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!

Sam’s Top 10 ‘What the hell just happened?’ moments 2024

 I started doing this annual post two years ago. (First post for 2022 here: https://eastangliasbg.blogspot.com/2022/12/sams-top-10-what-hell-just-happened.html ) When I thought it would be a fun way to end the year by recounting some of the silliest, most shocking or spectacular bad luck gaming moments of my year. Last year, I added in special mentions for things that I had seen, but not been a part of, as there was one in particular that blew me away. (2023 post here: https://eastangliasbg.blogspot.com/2023/12/sams-top-10-what-hell-just-happened.html )

This year, I took on the recommendation made by one of our locals, James, and included my moments of incredibly good luck! So lets start going through them, note that these are, as usual, not necessarily by odds, but by spectacle.

10.

Good- A Time of Valour (Kieran (Sept))

I am Azog’s Legion/Dol Guldor, Kieran has Boromir, Captain of the White Tower in combat beside Bolg and the Keeper of the Dungeons. I call a Heroic Combat with the latter. Kieran thinks and decides not to call a Heroic Strike or Defence, so as not to let Bolg ‘Master of Battle’ it. 

The combat goes off and Bolg rushes Boromir as expected, Boromir contests Bolg’s 6 in combat with a 3 high, including banner reroll. Knowing the danger he’s in, Boromir spends three might to match it. 

He then loses the roll off, his horse and three wounds (trapped). He rolls all three fate and has to spend another might to survive. Meaning that he has dropped from full stats to 1 wound, 0 fate and 2 might in one turn. 

The next turn, he got another 3 high to Bolg’s 6 and was slain. Denethor blamed Faramir.

Bad- Weekday Warhammer World event (Chris (Sept))

I am using Arathorn’s Stand LL, he has managed to preserve all his might, when my army breaks. He rolls his first courage test and rolls Snake Eyes. He burns all three might, but saves one with the Isildur’s Heir bonus. 

He charges the Mouth of Sauron, calls a Heroic Strike (getting it free again), building up to great heroics here…more encouragingly he gets to F10, and so can feint!

He then promptly rolls triple 1, takes two wounds and fluffs his fate. #Anticlimax

9.

Good- Ardacon Doubles w/ James (Ali/Ryan (August))

We were playing as Defenders of Erebor LL. Old Dain is charged by young Dain on his pig. My Dain wins the fight after neither call Strikes and slays Oinky. The following turn, now pigless Dain tries again, but loses for a second time and takes two wounds. He retreats and Thrain comes rushing in to attack my now mightless Dain (Heroic Moves). 

Thrain calls a Heroic Strike, with no counter, but Dain wins this too and smashes him with Barazanthual and causes three wounds! Thrain survives on 1 wound and 1 fate, but is understandably shaken.

Dain is then surrounded by Thrain and others and takes just one wound. Before facing a goat rider, who knocks him down on the charge, an Iron Hills warrior and Thrain again. 

Showing just how formidable he is, Dain wins the combat, despite the odds, and ends the game on his feet!

There is one that I can call ‘King’!

Bad- Throne of Skulls (Chris (Nov))

My leaders of a New Age army was facing Chris’ White Council. 

In the midst of this, Bard II was showing himself to be the weak link, failing two consecutive courage tests (1/2 both times) to help his allies. 

Once in combat, he faces Elrond and both call Heroic Strikes. Elrond goes up by one, so Bard excitedly rolls his own..and also goes up by one…

Elrond, who is now out of might, compared to Bard’s two, rolls a 4 high. Bard prepares for an easy win, and spectacularly rolls triple 1, rerolling his banner to be his fifth 1 in a row.

8.

Good- Seven Stones w/ James (Billy/James (May))

The Knight of Umbar sits atop his fellbeast before us, so terrible a foe is he, that he has ripped apart one of our Hasharin, and terrified the other to the point that he accept execution for cowardice, over facing him. (We had a special rule in play for our leader Castamir, that we could reroll courage tests for terror within range of him, but if failed, accept death instead).

So we come to our lesser assassins, a couple of Watchers of Karna. One is killed in combat, and the other is stood before the Ringwraith. I suggest to James, how thematic and cool it would be to have our last assassin kill such a prize. 

I roll his courage, and even with the +2 for charging a ‘Terror’ opponent, he gets a whopping double 6! He then defeats the Nazgul in combat and rolls a double 5 to wound, which adding his Hatred of Spirits, scores two! One gets through the fate and he pulls off a moment of true heroism!

Bad- Seven Stones w/ James (Billy/James (May))

In the exact same game, we had a simple but hilarious moment of misfortune. Across the centre of the board was a small stream that we all agreed to play as deep water.

Our entire army was forced to swim across the river (it was Recon), and somehow every single one of them made it, thanks to the lack of heavy armour and shields (playing Harad and corsairs).

Well there was one who drowned…the banner bearer…hmm…

7.

