Shadow in the east: reprisals

Today I was hosting* a game of Lotr. I had never actually played one of the scenarios from the Shadow in the east supplement book as I didn't believe I could make up the forces. But by using some  dwarf heroes as khazad guard and morgul knights and khandish cavalry as Kataphracts we had two nice armies exactly replicating the ones in the book.

The scenario basically revolves around a raid lead by Dain Ironfoot (I was using Thorin Oakenshield) on an easterling temple where many of the dwarves precious artefacts have been stolen and held. The easterling Infantry and captains start in the temple whilst the cavalry start on the eastern board edge. The dwarves then start on the western board edge.
The objective is for the dwarves to gain 25 pts before their force is eliminated. The dwarves can gain 1 point for each easterling captain slain and 3 points for each artefact moved off the board. They can also gain 10pts for torching the temple but they lose 10 points if Dain (thorin) is slain.
Each turn the Easterling player may move on D6 models removed last turn.

The opening positions were as follows with the dwarves setting up as close to the temple as possible, facing off against the infantry defending it. The cavalry meanwhile were riding dow the flank to role up the dwarven flank.

The dwarves lost the first priority, but this did have the advantage of getting the charge, and in lotr it is very often beneficial to lose the priority. Four dwarven archers sprinted for the watchtower and flung themselves up into it so as to rain down shots on the easterling defenders. Thorin and Durok lead the charge on the captain's phalanx together with their khazad guard. Thorin lept forwards and hacked down one of the captains whilst durok wounded the other. Th dwarven archers opened fire on the on coming cavalry, taking out two of the men's horses whilst the dwarves with two handed axes stalwartly advanced towards the kataphracts, hoping to stem their charge whilst the dwarf shield wall held the flank.

 The next round of combat saw the fighting slowly descend towards the chaos it would become... Thorin struck down the other captain and Durok and his guards fought off the easterlings. But now the eastelings were scaling the watch tower scaffolds, pursued up them by dwarven warriors.

The archers in the watch tower had held out strong and now Thorin and Durok had all but negated the easterling right flank, and could start to pillage the temple. Indeed two of the shield wall had broken ranks, diving through the battle to run out from the temple with two artefacts before fighting off all the easterling who tried to grab them. And with the cavalry still held off the four dwarf axemen seemed to be doing their duty.

Some of the cavalry had finally managed to pull away form the four dwarves, but the damaged was already done. Two dwarves were sprintin it for the board edge whilst four more dwarves (including durok) had grabbed some loot and had now started to torch the temple, starting two fire in its framework. The dwarves ha by now secured a root of escape for their loot off the western board edge, so the cavalry had the new mission of breaking this supply route.

The cavalry and all the easterling reinforcements were still being held up by but three dwarves and a couple of the shield wall were also  helping stem the charge which was well and truly blunted  by the valiant stand of the four. Thorin and two other dwarves had now started  to try their hand at looting and als burning, lighting another two fires! But the easterling archers who had fled the burning temple were begining to douce the flames and put out two of the four fires.

The remaing two dwarves of the four were swept aside and the cavalry charged forwards, catching up with the artefact carrying dwarves and setting on them with their scimatars. But Durok had already deposited his and like the dwarven hero of legend he is, was now running up and down the supply train encouraging and helping  the stragglers.

And so the game ended. With but eleven points the dwarves had not achieved their objective, however there were still ten dwarves standing so netehr had the easterlings. With four artefacts in dwarven hands and most likely to be rescued another twelve points was probably the dwarves due but in the end it really was still all to play for.


*Hosting in wargaming terms means a game where you supply both forces.

the 4th age, rise of man: part 1

Since the finish of the Fantasy War in wattonford campaign (http://warformiddleearth.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/war%20in%20wattonford) my local store has started a long awaited lord of the rings strategy battle game. Us two at tale of two gamers entered it with my force of rohirrim and my fellow gamer's Mordor force (we really must get round to doing a special on it). The first game was 1 warband each and the tale of two gamers made a team against the other players in the campaign. Today's game was a kind of capture the flag objective.
So my rohirrim and the forces of mordor took on the servants of sauron with the folowing lists.

