Birthday Battle

Posted on June 2, 2015 by SwordAndSorceryRPG

What a Saturday Night Wargame! Ten of us gathered around the gaming tables to celebrate my birthday with a 5 on 4 battle. All our players from 3 storylines, plus Bleddyn’s wife, came for the fun.

This battle was for control of the Hedemark, the penninsula to the east of Gautria. The Free Jarls, who swear to no king, call these lands theirs but the League of Nil-ith Horn orcs looked to firmly entrench themselves on this side of Lake Kisilev. King Magnus of South Gautria had camped the previous winter here with intent to crush the orcs early in the campaign season.

My husband set up the troops ahead of time. He assigned units and/or heroes, and primary and secondary objectives to each player. There were 3 points of intrinsic value: the circle of stones (nearest to the camera), the ford, (which is behind the ridge where the flags are) and the slave wagons (on the hill furthest away from the camera).

None of our player characters were actually present, but we played pieces with similar interests to our own. Bleddyn’s wife debuted in her first wargame with several urog heroes on the hill guarding the slave wagons. The League of Nil-ith Horn Chronicles fellows played the orcs. Two players held the ford, one with units of Great Northern Orc mercenaries, and the other with League troops. Eskander had a mage with 2 units of valdgrafs, and a large unit of smerdi to hold the stone circle.

The humans had Bleddyn playing as ulfhednar who were tasked with freeing the slaves from the urogs. Aedelfrid played as Queen Inga and her cavalry unit, and 2 units of footmen. Melkor represented the Kildarians. Their cavalry and sargents had pledged to support the Queen as she took the ford. Kvig played his brother Hegg, commanding Hegg’s cavalry, a unit of bonders, and Kvig’s own heroic unit of thanes (left behind in SGK #43). And I played as Jevenkah, who is currently lording over the northern-most village on the Hedemark and brought with her a unit of berserks and a handful of heroes. Her primary objective was to gain the stone circle.

The units quickly moved to contact. The ulfhednar raced up the hill to engage the urogs.

The ulfhednar raced up the hill to engage the urogs.

Inga’s troops plus one unit of Kildarian knights crashed into the shield wall of the spear-wielding smerdi holding the ford.

But the other Kildarians were swayed by Hegg to lend their troops to the fight for the stone circle. The Kildarian knights galloped to get behind the enemy line.

Hegg lined his forces up against the orcs and attacked while Jevenkah sprinted up the left flank for the stone circle.

There was heard then a great clash of hard plastic in polished wood boxes as battle was joined.

There were fights up and down the table, and figures came off the board rapidly.

The League of Nil-ith Horn at the stone circle were whittled down first by Hegg’s infantry, then by Jevenkah’s acid arrows.

Finally her berserk warriors came upon the rear of the smerdi and eliminated them.

The League mage with his valdgraf guards lasted a little longer, before being stamped out in the same manner by Hegg’s men and the Kildarian knights.

The urogs on the hill took few losses and dealt out major damage, but were overcome by the numbers of attacking ulfhednar.

The battle for the ford swung back and forth.

Once the left flank was won, Jevenkah, Hegg and the Kildarian Baron brought their units to the ford. They joined Inga and sent the remaining orc forces sprinting for the trees.

It was a great game and super birthday party!

Being Thankful- A Fantasy Warriors Battle

Posted on December 2, 2014 by SwordAndSorceryRPG

Over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend we had the opportunity to introduce another player to “Fantasy Warriors.”

Our experienced League of Nil-ith Horn Commander took her smerdi and valdgrafs against our daughter’s Kildarian cavalry units plus unit of picked men, while the new fellow was granted 2 units of ulfhednar and a unit of berserks.

The smerdi commander stacked her units, pikes at the ready to fight from two ranks. The vicious and ambitious utvalt men sprinted out to challenge them.

The ulfhednar raced forward to support the flank. The berserk unit gained the advantage of the hill.

The cavalry held.

The orc commander charged across the field.

The onrushing wolf-skin-clad humans threw a storm of javelins and unexpectedly took down a few shielded orcs, then clashed in hand-to-hand combat. The berserks and cavalry watched from their hills.

Our youngest helped me to document the swift destruction of the unshielded utvalt unit.

Then he joined in the dice-rolling fun on the side of the orcs.

