The Tournament
This was an four games escalation event increasing from 250pt to 400pt to 600pt to 800pt. You had to choose a 'Fool' who would attempt to achieve bonus points by performing certain feats i.e. Slaying a hero of an equal/higher tier, calling heroic move within range of allied heroes, contesting and beating an enemy heroic.
My armies
Those who have seen my paint blogs this year, will know that I've been working my way through my Moria pile. I decided that this would be the army's inaugural event. I chose Groblog to be my Fool for the day.
I will list the armies used at each round.
Game 1- Hold Ground (Vs. Army of the Dead (George))
250pt
Groblog LEADER
Moria Goblin x12 w/ 6x Shield and 6x Shield
Moria Goblin Shaman
Cave Troll w/ Hand and a half Hammer
Moria Goblin x3 w/ 2x Shield and 1x Spear
Models: 18
Opponents Heroes: King of the Dead
Opponents Warriors: Warriors of the Dead
George is an opponent that I have played several times prior, including the infamous game that lasted for thirteen turns of rolling to end. He may be out for vengeance.
I arrived first and ended up getting both warbands together in the South-West corner, while the dead arrived in the North-West.
A footrace then ensued for who could get to the centre first, which the dead won. On the way, the shaman threw up a Fury knowing that the goblins will need it.
Having very few numbers on either side, every kill could lead to a big swing. So I tried to prioritise the banner so that I could have the edge with the numbers. The banner managed to survive the initial combat while I lost 3/4 goblins. The troll had failed his courage and refused to join the combats for the first 2/3.
This meant the normally subtle Groblog was having to throw himself in. He managed to kill a couple of the dead before facing the King (red cloak). In the combat, the trapped King ended up being forced to use two fate.
The now mightless Groblog, was pulled into another fight with the King and slain. The goblins had the edge on the centre and now were desperately hoping that the game would end as they broke. The troll got involved and started thumping some of the ghosts.
The game continued for 3 turns, in which time the dead managed to kill enough of the goblins off to claim the centre by a slight majority.
They had the centre, had killed my leader and we were both broken, leaving me defeated 6-1.
Game 2- Reconnoitre (Vs. Minas Tirith/Fellowship (Ryan))
400pt
Durburz LEADER
Moria Goblin x15 w/ 7x Shield and 8x Spear
Groblog
Moria Goblin x12 w/ 6x Shield and 6x Shield
Moria Goblin Shaman
Cave Troll w/ Hand and a half Hammer
Moria Goblin x4 w/ 2x Shield and 2x Spear
Models: 35
Opponents Heroes: Denethor, Aragorn/Strider and Siege Veteran
Opponents Warriors: Warriors of Minas Tirith, Guard of the Fountain Court, Rangers of Gondor and Avenger Bolt Thrower
I had a brand new opponent, Ryan and I have met at many tournaments, but never clashed before.
We ended up on the desert board with three crossing points over the river. I ended up arriving with Durburz being in in turn four, to the left of the dead mumak in my half, in front of the ford. While the rest of the army was in front of the wooden bridge, to the right of the mumak.
Ryan had arrived with his army as a block. The bolt thrower moved around the camp and fired upon the goblin lines, killing three/four in the first volley. I held back to make sure that the goblins wouldn't arrive in waves and be slain by the well armoured men.
I moved up using the bridge for cover from the siege engine. And was engaged by the Gondorians as I got onto the bridge. Durburz's goblins engaged a small number in the ford and slew all but one. Durburz then ganged up on the surviving man and heroic combatted to push across the river and into the rangers, who also fell.
The troll alongside used a barge to move up too, rolling a 6 and suddenly being to the rear of the bridge.
Aragorn had used a priority just prior to this to launch himself into the goblins on the bridge and kill a few. Groblog charged him and trapped him for +1 FV, then got his crown up for another +1. They both called Heroic Strikes and the goblins came out on top. Strider was dismounted and jabbed at mercilessly, until he was on 1w,0f!
As Durburz led an exodus towards the rear of the board, the troll charged a crew member of the bolt thrower. The other two of the crew surrounded him and they fought. The troll won and proceeded to slay all three of them. Meanwhile, Aragorn fought the now mightless Groblog and slew him.
The troll charged onto the bridge and attacked some warriors. Denethor led the push to kill the goblins on it and Aragorn charged into the troll, calling a Heroic Strike. He went higher and then lost the fight, despite having his allies! The troll finished Aragorn and then killed a warrior too.
Ryan then sent his knight to go and escape the board. Durburz, who's army was now broken, passed courage tests, one after the other until reaching the edge and sweeping his troops off, before escaping himself. Denethor managed to slay the Shaman and remaining goblins on the bridge. But the troll then came in, it lost the first combat and took two wounds. But it won the second time, and Denethor was slain. This put the men below 25% and ended the game.
I had got 6-8 goblins off the board to Ryan's 1, slain Denethor and we had broken one another. Giving me a 10-1 victory.
Game 3- Seize the Prize (Vs. Kingdom of Moria (Rob))
600pt
Durburz LEADER
Moria Goblin x15 w/ 7x Shield and 8x Spear
Groblog
Moria Goblin x12 w/ 6x Shield and 6x Shield
Moria Goblin Shaman
Cave Troll w/ Hand and a half Hammer
Moria Goblin x4 w/ 2x Shield and 2x Spear
Cave Drake
Moria Blackshields x6 w/ 2x Spear
Models: 42
Opponents Heroes: Balin, Lord of Moria, Dwarf King and King's Champion
Opponents Warriors: Khazad Guard, Iron Guard, Dwarf warriors and Dwarf rangers
Rob is my second new opponent of the tournament, that I have met several times and never played. And he appeared to have the most themey matchup that I could have hoped for.
