Ultimate rule of Mankind’s realm flows unquestionably from Terra and the Golden Throne. Yet so vast an empire necessitates compartmentalisation. The Imperium is broken into the Segmentums Solar, Obscurus, Pacificus, Tempestus and Ultima. Each Segmentum is further divided into many sectors, each named, connected by major warp-transit routes and containing multiple sub-sectors. Even these sub-sectors in turn break down further as they contain multiple star-systems, most of which contain numerous Imperial-held worlds along with myriad perils, anomalies, piratical territories and petty xenos empires.

Deep within the Ultima Segmentum lies the Charadon Sector. Located spinward of the Ultramarines’ stellar empire of Ultramar, this sector is a gateway to the wider Imperium Sanctus and a stronghold of power for the Tech-Priests of the Adeptus Mechanic us. Crucially, it is also located within striking distance of one of only a few stable channels through the raging warp storms of the Great Rift.

The Charadon Sector has known its share of strife over the millennia. In the past few centuries alone its Palan and Anungul Sub-sectors have been all but overrun by the vast Ork empire of Charadon. Questing tendrils of the Tyranids’ Hive Fleet Leviathan have pushed up through the galactic plane in almost every sub-sector of the region, though in all cases the swarming alien horrors have been driven back into the outer darkness. Most recently, the Psyphos and Palan Sub-sectors have seen further xenos invasion, this time by the eldritch legions of the Necrons’ Sautekh Dynasty.

The powerhouse of defence against these threats has been forge world Metalica, whose Skitarii cohorts and Titan maniples have marched out from the Obolis Sub-sector to crush Mankind’s enemies time and again. And they have not fought alone. The famed Knights of House Raven, the courageous Space Marines of the Excruciators Chapter, the warships of Battlefleet Charadon, the Battle Sisters of the Cardinal world of Alexistor, regiment upon regiment of Astra Militarum soldiery - all these and more have fought to render this sector an indomitable Imperial fortress.

Now, though, as the darkness of the Noctis Aeterna recedes and the Era Indomitus dawns in fire, so a vast host of Chaos worshippers brings doom to the Charadon Sector. The War of Rust and Slime is about to begin.

Where one-off games against favoured opponents and new foes alike offer plenty of fun and enjoyment, campaigns are something special, adding even more excitement, consequence and narrative to every tabletop clash. By entering a campaign you get to play not just one game, but a series of interlinked battles. You're not just playing to see who wins, but to seize hard-fought territory or resources, avenge an earlier defeat or earn fresh rewards for your army. Before each battle, you determine context; where the conflict is taking place, why, and what stakes and consequences it will have. At each game's end you discover what cost the battle has levied on your forces, and what experience or potent relics they have gained. If participating as part of a team, you play knowing your fellow campaign commanders are battling at the same time on nearby tabletops, all of you fighting for the same goal. It is an exciting and immersive experience.

At its heart, playing in a campaign is a narrative experience that forges war stories you and your fellow commanders will share for years to come. It can be the highlight of an entire gaming year and can spawn future events where you revisit old grudges or beloved settings. Whether you're completely new to campaign gaming, or a veteran looking for a new thrill, all you need to do is gather your armies and read on to discover how to get the most out of War Zone Charadon.

Introduction

An Obolis Invasion campaign allows a group of players to get together, form alliances and play a series of games. It is split into campaign phases, each of which consists of multiple battles fought with unique rules inspired by the key stages in War Zone Charadon. At the end of each campaign phase, the alliance with the most war zone points achieves victory in that phase, then each alliance starts again for the following campaign phase, meaning the outcome of the campaign is at stake in each and every game from start to finish.

Campaign Master

A Obolis Invasion campaign is best run with a Campaign Master. This is a heroic individual who takes on the mobilisation and organisation of the campaign so that the other players can focus on playing games. A Campaign Master is in a privileged position that offers a degree of leadership to the individual who takes on the role; however, its primary purpose is to facilitate a smooth and enjoyable experience for all players involved. A Campaign Master can indeed play in the campaign, but in larger campaigns that includes a multitude of players, it may be best if they solely oversee the campaign rather than play in it.

Below we will refer to the Campaign Master and how they can go about organising an Obolis Invasion campaign. Campaign Master Edicts are useful tools and rules ideas that the Campaign Master can use to add further excitement to the campaign. These are by no means essential, however. If this is the first campaign for many of the players, or they would otherwise prefer to keep things as simple as possible, then these are not necessary for an Obolis Invasion campaign.

Players and Alliances

Once a Campaign Master has stepped forward, their first task in organising an Obolis Invasion campaign is to gather the players and sort them into alliances. The system is flexible enough to support various numbers of people; an experienced Campaign Master could run the campaign for dozens of gamers, and equally just two players could use the system to tie the results of their regular games together into a greater whole. The campaign is at its best, however, with a small group of like-minded and enthusiastic players who can meet on a regular basis, and who can be evenly distributed across alliances.

Alliances should be organised evenly and, where possible, based on the Faction being played, so have a chat with the group to determine this. Once players are assigned to an alliance, their army is committed to the cause and will do their all to achieve victory. For this reason, players should play the same Faction throughout the campaign. If they wish to change their Faction, they can do so at the Campaign Master's discretion. The alliances are as follows:

Defenders. The Obolis Sub-sector is currently held by the Imperium, with the Adeptus Mechanicus leading the defence against any and all aggressors. Any army with the IMPERIUM keyword is best suited to this alliance.

Invaders. The Death Guard are leading the forces of Chaos in an organised attack on the sub-sector. Any army with the CHAOS keyword is best suited to this alliance.

Raiders. With the Imperium and Chaos focusing their efforts on each other, opportunistic raiders have moved in to pick on the fringes of the sub-sector and ambush anyone vulnerable. Any army that does not have the CHAOS or IMPERIUM keyword is best suited to this alliance.

Three alliances allows for a well-rounded campaign with each side battling back and forth for dominance. However, if the players would be more evenly distributed using two alliances, that is a perfectly valid option to take.