The orcs destroyed the ulfhednar, chewing through the unarmored units. The bearskin-clad humans rushed from the hilltop into the rear of the orc formation and briefly bolstered the flank.

All looked lost for the humans when finally the cavalry spurred into motion. The knights charged into the ranks of orcs.

The League Orcs fought bravely, but they could not survive the onslaught from two units of heavy cavalry.

The knights and remaining infantry surrounded the League of Nil-ith Horn orcs and awarded our new-comer his first victory.

Gautrian Games

Posted on April 29, 2014 by SwordAndSorceryRPG

In the next Fantasy Warriors battle, 2 of our junior players fought against myself in a Gautrian (Red banners and Blue banners) versus Kildarian exercise with equal forces.

The girls each had a unit of Gautrain heavy cavalry and a unit of heavy infantry. I commanded 4 units of blue-and-yellow Kildarians, 2 of cavalry and 2 of infantry.

I deployed my cavalry on the hill to meet the Red Gautrains, and lined my infantry up on the right, ready to slowly move up the field against the Blue. (The large landscape piece in the middle of the table isn’t really there.)

Blue put her cavalry on the attack and charged into my infantry line. Next to them, her Gautrian infantry became mired in the swamps. Red started the march down the hill with her infantry, while her cavalry waited to pick their target.

My heavy infantry and Blue’s cavalry took slight losses. Blue’s infantry slogged through the swamp. Red attacked my center cavalry with her cavalry. On my left flank, Red’s infantry approached my cavalry.

Blue’s infantry charged into the fray, displacing and disorganizing her own cavalry but decimating my first infantry unit. My second unit closed ranks and continued the fight as Blue’s cavalry crashed forward into the infantry. Both sides’ cavalry units in the center lost riders. My cavalry on the left held strong and dealt many blows to Red’s infantry unit.

Blue’s mounted standard bearer occupied my remaining infantry. Blue Warlord got her infantry into oppose orders and pulled them across the field to bolster Red’s infantry unit. I prevailed in the center and attacked the scrum on my left.

Red’s infantry fell to the swords and spears of my riders. Blue’s forces fought bravely, but in the end were overcome by my cavalry.

Ambush on the Road to Kednvald

Posted on April 26, 2014 by SwordAndSorceryRPG

This Fantasy Warrior battle featured a father-daughter team as a League of Nil-ith Horn Orc relief force ordered to the Vangen capital of Kednvald. They were attacked en route by a rebellious Great Northern Hertog urog and myself, his unaffiliated urog ally.

Scouting rolls decided that the League orcs form their units anywhere in the middle 2 foot stretch of the 6-inch-wide road. The Great Northern Orcs could deploy no closer than 12 inches to either side of the road. Daughter commanded a unit of elite medium infantry armed with pikes, an elite orc hero, and a unit of veteran smerdi heavy infantry with spears and shields. Father played the elite warlord, a unit of veteran medium infantry with swords and shields, and a second unit of veteran smerdi . They marched up the road: Daughter’s elite unit and hero in the front, followed by Father’s veteran unit and Warlord, his smerdi, then her smerdi followed. The Great Northern Hertog urog warlord had his units hidden in the woods ahead of the League of Nil-ith Horn column. A unit of elite urog valdgrafs with shields and heavy armor fought for the Hertog, along with another urog hero and his unit of orc reavers with 2-handed weapons and medium armor. I commanded an urog warlord with a unit of veteran reavers who bore shields and wore heavy armor, and an urog heroine and her unit of elite orc ambushers. My warlord and reavers climbed the ridge for a more threatening position of the road. The elite orc ambushers displayed uncanny speed as they and the heroine attacked the unit of smerdi at the rear. There was a great clash, but few casualties. The Hertog brought his unit of elite heavy infantry around the woods and bogs, while he attacked the League of Nil-ith Horn medium unit in the road with his reavers. Father answered the reavers in the road with his veteran shield unit, and attacked my reavers on the ridge with his smerdi infantry. Daughter sent her elite pike unit up the road at the Hertog and his elite heavy infantry.

The orcs fought furiously and soldiers began to fall.

Daughter found her elite unit wiped out quickly, save for the bannerman. When he fell, the Hertog and his valdgrafs continued down the road towards Father’s unit. Father’s smerdi proved more efficient killers as they eliminated my reavers on the ridge, then rushed down the hill to support his hand and shield unit.