Tale of two gamers
Eomer Marshal of the riddermark
12 riders of rohan with throwing spears
Spider Queen
6 black numenoreans
6 orc warriors with spears
Great beast of gorgoroth

Servants of Sauron
Mordor troll chieftain
Urukhai captain
Easterling captain
4 urukhai with shields
4 urukhai with pikes
2 bezerkers
1 urukhai ballista
5 orcs with spears
2 orcs with bows
3 orcs with two handed weapons
2 orcs with shields
2 easterling black dragon kataphracts
6 easterlings with pikes and spears
4 easterlinsg with bows
I kicked off the battle with my classic opening Rohirrim move! The charge of the Rohirrim, where my commander spearheads the block of riders straight for the enemy shield wall!
We burst forwards from the right side of our objective with the minions of the spider queen advancing in a shield wall to the left.

Shooting took its toll on us as we advanced at full pelt towards the foe, the urukhai ballista piercing a man in half and going straight through two other men's horses, sending them walking. The Easterlings also opened up on the black numenorean shield wall, taking out two of the corrupted men and leaving their orc supporters exposed.
The Rohirrim charge then hugged the enemy objective, out of sight of the urukhai ballista. The riders then split up with Eomer riding to take on the troll while four others charged the urukhai phalanx, hurling their throwing spears and taking out two of the urukhai shield men, falling upon the orc supporters.

However only two of the four who charged survived, defeating their orcish opponents as their fellows, who failed to dispatch their uruks with their throwing spears, were hacked apart by the uruks and their captain. Over on the right Eomer was defeated by the troll chieftain but he survived its blows without injury. Two orcs were also taken out by fellow orcish shooting from the great beast.

Things soon got bloody as the lines broke under the weight of combat and the charge of the great beast! The rohirrim were now trapped inbetween the Bezerkers and the phalanx, having slain but one orc spearman to the loss of four riders. The great beast in the centre had been halted by the Easterling captain and his pikemen and neither were making much of an impression on the other.
And on the left the Kataphracts and orc warriors were in a bitetr grind with the terror causing black numenoreans and their orc spearmen, which had so far claimed two orc spearmen and all the oposing orc warriors.

With but two rohirrim left standing against the phalax now was the time for great deeds! And these two warriors did not disapoint with one hurling his spear at the captain as he ran for him, the spear pierced his side and wounded the urukhai leader. However the enraged uruk struck down the brave warrior and after slaying an orc the other rider also fell to the urukhai phalanx. The casualty count after the charge was but two urukhai shield bearers and two orc spearmen dead plus the urukhai captain wounded to the deaths of ten rohirrim.

Eomer bravely battle on under the banner of Rohan! Surrounded by two bezerkers and assailed by the troll chieftain Eomer brought his axe down into the troll and taking it to two wounds, however the combined efforts of the two uruks and the troll brought the marshal of the riddermark to his knees in the end. And the last man of rohan, holding the banner alloft only just beat back the Bezerkers, riding hard for the objective to plant the flag there and await a stand!

With the arrival of Rohan's standard the spider queen left her lair in the ruin and attacked the urukhai captain! Within one round of combat she had consumed him armour and all!

The force of the black numenorans was starting to show and they and their orc lackeys easily overpowered the last easterling rider whilst the great beast (supported by a spider swarm and a black numenorean and orc lackey) on just three wounds fought on against the easterling and urukhai pikemen oposing is.

With the easterling shock cavalry out of the way and the urukhi captain slain the black numenorens and the spider queen fell upon the foe with the aim of freeing up the great beast from combat. Unfortunatly the great beast's (which had been on two wounds) crewmen hit it with their bow fire at the easterling captain, wounding both him and it.

With all but one of the urukhai and orcs slain the Numenoreans and their orc spearmen  started for the enemy objective. Hoping to, with the help of the spider queen, over power the troll chieftain and the bezerkers before capturing the ruin for themselves (or at least contesting it).

The easterlings were straggling now, with the one wound great beast, three black numenoreans and three orc spearmen surrounding and skirmishing with but three easterlings and their captain.

The game ended with the spider queen at the door of the ruin. Next turn she would have been brawling with the troll, but as the shop was closing up we had to bring the game to a close.

The objectives were both still in their owner's hands so we went down to see which side had the most broken warbands. For ourselves the rohirrim were broken and the great beast was on just one wound while the orcs and urukhai on the otherside were also broken. So it was drawn there as well.

