The Arrest of Mayor Will Whitfoot

 Off to the Lockholes

Pre-Battle

Short on Influence points, the hobbits used two victory points to gain the first turn move for Mayor Whitfoot and bring a new local hero – Battlin’ Alf Grubb. When I played this scenario previously, Sid managed a last turn victory by grabbing Mayor Whitfoot, but the game would have been much more one sided for the hobbits, if the mayor is not allowed to move on the first turn. So, the hobbits had to use a victory point to gain this small advantage. 

Five of the hobbits came prepared and had picked up stones and the sixth brought a long staff.  

Confident of victory, the Rogues used three influence points to bring one-eyed Ned along to the fight. The rogues did not manage to roll up any other special characters. 

The Battle

Predictably the hobbits moved towards the safety of the southern table edge with the five hobbits able to move and throw stones on the flanks with clear lines of fire to Sid’s group of ruffians. The hobbits to take down a couple of archers before they can return fire.

The hobbits and ruffians clash as the hobbits attempt to push past Sid. As the hobbits win priority, Sid calls a heroic move and Will responds in kind. With Will winning the roll off. This moves the Hobbits forward, but Will can only play this trick once with just one point of Might. The hobbits block the ruffians from the west and east push on towards the south.

The luck of previous battles disserts the hobbits and the ruffians make short work of them and Sid is able to pin Whil Whitfoot until he captures him. And then poor Whil is carted off to the lockholes.

 After the Battle

One-eyed Ned finally gets enough experience points to gain a roll on the experience table and gains an extra point of defence.  

Sid proves once again he is best fighter in the Shire and his presence is enough to ensure the ruffians fight with fervour. As both main characters act as banners, they mostly cancelled each other out. As with other characters, Sid had a repaint to bring him up to current standards. 

Despite Whil’s capture, Battlin’ Alf Grubb gave good account of himself taking down two ruffians. 

Obviously I don't want to spend £100 buying the official hobbits characters from GW. Especially those that might only appear in one scenario! So, Bilbo will do double duty for Mayor Will Whitfoot. 

So, this evens up the campaign with three victories apiece with some tough games up ahead for the hobbits.