Good- War of the Ninepenny Kings (Ed (Feb))

The scenario in play was Assassination, and having only two heroes, my leader and Bifur, it was obvious who would be Ed’s target. 

Unfortunately for me, Ed had Isildur with the Ring. He put it on and savagely attacked Bifur, who obviously lost the combat. But to be fair to him, he did make Isildur spend his final two might to do so. Bifur was in trouble, as there was now six strikes coming at him, with Enchanted Blades active, he was likely to take two wounds and possibly die. But Isildur managed to fluff all twelve blows. And then proceeded to fail every Ring roll for the rest of the game, running in the opposite direction, allowing Bifur to make a hasty retreat!

Bad- Practice Game (Tom (Jan))

My Old Dain was having his first game of the year, and was having a rough one. He fought a Khandish King alongside three Iron Hills warriors for two consecutive turns, losing both times and ending up on 2 might and 1 wound.

He then calls a Heroic Move, which was contested and won by the King, who rode his chariot straight into Dain and flattened him. 

Later that game, the same chariot also ran over his son, Thorin III.

6.

Good- Eastern Expansion (Sol/Oliver (April))

I was playing as the Iron Hills, when I got Dain to charge an Isengard Troll while atop his pig. He used his last might point to Heroic Strike, with me hoping to do a little damage and make Sol and Oliver a little more hesitant to throw the troll at me.

Instead Dain won the combat and then rolled four 6s to kill the beast outright! 

In the next game, he launches himself into the Troll Chieftain, who is on two wounds. Dain wins this fight too and rolls his first two strikes, scoring another two 6s, not rolling anything less to wound a troll all day!

Bad- Local League Doubles w/ Jim (Jason/Dan (May))

Our Gandalf the White, Denethor and two warriors of Minas Tirith charge the now mightless Cave Drake, with the intention of slaying it and being able to win the game from the momentum that brings.

Gandalf calls Heroic Strike, getting to F9. And all the dice are rolled. To our horror, we get a 3 high, including with our banner reroll. The Cave Drake rolls a 5, and puts itself out of reach of Gandalf’s only might point.

It then immediately swallows Denethor and wins the game.

5.

Good- Eastern Expansion (Chris (April))

It was rough start to Destroy the Supplies, including the Spider Queen and many orcs being shot dead against the Rangers of Mirkwood with my Fell Beings army.

But once combat started, I returned the favour and quickly the ground was levelled. In the last few turns, an incredible series of events occurred; first, Razgush, slays Tauriel, causing a total of 11 wounds! Second, he pushes on to kill another 7 elves personally. At the end of that killstreak, they are quartered. Third, Legolas fluffs five direct hit attempts to kill my Shaman on his final wound, who is keeping my army in line with Fury. Fourth, one spider destroys a second supply, while a Batswarm passes two courage tests to reach my own supply, which is threatened. Before killing the Ranger Captain and a ranger, who were trying to destroy it. And finally, two spiders defeat Legolas and cause 3 wounds to slay him and narrowly win the game!

Bad- Scaring of the Shire 3 (Stephen (Oct))

I’m up against Stephen’s all magic army with my Rivendell army and was taking a magical bombardment from the likes of the Witch King, the Tainted, the Dwimmerlaik, the Shadow of Rhudaur, Barrow Wights and spectres. 

In the most disasterous turn, my banner was paralysed, Glorfindel rolled triple 1 to resist an immobilise, Erestor rolled a double 1 to resist a black dart, before rolling a 1 and a 2 for his fate and dying. 

4.

Good- Practice Game (Jason (Jan))

Jason’s Dalamyr charges my Thorin III in the late game, he throws a smoke bomb in his face as he approaches and then, with Thorin now in deep, the mounted Knight of Umbar joins in alongside 3 Corsair warriors. Meaning that he was being hit by 16 strikes, if he lost, and, having no fate left, was almost certainly dead.

Jason rolled all his dice and scored a 5 high, while Thorin managed a 6! Not only did he escape the jaws of death, but the Knight of Umbar had spent his last will point on the combat and poofed away!

Bad- Even the Smallest Person (Tom (Jan))

Tom…my nemesis…

5yrs ago, I had played Tom in a fateful game of Heirlooms, where I took it off him with Elfhelm, then fought a hard game to keep ahold of it for the next hour. As we rolled our final priority, I won it on a 2 and triumphantly went to move. I rolled my courage tests and EVERYTHING fled the field…dropping the Heirloom neatly at Tom’s Mahud King’s feet. Well everything fled, except one lone Royal guard in a far corner, allowing Tom’s King to step forward and claim it. Turning my 8-4 victory into a 10-0 defeat immediately. Since then, he has been my white whale.

Allow that to set the scene for when I drew Tom in the opening game of the year, and at last, a chance of revenge! It was Fog of War, and we only had one spare hero each, making defended heroes/targets obvious to each other. I managed to pile many models onto his Khandish Chief (the target/defended hero) in his chariot, and slew him. Upon then breaking Tom’s army, I then just needed the game to end to claim it.

