Borderlands Warhammer 40,000 Escalation League
Rules Booklet
Borderlands is hosting a Warhammer 40,000 Escalation League. The league runs for 8 weeks, with
players playing up to 3 games per week and in a tournament each month. The league starts players off
with 500 point armies and builds every two weeks, eventually reaching the 2000 point sized armies.
Each month during the league, a tournament is placed at the same point value as that week’s league.
These tournaments provide players and opportunity to earn extra league points for that month.
League Rules
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Games are played on Wednesdays and Saturdays starting at 6 p.m. Geoff the league director
will be on hand to match players up and to play players who do not have a match.
Players are welcomed to set up their own tables and request match ups. League nights are a
good time to play new people, and we encourage you to play different people each week.
Please treat the terrain, tables, other players, league officials, store employees and the store
with care and respect. If your game is done and no one is waiting to use your table we ask
players to please help put away your terrain and put your tables back.
Players should have fun and resolve disputes fairly.
In the event of a rules dispute cannot be resolved, the league director will make a ruling. Rulings
will be based on the Warhammer 40,000 rulebook, FAQs and the director’s own judgment. Rule
lawyering should not occur.
Army Composition
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Armies follow the rules in the Warhammer 40,000 Rulebook and their army book.
Allies may not be used at first. Once the league reaches 1,500 points, allies may be used.
Selecting Your Army
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Players are encouraged to stick with their armies and build them up and paint them during the
league. If you play the same army throughout the entire league you receive +5 league points.
Players are encouraged to try different lists, experiment with new units and mix things up from
week to week.
No specific items, units, abilities or spells are banned. Players should still build fun armies
instead of min/maxed ‘Ard Boyz style armies. Armies that use broken combinations or are
constructed to abuse certain unit types (i.e. Necron flyer armies) are highly discouraged as they
take away from the fun and friendly aspect of the league.
Models
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Models should represent what they are supposed to be and equipment on the models should be
accurate and identifiable.
What to Bring to your matches:
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Miniatures
Warhammer 40,000 Rulebook
Army Book
Dice
Templates
Two copies of your army list (for yourself and your opponent)
Score sheet from league director or borderlands staff.
Borderlands Warhammer 40,000 Escalation League
Rules Booklet
Escalation League Schedule
Date
July 17th
Point Value
500 points
Scenario
Recon
July 20th
1000 points
40k Doubles Tournament (1000 points per player)
July 24th
500 points
Dark Side
July 31st
1000 points
Rumbling Ground
August 7th
1000 points
Grandfather's Will
August 14th
1500 points
Gravity Shift
August 21st
1500 points
Take and Hold
August 24th
2000 point
40k Tournament
August 28th
2000 points
Warp Stone
September 4th
2000 points
Khorne's Onslaught
September 11th
Award Ceremony and Raffle
Playing & Scoring League Games
During the duration of the escalation league, players can play up to 3 league games per week. The first
game you play each week awards you a number of league points based on the degree of your victory.
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Crushing Victory (you have twice the victory points of your opponent):
Win (you have more victory points than your opponent):
Draw (player’s scores are the same):
Loss (your opponent has more victory points than you):
5 League Points
3 League Points
1 League Point
0 League Points
The following two games each award you 2 additional league points for a win, 1 additional league point
for a draw and 0 additional points for a loss.
Scenarios & Victory Conditions
At the end of each game, players total their victory points. The player who scores the most points wins,
while the other player losses. If both players score the same points, the game is a draw. If the winning
player scores twice (or more) the victory points over the losing player, than the winning player scores a
Crushing Victory. The degree of victory determines how many league points a player earns per game.
Borderlands Warhammer 40,000 Escalation League
Rules Booklet
Tournaments
Tournament games follow the standard scoring for all of Borderlands Warhammer 40,000 tournaments.
For participating in the tournament, league players gain bonus league points based on their final overall
tournament score and the number of attending players in the tournament. The first place receives
bonus league points equal to the number of attendees, each following place receives one less than the
place before, while the last place receives 1 bonus league point.
Painting
Armies should be painted to a minimum table top standard. This means at least 3 colors, not including
primer, and based with grass, gravel, sand or appropriate modeling. Painting points are awarded every
week. You can receive up to 5 painting points per week as follows:
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1 point per fully painted non-character unit. This includes infantry, monsters, vehicles etc. You
can only receive up to 3 points per week from this award.
