Aragorn, You Need More Men (Backlog Clearing Dec 2025)

Hey all

The biggest update since my last paintblog was that the house move finally happened in mid December! And finally, I was able to crack out my hobby stuff again!

This obviously didn’t give me much time to work with before the year ended, especially with Christmas round the corner. But I managed to get a small handful of things achieved.

The first project I did in our new home, was started as the BSIME Christmas stream was on, and what is more Christmassy than a Central European demon, who punishes naughty children? I, of course, refer to Krampus. Or in this case, his Middle Earth doppelgänger, the Snow Troll, along with Shank and Wrot. Getting them built up alongside Bolg for later.

I cracked on with the orcs first, as I’m a little rusty on my painting. I had an issue, in that I couldn’t find any of my greens after the move. So had to improvise for the skin, mixing Incubi Darkness with Steel Legion Drab, giving a mint green colour. I then washed this with Athonian Camoshade to give it a nice green hue. I didn’t do anything particularly fancy for the metal or leather, just my usual approach. 

For the troll, I took a similar approach to Gandalf the White, much earlier in the year, colouring parts of him with Steel Legion Drab, various greys etc and would build up the colours with increasingly pale off-whites. 

Once I had fully painted him, I then took the plunge, mixing Administratium Grey and Pallid Wych Flesh to make a pale off-white, then drybrushing the entire model. This risked ruining the entire thing if I went too heavy so I took my time with it. But eventually got a nice frosted look all over. Finally, I finished by colouring his eyes with Khorne Red, a small highlight of Mephiston Red and then dotting his pupil in.

I had finished that small project just after Christmas and didn’t have long left before the New Year. When I started the last hero for the year, Bolg. He’s been a personal favourite to use for years, so I had been itching to do him since seeing the new models for him. I hadn't glued his mounted model onto his warg for the sake of not worrying about remembering a warg for him being dismounted. The first part that I painted was his warg with a variety of shades of brown, making it darker at thicker fur and warmer in the thinner patches.

I did a few colour mixes to sort him out, including Corvus Black and Leadbelcher for his armour, highlighted in plain Leadbelcher, Mournfang Brown and Rakarth Flesh for his face loin cloth, yeah it’s faces, I always forget that, and Baneblade Brown and Administratium Grey for his skin.

In the end, I had to allow myself New Year’s Day to finish his mounted half, so I gave myself the break as I had lost a lot of time in the year. But I was really happy with his look!

And that was what I managed in those two weeks. It may not be much but it’s the start of a new base for my hobby. And also just looking back at these before i post this, I do feel really proud of how good that I feel that they are for me.

End of year round up

So to summarise the year’s painting, I had a long hiatus between May and September, when I couldn’t do any hobby, due to the expected move. And, even when I did get back in in September, it was only a small handful of projects. I got a fair bit done in preparation for Throne of Skulls, but not a lot. Obviously, Hobby Bingo wasn't such a priority in this time and so a lot that I intended, didn't happen. But next year I'll get back on the horse.

Because of this, I didn’t get anywhere near matching previous years totals (typically 100-200 models) and only got 51 done (2546pts worth). But I’m not going to beat myself up over this, as it was just bad luck. I had intended to get my grey pile down from its starting point in Jan of 316, to 250 or less. But instead, it is now at 293 (with Xmas models yet to be added). 

In my gaming, I’d had a bit of an off year, winning about 1/3 of my games. And my best event result was breaking even, but that’s not too important, more just an interesting thing to track. The unique hero that I’d slain the most was Legolas (4).

It appears that I hadn’t set a target last year so I shall do so now, I’m going to try to get my paint pile down below 240 by New Year 2027. I’ve chosen a good and evil army to do as big projects with a few dozen models each; Numenor and Lurtz’s Scouts. I’m thinking I’ll crack on with the latter first as a potential evil army for the GT (if I can get a ticket).

For now, onto 2026!

Sam’s Top Ten ‘What the Hell just happened?’ Moments 2025

 Hey all

This is one blog that I always look forward to doing each year, where I write out the biggest WTF moments from my games of the year.

Bear in mind that these are ranked, not necessarily on odds alone, but sometimes also by drama and hilarity.

