

Some pieces of scenery, referred to as Fortifications, are selected as part of a player’s army rather than as ‘neutral’ pieces of terrain controlled by neither player. If a Fortification is taken as part of an army, its cost in points is paid by the controlling player, then it is set up with the rest of the army using the same rules as other models (as set by the rules found in this section and in the mission in use). Any Buildings set up as ‘neutral’ pieces of terrain are part of neither players’ army.

Determine Deployment Map

After the terrain has been set up, you must determine each player’s Deployment Zone. This will define the area in which a player may set up their army, before the first turn of the game. The use of a deployment map stops armies from starting too close to each other, stops the granting of advantages to either of the players, and allows for a certain amount of manoeuvring before the chaos of battle sets in. Each of the deployment maps presented here as part of Horus Heresy – Age of Darkness missions divides the battlefield into two distinct Deployment Zones, one for each player. At the start of the game, each player will deploy their entire army, save where the mission’s rules or a unit’s special rules dictate otherwise. Units that cannot fit into a player’s Deployment Zone are placed into Reserve, unless the mission’s rules or deployment instructions state otherwise.

Some missions may specify which Deployment Zone to use, or provide a custom deployment map. For those missions that do not, or where players wish to utilise a different deployment map, one of the following can be used. In order to determine which map to use, when the mission does not dictate one, players can select one either by mutual agreement or by randomly rolling on the Deployment Map table that follows.

Once the deployment map has been decided on, the players should roll off. The winner of the roll-off selects one of the Deployment Zones to be theirs, and their opponent then takes the remaining Deployment Zone.

Player’s Battlefield Edge

In addition to defining a Deployment Zone for each player, a battlefield edge will need to be assigned to each player. When models Fall Back, they will head towards a player’s battlefield edge and it is also where Reserve units will enter play. Most deployment maps will specify a battlefield edge for each player. If the mission being used does not, then the players can either agree between them which battlefield edges they will use or randomly select one for each player. When selecting battlefield edges, it is generally most effective to have each player’s battlefield edge on opposite sides of the battlefield.

Age of Darkness Deployment Map Table

1. Clash of the Line

Clash of the Line has two opposing arrowhead-shaped Deployment Zones. When deploying in either of these zones, no unit can be deployed within 12" of the centre of the battlefield during standard deployment.

The player’s own battlefield edge is the narrow edge that forms the rear of their ‘arrowhead’.

2. Dawn of War

If players are using the Dawn of War deployment map, the battlefield is divided into two equal halves across its length.

For Dawn of War battles, a player’s battlefield edge is the long battlefield edge touching their own Deployment Zone.

3. Search and Destroy

The Search and Destroy deployment map divides the battlefield into four equal quarters. Each quarter constitutes a Deployment Zone. Units may not be deployed into the circular 18" diameter area at the centre of the battlefield.

A player’s battlefield edges are any that form part of their Deployment Zone.

4. Hammer and Anvil

If players are using the Hammer and Anvil deployment map, the battlefield is divided into two equal halves across its width.

For Hammer and Anvil battles, a player’s battlefield edge is the short battlefield edge touching their own Deployment Zone.

5. Ambush

The Ambush deployment map divides the battlefield into three areas: a central Defender’s area (representing the force being ambushed) and two deployment areas on the narrow battlefield edges which are both available to the opposing player, representing the Attacking forces that have set up the ambush.

The player winning the roll-off may opt to take the part of the Attacker or the Defender, and their opponent then takes the opposing deployment type. The narrow battlefield edges are the Attacking player’s, while the long battlefield edges are the Defending player’s (with any of the Defender’s Reserves entering by the long edges, representing reinforcements rushing to relieve the ambushed force).

6. Vanguard Strike

If using the Vanguard Strike deployment map, the battlefield is divided into two equal halves across its diagonal. The players then agree which diagonal Deployment Zone each will play or can instead randomise to decide.

For Vanguard Strike battles, a player’s battlefield edge is the long battlefield edge that touches their own Deployment Zone.

Deployment

The last step of pre-game preparation is to deploy the two armies onto the battlefield. If you are using a Horus Heresy – Age of Darkness mission, it will tell you how to deploy the armies taking part in the battle. For missions of the players’ own devising, or where no other method of deployment is provided, a standard deployment procedure is given as follows. You should feel free to devise other methods for your own games if you prefer. For example, some players like to place a screen across the centre of the battlefield so that their armies can deploy in secret; others draw a map showing where they plan to deploy their units, and so on.

