Type 3 - Codename Nachtjäger

One of the most advanced Rift-creations of Lange's Okkultekorps are the terrifying Nachtjäger - with DNA from spliced together from a range of deadly creatures these winged horrors are a fearsome proposition for Allied commanders to combat.

Fast, able to clear obstacles using their leathery wings and with claws sharp enough to pierce tank armour, the Nachtjäger seem to be used by Professor Lange and other Okkultekorps commanders as 'problem solvers' - their ability to switch from one flank to the other, or to quickly secure key objectives, has been used many times to confound Allied plans.

A pair of fearsome Nachtjäger

From the start I knew I was going heavy into the weird side rather than the mechanised side for my Okkultekorps - when I got these they only came in a pack of two, but now Warlord have a four-pack too which includes a couple of other sculpts different to this pair.  I tend to over-rely on the mobility of the Nachtjäger, and they often get caught short, but when they work well they have no equal in what they offer the Okkultekorps!

SS Squad 1

Early on in my Bolt Action collecting/painting I realised I had enough minis to do a rough split between Heer and SS.  That way I can mix, match or theme a force to suit. I deliberately tooled up the SS - especially as they serve double-duty in games of Konflikt 47.

The first squad I equipped entirely with Assault Rifles for maximum dice:

Of course the squad leader (he in the officer cap obviously!) gets a name: Oberscharführer Clemens Pracht.

If I have the points, I'll tend to include this squad in lists - the dice are nice, they are stubborn blighters for the enemy to remove in full and they have a nice range to boot.

Type 2 - Codename Schreckwulfen

One of the most stable creations of the feared Okkultekorps are the monstrous lupine troops known as Schreckwulfen. These beasts are fast, agile, tough and well suited to tracking their prey - they are equally at home stalking through woodland or the streets of towns and villages. Deployed by more strategic minds to assassinate key targets, under the command of the vengeful Professor Lange they are often found hunting down squads of British infantry - a task they excel at; providing they are able to get close enough to tear at their victims with their vicious claws and fangs.

Their production is well-established and it is rare to find an Okkultekorps task force or patrol without a squad of Schreckwulfen.

One of Lange's favourite squads of Schreckwulfen

These are available as a pack of three (which I got), or more recently a box of six (which includes three different sculpts in addition to those above).  I take a squad of these in pretty much every force I compile to take on Trials of a Casual Wargamer... with mixed results!

Heer Squad 1

Upon dropping the GW blinkers Bolt Action was the first game of any size I took up - now, my approach was strictly Hollywood German (or Commando Comics German really!) as I'm no historian!

I picked up the German Grenadier Starter Army Set - which includes lots of plastic Heer Grenadiers.  Obviously the best place to start was a solid squad to form a good core to the collection - 7 rifle-armed soldiers make up the bulk of the squad:

Providing some firepower is an LMG gunner (and his binoculars-using loader mate) and the NCO, which of course gets a name - Fahnenjunker-Feldwebel Walther Grassl - which I gave an assault rifle to, so I can roll more dice!:

These are a standard inclusion in most games that need bodies on the table rather than specific kit or abilities!  As they can also be used in games of Konflikt '47 they frequently get attached to taskforces carrying out the mad schemes of Professor Lange.

Type 1 - Codename Totenkorps

The most numerous of the creations of the infamous Okkultekorps are the Totenkorps - the bodies of the relatively freshly dead reanimated through the mysteries of Rift power and the deviant mind of Professor Lange.

Having been first created a number of years ago the technology and methods of production have reached a stage of being fairly efficient by Rift-tech standards - making them a common sight on battlefields against German forces that have been reinfoced by the Okkultekorps, especially those working alongside Lange.

Despite the setbacks from the destruction of an Okkultefabrik, production of the Totenkorps slowed only for a manner of weeks - Lange, with support from Oberführer Klingemann, was able to secure the resources to build another two such Okkultefabriken in its place.  The Allies are not safe from the diabolical production line of Rift creations it seems!

