Source: Nemesis Crown Supplement · Setting: Nemesis Crown
The province of Nuln is respected across the Empire as the home to the finest handguns and war machines, save for those constructed by the Dwarfs. This makes them a desired commodity for any Imperial army using cannonry and as such graduates from the Imperial Gunnery School are highly prized for their skills in training artillery on vulnerable targets with unerring accuracy and maintaining the war machines.
Perhaps the most surprising fact is that the Imperial Gunnery School does not create new weapons of war. Such tasks are executed by the College of Engineering, either the well known one in Altdorf, where luminaries as von Meinkopt (creator of the Hellblaster) and Pfielmann (Grenade Launching Blunderbuss) were taught, or the Gunnery School’s neighbouring one in Nuln. Once the Colleges of Engineering create a war machine, the Imperial Gunnery School then start training gunners to use them.
One of the requirements of the school is that all students undergo fieldwork to see how weapons perform in the field, and how the students perform too. They are sent out under the tutelage of a Senior Gunnery Officer and an instructor, one who has graduated recently and who knows what is expected with fieldwork. For such an excursion, the group leave the school and Nuln for a period of time and travel wherever they feel. The instructor evaluates the aptitude of the students, making assessments of whether they are likely to graduate. Their abilities vary from undeveloped to talented, but they are always very well equipped.
Special Rules
Impeccable Care: Students are taught to take proper care of their equipment and to repair weapons should they become damaged. As a result, the warband can always use the reduced cost for black powder weapons listed in their starting Equipment List, and they gain an additional +2 on rare rolls to find any black powder weapons.
Properly Used: Students know the proper way to use their weapons. When using the optional Misfire rules, if a one is rolled, roll a second dice. On a 3+ the misfire is ignored (the shot still misses, but the weapon does NOT explode).
Proud To A Fault!: Anyone studying at the Gunnery School is very proud of this fact, as it is a great honour to be accepted. After they start using black powder weapons, students recognise the superiority of these weapons and refuse to bend their knee to the ‘lesser’ ranged weapons. The members of this warband NEVER use any non-black powder ranged weapons (this prohibition does NOT apply to hired swords or dramatis personae, as they are hired help and have not received proper Nuln training).
Choice of Warriors
A Gunnery School warband must include a minimum of three models. You have 500 gold crowns to recruit your initial warband. The maximum number of warriors in the warband may never exceed 15.
Senior Gunnery Officer: Each warband must start with a single Senior Gunnery Officer, no more, no less.
Instructor: A warband may include up to one Instructor.
Senior Student: A warband may include up to one Senior Student.
Underclassmen: A warband may include up to two Underclassmen.
Sons of the Guns: A warband may include any number of Sons of the Guns.
Marksmen: A warband may include up to seven Marksmen.
Pistoliers: A warband may include up to five Pistoliers.
Starting Experience
A Senior Gunnery Officer starts with 20 experience.
An Instructor starts with 12 experience.
Senior Students start with 8 experience.
Underclassmen start with 0 experience.
Henchmen start with 0 experience.
Skill Table
| Combat | Shooting | Academic | Strength | Speed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Gunnery Officer | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instructor | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Senior Student | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Underclassmen | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Gunnery School Equipment List
Hand-to-hand Combat Weapons
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Dagger | 1st free / 2 gc |
| Mace/Hammer | 3 gc |
| Axe | 5 gc |
| Sword | 10 gc |
| Spear | 10 gc |
| Halberd | 10 gc |
| Morning star | 15 gc |
| Double-handed weapon | 15 gc |
Missile Weapons
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Pistol | 10 gc (20 gc for a brace) |
| Double-Barrelled Pistol | 20 gc (35 gc for a brace) |
| Duelling Pistol | 20 gc (35 gc for a brace) |
| Double-Barrelled Duelling Pistol | 35 gc (65 gc for a brace) |
| Handgun | 25 gc |
| Double-Barrelled Handgun | 45 gc |
Armour
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Light armour | 20 gc |
| Heavy armour | 50 gc |
| Shield | 5 gc |
| Buckler | 5 gc |
| Helmet | 10 gc |
Miscellaneous
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Superior Black Powder | 25 gc |
Marksman Equipment List
(Used by Marksmen only)
Hand-to-hand Combat Weapons
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Dagger | 1st free / 2 gc |
| Mace/Hammer | 3 gc |
| Axe | 5 gc |
| Sword | 10 gc |
Missile Weapons
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Pistol | 10 gc (20 gc for a brace) |
| Double-Barrelled Pistol | 20 gc (35 gc for a brace) |
| Repeater Pistol | 25 gc |
| Blunderbuss | 30 gc |
| Handgun | 25 gc |
| Double-Barrelled Handgun | 45 gc |
| Repeater Handgun | 50 gc |
| Hand-held Mortar | 70 gc |
| Pigeon Bombs | 25 gc |
Armour
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Light armour | 20 gc |
| Shield | 5 gc |
| Helmet | 10 gc |
Miscellaneous
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Superior Black Powder | 25 gc |
Heroes
1 Senior Gunnery Officer
60 gold crowns to hire
| Profile | M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | Ld |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 8 |
A veteran of many excursions, extremely skilled and a deadly foe, these Officers have seen a lot of action, sometimes a little too much for some, and have partially retired from the front line to teach. They enjoy these little ‘days out’.