Ways to Play

Once players have been organised into alliances, the Campaign Master should determine the type of play for the campaign: open, matched or narrative play. It is important for the Campaign Master to specify the type of play from the outset so that each player's army can be organised accordingly, and so that players know which mission packs can be used. Whether the players are looking for a deep narrative experience using Crusade battles, or a test of minds in the crucible of war that is matched play, an Obolis Invasion campaign will support them, and the campaign system will work with any mission pack.

Campaign Length

An Obolis Invasion campaign is split into three phases, each of which involves battling in a different stage of the war. Before the campaign begins, the Campaign Master should determine the length of time allocated to each campaign phase and the total number of games that can be played in that phase. Once either of those conditions have been met, that campaign phase ends and the victorious alliance in that phase is determined. Once the third campaign phase ends, the campaign ends and the overall winning alliance is determined.

A campaign can be a long and expansive experience where each campaign phase takes place over a month, with many battles fought and mighty heroes lost to the fires of war. Equally, it can be a short and focused campaign played over a weekend, with each campaign phase consisting of just one battle representing the key moments of the conflict. Ultimately, the Campaign Master should determine a campaign length that best suits the gaming group taking part, thinking about how regularly they can meet and how many games they are likely to play.

As a guide, if each member of your campaign group will play one game a week, we recommended each phase of the campaign lasts as follows:

• Length of time: 2 weeks
• Total number of games: equal to the number of players.

Once you have gathered the players into alliances, established the way to play and determined the length of the campaign, it's time for the invasion of the Obolis Sub-sector to begin!

Campaign Phases

Each phase of an Obolis Invasion campaign is set during a different stage of the invasion, and every stage is vital in winning the greater war. Each campaign phase has its own set of characteristics that impact the games taking place, bringing Obolis to life on the battlefield. This is known as a Theatre of War. During the campaign phases, each phase's Theatre of War as specified here.

To play a game, a player must arrange one with a player from an opposing alliance. When they meet on the battlefield, they follow the battle sequence as specified in their mission pack. Once they have determined the victor, they earn war zone points for their alliance, the impact of which is specified later.

The Campaign Master has a few options concerning how players are matched up for games. They can leave the players to arrange games themselves, with challenges thrown down and honour at stake. This is perhaps the simplest way of arranging the games, and lets the campaign progress naturally with plenty of friendly rivalries to go with it!

Alternatively, it may be appropriate to introduce more structure to the matchups. For example, a matchup schedule will ensure that everyone gets an equal amount of games. Or, in campaigns with a large amount of players, breaking each alliance into smaller subgroups that are then matched against their enemies can make arranging games even simpler. This can also add to the narrative, as you can imagine each group battling in a different system of the Obolis Sub-sector.

War Zone Points

Each game you play in a campaign phase is about more than just personal glory. Rather, your presence contributes to the success of your alliance in the greater war. This is achieved with war zone points. Each time you play a game, your alliance earns war zone points as follows:


For example, if you play a Combat Patrol game and win your alliance earns a total of 3 war zone points. It is the players’ responsibility to determine how many war zone points are earned. They then report their results to the Campaign Master, who keeps a record of each alliance’s total war zone points. Once the campaign phase comes to an end, the victor of that phase is the alliance with the most war zone points. If any alliances are tied for the most war zone points, then the alliance that won the most battles against their rival tied alliance(s) during that campaign phase is the victor of that phase. If there is still a tie, there is no victor of that phase.

Once the next campaign phase begins, each alliance’s war zone points are reset to zero, putting alliances on an equal footing for the next phase of the campaign.

Winning the Campaign

Once the third campaign phase ends, the campaign has reached its conclusion. Alliances have had victories in the various campaign phases, and these victories determine the overall winner of the Obolis Invasion campaign. Each campaign phase provides a strategic value to the alliance that was victorious during it, and the winner of the campaign is the alliance that has the highest total strategic value.

Battle Assets

After choosing deployment zones, the Defender selects one Battle Asset from those below. Alternatively, they can randomly select a Battle Asset by rolling one D6. The Attacker then selects a Battle Asset (they cannot select the same Battle Asset as the Defender). Alternatively, the Attacker can randomly select a Battle Asset by rolling one D6 (roll again if the result is the same as the Defender's Battle Asset).

1. REPULSION-SHIELD DOME

A large energy dome covers the defenders battle lines, a shield that attenuates the impetus of any projectile that passes through it.

Each time a ranged attack is made against a unit from your army, if that unit is wholly within your deployment zone, subtract 1 from the Strength characteristic of that attack.

2. GRAV-WAVE SHOCK MINES

The battle lines and no-man's-land alike have been bombarded by shock mines that send out pulses of grav waves to stall the enemy's advance.

Enemy units treat all Obstacle and Area Terrain features that are not wholly within their own deployment zone as having the Difficult Ground trait.


4. RAPID ENGAGEMENT

This battlefield sits in the centre of a massive Adeptus Mechanicus transit hub, with dedicated speedways and access routes leading to it. These enable swift assaults on enemy lines, and sweeping counter-attacks from relief forces.

• You can re-roll charge rolls for units in your army.
• Add 1 to charge rolls made for units in your army.

5. AGGRESSION ENHANCERS

The air is thick with servo-skulls, each equipped with binharic speakers that constantly blurt out the Omnissiah's benedictions to smite the unworthy, and beta-wave generators that stimulate the aggression centres of biological and cybernetic minds alike.

• Each time a model in your army makes a melee attack, if its unit made a charge move this turn, you can re-roll the hit roll.
• Each time a unit from your army piles in or consolidates, models in that unit can move an additional 1".

6. TRANSONIC EMITTERS

The battlefield houses arrays of transonic emitters that enhance the lethality of projectiles at short range.

Each time a model in your army targets a unit that is within 9" with a ranged attack, add 1 to that attack's hit roll.

Battlefield Twists

At the start of each battle round, the player who is taking the first turn rolls three D6s.