After two rolls that continued the game, my Knight of the White Tower (my defended guy/Tom’s target) rolls his courage test, as I broke, and gets double 2. I use his will and the army bonus to keep him in the battle.

Two turns later, after me begging the game to end, and calling that the roll will be a 3 to torment me, he does it again and flees, causing a 6VP swing. Then having the guy holding my objective for me also flee. The game naturally ends immediately after this and instead of winning 10-1, I draw 4-4. Against Tom, that stung. 😆

3.

Good- Practice Game (Tom (March))

Playing Destroy the Supplies with Rangers of Ithilien against Tom's Host of the Dragon Emperor. I     was concerned, not having much to deal with the Easterlings in combat when it came to it. I had brought only 1/3 bows too, so didn't have a lot of ranged threat.

Despite this, on the approach, I managed to get a wound on the Emperor, even with fortification in the way. It goes through all three fate and sticks! 

Once the Emperor arrives in combat, he fights Sam, Smeagol, Damrod and a warrior. We both call Heroic Strike and Sam goes to F8, while the Emperor gets to F7. The crowd of unlikely heroes win the fight and only Damrod scores a wound, until Smeagol steps up. He rolls a double 5 to wound, and spending his only might, leaps up onto the palanquin and throttles the Emperor of Rhun!

Bad- Send Forth All Legions (Chris (July))

This was somehow the first time that Chris and I had ever played, despite attending regular events together for 7~yrs. He had an army with three trolls in it (not those ones, these were Troll Chiefs) so I set up a strong frontline to face them in Breakthrough.

I decided that I was going to try to kill a couple of trolls early to cause heavy damage to his army early on. So I threw Glorfindel and Arathorn at one each. Both Strike up well, but over the next two turns, neither, with all their allies involved managed to get a duel roll above a 4, with a total of 24 dice! By the end of that second turn both were dead. The elven warriors managed to put up a good fight afterwards, but couldn't save it.

2.

Good- The Wolfs Lair Returns (Jakub (June))

It was the last turn and a game that I felt I had been certain to lose, with Jakub being a very accomplished player. I was using a mixed list of Azog's Legion/Hunters against his Rohan force.

Jakub won a Heroic Move off and pulled Grimbold back, hiding him on a ruin (my terrain objective). So needing to claim that terrain to stand a chance of victory and presuming that Grimbold must be his defended hero, I charged and surrounded him with a hunter orc and two Gundabad orcs, one being a spear support. 

Jakub responded in his own move phase, by dismounting Merry from Eowyn and running him onto what I assumed must be his own terrain piece. Eowyn then ran her horse over and charged, with full wounds and fate, into the hunter orc and Gundabad spear. In the combat phase that followed, they managed to not only beat Eowyn, but also cause three wounds! She then failed a fate and was slain! Grimbold then also lost his fight and failed to push me off my objective.

By the end of the turn, I had kept my defended hero unharmed, taken my terrain piece albeit contested and had broken Jakub. He had failed to kill his target (Fimbul), as when he tried, Fimbul instead one shotted Erkenbrand. He had captured his terrain piece, kept Grimbold unharmed and broken me. So with those objectives, despite the catalogue of misfortune, Jakub would have won 7-5...except I had claimed one last objective, when Eowyn charged me and fell to those two orcs, instead making it a completely undeserved 8-7 victory for me! Jakub was very gracious despite the fact that nothing was landing in his favour throughout, and had still made it a real challenge for me anyway.

Bad- Practice Game (Jason (Feb))

In another game with King Dain, who's becoming a regular in this list, for good and bad reasons. I had him rushing with his Iron Hills dwarves towards Jason's corsairs. He levelled fifteen crossbows and I wasn't too concerned as they would need 4+ to hit and then 6 to wound, so they might cause two wounds if I'm unlucky...

Seven of them hit and five of those wounded Dain...I awoke in the fetal position to Jason's cheers.

Special Mentions

3. (Tom (Battle of Fornost))

Tom hates elves…

So when we were doing the large Battle of Fornost scenario, he commanded some orcs and threw himself at the Rivendell contingent with reckless abandon. 

Early on, I spotted that Nazthak was one Heroic Combat away from their banner. I heavily pushed on this idea and at first Tom was unsure, until I asked him if he was going to let an elf tell him he couldn’t have it? The red mist descended and the might was spent! Nazthak did what we expected, cutting down the elf he fought, claiming their shield. But then also beat and killed the banner bearer too, leading to Tom ululating in victory!

Nazthak then held that banner behind enemy lines for several turns, each turn survived a personal victory to Tom! He did eventually fall, but he had earned a hero’s honours.

2. (James (Ardacon Doubles))

My ever-suffering doubles partner, James, has been known to have his own moments of miserable luck. 

