This week's game was MESBG with a 700 point match between Minas Tirith - led by Denethor and Faramir - against the Black Gate. We decided to try 'The Fugitive' scenario from Lion Rampant - but this time reversing the order. Good would be searching for the escapee while evil would try to prevent this.
There were 5 pieces of terrain placed centrally that might hold the fugitive. Good searched two to no avail then - as shown above - moved to the central objective. But, alas, the fugitive had hidden himself well and no amount of searching resulted in success.
Minas Tirith had deployed their best troops for the occasion. A line of Citadel Guard with longbow supported with Fountain Court Guard. I drove my Orcs away from the centre of the table in fear of their fire. The above Minas Tirith force was led by Irolas.
(Note Irolas way off in the distance in the above image.)
In the early game, the Lure of the Ring had made Irolas' will quaver and he was delayed in his advance. Also, the mind of Denethor was in turmoil. This gave the forces of evil hope that they might erode the defenders with mental attacks, but as the game wore on, this was not to occur again.
In the centre and right, the Troll general and the Mouth of Sauron pushed the bulk of their Morannon Orcs forward. I tried to keep my Troll central for maximum effectiveness and to ensure he had the support required. I have learnt, through frequent rebuffs, Trolls need support in MESBG.
With but two woods left to check, Faramir spurred his knights toward the wood on the left. Here, I had managed to place 10-12 Morannons led by a Morannon captain. They felt the brunt of the knights' charge. Faramir boosts the FV of knights in a charge and, flushed with aggression, they charged forth. Unfortunately, this may have been a little early as this masked the Minas Tirith bow fire and the knights were unable to fully engage with their full numbers.
In the centre, the Troll pushed forward as fast as possible. Here you can see, his banner an Orcish supports.
A Elvish drone captured this aerial snap. Evil is pushing a group of 10 Morannons over from the centre toward the cavalry melee on the left. At the top, a very large group of Minas Tirith warriors stops advancing as the Troll nears. At this point, I had no confidence in my Troll - after many failures - but did have a new plan on his use.
The large evil force on the right stood before one of the remaining terrain features which could possibly hold the fugitive. However, this soon became clear was total overkill. I would soon advance with these troops toward the large mass on warriors at the top of the above image. Also, I sent a few toward the struggle forming in the centre and left. Gosh, my kingdom for an orc drummer right now ...
Meanwhile, the cavalry charge was being resolved. While evil was consistently losing priorities, I was still hopeful as I had managed to lap around the side of the cavalry. This would lead to a couple of early cavalry loses and evil holding the first charge. A long combat would ensue here.
A small screen, left as a speed bump for the Troll, was soon reached. The troll hurled these aside and thrust itself into the heart of the enemy warriors. Here it would concentrate on cracking heads ... but not being greedy. If 2-3 could be killed each turn - that was enough. My new plan was in effect.
Now, after several turns of melee, the cavalry had won out against the Morannons. It took some time but evil could not win a priority and suffered the consequence of repeated cavalry charges. At this period of the game, momentum had totally swung to favour good. The Morannon captain slowed Faramir - above he stands almost alone - and his tactical use of might forced Faramir to counter spend draining his stores. (If only evil could have won one of the 50/50 rolls ... sigh!) The clouds and reek of Mordor had parted as a breeze from the west revealed the sun and caused the evil hearted Orcs to quail.
The non-poetic version was ... we lost all the priorities and all the duel rolls. Good troops killed about 12-14 Orcs for few losses themselves. After a strong start by evil, good has stamped its authority on the game.
The lines of evil were considerably thinned. The Fountain Court Guard had entered the fray and the victorious cavalry now lapped around the sides of the evil forces.
Above, the troll is just bursting into view leaving a bloody trail on carnage behind. He made a direct advance toward one Minas Tirith banner, pounding it into the turf without mercy.