Weapons/Armour: The Senior Gunnery Officer may be equipped with weapons and armour chosen from the Gunnery School Equipment list.
Special Rules
Leader: Any models in the warband within 12” of the Senior Gunnery Officer may use his Leadership value when using Leadership tests.
Hunter: See Shooting Skills.
0–1 Instructor
45 gold crowns to hire
| Profile | M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | Ld |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 7 |
The gunners of Nuln are the most respected in the Old World. They are in charge of keeping up the mighty Empire war machines such as the great cannons. They are well educated and extensively trained, but not yet too battle-hardened, so these excursions give them field experience, even in the smallest things.
Weapons/Armour: The Instructor chooses weapons and armour from the Gunnery School Equipment List or the Marksman Equipment List.
Special Rules
Expert Weaponsmith: The Instructors know every trick in the book when it comes to working with black powder weapons. While there is an Instructor in the warband all Pistol weapons receive a +3” range bonus and all other black powder weapons receive a +6” range bonus.
0–1 Senior Student
45 gold crowns to hire
| Profile | M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | Ld |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 |
The upperclassmen at the school are well acquainted with the forms of combat and mechanics used by the Empire. The years of using pistols and firing cannons has given them plenty of experience with weaponry and this is not their first excursion into the wilds of the Empire. It is likely to be their last before they graduate.
Weapons/Armour: Senior Students are allowed to choose weapons and armour from the Gunnery School Equipment List.
0–2 Underclassmen
20 gold crowns to hire
| Profile | M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | Ld |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 6 |
This is the first excursion for these freshmen, who have had maybe only months of training and shooting. Most will see this as a chance to escape the stuffy halls of academia and go hunting for pleasure. The brighter ones will realise that this is a true test of their dedication and knowledge.
Weapons/Armour: Underclassmen choose their weapons and armour from the Gunnery School Equipment List.
Henchmen
(Bought in groups of 1–5)
Sons of the Guns
25 gold crowns to hire
| Profile | M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | Ld |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 |
Orphans left on the doorsteps of the school, well cared for and trained to take care of the constructs as apprentices and assistants. Many go on to form gun crews for the cannons taken into battle and some even rise as far as commanding such crews. On the excursions, Sons of the Guns provide a much-needed set of arms to carry provisions and spare powder, as well as providing much needed additional firepower in a fight.
Weapons/Armour: Sons of the Guns choose weapons and armour from the Gunnery School Equipment List.
0–7 Marksmen
30 gold crowns to hire
| Profile | M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | Ld |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 |
It is said that some of the finest marksmen in the Empire have graduated from the Gunnery School, though many backwoodsmen in Hochland disagree. Certainly compared to their rural counterparts, Marksmen show more proficiency over a wider range of black powder weapons, even the Long Rifle.
Weapons/Armour: Marksmen choose their weapons and armour from the Marksman Equipment List.
Special Rules
Quick Reload: Marksmen trained at the Gunnery School are forced to practice many drills day after day, including those that teach them to load their weapons for speed under high-pressure conditions. Marksmen have the Hunter skill from the Mordheim rulebook. A Marksman who becomes a Hero gains no further effect from taking the Hunter skill in addition to this.
