Face-off 2014 semi-finals The Easterlings Vs The Serpent Horde

The Easterlings have the numerical advantage and are harder to wound, whereas the serpent guard have a better fight value and a special rule although it may not count for much as they can be easily surrounded.
They do have Suladan though, with a high move rate, three attacks, high courage with three will also, and three might. If left unattended he could destroy any chances of an Easterling victory.

The Easterlings Vs The Serpent Horde (Ill met by moonlight)

The Easterlings are in three groups, Suladan stays right of his guard.

He then ruches around the wall, two Easterling groups
prepare to receive him.

But he darts back to the centre where the sides clash,
leaving the Easterlings defending an un-attacked wall.

Then he flies into the cluster of Easterlings, as his guard pin the others.

Suladan cuts through three of the Easterlings, while two
of his guard succumb to enemy blades.

He then slams into another two, as the serpent guard are pounced upon.

Despite trotting over the melee he only fells one, while the
captain also stabs a guard as another as well is cut down.



The captain seeing the frustration behind the enemy facemask,
orders his soldiers into formation to eliminate the serpent lord.



Yet he swings his blade around, parrying all the strikes and slashes
another Easterling. Another of his guard is brought down,
further increasing the margin for victory.

Suladan charges again, and the remaining guard is ensnared by gold.

The golden shields are to much for the serpent guard as he
finally yields to the Easterlings, Suladan only
manages to wound the enemy captain.

Suladan is left alone against too many Easterlings,
as sword and spear are thrust in all directions.

He is surrounded, the captain takes a mighty swing cleaving his body into

Giving the Easterlings the victory!

 

The Serpent lord clearly made all the difference, making up 5 of their 5 kills. Without a decent backup they were unable to hold off the Easterlings, who were very organised in containing the serpent lord and getting rid of his support meaning he could be surrounded and cut down.

 

Easterlings = 15

Serpent Horde = 4

 

Suladan = 8 (8)

Easterling Captain = 5 (9)

 

This performance projects the Easterlings into the Final where they will battle the Tower of Ecthelion for the Tournament. The Serpent Horde will sadly have to squabble with the Isengard raiders for third.

Until then

Fish

Face-off 2014 semi-finals Isengard Raiders Vs Tower of Ecthelion

At a glance, this is essentially a siege. The knights must simply breach the uruk line and break them in a couple of turns, or they will be ground down by the defence bonuses and lack of numbers, but they have wounding advantages if they charge. The uruks have shields and a higher fight value, but the Knights have better courage and move rate (may be an advantage?).
However it's a 50/50 between Lurtz and the captain as either could reduce the other in a turn, through either a better fight value or ease of wounding.

Isengard Raiders Vs Tower of Ecthelion (Storm The Camp)

The knights file out in two groups.

Arrows fly across the field and thunk into a horse,
leaving a surprised knight in the gravel.

The captain orders the charge
while the archers take up shooting positions

Lurtz pushes through the first knight, who is killed by an uruk,
punching into the next nearest enemies, leaving them
both screaming on the floor.

The Knights move in swiftly hoping to take advantage,
Lurtz raises an eyebrow in reverence



This expression coats his face as a lance tears through his body. The
Captain bolts past the uruk shields, stabbing and cutting three uruk-hai.



The knights are not given any room to breath,
as the angry uruks attack in a vengeance.

One knight lunges over the uruk shield spearing it in the face.
While the captain is cornered and brought down unable
to fend off the weird shaped swords.

The uruks couldn't stand the wrath of the knights and flee
 and only one man remains

Giving the Gondorians the victory!

That was all to tight for the Gondorians. It all boiled down to good fight rolls and a series of unlucky courage rolls for the Uruk-hai. Still the charge was stopped, but the damage left them too close to breaking, with one good roll pushing them over and their courage weakness exposed.

Tower of Ecthelion = 18
Isengard Raiders = 12

Gondor Captain = 5 (5)
Lurtz = 4 (6)

Lurtz performed well, until neglecting to use a heroic move which could have prevented the Gondorians main charge and thus the loss...

The Knights move to the Final! Where the face either winner between The Serpent Horde or The Easterlings and the Isengard raiders face the loser in the third place battle.

Until then

Fish

Face-off 2014 1st round Theoden's host Vs The Serpent horde

Having been defeated by the Haradrim already, Erkenbrand's forces have the advantage this time around numerically and defensively. Erkenbrand can also use his horn which could change the tide of the entire battle. All of the Rohirrim have throwing spears which are very useful against the defence 4 and 5 of the Serpent Horde. Whose main advantage is Suladan, having three attacks four when charging, shall be the deciding factor in who is victorious here.