Generally used as Teergruben these terrifying reanimated corpses are used by wily SS and Okkultekorps commanders to occupy the enemy, typically to stymie their advance until more lethal weapons can be brought to bear to eradicate the enemies of the Reich.

A typical squad of Totenkorps

These are single piece metal minis - there's two each of six sculpts, so enough variety even in a 12 man (zombie?) squad.  

A Tagestour gone wrong

The Professor’s Kubelwagen sped away from the battlefield – Lange took off his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose, letting out a long, tired sigh.

“Now Egon, this was only a Tagestour gone wrong – don’t let it get you down” said Helga in her comforting but strangely authoritative tone.

Professor Lange put his glasses back on and nodded “I suppose you are right Helga, my plans will not be ruined simply because of this – and at least Wōtan only had a couple of scratches.”

“Professor, given today’s… happenings, shall I request an increase in production of Types 1 and 2?” asked Karl from his seat next to the driver.

“Gottverdammt Karl, not just 1 and 2 but 3 and 4 as well – I have a feeling we will be very busy soon enough.  Now, when we get back I must speak urgently with our Ehrengast Dr Dupont..."

For details of the battle and its aftermath check out Trials of a Casual Wargamer - BatRep and Story.

A car journey

“Schneller!” Lange instructed the driver of his Kubelwagen.

“Egon, we have plenty of time, the British can’t possibly know we are coming” soothed the Professor’s bodyguard.

“Gottverdammt Karl, who let Helga into the Kubelwagen?!” Yelled the Professor at his hapless assistant.

A break for a Reemtsma

Commander Marcus Scherzer leant against the gigantic frame of his beloved King Tiger-X, Lieselotte, and lit his Reemtsma cigarette, taking a long relaxed drag before slowly exhaling.  They'd be waiting a while for Lieselotte's ammunition to be fully reloaded and her main gun to be reconfigured following a minor incident with a British patrol a few days ago.

Scherzer surveyed the depot - close by Bastian, Felix and the rest of his crew were sharing jokes, drinking coffee and splitting some Kandiszucker.  Scherzer smiled, he had gone through much with his crew and they were truly like a band of brothers.

Parked near to Lieselotte was a Puma - its paint was scratched, its armour patched but still its crew were proud of their Gisela; Scherzer knew that feeling - unlike many Panzer Aces he didn't look down on what he called 'kleine Brüder'.

Dominating the view were the two towering storage tanks operated by the Okkultekorps under direct command of Professor Lange - Scherzer pondered a moment "what on Earth is Lange brewing in those?".  Another drag of his Reemtsma, and the various Monstrositäten that Scherzer had seen come out of the Okkultekorps came to mind "maybe it's better not to know... Selig sind die Unwissenden!" Scherzer said to himself with a sardonic smile.

Across from Lieselotte Scherzer spotted the famous Zeus nicknamed Wо̄tan. As big as Lieselotte and twice as tall, Wо̄tan was a terrifying sight. "Gott sei Dank! I'm glad that giant serves the Reich!" he muttered.

The guards of the depot, a mere handful, were gathered near the entrance to the depot. The lack of defence indicated that the site was considered safe from the attentions of the enemy. "Maybe we'll have a quiet day for once!" thought Scherzer.

This is for the forthcoming Konflikt 47 game I'll be playing against Trials of a Casual War Gamer - it's a special scenario featuring Armoured Platoons!

A new arrival for the Okkultekorps

Professor Lange sat in his office, head in his hands. "It was all supposed to have been so simple!" he thought.

Three days prior he had personally led a raiding force to obtain suitable Freiwillige for his forthcoming experiments.  Experiments he had to get underway for fear of Klingemann's fury.

He had taken a hand-picked group of men, veterans all, and had supplemented them with his most stable creations; Shreckwulfen and Nachtjäger - both proven in battle numerous times.