Whichever method you use, models must either deploy within their Deployment Zone, or be held back in Reserve. Models can be deployed ‘inside’ Buildings, Fortifications, or Transport Vehicles in their Deployment Zone, subject to their Transport Capacity. Units may not be deployed in Impassable Terrain. Note that models must be deployed fully within their Deployment Zone.

Standard Deployment Method

The following sequence is used in most Horus Heresy – Age of Darkness missions where another method is not provided:

• The players roll off. The winner of the roll-off decides who will deploy first and who will deploy second.
• The side deploying first must set up all the units in their army.
• Then the other side sets up all the units in their army.
• The player who deployed first can choose to take the first or second turn. If they decide to take the first turn, their opponent can attempt to Seize the Initiative.

The First Turn

Once both armies have been set up on the battlefield, the players must determine which of them will take the first turn. If using a Horus Heresy – Age of Darkness mission, then this information will be included with it, otherwise the players must decide the starting player for themselves.

In most games, it will be the player who deployed their army first who takes the first turn, however, some missions may specify otherwise. If, for any reason, there is no obvious way to decide which player will take the first turn, the players should either agree on which of them will do so or roll off, with the winner choosing to go first or second.

Most Horus Heresy – Age of Darkness missions also make use of the following rule, allowing the player designated to take the second turn a chance to seize the initiative and add a sense of unpredictability to the Turn sequence. Unless a mission specifies otherwise, or both players agree not to, the Seize the Initiative rule should be used.

Seize the Initiative: If the player who is due to go second wishes to Seize the Initiative, that player can roll a D6 before beginning the first game turn. On a roll of 6, they successfully Seize the Initiative and go first instead.

Game Length

For most games, the length of the game will be measured as a number of Game Turns. When using a Horus Heresy – Age of Darkness mission, it will indicate the total number of Game Turns that should be played. If, for whatever reason, a maximum number of turns is not indicated, the players will need to decide on a length for the game. If using a turn limit, then five or six turns should be considered a standard game length – remember that the larger the game is, the more time you’ll need. Alternatively, you can play to a time limit, in which case an hour or two is long enough for a small game with a few dozen models, and two or three hours is long enough for a larger game with a hundred or so models.

Some Horus Heresy – Age of Darkness missions use the following rule for Variable Game Length to determine how long a battle lasts:

Variable Game Length: At the end of Game Turn 5, one of the players must roll a D6. On a 3+ the game continues, otherwise the game is over. If another turn is played, another D6 must be rolled at the end of Game Turn 6, and this time, the game only continues on a roll of 4+. The battle automatically ends at the close of Game Turn 7.

Victory Conditions

Although fighting until one player concedes or their army is destroyed is a perfectly viable method of determining who has won a battle, more commonly ‘Victory points’ (as follows) are used to decide the winner. Alternatively, the players might wish to say that one side or the other must achieve a specific objective; if they have achieved this when the game ends, they win the battle, and if not then the other side wins. Victory conditions like this are most appropriate when you are refighting a battle based on the background for the Horus Heresy, where each side will have certain very specific goals.

Victory Points

Most of the Horus Heresy – Age of Darkness missions published in this and other supplements use Victory points. Such games are referred to as ‘Victory Point games’. Victory points are acquired by securing Primary and Secondary Objectives, and the winner is the army with the most Victory points at the end of the game. If the winner has twice the number of Victory points as their opponent, it can be considered a crushing victory! If both armies have the same number of Victory points, the game is a tactical draw.

Sudden Death Victory

Generally, a Victory Point game will not finish before the agreed turn limit. However, it is possible to achieve a ‘sudden death victory’ in a Victory Point game in the following circumstances:

If one player concedes the battle, the game ends and a crushing victory goes to their opponent.

If, at the end of any Game Turn, one player has no models left on the battlefield, their opponent automatically wins. Units occupying a Building or Embarked on a Vehicle still count as being on the battlefield, but units that are in Reserve do not.

