Dori's Last Stand

The Dwarves Take A Beating

So, this version of the scenario offers a choice on which extra dwarves to take, with a total of five now available. Nori, Ori and Bombur were all taken because they hadn’t yet played a scenario. Ori is clearly the worst character available, and this is one of the harder scenarios but to keep within the campaign rules it was his turn. This leaves two more spots, after a bit of deliberation on Oin (& his wound healing), I decided on Gloin and Dori who are both superior fighters. Because even with the changes to the scenarios there is still going to be plenty of goblins on the table.

The original version of this scenario just lacked any balance with only three dwarves (one of which is Ori!), the goblins being able to deploy right on top of the dwarves and an endless supply of reinforcements who can be deployed in exactly the right spot meant the dwarves had no real prospect of winning. The changes attempt to address these points in order to get a better balance.

In this amended version, the goblin reinforcements arrive at either the twelve, three, six or nine o’clock points on the table dependant on a dice roll. The goblin player still rolls as normal to see if the reinforcements arrive but has limited control of their arrival points.

Goblin Reinforcement Arrival Points

Roll D6

1: Dwarf player chooses arrival point

2: Twelve o’clock

3: Three o’clock

4: Six o’clock

5: Nine o’clock

6: Goblin player chooses arrival point

The dwarves decided to head for the treasure stack in the northern eastern corner. The goblins responded by surging forward to meet them with more reinforcements on the way. The goblins were able to use their weight in numbers to get into some advantageous combats. The dwarves were able to mostly hold their own until Bombur who was outnumbered three to one. He lost his combat and then the goblins rolled three 6’s to wound and Bombur was struck down.

 

No recovery for Bombur, after the goblins rolled three 6's

The dwarves pulled back to form a better defensive line and the goblins responded by retreating back onto the platform while they waited for more goblins. Left with no choice, the dwarves had to attack the goblins on the platform before more reinforcements arrived. Ori managed to take one down with his slingshot before the others forced their way onto the platform.

In the ensuring melee Ori managed to slip through the goblins and search the pile of baggage to find the missing items. Which was just as well as the dwarves were close to breaking with no Might left and a few wounds taken. From this point it was all about escape for the dwarves, after a couple of rounds of the combat with more goblins bearing down. Nori, Ori and Gloin had a clear escape path.

With Dori a move behind, he couldn’t escape with the others, so blocked the way. If he could just hold out for one more combat, we would be able to escape as well (at this point he had lost a wound and no Might or Fate left) but the four goblins had other ideas and he was struck down close to the exit.

Dori was undoubtably the dwarf of the match, taking down nine goblins and blocking the escape route. Up to this point he has one of the most dependable dwarves in the company. Even with the improvements this was still a tough scenario for the dwarves who are now fleeing back to join the rest of the company with their hard won booty.

Dori's last stand

After the battle only Ori managed to recover one point of fate. Once again the dwarves left encounter with no might or fate left. And with Gloin down to one wound, every combat was tense especially when he lost twice and was only saved by his armour. 

Rob