He had even requisitioned a Puma, mostly as a statement to the villagers of Paucet to expedite their volunteering.

He hadn't counted on the hated British turning up to save the day.  Galahad armoured troops, two walkers and troops besides - all commanded by that Mistkerl Lieutenant Jenkins. The whole raid had descended into an abject failure for the Okkultekorps.

"Now now Egon, no need to be sad; next time I'll be with you!" came a loud female voice.

Lange bristled, he knew that voice from his childhood...

He looked up startled and saw the Valkyrie-like soldier in his doorframe, her hair up in two plaited buns. "Dammit Karl, when did you let Helga back into the compound?!"

Variety is the spice of life... or something like that!

Coming up the only source for tabletop gaming was GW - of course, I was aware of the concept of historicals and a handful of other systems but GW had such a headlock on the high street presence for gaming that it was the only option most of us ever really had in the UK of the 90s.  Remember, this was back before the internet was anything like it is today – if you didn’t know someone who was already into a system then you weren’t likely to find it on your own.  Growth was slow back then and most of us tended to stick with GW games.

Now, I’m not going to bash GW here – from what I hear they are doing better things game-design wise these days and they aren’t all about 10,000 point armies any more (permit me the hyperbole - that’s how it felt when Apocalypse was first released).  In fact, much of what I see in Kill Team and Shadespire etc. I greatly appreciate the concept of.  I’m just not keen on the aesthetics of modern GW miniatures… although Blood Bowl keeps calling me, I can’t lie!

Of course, regular visitors will know I maintain a love of what I call the OGSG (Necromunda, Mordheim and Gorkamorka in my case) – these are long-term projects I’m chipping away at as an ode to my gaming past.  That certainly won’t change!

But, on to what I am particularly enjoying (playing/painting/armylisting/plotting) at the moment, and why:

Osprey Wargames – what I call the blue book series.  These books provide such a range of settings and styles of game for a great price – probably the highest profile of the blue books is Gaslands.  It seems to have crossed over beyond us wargamers into part of the general tabletop gaming community – perhaps it’s that X-Wing style manoeuvre template vibe.  It’s a fun beer and pretzels style game (or Pringles and Pepsi in me and Trials of a Casual Wargamer's case!) with an easy entry level (grab a couple of cars from Poundland or similar and away you go!).

But there are lots of other interesting games in the blue book series that have encouraged me to delve into worlds and time periods that, when I was a less mature (attitude not age!) gamer, I might have ignored.  Of particular note is that they are mostly skirmish (or similar) – which means having multiple forces for either the same/different game(s) is a far more affordable prospect!

Here are some of my personal favourites from the blue book line:

Chosen Men – Napoleonics without the need for 100s of miniatures, this sparked a force to represent the 1798 Irish Rebellion.  Scratches an itch for an era of history that I never knew I had!  It plays pretty smoothly – cavalry are particularly brutal.

Outremer: Faith and Blood – Crusaders, Saracens, Military Orders and campaign progression, with a playing card-based activation system.  And if, like some people I’ve seen online, you don’t like the setting, then treat it as bands of knights fighting for riches in the medieval land of Generica; sorted.

 
Broken Legions – now, this needs a campaign fix (on the long list of homebrew projects) but mix ancients and fantasy and you get this game about competing warbands of treasure/artefact hunters with added random monsters of myth.  Got loads of warbands for this one – and even homebrewed a new one to represent the Kingdom of Kush (Africa always gets overlooked except for Egypt and I wanted to put that right in my own little way).

