==== Secret weapons of The Gnomish Confederacy====

=== The Gnomish magic Steam Artillery ===
This massive canon is located in a special high cave in Mount Central Heating. In theory it can destroy anything on the main map of the game. In practice it is totally untested and has major issues. __When firing, the players declare a target. To resolve the firing, the umpire uses the special table below.__ 
 
It can be fired once during the Trebuchet Phase of a strategic turn.  __Such a shot is announced to the whole game by the umpire at the end of the Trebuchet Phase.__ This is because firing the canon always causes minor earthquakes throughout the valley, a humongous bang and a massive flame shooting from the top of Mount Central Heating. 

For each shot after the first, add +1 for each shot fired earlier. If **The Hot Air Balloon** is spotting for the artillery, roll 2 dice: the result used is the one closest to 6 after adjusting for the repeated fire modifier.
    - Blast seriously damages local landmark nearest to target.
    - Gun hits nearest large empty spot to the target on the map and a Tunguska style blast flattens all plant life, hovels and tents for miles around.
    - Hits something vaguely embarrassing in the general area of the target utterly destroying a latrine, souvenir shop, or mobile field brothel.
    - Shot creates a huge smoking crater right next to the target, leaving target without a scratch.    
    - Misfire, nothing hit, magic backlash transforms the Gnome Goddess Empress into a potted plant for 1 turn.
    - Intended target hit and completely destroyed. Impact zone is a smoking crater.
    -and higher. Gun explodes, Mount Central Heating has a vulcanic eruption. A modest earthquake causes damage throughout the valley.

=== Two Gnomish Giant Hamster cavalry units ===
These do not use the normal combat rules but __an umpire rolls a die on the Giant Hamster table__ below. 

This is resolved at the end the last combat phase of a tactical turn, either as a pursuit of retreating enemies, or as a screen for retreating allies. If directly attacked, Hamster cavalry will retreat instead of defending itself. If actually cornered, roll on the Hamster attack table with a +3 bonus and assume a breakthrough by the cavalry. Use the following table to resolve the attack:
     - The Hamsters grab some of their crew and stuff them into their cheek pouches. They need to be freed, before action can resume. Unit immobilized this round.
     - Hamsters distracted by something edible. The Hamster unit wanders 1 square away from the battle to have a snack. Unit does nothing else this round.
     - Hamsters collectively decide that now is the ideal moment to lick their own junk. The unit is immobilized for this round, while riders look away embarrased.
     - **Charge!!** An enemy unit loses 1 step.
     - **Double Charge!!** An enemy unit loses 2 steps.
     - **Woolly Rupert the Giant Hamster of ill omen lives!** Remove the enemy counter with the most steps remaining that was active in this fight.