Face-off 2016 play-offs

Play-offs

This, as mentioned, will be three battles between three forces under three scenarios, the overall loser will be eliminated and the remaining two will progress to the knockout stages.

The loser is determined by:

• Number of victories
• Number of draws
• Number of major victories/or major losses
• Points obtained against points conceded
• A heroic duel between the contesting forces heroes (I personally would like this to happen)

With that out of the way. To the battles!!
 
Rivendell Vs Moria (Reconnoitre)

Setup

Both sides split off into two directions. The goblin archers fire a volley
towards the elven captain, who takes an arrow to the
right arm, yet it doesn't phase the elf lord.

The elves arrive at the wall first, but the goblins
mount their assault carefully.

And two sneaky goblins vault the wall, slitting the throat of the
defending elf as they pass!

This allows more of the goblins to pass over, but the elves are not
without hope, as the captain cuts down one of the attacking goblins.

One of the goblins evades through elf lines, with more on their way,
still the captain re-assumes them as he slices and
cleaves the two goblins nearby.

By the house the elves have successfully held off the goblin attack.

And elf prowess shows, as yet another goblin
succumbs to the elven blades.

Another goblin manoeuvres through the elf lines,
so two elves are sent to even the scores.

The goblins strike back, stabbing an elf blocking two from certain escape.

And while the Elven captain finally brings down the shaman,
the goblin captain kills another elf.

So the goblins are reduced below 25% and the game ends! This gives Moria the victory:

Moria = 10 + 5(breaking elves) + 5(models evading) = 20
Rivendell = 4 + 5(breaking goblins) + 3(killing shaman) + 2(models evading) = 14


Erebor Vs Rivendell (A Clash of Piquets)

Given the elves lost the previous encounter, they need to win to stand a chance of progressing.

Setup.

The forces more closer to the well and they increase in number,
more arrive on the field as they march.

The sides rush at each other, the elves getting the upper hand initially.

The last of each side have entered the field as they clash again.

This time the dwarf captain squishes an elf, another falls swiftly
beside him, the elf captain takes a nasty cut on the thigh.

But returns the favour to the dwarf, removing the leg from under him.

Both leaders go all out for the victory, killing upon either side.

But the dwarves are broken first, so the game ends:

Rivendell = 10 + 5(breaking dwarves) = 15
Erebor = 4

Moria Vs Erebor (The High Ground)

Moria already have a victory, so a draw ensures progression, whereas the dwarves need a very distinct victory to stand a chance of progressing.

Setup



Both sides approach the contested hill.

And split into two sections.

A fierce melee occurs.

Leaving three bloody goblins and a dwarf on the ground.

The goblins want more, and charge with the fury of the Shaman!

And three dwarves keel over from the red-eyed goblins.

Which leaves the dwarves to be swarmed by the many goblins.

But the dwarf captain provides a small lifeline of goblin corpses.

The dwarves hold out as more goblins fall. But one dwarf succumbs,
leaving the dwarf force broken!

They don't have time to flee, as the goblins force
them to fight for their lives.

Two goblins and the same number dwarves are
cut down, leaving the goblins broken too!

The goblin captain has had enough, but the shaman calls
the goblins to arms and they charge again.

All who remain.

Two goblins flee as the dwarves hold their ground, and the dwarf
captain lobs the head of the nearest goblin, leaving
the hill claimed by the dwarves!

So the dwarves have got a close victory:

Erebor = 10 + 5(breaking goblins) + 3(number of dwarves on hill) = 18
Moria = 4 + 5(breaking dwarves) + 2(number of goblins on hill) = 11

So the final tallying's:

Rivendell (1 minor victory and loss) - pts = 29/24    (1st)
Moria (1 minor victory and loss) - pts = 31/32          (2nd)
Erebor (1 minor victory and loss) - pts = 22/26        (3rd)

Kills by Heroes
Elven Captain = 10 (12)
Dwarf Captain = 7 (7)
Goblin Captain = 5 (5)
Goblin Shaman = 0 (0)

So Erebor despite some late heroics, will not progress. Therefore Rivendell go through as 1st place and Moria 2nd place.

This makes the next battles as follows: 

The Easterlings Vs The Serpent Horde (A Clash Of Piquets)

Rivendell Vs Cirth Ungol (To The Death!)

Isengard Raiders Vs The Fiefdoms (Seize The Prize)

Moria Vs Théoden's Host (Contest Of Champions)

Merry Christmas!!!

Fish

Face-off 2016 teams and analysis

Face-off time!

