Last time I made straight sections of palisade, well the magazine contains more than that.
So to come are:
- Corner sections
- The gate-section
Meaning a square fort can be fully assembled.
Corners
Cut out a circle from a piece of card using a pair-of-compasses and a knife, the radius should have be the same as the width of a wall section 2''/5cm.
Cut the circle into four sections.
Cut out a piece of polystyrene 1''/2.5cm wide and tall, and leaves the same gap between the corner and the start of the polystyrene, then glue to card base.
Cut out spikes 2''/5cm tall and shorter ones at 1.5''/3cm tall (same as was done for the wall sections) and glue to polystyrene and base.
Glue down a triangle of card then scored balsa wood in the corner, or two layers of matchsticks.
Press and glue halved cocktail sticks into the polystyrene.
Gateway
Cut out a 12''/30cm by 2''/5cm of card as a base
Cut out two pieces of polystyrene, 1''/2cm by 1''/2cm by 1.5''/3.5cm , and trim them in half to create the effect of angular packed earth.
Glue to either side of the base.
Glue 2''/5cm spiked skewers and 1.25''/3cm flat-ended skewers behind the polystyrene
The door
Cut out a piece of thin card 1.75''/4.5cm by 1.75''/4.5cm. Then into halves.
Cut out spiked skewers approximately 2.5''/6cm long and glue to front of the card
Cut out four square balsa wood posts 2.75''/7cm tall and 0.5''/1cm wide (two for each side)
Cut out four pieces of paper 1.5''/4cm by 0.5cm. Glue to top and bottom of each door to make hinges.
Glue 1.75''/4.5cm flat-ended skewers to the back of the cards.
Glue the posts onto the ends of the paper hinges.
Remember not to cover all of the paper else the door won't open.
Leave a gap between the bottom of the door and the bottom of the posts.
Trim the polystyrene if needed so both posts and the doors will fit.
Glue down card then scored balsa wood (or matchsticks) for floorboards around the spiked fence-and through the gap.
Then glue in the posts. If they don't stand sturdily glue skewers across the top to attach both posts.
The completed fort:
I think that my one turned out pretty well, at least better than I imagined.
Although the floorboards only support 80% of an inch base, so next time I would increase the width of the base.
Also I would round off the polystyrene to create a more realistic effect.
Anyway I hoped you learnt something there. It still needs to be undercoated and painted, like before, I'll wing it :)
Until then
Fish
Well I finally decided to tuck into the third board
Although rather unlike the other two I glued patches of sand, not an entire board's worth.
Here it is:
I noticed that in the plans I designed a road system, which seems to have been replaced by huge amounts of sand OOPs :( .
I did a spraying session, which might have included orcs and some other terrain features, but the can ran out just before I finished spraying this board section.
So one patch looks more sandy than black.
Definitely will have to get some more spray paint, for the final square of board, orcs, the Shadowlord and other terrain features.
Until then
Fish
Well this morning I went in search of a Gandalf Lego figure.
( The free one from the Daily Mail )
Here it is:
For most lotr and Lego fans a mini birthday present,
I was surprised to find spare parts and a spear, which Gandalf uses at some point?
The problems though:
The cloak fits nothing like what is shown (has pointy part), and is difficult to attach to the neck piece.
The sword's handle is slightly too wide, making it uneasy to clip into the hand.
The beard has a larger hole, meaning it wobbles slightly. Even when compressed between the head and the cloak.
The instructions were suitable.
The plant vine was too flexible but works well with the rest of the pieces.
The good points:
The spider was a good touch and the lamp a nice addition.
The detail on the map is great, the same for the torso which has details on the front and back.
Analysis
Creativity: 3
Practicality: 3
Cost effectiveness: 4
Quality: 2
Overall a 3 out of 5, pretty decent for a free figure.
Although I can't use it:
 |
| (ages 6 to 12 :( ) |
Until then
Fish
The past five turns have comprised of 12 battles, 8 in which Mordor and Gondor fought each other.
Gondor have won 7 of these conflicts, and Mordor only one of them.
The board at the moment stands like so:
Faction spending
Gondor gathered a total of 9259R, 5600R from the settlements and the capital.
and they expended 5556R.
Mordor gathered a much smaller 4634R, 3700R from settlements and the capital.
and they expended 3475R.
Territory
Gondor has control over 43% of strongholds and 45% of all settlements, overall 44% of all strongholds/settlements.
Mordor has control over 57% of strongholds and 36% of all settlements, overall 44% of all strongholds/settlements.
Which still leaves 12% to be claimed.
Unit(s) strength
Gondor have a combined experience of 620
63 soldiers and 20 peasants
35 heroes (52 who are above 5 exp.)(23 who are above 10 exp.)(and 5 who are above 20 exp.)
Mordor have a combined experience of 357
62 soldiers and 18 peasants
22 heroes (25 who are above 5 exp.)(8 who are above 10 exp.)(and 1 who is above 20 exp.)
The tide has turned in the Gondorian's favour, for now at least. With less soldiers, heroes and overall experience, things look very bleak for the orc-kind, hopefully there victory over the Gondorians at Osgiliath will inspire the orc warriors to fight for the devastation of Middle earth!
To spice things up, by adding more rules :)
One banner bearer may be bought for each company, if there is a hero with over 30 exp. present, for a cost of 200R. The recruit carrying it must relinquish all other weapons, but may still gain experience as usual
Previously I referred to the leader as the Steward or the dark lord, who gives out the orders and so forth.
I thought it would be a nice idea if each faction had a General and a third in command (in case the General is killed).
- The general is granted +1 will.
- And acts as a banner to all friendly models within 3"/8cm of him.
- If the general is killed in battle no army of that faction may move, and all models have a -1 courage penalty, for that turn.
- Second in command are granted one re-roll which they can use for anything while they are in office (Note: rule is voided if they are promoted)
Mordor's candidates included the goblin captain and Lieutenant Morge.
Despite the goblins efforts, the dark lord did not wish his armies to be commanded by a goblin.
So Morge was promoted and the goblin captain was given second in command.
Gondor had a wider variety of candidates, from the killing machine Luthyre, the experienced Dengond, or the more resourceful Mainz.
The steward chose Mainz as he had not a single defeat to his name,
Luthyre was given second in command for the number of injured enemies due to his blade.
Dengond was omitted, since he disobeyed the stewards orders at the Third siege of Minas Morgul, leaving Osgiliath open for capture.
The most recent rules will only take action at the end of the 11th turn.
Until then
Fish
