Game 5 - The Wizard and the Burglar

Gandalf Stuck In the Corner

Another scenario that GW seems to have written in special rules order to make it completely unplayable. Once again, the goblins are set up far too close and allowed to move first meaning that by the end of their first move phase, they are 1” away from Bilbo and Gandalf. And according to the scenario rules, the goblins are allowed to bring D6 reinforcements every turn including directly behind both Gandalf and Bilbo. Which I ignored for the first turn, to try and see if that would balance out the game (it didn’t!).

So, Gandalf spent the entire game not moving more than 1” from his starting position and Bilbo took the only sensible option and put on the ring.

Gandalf used his sorcerous might to immobilise the goblin king, but his lieutenant Ginnah was able to regularly make his courage test after Gandalf cast Terrifying Aura and pin the wizard in place. Meaning the goblins were able to win every round of combat and wear Gandalf down to use up his Might, Will and Fate very quickly. With only one attack, Gandalf always struggles with multiple opponents and being pinned in place from the first turn meant he didn’t have any good options.  

Eventually the goblin king was able to get into combat and then Gandalf was doomed.

In mean time the rest of goblins chased down Bilbo and one of them finally caught him. But Bilbo was ready, and Sting did his work.

So, with Gandalf dead the good guys lost.

The flaws in this scenario seemed obvious just by reading it through. Again, do GW ever playtest or even just read through their scenarios before they print them? So, having played the campaign once, I am going to play it again with a few tweaks to try and make it a bit more challenging for everyone.

 

Rob

Goblin Town Battle 4 - Guard the Crossing

The Dwarves Finally Win One!

So, finally a scenario which generated a bit tension with Thorin & Co. only just holding on to take the win. In this scenario Thorin and Co. are holding the line and trying to stop the goblins getting past them (ten goblins in ten turns to win the game). In the end they only managed to get goblins five off the table. 

The dwarves didn’t win the initiative at all during this game and so had use some Might to call some heroic moves. But on the other side the Goblin King didn’t turn until nearly the end and failed his Courage test to charge Thorin. 

As expected, Orcrist causing Terror held the goblins up for several turns, as twice both goblins at the front failed their Courage test and bottle necked the rest following up. Dwalin didn’t have a great game and in the end fell under repeated goblin blows and Balin was left with just one wound. 

The third scenario (Brothers in Arms) was a complete wash out as the goblins were able quickly surround the dwarves and with the scribe pilling loads of goblins every turn it didn’t ever look achievable for the dwarves. 

Rob 

Reclaim the Baggage - Not at All!

The Dwarves Take a Beating

So, the dwarves got well and truly hammered in this scenario. With Bifur and Bofur both dying in quick succession without even getting off the starting platform.  

Unlike the first scenario (which the dwarves just lost), where I don’t think I used the throwing weapons and heroic combats effectively, which probably made the difference in the first game. And at the end of that game, all of the dwarves had their full number of wounds and Oin can restore wounds.  In the second game, the dwarves fought bravely but just lost. They just didn’t have a real edge over the hordes of goblins.

So, the goblins crowded around eager to get to grips with the dwarves. The dwarves were left with no option but to advance and try and pin the goblins to narrow walkways. But three dwarves just wasn’t enough and from the first turn of combat the dwarves were surrounded. Once again, the chittering hordes rule is a real game changer.

The first turn of combat had plenty of drama with Bofur (with the support of Bifur) striking down the goblin captain when he took two wounds and failed with fate roll (with a one). On the other side Bombur also received two wounds from the two goblins he was fighting but he did manage to make his Fate roll.  Then in the second turn, he promptly struck both goblins down to return the favour.

Despite the loss of the captain, the goblins surged forward and quickly overwhelmed both Bifur and then Bofur in a couple of rounds of fighting. The dwarves did take down a few more goblins but the horde was too strong.

The dwarves were always going to struggle with this scenario as they only have three average fighters and no special combat abilities. Additionally, the goblins are allowed to deploy very close to the dwarves further limiting their tactical options. I am thinking that I would like to replay each scenario but choosing my own dwarven contingent.

The more I play these games, the more I am reminded of Space Hulk with a few elites battling unrelenting hordes in tight and confined battlefields.

 Rob 

Reclaim the Lost Baggage - No Really!

Ready for Scenario No.2?

STOP !! This is all WRONG

I just settled down to play the second scenario (Reclaim the Baggage) when I realised, I had made two mistakes:

1)    First I picked up the wrong dwarf Nori instead of Bifur. Now in terms of gameplay not much between them. But still a bit of faux pax!

2)   Second there was no baggage for the dwarves to reclaim. So, a root around the bits box uncovered some rucksacks from Combat Zone gangers (which also got used for some of my halflings) and a few spare tools from Oathmark light dwarves (which seemed very appropriate 😊). 

Disaster Averted - We found the Baggage

'Bofur discusses the returns policy'

After all of this emergency painting, I didn't actually get time to play the scenario. Still next time. 

I also managed to finish off the first of my DIY walkways including some press moulded bones and dubious looking stains to complete the goblin chic look.

Second disaster of the evening averted, I  found the last bottle of beer in the fridge - Old Speckled Hen. 

Rob