Dragon Rampant – the fantasy …Rampant book, this has replaced WHFB for me.  Some criticise its somewhat limited variety of fantastical elements; but then I’m the type who will just homebrew and houserule anything and everything I feel so I’ll add anything I feel is missing.  In that way, I view this as a fantastic toolbox ruleset – and while I’ve got plans for 28mm armies, I keep turning my attention to some 15mm for this one too…

The Pikeman’s Lament – the pike and shot version of the …Rampant books.  I didn’t expect to be hooked by this setting, but despite not having the strongest emotional connection to the era, I still have put together a lot of options for an Irish Confederation force (with redshanks mercenaries of course!).  There’s just something about this ruleset and era that has now intrigued me!

I’ve got projects for various others (En Garde!, Ronin, Rogue Stars and more) but the ones above are my initial priorities (although project/paint queues jump a heck of a lot in ADHS HQ!)

Bolt Action/Konflikt’47 – what started as a ‘why not’ to spread my hobby wings has become probably my most played game ever at this stage (although Across the Dead Earth runs a close second I’d guess).  It became my first fully painted army ever (although I do have a few newer bits awaiting the paintbrush!) and the battles between my Germans and Trials…’s British are without doubt the most entertaining, narrative and bloody games I’ve ever had.  Of course, a lot of that is down to the awesome custom scenarios Trials… writes and the incredible tables he puts together for it.  I’m very grateful to have such a talented and awesome gaming partner-in-crime!

Infinity – these are the pinnacle of science-fiction miniatures for me and the setting has completely captured my imagination (I’ve also picked up the RPG).  The ruleset is almost off-puttingly complicated; but I’m viewing this as a challenge to help improve my mental health.  Seriously, most rulesets I have are quite straight-forward when it comes down to it; and even then I tend to forget most of the special rules or specifics – I believe this to be largely attributable to my poor mental health; but I know that by exercising my brain more it can (and hopefully will) improve memory and comprehension!

Darklands – this is the fantasy reflection of Infinity to me; some of the finest miniatures out there, great lore and setting, dense as all hell rulebook.  This presents the same challenge as Infinity, but I will endeavour to overcome it – the stash of metal and resin I have for it demands no less!  I think these will probably jump up the queue when my metal Maiobhanagh eventually get made as I’m planning an Escalation-style approach to my armies and they are the main missing piece of the puzzle.

There are loads more I could mention – I’ve got so many projects and ideas floating around my head it’s inevitable that they will appear here at some point, so if you are interested in the breadth of the modern wargaming hobby please check back!

Obersturmführer Klingemann - new Konflikt '47 Special Character

Obersturmführer Klingemann sat in his crimson leather chair, his right hand absent-mindedly swirling a deep red liquid within a fine glass. He let out a contented sigh – it had been a long time since he had taken to the field, but tomorrow he would personally lead the forces of the Okkultekorps to secure an ancient artefact of immense power for the purposes of the Reich. Klingemann relished the thought of returning to combat against the hated British!

Mere months ago he had been confined to desk duty – a disgrace for such a decorated soldier – but no more. Klingemann’s thoughts turned to the Verlängerungspille that Professor Lange had supplied him – by some miracle of science they had cured the illness that had kept him away from the war, but more than that…Klingemann felt truly awake for the first time in his life. He knew who he was, who he really was, an immortal warrior reborn to defend the Reich, a Son of Dracul, a Vampir.

Klingemann raised his glass to his thin lips and drank deeply.

Professor Lange’s Personal Notes – Project VP:

Entry 1K
Despite several failures with other Subjects, I believe Project VP holds great potential. I have identified Subject K as suitable for inclusion in the project but suggest that the true status of VP be withheld to avoid possible repercussions from Okkultekorps High Command.

Entry 2K
Subject K has seen remarkable improvements in his previously diagnosed condition since commencing the programme of VP. All vital signs show a return to normal human levels, in several key measures exceeding expectations and displaying equivalent performance to Rift-enhanced individuals. VP may yet hold the key to gaining the upper hand in this war!

Entry 3K
Subject K is displaying severe and alarming physical changes - complete loss of hair, skin lightened, unusual change in ear shape and increase in length of canine teeth. K has adapted well to these changes and reports that he feels ‘better than ever’. Continued monitoring of side effects of VP in Subject K is required.