Secondary Objectives

Secondary Objectives are less important than Primary Objectives, but can still mean the difference between victory and defeat. Most Victory Point games will have several Secondary Objectives, as specified by the mission, and some of the most common are detailed below:

Slay the Warlord

If the enemy army has a Warlord, and at the end of the game their Warlord has been removed as a casualty, you score 1 Victory point. If that Warlord was also a Primarch choice then an additional 1 Victory point is scored.

First Blood

The first unit, of any kind, to be completely destroyed during the game is worth 1 Victory point to the opposing player at the end of the game.

If two or more units from opposing forces are destroyed simultaneously (for example, at the same Initiative step in an Assault phase) then both players get 1 Victory point (in addition to any Victory points from the mission).

Last Man Standing

The side with the greatest number of surviving units at the end of the game gains an extra Victory point.

Attrition

The army which has destroyed the highest number of enemy units at the end of the game gains an additional Victory point.

Linebreaker

If, at the end of the game, a player has at least one model from one or more Scoring units completely within 12" of the enemy’s table edge, they score 1 Victory point.

The Price of Failure

If one army has a Lords of War unit and at the end of the game all models in that unit have been removed as Casualties, the opposing player scores 1 Victory point.

Terrain & Victory Conditions

Do not include any scenery models that were not purchased as part of an army when awarding Victory points or determining if a player has any units ‘on the battlefield’.

Objective Markers

Some Horus Heresy – Age of Darkness missions require the use of Objective markers. An Objective marker is usually a point on the battlefield of particular importance to one or both of the armies. These points are designated by using specially modelled markers, coins or counters around 1"-2" in diameter.

Placing Objective Markers

Missions that use Objective markers will contain details of how many need to be placed and any special instructions for how to place them on the battlefield. Unless instructed otherwise in the mission, take it in turns to set up Objective markers according to the following rules:

• Roll off to see who places the first marker.
• No Objective marker can be placed within 6" of any battlefield edge or within 12" of another Objective marker.
• No Objective marker can be placed on Impassable Terrain.
• No Objective marker may be placed inside a Building, though it can be placed upon it – should a Building with an Objective upon it be removed, place the Objective marker on the ground below the point it occupied.

These restrictions aside, you can place Objective markers anywhere on the battlefield. If there are a lot of Objective markers, or a lot of terrain, you may sometimes find that the last few are impossible to place using the established rules. When this occurs, simply nudge the other Objective markers by the smallest distance necessary to allow the last ones to be placed.

Controlling Objective Markers

An Objective marker is considered under a player’s control if there is at least one model from one of that player’s Scoring units, and no models from enemy Scoring or Denial units, within 3" of it. As different Objective markers vary in shape and size, it is important to agree at the beginning of the game exactly from where this distance will be measured. Any unit that is in a Building or Fortification is considered to be within 3" of any Objective markers that are on or within 3" of the Building or Fortification.

A unit can only control one Objective marker at a time. If a unit moves into a position where it could control two Objective markers, the controlling player must make it clear to their opponent which Objective the unit is controlling.

For some missions, an Objective is defined as a certain area of the battlefield rather than an Objective marker. In these situations, the Objective is considered to be controlled by a player if there is at least one of that player’s Scoring units wholly within the defined zone, and no models from enemy Scoring units wholly within the defined zone. Any unit that is in a Building or Fortification is considered to be wholly within an Objective zone if the Fortification or Building they are embarked in is wholly within that zone. Note that, for controlling Objective zones, enemy Denial units are not counted, only Scoring units can control or contest an enemy’s control of a scoring zone.

Scoring Units

Any unit with the Line sub-type, and other units whose Army List entries specifically note it, are a Scoring unit, unless:

• It is Embarked upon a Transport Vehicle of any kind (once Disembarked it may count as a Scoring unit as normal).
• It is a Zooming Flyer.
• It has a special rule specifying that it never counts as a Scoring unit.
• It is currently Falling Back or Pinned (if the unit Regroups or recovers from Pinning, it immediately reverts to being a Scoring unit again).
• It is a Building or Fortification.

Denial Units

Any other units in the game are considered Denial units, unless:

• It is Embarked upon a Transport Vehicle of any kind (once Disembarked it may count as a Denial unit as normal).
• It is a Vehicle of any type.
• It has a special rule specifying that it never counts as a Denial unit.
• It is currently Falling Back or Pinned (if the unit Regroups or recovers from Pinning, it immediately reverts to being a Denial unit again).
• It is a Building or Fortification.