• If the result is a 7, the player taking the second turn this battle round then rolls one D6. The result determines which Battlefield Twist will apply for the remainder of the battle.
• If the result includes any doubles, the Battlefield Twist that corresponds to that double applies for the remainder of the battle. For example, if the three D6 rolled resulted in a 1, a 1 and a 4, the Despair result would apply for the remainder of the battle.
• If the result is a triple 1, triple 3 or triple 5, then all the odd-numbered Battlefield Twists apply for the remainder of the battle. For example, if the three D6 rolled resulted in a 3, a 3 and a 3, the Despair, Rot and Atrophy results would apply for the remainder of the battle.
• If the result is a triple 2, triple 4 or triple 6, then all the even-numbered Battlefield Twists shown below apply for the remainder of the battle. For example, if the three D6 rolled resulted in a 2, a 2 and a 2, the Rust, Decay and Blight results would apply for the remainder of the battle.

Duplicated Battlefield Twists have no additional effect.

Campaign Master’s Edicts are tools the Campaign Master has at their disposal to add further depth to an Obolis Invasion campaign. The Campaign Master should use these at their discretion if it is appropriate for their gaming group and the circumstances the campaign is built upon.

Legendary Missions

Along with Theatres of War, the right mission selection can further reinforce the narrative and feel of an Obolis Invasion campaign. Therefore the Campaign Master may decide to specify missions for certain stages of the campaign, or determine the pool of missions available to players.

This page contains Legendary Missions. Each of these is a mission based on a key conflict during a different phase of the War Zone Charadon campaign. They are different to missions you will find in mission packs in that they have a variety of unique mission rules that add additional narrative to the battle. Note that these missions can be played by following the sequence from any mission pack. That means in a matched play campaign, the players should select secondary objectives as normal, and in a narrative play campaign using Crusade forces, the players should select Agendas as normal. These Legendary Missions have been designed for use with Strike Force or Onslaught size battles, but the Campaign Master should feel free to adjust these missions for Combat Patrol or Incursion size battles if they so choose.

A Campaign Master should feel free to introduce these missions as appropriate. One method is to simply let the players use them if they feel like it. Another method is to introduce Legendary Missions during certain stages as a finale to each campaign phase. Either way, it is recommended that each player only plays the relevant campaign phase's Legendary Mission once, and earns one additional war zone point if they do so.

In addition to this, the Campaign Master should feel free to introduce narrative play missions from other publications that they feel suit the campaign, applying them in the same method as Legendary Missions above.

Crusade Rewards

In a narrative play campaign, the Campaign Master can further support Crusade forces by having a selection of bonuses and rewards available for the players. Here are a few ways in which these can be rewarded:

REQUISITION POINTS
At the end of each campaign phase, each player can be awarded additional Requisition points based on how their alliance did during the phase. The alliance that earned the fewest war zone points is awarded the most Requisition points, representing that alliance calling for aid and doubling their efforts to achieve victory in the following campaign phase. Remember that each player can never have more than 5 Requisition points; any excess points are lost.


EXPERIENCE POINTS
The Campaign Master can award experience points based on how each Crusade force performs on the battlefield. This should be done at the Campaign Master's discretion in an impartial and consistent manner. Here are some criteria by which the Campaign Master can determine experience rewards (note that these could be communicated as a challenge for the players to achieve):

• At the end of each campaign phase, each player from the winning alliance gains 5 experience points to distribute freely across units in their Crusade force.
• If a player defeats an enemy player who defeated them in their previous meeting in the campaign, after that game, the winning player can select one additional unit from their army to be Marked for Greatness.
• At the end of a campaign phase, if a player lost all the games they played during that phase, they can roll one D6. They gain that many experience points to distribute freely across the units in their Crusade force.

Secret Orders

If the players are using missions that use secondary objectives or Agendas, the Campaign Master can introduce Secret Orders. These are hidden campaign objectives that players can attempt to achieve to gain more war zone points for their alliance. The Campaign Master can assign these to players at their discretion, or they can decide that at the start of each campaign phase, each player should roll one D6 and consult the table below to determine which Secret Order they have for that campaign phase. Either way, the Campaign Master should also have a record of each player's Secret Order for the campaign phase.


Each player should make a note of what their current Secret Order is. Once they have achieved their Secret Order, they earn 2 war zone points for their alliance.

MISSION RULES

A Force In Retreat

• The Defender cannot put any units into Strategic Reserves.
• AIRCRAFT and any units that start the battle in a location other than the battlefield (excluding GENESTEALER CULTS units that start the battle in ambush) cannot score victory points for the Defender (see Mission Objectives).

Fall Back
The Defender's models cannot be set up or finish a move within 6" of the Attacker's battlefield edge.

Automated Fire Zones
After declaring reserves and transports, but before setting up any remaining units, starting with the Attacker, the players alternate placing automated fire zone markers until there are three on the battlefield. When placing these markers, they must be placed within 1" of the Defender's battlefield edge and more than 6" from any other automated fire zone markers.

At the start of each battle round after the first, the players roll off. The winner selects one automated fire zone marker that has not already been selected this battle round, then selects one of the following options:

• Engage: the closest visible unit within 24" of the marker suffers D3 mortal wounds.
• Stand Down: no effect.

The players then roll off again, repeating the process until each automated fire zone marker has been selected.

Escape
Units from the Defender's army can perform the following action:

Escape (Action): One or more units from your army can start to perform this action at the start of your Movement phase. Each unit from your army that performs this action must be wholly within 3" of the Defender's battlefield edge. A unit cannot perform this action while there are any enemy units within 6" of them. The action is completed at the end of your Movement phase. If this action is completed, that unit is removed from the battlefield, but that unit does not count as having been destroyed for any rules purposes.
PRIMARY OBJECTIVES
Victory points are awarded as follows:

VICTOR BONUS
The victor can select one unit from their army. If that unit can gain a Battle Honour, it gains a Battle Trait of your choice (see the Warhammer 40,000 Core Book). Make a note of that battle Trait on that unit's Crusade card and adjust its Crusade points accordingly.

MISSION RULES

Aqua-extraction Pump
Units from both players’ armies can perform the following action:

Aqua-extraction Pump (Action): One or more units from your army can start to perform this action at the end of your Movement phase. Each unit from your army that starts to perform this action must be in range of a different objective marker. A unit cannot start this action while there are any enemy units (excluding AIRCRAFT) in range of the same objective marker. The action is completed at the start of the next battle round so long as the unit performing it is still within range of the same objective marker.

