Other People's Swords, Sorcery & Squares - Part the Second

More pictures of a game using Swords, Sorcery & Squares* (and a report) were sent to me some time ago by Martin Smith. I have posted a selection of the pictures of Martin's very nice 15mm figures, and the report text.

(*the rules were published in Bob Cordery's Portable Wargame Compendium).

For this, my second try of the fantasy rules, I used scenario #1, Pitched Battle from One Hour Wargames (Neil Thomas). Up until now I’d played 28 of the thirty scenarios but had dodged this one, (something of a head to head crunch), in favour of the more interesting ones. However, this seemed an ideal opportunity to try it out (and cross one more off the list).

Terrain consists of an open battlefield between two hills. The forces involved were:-

‘Good’/Light - an alliance of Men, Elves, Dwarves and a friendly giant (plus commander and a level 2 magician). [total 52 strength points, EP 26] 

‘Evil’/Darkness - Orcs, with help from skeletons, a pair of flying beasties (pterosaur-like) and a warband of trolls. Also a commander, Ga-Ruk,  and a Level 1 magic user. [total 48 SPs, EP24].

Randomised deployment led to a tendency for both sides to deploy further west leaving the eastern flanks quite weak, apart from a giant and the trolls.

Battle commenced as the Elves, Men and Dwarves moved off their hill to realign, and then marched forward, while the skeleton masses of the Evil right attacked and the orcish centre left the hill to form a defensive line in front of their war engines.

A significant part of the fighting occurred on the Forces of Light right flank. Their giant and mage advanced against the troll warband, who were rapidly turned to stone by Greytorch, the human magician. The giant then turned inwards on the exposed orcish flank, to be counter-attacked by Ga-Ruk and his bodyguard. The bodyguard were scattered after a long struggle, leaving the giant and Orc commander in a one on one duel, both of them eventually being killed.

Elsewhere flying beasts (pterosaurs) were dropping rocks on men and dwarves, until elvish, human and dwarvish bowmen eventually downed them. The orc war engines were also scoring hits, weakening the dwarven infantry before they met the orcs in combat. 

However, despite losing significant casualties it was the forces of Light who brought the Evil army to exhaustion point first. The remaining orcs and skeletons attempted to withdraw towards their artillery, though some were surrounded, fighting hard as they were cut down.

It was declared a victory to the alliance of men, dwarves and elves, but a bloody one, with the allied troops also brought to exhaustion point as they attempted to mop up the enemy.

Losses:-

‘Evil’ - 35 SPs, inc. their commander, three units of orc infantry, one of skeletons and both flying beasts.

‘Good’ - 27 SPs, inc. the giant, and two infantry units (men and dwarves).

(All pictures and text are Copyright Martin Smith.)