Face-off 2016 Final Théoden's Host Vs Rivendell

And finally the Face-off 2016 Final! The elves defeated the Serpent Horde from a heroic duel between the elven captain and Suladan, after a very close encounter with the Mordorians which also resulted in a heroic duel that the captain got the better of the orc from. The Rohirrim, meanwhile took a close, but deserved, victory over Moria in the first round from Erkenbrand's special rules, then a well fought victory over the Fiefdoms.

Rivendell Vs Théoden's Host (Domination)
Whoever claims more of the five objectives after one side is broken and a 1 or 2 is rolled on D6 (in end phase). Objectives are claimed by having more models within 3''/8cm when the game ends.


Setup

The elves fan out, and the Rohirrim concentrate on their left flank.

One of the elves gets caught in the bush and his brains are dashed
across the floor! The elves advance un-phased.

The Rohirrim stand off their adversaries, who simple charge them. 

Then both captain call a counter charge...

There is tremendous crash of steel as the sides clash, the elven captain
slices through two royal guards, who were looking at Erkenbrand stab
an elf in the face. Also another Rohan warrior falls to an elf spear.

Erkenbrand calls another charge allowing them to surround the elves,
and an elf is speared from three foot away.

Initially the elf captain took a deep leg cut from a throwing spear and
as he bent over to grab it Erkenbrand clove him in twain.
Another Rohan warrior gets speared too. 

Things are looking bleak for the elves, who have been broken,
but they stand fast hoping the battle will turn in their favour.

And so two more elves fall beneath either spear or sword of the Rohirrim.

Erkenbrand orders his guard to claim the remaining objectives.

While he fights fiercely with an elf, but knocks aside his shield
and drives his sword into the elven warriors gut.

The last elf stands, and fights a royal guard, although
neither has the better of the other.



Erkenbrand hastens to remove the faithful elf.



But his guard manages without...

And so the Rohirrim remove all the pesky elves from the field, and claim total victory!!

Théoden's Host = 10 + 5(breaking elves) + 3(killing elven captain) + 5(number of objectives claimed) = 23 
Rivendell = 4

This victory was far too easy for the Rohirrim. Their throwing spears really gave them the edge, allowing them to effectively roll-to-wound on a 4+, not only that but the initially killed elf really meant that the elves had to charge into the Rohan line in order to win the well or the number of objectives would be against them once either side was broken.

Overall Hero Kills
Erkenbrand = 12 (16)
Elven captain = 9 (15) or 19 (27) inc. play-offs
Suladan = 9 (11)
Duinhur = 8 (8)
Shagrat = 3 (3)
Goblin captain = 3 (3)
Goblin Shaman = 2 (2)

There are some clear candidates for the person of the tournament, Sadly Suladan won't be taking it this time, as despite the number of kills he was too easily neutralised by other forces in the last two scenarios. Erkenbrand fought well in his three scenarios, getting a reasonable amount of kills, however a decent portion of his sides kills were from his bodyguard. The elf captain, however, has played a key role in the elven successes, destroying the dwarves in the play-offs, killing Shagrat and Suladan in the first round and the semis with many other kills along the way, although the final was  a poor showing from the elven force, he still earns himself the Elf of the Tournament award for carrying his warband to the final battle.

So this concludes the Face-off 2016, albeit 5 months later than intended. I have done some other things over the Easter break, and they will be put up in due course :)

Until then

Fish

Face-off 2016 1st round Théoden's host Vs Moria

The Rohirrim will go into the this with very little confidence, as last time around they destroyed the Haradrim, but Erkenbrand couldn't get enough kills. But, this time Erkenbrand is only facing pesky low defense goblins. Further that the Goblin captain should be worried as the fight, defense and courage values of the Rohirrim are as good, if not better than his...

Théoden's host Vs Moria (Contest of Champions)
Erkenbrand and the goblin captain are the champions for either force.

Setup

The sides get closer together.

The Rohirrim form an ordered line and cast their spears towards
the goblins, who laugh at the feeble attempts.

The goblins engage part of the Rohirrim line, while the rest try to
work out how to throw spears properly. Then Erkenbrand
cuts down the goblin in front of him.

Erkenbrand then orders the charge, and 3 goblins fall down
with spears embedded in them.

Both Erkenbrand and the goblin captain match each other for kills,
however the goblins manage to surround
and cut down two royal guards.

The goblins then hasten into the melee.

And the captain slices through two under-prepared Rohan warriors,
elsewhere Erkenbrand gets yet another kill as another
Rohan warrior is brought down.

The Rohirrim are broken, yet Erkenbrand calls his men to stand their
ground and then charge, spears are flung leaving
another two goblins yelping in pain.

Erkenbrand blows the Horn of Helm Hammerhand, and squishes
two more goblins to break the goblin forces.

Erkenbrand and the goblin shaman call stands fasts, but Erkenbrand
gets the better of the captain driving his sword through his helmet!

More fighting and another goblin succumbs to the Rohirrim spears.

Two goblins can no longer take the pressure and bail out,
still the shaman slices the knees of a Rohan
warrior in a hopeful response.

And again the Shaman sneakily stabs an unsuspecting royal guard.

But soon he yields and Erkenbrand holds the field!

And thanks to many kills from Erkenbrand, it gives the Rohirrim the victory!

Théoden's Host = 10 + 5(breaking goblins) + 3(killing captain) + 6(Erkenbrand kills) = 24
Erebor = 4 + 5(breaking Rohirrim) + 3(Goblin captain kills) = 12

So the Rohirrim have achieved their first victory in the face-offs, and it was partly down to Erkenbrand killing, using might, and his horn effectively if not liberally. Conversely the goblins failed to use their numbers well and so the Rohirrim could use their throwing spears, superior courage, defense and fight values to 'out-kill' them.

However this battle was to find out which champion could kill more, and given the high profile values of Erkenbrand against the warrior values of the goblins, it was always going to be this way.

Hero Kills
Erkenbrand = 6 (8)
Goblin Captain = 3 (3)
Goblin Shaman = 2 (2)

This sets the Rohirrim up to fight the Fiefdoms in the semis. But next is the battle between Rivendell and the Serpent horde in To Kill a King.

Until then

Fish

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