1 point per newly painted model added to your army. You can receive up to 5 points per week
from this award.
Sportsmanship
After each game, you score your opponent’s sportsmanship by answering the following questions on
your score sheet. For each question you answered yes, your opponent receives a sportsmanship point.
1) Was your opponent prepared and bring all the materials they needed to play, including a
detailed army list for you to refer to during the game?
2) Was your opponent on time and managed their turns and time well while playing?
3) Was your opponent fun to play against and resolve disputes fairly?
Weekly Scores & League Scoring
Each week players receive the total points from their league game, painting points and sportsmanship
points. This is kept as a running total for determining the overall league champion. Points are then
broken down into their categories to determine other league awards.
Awards
This league is about having fun and preparing players who are interested in it for the OFCC. That said,
awards are being given out to participants (regardless whether or not they are playing in the OFCC) at
the end of the league based on the following criteria:
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League Champion (Total of league points and tournament bonus points, painting points
and sportsmanship points)
Generalship (Total league points and tournament bonus points)
Best Army Appearance (Total painting points)
Sportsmanship (Total sportsmanship points)
Borderlands Warhammer 40,000 Escalation League
Rules Booklet
Awards Ceremony and Borderlands Raffle
Additionally, at the end of the league, we will be hosting an awards ceremony and giving out prize
drawings based on purchases made by players on league nights. For every $10.00 a player spends on
league night, they will receive a raffle ticket. These tickets will be used in a drawing at the end of the
league where we will give out Borderlands Gift cards. 1st place in the raffle will be $100.00 Borderlands
Gift Card. Other gift cards will be based on purchases made and player attendance in the league.
Appendix: Scenarios
In this escalation league, we are using both normal missions and special rules featured from the
Warhammer 40,000 main rulebook.
Scenario 1 – Recon
Landing on a remote planet, you send out an expedition force to scout out the terrain to see if there are
any valuable resources or hostile forces.
 Place Primary Objectives: After setting up terrain, each player takes turns setting up 2
objectives each.
 Deployment: Before deploying, players roll for their Warlord traits (pg. 111). Players then divide
the table like in vanguard strike, but deploy within 12” of their table corner across from each
other. Players roll to see who sets up first. Winner of the roll choose to setup first or second.
Any models that cannot be set up must be kept in reserve. Reserves can enter from any part of
the board edge within 12" of controlling player’s corner.
 First Turn: Player who deploys first takes first turn unless opponent seizes initiative (pg. 122)
 Game Length: Game will last for 6 turns. After 6 turns check to see who is the winner.
 Primary Objective: Each Primary Objective is worth 2 victory points.
 Secondary Objectives: Slay the Warlord, First Blood, Linebreaker objectives are each worth 1
victory point.
 Special Rules: Reserves, Mysterious Objectives
Scenario 2 – Dark Side
A lone, unnamed planetoid has been discovered at the edge of the galaxy. Its orbit keeps its lower
hemisphere in darkness and frozen for half of its journey around its sun. The ruins on the planet hold keys
to its long forgotten past. Secure them before they can be used against us.
 Place Primary Objectives: After terrain has been set up, Place a Primary objective in the center
of the table. Then place 2 more objectives 18" to the left and right of the center objective for a
total of 3 objectives.
 Deployment: After warlord traits are chosen. Players roll of to determine sides using the Dawn
of War deployment (pg. 119) After sides are determined, roll off to determine who deploys first.
 First Turn: Player who deploys first takes first turn unless opponent seizes initiative (pg. 122)
 Game Length: This mission uses Variable Game Length (pg. 122)
 Primary Objectives: Each primary objective is worth 3 victory points
 Secondary Objectives: Slay the Warlord, Firstblood, Linebreaker are each worth 1 victory point.
 Special Rules: Reserves, Mysterious Objectives
 Warzone Traits (pg. 368): Fall of Night, Sub-Zero
Borderlands Warhammer 40,000 Escalation League
Rules Booklet
Scenario 3 – Rumbling Grounds
The grounds of this planet have become unstable and the planet itself is sinking into itself. Act fast and
obtain the last bits of valuable resources left.