However in the end we were declared the victors by the manager as we had come most close to capturing the objective and had actually focused on it as well.

So 3 campaign pts to each of us from tale of two gamers whilst the rest went home with but one each.

A good start... but as Milton keynes campaign and goodness knows how many church events seme to clash with the rest I probably won't be able to join in again till the last week.

Fight for Osgiliath

You may recognise a variety of different things in this game. First of all there is the table, those of you who have been keeping up with the War of wattonford campaign will recognise this board as the gaming board from my local Games workshop store... so evidentally this game was played at my local Games workshop. The evil force was made up of my own (and infamously colourful) Khandish and easterlings and my freind's impressive mordor force lead by the mouth of Sauron (We really must do an article on this particular army as I really do love it!).

The game was an event put on at the store, but no one apart from us at Brigand gaming actually turned up.

This game was based around the assualt on the assualt of Osgiliath after Faramir had left it to its fate. A force of six Gondorian warbands was defending two of the four objectives, our forces then set up as close to the water as possible (representing the amphibious landings by the forecs of the dark lord as seen in the film). Both forces had the mission of securing the first two objectives before then trying to secure the rest... and as you've probably guessed the player with the most of Osgiliath won the game.

The forces were as follows...

Defenders of Osgiliath

Madril

Captain with heavy armour, shield and spear

6 knights of minas tirith

16 rangers with spears

8 warriors of minas tirith with shields

8  warriors of minas tirith with shields and spears

6 warriors of minas tirith with bows

avenger bolt thrower

Forces of the dark lord

Mouth of Sauron on horse

Keisumi, Khandish king in chariot

Kraalesh, spider queen

Khandish king

Rodragor, orc catain with shield

Beolf, Khandish chieftain on horse

5 morgul knights

6 black numenoreans

6 khandish cavalry

6 khandish warriors

8 easterling warriors with pikes and shields

10 easterling warriors with shields

charioteer

12 orcs with spears

3 orcs with shields

4 orcs with two handed weapons

4 orc treackers

orc siege bow

Our battle plan took off in full with the entire force of Khandish and morgul cavalry together with chariots, charging off up the hill to secure the high ground to threaten the gondorian phalanx. The easterlings with the king on foot then started to advancealong the hill side in a march column. The khandish warriors then took their turn and secured the forest objective. The mouth the moved his line straight towards the rangers in the forest, flanked by Kraalesh and a gang of orcs. The orc captain and four of his followers then struck out towards the phalanx.
The gondorians then swung their phalanx round to face the high ground before moving a bit of their line forwards. The shooting phase saw the rangers launch a devestating wave of arrows that knocked out two black numenoreans.

Our priority again saw the Khandish cavalry, protected by a screen of mogul knights, crest the top of the hill to face the gondorian archers who were skirishing out as a screen to the main phalanx. The Easterling column then began quick mraching round the hill, the plan was to form a phalanx bhind the cavalry and bear down on a cavalry flatenned gondorian phalanx. The mouth re-arranged his flank before adavancing further forwards, only to be confronted by a cavalry charge from the gondorians. However owing to the terrifying aura of the mouth and his numenoreans only two of the knights struck them and anotehr hit the orc captain.
The archery saw the rangers reduce the spider queen to but one wound while the bolt thrower took down just one of the khandish horsemen. Combat was but a stale mate and just one orc was slain.

Next turn saw priority given to the defenders, and they quickly marashalled their cavalry for an earth shaking charge against the mouth's line. They then charged their skirmishing archers into combat with the cavalry, denying the knights a lance charge, before moving their Phalanx back out of reach of an easterlingcharge. The easterlings proceeded to march forwards, still in ther rigid column, and the spider queen charged on a suicide mission into the rangers. The warriors of khand then struck out across the high ground to support the cavalry.
The shooting saw the bolt thrower open up a massive gap in the eaterling march column with three warriors down and making the formation look very untidy in the eyesw of a black powder general such as myself!
In the combat our cavalry took down a pitiful (clearly lances make the difference) two of the archers. It was going slowly and the plan was not looking quite as good as it had before. The spider queen managed to throw off here ranger adversaries and strike dow a good few of them!
The mouth's men struck down one of the gondorian horsemen but took one numenorean and an Orc spearman as casualties.

