Scouring of the Shire Campaign: part II

 We continued our Scouring of the Shire campaign over the last few months. I forgot to post an update and even to take a single picture of one of the games. So far evil had an advantage winning 2 games and a draw out of the 4 games in total.

Game 5: The mayor's arrest

The hobbits took their advantage by hurling rocks at the ruffians. A decimated ruffian force charged the hobbits but they were to few in numbers to intercept Will. A good victory!

Good 2 - 2 evil

The death of Lotho

A short game, the ruffians charged and took the advantage in the first few turns. Lotho seeing things go ill charged a ruffians which killed him outright. A draw!

Good 2 - 2 evil

The burning of Woody End

A lovely scenario and exciting till the last roll. One of the most balanced scenarios so far. Ruffians charges all across the board. The hobbits put on a fierce resistance reducing the ruffians in numbers.

In the first four turns already three buildings catched fire but the hobbits waited their time. They managed to succesfully put out one fire and keep defending a single house. On turn nine their luck sadly ran out and the last two building catched fire. Turn ten they also lost priority and the last few hobbits where charged leaving Woody End being burned to the ground

Good 2 - 3 evil

Uprooting of Bagshot Row

The hobbits started running towards the ruffians. The ruffians simply started picking them off with bowfire. In combat they overwhelmed the hobbit and won an easy game.

Good 2 - 4 evil

Arrest of Folco Boffin

Eight hobbits and Folco against the two sherriff heroes and another 12 sherriffs. There never was much hope, only a fools hope. Folco started running and almost saw a gap he could cross. But a heroic march and an heroic move in favor of the sherriffs ended his ambition. 

Good 2 - 5 evil

Scouring of the Shire Part XII: More Ruffians

We needed more Ruffian warriors for our scouring in the Shire campaign so I just did that. I painted up another complete warband and added Harry Goat.

Lovely models and a joy to paint. The old scouring of the Shire campaign really was at the peak of this hobby. I'm so glad they added more models to the range and revisited the Shire.

I call this project done (for now)! Mayby, just mayby I will start a Ruffian army somewhere in the far future ;).

Scouring of the Shire Campaign: part I

The start of a new campaign!

With my Hobbit army completed at the beginning of the year; my friend Jasper and I decided to start the Scouring of the Shire campaign. In the coming months we hope to play through all the Shire scenario's. Jasper will be commanding Sharkey's forces and I will defend the Shire.

Due to Covid we have to play from home, so we will have to improvise some of the scenery. Also, as I still have to paint up some ruffians, we will proxy in some Uruk Scouts as they match mostly in the team.

Game 1: Skirmish in Bree

Ruffians charging in at the villagers:

 

The game went like a rollercoaster. The good side got the advantage early on by killing the first two invaders. As casualties began to fall on both sides victory was near for the villagers. In the end only Bill Ferny stood left surrouned by men and hobbits from Bree. With a precise blow he killed one of his enemies turning the tables and achieving victory for evil.

Good 0 - 1 Evil

Game two: The ruffians arrive

Encouraged by their victory at Bree three more ruffians joined the cause. Holfoot and Robin assembled their forces to hold of the invaders and defend the Brandywine bridge. 

The hobbits made use of the bottleneck the bridge provided and threw every stone they could find with great effect, knocking out the first wave of invaders. The remaining ruffians led by Bill Ferney renewed the assault but with little effect. The hobbits were victorious!

Good 1 - 1 Evil

Game 3: Maggot's farm

Due to the loses at the Brandywine the ruffians changed tactics and tried sneaking their forces into the Shire. But they still have to get past by Maggot's farm. Luckely Grip, Fang and Wolf were just fed so they ran a bit around the yard, never interested in exploring the forrest around them. The ruffians made good use of this luck and started running toward the western boardedge. Only when they reached the hedges the alarm was raised. Farmer Maggot came out of his house and together with his doges they managed to run three ruffians of their property. A draw!

Good 1 - 1 Evil

Game 4: The old Mill

Ted Sandyman sold his mill to 'the chief' to knock it down en construct some new buildings for the ruffians. Some brave Hobbits resisted and try to defend the mill and it's legacy.

The ruffians swooped in and once again felt how efficient a well thrown stone could be. Seeing the first three ruffians fall down the Hobits got overconfidant. They charged in but were quickly overcome by the stronger ruffians. An evil victory!

Good 1 - 2 Evil

Terrain: Hobbit holes

Another interesting side project. A friend of mine gave me an old hobbit hole from a store that was downsizing. It was damaged a bit so I decided to repair it. It also was the perfect moment to build my own hole from the forgeworld kit. So here it is, my very own first piece of terrain: 

 

Scouring of the Shire: Showcase

And here it is, the finished army!

Scouring of the shire part XI

I finished my scouring of the Shire project. I painted up the two last batches of archers and Brandobas Took.

Scouring of the shire part X

And once again, another batch of hobbits. I'm getting tired of them :D. I painted up the last 4 shirriffs and the old Bilbo. Only 16 archers and Brandobas left.

Yesterday I used my hobbits in the first few battles since the lockdown started with mixed results. First game against a Rohan all mounted force they lost in a game of assassination. It was a close game so happy with the result as it isn't that difficult to kill an unarmed Fatty or Lobilia.

Next game I had an easy victory against a dwarf army. Some lucky shooting and a brutal first turn of combat left the dwarf force broken. A second turn of combat decimated them and ended the game.

Hobbits offer an interesting play style in the game. No mobility at all but as you field nearly a 100 models they stil are everywhere on the table. The legendary legion also is a must for the bonuses they give. Looking forward to some more playtesting!

Scouring of the shire part VII

I painted up the last heroes, the real heroes of the story. Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin on pony. The models itself have a lot of nostalgia for me. Originally part of the old Scouring of the Shire set and supplement they were released at the peak of this game itself. The good old times!

It is really interesting to look back to all the upps and downs this hobby had. It really lets you appriciate the condition the game is in today. New models, upcoming supplements, a new Lotr Amazon series. For sure, good times are ahead.