Indeed, the heart of the evil player (me) also quailed and I believed all was lost and hope drained from me. But, the troll had been doing his best ever work. He had smashed through the large block of Minas Tirith warriors, claiming around 9-10 kills, then advanced on the rear of good's line. The Mouth of Sauron, after some lacklustre sorcery, also charged accounting for 4 or so warriors. With occasional kills by Morannons, the good losses were mounting. Evil had been on the receiving end throughout the bulk of the game but was somehow clinging on.
To Faramir's disappointment, the fugitive was not found in the wood on the left. This left only one location, but this was on the other side of the remaining forces of evil. However, both armies, now bloodied in the extreme, had reached breaking point. Failing courage rolls, around 3 Orcs ran, but most were within the leadership range of their two remaining leaders. The Mouth of Sauron held them in place.
Good also lost several troops driving them too toward being quartered. As Denethor still lived the guard passed automatically and Faramir gained additional abilities. This certainly made things look even bleaker for evil.
The battle was now extremely clumped ... bodies piled around the feet of combatants whose shields were dented and swords bent. Warriors battled with daggers and fangs in desperation to slay their hated foes ...
It was indeed a confused combat now. But something unsettled that breeze from the west. The gloom from the Black Gate closed over once more filling the hearts of evil with a new resolve. A sudden surge of brutal ferocity led to several duel victories and the notched scimitars found chinks in the armour of Men. The Mouth gibbered grotesque prophecies of doom and the Orcs responded.
I'm not entirely sure what was the exact end. I like to think it was my Troll Chieftain. His efforts to imbue, or threaten, the remaining Orcs from fleeing were disrupted by a single Minas Tirith guardsman. In rage, the troll plucked up this soldier and threw him violently into another, killing both. This finally tipped the scales and Minas Tirith reached its breaking point. Faramir, Denethor, Irolas and the last few warriors limped from the field. Evil was hardly in any place to pursue.
My troll general could only below in rage as his opponents withdrew ...
It was an extremely bloody conflict with around 30 dead on each side. Almost all heroes survived, except my Morannon captain (who is just about the shittest hero of all time killing absolutely fuck all in every game - although he did survive about 4 turns against Faramir tonight!)
Evil was fortunate that the fugitive had not been found. Good had been fortunate in most other ways holding an ascendancy in many priorities throughout the game, striking down the foe with lethal regularity and winning many decisive contested heroic move rolls. However, something that was hidden was revealed for the first time. The Morannon Orcs finally began to win some duel rolls and their strength of 4 proved very effective - enabling Orcs to kill enemies on the roll of 5 while Minas Tirith usually needed a 6. Tonight, they proved they are not quite the over-priced scum that both players were quickly assuming them to be. Finally, good were not fortunate at all with their shooting. I don't think the Citadel Guard shot anything all night!
Although, tonight also showed Minas Tirith type forces are definitely stronger with Boromir around. Its not just his tower of might points ... its his banner. Winning on tied duel rolls really removes the +1 FV benefit that the Morannons gain against Men (and pay for in their point value.) I felt like a had a chance without the banner as when its around I often don't even bother rolling duel rolls. Without Boromir, they just didn't seem to have the same bite. In reflection, I wondered if Denethor and Irolas should have done a little more fighting? But then, this may have bought them closer to the Troll - and I'd back the Troll Chieftain (Vark the Insertor) against them in a duel ... any day.
Having said all that, next time I face Boromir ... its simple ... he must die. And die early ... but how?
Overall, I was pretty happy with my tactics (only one really stupid heroic combat call) and especially with the use of my troll. Vark ended up inserting about 10-12 enemy troops in an all time high for him. Elsewhere, the Morannons proved they weren't a total joke. My respect for the Black Gate list - although it is extremely one dimensional - grew a bit tonight. (I'd love to be able to afford a 2nd banner but that would lessen my model count ... and atm I value bodies on the battlefield more - but I need to the other options a try.) Actually guarding my banner was also done well ... it is vital beyond belief to this force.
Oh, and it was also nice not having my entire army killed ... again.
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