Merry Christmas and enjoy!

Number 10

Good- Practice Game (Jim (Sept)

In Stake a Claim, I had a rough start as Jim got to the objectives quickly and got a headstart on fortification points. 

Later on, as the game was coming to an end, Jim is one away from quartering himself and ending on a win. The last goblin of the turn, is fighting two Hearthguard and a Vault Warden team. That goblin wins his fight and receives an utter bollocking from Jim for his selfishness!

The next turn, I now have enough objectives to overtake on fortification points. Until the Watcher yanks two dwarves off an objective in the shoot phase, making it uncontested and levelling the score again. 

Then that same goblin from earlier is killed and receives an utter bollocking from Jim, again, for making his objective uncontested for me and ending the game as my victory!

Bad- One Book to Rule Them All (Kepa (June))

Time is coming to an end for the round, and I desperately need to break Kepa to have a chance. He is also in a tight spot, and is forced to charge Grima at Prince Haleth. Through the entire combat phase, I am one away from breaking him and just cannot get a kill. Time is called during the combat phase, and as we get to the final combat it’s almost guaranteed…except then Grima overcomes the Prince, leaving me gobsmacked, but mercifully doesn’t also wound him to rub it in.

Number 9

Good- Seven Stones (Larry and Sam (May)

Our opening game of Seven Stones, we manage to get Grima to run up the tower in the centre with the table's Palantir at it's top, and use our other 'Traitors' to protect the door.

Sam or Larry then makes the joking suggestion that they would 'allow' us to throw the Palantir at them if we wanted.

So we obviously did, Grima hurled it out the window (at Strength 10!) and crushed the skull of a Hillman against Saruman beneath!

Grima was, unfortunately, then unable to get out the tower, as the Hillmen held the door closed and the archers used him as a moving target in his little room. Until they eventually got him.

Bad- Throne of Skulls (Ossie (Nov))

We’re playing Sites of Power (a night battle) and my catapult has been firing blindly throughout, simply missing. Not an issue, as my orcs are fighting well and draining Thorin’s Company’s resources quickly!

Finally, I roll the 6! The rock sails through the air magnificently…before I'm watching it slowly veer off course…and land on Bombur, who uses a fate. When it kills five of my orcs…exposing Gothmog, much to his surprise, to four or five angry dwarves.

This causes an absolute avalanche in momentum change, as my solid line is shattered, heroes are left exposed and Gwaihir is freed to cause carnage. Quickly, this snowballs into an absolute wipeout for me.

Number 8

Good- Practice Game (Jason (Jan))

Jason is winning and needs to kill one more guy to end the game. He has three corsairs surrounding a Grim Hammer with +1 to wound for Backstabbers. He rolls his six dice, needing a single 5+, and gets a four high. In the next turn, I’m able to swing the game into a draw.

Bad- One Book to Rule Them All (Kepa (June))

Same battle as the Grima entry earlier. I got Prince Haleth and a couple of riders charging a lone Uruk for a Heroic Combat, using Haleth’s last might. This would allow me to slingshot the three into the main fight and shatter a flank to give me control, hopefully giving me a big advantage later. 

I win the fight and roll my twelve strikes to wound…but get a four high…the Uruk lies confused in the mud.

Number 7

Good- EAHC Halloween Event (Darren (Oct))

In this event, there is a lot of wacky wargear options opened up to the army leaders. So my Thorin is mounted on a goat, and Bolg against him in Contest of Champions is on a chariot...

I lose the move off and the chariot slams into Thorin, but I am pleasantly surprised when the goat isn't wounded! 

Less pleasantly surprised, when Thorin is wounded twice...

They both call Heroic Strikes, both go up to F9, and Thorin wins the roll off with Orcrist. None of the blows go past the chariot. I mutter 'Well if I can kill the chariot, I'll let all that go...' Thorin rolls 6, 6, 5 to wound, so spends a might and shatters the thing!

Bad- Side by Side with a…Friend..? (Fergus (Sept))

My Fellowship is against Fergus’ Harad army with a Mumak. In the opening turn, I rush onto a bridge, to give me some cover from the enemy archers, and keep safe from a trampling.