Flooded
Do not use a Theatre of War in this mission. The flooding of the aqua-harvesting rig is represented by levels, with level 1 being the lowest. At the start of the first battle round, level 1 is active. At the start of each battle round thereafter, after any Aqua-extraction Pump actions have been resolved, the flood levels can change as follows:

• If the Attacker completed more Aqua-extraction Pump actions than the Defender at the start of the battle round, the flood level progresses up to the next level.
• If the Defender completed more Aqua-extraction Pump actions than the Attacker at the start of the battle round, the flood level digresses to the previous level (level 1 is the minimum).
• If neither player completed more Aqua-extraction Pump actions than the other player at the start of the battle round, the flood level does not change.

Each flood level is cumulative, and the effects of each flood level last until the flood level decreases below that level. These effects are as follows:

• Level 1: Subtract l" from the Move characteristic of all models. Subtract 1 from all Advance and charge rolls.
• Level 2: Subtract 1 from the Strength characteristic of all models
• Level 3: Each time a ranged attack is made against a unit, add 1 to that attack's wound roll.
• Level 4: When the flood level progresses to this level, and at the start of each battle round thereafter, each CHARACTER unit suffers D3 mortal wounds. Each other unit suffers D6 mortal wounds.
• Level 5: The Range characteristic of all ranged weapons that models are equipped with is halved.

None of these affects apply to AIRCRAFT.

Shelter from the Floods
While a unit is wholly within an Area Terrain feature and/or on a Hill or Obstacle, it treats the flood level as being one level lower. If the flood level is currently at level 1, that unit is not affected by the Flooded rule.

Sabotage the Water Rig
The Attacker has the first turn.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES
Victory points are awarded as follows:

VICTOR BONUS
The victor of this mission gains 2 Requisition points after this battle, instead of just 1.

MISSION RULES

Objective markers
At the Place Objective Markers step of this mission, the players alternate placing a total of six objective markers on the battlefield, one at a time, starting with the Defender (if your mission does not have this step, set up these objective markers after you have created the battlefield, but before either side deploys). Objective markers can be placed anywhere on the battlefield that more than 6" away from any battlefield edge and more than 12" away from any other objective marker (they cannot be set up on top of terrain features that have the unstable terrain trait).

Scattered Forces
The following rules are in effect:

• During deployment, units cannot be set up within Engagement Range of any enemy models.
• During deployment, units that are set up on the battlefield cannot be set up in a location other than their deployment zone, even if they have a rule that allows them to do so (e.g. Concealed Positions).
• Units cannot move before the first turn begins, even if they have a rule that allows them to do so.

Wild Abandon

• Each time a unit makes a pile-in or consolidate move, it can move an additional 1" for that move.
• All units are eligible to perform Heroic Interventions as if they were CHARACTERS. If a unit is already able to perform Heroic Interventions, it can move an additional 1" when performing a Heroic Intervention.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES
Victory points are awarded as follows:

VICTOR BONUS
The unit from the victor’s army that destroyed the most enemy units gains 3 experience points.

This section contains the following additional rules:

CAMPAIGN BADGE
At the end of every battle that is part of an Obolis Invasion Campaign, every unit that was part of your Crusade army in that battle that does not already have it gains the Obolis Invasion Campaign Badge. Such a unit gains the OBOLIS INVASION keyword. This will allow it to access various Crusade rules presented in this section. Note that it keeps this keyword, and therefore any associated Battle Honours, for future battles, even if those battles are not part of an Obolis Invasion Campaign.

CRUSADE RELICS
In addition to the Crusade Relics presented in other sources, whilst playing an Obolis Invasion Campaign your characters can gain Crusade Relics; these Relics are categorised based on the allegiances from the War Zone Charadon campaign, and can only be given to units that match those allegiances.

BATTLE TRAITS
Various units can be given one of the Battle Traits presented below as they gain experience during an Obolis Invasion Campaign and are promoted in your Crusade force. These help to better reflect the unique upgrades and Battle Honours that are earned by fighting in War Zone Charadon.

WEAPON ENHANCEMENTS
The Weapon Enhancements presented below can be used on units that gain a rank during an Obolis Invasion Campaign. These upgrades represent the proliferation of technology present in War Zone Charadon, whether it is bestowed by a forge world in defence of their lands, or seized by those invading and raiding.

REQUISITIONS
In an Obolis Invasion Campaign, Crusade forces have access to additional Requisitions inspired by the events of the War Zone Charadon campaign.

ARTIFICER RELICS
An OBOLIS INVASION CHARACTER model can be given one of the following Artificer Relics instead of one of the ones presented in the Warhammer 40,000 Core Book.

Xanthon’s Haptic Skull

Xanthon was one of Metalica’s finest artificers, and after bionic enhancement rendered his skull redundant, he used this vestigial bone to house an array of augers, photo-sensors and laser sights. This servo-skull links to the owner’s own nervous system, guiding their aim to ensure the target’s destruction.

IMPERIUM INFANTRY model only. Each time an attack is made by the bearer:

• You can ignore any or all hit roll and Ballistic Skill modifiers for that attack.
• The target does not receive the benefits of cover against that attack.

Tsorr’Kanath’s Forbidden Grimoire

A fell tome taken from Tsorr’Kanath’s sepulchral library, bound in Daemon hide and wrapped in silver chains, it has remained unopened for centuries, but nonetheless imbues its dark knowledge of murder to whoever possess it.

CHAOS INFANTRY model only. Once per battle round, you can re-roll one hit roll, one wound roll or one damage roll made for the bearer.

Mimic Shroud

This esoteric device is of unknown origin and bears an unfathomable rune which, when pressed, projects a holographic field that distorts the image of the bearer, making them indistinguishable to those nearby.

INFANTRY model (excluding IMPERIUM and CHAOS models) with a Wounds characteristic of 9 or less only. Each time an enemy unit is selected to shoot, your opponent cannot use any abilities that would allow attacks to ignore the Look Out, Sir rule in order to target the bearer.