This time there is an extra team and three more battles than normal. Moria have re-entered along with the Fiefdoms, while the last winners (Tower of Ecthelion) are absent.

The force composition rules are similar to last time:

• Must include one hero
• Must be no more than 150pts
• The force must not include more than 15 models, that are non-heroes (such that each side represents a warband not an army)

Here are the teams:

Cirth Ungol

The same force as last time around. The banner will hopefully be used to win more of the combats, meanwhile Shagrat is a solid hero that should be able to fight against most of the enemy heroes.



The Serpent horde

Again this force is the same as last time around, Suladan leads half a dozen infantry from horseback. The Serpent lord will provide the main threat and killing power while his guards go off and secure objectives.

Erebor

The dwarf captain with shield leads the side again, however the number of dwarf warriors has been changed to 9, three of them have shields. The main aim here is to use the two-handed axes to be able to kill better armoured enemy warriors.

Théoden's host

Erkenbrand gets another go at leading the Rohan forces, last time they left despite clearing the field of Haradrim. They must have done something right so the same force will be used here again. His supporting cast are 4 royal guard and 5 warriors with throwing weapons.

 

The Fiefdoms

After the debut success of this force, there are no changes. Duinhur is in command, and is supported by 6 knights of Dol Amroth and 4 clansmen of Lamedon.

Isengard raiders

Lurtz is the leader of the pack here, providing a stalwart melee and ranged capabilities, while the ten warriors have higher strength values that will be utilised to break down higher defence enemies.



The Easterlings

These Easterlings actually managed to get into the final battle last time around, so this force remains unchanged. They'll utilise the high defence warriors to phalanx their way to an ambitious third place.

Moria

The goblins have gone for a different approach, the captain and his 13 warriors will be attacking everything. Failing this the shaman will add some of his furious magic to help them along the way. This force could either flabbergast or flop in my opinion.

Rivendell

The heavily armoured elven captain leads the 7 heavily armoured elf warriors, 5 of whom have shields. This forces has the advantage for very long battles where courage values become important.

More of the same as last time apparently is the theme. Each force seems to be very well rounded, and no clear side stands out as being a favourite. Although the fiefdoms and the Serpent horde may edge the odds in both of their favours.

As mentioned previously the scenarios used for each of the first three battles are:

Rivendell Vs Moria (Reconnoitre)

Erebor Vs Rivendell (A Clash of Piquets)

Moria Vs Erebor (The High Ground)

And these three shall become two that'll go into the knockout stages.

Until then

Fish

Tis the season to be jolly!

Hello again!

So recently the activity on here has hit a new low. This is not only because of life at university presenting the continued existence of exams and of coursework to keep me occupied - But wait, what about the summer, surely you got time off there?

Well... not really.
I decided to embark in a journey that consisted of me trying and actually getting some form of summer job (to keep the parents off my case!)

That's all well and great, however my time spent on doing the war-gaming things I enjoy, not so great :(
Now I have time free! And with this free time I'll talk about the gaming I've planned for over the Christmas break.

In keeping with my own personal tradition, there will be a mini face-off during this time, although this isn't my favourite form of gaming in LOTR, it's a simple thing both to plan for and to follow. Which helps as I don't always have the freedom over Christmas to carry out extensive campaigns, huge battles, painting sessions and modelling terrain; which everyone would much prefer.

The difference this time around is that I've modified the setup a little: there's now a play off between three forces, two so through to the knockout stages, the rest is very similar:

The fiefdoms re-enter the competition after they won the 2013 competition, Moria also enter again alongside Erebor and Rivendell in the play-off stages. Tower of Ecthelion are absent as they won in 2014 (although the final was actually in 2015).

Another thing is that this is a face-off 2016, as by the time I get around to posting most of the battles (like last year) it will no longer be 2015. Kinda like last time when most of the posts for the face-off 2014 were in January 2015 *insert slapface*.

The warriors and heroes composing each force will be included in the next post, along with the scenarios of each encounter between the forces.

Until then

Fish

Dwarf - Goblin Campaign Epilogue Part II

Previously

The goblins were set upon and broken under Snowden's soldiers!

And the dwarves had crumpled the line of rebel skirmishers...

Back to the action!

 

So the a goblin and the troll turn to the winds leaving only two goblins,
against the rebel companies, who start to turn northwards.

Durburz bellows for his guard to stand their ground as the rebels
surround them, one of his guard daggers a rebel throat.

He subsequently has his legs removed from him by the captain, and the
other two heroes match this by stabbing their respective opponents.

The last two goblin warriors are reduced to one swiftly.

