Middle Earth Strategy Battle Game - two games played (and a WIN !!!!!!!!!!!)

Game at Stephens and he choose the MEBSG he is so enamoured with for another outing and we managed two games at 750 points

First game I used Minas Morgul list again with the Witch King on his Fell Beast, 2 Trolls, 2 Spectres and a bunch of Orcs with only 2 Bowmen (of which more later).

Stephen used a Numanorian list with Elindeal (and another named hero ?) and multiple warriors with several archers.

The scenario was a new one to me (we rolled for this) being a Reconnoiter which entails getting as many units of enemy board edge as possible.

This was a hard fought game with Numanorians quickly breaking my army and eventually defeating it including losing the Witch King, but the two Orc archers I had managed to get off enemy table edge (they never fired or fought all game) whilst Numanrians failed to exit any mainly due to pulling back at start and this gave me 8 VP to their 5 VP and so a WIN !!!!!!! yes folks that is correct its not a typo a victory for once.

Mind you it was close as the two archers survived being shot at and passing their break tests (needing 8+ on 2D6) just prior to exiting !!

Second game Stephen took the Minas Morgul force although amended to include a Taskmaster, a War Drummer and a Banner Orc (only 1 Troll) whilst I used the Khazad-Dun Dwarf army Stephen had used in our last session and the Domination scenario.

This was a straight up rugby scrum from get go and a one-sided game as Stephen had awesome dice rolls from get go and even the Combats I managed to win I could kill very few enemy. My archers of which there were several were hampered by terrain and failed to have any real effect ending up in melee mostly.

Dwarves soon broke and then suffered a total defeat as Orcs overran them in short (pardon the pun) order.

Middle Earth Strategy Battle Game - Orcs vs Dwarves

Another game of MESBG at Stephens (he is very taken with game) using the usual Minas Morgul chaps versus his new Dwarf army, not sure which version.

We tried a 750pt game which is largest so far and this saw 41 Dwarves facing 56 'Baddies' (I had Witch King on a horse this time and no Troll but had 4 Spectres and mass of Orcs in 4 Warbands).

Dwarves have some nice abilities making them tough, as better strength means they win drawn duels vs my lot (happened a lot), several units get re-rolls in combats (again happened a lot) and they benefit from most terrain, they also shoot as well as Elves, only real downside is they move 1" less (short legs).

Game was a pretty brutal slog as I deployed right up to table center and being orc horde went straight for enemy, indeed we played whole game in Dwarf half of table.

Dwarf shooting took out 6 of mine before units clashed and then I lost tons quickly but began inflicting losses.

My Army reached break point first and several Orcs fled (failed morale checks) but I did manage to break the Dwarf army just before mine was auto-defeated.

Not great or many pics as involved in game

Action starts in Dwarf half of table

Middle Earth Strategy Battle Game - Orcs vs Men and Elves

Game at Stephens and he selected to play MESBG and I choose to use the Minas Tirith list again (points upped to 700) and he used a list (forgotten name) with Elves and Men.

Of course I had Witch King on Fell Beast (I mean how can you not !?) with a Troll (again !) and usual mix of Morannon and Mordor Orcs with couple of Spectres in tow.

Stephens lot had Glorfindel on a horse as main character with nasty Elvish Archers and several Elven swordsmen and Men (Gondorians ?) with sword or spear and couple of archers with two chaps on horses.

Fun game once again although I struggled to recall how best to use all the varied options available to characters and armies.

Troll was hammered by Elevish bowfire then dispatched by Glorfindel but he did tie up a flank for a bit.

This allowed my Orcs to get to grips with enemy and the Witch King flew in behind enemy ranks to inflict multiple casualties, but not enough to out do the losses inflicted on my Orcs and Evil doers defeated.

Fun game with a Fantasy subject matter I can live with :-)

Off to Middle Earth again

Game at Stephens today and he choose to use his Middle Earth Battle Game stuff again (he has several armies to try).

I used the Minas Morgul army again as wanting to try to use them better.

We managed two games (in between waffling).

First up was a Roharrim force with 14 mounted chaps, some supporting foot and Theoden and Eomer.

This was fun with my Witch King and Troll getting fully  into action this time and better use of Spectres (one drew a cavalryman to his doom as Orcs surrounded him)

I managed to kill both Eomer and Theoden (also set him on fire !) and hurl a Rider and his mount with the troll (fun trait) but still managed to lose the game as army fully broken ! First shooting volley by Roharrim was pretty good killing 5 of my lot but they do have 10 or so shooters (bows and throwing spears)

Second game was against a Last Alliance army (mix of Elves and Numenoreans) with Elrond and Elindel in charge. 

Again my Witch King and Troll both got into action (Elrond failed to topple Troll) but much less successfully and again army broke. 

Army maybe a tad small by Orc standards when including tooled up Witch King and a Troll but they are so desirable.