Each time an OBOLIS INVASION unit gains a Weapon Enhancement, you can use the list below for a Ranged Weapon instead of one of the tables in another source to determine what Weapon Enhancement the unit has gained. Unlike other Weapon Enhancements, which have a table that can be rolled on to select randomly, you must select which Weapon Enhancement is gained. Each weapon can only have a single Weapon Enhancement from the following list. All of the other rules for Weapon Enhancements, as described in the Warhammer Core Book, still apply.

As with any Battle Honour, make a note on the unit's Crusade card when it gains a Weapon Enhancement and increase its Crusade points accordingly, as described in the Warhammer 40,000 Core Book.

Where one-off games against favoured opponents and new foes alike offer plenty of fun and enjoyment, campaigns are something special, adding even more excitement, consequence and narrative to every tabletop clash. By entering a campaign you get to play not just one game, but a series of interlinked battles. You’re not just playing to see who wins, but to seize hard-fought territory or resources, avenge an earlier defeat or earn fresh rewards for your army. Before each battle, you determine context; where the conflict is taking place, why, and what stakes and consequences it will have. At each games end you discover what cost the battle has levied on your forces, and what experience or potent relics they have gained. If participating as part of a team, you play knowing your fellow campaign commanders are battling at the same time on nearby tabletops, all of you fighting for the same goal. It is an exciting and immersive experience.

At its heart, playing in a campaign is a narrative experience that forges war stories you and your fellow commanders will share for years to come. It can be the highlight of an entire gaming year and can spawn future events where you revisit old grudges or beloved settings. Whether you’re completely new to campaign gaming, or a veteran looking for a new thrill, all you need to do is gather your armies and read on to discover how to get the most out of War Zone Charadon.

Introduction

A Charadon Aflame campaign allows a group of players to get together, form alliances and play a series of games. It is split into campaign phases, each of which consists of multiple battles fought with War Zone Assets inspired by the conflict of War Zone Charadon. At the end of each campaign phase, the alliance with the most war zone points achieves victory in that phase, then each alliance starts again for the following campaign phase, meaning the outcome of the campaign is at stake in each and every game from start to finish.

Veterans of War Zone Charadon will recognise that the campaign structure closely matches that of an Obolis Invasion campaign found in War Zone Charadon Act 1: The Book of Rust. A Charadon Aflame campaign builds upon an Obolis Invasion campaign, however, by providing War Zone Assets that can turn the tide of your battles, as well as new Campaign Master’s Edicts. These are explained below.

All across the Charadon Sector, brutal battles were fought for control of various strategic assets that could turn the tide in the war. In each phase, these assets changed hands as one sides ascendancy grew. In a Charadon Aflame campaign, these assets are represented by War Zone Assets, and are additional tools that the players from each alliance can use to secure victory. They are assigned to alliances as follows:

At the start of the first campaign phase, each alliance alternates selecting one War Zone Asset that has not been selected this phase. That War Zone Asset is assigned to their alliance. They then repeat this process until each alliance has a number of assigned War Zone Assets as specified by the table below. The Campaign Master decides each alliance’s priority for selecting War Zone Assets. For example, if the players previously played an Obolis Invasion campaign from WarZone Charadon Act 1: The Book of Rust, the winning alliance from that campaign could select their first War Zone Asset first, followed by the alliance that came second, and so on. Alternatively, the Campaign Master may decide to allow an alliance that has less players to select first, or may allow the Defenders to select first as they currently occupy the Charadon Sector.

At the start of each campaign phase thereafter, all War Zone Assets are no longer assigned and the alliances select them for assignment again. The order of selection correlates to the amount of war zone points each alliance earned in the preceding campaign phase, i.e. the alliance with the most war zone points selects first.


Before the battle, after determining Attacker and Defender, both players can select one of their alliance’s assigned War Zone Assets to use in the battle. In addition, if their army is Battle-forged, each player can use the Asset Requisition Stratagem below.


The War Zone Assets available for assignment are as follows:

ORDNANCE BATTERIES

Whether orbital silos, emplaced ordnance shrines or menacing low-orbital bombardment arrays, the worlds of the Charadon Sector bristle with defensive weaponry that can be seized and turned against the foe.

In the first battle round:

• Subtract 2" from the Move characteristic of enemy models.
• Enemy units cannot Advance.
• Each time a charge is declared for an enemy unit, roll one less D6 for that charge roll.

FLEET BLOCKADE

By moving void assets into position, the very skies of a world can be denied to the foe, choking off their supply trains and crippling their strategic options.

Other than Strategic Reserves, enemy units cannot be set up in a location that is not on the battlefield. If a rule would specify it must be set up in a location that is not on the battlefield (e.g. Drop Pod Assault from Codex: Space Marines), it must be set up in their deployment zone instead.

RITUAL SITE

In a galaxy that echoes with the dark laughter of thirsting gods, employing sorcery and religious ritual to curry favour with fate is a valid battlefield strategy.

When determining which player has the first turn, if your dice result is 1-3, you can use this War Zone Asset. If you do, both players roll off again (the second roll-off must be accepted).

AUGUR SWEEP

From void craft in orbit or fortified positions behind the lines, powerful data-augurs and auto-oracles scour the battlefield, laying bare its secrets and revealing new routes of attack.

In the Declare Reserves and Transports step, you gain 3 additional CPs to spend on placing units into Strategic Reserves (if you do not spend these CPs to place units into Strategic Reserves, these CP are removed at the end of that step).

AERIAL RECONNAISSANCE PASS

Soaring upon fiery thermals, combat aircraft and strange aerial war engines peer down upon the battlefield below. Their gaze is inescapable, their revelations vital.

After both players have deployed their armies, select up to D3 units from your army (excluding TITANIC units) or one TITANIC unit from your army and redeploy them anywhere within your deployment zone. They cannot be placed in a location other than on the battlefield. If both players have abilities that redeploy units, roll off; the winner chooses who redeploys their units first.

SUPPLY CACHES

Drawing reserves of fuel and ammunition from prepared sites throughout the wider war zone ensures your forces are ready to launch a swift and deadly advance.

After the Deploy Forces step, select one unit from your army wholly within your deployment zone. It can make a Normal Move of up to 6". If your opponent has any abilities that redeploy units, roll off; the winner chooses who uses their ability first.

