Josef Bugman was the most famous Dwarf Master Brewer of all time. To a Dwarf the art of brewing is a skill as worthy as that of the greatest artisan. All Dwarfs drink vast quantities of ale, and enjoy nothing better than a raucous evening drinking and singing. There are many famous Dwarf ales, and many renowned brewers, but the name of Josef Bugman stands as a paragon of quality. His family originally came from the Dragonback Mountains, and was driven northwards when the mines at Ekrund fell to the Orcs. Some of the Dragonback Dwarfs moved into the Grey Mountains where they founded new strongholds. Later some of these Dwarfs moved into the Empire where they set up as craftsmen and smiths alongside men.

Josef Bugman's father Zamnil set up in the family trade in the eastern forests of the Empire. He built a stout brewhouse beside the crystal clear waters of the river Sol where it cascades down from the foothills of the Grey Mountains. In order to sell his ale more readily in the Empire Zamnil took the name of Samuel Bugman, and when his son was born he called him Josef. If Josef Bugman ever had a proper Khazalid name (which is likely) then it is not recorded. After his father's death, Josef expanded the business and acquired a considerable reputation for the fine quality and potency of his ale. It was easy for Bugman to ship his barrels on barges down the rivers to the great cities of the Empire where it proved very popular. Soon Bugman's brewery had grown into a small Dwarf settlement and other families came from the Grey Mountains to join him.

With a few years Bugman became a prosperous brewing merchant and a reasonably contented Dwarf. With triumphs like Bugman XXXXXX and the notorious Troll Brew to his name he was already famous throughout the Dwarf realms. His small community lay well off the beaten track and was usually ignored by any armies or raiders rampaging through the region.

One day Bugman went up river with a shipment of Bugman's Special Brew for the Emperor. As he returned home he saw the smoke gently rising from his brewery among the trees and thought it was about time that the great chimney was swept. When his barge rounded the bend of the river, Bugman saw the smouldering ruins of his settlement. A Goblin raiding party had found the brewery. All the ale had been consumed in a drunken orgy of destruction, the vats were smashed, empty barrels floated on the river and there was no sign of any inhabitants. Every last one of them had been taken off by the Goblins to who knew what fate.

Bugman and his companions swore vengeance on the Goblins for this foul deed and resolved to hunt them down and rescue their kinfolk if they could. The band trailed the Goblins across the Worlds Edge Mountains and into the wilderness beyond. Little was heard of them again except for rumours of the ravages of Bugman and his band, of cunning ambushes and night raids on Goblin camps. Sometimes the band would suddenly emerge from the wilds, tattered and blood-stained, to join up with a Dwarf army before a great battle with the Goblins. They kept themselves to themselves, huddled around their own campfire, with a strange glint in their eyes and their hands clasped around tankards of precious ale.

The following Special Character has not been playtested as thoroughly as the ones presented in the army books and is not necessarily as balanced or fair. Consequently, you must agree with your opponent about whether you can use him or not before the battle begins.

Josef Bugman can be fielded in a Dwarf army and counts as two Hero choices. Alternatively he may be hired as a Dogs of War unit in an Empire, Wood Elf, High Elf or Dogs of War army and counts as a Rare choice. He must be fielded exactly as described here and may not be given any additional equipment. He may not be a Dwarf army's General.

WEAPONS & EQUIPMENT: Josef carries a rune axe, crossbow and shield, and wears light armour. He also has the much sought after Bugman's Tankard.

Ranger Leader
Josef Bugman leads the most famous Ranger regiment in the Dwarf realms. He must be accompanied by a unit of 5-20 Dwarf Rangers, who do not use up any of the army slots and are in addition to the normal 0-1 unit of Rangers the Dwarf army is allowed. He may not leave this unit or join another unit if they are slain.

Josef's Axe
Bugman's axe bears a Rune of Cleaving (+1 S) and a Rune of Fury (+1 A).

Bugman's Tankard
The invigorating effects of Bugman's beer, in combination with the tankard's magical properties, mean that Josef can Regenerate.

Goblin Grudge
Josef and his Rangers have sworn to slay all of goblinkind for the destruction of their brewery. He and his unit re-roll missed attacks against greenskins in all rounds of combat, not just the first.