This One Split Playtest: Here There Be Giants

Another day, another playtest. This time Farid volunteered to join in, playing with my plains elves (but pretending they were dark elves, hence dark magic). Farid had not been exposed to the rules before, so to me this served as a basic test on how we were doing.

I fielded my orcs again, this time enhanced with the giant I had just finished painting.

Orc Army: Grumbuz's Tribe
With Aznar's faillure, the challenge of breaking through into the elven plains fell to Grumbuz again. Why this was so important he did not know, but the emissary had been very clear on the importance and the dire consequences of failure.

However, luck was on Grumbuz's side today. Not only had the blood moon risen, furthermore his ranks had been bolstered by a small band of giants - the promise of revenge on menfolk and those vile elves enough to convince the elder brutes to join in.

 

Certain of the upcoming glory, Grumbuz's plan was a simple one. On his left flank he would have Blogsok - another recent addition to his forces, the day must be glorious indeed - with strict orders to protect the flank and not attack of his own initiative.

The right flank, along the river, would be Magrott's task, with the giants fighting amidsts his troops. Their task was to push forward and protect the right flank of the army.

In the center he had Ragnok's tribe, with Akz's ogres in support. They were to break through the thin elven line, with both flanks secured it should be easy enough.

Now all they needed to know WHERE those pesky elves were. They had been under observation by their scouts for days, but so far he had yet to see more than a shadow.

Grumbuzz's tribe:

Grumbuzz Chief: Solid, Inspirational, Staunch, Rash

Addertongue shaman: Junior dark mage (Dav), Capacity 16, Staunch. Spells: Despair, Weakness, Confusion

Thwok hero: Poor, Liked, Slayer of All, Hard to Kill, Initiative II (Enthusiastic)

Magrott Chief: Able/Bold, Inspirational, Staunch, Hard to Kill

Bruisers: OO HI B, two-handed weapons, 10, Shock
Bruisers: OO HI B, two-handed weapons, 10, Shock
Heavy Spears: OO HI B, two-handed weapons, 10
Heavy Spears: OO HI C, two-handed weapons, 10
Light spears: OO MI C, spear shield, 10
Mob: OO LI D, spear shield, 10
Mob: OO LI D, spear shield, 10
Skirmishing younglings: SO LI D, inferior bow, 7
Skirmishing younglings: SO LI E, inferior bow, 7
Skirmishing younglings: SO LI E, inferior bow, 7

Ragnok's tribe:

Ragnok chief: Solid/Thick, Liked, Staunch, Rash, 2x Hard to Kill

Bruisers: OO HI B, two-handed weapons, 10, Shock
Giant: Large Giant B, Heavy Armour, Shield, 10, Shock, Terror
Heavy spears: OO HI B, Spear and shield, 10
Heavy spears: OO HI C, Spear and shield, 10
Heavy spears: OO HI B, Spear and shield, 10
Light spears: OO MI C, spear shield, 10
Light spears: OO MI D, spear shield, 10
Mob: OO LI C, spear shield, 10
Mob: OO LI D, spear shield, 10
Skirmishing younglings: SO LI D, inferior bow, 7
Skirmishing younglings: SO LI E, inferior bow, 7
Skirmishing younglings: SO LI E, inferior bow, 7

Blogsok's Wolfriders:

Blogsok chief: Atrocious, Liked, Staunch

Wolfriders: OO HC C, Handweapons and shields, Carnivorous mounts
Wolfriders: OO HC C, Handweapons and shields, Carnivorous mounts
Wolfriders: OO HC C, Handweapons and shields, Carnivorous mounts
Wolfriders: OO HC D, Handweapons and shields, Carnivorous mounts

Akz's Ogres:

Akz Chief: Able/Bold, Inspirational, Slayer of All, Hard to Kill

Ogres: Light Giants B, two-handers, 10
Ogres: Light Giants C, two-handers, 10

Grrr Hero: Poor, Liked, Staunch

Losses:
Akz: Slain by a pesky elven hero
Akz's ogres: Serious casualties from elven bows
Magrott: Severely wounded by the same pesky elven hero
Magrott's tribe: All the best troops bled to death in the stream
Ragnok's tribe: A few units lost, otherwise minor
Blogsok's Wolfriders: no casualties.