COMMAND UPLINK

Up-to-the-minute commands flow through crackling vox channels, sorcerous conduits or noospheric data-tethers, giving your army’s footsoldiers the strategic edge.

In your first Command phase, select a number of INFANTRY units in your army (excluding CHARACTER units) as specified below to gain the Objective Secured ability until the end of the battle.


LOCAL RESISTANCE

Whether it be partisan guerillas or ghoulish packs of roving neverdead, the wilds bordering this battlefield are busy with hidden forces intent upon the slaughter of your foes.

During the battle, enemy units cannot be set up within 9" of the edge of the battlefield (excluding their own battlefield edge) unless they are disembarking. Note that this means enemy units cannot arrive from Strategic Reserves unless they can be set up more than 9" from every edge of the battlefield other than their own battlefield edge.

MINEFIELDS

From crude spring-charges and improvised fragmentation bombs to anti-personnel mines packed with blade-sharp Aquilas, gruesome blight-pustules or lethal melta-mines, the variety of explosives that can be seeded across the battlefields of the 41st Millennium is as bewildering as it is nightmarish.

Each time an enemy unit wholly within your deployment zone or within 6" of your deployment zone Advances, roll one additional D6 and discard the highest result.

Each time a charge is declared for an enemy unit, if a target of that charge is wholly within your deployment zone or within 6" of your deployment zone, roll one additional D6 and discard the highest result.

In either case, if all dice results are the same, select one result to be discarded.

FORTIFIED POSITIONS

With time, resource and strategic forewarning you have been able to fortify this entire stretch of the front, providing your warriors with additional protection against the weapons of the foe.

Units from your army (excluding AIRCRAFT units) gain the benefits of Light Cover. A unit loses this benefit for the rest of the battle if it makes a Normal Move, Advances, Falls Back or makes a charge move.

WITCH-SIGHT

Cabals of sorcerers, broods of psychic mutants, soulbound astropaths and countless other sensitives scry the paths of fate or seek to pluck the enemy’s secrets straight for their generals’ minds.

Once per battle round, you can use the Command Re-roll Stratagem for 0CP.

FAITHFUL RESURGENCE

Whether it be the result of inspired oratory, the influence of a high-profile act of martyrdom or sheer fear of religious reprisal, faith is one of the most powerful military motivators in the 41st Millennium.

Add 1 to Combat Attrition tests taken for units in your army.

Each time a model in your army makes a melee attack, if its unit made a charge move this turn, you can re-roll hit rolls of 1.

DOCTRINE OF DENIAL

Whether by the use of contra-empathic jammers, keenly aimed propaganda, targeted toxins, psychic besiegement or countless other insidious measures, you have all-but-neutralised some of the foe’s most potent abilities.

Halve the range of the aura abilities of enemy units.

TECHNOLOGICAL VAULTS

Having raided ancient caches of archeotech, or else gained access to previously restricted armouries behind the lines, you have been able to equip your warriors with the very best weaponry.

In a Crusade mission, when you reveal this War Zone Asset, you can select one unit from your army to gain a Weapon Enhancement for that battle (you do not need to adjust its Crusade points total).

Once per battle round, you can use a Wargear Stratagem that your army has access to for 0CP.

SHROUDING ARTIFICE

There are insidious technologies and supernatural miasmas that may be drawn across the battlefield like a shroud, the better to obscure your warriors from the enemy’s sight.

Once per battle, in your Command phase, you can use the Shrouding Artifice. If you do:

• Until the start of your next Command phase, the battlefield is shrouded.
• In your next Command phase, roll one D6: on a 4+, until the start of your next Command phase, the battlefield is shrouded.
• In the third and following Command phases after you use the Shrouding Artifice, the battlefield is no longer shrouded.

While the battlefield is shrouded,, each time a model shoots, units that are more than 24" away from that model are not eligible targets.

The war for the Charadon Sector is epic in scope, with mighty battles fought across countless fronts. Heroic - and infamous - deeds are performed by those blessed with talent, courage and luck. While those mighty deeds might not always be enough to win a battle, they inspire fellow warriors with tales worthy of record. A Campaign Master can introduce Heroic Achievements into a Charadon Aflame campaign to reward players for completing epic deeds upon the battlefield. If they do, the list of Heroic Achievements below are active for the duration of the campaign.

At the end of each battle, each player can select one Heroic Achievement they completed during that battle. They then select one of the following rewards:

• Receive 2 additional war zone points for their alliance.
• If the campaign is using Crusade forces, a player can receive that Heroic Achievement’s reward.

Each Heroic Achievement’s reward can only be received once per player (in subsequent battles, they must select to receive 2 additional war zone points).

At the end of each campaign phase, the alliance that completed the most Heroic Achievements during that phase earns additional war zone points equal to the total number of players in the opposing alliances.

Heroic Achievements and their rewards are as follows:

At the end of the battle, each player adds up the total Power Rating (or, if your game is using a points limit, the points value) of the units from their army that have not been destroyed. This Heroic Achievement is completed if the total for each player’s remaining army is 10% or less of their starting total (they cannot achieve this if all of their units have been destroyed), and the difference in victory points between both players is no more than 10. Note that this Heroic Achievement would be completed by both players.


This Heroic Achievement is completed if an enemy WARLORD is destroyed as a result of a melee attack made by your WARLORD.


This Heroic Achievement is completed if an enemy WARLORD is destroyed by your WARLORD (excluding as a result of a melee attack).


This Heroic Achievement is completed if, at the end of the battle, there are a minimum of four objective markers on the battlefield and you control every objective marker on the battlefield.


This Heroic Achievement is completed if, at the end of the battle, a unit from your army with a Starting Strength of 10 or more models has one model remaining, and that model is within your opponent’s deployment zone, within range of an objective marker that is not within your deployment zone, or within Engagement Range of any enemy units.


This Heroic Achievement is completed if an enemy unit is destroyed as a result of an attack made by a model in your army, and that attack’s strength was half or less than the enemy unit’s toughness.


This Heroic Achievement is completed if two or more enemy units are destroyed as a result of psychic powers manifested by one PSYKER unit from your army.