Gandalf puts up a Blinding Light and I feel pretty safe. Until the Harad upon the Mumak fire their five shots at Legolas. They get four hits and then score four wounds on him! He is left on two might, one wound and no fate immediately!

Number 6

Good- Practice Game (Ryan (Jan))

Wanting to get a few kills and maybe take the out of my heroes, Ryan calls a Heroic Combat with Aldrac against my two dwarves. He then spends a might to win the fight and another to kill. He charges Young Balin afterwards, but I succeed with my own Heroic Combat, and Young Dwalin and a dwarf trap Aldrac.

In the combat, Aldrac has F7 due to charging, so when I roll my six dice and get a four at best, my head falls into my hands…until Ryan rolls a two high, and has spent too much might to save it! Aldrac is cut to pieces.

Bad- One Book to Rule Them All (Richard (June))

My Army of Edoras is just settling into the thick of battle against the hardy Battle of Five Armies list. In the fray, Beorn picks up a Rohirrim and hurls him at the King, which was to be expected.

Less expected was Helm taking a wound from the fall from his horse, not the impact, failing all three fate on ones and then being slain by two dwarves the next turn! Setting me up for a swift defeat!

Number 5

Good- One Book to Rule Them All (James (June))

Helm Hammerhand has pushed too deep and slain the Gondorian cavalry. But now Earnur has him on the ropes with no might, two wounds and no fate, while riding at him with lance lowered. He also has the assistance of two elves and a banner in range.

In desperation, I pull out the stops. Frealaf and Hera both call Heroic Combats. Frealaf succeeds and takes the spear support off from against Hera, as he can't directly help Helm, but can make Hera's odds better. She then succeeds her own combat and charges the banner and Earnur. 

Not only does she then win that fight, but she also slays the banner and dismounts the King, who takes a wound from the fall!

Bad- Ride to War (Josh (Dec))

The final game of the day, against Riders of Eomer with my Barad-Dur list. Sauron has had a good day, helping me secure a win and almost doing it again in the second game. 

In this game, the backswing came in hard. And over five turns of combat, he never rolled above a four, as his orcs were destroyed in two turns. We carried on as we had plenty of time left, to see if Josh could kill Sauron. Eventually he did, but Sauron had only survived that long due to the Ring.

Number 4

Good- EAHC Not GT (Tom (March))

I have The Three Trolls, drawn against Fangorn. I feel like I’m against it, fighting tougher beasts, with larger numbers.

However, in the opening turn, the trolls put on a performance. Tom first faces Beechbone and wins to score three wounds against him! Bert then defeats Birchseed and his Oak ent, scoring two wounds on the weaker one, finishing it off the following turn! And finally, the leaders face off, with Bill winning and doing his 'Mince 'em fine' rule on Treebeard. I rolled a six to Treebeard’s one, causing four wounds on the lead ent!

I ended up losing the game anyway, but what a start that had been!

Bad- City of Kings (Alex (April))

Alex has brought an army of Troll Brutes led by Bolg. I figure that my best chance is to get a couple of early kills and snowball the damage quickly.

To achieve this, I got Princes Haleth, Hama and five warriors to surround one and call a Heroic Combat with the former’s last might. Alex rolled his dice and got a five high. So I rolled my twelve dice and banner reroll, only getting a four…

Those trolls then absolutely annihilated me with a tsunami of trampling.

Number 3

Good- The Clouds Burst (Jimmy (Nov))

Zagdush finally has a chance to show his quality...

Against Thranduil's Halls, he first rushes the frontline, and Heroic Combats through it to kill the spears behind too. The following turn he rushes and slays a wounded Legolas. Before being attacked by the elven King himself, who he holds back for several turns. 

Until the troll also breaks through and holds Thranduil still to allow Zagdush to also kill him! Zagdush had personally ended the Royal line of Mirkwood!

Bad- The Clouds Burst (Ed (Nov))

Playing Treasure Hoard, my Gothmog’s Army vs Return of the King. It’s late game and I’m going for broke. Goroth is holding two treasures and attacks Legolas with three Morannon Orcs, one of which also has a treasure.