I was going to have an issue in this game, in that I didn't have a Captain for marching, while Rob had access to it. I could put the Drake in the centre, but was worried that this could just lead to big heroes being able to isolate and slay it.
So I made a wall of goblins ready to engage the dwarves in a desperate fight for the prize. I'd have to hope Rob failed the first attempt or two to dig it up as my Drake worked her way around the back to try and pincer the centre or the flank with Balin (depending on which seems closer to crumbling).
Rob found the prize on his first attempt and then pulled its bearer behind his lines. I engaged with a furious charge and, to my horror, my casualties went from the three or four from shooting, up to about thirteen in combat. Only killing a single dwarf in retaliation, even the Drake was pushed back by a lone dwarf shield.
The goblins pushed again, hoping for a better result, using a few traps to try and pincer some enemies. The Drake rushed forth and bulldozed a few dwarves. As Rob started pulling the prize around the ruin to my left. The goblins had another unfortunate turn, with several more losses but did return a few this time. Durburz attempted a Heroic Combat to join the troll, who had pinned the Dwarf King but failed to wound and the latter lost the fight, taking a wound.
As I won a move off, I did something Rob didn't expect. I used the move to pull the majority of my line back and threaten the prize bearer (dwarf with blue band), who was edging towards the escape. The dwarf rangers, who had pushed around, were pinned against the wall and one slain. The dwarves gave chase, with Balin slaying the troll.
The Cave Drake called a Heroic Combat, intending to get around the fighting to my right and chase down the prize. She won the fight and with four dice, need a four to kill the Khazad guard she faced. She rolled a three highest... This not only lost the move from the heroic, but also meant that, when I lost priority the following turn, she was able to be pinned again, losing 16" of movement and safely keeping her away from the prize.
The goblins desperately tried to fight off the dwarven onslaught but first Groblog and the Shaman were slain. Before the remaining warriors also fell. This just left Durburz facing a multitude of the dwarves, including Balin, the Champion, the King etc. He unsurprisingly fell to their axe with the Drake right beside him, a single turn from potentially saving him.
As the prize was carried off the board, the Drake had a single warrior thrown at it, just to limit it to 6" of movement maximum from a barge, allowing the dwarves to escape it. That dwarf was slain and broke them but saved Balin from potentially fighting it.
In the end, Rob had taken the prize off my board edge and we had broken one another for a 8-1 defeat to me.
Game 4- To the Death (Vs. Mordor (James))
800pt
Durburz LEADER
Moria Goblin x15 w/ 7x Shield and 8x Spear
Groblog
Moria Goblin x12 w/ 6x Shield and 6x Shield
Moria Goblin Shaman
Cave Troll w/ Hand and a half Hammer
Moria Goblin x4 w/ 2x Shield and 2x Spear
Cave Drake
Moria Blackshields x6 w/ 2x Spear
Moria Goblin Captain w/ Shield
Batswarm
Moria Goblin Drum
Moria Goblin Prowlers x2
Moria Goblins x7 w/ 2x Shield and 5x Spear
Models: 55
Opponents Heroes: The Witch King, Shagrat and Troll Chieftain
Opponents Warriors: Morgul Knights, Morannon Orcs and a Warg Rider
My final opponent was also a new(ish) one, I had played James in doubles once before, but never in singles.
I sent my first wave, led by the Captain to engage the orcs, while the Drake slammed into his right flank. I lost a wound on the Drake to a black dart from the WK. While Shagrat countered the charge by throwing himself on the beast. He called a Strike and won the fight, spending a might to win the fight, and they scored a single wound.
I kept my cave troll to the right to protect the flank against the small crowd of orcs and Morgul knight coming through towards the Drum. He took two wounds on the charge but the next turn, the goblins around him got stuck in and helped. The knight fell and a hurl killed two orcs.
James then went for the big guns, he threw a transfix at the Drake, who resisted with resistance to magic and charged the WK in to call the Heroic Strike. I was very worried for the Drake and decided to save my fate for the WKs blows as he declared to be using the Morgul Blade. I was very fortunate, when he rolled a four highest and had to spend the WKs remaining might to beat my six. I braced as the wounding dice were rolled and did none! The Drake had survived the Morgul Blade and the next turn, charged into the Ringwraith and destroyed him!
Durburz engaged Shagrat and they both called Heroic Strikes, leaving the Uruk without any might, and he lost two fate as the Goblin King pushed him back. As time was called, several more were killed, including three by the Drake but we fell two short of breaking James's forces. The batswarm had made a last ditch attempt at swooping in to kill the banner but failed.
By the end, James had the only banner and I had slain his leader for a narrow 3-2 victory.
This left me on 2 wins and 2 losses with a VPD of -2. Once the additional points were added in for 'Most Sporting' and 'Fool Points' from the bonuses, I ended up in 7th/10. But I had had four fun games, with a new army and mostly new opponents.
Tournaments that I'll attend
23rd April- Desolation of Stowmarket (GBHL)
29th April- The Fog of More!? (EAHC)
3rd June- At Dawn, Look to the East (No affiliation to us or any other league, to my understanding)
10th June- Republic of the Shire (GBHL)
12/13th August- The Wolf's Lair (GBHL)
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