0–5 Pistoliers
35 gold crowns to hire
| Profile | M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | Ld |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 |
Part of any student’s tutoring involves learning pistols and pistol maintenance and many become crack shots with repeated practice. Sadly they do not devote as much time to learning from the other parts of the curriculum and often graduate through money and luck, returning home to show off their skills, drifting into the army as Pistoliers or Outriders.
Weapons/Armour: Pistoliers choose their equipment from the Gunnery School Equipment List.
Special Rules
Crack Shot: Experts with pistols in close quarters, Pistoliers have an uncanny ability to turn what should have missed into a success. When using pistols in close combat, they may re-roll any missed to-hit rolls with the pistol in the first round of combat.
Special Equipment
This warband has access to the following special equipment when purchasing items from the Trading Post, outside their starting list.
Double-barrelled Duelling Pistol
Cost: 45 + 2D6 gc (80 + 4D6 gc for a brace) · Availability: Rare 11 (Rare 12 for a brace)
A natural evolution from the double-barrelled pistol, but it has proven less popular than envisaged. It had been thought that nobles would invest in them as a showpiece and put a stop to pointless duels, as who would want to shoot a rival who could shoot, miss, and then shoot again, even if you got two shots at them as well. Perhaps the designer should have put a few more hours thinking into it.
Range: 9” · Strength: 4 · Special Rules: Accuracy, Prepare Shot, Save Modifier, Hand-to-hand, Double-barrelled
Double-barrelled Handgun
Cost: 60 + 2D6 gc · Availability: Rare 10
Created from a request by a Nuln nobleman who had been impressed by a demonstration model, the gunsmiths slaved long and hard to replicate it until a final model was forged. By then the noble had forgotten about it and the Colleges were left with a job lot. These were given to the Gunnery School as a gift and sort of disappeared on route.
Range: 24” · Strength: 4 · Special Rules: Prepare Shot, Move or Fire, Save Modifier, Double-barrelled
Double-barrelled Pistol
Cost: 25 + 1D6 gc (46 + 2D6 gc for a brace) · Availability: Rare 9 (Rare 10 for a brace)
Originally created by a forward thinking blacksmith in Ostland for a vampire hunter, the engineers in the College at Nuln picked up on the trick very quickly. The design was simple enough; it is merely a pistol with a pair of barrels and a two-part trigger, which is capable of firing one or both barrels at a time, giving it the ability to punch a hole in even the toughest armour.
Range: 6” · Strength: 4 · Special Rules: Prepare Shot, Save Modifier, Hand-to-hand, Double-barrelled
Hand-held Mortar
Cost: 80 + 2D6 gc · Availability: Rare 12
The explosive power of a mortar, in a small enough package to be carried by a single man, the Hand-Held Mortar enables a warrior to launch an explosive into the midst of the enemy, sowing death and disorder.
Range: 24” · Strength: 4 · Special Rules: Prepare Shot, Move or Fire, Save Modifier, Scatter, Experimental, Explosive Radius
Hersten-Wenkler Pigeon Bombs
Cost: 30 + 2D6 gc · Availability: Rare 8
When the full potential of gunpowder was realized in the Empire, it became only a matter of time before some enterprising engineers combined explosives and small animals. After initial failures with attempts to use rats, bats, and dogs, promising results were realized with pigeons. While not completely accurate due to having something of a mind of their own, pigeons are able to get to even distant targets quickly, and are very hard to prevent from reaching their target once they have been launched.
Range: Unlimited · Strength: 4 · Special Rules: Move or Fire, Temperamental, Explosive Radius, Pigeon Roost
Repeater Handgun
Cost: 60 + 2D6 gc · Availability: Rare 11
The next step in the evolution of multi-barrelled weapons, a Repeater Handgun mounts a number of handgun barrels around a rotating cylinder, each one firing in turn. Prone to misfiring or other malfunction, Repeater Handguns are still highly sought after items, as they will launch a veritable storm of lead at the enemy if they don’t break down.
Range: 24” · Strength: 4 · Special Rules: Save Modifier, Move or Fire, Fire Thrice, Experimental, Slow Reload
Repeater Pistol
Cost: 30 + 2D6 gc · Availability: Rare 9
It wasn’t long after the invention of the repeater handgun that the same principle was being used on pistols. Still prone to misfiring or other malfunction, they have found a place in gunnery bands’ armouries.
Range: 6” · Strength: 4 · Special Rules: Save Modifier, Fire Thrice, Experimental, Quick Reload, Not a Club