Arnor Project - Battle of the North Downs

Harl the Helmless led what was left of the fleeing Arnorians towards the North Downs after their defeat at the hands of Angmar's vanguard (see HERE). 

The Orcs were moving faster than their quarry and caught up with them at the very feet of the hills. The Downs Guard, regular soldiers of Arnor, could see the two forces from their earthwork defenses.

Men of Arnor turn to give fight

The Orcs, once again led by their fierce Captain ('Orrible 'Ornblower), rushed forward and battle ensued.

The heavily outnumbered Arnorians fought bravely but slowly gave ground, falling back to the more defensive position and the fresh soldiers guarding the Downs.

The Arnorians finally reached Exhaustion Point, but were at least now uphill of their enemy and able to defend themselves. The Orcs fought on but they too fell at last to exhaustion.

The battle of the North Downs was over.

Next time, attention turns to the main force of Orcs whose passage West has bypassed the hill country and now begins to progress South towards the City of Fornost.

SKOMC Part 4

 Year 7

In Year 7, the Mythicans struck back at Pseudo-Klasica. Terrain randomly rolled for this battle was board No.2 in reverse (see HERE). 

Pseudo-Klasica fielded 4 Infantry units and 2 units of archers. Mythica, 3 Infantry, 2 cavalry and a unit of archers.

The defending Pseudo-Klasican General, with his left flank covered by the woods, awaited the onslaught.

The Mythican General led the assault in person, and the Pseudo-Klasicans were soon reduced to Exhaustion Point. 

Surrender would mean losing the campaign and the absorption of their territory into that of Mythica; the Pseudo-Klasicans fought on.

The Mythicans, desperate to finish the war, closed in...

and suddenly, it was all over

Mythica wins the battle and the Simple Knock Out Mini Campaign.

That was fun! There will be some adjusting of the Campaign rules, utilizing ideas from Mark Cordone, before the next one of these is played.

Next up, another battle in Arnor...

SKOMC Part 3

 The situation at the end of Year 4 of the Simple Knock Out Mini Campaign was as follows:

Psuedo-Klasica had absorbed Mooritania, and Mythica taken Keltica. The two remaining powers were now embroiled in a protracted war, each hoping to achieve total dominance with a knock-out blow...

Year 5

In Year 5, Pseudo-Klasica attacked Mythica. The random terrain once again generated a board with a river (crossable only at the bridge) but to the horror of the attacking General, the second die roll rotated the board so that he was forced to cross the river just to get onto the battlefield...

The Mythicans rushed forward and took control of the centrally positioned hill whilst the attackers queued to get across the bridge.

A fire fight between the two army's archers ensued. Mythica then committed infantry on the flanks of the hill. The Pseudo-Klasican General was forced to personally lead a charge at the hill to quell the arrow storm.

The Mythican Infantry made short work of the attacking archers, and the Pseudo-Klasicans found themselves exhausted before they could even get all of their force to bear.

The Mythican's closed in

And suddenly it was all over

Year 6

In Year 6, the tenacious Pseudo-Klasicans attacked Mythica again. This time the terrain was more favourable. 

The Mythican General spread his force wide and attempted to out flank the more tightly bunched aggressor.

The two commanders met in a clash in the centre of the field, but the Pseudo-Klasicans didn't seem to have their heart in it, and were soon on the back foot.

Ground down by the battering from the flank, the attackers were reduced to Exhaustion Point, and then soon afterwards, routed.

Two attacks and no conclusion. Will the Campaign reach a denouement anytime soon?

SKOMC Part 2

 Year 3

In Year 3 Mythica attacked Keltica

Welcome to dank, drear Keltica (picture taken on the day it didn't rain)

The random terrain gave a balanced battlefield and it was the defenders who went on the offensive. The Kelticans had 4 infantry and two archer units. The Mythicans, 4 infantry, 1 archer and 1 cavalry.

The Kelticans advanced and set to aggressively 

but they were soon reduced to Exhaustion Point (30% hits) by the solid Mythican soldiery.

Having lost their archers, and now unable to take aggressive action, the Kelticans were an easy target for the Mythican bowmen...

who let loose volley after volley until the Kelticans reached Rout Point (50%), and fled.

A decisive win for Mythica. The Campaign Map now looked like this

 
Year 4

Mythica was again on the offensive in Year 4. For this battle the terrain generated favoured the attackers with two hills close by. 

The Pseudo-Klasicans pushed forward hoping to quickly drive the enemy out of their territory, however things weren't going their way

The Mythican General captured the hill to his right and was using the height advantage to put the hurt on the attacking infantry.

However, the tenacious Pseudo-Klasicans fought on and began to push back their opponents. Despite the Mythican General personally leading a charge that drove the enemy off the hill, his centre collapsed and suddenly his army began to rout. The day was lost (as was an Aggression Point).

With this indecisive result the drawn situation continues and another battle needs to be fought.

(Campaign Rules are in the previous post).

 

Simple Knockout Mini Campaign (SKOMC)

 A Knock Out mini campaign was fought over the weekend; well that was the plan. In fact it's not finished yet, but more of that later. The system was based on IanH's version for DBA (HERE). I used four protagonists, assuming that would speed up matters. My version of the Campaign Rules is below the initial map; battles were resolved using the Portable Wargame, though for a really quick version DotS might be used.

Campaign Map with obligatory silly names

SKOMC Rules (click to make legible)

To make the terrain and Orders of Battle fairly random I used some pre-made terrain boards (see Rules) and a random Unit table a la Neil Thomas (this was designed on the units I had available).

On to the games.

Year 1

In Year 1, Pseudo-Klasica attacked Mythica.

The Aggressor - sunny Pseudo-Klasica

Misty Mythica

Terrain rolled up was Board 2, rotated so that East became North; this gave the defenders the advantage of a hill to perch on from the start. The Pseudo-Klasicans arrived with 4 Infantry units and two Cavalry; the Mythicans, 3 Infantry and 3 Cavalry, so neither side fielded archers. All Infantry and Cavalry were heavies.

The battle began with cavalry fighting in the centre

 and ended with an attack on the well defended hill

Both sides reached Exhaustion Point (30% hits) on the same move; units in close combat fought on until Rout Point (50% hits). The attackers reached Rout Point first and the battle was over. Pseudo-Klasica had failed in their attack and their Aggression rate went down to -1.

Year 2

Despite losing an Aggression point in Year 1, Pseudo-Klasica was Attacker again in Year 2.

The designated Defender for this game was Mooritanian.

Full of Eastern Promise (ok Southern, but you get the idea)

Terrain for this battle was board number 3. The Pseudo-Klasicans fielded 3 Infantry, 2 Archers and 1 Cavalry; Mooritania, 4 Infantry and 2 Archers.

Both sides dashed to reach the height advantage afforded by the hill. The Mooritanian General sent an Archer unit up the other side of the river hoping to sent some arrows into the enemy's flank.

Fighting for the hill

The hill taken

Mooritania reaches Rout Point

So, with a successful attack Pseudo-Klasica has captured a territory and regained an Aggression Point. More to follow... 

Map at the end of Year 2