In this circumstance, we had broken and King Brand was poised to put up a Stand Fast and keep the men in line. But instead James rolled 1/2…muttering and burning 2 will to keep him in line. 

The next turn, again depending on the Stand Fast, James uses his last might point to call a Heroic Move…Brand promptly rolls another 1/2 and is off the field before you can ask if he’d do it for a scooby snack?

1. (??? I wish I knew who it was, but alas (Seven Stones))

Tauriel had successfully overcome all foes in the first round of the arena of champions, and had done it in style! Coming out with three might and all four fate, but only one wound still available (the arena awards heroes costing less than 100pts with bonus M/W/F). James and I had been thoroughly spanked out of our own arena relatively early.

She goes into the second round and outlasts a handful of others, looking a clear favourite to win! Damian was watching and beaming!

Then, up steps Gimli, he throws an axe at her and strikes true, causing a wound. Tauriel rolls her fate and gets a 1, the crowd cheers. She rolls another fate, and gets another 1, the crowd gasps… she rolls again, sweat starting to trickle down her forehead…and gets yet another 1! The crowd gasps excitedly! She rolls her last fate…and gets, can you believe it, a fourth 1!! The room erupts! Damian shakes his head mournfully…she spent all three might to save it, only to be cut down by the dwarves a handful of minutes later.

You can hear the glorious moment here on Entmoot’s episode (between rounds 3/4).

https://soundcloud.com/entmootpodcast/entmoot-93-the-charge-of-the-knight-brigade-at-seven-stones

1.

Good- Weekday Warhammer World event (Marcus (Sept))

The final game of the day, I got a Depths of Moria opponent, in Contest of Champions with my Arathorn's Stand LL. Probably one of the toughest matchups that I could have anticipated!

Nonetheless, Arathorn decided to lead with heroism. He deployed front and centre and rushed as many brave men as would follow him into this foe. Before he dies, they get the Balrog down to six wounds, then Halbarad takes up the baton. As he falls, the Balrog is down to two wounds. The remaining rangers get him down to his last.

At this point, I have two Rangers of the North left. One faces a goblin and the other, the Balrog, a Captain and three goblin warriors. The Balrog calls his free Heroic Combat and rips apart the first Ranger, leading the Captain to join the goblin against the remaining Ranger, his two dice against their seven. I throw my dice out and get a 4...they roll and get a 2 high!

With shaking hands, I roll my dice to wound, getting a single 6...I pick up that dice, needing a 5 to pull this off...and he only goes and does it! A lone outnumbered Ranger of the North slew the Balrog of Morgoth!

It is in men that we must place our hope!

Bad- Ardacon Doubles w/ James (Wyn/Gethin (Aug))

Up against Wyn and Gethin's Assault Upon Helm's Deep, we finally got the moment we utterly dreaded, as the bomb was detonated before our frontline, it rolled a 2 for wounds cause and killed heroes and troops alike. Well except the berserker, who had detonated, who rolled triple 6 for his 'You will know no pain' rule and survived, covered in soot!

That was impressive enough, but towards the end of the game... We needed to capture the centre, so I insisted, with an unknown amount of time left, that James calls a Heroic March with his Dale Captain and gets there ASAP. He obliges and immediately takes a ballista to the face killing him. The final punchline being that he flies into the same berserker, wounds him and once again the stubborn bugger just rolls a 6 and refuses to die! He survived the game.

I hope this list of fortune and misfortune has entertained you, and I will work on another list for 2025 and the next edition!

Sam’s Top 10 ‘What the hell just happened?’ moments 2023

Last year, I had the idea to keep note of all the unfortunate moments I had that were just ludicrous/hilarious/incredibly bad timing. The best one last year being when Grimbeorn charged the Balrog, had his two assisting elves removed with a well place throwing knife, and then lost the fight and was torn apart with 4 wounds, before failing enough of his fate. All in the first combat of the game.

And it seemed people enjoyed my suffering, so I did the same again this year, hope you enjoy my misfortune and, some of others too.

Please note that the rankings are not necessarily by odds, but how dramatic/funny/out of the blue, I feel them to be.

10. Seven Stones (Vs. The Farbrothers (May))

Scenario: Lords of Battle

Radagast the Brown was in my crosshairs the entire game, and was relentlessly pursued and charged most turns by Elladan, a High Elf Captain and several elves. Despite this, Radagast insisted on winning most of the fights and only lost his sleigh in the penultimate turn, meaning that he survived the game. Not only that, but also Sebastian had personally slain 3 elves.

9. Practice game (Vs. Ash (Jan))

Scenario: Retrieval

The Witch King charges a lone High Elf warrior. To everyone’s mild surprise, the elf wins and kills WK’s horse. Annoying, but not the worst odds ever. 

What was unexpected, however, was when WK rolled a 1 for his thrown rider roll, then took a wound from the fall and ended up burning all his fate to avoid death!