Both use their final might to call Heroic Strikes, both getting to F7. Legolas rolls a five high. So I roll, expecting a swift victory and end to the elf…but get a four…Legolas slays the treasure bearer and snatches it! The game ends there due to time and causes me to lose 10-9!

Number 2

Good- Side by Side with a…Friend (Phil (Sept))

The Fellowship has taken a right kicking from the Legions of Mordor. Legolas and Gandalf stand alone in a ruin on an objective surrounded by orcs and Easterlings. 

As the game nears its end, Phil's Ringwraith on Fellbeast swoops down onto the central objective (Divide and Conquer). Legolas is in combat with Amdur and draws his bow, firing three times at the leading Wraith. One hits Amdur and wounds, the other two hit the Wraith. One of them wounds, and goes through both fate to slay him and score me leader VPs!

Phil, as one of hte loudest anti-elf voices in our local community, was not pleased.  😂

Bad- Reinforcements in the South East (Kepa (Sept))

Playing Escort the Wounded, I have decided to ignore two of Kepa’s objectives and focus down just one, while getting all three of mine past, as well as killing his leader, and breaking him.

This started well, as I got one past and the other two were making good progress, getting in behind him. Just as Durin and his guard were ready to break them out, and maximise my VPs, I couldn’t win a priority for the life of me. The Uruks won all five of the last priorities, and the move offs. 

To add salt into the wound, a captain and a berserker both trapped Durin and one shotted him after some insane dice rolls to really hit it home!

Number 1

Good- Throne of Skulls (Liam (Dec))

It’s the last turn of the game in Convergence, I have only one of the four objectives, but it’s in the middle. Liam has one within my reach and the other on the edge of the centre. 

I get a Heroic Move and Amdur charges the Rivendell knight holding the closer one. He calls a Heroic Combat with his last might in one last desperate hope, as I eyeball the distance, and he seems close enough. 

Amdur quickly cuts the elf down, snatching the heirloom, and I measure the distance. He’s a little under the six inches and charges into the next! Bringing his blade down and slaying the second knight to claim a second heirloom that he could only do as he was a hero!

It was in the final combats of the game, and had swung the VPs by twelve accumulatively, to win it for me! A truly great Throne of Skulls moment, where a big 'Hail Mary' comes off!

Bad- War of the Rohirrim (James (Jan))

It’s the local league opener and I’m against my often suffering doubles partner, James. 

It’s Hold Ground, and my Gundabad orcs have done well. We have killed Faramir, Madril and all the rangers/Minas Tirith warriors off. I have my Catapult troll and leading Captain in the centre with a group of orcs. Now, having already rolled a few times to continue the game, we just wait to win…

After the fifth turn of rolling to end the game, and still continuing…my numbers have thinned out. My lead Captain has done a runner and taken a few orcs…

After the seventh, the Catapult troll has also run…Frodo and Sam, who have sat off to one side behind a pillar to avoid the catapult projectiles, now emerge and start shuffling towards the objective.

After nine turns, I have a lone Gundabad spearman left in the middle. And the hobbits are closing in!!!

In turn ten of rolling, I have to charge the hobbits to try pushing them off the centre. They naturally win, but have the good grace not to table me, as the game finally ends! Now that they’re in range…

My 15-3 victory was turned into a 16-6 defeat! 

Hope you all enjoyed these and cheered for my good fortune or laughed at my terrible luck! I’ll begin the next list in the new year!

Tournament Report- Throne of Skulls 2025 (29/30th Nov)

The Event

Throne of Skulls is quite simply one of, if not the, best event on the calendar. 1000pts with theme and sportsmanship as important as your gaming results.

My Army

Early on in the year, I spoke to regular co-conspirator, James, about his TOS plans, and floated the idea of a joint display. 

He mentioned that he was intending to do the Defence of Minas Tirith. So I ended up bringing the attackers. How I made the army is here: 

https://eastangliasbg.blogspot.com/2025/12/aragorn-you-need-more-men-backlog.html

I also decided that I would begin each game by ‘releasing the prisoners’ and firing the severed heads once, just for the theme.

Game 1- Stake A Claim (Vs. Gary (Dragons of the North))

I’ve never played against the Dragons army, so didn’t know how this would go. I quickly realised that Amdur would be a big asset, with his high fight value and 5+ limit on wounding heroes. 