Elven Army: Thanalis's Border Rangers

Apparantly we were facing the same elves that Aznar failed to defeat. We don't know what went on in their head, but have a pretty accurate list of their forces. Then again their mage seemed to be casting dark spells?


Thanalis Commander in Chief: Allegedly a poor commander
Insuldir Mage Master (schooled) Spells: Some dark spells?!

Erimor, East Rides mounted rangers:
* 2x Mounted Rangers: OO Light Cavalry B, spear, elven bow, strength 6
* 2x Centaurs: SO Light Cavalry C, bow, strength 5


Leinor, East Rides foot rangers:
* 3x Foot Rangers: OO Light Infantry B, spear, elven bow, strength 10
* 2x Skirmishers: SO Light Infantry C, elven bow, strength 7
* Hero Incelan

Veriborn, Lonely Hills foot rangers:
* 3x Foot Rangers: OO Light Infantry B, spear, elven bow, strength 10
* 2x Skirmishers: SO Light Infantry C, elven bow, strength 7
* Hero Caethin

Eilas, White Sun Pegasus Scouts:
* 3x Pegasus Scouts: SO Medium Cavalry B, shield, elven bow, strength 5

Vanuldir, Grove Cavalry
* 1x Noble Cavalry: OO Heavy Cavalry, B, lance, javelin, shield, strength 8
* Hero Avelion

Taluwya, Grove Cavalry
* 3x Unicorn riders: SO Light Cavalry C, elven bow, strength 5

Losses:
* Vanuldir: Almost wiped out and routed along with his noble cavalry and the hero Avelion
* Eilas's pegasus scouts: Thrown back with losses, and one flight routed
* Erimor's mounted rangers: Thrown back with heavy losses


The Battle - Grumbuzz's perspective

 

Once again we could only see a scouts, and no sight of the elven army. Kicking Blogsok forward on the left flank (never seen a more useless leader!), I left Ragnok to deal with the right flank, with orders to use the woods for cover to advance close to the elven line.

In the center my tribe was advancing steadily, and Akz's ogres along with them. Roaring laughter rose when an elf strode across the stream, and called out a challenge to Akz. The fool did not seem to realise that Akz slew elf heroes for breakfast. Lazily trotting forward, Akz swung his axe, cleaving straight through the elf. Or rather, the space the elf occupied instants before, instead only lightly clipping the elf. In turn, the elf stabbed Akz once. We could not believe our eyes as Akz's tumbled, the elf coolly cleaning his blade on the ogre's trousers.

A setback, but nothing that could not be dealt with. On the left flank Blgsok had fallen still again, only to have a cloud of budgies (pegasus riders? - ed.) swoop down on them. The wolves seemed to be having a blast, teeth tearing out feathers and tails. Most amusing to see them scurry back into the distance, not to be seen again.

 

The right flank was starting to become a problem though. First of all, just as the archers approached the thick woods, the hostile mage did... Something. Something that caused the leaves to fall and the brush to shrivel and die. Blinking in surprise, the most forward younglings were cut down in a hail of elven arrows. So much for that plan.

More importantly still, some very bright looking elven heavy cavalry had advanced all along the river, supported by their rangers. If I did not act soon they would get behind Ragnok and cause all sorts of trouble. After personally instructing him to deal with the threat, I took charge of a unit of ogres and started to flog them forward again.

Addertongue reassured me he had things in hand though. He strode forward, and cast the magic of Despair on the leader of the elven cavalry. Soon, he promised, the leader would run away in tears.

Ragnok may be a bit thick, but from the looks of it Ragnok sure knew how to handle his troops. Leaving his skirmishers to cover the front, he pushed the remainder of his troops to the right, and through the water. It was a risky choice, as it would leave them disordered upon arrival on the hostile banks, and at risk to a strong charge by the hostile cavalry. Still, they outnumbered them vastly, and the giants would not be easily intimidated, he was sure of that.

 

I must get that idiot Addertongue flayed. No tears, from the elven leader. Instead, a single, lilting laugh seemed to shake off the entire magics that our shaman had ensorceled him with. Trumpets sound, and the elven cavcalry comes thundering forward. Met with an unswerving line of orc steel and spear, the cavalry is thrown back in some confusion, and we hold the right bank!