Théoden's host Vs The Serpent horde (Contest of Champions)



Erkenbrand orders his men in a defensive wall to receive
Suladan and co.



The serpent guard remain a spears throw away despite much
taunting from the horse-lords

Suladan spurs his horse on preparing to charge.

And quickly swoops in, engaging two unawares, a third joins to help

The attack is joined over here seemingly one sided,
 yet Erkenbrand takes a large blast to his horn

Suladan's guard freeze in dread of the golden haired captain
But the Serpent lord slices through his opponents

He hastens to the Rohirrim captain, hoping to end the battle quickly.
But his mount is sliced apart, throwing him to the ground.
Three more Haradrim fall to the Rohirrim.

Suladan is jumped upon by four horse-lords, yet he weaves
his way from them as his companions survive too

After regaining his footing Suladan orders his remaining men to attack

Erkenbrand, seeing his chance pushes a guard away and rushes at
the Serpent lord cutting through decent chunks of his armour.
Another serpent guard is speared into the ground.

Suladan seems the dominant figure in the centre  despite his force
being on the back foot, the guards retreat to the outside of the field.

The guards are caught and trapped by the Rohirrim and Suladan is
surrounded by green cloaks again and is eventually brought down by
one of the guards, much to the displeasure of Erkenbrand.

The Rohirrim close down the remaining two guards trying to run from
the field, as Erkenbrand hurries over

The serpent guard regardless of enemies strikes the Royal bodyguard
through the chest

Erkenbrand strides over his dead bodyguard and cuts
the enemy's head from shoulders

But the last Haradrim sees the defeat and takes to wind...

Meaning the Suladan killed more than Erkenbrand, so The Serpent horde have the victory!

Suladan = 3 (3)
Erkenbrand = 2 (2)

The Serpent Horde = 13
Théoden's Host = 13

Suladan was the deciding factor, killing three early on in the battle meant he had to be occupied by Erkenbrand and company to prevent him killing more, then Erkenbrand simply had to chase up guards which could easily flee, not ideal. Suladan did just enough, fortunately the scenario was in his favour.

Despite all the killing and controlling the Rohirrim did, they couldn't get the victory. The Haradrim advance while being level on battle points, they face the Easterlings in the next round.

But first the Isengard raiders fight the Tower of Ecthelion in Storm the camp...

Until then

Fish

Face-off 2014 1st round Cirth Ungol Vs The Easterlings

The orcs have the advantage of a banner bearer to try and win more fight, which should be useful if there is a concentration of fighting, Shagrat is superior to the Easterling captain and the orcs have more spears allowing more warriors to be involved in the melee.
The Easterlings have a wounding advantage, needing only 5's compared to the orcs 6's.

Cirth Ungol Vs The Easterlings (Domination)
 

Both forces approach the well, leaving some of their forces
to gather at objectives

Shagrat holds an defensive block by the well, as one cohort
of Easterlings flanks their position

The Easterling captain easily dispatches his opponent in the first melee

Then the sides join in a foray

The flankers outnumber the orcs, but none of them appear afraid

Both captains kill their respective opponents, hoping to raise moral

The brave orcs are easily beaten back with two being cut down

While all's square on one side, the Easterlings are
 gaining a huge advantage on the other



Shagrat smashes his sword through two Easterlings caught off guard,
The banner bearer loses his arm, but the orc behind catches the banner
as it falls and another orc is brought down at the well

The orcs become frightful of the shiny men, but Shagrat orders them to
hold their ground, the battle could still be won



The captain takes the opportunity to slice through two orc still trying to
muster themselves, leaving the well in the hands of the Easterlings



Both leaders now know who has the upper hand as too few orcs remain

The Easterlings claimed three to the Orcs single objective, meaning they are victorious!

The orcs knew that simply trying to retain both other objectives would mean the attack on the well, would favour the Easterlings and committed warriors into the well, which wasn't winnable.
Shagrat was by far the most effective, as the other orcs couldn't go toe-to-toe with heavy armour, so could used to beat their captain in two or three rounds of combat, leaving them vulnerable from priority, allowing the orcs to choose more winnable fights etc.

Easterlings = 18 
Cirth Ungol = 5

Easterling captain = 3 (3)
Shagrat = 3 (3)

The Easterlings achieve revenge over the orcs and will face either The Serpent Horde or Théoden's host in the next round, The battle between those two is next in a contest of champions.
 
Until then

Fish