I called a Heroic March with Guritz to move up the board quickly as the dragons flew to the centre and got early fortification points. 

Then the dragonfire started….😆

I lost nine of my guys to the first two fireballs. As they hit my big group hard. I ‘released the prisoners’ in return, but it just seemed to make the Dragons angry rather than frightened. 

The next turn, I charged in with as many troops as I could, alongside Amdur and the troll, into the Yellow/Red dragon. Gary’s leading Dragon, the Golden one, blew another fireball into the Enforcer’s warband as the Red Dragon also blew one at Guritz’s. I had another six incinerated. 

Amdur then helped me give some clap back, as he and his troops overcame the beast and dealt three or four wounds. Some of which were saved by fate. 

In the following turn, I managed to get all two Dragons into fights to avoid most fire this turn, and luckily the spare dragon missed. Amdur, and his troops again took on the Yellow and Red and dealt another three wounds. He would then fail a courage test and fled the battle. However, the other two fights wouldn’t go as well, as I lost the Enforcer and several orcs.

If I could now, just flood another objective and also kill another dragon, I could have the last flee and win by default, or maybe reclaim the VPs that I needed. I called a Heroic Move with Gothmog to try and grab the Goldenboy, breaking and leader VPs in him after all. He called one in response and won the roll off, he flew backwards out of Amdur’s range and landed behind the Enforcer’s surviving orcs. 

I pursued but the orcs in charge range, failed their courage tests and refused to pin him. So another fireball came and hit my troll square in the face. He was slain immediately, and Amdur survived with his fate. I fired my catapult in response and dropped a rock onto the Red’s head, but he was saved by fate. Guritz tried to seize the right objective but was eaten by the Red. The following turn saw Amdur attack the Gold again but lose and fell to the beast. 

Over the last few turns, I closed down the fortification point difference but the game ended before I could equalise. Gothmog also fell to the Golden Dragon in a heroic last stand. I had less points, owned less objectives in the last turn, was broken and had lost my leader.

Result- 12-0 Loss

Game 2- Treasure Hoard (Vs. David (The Easterlings))

I knew that against David’s mostly mounted Glimmering Horde, I needed to be quick off the mark and take my three treasures early. So I called Marches with Gothmog and Guritz, pushing up quickly and taking the first. 

I then ‘released the prisoners’…it was supposed to be a gimmick…a prank…it scared off five of his kataphrakts…

We claimed three objectives each and they rushed towards each other. When the lines hit, we formed two big fights either side of the central house. An easterling was carrying my left objective, Gothmog took my right one and another easterling held the central one. 

On my left, Amdur and the troll pushed into the Glimmering Horde. The troll ended up fighting the enemy Amdur for the rest of the game, taking the blows but not falling. My Amdur edged towards the Dragon Knight when a catapult shot landed and knocked them all prone.

On the right, Gothmog and his Enforcer skirted around the side and started cutting down kataphrakts. A handful of spare troops ran through the garden of the house and started flanking the cavalry. Beside them, I ran my easterling with a treasure up alongside an orc, with the intention to try and cause damage to the left flanks rear and cause a breakthrough.

I was getting lucky early on and the damage was snowballing.  A catapult shot scattered onto an enemy treasure and stopped its progress dead for me. Gothmog and his unit managed to kill most of the right flank off.

On the left, the troll held Amdur in place and kept him from doing any real damage to me, but causing a wound myself eventually. My orcs and easterlings were taking down a good number while not losing too many in return. My Amdur stepped up to face the Dragon Knight, when a scattered rock came sailing down and flattened them both! At which point, time was called.

At the end, I held four treasures, David had two, I had broken him, I had wounded Amdur and he had a kataphrakt close to my board edge.

Result- 12-5 Win

Game 3- Sites of Power (Vs. Ossie (Thorin's Company))

Ossie is a guy, who I have encountered at many tournaments, but never yet played against. We arguably had a good scenario for me in this. 

I had brought Guritz in first, and used his bonus to reduce Amdur's roll of 2 to a 1 and give him a second chance. When he came the next turn, he reinforced Guritz. The rest of the army all arrived further up the same board edge. The prisoners were released, missed and who knows where they ended up.