 Place Primary Objectives: After Terrain has been set up, players take turns placing D3+2
objectives
 Deployment: Before deploying, players roll for their Warlord traits (pg. 111). Players then roll off
to see which side they will set up on using the Hammer and Anvil deployment (pg. 119). After
sides are determined, roll of to see who deploys first.
 First Turn: Player who deploys their army first goes first unless their opponent seizes the
initiative (Pg. 122).
 Game Length: This mission will use Variable Game Length (pg. 122).
 Primary Objectives: Each Objective is worth 3 victory points.
 Secondary Objectives: Slay the Warlord, Firstblood, Linebreaker are each worth 1 victory point.
 Special Rules: Reserves, Mysterious Objectives, Night Fight
 Seismic Cataclysm (pg. 367): The effects of Seismic Cataclysm are in effect starting turn 3. When
rolling to scatter cataclysm markers, markers always scatter the full distance (if a hit is rolled,
use the arrow on the hit symbol).
Scenario 4 – Grandfather’s Will
Grandfather Nurgle has blessed this planet with his glorious blight. Plague and toxic fumes engulf the
planet making it virtually inhabitable except by those who serve the Great Unclean One.
 Place Primary Objective: After setting up terrain, players dice off to see which side they will
choose, then take turns placing a single primary objective in their own table half.
 Deployment: After warlord traits have been rolled, players roll of to determine who sets up
their army first using the Dawn of War Deployment (pg. 119)
 First Turn: The player who deploys their army first takes first turn unless opponent seizes the
initiative (pg. 122)
 Game Length: This mission goes for 7 turns. After 7 turns check to see who the winner is.
 Primary Objective: Each primary objective is worth 3 victory points.
 Secondary Objectives: Slay the Warlord, Firstblood, Linebreaker are each worth 1 victory point.
 Special Rules: Reserves, Night Fight, Mysterious Objectives.
 War Zone Traits (pg. 368): Corrosive Atmosphere, Toxic Mist
 Plague Zone: With the combination of the corrosive atmosphere and the toxic mist the
environment is so horrid that the air itself erodes anything is touches. Starting Turn 2, at the
beginning of each turn a player rolls a D6 for each unit they control on the table. Units that are
embarked on vehicles do not roll, unless the vehicle is open-topped. On a 2+ the unit is
unaffected. On a roll of a 1, the unit reduces its armor save by -1 (example a terminator would
now have a 3+ rather than a 2+) and their weapon gains the "gets hot" special rule. If a model
already has the "gets hot" special rule, then the weapon’s gets hot chance is increased by 1,
thus getting on a roll of 1 or 2. Vehicles suffer -1 to their armor if affected (example: Landraider
would go from AV 14 on all sides to AV13 on all sides. All of these effects are cumulative. If a
unit is affected and doesn’t have an armor save, than it automatically suffers a wound. If a unit’s
weapons cannot get hot any further, than they are destroyed and cannot be used. If a vehicle’s
AV drops below 1, then the vehicle automatically suffers a penetrating hit. Due to the thick mist
of the Plague zone, all models have the Stealth special rule.
Borderlands Warhammer 40,000 Escalation League
Rules Booklet
Scenario 5 – Gravity Shift
Due to an unknown phenomenon, the planet’s gravity is dangerously unstable. The xenos remains upon
its surface might hold answers and must be investigated.
 Place Primary Objective: After terrain has been setup, players take turns setting up D3+2
objectives.
 Deployment: After warlord traits have been chosen, Players roll off to see who deploys on
which short table edge using the Hammer and Anvil deployment. After sides have been chosen,
roll off to see who deploys first.
 First Turn: Player that deployed first takes first turn unless opponent seizes the initiative (pg.
122).
 Game Length: Game will use the Variable Game Length Rule (pg. 122).
 Primary Objective: Each Primary Objective is worth 3 victory points
 Secondary Objectives: Slay the Warlord, Firstblood, Linebreaker are each worth 1 Victory Point
 Special Rules: Night Fight, Reserves, Mysterious Objectives
 Warzone Traits (pg. 368): High Gravity, Low Gravity
 Gravity Shift: Gravity in this mission fluctuates wildly. At the start of each game turn, roll a d6.