With the morgul and Khandish cavalry falling on the skirmishing archers in force the Captain of Osgiliath took the chance to move his phalanx back up to the front. The Easterling march column then began to form into a Phalanx formation to confront the Gondorian infantry. The cavalry easily trumped over the archers this turn and would be falling on the bolt thrower implacement and the phalanx flank in force next turn.

Madril and his rangers counter fired at the orc trackers and took down two of them, however the spider queen continued to throw off her ranger opponents and strike even more down. The Gondorian horse fell back and re-charged the mouth's dwindeling line. The black numenorean's held the line against the cavalry charge with tehir strong shields, cutting down one of the horse... however one of the knights levelled his lance at the mouth and caught him square in the face, unhorsing him before stricking him down on the ground. Another of the riders also through down a tracker.

The Phalanxes clashed in a bitter hoplomachic clash, with the three deep easterling phalanx bearing down on the two deep gondorian one. The captain of osgiliath and a small band of his warriors took on Kiesumi and the flanking morgul knights, hoping to hold them off the dwindeling phalanx's flanks.
It was built up for a bloody clash but actually it was a much less dramatic afair and only a few easterlings and gondorians fell in the melee.
The Khandish horsemen lead by Beolf had left the chariots and easterlings to deal with the warriors, and were themselves riding for the ruin objective to have some pot shots at the bolt thrower crew and contest it.

With all the archers down and the Khandish horse and warriors trying to dislodge the bolt thower, thing were going well for the Easterlings and men of khand. The gondorian Phalanx was buckling under the charging morgul knights and had taken two casualties from forces of the east, however they had dispatched the khandish king on foot and one of the morgul knights.

With the spider queen now breeding swarms of broodlings for all she was worth Madril decided to quit messing around and actually dislodge the five orcs from the ruined building. The knights continued their firece struggle to brake the black numenorean line and their outrider (whom had struck out for the khandish held woods, only to be intercepted by Rodragor) was finally struck down by the orcs, eliminating all chance that the gondorians would secure those woods.

The spider queen and her brood had by now driven all but one ranger out from the other clump of trees and she the remaining spiders were making light work of the men, helped by a shot from the siege bow that pinned a ranger to a tree. Madril and two of his men then lead an assualt on the ruined building they beat back the orcs and struck down one of them.
By now the cavalry charg had all but fizzled out and only one horseman and a ranger stood against the much diminished forces of the mouth of Sauron and with teh fury of men fighting to the last they beat back their opponents killing all the remaining black numenoreans and knocking an orc to the ground.

With the captain of Osgiliath struck down by the khandish king the thin line of silver began to close in around their standard as the whole weight of the eastern cavalry and phalanx men fell against them tacking down all but five and the standard.

The left flank had turned into a chaotic brawl by now as five rangers, Madril and a ranger fought for control of the objectives against ten orcs, the spider queen and her broods. It was obvious now that this flank was going to be an indecisive stalemate.

The Bolt thrower had by now lost a crew to the poor shooting of the khandish horse and the remains of the gondorian "Phalanx" had buckled in on themselves, all hope for their survival against such odds lost.

But with that the game was ended. Gandalf had arrived with the horsemen of gondor to carry the body of Faramir and the rest of his wounded comrades back to the city of minas tirith, leaving the ruins of Osgiliath to the mercy of the Easterlings and the other servants of the dark lord.

The ruin was held by no one as it was contested by just one ranger against eight orc warriors whom had cut and slashed their way through Madril (He was actualy taken down by the spider queen) and the ranger's other comrades, but this plucky little fella  held off all attackers!

Rodragor and Kraalesh, togeteher with the broods and an orc were also held off domination of the woods by just one Ranger and his trusty spear! But the spider queen had done much more damaged than could have been imagined with just one wound to his name.

The other ruins were also contested as the two bolt thrower crewmen held the ruin against the host of Khandish men, who had failed time and time again to dislodge the warriors from the vantage point on the ledge.

However the other forest remained strongly in Khandish hands. The two warriros had by now started cutting down trees for fire wood, carving rude messages in the trunks and smoking their pipes between blows. Victory was the dark lord's and their was nothing the men of Osgiliath could do but fall back to minas tirith. Now the host of morgul could cross the river and would soon be besieging the white tower of guard.

