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Broken Nose

The insignia of the Broken Nose Tribe as depicted in Total War: Warhammer.

The Broken Nose Tribe, also simply called the Broken Nose, is an infamous tribe of Goblins who migrate constantly between the southern Empire, Tilea, and the Border Princes.[1a][2b][3b][4a]

The Broken Nose Goblins are one of the most successful of the various Greenskin tribes that plague the Worlds Edge Mountains and the surrounding areas. In ages past the tribes were instrumental in the capture of Dwarf holds such as Karak Azgal.[4b]

For Goblins the Broken Nose have an unusual reputation for military professionalism, and have even been known to follow orders of some tactical complexity. Orc warlords often come to agreements with the Broken Nose Goblins, hiring their warriors to serve as scouts or archers.[4b]

History[]

Tribes and Tribulations Greenskins Map

A map displaying the last known location where the Broken Nose Tribe settled in Tilea between the Apuccini Mountains and The Vaults.[5c]

Origins[]

Goblin tribes are usually subservient to tough Orc warbosses. They prefer to skulk around and let the brutal, bolder greenskins do most of the fighting. The Broken Nose tribe is different, because they have shown they can pack a punch far greater than most Goblins. This is not because they are especially brave or fearsome -- it's actually because of their success in deploying pilfered war engines.[5a]

In other ways, the Broken Nose tribe are typical of Goblins that dwell on the plains, mountains, and hills of the Old World. They're a little more disciplined and organised than most tribes, for as long as they keep trouncing their enemies, they rally around their warboss Boggrub Legbiter's banner.[5a]

The Broken Nose are recognisable from the battered noses which give them their name. Each of these Goblins has been through a tribal initiation ceremony, where their warboss ceremonially punches them in the face and breaks their nose.[5a]

For the rest of their lives, they wear their crooked or snub nose as a sign of allegiance and subservience to Boggrub.[5a]

In 2470 IC, the tribe first came to prominence in the eastern Worlds Edge Mountains. The Broken Nose raided Karak Azul and surrounding Dwarf outposts and defeated several armies. A number of captured war machines were amongst the spoils, including the Grudge Thrower they dubbed Skull Crusher and the Organ Gun Lead Belcher.[1a][2b][3b][5a]

The ensuing rampage erupted into a full Waaagh! under Boggrub, as they tore through Dwarf and Human resistance on a march of destruction to the west. Over the years, the Broken Nose strayed further through the Black Mountains, attacking settlements in Averland and the northern Black Fire Pass.[1a][2b][3b][5a] Today, they are chiefly active in the Apuccini Mountains and The Vaults, near Karak Bhufdar and the Dwarf outpost of Zarakzil. Boggrub is eager to stay on the move and once again he's eyeing up the territory of the Empire and its plentiful supply of war machines.[5a]

The Lead Belcher eats up blackpowder, which causes problems for Gutbug. Getting a reliable supply is tricky, as he can't rely on ambushing Imperial travellers to obtain enough. Boggrub wants to trade for some with an unscrupulous Tilean merchant and Luciano Maranza of Trantio seems a likely option, but Boggrub still needs to make him an offer.[5a]

A Journey to Black Fire Pass[]

A small contingent of Broken Nose Goblins, led by Wolf Rider Datzda Shiznit, accompanied Boss Gnashrukk's Orc scouts in their surveillance of Black Fire Pass.[4a] It is unclear whether they are from the same tribe that took part in Waaagh! Boggrub.

Tactics[]

Border-princes

Location of one of the temporary camps inhabited by the Broken Nose tribe in the Border Princes.

If the Broken Nose Goblins attack an enemy army or settlement, they use their war machines and archers to soften up the target before charging in with mobs of infantry to mop up what's left. If they are accompanied by Datza's Wolf Riders or their allied Trolls, they will send them ahead.[5b]

During a battle, small patrols of Broken Nose Goblins attack opportunistically, peppering the enemy with arrow fire until they feel brave enough or impatient enough to charge in. No Goblin wants a fair fight, so they will employ any dirty trick or cunning ruse to make their victory as painless as possible.[5b]

If the Broken Nose are attacked, they go into a frenzy of activity, trying to bring their stolen war machines to bear. In practice, they can usually only ready a Spear Chukka to fire before becoming embroiled in melee.[5b]

The Broken Nose tribe moves every few years, driven by a need for conquest and fear of the harder Orc tribes who would like to conquer them in turn. They live in crude tents amongst the crags and caves of hills and mountains. Boggrub Legbiter and his mob always take the highest point in the camp and make sure the war-machines are dragged close so they can keep an eye on them.[5b]

During the day, Broken Nose Goblins laze around until they're kicked into doing something useful. They scout the area for threats and potential targets, hunt and forage for food, or deal with other greenskins nearby. Countless lesser tribes treat the Broken Nose with a modicum of respect, thanks to their reputation… or more precisely the reputation of their war machines.[5b]

Some Goblins wander the mountain passes looking for fights -- with Tilean patrols, Dwarfs or other Greenskins. If the tribe grow bored, they fight amongst themselves and eat the Snotlings. When it's time to move the Broken Nose load their belongings onto crude carts and the backs of the weaker Goblins then find a new place to live.[5b]

Badlands Map detailed

Goblins of the Broken Nose Tribe former camp in the Badlands.

Waaagh! Boggrub[]

The forces of this Waaagh! included:[1a]

  • Gutbug - Bogrub's lieutenant[1a]
  • Stink, Ratbrain and Pussboil - Goblin champions[1a]
  • Lead Belcher - Another of the tribe's acquisitions from the Dwarfs, Lead Belcher is an Organ Gun, comprising three small bombards and one howitzer.[1a]
  • Badbreath's Beaters - 6 Trolls

Appearance[]

The Broken Nose raided a Tilean textile merchant’s caravan several years ago, now many of them wear grubby jerkins made from black and mustard-coloured cloth as an uniform.[5a]

Miniatures[]

Canon Conflict[]

In Warhammer Armies: Orcs & Goblins (7th Edition), Waaagh! Boggrub starts around Fire Mountain and marches north into Karak Azul and Karak Eight Peaks.[2a] This is consistent with the early stages of their campaign across the Worlds Edge Mountains and into the Black Fire Pass and Averland, described in both that book[2b] and Warhammer Armies: Orcs & Goblins (8th Edition).[3b] On the 8th Edition map, however, the Broken Nose tribe is marked as settled in the northern Apuccini Mountains.[3a]

The reason for so many different locations inhabited by the Broken Nose tribe has been explained in Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition: Tribes and Tribulations, as the tribe has to constantly migrate to flee from their enemies and from other Orc tribes that want to annex them to their own warbands.[5a]

Sources[]

  • 1: White Dwarf 88 (UK)
    • 1a: pp. 40-43
  • 2: Warhammer Armies: Orcs & Goblins (7th Edition)
    • 2a: pg. 13
    • 2b: pg. 15
  • 3: Warhammer Armies: Orcs & Goblins (8th Edition)
    • 3a: pg. 13
    • 3b: pg. 29
  • 4: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 3rd Edition: A Journey to Black Fire Pass (RPG)
    • 4a: pg. 17
    • 4b: pg. 27
  • 5: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition: Tribes and Tribulations (RPG)
    • 5a: pp. 30-31
    • 5b: pg. 34
    • 5c: pg. 7
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