Frodo's Quest: Frodo Baggins

Yesterday, I finished painting Frodo, and I used him as my first entry for the Modern Fantasy Painting Party at the LAF.

I am already painting my next entry, and as this particular Painting Club runs for 200 entries, I think I should be able to get another couple of minis done before it closes.

He is part of my 'Contrast Paints Trial', and only the skin and metal (and base) were painted using traditional paints.

I now just have to finish one Black Rider, and paint some 3D-printed Smials, and I shall be ready to test run my planned first scenario of Frodo's Quest (I kinda forgot what rules I was going to use, but I remember the general outlines and shall cook something up).

Oathmark Solo Test Game, Turn 4

Slow but steady progress of the Oathmark solo test game has been brought to a halt, as I got cobblestones for the lawn edges, and granite chippings for the driveway, delivered in 'bigbags' on Wednesday, so I shall be busy moving the cobblestones to the front yard, and spreading the chippings in the driveway.

But I did manage to finish Turn 4 Wednesday evening, and thus I can present it here.

The Uruk-Hai Pikemen (Orc Spearmen) tried hard to reach the human lines, but did not quite make it, just to get peppered by the Minas tirith Archers, using Fire Over to track LoS through the Fiefdom Spearmen.

The Uruk-Hai failed their Morale Test and were Disordered.

A bit further to the right, the Trolls finally decided to plunge down the hill and into the Fiefdom Warriors (Human Soldiers).

I wrongly rolled a Morale Test for both tthe Trolls and the Fiefdom Warriors; as the Trolls only suffered hits insufficient to cause a casualty, they should not have tested. Of course, I have since removed the Disordered counter from the Trolls.

As both units inflicted two hits, they each move back 1". It is the Mordor Troll that counts.

The Rohan Archers also fired at the Uruk-Hai Pikemen, and the ensuing Morale Test had them break and flee the battlefield.

Luckily for the Isengarders, panic did nt spread through the lines.

The Wolves wanted to charge the Human Cavalry, but they failed their activation roll and stayed put.

Which did not go unpunished.

The Wolves were quickly dispatched by the Cavalry, and the the Uruk-Hai Scouts charged in. Relying on their high Defense, the cavalry did not use Shielding, bur maybe they should have. Both units suffered 1 casualty, but the Cavalry passed their Morale Test, while the Uruks became Disordered.

In the center, the other Uruk-Hai Scouts moved forwar towards the human line, but the Fiefdom Spearmen wheeled left and attacked them in the flank-

After the fight, the Uruk-Hai Crossbowmen fired at the Spearmen, and took one down.

Then the Dwarf Soldiers attacked the displaced Uruks - but, boy, did they hit back!

Both units passed their Morale Tests, and the Dwarves were pushed back 6", which caused some confusion at the rear.

The rest of Turn 4 was just moving, primarily Evil units advancing. Here are som overview pics of the battlefield at the end of the turn:

As mentioned, there will now be a pause in my gaming activities, until I have spread 2 cubic meters of granite chippings in my driveway, but I expect to resume hostilities around Wednesday or Thursday.

Frodo's Quest: Samwise Gamgee

I have not given up on my 'little' side project, it was just on pause like everything else from last summer until recently.

Sam is now ready to embark on a once-in-a-lifetime journey to Rivendell - and beyond!

This mini was painted primarily with Citadel Contrast Paints, although some details were done with normal layering (metal, skin, and the backpack, mainly).

He was varnished, first with Citadel 'Ardcoat, then Humbrol Matt Acrylic Varnish, both brush-on.

As mentioned in my first post about this project, I think that Contast Paints are best suited for plastic minis, but as I started Frodo and Sam this way, I am also going to finish them. Later metal additions to the project will be painted the conventional way, leaving the Contrast Paints for the plastics.

 And here a shot of both the finished minis so far:

Next week I shall probably start finishing in-the-flesh Frodo (I start my five nights work period tomorrow, so I shall not be able to spend much time at the pain(t) station before then).

Oathmark Test Game : Turn 3

This game is dragging on a bit, as we were away most of Sunday, and the weather permits all kinds of outdoor tasks to be attended to, but I do manage to get an activation or two squeezed in here and there.

The Rohan Archers opened Turn 3 by downing two Uruk-Hai Scouts (Orc Soldiers). The Uruks passed their Morale Test with flying colours:

A bit later, the Dwarven Archers pick off three more of the Scouts, but again they hold their nerve.

Soon after, also the Minas Tirith Archers target the scouts - but missed pathetically

On the far right, the Cavalry slipped through the Rohan Spearmen, and then charged the Wolves, who were slowed down by the Rough Ground (Hill)...

...and killed four of the animals without suffering as much as a scratch.

I think the Wolves needed a 10 to pass their Morale Test, and guess what...

The Wolves were then pushed back 6", which caused some displacement of the Uruk-Hai Scouts behind them. Now, what would those Trolls on the hill decide to do next?