8. Siege of Edoras Megagame (Vs. James/Jon/Will (Dec))

Gorulf is first upon the walls, as I had wished for the drama. He heroically cuts down a couple of defenders and allows some of his friends up.

Then he takes a throwing spear, the next turn he takes another, but saves it with his fate. In the combat against a Royal Guard, I had a banner to assist him with a reroll so went for a piercing strike. To my horror, he managed a 3 high with his reroll included, while his opponent scored a 4. I did however, breathe a sigh of relief when James rolled a 4 to wound…until I remembered my piercing strike. Naturally, this is when my 6 appeared, bringing him to D2 and meaning that he was very much dead.

7. 7th City Grand Prix (Vs. Carl (Feb))

Scenario: Retrieval

Carl’s Breaking of the Fellowship LL has rightfully holed up on their objective to allow me to break my army against them in the effort to get it and win.

Unexpectedly, things went well and I pushed them apart fairly quickly and took away a lot of might. Suddenly, in the dominant position, I had my Witch King charge Aragorn while mounted, immobilise and surround him with 3 orcs assisting. 

I called my Heroic Strike and won the fight, I then announced that I would be using my Morgul Blade and had a lot of confidence that Aragorn (being D6) was, to put it scientifically, buggered. I rolled my 6 dice for the orcs first, trying to take away some fate. But they got a 3 highest. 

Ok, it happens, guess the Witch King will take his swing with his 8 dice…only to also get a 3 highest also…Aragorn had escaped the toothless jaws of death.

6. Desolation of Stowmarket (Vs. Ryan (April))

Scenario: Divide and Conquer

After a few lucky turns and some careful setup, I had Hurin down to 1w, 0f. Boromir was being his usual dangerous self, when I managed to surround them both with goblins and get my Cave Drake to charge a lone Minas Tirith warrior, ready to hurl through both, dismounting them and potentially killing Hurin, if I was lucky.

Sadly, I wasn’t lucky and Hurin survived, not because the Str 3 hits failed to wound him, but because they never happened. That warrior triumphed over the Drake, despite her charge bonus and might point. I didn’t get another chance to line that hurl up as perfectly.

5. Throne of Skulls (Vs. Tom (Nov))

Scenario: Clash by Moonlight

My Dunlendings braved the hailstorm of arrows from Dale and launched themselves into a headstrong charge. After a few turns, amongst this fight, Gorulf and my Chieftain managed to get 2v1 against Bard II. I went for the Heroic Strike and hoped to win with my larger amount of dice and potentially one shot him.

Bard obviously called a counter Strike, we both went to F8, we both rolled a 6 and Tom won the roll off, nevermind. 

Thing is that Bard then proceeded to kill both heroes…and even though I killed Brand myself in the same turn, the advantage helped Tom to claim the victory…rats!

4. Practice game (Vs. Will (Sept))

Scenario: The Imp’s Curse (Unique scenario for Lord of the Imps, that deploys both leaders in each others board half in the centre. VPs were essentially for killing the leader, the lieutenant (leader of the secondary force) and breaking.

Turn 1, Prince Imrahil under Wills control decided not to fight the Balrog and ran backwards to hit my army at full force. Will is shocked when the Balrog manages to pull him back with his whip, through 4 in the ways and out of combat.

Imrahil calls a Heroic Defence, but then shocks us all. When he not only wins, but successfully wounds the Balrog on a 6/4. He then seized the chance and pulled away for the rest of the game. I ended up in a dominant position, killing his Lieutenant Boromir and breaking him, while broken myself. The Gondorians completely on the backfoot and retreating. However that one wound caused, ended up getting me a draw!

3. The Fog of War (Tom vs. Will (Jan))

Custom scenario

This one was ridiculous, I wasn’t even playing as I was the TO. However, as I wandered and watched various games, I got to the game between Tom, who notoriously hates elves, against Will, and his Rangers of Mirkwood LL.

Tom had got King Thorin into a fight with 3 rangers and offered me to roll the combat for him. I took the 3 dice and promptly gave him a triple 1. I quickly took one back reminding that Thorin is a banner to himself, and got another 1. Thorin lost his goat. 

These were my first rolls of the new year.

2. Escalation of the East (Vs. Tom (Feb))

Scenario: To the Death (I think)

My elves are engaged in a tough battle against the Iron Hills, when I spot an opportunity. Thranduil could call a Heroic Combat with his warriors and trap Dain Ironfoot, who is out of might and held down by Tauriel. This comes off successfully and Tom is nervous as Thranduil has a might point still, as well as Tauriel and 3 warriors fighting against him for a total of 10 attacks with F7 from their king. When they win, Thranduil and Tauriel will have 14 strikes between them needing 6s and the warriors will have another 6 needing 5/3 due to their army bonus and Thranduil's proximity. Essentially, he may not die, but he's gonna take a good hiding. 

The small issue was that it wasn't 'when' but actually 'if'. As Dain rolled a 6 with his attacks, and I got a 5 highest. Ok well I have a might point, so no problem right? Well good ol' Thranders rolled a 4...hmm.

