Middle Earth SBG Battle Report- Fellowship vs Isenguard 300pts

 


The Uruk-Hai of Isengard, sent out by their master Saruman to seek the Halflings of the Shire, track them down to an overgrown ruin North of the lands of Rohan. Can their guide and protector, the ranger from the North, Aragorn, save the Hobbits whilst they escape?


The Armies

The Fellowship

Leader- Aragorn with bow and armour.

Frodo

Sam

Pippin

Merry

This was the list I brought for the game- a nice 300 point list based on Aragorn and the Hobbits' journey from Bree to Rivendell. The list is going to revolve around how well Aragorn does- if he can take out some of the Isenguard heroes, whilst the Hobbits keep out of danger- victory could be in reach. Start to lose the Hobbits, and Aragorn may find himself unable to win on victory points.


Isengard

Leader- Lurtz with shield

Vrasku

Gorulf Ironskin

Sharku with warg

My Isengard loving friend is taking out a fun 300 point all-hero list. Individually- Aragorn shouldn't have a problem taking out any of these Heroes- but can he stop all 4 from getting to the Hobbits? Meanwhile- the Isengard heroes have a few tricks up their sleeves- having the advantage in speed, shooting, and Ironskin getting a free Heroic Defence in every combat- it's going to be a tough matchup.



The Scenario

Reconnoitre- A nice straight forward scenario- get more of your army off the opponents board edge, than they get their army off your board edge. Points are also available for wounding/killing the enemy leader and breaking the enemy force.



Turn 1

The Fellowship move onto the board, with Aragorn using a free Might point to Heroic March to behind a wall for cover.
Vrasku and Sharku enter from the opposite move edge, springing forwards, whilst Lurtz and Ironskin are delayed off the board.

Turn 2

Lurtz and Ironskin both make up for lost time in Turn 1- rushing onto the board to catch up with their fellow orcs.
The Fellowship meanwhile dash across to the ruin in the centre of the board, ducking into cover to avoid Vrasku's crossbow bolts, using another free Might point for a Heroic March.


Turn 3

With the Fellowship now pinned in the ruin, the Isengard Heroes start to move slowly around the ruined building. 
The only movement from the Fellowship sees Merry and Pippin diving fully into the safety of the ruined building, and Aragorn peeking out of a window to attempt a pot shot with his bow.
In the shooting phase, Vrasku fired his bolts at Aragorn in an attempt to wound the ranger. With stunning accuracy, one of the bolts hits, passes the blocking terrain, and wounds Aragorn. Using a Fate point, he shrugs off the wound- leaving Aragorn with just 2 Fate points very early into the game.


Turns 4-7

A very tense stand-off took place between turns 4 to 7. The Hobbits were completely out of view, due to their short stature- and Aragorn was able to duck back and forth behind the pillars of the ruin. 
The Isengard heroes slowly started to encircle the ruin- Sharku rushing around to position for a potential rush off the table, whilst dodging shots from Aragorn. None were willing to put themselves in range of Aragorn, however, and nor was the idea of rushing one of the heroes off an appealing one whilst all the Hobbits remained alive.


Turn 8

Winning the priority- the Fellowship finally sets out- Heroic Marching out to make a rush along the side of the board. They would, however, need to open themselves up to a turn of Crossbow fire.
With the potential of the Hobbits slipping out of their net- the Uruks rushed to stop them, and Sharku dashed back to come up behind the Hobbits and ranger.
In the shooting phase, the gamble backfires on the Fellowship. Taking aim, Vrasku fires his crossbow at Pippin, passing an in the way to avoid Frodo, and forcing the Hobbit to take a Fate test- which he failed, becoming the first casualty of the match. 


Turn 9

The Fellowship rushes up to take cover behind the wall- with Aragorn rushing forwards to fend off the oncoming evil Heroes. Frodo, sensing the danger of the situation, slips on the One Ring- vanishing from view.
The Isenguard forces close in. Sensing an opportunity to surround Aragorn- Sharku dashes past the Hobbits to pin Aragorn into a combat with Lurtz, Ironskin and Sharku.
In the shooting phase- Vrasku strikes again- taking Merry out of action this time- the final Hobbit that was still in view.
In the fight phase, Aragorn and Lurtz both call Heroic Strikes, but Aragorn managed to win the fight. He failed to cause any wounds to the enemy, but lived to fight for another turn.