This Heroic Achievement is completed if every unit in your army has been destroyed, but you scored more victory points from the mission objectives (other than secondary objectives if you are playing a matched play game) than your opponent.


This Heroic Achievement is completed if four or more enemy units are destroyed during the battle by one unit (excluding TITANIC units) from your army.


This Heroic Achievement is completed if, at the end of the battle, a CHARACTER unit from your army with one wound remaining is on the battlefield, and that unit destroyed one or more enemy units during the battle.


This Heroic Achievement is completed if a player achieves 90 victory points from the mission objectives.


At the end of the battle, this Heroic Achievement is completed if every unit from your army (excluding AIRCRAFT units and units with the Fortification Battlefield Role) is within your opponents deployment zone and there are a minimum of four units from your army within your opponents deployment zone (excluding AIRCRAFT units and units with the Fortification Battlefield Role).

MISSION OBJECTIVES
Victory points are awarded as follows:


VICTOR BONUS
The victor of this mission increases their Requisition points to 5 and their Warlord gains 4 experience points.

The player that scored victory points for the Nightmare mission objective selects two units from their army to be Marked for Greatness after the battle, instead of just one, even if they were not the victor.

MISSION OBJECTIVES
Victory points are awarded as follows:


VICTOR BONUS
Each unit from the victor’s army that destroyed one or more enemy units gains 1 experience point. If they destroyed three or more enemy units, they are Marked for Greatness instead. If any units from the victor’s army are Marked for Greatness in this manner, the victor does not select a unit to be Marked for Greatness as normal.

MISSION OBJECTIVES
Victory points are awarded as follows:


VICTOR BONUS
The victor of this mission increases their Requisition points to 5 and their Warlord gains 4 experience points.

The player that scored victory points for the Malevolent Code Objective selects two units from their army to be Marked for Greatness after the battle, instead of just 1, even if they were not the victor.

This section contains the following additional rules:

CAMPAIGN BADGE
At the end of every battle that is part of a Charadon Aflame campaign, every unit that was part of your Crusade army in that battle that does not already have it gains the Charadon Aflame Campaign Badge. Such a unit gains the CHARADON AFLAME keyword. Note that it keeps this keyword, and therefore any associated Battle Honours, for future battles, even if those battles are not part of a Charadon Aflame campaign.

REQUISITIONS
In a Charadon Aflame campaign, Crusade forces have access to additional Requisitions inspired by the events of the War Zone Charadon campaign.

CRUSADE RELICS
In addition to the Crusade Relics presented in other sources, whilst playing a Charadon Aflame campaign your characters can gain additional Crusade Relics. You will also find a list of Relics here that are recovered from one of the slain characters that fought amidst the events of War Zone Charadon - these can be bestowed onto your own characters at the end of a Charadon Aflame campaign.

INSULT TO INJURY
A Charadon Aflame campaign introduces a new way in which you can apply a Battle Scar to an opposing WARLORD should you defeat them in battle. Below you will discover the rewards you gain for inflicting these on your opponent and the penalties they must endure until they can recover from the loss. However, such a WARLORD will gain the ability to settle the score should they face that opponent in battle later during the campaign.

LEGENDARY TITLES
In addition to gaining experience and Battle Honours over the course of a Charadon Aflame campaign, a CHARACTER in your Crusade force can be bestowed a Legendary Title. These are all inspired by the aftermaths of the War Zone Charadon story, and help you to acknowledge those heroes (or villains) that helped bring such events to fruition.

Antiquity Relics

A CHARADON AFLAME CHARACTER model of Heroic rank or higher can be given one of the following Antiquity Relics instead of one of the ones presented in the Warhammer 40,000 Core Book. Add 1 to a unit’s total Crusade points for each Antiquity Relic it has - this is in addition to the +1 from gaining a Battle Honour, for a total of +2.

Crown of Shadows

This corona of darkness wreathes the wearer’s temples, allowing them to speak with the voice of the Dark Master himself.

CHAOS INFANTRY model only. Once per battle, in your Command phase, select one friendly CHAOS unit (excluding VEHICLE or MONSTER units) within 9" of the bearer. Until the start of your next Command phase, each time a model in that unit makes an attack, you can re-roll the hit roll and you can re-roll the wound roll.

Aegis Indomitus

This badge bears the sigil of Indomitus Crusade Fleet Primus on one surface. On the reverse are powerful hexagrammic wards in thrice-blessed silver to shield against the horrors of the warp.

IMPERIUM INFANTRY model only.

• The bearer has a 4+ invulnerable save.
• Each time the bearer would lose a wound as the result of a mortal wound, roll one D6; on a 4+, that wound is not lost.

The Wurm’s Bite

Xenos scavengers succeeded in capturing a sample of Typhus’ Nemesis Wurm plague, and have distilled it into a venom that infects enemy machinery with degenerate scrapcode.

• INFANTRY model (excluding IMPERIUM and CHAOS models) only.
• Each time the bearer makes a melee attack against an enemy VEHICLE unit, add 1 to that attacks wound roll.
• If one or more melee attacks made by the bearer are allocated to an enemy VEHICLE model whose characteristics can change as they suffer damage, after the bearer has resolved all of its attacks, roll 3D6. If the result exceeds the Leadership characteristic of the enemy VEHICLE model, then until the end of the battle, that model is infected with scrapcode. While a model is infected with scrapcode, it must halve its current number of wounds when determining what characteristics to use.

Recovered Relics

Tertian’s Logister Cortex

Decitor Septrax-Tertian was a Skitarii Marshal whose tactics were founded upon unparalleled logic. On his death, his cortical implant was retrieved and implanted into a servo-skull that he might impart his tactical acumen to the Omnissiahs true believers.

ADEPTUS MECHANICUS INFANTRY model only. Each time you use a Battle Tactic or Strategic Ploy Stratagem, if the bearer is on the battlefield, roll one D6: on a 4+, you gain 1 Command point, irrespective of the cost of the Stratagem used.

Akhorath’s Eyes

These twitching lenses are rumoured to be the recovered bionic eyes of Akhorath Zeid. Whatever the truth, they constantly search the shadows for hidden foes, and glow blood red in warning whenever they detect a new quarry.

