Campaign update

"You are soldiers of Gondor! No matter what comes through that gate, you will hold your ground!"

Gandalf the white

We continued our Gondor at War campaign. After an epic victory for good in the "atop of the walls scenario we played "The gate is breached".

The forces of good prepared to hold the court from the endless hords of orcs. It was an interesting game. But we soon released that if you take away the terror special rule from the trolls they are absolutely not worth their points. In just two turns of combat and spending 8 points of might the trolls lay dead and Gondor stood a chance once more.

They held the lines and secured another victory for good.

Next up we played "The streets of Minas Tirith". This was an epic scenario! So much is going on at the same time an literary everywhere on the board fighting broke out. The forces of good where once again lucky as the deployment of my opponent favored the fast moving Shadowfax. Gandalf reached Pippin sourcerous blasting his way through the board.

Having played this scenario we both had the idea that things could have gone completely different if we changed the deployment of our warbands a bit. I will definetly replay this scenario as it is the most interesting from the campaign so far.

We also played "The Witch-King's arrival" minigame. Some rules are a bit unclear and all depended a bit too much on luck. Good won once again but it coud perfectly be the other way around.

At last a small glimps of my latest project. Some spooky boys:

Gondor at war!

In the last few weeks we also continued our Gondor at war campaign and managed to get three games in. After a masacre at Pelargir the forces of Gondor needed a victory.

Faramir managed to get his men to safety after an easy victory in the Fall of Osgiliath scenario. Guritz and his Morannons stood no chance against the forces of Minas Tirith. They were overwhelmed before Gothmog could catch up.

Faramir raced towards the white city in the The white rider scenario. Being chased by the Nazgul, Gandalf rushed towards them. Turn one Faramir was sap willed and his horse already dead by a black dart. In the second turn the Nazgul smelled an easy victory and charged the son of Gondor after reducing him to one wound and no fate left. But Gandalf arrived. He charged the same Fell beast that had charged Faramir and the knights of Gondor rushed in, charging bravely into the combats as well.

A heroic strike from Gandalf combined with a heroic combat from Faramir and some charging knights turned the tables for good. The first Nazgul was slain and they charged the next one as well, it also died that turn. The last Nazgul died a few turns later while Faramir walked to Minas Tirith.

After we finished our meal Faramir prepared for his return to Osgiliath in Faramir's charge. They charged valiantly, only losing one horse to shooting. Could they retake the ruined city?

Gothmog rallied the defences and turn after turn they took the initiative and utterly destroyed Gondor's finest.

A small update

I made a little progress on the corsairs and painted up 7 arbalesters. Next on the painting table are some archers and corsair reavers.

We also continued the Gondor at War campaign. Scenario three saw an easy victory for evil. The rangers of Gondor stood no chance against the hordes of Haradrim.
A first victory for evil!

Last thursday we played the forth scenario, the raiding of Pelargir. The corsairs swarmed the poor clansmen by suprise and after three turns most of the building where on fire and two already burned down. The clansmen renewed their defences and started slaughtering the corsairs. The corsair started fleeing back to their ships. But it was already to late and a third building burned down. Another victory for evil. 2vs2 for now.

I also started  combining Minas Tirith and the Fiefdoms into an all mounted army list. With great succes for their first two games. Easterlings were slaughterd in the first game and even Isengard stood no chance.

Gondor at war: second scenario + building my own bar for the mancave

"This city of Osgiliath has been reclaimed for Gondor!"

We played the retaking of Osgiliath scenario in our Gondor at war campaign. It was an easy win for Gondor. The scenario felt very unbalanced. 19 bows against a few orcs was just a masacre. And when the orcs clashed against a Minas Tirith shieldwall with F4/F5, banner reroll and +1 to wound it was done. Even the troll stood no chance against Boromir with banner.

Next up: ambush at Itilien.

In the mancave I made some more progesss. I built my own bar with some palettes. Now I just need a few barstools.

Meanwhile the extra shelves arrived for my display cabinets so that will be the first job to finish.

For Gondor! (part III)

"The rule of Gondor is mine!"

I made some more progress on my Gondor force. I painted up the new Denethor and Irolas together with some of the citadel guard.

For Denethor I tried a new effect and tried to recreate a glow from the fire:

Gondor at war: Defence of Osgiliath

"Something is about to happen, wich has not happened for an age..."

We finally have our first new source book since ages, I can't even recall the release of the last one. And what a supplement! New models, new profiles, legendary legions and a grand new campaign. 

I started this game with the release of the return of the king starterset and the battle of the Pelennor fields is my favorite piece of lore ever since.

I always wanted to play a major battle with thousands of points of models and already painted up large Gondor, Mordor, Fiefdoms and Haradrim hosts. I checked all the scenario's and I still need to paint about 30 models and a corsair army to play through all the scenario's. 

(With the support of my friend Jaspers Rohan army and a few proxies for half of the 24 clansmen ;) )

So my targets for this year are very clear now: paint up all the models needed and play through the grand campaign.

We already started with the first scenario: Defence of Osgiliath

I will command the legions of the White city for this campaign.

A few pictures of the battle:

Turn three: the orcs advanced on the right flank and I decided to give up the flank instantly, focusing my small army on the center. I figured a strong defence position could give me the upper hand.

Turn 5: Gondor stood firm, slaughtering wave after wave of orcs 

 

Turn 8: disaster struck. Orcs advancing from the left flank where reaching the objective there. Meanwhile some orcs made it to the fountain and destroyed the objective.

The last two turns where a race towards the last objective. Eventually Damrod saved the day with a heroic move consolidating the objective for the last turn.

Faramir survived granting the forces of good a first victory.

Next up: Retaking of Osgiliath!