A very fun game with my tale of two gamers partner, its not often that we get to have a game where we fight on the same side against a common foe. A great game against the store manager (who is always a good sport) and a memorable one to.

THE BATTLE FOR OSGILIATH

This months battle report is part of the studio lord of the rings campaign.

GAME STATISTICS

Points match: 1630

Scenario: obliteration

Location: Osgiliath, Gondor

Story: a large raiding party of uruk-hai and goblins has attacked Osgiliath which is defended by a handful of Gondorians, mean while Khamul the easterling has used this attack to his advantage, while the battle in the city is going on he has bombarded the defences and broken in. The Gondorians and Uruk-hai, though not united, still have to fight for survival against this new and more deadly threat.

Evil

(from left to right)

21 orc warriors

Assorted weapons                126pts

1 mordor troll

                                            105pts

Khamul the easterling

                                            120pts

6 khandish mercenaries

with two handed axes         42pts

1 khandish chieftain

with bow                              55pts

Kiseimu (khandish king)

With bow, in chariot           120pts

Monke (khandish chieftain)

With bow, in chariot           85pts

2 khandish warriors

With bows                            14pts

Temke (khandish chieftain)

 With bow, on horse                          65pts

5 morgul knights

                                                          100pts

6 warg riders

With spears and shields (1banner)   90pts

6 khandish horsemen

                                                          66pts

16 easterlings

With bows and camouflage              288pts

Draco (easterling captain)

With bow and camouflage                65pts

10 easterling warriors

With shields                                      80pts

8 easterling warriors

With spears and shields (1banner)  160pts

Good

Gimli

                                                                      90pts

Frodo

With sting, mithril coat and elven cloack     110pts

Legolas

With armour                                                 95pts

Sam

With elven cloack                                         60pts

Gandalf the grey

                                                                      170pts

Aragorn

With bow, elven cloack and Anduril            265pts

Pipin

With elven cloack                                         20pts

Merry

With elven cloack                                        20pts

8 warriors of minas tirith

With bows                                                     64pts

4 riders of rohan

                                                                      130pts

2 riders of rohan

with throwing spears                                    30pts

Manhir of the red shield (captain of gondor)

With shield                                                    55pts

1 cave troll

With troll chain                                             85pts

8 warriors of minas tirith

With shield and spear                                   80pts

7 warriors of minas tirith

With shield                                                   56pts

7 uruk-hai scouts

With bows                                                     63pts

7 uruk-hai scouts

                                                                      56pts

5 uruk-hai scouts

With shields                                                  45pts

Boromir

With Elven cloack                                       115pts

8 goblins

With shields                                                40pts

8 goblins

With bows                                                   40pts

7 goblins   
with spears                                                  35pts

Good move 1

The good  side won priority, but Draco useed one point of might to call his easterling’s forward (below)

Draco: To me, to me easterlings!

The goblins swarm out of the gate along the causeway heading for the powerful morgul knights And the fellowship retreat behind the men of minas tirith.

The archers in the north tower jump out of their position into a better area for shooting, surprisingly none fail to make the leap.

Evil move 1

Khamul and his orcs move towards the north tower withtheir troll

Kiseimu and Monke spur their chariots along the causeway where them and their passengers have a good shooting position and are in a handy area for helping out the suspected fight along the causeway with the odd might point hear or there.

The morgul knights followed by their warg riders, ride up the causeway to meet the goblins.

Good shoot1

Legolas shoots the khandish king with an arrow, shaving an uruk-hai’s armpit in the process (below)

Good move 2

The good side wins priority again (!!)

To the north Khamul the easterling expends a point of might to call the orcs and mordor troll with him towards the northern tower.

Khamul: you shall taste man flesh yet!

The brave Manhir fills the gate to the causeway with a shield wall of his hardy warriors.

The uruk-hai push aside the puny goblins to get at the terrifying morgul knights.

The riders of rohan ride round to protect the flanks from attack.

Evil move 2

The morgul knights charge into the fool hardy uruk-hai scouts and knock them to the ground, to be butchered later on. (below)

Manhir: stand fast men of gondor! Stand fast men of Rohan!

