Friday, March 28, 2025
A Ruffian Horde
Sunday, March 23, 2025
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
Saturday, March 15, 2025
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.
After the Battle
The Hobbits
The Ruffians
Friday, March 14, 2025
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.
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
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
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
Friday, March 7, 2025
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
Sunday, March 2, 2025
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
Saturday, February 22, 2025
Sharkey's Henchman
Traitor from Isengard
By this stage of the Lord of the Rings - Grima (Worm) has been having a really bad time after being kicked out of Isengard. So, I wanted my mini to look like Grima had fallen on hard times. With plenty of dirt and distressing on his clothes. Which I simulated with light dotted lines along the wear lines of the clothes.
Photo Update - 01 Mar 2025
Work also progresses on painting up Radagast, I still need to get more different browns to stop him, looking like he has been painted with one pot of paint!
Rob
Monday, February 17, 2025
Toll Collecting
Not as Easy as the Ruffians Think!
Time to go off script and play a scenario around the toll booth. So, the toll booth was set up with a ruffian on duty and three sets of hobbits attempting to smuggle contraband pass the check point. In the guard hut were six ruffians including Brutus. And lurking on the southern baseline was Paladin Took and three Tookish hunters.
Background
Paladin Took has realised that the ruffians are gathering up all of the winter supplies and so has arranged for spare stores to be brought to the deep holes of Took clan. He has planned to meet the brave farmers prepared to break the rules just past the checkpoint. So, if necessary he can help if needed.
No specials or force changes were made as this is my scenario. So, it is (mostly) my fault if it isn't balanced.
Pigs
The pigs have a move of 4” and are moved by the player with priority. Unless there is a mini with 1” of the pig in which case take a courage test, if passed then the pig can be moved 4” in the direction of the controlling player. Otherwise the player with priority moves them. Neither side may harm the pigs.
The Battle
The hobbit's attempt to smuggle through the check point was done using a card system. The deck was divided into red (hobbits) and black (ruffians)cards. Three cards in turn were turned over for each side with the highest card in each pair winning that pair. So, if the hobbit wins two of the three pairs then the hobbit has managed to convince the ruffian to let them through the checkpoint. If two of the smugglers manage to do this then it will be a very short game! As to win the hobbits need to get two supply carts off the southern base edge.
The game begins as the first hobbit approaches the toll booth.
The first cart is through as the hobbits win the first two pairs.
The second hobbit approaches with two pigs but things do not go to plan.
The hobbits lose the first pair and the second pair is tied (after the hobbits played their joker and drew a second card) but then they lose the third pair. So, the ruffian raises the alarm. Now, ruffians rush from the guard hut and Paladin goes to investigate.
After the Battle.
A Ruffian Horde
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