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Friday 17 June 2022

Battle Report - Middle Earth Battle Companies - The Mines of Moria

Afternoon #WarHamFam and #WarhammerCommunity - I've been playing #MESBG [Middle Earth Strategy Battle Game] again at Otty's again. This time we set up Balin's Tomb, it's amazing to think the basis for Otty's board was the polystyrene packaging cover for his washing machine, but here we go. I was playing Scott, who was leading the Fellowship. Unfortunately it was a while back now, so my recollection is hazy, which is shame as this was a most awesome game.


I took on the Moria Goblins, because I'm familiar with them. The board is almost correct, it's just got the wells and trapdoors mixed up representing the opposite. It doesn't change anything, the rules state any basic Goblins killed can come back on [not the captains or Troll]. The Troll comes on on a dice roll from turn 4 [I think]. 1 Goblin can come out of the wells, 2 out of the trapdoor, unless a member of the Fellowship is standing on the entry. 


The Fellowship has to survive 10 turns, I win if I kill 5 of the Fellowship, or Frodo. Scott did a good effort in recreating the film, with Gimli on the tomb but one of the Hobbits on the trapdoor to stop any new Goblins coming in.


I won priority and was able to swamp the heroes straight of the bat.


Even with spear support and getting as many goblins in as possible I soon realised just how legendary my opponents were.


I think 6 of the 16 goblins got killed by Aragorn and his crew. Gandalf did great bug Gimli fell over jumping off his ancestor's tomb. Despite not getting into the fight the dished out heavy damage, but took very little in return. All I think I was able to do was get him to use up Might points.


Legolas took the place of Gimli on the tomb, using it's vantage point to rain death on my goblins. Sadly my own archery was not up to scratch, so I moved some of the archers forward, they have swords too and keeping the Fellowship pinned would allow time for my reinforcements to arrive.


The Fellowship couldn't keep all the wells covered, so I was bringing the odd goblin in from either side, but that trapdoor remained shut with Frodo standing on it. 


Aragorn and Boromir got backed up against a well, Legolas again showed his fleet-footedness by jumping down from the tomb to help on of the Hobbits.


I surrounded Gimli, my Captain helping where he could.  The dwarf had either used up a load of Fate/Might points already or at this stage.


The Troll turns up and barrels forward, clambering up on Balin's tomb to defile its presence.


Legolas has moved back to protect Frodo, but sees the new foe rear up on the sarcophagus. He lets loose 3 shots causing 2 wounds on this 3 wound beast.


Aragorn despatches it with ease and Gimli bursts through the press of goblin flesh. Despite the numbers he threw them all back but escape was all he could manage, not wounding a single goblin, but overcoming the numbers at least.


The game had been going on for ages, Gimli was almost unstoppable, but somehow I managed to take him down. I was getting a little frustrated how difficult it was to inflict a wound, let alone kill a hero. No doubt Scott felt similar frustrations as goblins just kept pouring through the doorway every time they were killed. He must have dispatched my entire warband 3 times over during the course of the evening.


I tried to flank Gandalf, Frodo had bravely moved more into the fight with Sam getting to Heroically fight almost every time - he was vicious, I think he [or Frodo] eventually took down one of my Goblin Captains with a thrown rock!


Boromir stormed into the doorway, undaunted by the numbers, in fact relishing it with blast of the Horn of Gondor. Each sounding pushing me back, preventing me from benefitting from those numbers.


The battle continued in the middle of the room. At some point Merry and Pippin would fall, but one of them is now on the trapdoor with Frodo and Sam with Gandalf and Aragorn on the right side.


Boromir continued to hold the doorway.


Merry [or Pippin] had to come off the trapdoor to join his relative and Legolas on the left.


More archers, came down off the ledge to join the fight against Boromir but he just wouldn't retreat.


Finally the goblins succeeded in killing Gandalf [he'll not be there to protect them from the Balrog], a huge blow for the Fellowship.


Boromir blasted the goblins back yet again with the sounding of the horn.


Aragorn cut swathes through the goblins to get to Sam and Frodo. Legolas realised the danger to the ring bearer and came over to support. 


I didn't get anymore pics. With Gimli, Gandalf and eventually Merry and Pippin dead I managed to corner Legolas. It was the 10th turn - if I could take Legolas's last wound I'd win. We rolled for the Duel, I think I had 2 or 3 dice, Legolas had 2. The goblins needed to beat his roll, he just needed to equal and he won the duel, killed the goblins and survived. For curiosity I rolled my fight and if I had have won the duel Legolas would have perished and I'd have won - the last dice roll decides it.

This was such a great game, it didn't feel it at some points though - when it seemed impossible to wound a hero. But, I realised Scott probably felt the horde was endless and I began to appreciate the sheer cinematic experience we were having. Sure, the Fellowship lost Gandalf, Gimli, Merry and Pippin, characters the film shows were essential for the success of Frodo's mission. I take some comfort despite not winning that Frodo would eventually fail thanks to my nefarious intervention. 😈  A lot of fun was had.


Here are some more random pics Scott and Otty took








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