In the center, Magrott will not be outdone. Leading from the front, he sees an elf step out of the archery line, and skip across the river. The same one Akz fought against, probably. The challenge from the elf was still spilling from his lips, when Magrott charged forward, bold as ever. Blades flashed for what seemed like an eternity - until Magrott stumbled back to his lines, severly wounded, and leaving the elf triumphant. Again.

Still, Magrott had enough presence of mind left to urge his tribe forward, in one close block of orc anger. They charged down the hill, and fully expected the elf to skip back across the water even hastier than he had come. Instead, the flanking units watched in soem amazement as the elf stiid his ground, stopping the center in it's tracks, slaying a few orcs, and THEN skipping back to his lines. With a few more wounds for the effort, but nonetheless STILL alive. This disrupted the orc formation, and the wounded Magrott would never get them moving forward in any coordinated fashion, again.

 

On the right flank, things were going much better. Having stood their ground, Ragnok's orcs were pushing the elven heavy cavalry back, and the giants were wading through a thin cloud of fresh centaur blood. Soon, the heavy cavalry would root, very close to annihilation.

 

Sheer grit and determination from Magrott pushed the forward units of spears into the stream, to assault the archers on the far side. Already, the elf hero had cost them direly, spending more time within range of those blasted archers. Now, wading through the stream things got really close. If only he could get his spears in contact with the rangers facing them, he was sure they would break through. Unfortunately, the attack faltered within arm's reach of the opposing shore.

 

The orcs trapped in the stream were hastily being turned into living pincushions, arrows sticking out in all directions.

 

Too wounded to do much, Magrott could but watch as finally their morale faltered, his finest troops running back to preserve their hides. Grumbuzz tried to intervene, brining up a unit of ogres, but these too would arrive too late to make a difference. The attack in the center had failed dramatically, and the stream flowed red with orc blood.

 

On the right flank, the elven rangers would manage to break one unit of heavy spears, before they themselves were chased off by the giants and the remainder of Ragnok's orcs.

 

Overall, an elven victory. But an expensive one, with one regiment of their nobles left crumbled on the field. For Magrott, the price was heavier still, with the muscle of his tribe left dead or dying in a stream.

Observations:
* Farid had a lot of fun, and seemed to pick up the overall intent of the rules quick enough. Success!
* The battle was interesting enough - by making use of the terrain the elves were able to hold, but only just. They were certainly not helped by their poor commander in chief
* Magic added flavour, but did not dominate
* Defensive shooting is probably too effective, as it is already a bonus round of shooting. Will be amended.
* Rules need to be amended to the effect that infantry cannot provide rear support to giants etc.
* Blogsok is a useless git.

Playtest: Orc raiders versus Plains Elf border rangers

This weekend saw another playtest at Murphy's Heroes, this time of my plains elves army versus my orc raiders. I played the elves, whereas Dick played the orcs.

Orc Army: Aznar's Tribe
Aznar had taken his fresh new alliance on a raid into Elven territory. Aznar had recently become the leader of his tribe. That made him the default leader of the local tribes, for now.
Being neither popular nor strong he had made his career up the leadership ladder by subterfuge and the occasional backstabbing (preferably in the dark). He would have to prove his strength to his men and the other tribes quickly or he would find himself on the wrong end of a pointy stick. Striking against the men would have been easier but he needed a big win to stay on top. So now they faced the Elven border guards.
Aznar laid out his plan. They would attack through the woods and thorny areas to negate the long ranging and stinging elvenbows. Aznar's and Ragnok's tribes would form the centre. Blogsok's wolfriders the left flank and Grrr's Ogres the right flank. Wozzot the shaman would provide a diversion on the left flank to keep the elves guessing about the plan. This plan was met with a well meant "Huhh?" by all concerned. The army then set off to teach those pesky elves a lesson still guessing about the plan and greatly diverted by the antics of Wozzot.