Nice playable game (if you can keep on top of all the special abilities and suchlike) and Stephens figures are excellent (most are 3D prints) and system a nice occasional change from 'proper' wargaming :-) 

Lines approach each other in second game (Blogger keeps reversing pics)

First game with Theoden visible on right as Eormer in trouble in center facing an Orc Captain and other Orcs

An unseen Spectre targets Roharrim rider (pulls him towards Spectre against his will)

As Troll makes his presence felt

Riders battle line of Orcs 

Witch King in range who later fly behind Eomer and dealt death blow 

The rather fetching Troll clad in armour and wielding a nasty 'toothpick' 

Another jaunt to Middle Earth

Game today at Stephens using the Middle Earth Strategy Battle Game he is currently collecting and painting armies for. 

We used a newer edition of rules (2024) than last outing and I found the online army lists much easier to use than older version (more 'Armies' but less options per list).

I selected a Minas Morgul Orc list with the Witch King of Angmar on a Fell Beast as main 'character' with a Troll (well one just has to) with a selection of Orcs and associated Orc Captains with a couple of Spectres (as experiment), points total was 650.

Stephen fielded a Rivendale Elf force led by Elrond with lots of Archers, Eleven Swordsmen, a few mounted Eleven Knights (bow and lance) an Eleven Bannerman and with a couple of other Hero leaders whose names I forget.

A fun game that has a simple basic system with the complication coming from the various abilities and traits of the troops and the Heroes and how these are enacted and how they interact.

But this generates a myriad of options and decisions to make combined with the use of Might, Fate, Initiative and Heroic actions and indeed give a nice Middle Earth feeling to proceedings.

Stephen loves points based pick 'n mix and this system feeds that very well.

Overall an enjoyable foray into the fantasy realm (I do like a bit of Middle Earth).

A few pics from later in game ie after Troll had been knocked on his butt by an Elrond special ability (knocks down all enemies within 3") and surrounded and pummeled to death (he is just visible in last pic in front of Fell Beasts head) after wandering ahead of main force.

A change of pace - Middle Earth Strategy Battle Game tried

At Stephens today and he was keen to show me the Middle Earth Battle Game system (trying to tempt me I fear) with his lovely figures which are a mix of 'official' WH stuff and various 3D printed stuff.

One does need to know the army you are using and the myriad of various abilities,traits, spells and attributes applicable to its units and more importantly its heroes.

Its a point based system with a lovely book of 'army' lists (pick 'n mix points style a favourite of Mr B) covering just about every type of force from the LOTR world and with a very nice hardback rules/battle manual.

Stephen has a couple of armies and so I chose to use a Mordor Orc force he had compiled.

Lots of Warrior Orcs (armoured and unarmoured) some (crap) Orc archers and 'heroes/leaders' with an armoured Troll in tow.

The leaders included Gothmog on a Warg, Goroth, a Shaman and an Orc Commander all with differing abilities.

First game (a standard fight o the death scenario) saw these Orcs face the men of Rohan with loads of bow armed cavalry and several with throwing spears, backed by some foot archers and swordsmen along with Theoden, Eomer and other Horse Lords.

Not knowing the system I deployed incorrectly to my rear (trying to utilize terrain) and was deluged by a ton of arrows which saw me lose 11 figures (out of 36) before I even got close to enemy !

I did manage to assault 2 isolated Riders with the Troll killing 1 but would have failed to close anywhere else had not the Rohan moved into contact on my right where I was soon overwhelmed by the charging horsemen

But I did get to learn gist of system, although hard to remember all the stats and especially when best to use certain powers and abilities which is of course key to such fantasy type games.

Riders of Rohan pummel Orcs on my right

Central Orc force decimated by bow fire and unable to close with swift mounted

Rohan foot line hedge as some Orcs cower in a pig sty

Orc archers lined wood but their shooting is pretty dire (no hits or kills all game)

Second game was played on same table set up but this time the Orcs faced a Rivendale Eleven force with less bows (but better shots) and lots of decent foot and no mounted units but several heroes all with nice abilities.

Having learnt from first game I deployed as far forward as possible (ie up to half way) and simply went straight ahead. 

Elves held back to use their bows (poor shooting rolls thankfully) but soon we were both involved in dozens of melees all across the board.

Eleven ability to win drawn combats aided them several times and 2 heroes double teaming my Troll saw it die horribly although Gothmog managed to kill 3 Elves after knocking them down with his Warg (gives double kill dice if you win initial 'Duel').

Elves devastated the Orcs over course of a couple of turns although they did suffer losses (unlike the Rohan chaps)

Whilst WH not a system I have neither enjoyed or played much (ie twice) but this LOTR version is a fun and playable played on a 4' x 4' table with nice flavour of the Tolkien world. The generous movement and therefore very easy ways to surround or outnumber figures is different to what I am used to but easy to play and pick up.

Orcs getting to grips with Elves (hugging their table edge)

Orc archers ended up charging into contact where they were much more effective