CHAOS INFANTRY model only. Enemy units that are set up on the battlefield as reinforcements cannot be set up within 12" of the bearer.

Blade of Purity

This gleaming sword was wielded in battle by Canoness Joghilde and is said to have dealt Typhus a holy wound that not even his plague-ridden, post-human physiology could heal.

IMPERIUM INFANTRY model with power sword, master-crafted power sword, relic blade or blessed blade only. This Relic replaces a power sword, master-crafted power sword, relic blade or blessed blade and has the following profile:
Bilge Blade

When Plague Captain Oghlosmus Bilge was first transformed into a fleshy mound fused to the deck of his ship, his sword was subsumed into his heaving mass. After his death, the weapon was recovered by a pack of Nurglings, who were delighted to see how the Captains virulent foulness had soaked into the weapon.

NURGLE INFANTRY model with power sword, hellforged sword, balesword or plaguesword only. This Relic replaces a power sword, hellforged sword, balesword or plague sword and has the following profile:

During a Charadon Aflame campaign, if a CHARADON AFLAME WARLORD fails an Out of Action test after a battle that you lost, your opponent can choose to spend 1 Requisition Point in order to add Insult to Injury. If they do, your opponent selects one of the results to the right, which you must note on your Order of Battle. Your opponent then gains the listed reward, your WARLORD gains A Score to Settle (see below) and your WARLORD automatically gains the associated Battle Scar instead of applying any other Battle Scar or Devastating Blow. Your WARLORD will gain this Battle Scar even if it already has 6 Battle Scars. Furthermore, you will not be able to remove this Battle Scar, via the Repair and Recuperate Requisition or by any other means, until after the associated Recovery Condition has been satisfied. Once the Recovery Condition has been satisfied, you can use such rules to remove the Battle Scar if you wish as normal. Note that while an Insult to Injury result can only be applied during a Charadon Aflame campaign, any Crusade battles count towards the Recovery Condition, and A Score to Settle can also be used outside of the Campaign too.

A Crusade force cannot suffer the same Insult to Injury result more than once. If you have already suffered all 3 results, then you must resolve the WARLORD’s failed Out of Action test as normal.

Such was the dire nature of your defeat that news of your opponent’s magnificent victory has resounded across the war zone, emboldening the enemy’s resolve.

Victor’s Reward: The victor gains D3 additional war zone points for their alliance (pg 48).

Loser’s Battle Scar: If this unit is included in a Crusade army, roll one D6 each time you gain a Command point as the result of the Battle-forged CP Bonus. On a 1-2, that Command point is lost.

Recovery Condition: Increase your Crusade force’s ‘Battles Won’ tally by 3 or more.

While your forces were leaderless and occupied trying to save your life, the enemy took advantage and raided vital supply lines, which must now be rebuilt.

Victor’s Reward: The victor gains D3+1 additional Requisition points.

Loser’s Battle Scar: While this model is in your Crusade force, roll one D6 each time you gain a Requisition point. On a 1-2, that Requisition point is lost.

Recovery Condition: Purchase the following Requisition:

The terror, fear and death this warrior has spread in their wake, as well as their devoted service to the Dark Master, has been rewarded most handsomely.

CHAOS DAEMON or HERETIC ASTARTES unit only. This title cannot be given to a unit that contains any models with a Wounds characteristic of 10 or more.

Each time an enemy model shoots, if this unit is not the closest eligible target or within 18" of that enemy model, then that enemy model cannot target this unit.

This Warlord has been blessed by Typhus himself for playing an instrumental role in the infection of forge world Metalica.

DEATH GUARD unit only.

Add 1" to the range of any Contagion abilities this unit has.

At the end of each battle in which this unit was part of your Crusade army, if you won the battle, roll one D6: on a 5+, you gain one Virulence point.

The heartlands of the Charadon Sector have been left in tatters, a wasteland of ruin, horror and bloodshed, due in no small part to the campaign of destruction you have personally spearheaded.

CHAOS unit only.

Add 1 to the Attacks characteristic of models in this unit.

Once per battle, if this unit is an INFANTRY unit, at the end of the Fight phase, if this model is within Engagement Range of any enemy units, it can fight again.

This warrior was present during the climactic defeat of Lord Akhorath Zeid, and was instrumental in the overthrow of Chaos forces in the Feiror System. They have been honoured accordingly by Abbess Sanctorum Morvenn Vahl herself.

IMPERIUM unit only. Once per battle, if this model is on the battlefield, when you use either a Battle Tactic or a Strategic Ploy Stratagem, that Stratagem costs 0CP. This cannot be used in conjunction with any other ability that reduces the CP cost of a Stratagem.

Having already proved their worth in the defence of forge world Metalica, this honoured servant of the Omnissiah must now shoulder the burden of seeking the planet’s deliverance from its terminal disease.

ADEPTUS MECHANICUS unit only. If this model is included in your Crusade force, when you are selecting Agendas you can select one additional Agenda; this must be the Break the Seals agenda from Codex: Adeptus Mechanicus. This can be selected even if you have selected another Adeptus Mechanicus agenda.

Amidst the rubble and corpse piles of Charadon are buried countless archeotech wonders. This warlord has salvaged an impressive stockpile of such artefacts.

At the end of each battle in which this unit was part of your Crusade army, if you won the battle, you can use the Relic Requisition once without spending any extra Requisition points.

The Alumax System descended into barbarous anarchy in the wake of the Charadon war, and this warlord has wasted no time in seizing the opportunity to establish an empire of their own within its tormented bounds.

At the end of each battle in which this unit was part of your Crusade army, if you won the battle, increase your Supply Limit by 1.

At the end of each battle in which this unit was part of your Crusade army, roll one D6, adding 2 to the result if you won the battle: on a 6+, you gain 1 Requisition point.

Though Lord Thraxoplasmox may have departed upon Typhus’ orders, there are still substantial traitor and xenos forces fighting in the Chromyd system. This warlord sees opportunity and glory in the ongoing conflict.

At the end of each battle in which this unit was part of your Crusade army, roll one D6, adding 2 to the result if you won the battle: on a 6+, you can select one additional unit from your army to be Marked for Greatness.