Turn 10

In an important priority roll, the Isengard force wins, and immediately charge the Hobbits. Passing his courage check, Lurtz charges Frodo, whilst Sharku turns his warg around to charge Sam. Ironskin meanwhile charged into Aragorn, planning to make use of his free Heroic Defence if Aragorn wins the Fight. Vrasku started the dash towards the combats- his shooting now having to risk hitting his own forces.
With the threat from Lurtz in now possibly breaking the Fellowship, Frodo called a Heroic Defence in preparation of the Uruk winning the fight.
The Fight phase saw Sam thrown to the ground, and Sharku dealing a single wound- with the Hobbit keeping hold of his 2 Fate points. Frodo survived the ordeal with Lurtz unscathed, but Ironskin's Heroic Defence also saw Aragorn fail to wound the Dunlander.


Turn 11

With a shift in luck, the Fellowship take back priority, and launched into the offensive. With some precise manoeuvring, Frodo charged Lurtz, whilst Aragorn and Sam charged into Sharku in such a way that the Orc would be trapped in the following fight phase. 
In the Isengard move, Vrasku and Ironskin both rushed forwards- drawing them into range in the next turn for potential charges.
In the Fight phase, Sam called his free Heroic Combat, thanks to Frodo being in combat with Lurtz nearby. Hoping to sling Aragorn into Lurtz, all he would have to do would be to cut down a trapped Sharku. Sensing the danger, Lurtz countered the combat- but lost the roll-off- leaving the Fellowship free to spring their trap. Aragorn won the fight with ease, but then, targeting Sharku himself, only managed 1 wound out of 6 dice- rolling fantastically low so that it was out of Might range to kill the Orc. Sharku allowed this wound through, leaving him with a wound and a Fate left. All seemed lost now for the Fellowship, when up stepped Samwise the Brave. With Sharku trapped, and Sam needing 6s, the Hobbit thrust his sword at the Orc- and rolling a double 6, killed Sharku outright. The success of the combat would come down to if the warg could pass its courage test- which it did, preventing Aragorn and Sam from rushing to Frodo's side. 
In the combat between Frodo and Lurtz, Lurtz managed to wound the Hobbit- and Frodo using his Fate points and last Might, survived into the next turn with just a single wound.


Turn 12

Turn 12 saw Aragorn and Sam in combat with the Warg, whilst Frodo and Lurtz once again duked it out nearby. Finally Ironskin and Vrasku were able to join the fray- Ironskin charging into Frodo, leaving the Hobbit in a dangerous position.
In the fight phase, Sam once again called his free Heroic Combat, and the warg was quickly dealt with. Both he and Aragorn charged into Lurtz, seeing him as the biggest threat. Disaster struck though- Frodo was brought down by Ironskin, with the Isengard forces picking this combat first!

This left the fellowship broken- but all was not lost. In revenge for the death of the Ringbearer, Aragorn and Sam struck Lurtz down in the very next combat.


Turns 13-14

Sensing potential victory, Sam began to rush for the board edge to escape, whilst Aragorn turned to hold back Ironskin. Unable to see the Hobbit due to the wall, Vrasku rushed after him- closing the distance quickly with the Hobbit's slow 4" move.


Turn 15-16

With just 1 move needed to leave the table edge for Sam, the Fellowship lost the Priority roll, allowing Vrasku to charge Sam just as it seemed like the Fellowship were about to seize victory.
In the fight phase, Sam was able to survive Vrasku with ease- but Aragorn found himself in hot water, with an enormous whiff from Strider in combat.

Ironskin wounded the Ranger twice, with Aragorn whiffing his Fate rolls in addition to the Fight. Things were not looking good for the ranger.

In the next turn, the Fellowship won the priority, and Sam dashed off the board. With this done, the Uruks only chance of victory was to slay Aragorn.


Turn 17-18

Aragorn duelled with Ironskin, whilst Vrasku rushed back to aid in the fight. The only might left now was Aragorn's free point each turn, but Ironskin's free Heroic Defence against heroes each turn blunted the attacks Aragorn was bringing against him, unable to break through the 6s needed.
In turn 18, Vrasku desperately joined the fight in the hopes of overwhelming the ranger. Finally, Aragorn rolled hot- a 6 to win the fight, before killing Vrasku to end the game.


Final score: 6-2 Victory for the Fellowship

A bittersweet victory for the Fellowship- Sam proving himself the hero of the hour, but with the loss of Frodo, Merry and Pippin- at what cost had his triumph come?

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