Durburz is assaulted by the rebels, but manages to hold them off.

The last goblin warrior is finished off, and the groups
of rebels march to attack the dwarves.

Mather assembles his remaining followers hoping the other
allies will join him soon.

On the western flank a dwarf is gutted and a rebel brought to his knees.

The captains order their units to reform.

Then Orin orders a dwarven charge!

Slicing, cutting through and bowling over Mather's section. Orin takes
his mighty axe and cleaves the man in two, blood splattering the floor.

The rebel forces march further south in hope of saving their friends.

Durburz twists and dodges the blows and slices, yet the captain jabs
him straight between the eyes, leaving him motionless.

Seeing the last of Mather's warriors flee, the dwarves start to
reorganise themselves seeing the rebels mass before them.

More standing off between these sides as arrows are exchanged.

Lord Snowden and the captain hasten North to re-join their forces.

The dwarves form a small line against the organising mass
in-front of them.

Hatain's company try to subdue the rebels before the shinier rebels arrive.

The shiny rebels are having none of it, and so, attack the dwarves.
Who are still clearing up the other rebels, another group of them
start flanking the main attack.

And so a couple of dwarves are pierced by many shiny rebel spears,
the dwarves respond by cutting down two other rebels.

Suddenly the shiny rebels are everywhere, engulfing the dwarf line.

Now half a dozen men and dwarves fall alike, with the rebels
bettering the dwarves.

Hatain is short of followers, yet the remaining green rebels make a
hasty retreat, leaving things 'slightly' more even. But the shiny rebels
give no quarter and charge again.

Although Snowden stabs the dwarf annoying him, two more shinys
fall to dwarf axes, leaving another of his companies very worse
for wear. Then Hatain slices the nearby captain's arm, bringing him to
his knees and then punches him unconscious.

Snowden calls for his men to hold their ground, yet two bowmen flee.
He charges Hatain to deal with their biggest threat.
Snowden's men charge yet again.

One of Orin's warriors succumbs to the shiny steel, bringing Orin
to question if this battle is winnable.

Orin throws caution to the wind, calls his dwarves to stand fast!
And attacks the shiny mass.

He brings down the two rebels with ease; leaving Snowden's bodyguard
 in pieces. The lord couldn't get the better of Hatain,
who gives him a nasty leg wound.

Three rebels have had enough, along with one of Orin's dwarves, of the
angry dwarf captain. The battle is now very finely balanced.

And the dwarves bring the odds ever in their favour.

Two more rebels fleeing leaves the battle almost in dwarven hands.

Yet another rebel falls to dwarven might.

Hatain has managed to hold of the rebel lord, and Orin hurries to his aid.

Both rebels are quickly surrounded.



Both are cut, sliced and diced to the floor.


The goblins were cut down upon the field, the rebels companies have been either scattered or killed, giving the dwarves the Victory!

Hatain pulled the rebel lord from the floor, he gave a cough and splutter, followed by a gush of blood.
"So tell me 'Lord'," Hatain began. "Who do you serve?" Lord Snowden looked bleakly at the dwarf. The dwarves had proved their skill upon too many occasions this day, and would in the future if the rebels rose against them. He would have to concede this field too.
"I serve you. If you'll have me lead my people as I have done for many seasons?" Snowden responded.
Which left Hatain in a predicament. Snowden couldn't return to the settlement and keep the faith of his people without potential revolts, but killing him would only lead to rebel uprisings no matter who governed these people, unless it was Snowden.
He had won the battle but lost the war...

At this point Orin interjected. "Hatain, the goblin wounded are dealt with, what of the rebels wounded and dead?" An idea then came to Hatain.
"Strip them of all their valuables, the Lord and captains also." Hatain ordered. "Then let them be on their way." Orin looked sharply at the captain, this was ill advised, they could muster up a force to deal with the dwarves easily. But he followed the orders given to him.

Over the course of the next day the injured and dead dwarves had been healed or buried under stones, the valuables of the rebels, in particular Lord Snowden, were loaded into wagons. So both, very depleted, dwarf companies prepared to leave the region and also let the rebel survivors go back to their homes. But as the wagons rode into the sunset, Hatain exchanged some last words with Snowden.
"Say what you will to your people, to keep them under your rule." Hatain said, "but we will return some time; and either you pay for our allegiance or the might of the dwarves will make your people rue this day, when anyone stood upon this field against us." And the dwarf captain turned away; flicking the hood over his head and walking towards the wagons receding on the horizon. Snowden stood gazing at the dwarves leaving.
His people would not take this defeat well if at all.

Until then

Fish