Entry 4K
Subject K has developed delusions and psychological changes of a scale not yet seen during Project VP. High Command have cleared K for field duty, although I fear there will be continued decline of cognitive functions. Suggest move to next Subject and provide placebo VP to Subject K for remainder of study.

Obersturmführer Klingemann here was a gift from the awesome Trials of a Casual Wargamer.  Inspired by a mention in an Intercepted Transmission he is now able to take to the table with his own special rules (again thanks to Trials of a Casual Wargamer):

Obersturmführer Klingemann 179pts
SS Okkultekorps Captain
Veteran
Tough
Fanatic
IR
Fast
Motivate (once this model is activated you can choose an already activated unit's order die and put it back in the bag)
Blood Fuelled (once this model has killed an enemy in close combat it gains Resilient and Strong for the remainder of the game)

Ziege IX breaks loose!

Karl Fischer, second in command at the Lange Okkulte Einrichtung burst into the main laboratory "Professor, Professor!!"

Professor Lange looked up from his microscope and snapped irritably at his assistant "What is it now Karl?"

Karl was red-faced and puffing for breath - Lange estimated he must have run the length of the facility.  "It's Ziege IX..."

Lange slowly pushed his glasses up his nose as he cast his mind over his many experiments... which one was Ziege IX again? No, not Totenkoloss... not die Schreckwelpen... not Ursula or Genähtermann V... Oh, Gott... not that one...

Karl continued, stammering with nerves "it b-broke out b-before we could terminate..."

"Gott in Himmel Karl, you had one job!! Where is it?"

The Professor's assistant looked sheepishly at his feet "it is headed towards Forlaas..."

Lange went white as his lab coat - after the debacle at the Okkultefabrik and the embarassment of his capture and subsequent rescue his reputation with high command was in tatters - he couldn't afford another accident.  There's nothing else for it, I'll have to owe Mayer yet again...

"Leave Karl, I'll take it from here."

"Of course, Professor." Karl closed the laboratory door behind him as he left.

Professor Lange removed his spectacles and pinched the bridge of his nose tight before rubbing his right temple.  "I just can't get the staff..." he muttered to himself before he reached for the telephone and dialled one number, "put me through to Mayer."

Last known photograph of Ziege IX, taken by the Propagandakompanie on site filming for "Wissenschaft: Sicherer Sieg!"

Yes, the story of Professor Lange continues! If you read Trials of a Casual Wargamer (if not, why not?!) then you may have seen that a bio hazard has escaped... well this here is the Okkultekorps perspective on recent events!

Lieselotte to the rescue!

Following the events at the Lange Okkultefabrik (set up post here) and the abduction of Professor Lange by Lieutenant Jenkins (see the battle rep at the awesome Trials of a Casual War Gamer blog) the Germans have hurriedly drawn together a fast-moving rescue force to intercept Jenkins (and Lange).  Led by Untersturmführer Mayer (yes, the chap who requisitioned Lange's most advanced Totenkorps creations), the rescuers are few in number and an urgent radio message has been sent to all units in the vicinity of Jenkins' escape route...

"Commander Scherzer, we've received a request from Untersturmführer Mayer for assistance."

Commander Marcus Scherzer, feared Panzer Ace and the scourge of the Low Countries, had never had much time for the conniving Mayer or his ilk.  He flicked open his pocket watch, checked the time and stifled a yawn "What is it now Bastian?"

"Sorry, Commander, it seems the Lange Okkultefabrik has been attacked and the Professor has been taken by the British."

Scherzer's eyebrow arched "Oh is that right? And what exactly do they expect us to do about it?"

"Commander, Untersturmführer Mayer is leading a rescue mission and they need reinforcements able to respond in time.  From the co-ordinates received we could join with the Untersturmführer's troops within the hour."

