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 1st Round Isengard Raiders Vs The Fiefdoms

The Fiefdoms return to the Face-offs again and confront their last enemies, the Isengard raiders, in hope that it will go like it did last time. Lurtz has the same bodyguard, the only difference is that they must take the prize before the Gondorians do.

Neither side has a wounding, move rate, numerical or fight value advantage, so really it's battle of model placement, movement and lucky dice rolls.

Isengard Raiders Vs The Fiefdoms (Seize the prize)

Both sides start off quickly, yet Duinhur gets the first kill,
shooting an uruk in the throat.

More movement towards the site, the uruks keep on firing arrows too.

The Gondorians then charge into the main uruk line, while some 
of each force detach to close in on the artifact.

One uruk gets the worst of the first melee.

The uruks reach the artifact first and block off the nearby Gondorians.
The main forces engage again.

And four more uruks fall to Gondorian steel, one by Duinhur, which
breaks the uruk forces, the only bad thing is that 
an uruk has dug up the artifact.

This uruk hastens to the board edge, while things go more awry
in the center, as Lurtz and co. are surrounded.

Another two uruks are cloven in two by a clansmen, 
and Lurtz gets the worst of the fighting.

The men corner the uruk...

Lurtz is brought to his knees, and killed along with one of his warriors. 
The Uruks have been humbled and the battle is basically over.

The Swan Knight surround the uruk allowing Duinhur
 to fight the pesky thing hand-to-hand.

And from here the uruks were charged until they fled, leaving the Gondorians with the artifact, and the victory!

Fiefdoms = 10 + 5(breaking Uruks) + 3(killing Lurtz) = 18
Isengard Raiders = 4

So the uruks have been utterly defeated, just as they were last time, they didn't get a single kill.

Duinhur got lucky with his first shot, then poor movement from Lurtz and his main group of warriors meant that two of the uruks and Lurtz were not even involved in the fighting for two turns, so a couple got killed, which left the fight very one-sided from that point onward.

The only bit of luck was the uruk digging up the artifact within one turn, however didn't have enough support to prevent the Gondorians surrounding him.

Hero Kills
Duinhur = 2 (2)

This means the Gondorians continue their winning run progressing to the semis, and will face the victor of the next battle: Théoden's Host Vs Moria.

Until then

Fish

Face-off 2016 1st Round Cirth Ungol Vs Rivendell

After easing through the play offs the elves get more action in the shape of a pack of Shagrat's orcs. This looks simple enough or the elves, with higher courage, high and defense values the orcs seem to only have their numbers as an advantage. However, they also have Shagrat, who has an extra might point and fight value is equal to the elves.

Cirth Ungol Vs Rivendell (To The Death!)

Setup

Both sides move closer to the barrier, whoever gets
there first wins the barrier combat bonuses.

The orcs get there first, and Shagrat sends a group to flank the
elves, who stand-off the stone wall.

But the flankers simply vault back over the hedge.
The elves must now attack the barrier. And they do.

They are repelled from the wall, but attack again this time also over
the other side of the wall, where one unfortunate elf trips
and his blood spills across the ground.

The Elf captain un-phased by the wall, slices through his opponent
and takes his place on the other side. 

Shagrat calls his orcs into the melee engaging and trapping the elves,
while another elf trips over the wall, but only takes a gash to the knee.

Despite being pinned down, the elves manage to break a hole in a
section of the orc's line, with the captain again cleaving up an orc.

The elf captain seeing a glimmer of fear in Shagrat's black eyes,
calls the elves to charge the pesky orcs.

And the captain promptly cuts down two orcs in front of the banner bearer.

Shagrat tries to swing the battle in his favour and orders the
orcs to go on the attack again!

Both leaders kill their opponents, and another elf falls to a cunning orc
spear thrust, that leaves both sides broken and wondering
if leaving home was at all a good idea.

Although Shagrat calls the orcs to stand their ground, one doesn't,
but another elf is downed so things are evened up.

Shagrat's bellows fill the field again and the
orcs pin down the elves again.

It's the elf captain to, who engages Shagrat who can only defend
himself as two of his followers can't take the
pressure any longer, so flee! 

Shagrat gets his revenge stabbing the annoying elf in the chest,
yet another of the orcs is wounded in response.

The elf captain encourages his last remaining follower to attack again,
while the other orc sees his captain engaged so flees
while he can't do anything about it!

But the Uruk captain is not to be underestimated, parrying the feeble
elf attacks, and punching the elf warrior unconscious. 

This leaves both leaders, standing toe-to-toe. a fierce melee
ensues, either side cutting and piercing the other,
blood staining cloak and ground alike...

And finally, the captain thrusts his blade deep into
the uruks belly leaving him prone on the floor.

So the elves snatch a very, very close victory over the orcs!

Rivendell = 10 + 5(breaking enemy force) + 3(killing Shagrat) = 18
Cirth Ungol = 4 + 5(breaking enemy force) = 9

Despite the orcs reaching the barrier first they only had the barrier advantage for three turns, but the banner was effective for around 6-7 turns, still the elves defense and fight advantage took it's toll and thanks to the Elven captain getting a stream of kills the orcs were broken at the same point as them. 

But the orcs still put up a good fight, Shagrat's stand fasts and occasional kill kept the battle within reach. Until too many of the orcs had fled, and only the captain were left, which was to the elves advantage.

Hero kills
Elven captain = 6 (8)
Shagrat = 3 (3)

So the Elves manage to progress again, and the orcs eliminated for the third time in a row. Up next is Isengard Raiders Vs The Fiefdoms.

Until then

Fish

Face-off 2016 1st round Easterlings Vs The Serpent Horde

Finally! The first round of the Face-off starts!

Some history:
After being ejected from the last Face-off semi final by the Easterlings, the Haradrim are looking for revenge, and the Easterlings to avoid Suladan's blade long enough to kill a handful of his bodyguard. The Easterlings have a numerical and armour advantage, along with their spears, whereas the Haradrim have Suladan and...poisoned blades?

Easterlings Vs The Serpent Horde (A Clash of Piquets)

Setup...

Suladan moves to engage the Easterlings, as four of his
guard and five more appear from all sides.

The Easterlings brace for Suladan's charge as two more
from both sides enter the field.

Suladan prepares his horse, and thunders into the captain as 
his guard attack the golden warriors.

Suladan simply rides through the Easterling captain and two of his guard 
down,with barely a stride lost, the flashing blade spills blood everywhere!

The golden warriors spread no tear over their captain and pounce on the 
Serpent lord, while there is an intense melee close at hand.

The thicket of Easterling spears proves too much for Suladan's horse,
the blood stained animal hits the dirt along with an Easterling warrior.

The Easterlings continue to harry the Serpent lord and his guard, 
who are holding them up well.

Yet not well enough, the Serpent lord narrowly misses cutting the throat 
of a nearby Easterling. But both Forces attack again.

The Easterlings respond by cornering and slicing through the Serpent 
lords mail, leaving him barely breathing and somehow standing. Meanwhile
his guard actually do something by killing two Easterlings.

This Breaks the Easterlings, and means that the Haradrim are victorious!

Serpent Horde = 10 + 5(breaking enemy) + 3(killing captain) = 18
Easterlings = 4

Hero Kills
Suladan = 3 (5)

The Haradrim had the better of the Easterlings at times. It all came down to a heroic move early on, that favoured Suladan, and really meant that the Easterlings had to contain him and did so very well. Only disadvantage, his guards actually decided to start killing people.

The Haradrim get their revenge and progress! Next up Cirth Ungol Vs Rivendell.

Until then

Fish