The cohort of easterling warriors advances on Manhir’s archers in the south while the khandish chariots ride towards the ones in the north.

Good shoot 2

We start lunch.

Legolas slays the morgul knight horror, who lead the charge up the causeway, with one epic shot.

The men of gondor and rohan, in the north, unleash their arrows but only manage to kill one of khamul’s orcs.

The uruk-hai and goblins fire a hail of arrows at Kiseimu (at point blank range) and slay him, but the khandish chieftain riding in the chariot with him takes the rains.

Evil shoot 2

Seven uruk-hai fall to the rain of khandish arrows, while Draco’s krak archers fail to kill anyone.

 A goblin falls to his cousin orc’s crude throwing spear.

Combat 2

The morgul knights only succeed in butchering 1 goblin out of all their trapped foes.

Good move 3

Manhir’s men rush valiantly out towards the terrifying morgul knights (below)

Manhir: die foul dwimmerlaik, lord of carrion!

The cave troll swings up into the keep to help defend against the easterlings and the fellowship advance towards the stairs.

Evil move 3

The easterlings close with the men to the south pinning one man against a wall with four warriors.

Khamul runs to the north tower and attempts but fails to climb into it.

In vengeance the charioteer chieftain  charges the rider of rohan who killed his king and driver.

Good shoot 3

Legolas shoot’s Manhir’s adversary a morgul knight, leaving Manhir free to mount the dark steed of his fallen foe

All the men and uruk-hai in the south fire on the easterlings but again fail to penetrate their armour with mere arrows.

Khamul the easterling is shot as he attempts to climb into the north tower, the archer was a rider of rohan (my suspicions are that the rider was actually a woman like Eowyn). Gandalf blasts apart the nearest chariot with sorcerer’s blast.

Evil shoot 3

We end lunch

Draco’s krak archers hit loads of men of minas tirith but only kill one spearman.

All other shooting is uneventful

Combat 3

The morgul knights kill four of their trapped goblin opponents

But the easterlings fail to kill the archer in the south even with a total of six attacks!

Evil move 4

Finally the evil side wins priority

The chieftain in the north (whose chariot Gandalf had destroyed) calls a heroic charge against the men in the north. The troll charges the female rider who shot his master and a few orcs move in around the others.

The easterlings surround the defenders of the south tower.

Manhir is charged by a morgul knight.

The orcs fling themselves into the frey inside the north tower.

Good move 4

The fellowship breacks in two directions: the hobbits (not including Frodo) move off with Gandalf towards the orcs in the north and the stronger heroes (Aragorn, boromir, gimli and Legolas) move towards the more threatening easterlings.

Evil shoot 4

Draco calls a round of heroic shooting for his cohort of archers. They hit fourteen men of minas tirith but only kill one. The plucky khandish bowmen do just as well with only ten bows.

Good shoot 4

Legolas shoots the chieftsin in the north who tries to use his fate to dodge the arrow but fails, he lives but is wounded.

Gandalf immobilises the mordor troll.

Combat 4

The morgul knights dismiss nearly all their opponents after Monke calls a heroic combat.

The orcs suffer defeat but only one of them is killed and their troll wounded by the female rider of rohan.

In the south the easterlings defeat all their opponents except the cave troll who kills one of them. (below)

Draco: (sarcastic) they have a cave troll!

Evil move 5

A few easterlings surround Legolas and the rest in-circle the cave troll with shields and pikes.

The troll shakes off gandalf’s spell and leaps back into combat.

The morgul knights ride right up to the gate.

Manhir: flee from the gates of the citadel that you were never destined to enter!

Good move 5

The bowmen of minas tirith, lead by Aragorn take aim at the easterling banner bearer who is standing on top of a fallen statue encouraging and cheering the easterling warriors.

Gimli and Frodo rush to help Legolas by drawing the easterlings off.

Evil shoot 5

The good army was almost at breaking point as the casualties rose and rose

Good shoot 5

Aragorn uses all his heroism to keep his arrow on target as the bowmen of minas tirith jostle him about but he kills the easterling banner bearer anyway.

Combat 5

The easterlings wound the cave troll and defeat gimli with only one warrior.

Manhir calls two heroic combat to monke’s one meaning that he and his men defeat the morgul knights!

The good force suddenly breacks as the orcs rampage through the north tower.