Aznar Chief: Able/Bold, Cold Fish, Staunch, Spoiling for a fight

Aznar's Bruisers: OO HI B, two-handed weapons, 10
Aznar's Bruisers: OO HI B, two-handed weapons, 10
Aznar's Bruisers: OO HI B, two-handed weapons, 10

Light spears: OO MI C, spear shield, 10
Light spears: OO MI C, spear shield, 10
Light spears: OO MI C, spear shield, 10

Skirmishing younglings: SO LI D, inferior bow, 7
Skirmishing younglings: SO LI D, inferior bow, 7
Skirmishing younglings: SO LI D, inferior bow, 7

Wozzot Shaman: Initiate spirit mage(d3), born leader, staunch, capacity 10,
3 spirit spells: Spirit Aid, Spirit Feet, Confusion

Knobrot Shaman: Incompentent spirit mage(d2), liked, Staunch, Capacity 10,
1 spirit spell: Spirit aid.

Noknok Hero: Solid/Thick, Born leader, staunch, meek, rash

Ragnok's tribe:

Ragnok chief: Able/Bold, Liked, Staunch, Rash

Heavy spears: OO HI B, Spear and shield, 10
Heavy spears: OO HI B, Spear and shield, 10
Heavy spears: OO HI C, Spear and shield, 10
Heavy spears: OO HI B, Spear and shield, 10

Mob: OO LI D, Sword and shield, 10
Mob: OO LI D, Sword and shield, 10
Mob: OO LI C, Sword and shield, 10
Mob: OO LI C, Sword and shield, 10

Skirmishing younglings: SO LI D, inferior bow, 7
Skirmishing younglings: SO LI E, inferior bow, 7
Skirmishing younglings: SO LI E, inferior bow, 7

Grishnak hero: Atrocious, Inspirational, Slayer of all, Enthousiastic

Blogsok's Wolfriders:

Blogsok chief: Solid, Inspirational, Staunch, Unreliable

Wolfriders: OO HC C, Handweapons and shields, Carnivorous mounts
Wolfriders: OO HC C, Handweapons and shields, Carnivorous mounts
Wolfriders: OO HC C, Handweapons and shields, Carnivorous mounts
Wolfriders: OO HC C, Handweapons and shields, Carnivorous mounts

Grrr's Ogres:

Grrr Chief: Atrocious, Inspirational, Slayer of men, Rash

Ogres: Light Giants B, two-handers, 10
Ogres: Light Giants B, two-handers, 10

Arrr Hero: Solid/Bold, Inspirational, Slayer of men, Enthousiastic, Spoiling for a fight.


Losses:
Aznar: Killed in action leading his bruisers.
Noknok: Killed while trying to keep the elves from flanking Aznar's tribe.
Aznar's tribe: Skirmishers killed in firefights. One unit of Bruisers and light spears destroyed by elven bows.
The remainder of the tribe destroyed in the rest of the fighting.

Ragnok's tribe: minor casualties among the skirmishers.
Grrr's Ogres: no casualties
Blogsok's Wolfriders: no casualties.

Result: A win for Ragnok's tribe! Aznar? Who is Aznar?


Elven Army: Thanalis's border rangers

Thanalis had received reports from his scouts of an unusually large orcish raiding party approaching through the human lands. They seemed to head directly for the plains, and so far the humans had not moved to stop them. Sending riders out to bring in the patrols, he grouped a fighting force of both mounted and dismounted rangers. In addition he had some pegasus scouts at his disposal, and a cavalry detachment from the standing army. Quite predictable, Vanuldir, commander of the cavalry detachment, immediately pointed out he should be taking command as highest ranking standing army commander. A brief discussion indeed.

Taking stock of the situation, Thanalis deployed the pegasi on his left flank, his foot rangers on the foothills, with the mounted rangers supporting on the left flank and the cavalry in the middle. A small patrol was deployed on the right flank to watch for any orcs trying to flank the rangers.

Overall, it was important to stop these orcs. Then again, they were still well away from the elven homelands, so fighting another day was definitely an option.

Thanalis Commander in Chief: Solid, Born leader, Staunch
Insuldir Mage Master (schooled) DAv+2, capacity 34. Weakling. Spells: Heal, Light, Boost Morale, Voices

Erimor, East Rides mounted rangers: Gifted, Liked, Staunch
* 2x Mounted Rangers: OO Light Cavalry B, spear, elven bow, strength 6
* 2x Centaurs: SO Light Cavalry C, bow, strength 5
* Hero Avelion Solid, Inspirational, Slayer of Men, Meek (I)