On a 1-3, the High Gravity Warzone trait is in effect. On a 4-6, the Low Gravity Warzone trait is in
effect. When Low Gravity is in effect, at the start of each player’s turn, roll a scatter dice and a
D3 for each objective, objectives shift during low gravity. Objectives don't scatter during High
Gravity.
Scenario 6 – Take and Hold
A new reserve of valuable resources has been discovered, but enemy forces are closing in on it. Hold it at
all costs!
 Deployment: After terrain has been set up, Place a marker in the center of the table. After
warlord traits have been rolled, players roll of to determine who sets up their army first using
the Dawn of War Deployment (pg. 119)
 First Turn: Player who deploys first takes first turn unless opponent seizes initiative (pg. 122)
 Game Length: This mission will use the Variable Game Length Rule.
 Primary Objective: At the end of the game, any unit (not just scoring) completely within 6" of
the marker in the center of the board will be worth 1 victory point. Any of your units that are at
full strength or undamaged are worth 2 victory points.
 Secondary Objectives: Slay the Warlord, Firstblood, Linebraker are each worth 1 victory point.
 Special Rules: Night Fight, Reserves
 War Zone Trait (pg. 368): Lifebloom Spores
Borderlands Warhammer 40,000 Escalation League
Rules Booklet
Scenario 7 – Warp Stone
A rock infused with the essence of the warp appears and starts warping the terrain around it. You have
been dispatched to retrieve it before its energy is harnessed by evil forces or it destroys the planet by
pulling it back into the warp.
 Place Primary Objective: Place a single Warp Stone objective in the center of the battlefield
after terrain has been set up.
 Warp Stone: At the beginning of each turn the Warp Stone gives off a strong surge of energy. At
the beginning of each turn roll a D6, on a 4+ the Stone discharges arcs of lightning. Roll a D3 and
place that many markers on the warp stone. The markers scatter as though they were firing
indirectly (pg. 34). For each strike, use a small blast marker with the following profile: Strength
8, AP 5, Pinning. The Warp Stone is seized, moved and dropped using the special rules for The
Relic (pg. 131)
 Deployment: Before deploying, players roll for their Warlord traits (pg. 111). Players then divide
the table like in Dawn of War and roll off to determine deployment. The player that scores
lowest chooses a side and deploys first. Models that can't be set up must be kept in reserve.
Reserves can enter from any part of the board edge within 12' of that player’s table edge.
 First Turn: Player who deploys first takes first turn unless opponent seizes initiative (pg. 122)
 Game Length: Game will last for 6 turns. After 6 turns check to see who is the winner.
 Primary Objective: Warp Stone is worth 3 victory points.
 Secondary Objectives: Slay the Warlord, Firstblood, Linebreaker objectives are each worth 1
victory pt.
 Special Rules: Reserves, Night Fight
 War Zone Traits: Before Seize the initiative is rolled each player rolls on War Zone Trait Table
listed on pg. 368-369 in the Warhammer 40,000 rulebook to determine what effects the warp
stone has had on the terrain since it has appeared.
Scenario 8 – Khorne’s Onslaught
Khorne has influenced everyone inhabiting this world, causing all to fight for one reason and one reason
only, to make the blood flow! Never stopping, always battling, all will fall under Khorne’s rage. Blood for
the Blood God!
 Deployment: After terrain has been set up and players have rolled for their Warlord Traits (pg.
111), players deploy using the Vanguard Strike Deployment (pg.119).
 First Turn: The player that deployed their army first will take first turn unless their opponent
seizes the initiative (pg. 122). That player seizes the initiative on a roll of a 1 or 6.
 Game Length: This mission last for 8 turns. After 8 turns check to see who the winner is.
 Primary Objective: At the end of the game, each player receives 1 victory point for each enemy
unit that is completely destroyed. Units falling back at the end of the game and units not on the
board at the end of the game count as being destroyed for the purpose of the mission.
Remember that Independent Characters and dedicated transports are individual units and
award victory points if they are destroyed.
 Secondary Objectives: Slay the Warlord, Firstblood, Linebreaker are all worth 2 victory points
each as the fury of Khorne wants to see the blood flow!
 Special Rules: Reserves, Night Fighting
 War Zone Traits (pg. 368): Radioactive Hot Zone, Psychic Dead Zone
 Wave Attack (pg 367): This mission uses the rules for Wave Attack rules on pg. 367, with the
exception that both players are able to recycle units for this battle.