Mission Special Rules

Special rules can be added to a game to cover unique situations, tactics or abilities that you feel need to be represented in your battle. For example, if you were fighting a battle set on a frozen ice world, you might include special rules for snow drifts or the occasional blizzard sweeping across the table. It is for you and your opponent to decide if any special rules apply in your games. One of the strengths of Horus Heresy – Age of Darkness is that it is both easy and fun to devise your own special rules. They are especially useful when fighting a battle based on a story from the Horus Heresy background, or which has a strong theme for another reason. Just take care not to get carried away – a couple of mission special rules can add much to a game, but having too many special rules may bog the game down.

Some of the Horus Heresy – Age of Darkness missions available use unique special rules which confer extra abilities, restrictions or effects onto your games. The Age of Darkness missions included in this book make use of the more common mission special rules presented here; many other missions will use these alongside their own special rules and these will be detailed as a part of that mission.

Night Fighting

If a mission has the Night Fighting special rule, either player can declare that they wish to fight the battle at night. If either player does so, roll a D6 before deployment: on a 2+, the Night Fighting special rule is in effect during Game Turn 1. At the beginning of Game Turn 2, roll a D6, on the score of a 4+ the Night Fighting special rule is in effect during Game Turn 2 as well. At the end of Game Turn 2, all effects of the Night Fighting special rule cease, and the special rule no longer has any effect, unless another special rule states otherwise.

While the Night Fighting special rule is in effect, all units on the battlefield are affected by the following conditions:

• All units suffer a -1 penalty to their Leadership and Ballistic Skill.
• No unit may draw line of sight to any unit that is more than 24" away. Barrage weapons targeting units more than 24" away must re-roll all results of ‘Hit’ on the Scatter dice.

The penalty to Leadership is ignored by any unit with the Fearless or Stubborn special rules. A Primarch unit, or any unit with the Night Vision special rule ignores both the penalties to Leadership and Ballistic Skill and the restrictions on drawing line of sight to other units.

Reserve

Reserves are forces that can be called upon to reinforce a battle at short notice, or to conceal an army’s true strength from the foe.

Preparing Reserves

When deploying their armies, players can choose not to deploy some of their units, keeping them in Reserve to arrive later. In addition, if it is impossible to deploy a unit for any reason, it must be placed in Reserve. The only exceptions to this are units that cannot move after they have been deployed, such as Fortifications or any model with a Movement Characteristic of 0. Such units are removed as casualties if it is impossible to deploy them during the Deployment step of Preparing for Battle.

Combined Reserve Units

During deployment, when deciding which units are kept in Reserve, the controlling player must specify if any of the Independent Characters in Reserve are joining a unit, in which case they must arrive together. Similarly, the controlling player must specify if any units in Reserve are embarked upon any Transport Vehicles in Reserve, in which case they will arrive together. In either case, when making a Reserve roll (as follows) for a combined unit, roll a single D6 for the unit and/or its Independent Character/Transport Vehicle.

Arriving from Reserve

At the start of the Active player’s second turn, roll a D6 for each unit in that player’s army that is being held in Reserve – these are known as ‘Reserve rolls’. If the roll is a 3 or more, that unit arrives this turn. If the roll is less than 3, it remains in Reserve and is rolled for again next turn.

If a successful Reserve roll is made for a unit, that unit must be moved onto the battlefield this turn. From the start of Game Turn 4 all Reserve rolls are considered to automatically succeed, unless another special rule states otherwise, and all of the Active player’s units that are in Reserve must be moved onto the battlefield or they are considered destroyed.

Some special rules can modify the roll required for a unit to arrive from Reserve. Regardless of the modifier(s), a natural roll of a 1 always means that the unit in question remains in Reserve, and a natural roll of a 6 always means that the unit in question arrives from Reserve.

Any unit for which a successful Reserve roll has been made must move onto the Battlefield at the start of the Controlling player’s Movement phase, before any other models are moved. Select one of the Active player’s arriving units and deploy it, moving it onto the table in the manner described as follows. Then pick another arriving unit and deploy it, and so on until all arriving units are on the table. The Active player can then proceed to move their other units as normal.