Leinor, East Rides foot rangers: Solid, Liked, Staunch, Hard to Kill
* 3x Foot Rangers: OO Light Infantry B, spear, elven bow, strength 10
* 2x Skirmishers: SO Light Infantry C, elven bow, strength 7
* Hero Incelan Poor, Liked, Slayer of All, Enthusiastic (II)

Veriborn, Lonely Hills foot rangers: Gifted, Liked, Staunch
* 3x Foot Rangers: OO Light Infantry B, spear, elven bow, strength 10
* 2x Skirmishers: SO Light Infantry C, elven bow, strength 7
* Hero Caethin Solid, Cold Fish, Has Fate (III)

Eilas, White Sun Pegasus Scouts: Solid, Liked, Slayer of Men
* 3x Pegasus Scouts: SO Medium Cavalry B, shield, elven bow, strength 5

Vanuldir, Grove Cavalry Solid, Cold Fish, Staunch, Hesistant
* 1x Noble Cavalry: OO Heavy Cavalry, B, lance, javelin, shield, strength 8
* 3x Unicorn riders: SO Light Cavalry C, elven bow, strength 5

Losses:
* Eilas: Slain by Ogre hero in personal combat
* Incelan: Slain by Aznar in personal combat
* 1 unit of centaurs routed after taking heavy fire
* Grove cavalry routed but rallied
* Small losses throughout skirmishers

The Battle

 

Having thoroughly outscouted their opponent, Thanalis got the pick of the ground. He was only slightly worried about the woods to his front blocking some of the enemy movement from view. However his pegasus scouts should provide ample warning there.

 

As expected, the scouts revealed the bulk of the orc forces - using the cover of the woods to try and close the bow range as quickly as possible. The orc forces threatening the right flank turned out to be a simple ruse, and only a small force of wolf riders were moving into the intended killing grounds.

Around this point, fighting nearly broke out between Arr, the ogre hero who was clearly spoiling for a fight, and his blood brother Grrr. Fortunately it resulted in nothing more than a staring match, with Arr finally reserving his anger for the enemy.

 

On the far left of the army, the pegasus scouts put a few well aimed volleys into the orc skirmishers, but had to evade as the ogres agressively charged forward.

 

Insuldir, expecting dark magic to be used by the vile orcs, cast a spell, bathing the direct surroundings in magical light to inhibit the use of such vile forces.

 

Thanalis commanded the left flank of his army to fall back slowly, keeping the orcs at bow range and out of close combat. He also sent orders to Leinur to bring forward his rangers and flank the enemy.

 

Whether it was the advance of Leinur's rangers or simply the absence of Aznar, we will never know. What we do know is that the unreliable Blogsok chose not to face the elves in front of him, and instead turn around to re-pillage the human lands to the rear. He would not play a further part in the battle. Due to the speed of their retreat, our artist only managed a blurry sketch.

 

However, not all was going well for the elves. One of the herds of centaurs drew fire from the entire cloud of orcish skirmishers, causing them to turn tail and run. Seeing this, Insuldir prepared the spell 'Voices' and cast it on Aznar. As a result of which Aznar, instead of commanding his troops, spent the next good while yelling at the voices in his ear, and punching a few close-by subordinates out of sher frustration. This briefly took the pressure of the elves, allowing them to fall back to a safe range.

 

Or at least something resembling a safe range. Zooming about low over the grassy fields on his pegasus, Eilas was fully focussed on commanding his troops, when suddenly from almost just below him he heard a loud bellow.
This bellow originated from Arrr, who had finally spotted an elf to vent his rage on. Charging across the field, he raised his huge sword to cleave through the elf and steed. Little did he know Eilas was a hero of reknown, and slayer of many things.

 

Nor did this make much of a difference. Rising in an arc, Arr's sword was only seen by the elf once it had cloven through the pegasus, and was within inches of cleaving through the rider as well. Far too late for the elf to act and avoid his fate.

 

This tragic loss would not however deter the elves from the plan already set in motion. Leinur moved most of his troops forward, with Incelan taking personal command of the regiment that briefly got left behind. Wheeling in on the exposed orc flank, they took full advantage of the distraction suffered by the orc commander.

They had, however, not taken Noknok into account. Kicking, yelling and pushing the tough orc Bruisers, he managed to turn at least one mob to face the opposing threat.

