Escher Terrain
Source: House of Blades
Gangs often make cunning use of terrain in their battles against their rivals. Sometimes this is whatever is lying around the underhive battlefield, such as barrels for cover or boltholes from which to launch ambushes. Other times they bring the terrain with them, setting up fixed weapon platforms, defensive barricades or piles of ammo crates within easy reach of their fighters.
Escher gangs can call upon a number of specialist terrain features to include in their gang. These pieces of terrain are bought from the Trading Post during the post-battle sequence. Once bought, they are added to the gang’s stash, and can be fielded in any battle the gang plays unless noted otherwise.
Placing Gang Terrain
Gang terrain is placed on the battlefield before any fighters are deployed. A gang can place its terrain in its own deployment area, or, if noted, in no-man’s-land (i.e., anywhere outside their opponent’s deployment zone and their own deployment zone). Some pieces of terrain (as noted in their descriptions) can only be used if the gang is the defender in a scenario with an attacker and a defender.
Escher Terrain
| Terrain | Cost (Credits) | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Blade Cages | 50 | Rare (9) |
| Decapitators | 75 | Rare (11) |
| Gas Canisters | 15 | Common |
| Gas Censers | 50 | Rare (10) |
| Chymist Cult Relic | 100 | Rare (10) |
Hidden Traps
Some traps are cunningly hidden among the gloom and debris of the underhive, fighters not knowing if a pile of rubble is just more rubbish or a deadly surprise. If a trap uses the Hidden Traps rule then it is represented on the battlefield by not one but six markers. These markers can be tokens, or appropriate terrain elements on 25mm bases. When preparing these markers, one out of the six is the real trap (mark its underside, or secretly make a note to determine which one is real), the others are false traps. When a fighter triggers a trap, as detailed in the trap’s description, it is revealed. False traps are discarded while the real trap remains on the board. Note that even when the real trap is revealed, other false traps remain on the board until they have been interacted with – this is important if more than one trap is in play, as it will keep the enemy guessing as to just how many traps remain to be discovered.
Gas Canisters
Gas Canisters can be represented by a marker, or an appropriate model placed on a 25mm base. Gas Canisters can be moved in the same manner as Loot caskets (see the Necromunda Rulebook). A friendly fighter within 1" of a Gas Canister can use it as if it were chem-synth, increasing the lethality of their Gas weapons. Note that unlike a normal chem-synth, a Gas Canister can only be used to enhance weapons with the Gas trait.
Gas Canisters can be targeted by ranged attacks just as if they were fighters, and may be affected by Blast and Template weapons if they are touched by a Blast marker or Template marker. Gas Canisters have a Toughness of 3, and if they take any damage are destroyed and removed from the battlefield. When a Gas Canister is destroyed, place a 3" Blast marker over its position before removing it from the battlefield. All fighters touched by this marker take a hit from a weapon with the Gas trait.
Blade Cages (Trap)
Blade Cages are Traps, and use the Hidden Traps rules. Blade Cages can be set up anywhere on the battlefield outside of your opponent’s deployment area.
When an enemy fighter moves within 2" of a Blade Cage marker, they must immediately stop and make an Initiative check. If this check is passed, they can continue their movement as normal. If it is failed, flip over the marker to see if it is the real trap as per the Hidden Traps rule. If it is a false trap, discard the marker. If it is the real trap, the fighter is moved into base contact with the marker and gains the Webbed condition. As long as a Blade Cage has trapped a fighter, it cannot trap additional fighters, and fighters moving past it do not need to make Initiative checks to see if they are caught.
Blade Cages can be removed by performing the Disarm (Basic) Action and passing an Intelligence check, while within 1" of the marker. If this check is failed, the fighter becomes trapped as detailed above.
Decapitators (Trap)
Decapitators are Traps and use the Hidden Traps rules. Decapitators can be set up anywhere on the battlefield outside of your opponent’s deployment area.
When an enemy fighter moves within 2" of a Decapitator marker, they must immediately stop and make an Initiative check. If this check is passed, they can continue their movement as normal. If it is failed, flip over the marker to see if it is the real trap. If it is a false trap, discard the marker. If it is the real trap, the fighter must immediately roll an Injury dice and apply the results.
Decapitators can be removed by performing the Disarm (Basic) Action and passing an Intelligence check, while within 1" of the marker. If this check is failed, the fighter must roll an Injury dice as detailed above.
Gas Censers
Gas Censers hung from domes or doorways slowly release toxins into the air.
They can be represented by either a marker or a piece of terrain on a 25mm base. Gas Censers can be set up anywhere on the battlefield outside of your opponent’s deployment area.
In the End phase, a fighter within 3" of a Gas Censer must make a Toughness check, adding any bonuses to the roll for Wargear and armour that protects against weapons with the Gas trait. If this check is failed, or the roll was a 6, the fighter suffers an immediate Flesh Wound.
Gas Censers can be thrown by a friendly fighter in base contact with them, just as if they were a grenade. Work out this attack as normal, counting the Gas Censer as a Choke Gas grenade. Once the attack has been worked out, remove the marker from the battlefield.
Chymist Cult Relic (Gang Relic)
A Chymist Cult Relic counts as a Gang Relic (see the Necromunda Rulebook). In addition, a friendly fighter within 3" of a Chymist Cult Relic can use it as if it were chem-synth, increasing the lethality of their Gas and Toxin weapons. Seriously Injured friendly fighters within 3" of a Chymist Cult Relic count as being assisted by a friendly fighter making Recovery rolls.
Enemy fighters who end their activation within 3" of a Chymist Cult Relic must make a Toughness check, adding any bonuses to the roll for Wargear and armour that protects against weapons with the Gas trait, or immediately suffer a Flesh Wound.
Escher gangs can only include a Chymist Cult Relic if they are the defender in a scenario with an attacker and defender. A Chymist Cult Relic can be represented by an appropriate marker or a suitably impressive piece of industrial terrain, painted in the colours of the gang and hung with Escher icons.
Note that if the relic is defiled (see the Necromunda Rulebook), it loses the bonuses it provides to Cool and Leadership checks, but retains its other benefits.