The rest of the turn was just advancing/maneuvering, so here are the usual shots of the battlefield at the end of the turn.

I have started on Turn 4, but I am not sure if I shall be able to finish it tomorrow, as I have a lot to do outside, and the forecast promises dry, sunny weather.

Oathmark Test Game Part 1: Turns 1 and 2

I have been playing a bit on and off the last couple of days, and I think it is now time to start reporting the events.

I have previously shown the initial positions of the armies, but for the sake of completeness, here it is again:

I used the option of not rolling for activation if units were only to advance (Forward Unto Battle), but as a pack of Wolves started moving towards the center of the Alliance formation, the Minas Tirith Archers decided to move forward and then loose their arrows at the closing enemies.

Three Wolves bought it, and ther was much rejoicing throughout the Allied formations.

Not much else of any consequence happened, and here are some pics of the battlefield at the end of Turn 1:

A view from the Alliance's side

From the right side of the Isengard position

From the left side of the Isengard position.

 Turn 2 saw the Wolves speeding towards the Alliance lines, only to be met by a hail of arrows, first from the Minas Tirith Archers.

 The Uruk-Hai Crossbowmen (Orc Archers) advanced , opened up, and took down two of the Rohen Archers (I think this game needs some range modifiers for shooting, btw.).

 Then, the Dwarven Archers finished off the remaining Wolves.
Do not attempt frontal attacks with those pesky animals if the enemy has Archers! They are probably better off skulking around at the flanks, seizing any opportunities of attacking weakened or exposed units.

The rest of Turn 2 was just moving and maneuvering, so nothing really interesting happened.

Here are pics of the situation at the end of Turn 2:

The slowly advancing battle line of the Alliance

The not-quite-so well-ordered Isengarders.

Thoughts so far:

Being used to the fast and very simple movement system of God of Battles, I find the movement rules a wee bit clunky. I am aware that they are simplified when compared to WFB, but still. The ability to move sidewards and backwards is nice, though, something I miss in GoB where you always end up facing the direction you moved.

I had missed the 'Fire Over' special rule which means that archers can track LOS through a friendly unit directly in front of them, and my Dwarven Archers are probably going to pay for that mistake, as their Linebreakers are not fast enough to move through them. I think that an army with good archers (Elves?) will be able to pull off a very effective defensive game, powdering an advancing enemy with arrows before making a counter attack with the units in front of the archers.

Which brings me to the third point: As mentioned, I would like to see some Target Number modifiers for range, perhaps just a +1 for over half range, so that the effect of missile fire at long range is somewhat softened up a bit. It may just be my dice rolling (too small a sample to decide), but until now I am somewhat surprised at how easily casualties are inflicted.

Wolves. I really think they should have the 'Nimble' special rule in order to let them move through Rough Ground without penalty. They are, after all, quadrupedal predators well used to hunting in the wilds, and it would somewhat offset their relatively low Defense. Not enough for headlong charges, but still...

The game plays a little slow in solo mode, as I have to look up both units' stats whenever there is interaction, but that is a minor thing - I get the Fight and Defense values repeated again and again, which helps me memorizing them. I expect this to run more smoothly when playing a live opponent.

When organizing the forces, it annoyed me somewhat that all the profiles are fixed without any possibility to customize the units. For instance, I have a lot of different spearmen units, some with no armour and no shields, some with no armour and shields, some with hauberks and shields, and some with heavy armour and shields (and then the Uruk-Hai pikemen with heavy armour and no shields). I would like to be able to differentiate all these slightly, but I have had to squeeze them all into the existing profiles, some of them very difficultly. Well. maybe future expansions will see more options.

All of the above is, of course, 'Feinschmeckerei' as our southern neighbours would put it. Overall, the game, as I have experienced it so far, plays quite well. I like the mechanics that mean that you only roll 4 or 5 dice (sometimes fewer). I think that rolling more dice instead of having to apply the Target Number modifiers would be faster, but I guess that it is possible to learn the modifiers by heart when playing often.

I have started playing Turn 3 today, but as the weather sometimes permit some gardening activities, my progress is slow. I may be able to finish Turn 3 tomorrow, but only after we return from Haderslev in Sønderjylland, as we have to pick up some furniture from my wife's late mother's house (she passed away in the autumn, and the house has been up for sale ever since, and this blasted pandemic is not making things easier).

Alea Empti Sunt!

Warlord Games rather quickly went back into business during the Blockdown, so as I had to get some Bolt Action Order Dice for Warlords of Erehwon, I was not late to get an order in.

I also ordered two sets of D10 to go with them as both WoE and Oathmark use those.

If I can get my historically inclined gaming buddy (Michael) on board for it, I may also have a go at Bolt Action at some point - I know he has a lot of  1/72 WWII British, so I could get some German stuff from Plastic Soldier Company or the likes.