 

It is highly dubious whether the bruisers would ever forgive Noknok for this, as their position made them the prime target for all the rangers of the East Ridings, the sky darkening with arrows, and the ground darkening with orc blood.

 

Enraged at the magic tricks played with his mind, and more so by the slaughter visited on his bruisers, Aznar strode forward and belched a challenge at the closest elven hero, Incelan. He may have been all the more motivated as slaying the pesky elf would surely increase his status within the orc tribe. Foolishly, he had just picked the other slayer of reknown in the elven army.

 

But again it would make little difference. Incelan considered for a moment to simply ignore the challenge of the filthy orc, but then decided to throw caution to the wind. He charged up the hill, deftly fended off one cleaver, and stopped the other with his forehead. With the rusting metal sinking down between the elves shoulderblades, another valiant light extinguished.

 

Aznar's glory would however be brief. As they pushed forward, his troops found fierce looking (for elves...) cavalry facing them, and much less fierce looking but nonetheless angry rangers flanking them. There seemed little chance of avoiding a disaster. Again, Noknok intervened. Stepping forward, he motioned at the gully, and called out the orcish equivalent of 'ye shall not pass' at the rangers.

 

Unable to believe the stupidity of the orc, the elven rangers marcherd forward to the edge of the gorge, nocked their arrows, and fired. Pierced by many an arrow, the orc still stood. A small detachment from the rangers rushed forward and put the orc out of his misery. In the process of which they had lost the momentum of their advance, freeing the orcish warband to face the cavalry without immediate threat to their flank.

 

Horns called, hooves clattered, manes drifted in the wind. Poets could spend years writing about the charge of Vanuldir's cavalry. They would spend much less time on the shocked looks on the elves faces as their opponents did not waver, or the hasty retreat that would follow. Behind, the unicorn riders did not hesitate one moment, and joined in the hasty retreat.

 

this may have come as a surprise to some. But certainly not to the elven mage. Having just cast another 'voices' spell, this time on ragnok, she was already preparing the 'Boost Morale' spell.

The battle was now reaching it's dramatic end. On the far right, Leinur's rangers were making short work of the two bands of orcs facing them. The two orc shamans cast spells to hope stave off the unavoidable, but to no avail.

In the centre, a regiment of rangers charged into the flank of Aznar's troops, whereas Veriborn's rangers charged up the hill into the levelled spears. After, of course, having peppered them with a few solid volleys of archery.

 

Caethin, seeing the orc commander cowering amongst his troops, waded through the fight, slaying orcs left right and center. Finally he faced the vile orc. And this time the poems would not be tragic, as they had every cause to describe epic victory. Caethin sliced the orc commander, Aznar, into more manageable pieces while to his left and right his fellow rangers were breaking through the orcish ranks and sending them to the rear.

 

Routing the orcs to their front, the elves might have called this a victory. But for the life lost of two of their most beloved heroes. But for the handful of lives lost amongst their rangers. And certainly but for the shameful retreat of the heavy cavalry.

For some orcs, the day would also be a victory. Such as Ragnar, who still had the opportunity to withdraw his tribe mostly intact. The loss of a serious competitor would not be mourned either.

The ogre brothers had also much to celebrate. They had slain the leader of the 'budgies', and had seen them off the battlefield entirely. In the process of which they had not suffered any losses whatsoever.

Overall, the battle did end the orcish invasion. For now.

To lessen the slight on elven honour, Insuldir's timely preparation even managed to put a stop to the rout of the cavalry. The 'Boost Morale' spell proved effective enough to bring the cavalry to a halt, leaving them shaken but no longer routing. Not that the border troops would soon forget the sight of the retreat of the noble heavy cavalry.

 

Overall the rules seemed up to the job. A few things were noted, some of them requiring change. Indirect archery by troops in the rear over troops to their front is too effective. This will now be further penalized.

The hero and duel mechanisms seemed to work well, and definitely added fun and flavour to the game. Magic proved powerful but probably not overly powerful.

Poor dice rolls by the orcish side did result in their commanders being distracted for great lengths, but this was a statistical anomaly. Speed of play was fair, with approximately 20 minutes used per game turn. This with still a lot of checking to see whether we were using the rules as written down.

As a first start to dealing with flying troops, simply allowing them to ignore terrain effects seemed a start, but certainly not yet the complete answer.