Suddenly, I was the one taking the beating as Dain smacked 3 wounds on our king, who promptly failed 2 fate, going to 1w, 0f. 

Special mentions

These are for the astounding moments that I witnessed, but were not my own misfortune. As I simply couldn't not mention them.

3. A Time of Heroes (Me Vs. Rob (Aug))

Scenario: Clash by Moonlight

Rob was using Lothlorien and I had Champions of Erebor. Knowing that I was in for a tough match against dangerous bows made more potent, I simply ran using terrain towards them. I called Heroic Combats to close the gap and launched Gloin forward towards Haldir as his friends dealt with some elves.

Gloin was isolated and surrounded the following turn by Haldir and several elves. We both called Heroic Strike and somehow, Gloin won the roll off and one shotted Haldir, before cutting down the only Galadhrim knight with his 3rd blow. Rob was left gobsmacked.

2. Siege of Edoras Megagame (Me/CJ/Josh Vs. James/Will/Jon (Dec))

Custom Scenario

The game was in it's dying embers as time was running out. Good wanted to attempt to retake their walls as it was one of the objectives.

With this in mind, James had a Rohan archer in a watchtower. Earlier in the game, I had got a Dunlending to leap from the wall to the watchtower ladder, and later Legolas had leapt from another onto the wall.

Emboldened by this, James' teammates pushed him to take the leap of faith 'For the team!' James went with it, although clearly not certain. The man of Rohan ran and leapt, he flew through the air and his foot caught the edge of the wall...before slipping and smashing his face into the floor. The stunned man fell over the edge and plummeted to his doom.

Evil claimed the walls.

1. The End of All Things (Jonny Vs James (Nov))

Scenario: Assassination

This one was incredible, and I was so tempted to make it number 1, despite not being mine.

I was TOing and so just milling around and watching games. As I sat and watched their game, Haldir ended up isolated and had Madril, along with several warriors surround him. Unsurpisingly, Haldir failed to roll his 6 on two dice and lost the fight. As the strikes were made, Madril got the killing blow. 

Haldir had been Jonny's assassin target and Madril had been his assassin. And since either force only had two heroes, a leader and another, then excellent! Great success, Jonny has clearly won, having claimed the 7VP swing.

However, this is where the water gets muddied again, as Haldir fell. His special rule came into play and he swung his blade up, and killed Madril... So James ALSO gets the 7VPs for his assassin killing his target, as they both just killed each other! I can't think of any other way that's possible, without Haldir.

Sadly, for James, Jonny had claimed the other VPs available to win 12-7, but still...

My Best of the Year- Lord of the Imps (Vs. Seraj (Sept)

Scenario: Seize the Imp (Seize the Prize with a few small changes)

My Balrog-led Moria force is up against the Fellowship. They have taken the Imp (the prize) and I am pushing hard to keep them back. The Balrog has a turn of being pummelled by 4 heroes and takes 4 wounds, nothing too unexpected.

The next turn, I decide to not charge with the Balrog, which means that they can't pile him. So instead, they pick on goblins. My goblin archers spy Legolas behind the Balrog and a handful shoot, they naturally hit the Balrog and 1 rolls the 6/6 to wound! 

Later on, Frodo is before the Balrog and fails his Ring roll. He runs up to the Balrog and gets charged. It's time for some vengeance....but then the Hobbit overcomes the fiery demon and wins the combat in a one on one. The next turn, the Balrog had to let goblins deal with him, for the shame was too unbearable. It hadn't been a good day for him, wounded by friendly archers and losing a combat to a passive Halfling!

Hope you all enjoyed this little list, I’ll repeat it next year and might also include my most fortunate moments since I actually had some this year!

Merry Christmas all!

Sam's Top 10 'What the hell just happened?' moments 2022

 Hey all

This is a post I thought that I'd make to summarise my ten biggest catastrophic and spontaneous failures of the year, inspired by a segment of the SBG magazine from an early issue, titled 'Dice of Woe'. Those, who I play with regularly, are familiar with my moments of abysmal luck that have sunk me unexpectedly. Such as the infamous example against Tom Hawker, where my entire army fled, one at a time, in the final turn, to hand over a 8-4 victory to become a 10-0 defeat. 

I hope that you enjoy these, as much as I did collecting them. (In hindsight, of course). 😂

Anyway, lets kick off with...

10: To War! (August) Host of the Dragon Emperor Vs. Dan (Isengard)

To set the scene, it was the opening game of the day against Dan, who had spanked me in the EAHC finale the year before Covid. I was keen to return the sentiment and I so nearly did as we played 'Lords of Battle' and I so nearly matched the wound tally, after two very unfortunately failed Heroic Combats from Rutabi and the Emperor.