I tried to move up quickly to engage the dwarves ASAP and start draining their resources. I got a couple of orcs to hold the South-East objective, a couple of Easterlings moved up to the North-East, my catapult sat on the South-West and Ossie had Balin later sit back on the North-West.

Once we were in charging range, Ossie won the Heroic Move off and had Gandalf immobilise the troll before the dwarves charged. I tried to undo the damage as best I could with the troops. Amdur was just out of range of Dwalin, so couldn't remove him from the troll, but the orcs and Easterlings got a lot of the others including Gwaihir.

The first turns of combat went pretty well for me, as the dwarves were forced to spend might/fate and lost some wounds. I had some real momentum building and quickly had a small group of orcs all pouring past to go for Balin and his objective. Things were going really well...until disaster struck.

This was a night battle and so the catapult had been largely uninvolved...until it wasn't. It finally rolled a 6 to hit. Heading right for Gwaihir, and then quickly deviating sharply to the left and striking Gloin. This knocked all the dwarves prone, but didn't cause any wounds...but killed all five of my orcs in range. Suddenly the dust clears and Gothmog is left awkwardly staring down the barrel, exposed as five dangerous dwarves are all very close.

Suddenly, the game turned on a dime, Amdur was torn to pieces by Gwaihir followed qucikly by the Enforcer, who stepped up to protect Gothmog. The orcs near the North-West objective finally brought Balin down, but Gothmog didn't last much longer as I broke. Several of the dwarves were on their last legs, but were clearly inspired by how their fortune had turned and I couldn't kill any more of them. 

I had the orcs on the South East objectives both flee, and lost me a vital objective right at the end of the game. Ossie pulled some of his heroes to the North-West objective (Thorin and Bombur, I want to say) and edge me out as he outnumbered me on it. 

Ossie had outnumbered me on one objective (x2), while I solely held two, he had broken me, slain Gothmog, and he had slain my troll. 

Result- 10-6 Loss

Game 4- Escort the Wounded (Vs. Jake (Men of the West))

Opponent Heroes: King Elessar (converted from a Hurin), Legolas, Gimli and Gwaihir

Opponent Troops: Minas Tirith Warriors and a Great Eagle

Day two began with us trying to carry our poor beaten soldiers to safety. I was a little concerned about facing another Gwaihir after he did so much damage in the previous game. I began by getting two orcs to carry one to my left, another couple took the central one and my troll took the right. I released the prisoners, but the army bonus meant that the Men didn't care.

Gwaihir made a swift attack, flew over my army and viciously attacked the troll, winning the fight and Jake picked up his dice. I remember saying this'll be where you get all 5/6s...and he rolled 4, 5, 5 and 6. Obviously, it's too good a chance for Gwaihir and he mighted it to one shot the beast. That was a very bad start on my part.

I then set up my lines to goalkeep against Aragorn to the right, and Legolas/Gimli to the left. I threw handful of orcs at Legolas to occupy him as my wounded guy was run past. I managed to get by and saved one. 

On the right, I tried to keep the men back, but they pushed hard and started slipping by with their own wounded. Amdur was attacking the flanks, trying to thin out the ranks and isolate Aragorn.

One on the back of an eagle, the other two in the hands of men. Gwaihir, meanwhile, had taken a rock on the head, but passed his fate, and then flew towards my crew. In the ensuing combats, I threw my troll in and we started well, managing to remove two fate. In the second, we got him down to two wounds, zero fate. But then the troll failed his courage...Gwaihir attacked the orcs instead, so the troll threw a stone...and killed his engineer captain...whoops...

He did make up for this, right at the end of the game, as he charged in one last time and rended the bird into oblivion, scoring three wounds!

On the right, Amdur was successfully keeping pace with Aragorn's unit, killing many in exchange for the fallen orcs and easterlings. On the left, Gothmog and his Enforcer were slaying many of Legolas and Gimli's men, but Jake was about to rescue his last two wounded (top right corner), and mine were nowhere near safety.