Moving on from Reserve

When a Reserve unit arrives, it must move onto the battlefield from the controlling player’s battlefield edge. Measure the model’s move from the edge of the battlefield, as if they had been positioned just off the battlefield in the previous turn. A unit cannot Charge, or use any abilities or special rules that must be used at the start of the turn, in the turn it arrives from Reserve. If the Reactive player chooses to declare a Reaction in response to the movement of a unit that has entered play from Reserve that turn, then they may only use the Interceptor Reaction (see below).

If, for some reason, a model’s maximum Move is insufficient to fit the entire model onto the battlefield, or it becomes Immobilised whilst moving onto the battlefield, place the model as far onto the battlefield as you can. If this leaves the model in a position where it may fall off the battlefield, then mark the position the model is meant to be occupying in some manner, and then position it more safely.

Leaving the Battlefield

If a unit goes into Reserve part of the way through the game, such as a Flyer leaving the battlefield, then it reenters Reserve. Units that re-enter Reserve are treated exactly like any other unit in Reserve, and must roll to see if they may re-enter play as per the normal rules. Any unit that re-enters Reserve on Turn 3 or later must re-enter play at the start of the Controlling player’s next turn; if it does not then it is considered destroyed.

Note that only models with a special rule that indicates they may leave play and re-enter Reserve may do so; if a unit without such a special rule leaves the battlefield, for any reason, then it is considered destroyed and does not re-enter Reserve.

Reserves: Deep Strike Assault

A Deep Strike is a coordinated drop from high altitude, or, in some cases, from low orbit voidcraft. Only the most elite armies can hope to undertake such a risky strategy, for should the troops assigned to the drop waver, then it is likely the entire strike will fail. However, a successful Deep Strike can see the enemy’s formation broken apart and their troops scattered.

Before the start of Game Turn 1, when placing units into Reserve, a player may choose to assign one or more of their units in Reserve to perform a Deep Strike Assault. All models in a unit assigned to Deep Strike Assault must have the Deep Strike special rule, unless Embarked on a Transport Vehicle that has the Deep Strike special rule itself.

Unless stated otherwise by a specific rule, a player may only make a single Deep Strike Assault, and any units with the Deep Strike special rule not assigned to the Deep Strike Assault (or another Reserve action) must either deploy normally or enter play from Reserve as normal. However, this does not limit the player’s ability to undertake any other Reserve action, such as a Flanking Assault or other actions described in specific army lists or special rules.

When rolling for Reserve, roll a single D6 for all of the units assigned to the Deep Strike Assault rather than rolling separately for each unit. If the roll is successful, and the controlling player chooses to bring them into play, then all of the Deep Striking units must enter play in that turn and follow the Deep Strike Assault procedure described below:

Performing a Deep Strike Assault

Once a Reserve roll for the units assigned to the Deep Strike Assault has succeeded and the units are to be brought into play, the controlling player selects one of the available units to deploy first. Place a single model from that unit anywhere on the battlefield that is at least 1" from any enemy model, table edge or piece of Impassable Terrain and then scatter that model.

If the model’s final position is within 1" of an enemy model, any battlefield edge or a piece of Impassable Terrain, then the controlling player’s opponent may move that model to any position within 18" that is more than 1" from any enemy model, battlefield edge or piece of Impassable Terrain. If there is no suitable position within 18" then the model may be repositioned anywhere on the battlefield that is more than 1" from any enemy model, battlefield edge or piece of Impassable Terrain. If possible, the model must be placed in a position that will allow the remainder of the squad to deploy (as follows), and may only be placed in a position that denies the remainder of the squad a place within unit coherency if no other position is available.

Once the model’s final position has been decided, the remainder of the unit may be deployed anywhere that is within unit coherency and more than 1" from any enemy model or piece of Impassable Terrain. Any models that cannot be placed are removed as casualties.

Once this first unit has been deployed, roll a D6. On the roll of a ‘1’, the Deep Strike Assault is Disordered, and the opposing player may deploy each other unit in the Deep Strike Assault anywhere within 24" of the first unit without scattering, though no model may be within 1" of an enemy model or within Impassable Terrain. If the roll is a ‘2’ or higher, then the controlling player deploys each other unit anywhere within 12" of the first, though no model may be within 1" of an enemy model or within Impassable Terrain.