However, what we didn't know was that what would decide the match was the most seemly innocuous moment midway through, as a Rhunish War Drake failed his climb test, to get off a small ledge just an inch high and took a wound. This knocked Dan's tally one above me at the very end, leaving me narrowly defeated. While Dan went on, untouched, to win the whole event!

*Fell warg proxying the Drakes, bottom left being the guilty one

9: Throne of Skulls (December) Isengard Vs. Jacob (Rivendell/Numenor)

We have a classic Heirlooms game in full swing, the objective has fallen into their camp and I'm launching a full on assault to claim it. I just have a small group of warriors with the Oathmaker, who calls a Heroic Combat against the dismounted Rivendell Knight to move them up and get them stuck into the attack. 

The Knight rolls first and scores a 3! Brilliant! With 5 attacks total, I can't fail! Then...

I let out a small wail of dismay! That Knight was a thorn in the Oathmaker's side the entire game, taking away all his might and only falling at the very end, when it only mildly soothed a damaged ego. The Last Alliance held their objective.

8: The Grand Tournament (February) Garrison of Dale Vs. Dan (Azog's Legion/Hunters)

In the thick of another great game of 'Fog of War', I was in a struggle. Bolg was hitting me hard with his warriors and gradually breaking through to, what I assumed was, his objective terrain piece. It was at this point that I saw an opportunity. I had Bard and a small troop of warriors in a second ruin. The idea was that my bow armed Captain, who was on full stats, would call a Heroic Combat against the Hunter orc that he faced, slay it and then rush up to assist Bard in slaying Narzug. And in the next turn, he would then call a Heroic March to push them all up past Bolg's main army to seize my objective.

Instead, my Bow Captain rolled snake eyes in combat, took two wounds from the orc and then rolled another one on his fate, placing him in the ground rather than the orcs. Bard also fluffed his combat and, luckily, wasn't wounded himself. As one final twist of the knife, the Bow Captain, was the hero I had chosen to protect.

7: Will you follow me, one last time? (November) Men of the West Vs. Sam (Angmar)

This was one of those Legolas moments that he would rather you forgot.

He arrived in Heirlooms, away from any friends and fairly far from enemies, so he stopped and took a turn of shooting at a couple of warg riders. He naturally failed to do any damage, and seeing those riders now turn and coming at him, at full pace, tried to climb up the ladder of a tower, from which, he intended to start sniping the enemy force, as I had found the objective.

Unfortunately, Legolas then proceeded to climb onto the bottom of the ladder, be charged by Warg riders over the entire game. For three turns in a row, he rolled snake eyes and would then be wounded, forced to spend fate and might to survive, falling from the ladder with a complete lack of grace. Eventually, he managed to win a fight and slay the second warg, before scrambling up the ladder. Only to face them at the top anyway.

By the end of the game, he was lucky to be alive and had only claimed two mounts for his kills.

6a: Seven Stones (May) Rohan/Fellowship (W/ James) over two games

While I can't remember the specifics of these events, I still have the echo in my mind of James screaming at me 'What is wrong with you?!'

In a weird mirror image across two games, we twice had Aragorn have his horse shot, he would spend all three fate, one after the other failing, before being forced to use one of his stored might to save it. Only to lose it the following turn regardless.

It should be noted that I was dressed as King Theoden for our theme, the Charge from Helm's Deep, while James was my trusty steed, Snowmane, leading to the following image.

6b: Heroes of the Belegaer Sea (May) Army of Thror over two games

In a very similar vein, in two games, again more or less mirroring one another. I first played against the Pits of Dol Guldor legion, so I was understandably concerned about locking down and defeating Azog.

I got a great chance as several warriors, Thror and Thrain managed to finally pin him and using the last point of might, I called a Heroic Strike. It went horribly and suddenly both heroes took 3 wounds from the Pale Orc, and I failed all 4 fate rolls between them! The rest of the game snowballed and I was thoroughly beaten.

Into the second game, where I faced the Return of the King legion in Contest of Champions. I threw Thrain at the King of the Dead to hold him back as Aragorn was behind the army, for fear of being double teamed. Imagine my surprise, when Thrain not only lost the fight, despite Heroic Striking higher, but also failed all three fate to save the only wound the King caused on 1s.

This then happened again as Thror also lost to the King and suffered a single wound, also rolling a 1 for his fate, and after Heroic Combatting the previous turn, and using a might to try and Heroic Move, suddenly also fell. Meaning that I had failed all 8 fate rolls that I had taken (1/256 chance).

5: Friendly (October) Men of the West Vs. CJ (Assault on Helm's Deep)

In preparation for the EAHC finale, I decided to give the LL a few practice games, to figure out how best to use it. I came up against CJ, who was running his army for the finale, complete with big, scary bomb.

There was two ballistae to contend with, so Aragorn led the Heroic March up towards one to get too close to shoot. As the bomb team ran towards the King of Gondor, I braced for impact.

