This week was a return to MESBG. Osgiliath Reclaimed vs Minas Morgul. The evil side was on a one game streak with Minas Morgul looking like a very powerful list. This was primarily due to the 'Blades of the Dead' rule. This smashes through defence values and laughs at the shieldwall rule.
We played the Scenario 3 Hold Ground. Armies were 600 points - which is a level I quite like for a weekday evening game.
The evil forces included the Witch King, a troll, only 4 Morannan Orcs then around 30 or so Mordor Orcs. I went for two Mordor Orc Captains to take advantage of the Blades special rule. Included in the force were 4 bows and 1 banner. The total was 44 models and 6 might.
Osgiliath included both brothers (Boromir and Faramir), 5/6 knights of Minas Tirith, around 5 rangers and the rest 'tin-cans' with either sword or spear and board. Total models was in the low 30s.
It was a malestrom set up with one evil warband off the table. Both armies began near to the corners and crabbed across toward the centre in the first few turns of the game.
Minas Tirith knights were sent out wide of their right to flank Mordor. These worried me as I knew I'd need all my numbers in the main battleline to take apart the strong Minas Tirith shieldwall.
Battle lines moved up - crabbing into the centre as stated. At top right of the above image, Boromir and 3-4 knights shelter behind a large ruined section of terrain. The bow Orcs waited them to come out as did the Troll who waited to see which way they would ride.
The Witch King used his speed to ride across to the Mordor left and compell the flanking knights. This worked very well and I managed to surround and kill both with little loss of Orcs.
The lines grew closer around the objective. Ranger arrows dropped an Orc or two. With only defence 5, the Orc front line feels a little exposed. Numbers are important. Perhaps I should have pressed my Morannon Orcs into the front with their defence 6? But, I was hoping their +1 FV against Men might be very helpful when the combat began. I tried to shelter them.
The Troll and Witch watched for a flanking move from Boromir. They would eventually move into the centre fight.
Above, the Witch King shifted across to deal with the flanking knights. He then tried to put as many Orcs between himself and rangers arrows as possible.
Then, in a few turns, it was over to full melee. Boromir rode his knights into the centre. The Witch King transfixed one knight - leading to his death in combat - and lucky rolls saw the felling of Boromir's steed and the death of the other knights for little orcish loss.
Boromir used several heroic combats to rack up kills. He can easily slay 3 or four Orcs in a single round. I responded by trying to mitigate such losses. Unfortunately, the WK was less than successful in trying to Transfix Boromir - and lost quite a few will and might in these attempts.
The main lines closed. Minas Tirith had funneled 6 warriors over to support Boromir - who didn't seem to need much help (unless he strained an elbow snicking the heads off more Orcs) - which shortened their main battleline. The Troll was eager to cave in the end of this line.
Boromir cleaned up the other flank. The 10 or so Orcs on the Mordor right were being cleaned up quickly. I tried to slow this. Without his horse, Boromir had a tough time in shifting back to where the action was in the centre.
The above shot shows Boromir's distance from the centre objective.
The main battle happened quite fast. It was extremely brutal melee with Orcs falling quickly - as their defence 5 really doesn't help (and D4 spear orcs are even worse) - but the Blades of the Dead special rule is devastating. Warriors of Minas Tirith were falling everywhere. Their army broke leading to a couple fleeing due to courage failures.
In the above shot, two Orcs continue to fall back on the right of the image as the group of Men, led by Boromir, continue to clean up this flank. But their progress was slowed.
The main battleline was decimated by the Mordor Orcs. There were enough to simply swamp the Men. The Troll did a little work - but I need to learn to make better use of this destructive weapon. I did attempt to compel a warrior out of the line into the troll but my spell dice (after initial significant success dealing with the cavalry) turned sour. This would have enabled the troll to slingshot itself into the line potentially causing carnage. I think I did manage to transfix Boromir once???
At games end it was a sorry tale for the forces of good. Neither brother was harmed but nor was the Witch King. Osgiliath Reclaimed was broken and the 2nd or 3rd roll of the dice ended the game on a 1.
Evil was triumphant. It had not broken and only Minas Morgul models were within 6 inches of the central objective. The game ended in a score of 15-0 to Minas Morgul.
What can I type in review? Wow! Blades of the Dead is a great special rule ...
... that would be a succinct summary. But, you do need to choose sufficient Mordor Orcs for it to work and ensure you get them into combat in sufficient number. The low Orcish defence value means you do trade kill-for-kill but the higher number of bodies in Minas Morgul means this is an exchange thats in your favour. The Witch King is really growing in my estimation and I think (just a little) I'm finally understanding his uses. The troll is also a great favourite. A gigantic ball of violence to roll into the enemy. Placement for him is everything to jusify his 100 point costs. I do very much like this army.
I also really like this game - MESBG - especially when playing (like we did tonight) with a more traditional battle ... with lots of troops, shieldwalls, archers, flanking cavalry and a sprinkle of magic + heroes. I very much enjoy when fantasy games actually value the role of ordinary troops in a game and, indeed, make their use central to the outcome of the battle.
I guess my Grognard heart remains true to its historical roots despite the fact I play a GW game.