Once all units are deployed, any enemy units that have one or more models within 6" of any unit deployed as part of the Deep Strike Assault must make an immediate Pinning test. Once all Pinning tests are resolved, any enemy units that are neither Pinned or Falling Back and are within line of sight and range may choose to make the Interceptor Reaction targeting any one of the units deployed as part of the Deep Strike Assault. Note that no Reaction other than Interceptor may be made against the deployment of a unit as part of a Deep Strike Assault.

Once all units from the Deep Strike Assault have been deployed and any Interceptor Reactions have been resolved, the turn proceeds as normal. Units that have been deployed as part of a Deep Strike Assault may not Move or Run in the same Movement phase as they are deployed, but may Shoot and Assault as normal.

Reserves: Flanking Assault

A flanking assault commits a portion of the army’s strength to a hidden attack on the enemy’s rear. While the flanking elements seek a path to the enemy’s weakest point, the main elements must stand their ground alone and unsupported. It is a risky strategy, but one likely to bring about the defeat of even the strongest foe.

Before the start of Game Turn 1, when placing units into Reserve, a player may choose to assign one or more of their units in Reserve to perform a Flanking Assault. All models in a unit assigned to Flanking Assault must have the Outflank special rule, unless embarked on a Transport Vehicle that has the Outflank special rule itself.

Unless stated otherwise by a specific rule, a player may only make a single Flanking Assault. However, this does not limit the player’s ability to undertake any other Reserve action, such as a Deep Strike Assault or other actions described in specific army lists or special rules.

Once all units have been assigned to the Flanking Assault, and all units in both armies have been deployed, but before any Infiltrators deploy or Scout moves are made, place a Flanking marker at any point along the edge of the battlefield (including within the enemy player’s Deployment Zone). This marker represents the intended arrival point of the Flanking Assault.

When rolling for Reserve, roll a single D6 for all of the units assigned to the Flanking Assault rather than rolling separately for each unit. If the roll is successful, and the controlling player chooses to bring them into play, then all of the Flanking Assault units must enter play in that turn and follow the Flanking Assault procedure described below.

Performing a Flanking Assault

Once a Reserve roll for the units assigned to the Flanking Assault has succeeded and the units are to be brought into play, the controlling player must roll a D6. On the roll of a ‘1’, the Flanking Assault is Disordered and the enemy player may move the Flanking marker up to 24" in either direction along the edge of the battlefield. If the roll is a ‘2’ or higher then the player making the Flanking Assault may move the Flanking marker up to 6" in either direction along the edge of the battlefield. Once the Flanking marker’s final position has been determined, the Flanking Assault unit’s controlling player may move the Flanking Assault units onto the battlefield, measuring from the point marked by the Flanking marker, one at a time in an order of their choice. These units may move up to their Movement Characteristic, follow all the normal rules for Movement and may choose to Run. If there is not enough room for all the units taking part in the Flanking Assault to move onto the battlefield, then those that cannot fit must remain in Reserve and move onto the battlefield in their controlling player’s next turn.

Once all Flanking Assault units have moved onto the battlefield, any enemy units that have one or more models within 6" of any unit deployed as part of the Flanking Assault must make an immediate Pinning test. Once all Pinning tests are resolved, any enemy units that are neither Pinned nor Falling Back and are within line of sight may choose to make the Interceptor Reaction targeting any one of the units deployed as part of the Flanking Assault. Units that were unable to deploy in the initial Flanking deployment and were forced to remain in Reserve do not generate Pinning tests when they move onto the battlefield, but may be targeted by Interceptor Reactions.

Once all units from the Flanking Assault have moved onto the battlefield and any Interceptor Reactions have been resolved, the turn proceeds as normal. Units that have moved onto the battlefield as part of a Flanking Assault may not move or Run again in the current Movement phase, but may Shoot and Assault as normal.

Primary Objectives
Blood Feud: After setting up and deploying the armies, but before play begins, each player should secretly note down a particular Blood Feud from the list below. At the end of the game, the player’s chosen Blood Feud is revealed. Each player gains additional Victory points for each enemy unit which has either been destroyed or is Falling Back at the end of the game, and is of the type(s) listed for their selected Blood Feud.

Blood Feud

• Infantry: +1 Victory point per unit
• Daemon: +1 Victory point per unit
• Dreadnought & Automata: +2 Victory points per unit
• Cavalry & Flyers: +2 Victory points per unit
• Non-flyer Vehicles: +2 Victory points per unit
• Primarch: +6 Victory Points per unit

Secondary Objectives
Slay the Warlord: If a side destroyed the enemy Warlord, that side gains 1 Victory point. If that Warlord was also a Primarch choice, then an additional Victory point is scored. Note that this is in addition to any points gained via Blood Feud, etc.