"Hmmm..." Scherzer pondered, idly tapping a finger on the case of his watch.

"Having that Arschgeige Mayer owe me wouldn't hurt...and Lange would have pull with Klingemann no doubt..." Scherzer thought to himself.

"Bastian," the tank commander said with a half-smile, "let Mayer know we are on our way."

"Of course Commander" the radio operator replied before relaying the message.

Scherzer slipped his watch back into his pocket and said to his crew "Never let it be said that Lieselotte ever failed in her duty to the Reich - Felix, let's get moving!"

"Yes Commander!" called back the driver and with a lurch the gigantic, terrifying form of the Königstiger-X, known affectionately by her crew as Lieselotte, headed to join the mission to save Professor Lange.

*Intercepted Transmission from the Lange Okkultefabrik*

Sehr geehrte Oberführer Klingemann,

I trust this correspondence reaches you in good health despite your unfortunate condition.  I have enclosed some of my recently developed Verlängerungspille which I hope will overcome your afflication (*SIS note - this requires urgent further research; suggest Agent Sexton*) and see you return to more active service for the Reich.  Somehow the desk work does not suit you, I fear!

Anyway, I should provide you with my production report as required by the latest directive from the Okkultekorps High Command.  Production of the *redacted by SIS* is at near-capacity; in fact we have had to store some of them in pens within the Fabrik grounds while we await the Logistikkorps to take them to the front. Perhaps you could chivvy them along a little - the Fabrikwächter grow nervous from the groaning!

My earlier attempts at a strain of *redacted by SIS* with retained faculties have been successful; however Untersturmführer Mayer recently requisitioned my personal *redacted by SIS* so until I can replicate my earlier successes in full I must rely solely upon the Fabrikwächter provided by the Heer - although I doubt the damnable British will find my Okkultefabrik, I am certain my cover as a herring-canning factory, and the smell I use to reinforce the ruse, puts off any snooping locals who might be tempted to relay information through the resistance!

I hope my next production update will be upon the Logistikkorps taking the *redacted by SIS* to wipe out the hated British!

Hochachtungsvoll, Prof Lange.

*tranmission ends*

As you might have seen on Trials of a Casual Wargamer - my Okkultekorps are to be the target of a daring raid by British special forces!

Of course, Professor Lange, the mad, evil but genius scientist of the Okkultekorps will be leading my forces, and as it is a raid on a Totenkorps factory he'll be backed up by plenty of his shuffling creations!

There is a small deployment of Fabrikwächter on watch at the Factory - two small squads of infantry and an MMG team.  There are a couple of trucks in the compound too - but they are not military models and have no weapons.

There will be some defensible positions on the table; which will help as I will be facing some of Britain's finest!

Will the Okkultekorps be victorious, or will the British wipe out the sinsiter threat posed by the Okkultefabrik?

Operation Zigarrenlöscher

Information has been received that target Zigarre is currently sequestered with comparatively few guards following the recent redoubling of Luftwaffe attempts to remove London, and with it the British forces, from the ongoing conflict.  High Command has approved Operation Zigarrenlöscher for deployment; a hand-selected cadre of the Reich's finest soldiers led by SS-Untersturmführer Holger Piltz.

The men of Taskforce Zigarrenlöscher have have been armed with MP40s as standard; the dark conditions have increased the importance of rate of fire over range.  Fearing the dread British Automatons, the Taskforce has also brought Panzerfausts on mission. Piltz himself has brought his trusty StG44.

The famed chief of the Okkultekorps scientists, Professor Lange, took little convincing to offer the services of some of his finest Rift-creations - a squad of Schreckwulfen to bring tooth and claw to battle in service of the Reich, and a squad of the infamous Totenkorps to provide fodder while the brave men of Taskforce Zigarrenlöscher complete their glorious duty:

This Taskforce is to take on the British of Trials of a Casual War Gamer - he has written a special scenario we will be trying out and I can't wait!