As the last turn was coming to a close, Amdur had finally made his move and charged Aragorn. We were both out of might with elven blades, equal fight value, and I had elected to go 2h with Amdur to increase my wounding rolls to 4+, so naturally, being evil I brought two orcs in to trap. We both got a six and in the roll off...Aragorn won! He dealt two wounds to Amdur as the game ended. (I rolled after the fact, to torment myself, and I'd have done four wounds, if I had won. But nevermind.) It was a great game!

I had saved one wounded, broken Jake and killed his banner bearer. He had rescued all three wounded and broken me.

Result- 13-7 Loss

Game 5- Convergence (Vs. Liam (Rivendell))

My last game would be against Liam and his all mounted Rivendell army. I’ve never had much luck against Rivendell knights, but maybe there’s a first for everything. 

I deployed Amdur and Guritz in one corner, near the catapult and Gothmog with his Enforcer in the opposite. Liam put Elrond and Arwen together and the twins across from them.

I called Heroic Marches with Gothmog and Guritz to try and seize a couple of heirlooms, as I reckoned that if the elves got them, I’d not get them back. Gothmog led his guys towards the Northern one, and Guritz towards the Eastern one. I figured the elves would focus down one or the other, so I could at least guarantee getting one. The prisoners were freed and the elves rolled their eyes.

As we closed in, Gothmog and his unit stood before the elven cavalry, in charge range. And both sides called Heroic Moves. I won it and rushed into the elves, but couldn’t clear the fence to reach the objective. In the combat phase, the orcs had a blinder and cut down several. A catapult shot landed square on Elrohir’s head with my first direct hit of the weekend and killed his horse along with several of his cavalry. Elrohir survived.

On the Eastern side, Guritz’s unit took the heirloom and pulled back towards the easterlings, who were covering the catapult from the approaching elves, led by Arwen.

Amdur had started approaching the centre, helped his men kill a few elves, who rushed in and then pulled back to join the catapult. Liam had taken both the southern and western objectives and also stepped in with a dismounted knight to pick up the northern one as the orcs and elves fought. 

It was another game if the catapult troll showing his quality, when the elves flew in and charged the defence I had put up.

Arwen had cast a Nature’s Wrath and knocked down several of my guys. My troll regained his footing in combat and the next turn began hurling, taking down pairs of elves at a time. I wanted him to hurl at Arwen, but his intelligence kept failing him (what an idiot!) 😆

Over the game a heroic effort was put in by them all, but we never managed to even dismount the she-elf.

Back in the North, Gothmog’s orcs were gloriously winning against the elves, getting the move offs and killing a handful each turn. That was until we lost the move off…the elves immediately turned the tide and slaughtered sooo many of my guys! This was compounded as Elrond arrived and slew the Enforcer and before long, only Gothmog and a handful of orcs remained. The lead orc tried to put up a heroic last stand with Heroic Defences but, before long, all but one grunt were slain!

I was in trouble, my leader was dead, I was broken and I only had 1/4 objectives. When priority was rolled, I won. Amdur, who had led a push into the centre, attacked an heirloom holder and pinned him. Liam then moved his guys onto the edge of the centre. He only eyeballed it though…and I realised Amdur could be in charge range of another heirloom holder…I also had my heirloom firmly in the centre…but, this was Amdur’s last night..Elrond was closing in with a tsunami of elves, unbroken and would wash me away easily if  the game continued…

But it’s TOS, where this sort of reckless gambit is encouraged! Fuck it!

Amdur spent his last might, calling the Heroic Combat. He slew his first opponent, taking the heirloom! He then rushed into the next as he was in range! And managed to slay him too! Because he is a hero, he is able to hold more than one!

But then the truly crucial moment came, where I had to end the game or die…I rolled and sighed with relief as I had got a 2!

I held three objectives in range of the centre, Liam held one off the centre, I had more models in the centre, while I had been broken and lost my leader. 

Result- 11-7 Win (All thanks to Amdur and sheer dumb luck. Two mins earlier, Liam had been winning 13-5!)

End Results

By the end of the tournament, I had one major and one minor win as well as two minor and one major loss. I had also had a favourite game vote and three favourite armies votes, getting me 43rd place out of the 80 players.

As always it was another awesome Throne of Skulls and a great weekend, always a great way to bring the years events to a close...but maybe I have time for just one more this year...