Game 10 - The Bounders Strike Back

 The Tooks Keep Their Reputation

Finally got back to the Shire campaign after a busy week. I will go back to do the 'big' battle at Woody End. But tonight I fancied a quick game.  So, I played 'The Bounders Strike Back' which I did without any changes to the rules. I have played this scenario before and the changes between the 1st and 2nd edition seems to have balanced this one out. 

The bounders are attempting to sneak into Tookland but are repulsed by a band of Tookish Hunters. 

I am still using the trap counters, I made nearly twenty years ago. On an old inkjet printer and using MS Paint to draw them out. But it would just be too much effort to make a load of them for an odd game!

The ruffians attempt to move between the traps

And finally get to grips with enemy

Not all the ruffians find it that easy to avoid the traps.

Now the ruffians have a clear path, they attempt to the rush the hobbits. 

Despite getting through the traps, the Tooks prove they are no easier to deal once the ruffians get them into hand to hand combat. And the ruffians reached break point having only managed to get one ruffian off the board.

 

After the Battle

As there was no actual heroes starting the game, then there was no other experience points to allocate apart for a new hero. 

Clearly the hobbit of the match, having shot down three ruffians during the game and now promoted to local hero. And he gained an extra Wound.

And on a Friday Night

Still drinking the Brewdog Lost lager. 

Rob

A Ruffian Horde

 Over Twenty Minis!

Painted up the last few ruffians needed for the next scenario, this is for the first of the 'big' games with over twenty minis on each side. 

The whole might of Rowan Thistlewood's motley band assembled for mischief. 

And it is Friday Night

Rob 

Sunday Night Post

 Hobbit Archers

Painting continues on more hobbits and ruffians. For the next scenario 'The Burning of Woody End' both sides have over twenty minis! And finally the hobbit archers make an appearance. So, a few need to be painted before I can proceed. 

Back to Oldhammer

I picked up this Mouth of Sauron mini at Colours last year and I have finally decided it is time to put some paint on this mini. There is a ton of detail and I still need to work out a paint scheme. 

A  New Pic of Radagast 

Radagast fleeing a giant spider or two. 

Its Not Friday Night

But I still need (deserve?)a beer after painting a few more hobbits. 

Rob 

The Uprooting of Bagshot Row

Bill is in Trouble Again

This is another one of those scenarios that feels very unbalanced even with my standard changes  to the troops. The hobbits can only win by slaying Bill and he has no incentive to move. So, I also decided to the change the victory conditions. 

Like Bill's first scenario (Skirmish in Bree) he must  cause at least two casualties before the game finishes to prevent a draw. After all, Bill has to make up for being beaten off the bridge at the Brandywine river. 

With even numbers of minis on both sides, these scenarios are just too heavily weighed towards the ruffians. 

Prior to the Battle

The ruffians had a great reinforcements roll and managed to call two minor heroes - Brutus and Strong Armed Pete. So,  they decided to save their Influence points for later games. 

The hobbits managed to bring three hobbits armed with staffs, two had 'picked up stones' and a minor hero - Alf Grubb. Given the fierce opposition, Influence points were also used to bring Pip Proudfoot. 

The Battle

The ruffians are deployed around Bagshot Row and the hobbits are approaching from the south. The hobbits on the left flank attempted to use the cover to minimise shooting from the ruffians. While the Gaffer leads the bulk of the hobbits down the right. 

But eventually both sides met and battle was joined but not before the ruffians managed to stomp on all of the Gaffer's flowers*. The staff armed hobbits certainly helped the hobbits on the right flank. But Pete and Brutus were doing a successful job in beating down the hobbits on the left flank. 

* I am certainly glad I didn't spend a lot of time making them and they are £2-3 each for the official ones.  

Pip proving that he is not easily target for Sharkey's rogues and managed to score a wound on Brutus but he managed to save his Fate roll. The hobbits also wounded Bill (and he also  was saved by Fate) but the causalities were mounting up on the hobbit side. 

NB- The game ends when the hobbits are reduced to 25%. 

With eight casualties, the hobbits passed their Morale tests but one more casualty would finish the game. Bill had only caused one casualty, so he needed to cause one more casualty by the end of the turn.  

Pip was not so lucky facing Strong Armed Pete and fell to blows from the burly henchman. But Bill lost his combat and game was a draw. 

After the Battle

The Hobbits

After the battle, Pip made a full recovery and gains Fell Sight.

Alf lived up to his Nickname and gained a point to his Fight value. 

The Ruffians 

Strong Armed Pete proved that he becoming battle hardened and  gained a point of Courage. 

And finally Brutus gained a point of Strength which fits his giant stature. 

So, with the changes to the victory conditions and the enhancements to the troops, this was much a closer game than the original. With both sides having chances to win the game. And the first draw of the campaign. 

Rob 

Finishing a Project

Radagast Done

Radagast was the last mini to be painted in order to complete the 'Escape from Goblin Town' box set. And so completes this project. 

A couple of finished shots of Radagast.

More Ruffians 

Finished off the first of my new ruffians, to boost Sharkey's bullies and rogues. Ready for the next battle. 

And Because it is Friday Night

Rob  

Painting the many Shades of Brown

 Almost Ready to Return to the Shire

Most of my painting time has been applying the many different browns to Radagast. But he is now nearly finished! And I can return to my Shire campaign. However, need some more ruffians, hobbits and scenery before I can play the next 'official' scenarios. 

Rob 

Green & Pleasant Land

 More Scenery for the Shire

Not a lot of time for hobbying at the moment but I did manage to finish off a bit more scenery for my Shire campaign. This time it was a vegetable patch. I even recycled few bits from the old mark one, in this case the sign and some of the veg. 

Not tonight's beer, but I very nice one I had while away. 

Rob 

Death of Lotho

Yes, Really 

Pre-Battle

Again, both sides used Influence points to add a minor hero, Strong Armed Pete for Ruffians and Pip Proudfoot for the hobbits. The hobbits also managed to add two hounds, and two hobbits had already picked up stones. Lotho was obviously suspicious that something was up!

The Battle

This was a short game with Worm turning up with the second counter when all of the hobbits were already engaged with the ruffians. Despite surviving a turn in combat with Worm. Lotho's luck ran out and he was struck down in the second turn of combat. 

To be honest I forgot about Lotho's  Considerable Wealth rule but since it was only Worm that attacked him, I didn't think it really applied anyway. 

After the Battle

Pip gained experience for shooting a ruffian and Pete gained experience for being on the winning side. 

Radagast Progress

After a small purchase of some new brown paints, work continues on Radagast. 

Rob