Last Man Standing: The side with the greatest number of surviving units at the end of the game gains +1 Victory point.

The Price of Failure (If Lords of War units are used): If one army has a Lords of War unit and at the end of the game all models in that unit have been removed as Casualties, the opposing player scores 1 Victory point.

MISSION SPECIAL RULES

• Reserves
• Night Fighting

Secondary Objectives
Slay the Warlord: If a side destroyed the enemy Warlord, that side gains 1 Victory point. If that Warlord was also a Primarch choice, then an additional Victory point is scored.

Attrition: The army which has destroyed the highest number of enemy units at the end of the game gains +1 Victory point.

The Price of Failure (If Lords of War units are used): If one army has a Lords of War unit and at the end of the game all models in that unit have been removed as Casualties, the opposing player scores 1 Victory point.

MISSION SPECIAL RULES

• Reserves
• Night Fighting
• Staged Deployment

Primary Objectives
Shatter Strike: At the end of the game, each player scores 2 Victory points for every friendly Scoring unit in their opponent’s Deployment Zone, and 1 Victory point for every friendly Denial unit in their opponent’s Deployment Zone.

Secondary Objectives
Slay the Warlord: If a side destroyed the enemy Warlord, that side gains 1 Victory point. If that Warlord was also a Primarch choice, then an additional Victory point is scored.

Attrition: The army which has destroyed the highest number of enemy units at the end of the game gains +1 Victory point.

The Price of Failure (If Lords of War units are used): If one army has a Lords of War unit and at the end of the game all models in that unit have been removed as Casualties, the opposing player scores 1 Victory point.

MISSION SPECIAL RULES

• Reserves
• Night Fighting

Secondary Objectives
Slay the Warlord*: If a side destroyed the enemy Warlord, they gain D3 extra Victory points. If that Warlord was also a Primarch choice, then an additional +3 Victory points are scored.

Attrition*: The army which has destroyed the highest number of enemy units at the end of the game gains D3 additional Victory points.

The Price of Failure (If Lords of War units are used): If one army has a Lords of War unit and at the end of the game all models in that unit have been removed as Casualties, the opposing player scores 1 Victory point.

*Note that the rewards for these Secondary Objectives are intentionally greater than normal.

MISSION SPECIAL RULES

• Reserves
• Night Fighting
• Dominion Objectives

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES
Tide of Carnage: Each sector of the battlefield is worth a certain amount of Victory points for the side who controls it at the end of the game. In order to claim a sector, a side must have one or more Scoring units in the sector and the enemy must have no Scoring units left in that sector.

The sectors of the battlefield are defined as follows:

• Player’s own Deployment Zone: 3 Victory points
• No Man’s Land (the area of the battlefield which is not covered by either Deployment Zone): 5 Victory points
• Opposing player’s Deployment Zone: 7 Victory points

Secondary Objectives
Slay the Warlord: If a side destroyed the enemy Warlord, that side gains 1 Victory point. If that Warlord was also a Primarch choice, then an additional Victory point is scored.

Last Man Standing: The side with the greatest number of surviving units at the end of the game gains +1 Victory point.

The Price of Failure (If Lords of War units are used): If one army has a Lords of War unit and at the end of the game all models in that unit have been removed as Casualties, the opposing player scores 1 Victory point.

MISSION SPECIAL RULES

• Reserves
• Night Fighting
• Heavy Armour

Primary Objectives
Death Toll: At the end of the game, each side gains 1 Victory point for each unit they have destroyed or that is Falling Back at the end of the game.

War of Lies: At the end of the game, roll a D6 on the following table to determine the worth, if any, of each Objective controlled by the player at the end of the game. Roll once for each Objective.


Secondary Objectives
Slay the Warlord: If a side destroyed the enemy Warlord, that side gains 1 Victory point. If that Warlord was also a Primarch choice, then an additional Victory point is scored.

The Price of Failure (If Lords of War units are used): If one army has a Lords of War unit and at the end of the game all models in that unit have been removed as Casualties, the opposing player scores 1 Victory point.

MISSION SPECIAL RULES

• Reserves