To my horror, it expectedly detonated, but on the chart CJ rolled a 6! He then followed this up with a 6/5 on the wounds caused, meaning the Heir of Isildur now covered the entire battlefield! I don't think that I need to tell you that my army was decimated following this, although Gimli did brutally cut down the Uruk General.

4: Local league (September?) Azog's Legion Vs. George (Fangorn)

George and I were fighting hard in Capture and Control, as Bolg managed to kill Quickbeam before being torn apart by Treebeard or Beechbone. I had all the objectives under my control and had broken the Ents, so just needed the game to end...

Except it didn't...

Turn after turn, a 3+ was rolled, and my heroes were killed and my warriors fled. Until eventually, after the 10th roll had failed and the turn had passed, I was just left with a lone Gundabad Troll on its last wound against Treebeard and Beechbone. And then the game finally ended, which was just as well, or I may have had a breakdown! Luckily, I had maintained control of the objectives to claim the 11-0 win, despite how close it really was.

3: Strider Cup (October) Easterlings/Mordor (W/ CJ) Vs. (Sorry I have forgotten the names) (Mordor) 

To give some context, at the Strider Cup, the cups themselves are awarded for the team that manages to achieve the most Strider points across the weekend for carrying out bizarre actions e.g. lying down with your Ringbearer in a place where they can be charged.

So, we were playing to achieve one in which we needed Amdur (our champion) to fight one on one with a monster, in this case a troll. Then to max out on the points, we needed Amdur to slay the troll. He had a single point of might left and had scored a single wound upon it thus far.

As I prepared to throw him in again, CJ suggested that he throws the Great Beast of Gorgoroth into it first and his logic was sound. 

CJ: It's a 4/9 chance that I do a single wound on it, a 4/9 chance that I do nothing at all, but at least add extra attacks to win the fight.'

Me: But what if you kill it?

CJ: Well, what are the chances of that?

Me: Ok, fair enough

The Great Beast flattened that troll into the ground so fast...

Luckily, despite this, we managed to win the cups, but it was the only thing that stopped us achieving every Strider point going.

2: White Shores and Beyond (February) The Trolls Vs. Tom (Corsairs of Umbar)

At our first EAHC event since the start of Covid, I found myself facing off with the Three Trolls against the corsairs in the capable hands of Tom, who has won several events in the past. This seemed like a fairly clear cut game to me.

I opened up by throwing Bill into combat with some pirates and Tom the Troll into Dalamyr. Tom sneezed over Dalamyr and used his victory to shove the pirate leader into a sack, thus paralysing him. Excellent, I now had them in the palm of my hand, all that I had to do was get some kills with Bill and then ride the game to a victory.

I then realised the issue, I could not be quartered, and so would have to quarter them to end the game. Bill had managed to kill two pirates before fluffing a combat and being slain. Tom then quickly followed and Bert fled not long after.

I should point out that this meant that while I had the higher VP count, I had lost. And this is despite the fact that the enemy leader, who is relied upon to score most of the VPs, had spent the ENTIRE GAME paralysed in a sack...poor show, Bill, poor show.

1: Warhammer World Team Championships (September) Thranduil's Halls/Beornings Vs. Felix (Depths of Moria)

For the final entry, it was a big one. At the Team Championships in Warhammer World no less, when I have the hopes of another three players on my shoulders!

We followed the matchmaking system, and I chose to face off against the Depths of Moria LL in 'To the Death' as I felt that my army had the best chance against them.

The game opened with Grimbeorn firing his Great Bow and scoring a cheeky wound after using a might point. As the flaming demon of doom closed in, Grimbeorn went into bear form and charged, roaring into the beast. He had an elf join in with a glaive supporting him.

Then began a very fast and very unfortunate series of events. First, Felix got a goblin prowler to throw a dagger, which hit, went through the combat and killed the elf at the front. This removed both elves from the combat. Right, that's bad, but I'll roll with it. I called my Heroic Strike and went up to F10, the Balrog then set a bar of 4 highest. With a squeal of delight, I rolled my three dice, and got a 2 highest...

The Balrog then went to wound rolls, and I comforted myself that I have 3w and 3f, so it'll be ok. Only to suddenly be lumped with 4 wounds! I, numbly, picked up my dice and rolled all 3 fate, to get 1, 2, 3. My big scary bear, worth 1/4 of my army, had just been torn apart by an even bigger and scarier beastie! And it hadn't cost him any resources!

Thranduil then led a heroic attempt at trying to pull it back, but there was no coming back from that start and I was destroyed. I went on to win 3 games and draw the last, but that one stung.

In a similar situation, I played against John in the EAHC two months later, again with a Balrog. But this time, he whipped Thrydan, the leader of my Dunlendings, from behind cover and ate him in the opening combat. It pales in comparison to the prior case, but I hope it can help explain my 'irrational' fear of this demon of the ancient world!

I hope that you've enjoyed this chronicling of my woes and, if it's well received, then maybe I'll do the same at the end of 2023.

Have a Merry Christmas all!