But Daughter’s smerdi were worn down by the savage ambushers and the Great Northern orcs converged on the remaining League of Nil-ith Horn forces.

The rebellious Great Northern Orcs slaughtered the League of Nil-ith Horn forces.

And none of that relief force reached Kednvald.

Jevenkah Battles Teshub at Fantasy Warriors

Posted on February 7, 2014 by SwordAndSorceryRPG

We wanted to play-test some special abilities we’ve been researching/developing to bring mass combat Fantasy Warriors wargaming in line with the Conan D20 rules for RPGing, so we took to the table. We replayed the battle from Saturday night, with Teshub fighting as the League of Nil-ith horn (mostly) orc forces and myself as the Free Jarls of Gautria.

We each picked 2 special abilities (from a list of about 15 that Teshub will type up for me later). Teshub assigned “Last man standing” to his warlord, making the warlord the last figure removed in a unit, and “Bloodlust” which allowed him to put a unit into bloodlust. I chose “Diehard” for my leader, adding a +2 to his save, and applied “Legendary Unit” to my berserkers which added +1 attack die for every 3 figures in the unit.

The League of Nil-ith Horn warlord arrayed his 3 units of heavy infantry in the open, with a unit of medium armored Vangen orc mercenaries on his left, and 4 orc heroes to his right.

The Gautrian Jarl attempted to use the terrain to the advantage of his more mobile light ulfhednar and berserk units on his flanks, while his 2 slower infantry units kept to the center. The men of Gautria were bolstered by 2 enormous sword thane heroes and one giant champion.

Both leaders looked to stir their troops to victory.

As the League forces began their steady march toward the Gautrian lines, the LNH Warlord drew his 2 Orc spear units together to fight in 2 ranks. The Gautrian Jarl moved his spearmen into like formation.

The ulfhednar spread out on his right, and the berserks with their giant hero snuck through the trees on his left.

When they emerged from the woods, they saw the opposing phalanxes about to clash.

The spear units closed for attack and the bloodshed began.

The heavy armor and mighty heroes at the center of the battle proved the difference for the LNH as the Gautrians crumbled.

Unable to get his berserks into attack orders, the Jarl took his remaining heroes and plunged into the fray. Seeing the fierce human berserks confused and holding their ground, the LNH Warlord refused battle there. The Ulfhednar moved in to strike so the Vangen mercenaries were thrown into Bloodlust by their unit leader.

Enraged, the orcs savaged the Ulfhednar and annihilated the men in a single round. Now blood drunk, the crazed orcs slammed into the Gautrians finest unit, the Berserks! On both sides there was great carnage and loss of life as the two units annihilated each other in the flash of two handed weapons.

Alone and outnumbered the Gautrian had no choice but to surrender to the League of Nil-ith Horn Warlord.

Battle of Turlin

Posted on January 18, 2014 by SwordAndSorceryRPG

The men of North Gautria gathered outside the town of Turlin to meet the massed forces from the League of Nil-ith Horn.

For this battle, my husband did double duty as referee and bad guy. He joined the League’s side and played the Grunevaldians with their elite heavy cavalry, a unit of elite heavy infantry Gautrian Guardsmen, and a unit of orc heavy infantry. His compatriots kept their armies from their earlier encounters of the event; Graf Stukkin with his three units of heavy orc infantry, and Alarun with two units of heavy and one medium infantry. Each had two urog heroes as well.

Bleddyn and I shared command of the North Gautrian army. Bleddyn took the King’s elite cavalry and elite heavy infantry, a unit of light infantry, and a unit of light ulfhednar. I played 3 units of heavy cavalry, and one heavy and one light infantry.

The League of Nil-ith Horn carefully plotted their strategy, while Jarl Kvig provided a morale boost to the Gautrians.

On the hilltop against the forest wall, Jarl Skalla Grimmson’s light bondi eagerly closed with the League of Nil-ith Horn heavy infantry elite Gautrian Guardsmen.

The bondi took high casualties and routed in the first combat round, which allowed the Gautrian Guardsmen to rush forward and pin Skalla’s cavalry in the next round. Adjacent to them, the two heavy infantry units of blue and green clash.

Poor rolling prevented the cavalry from taking down many orcs, while the League of Nil-ith Horn forces were able to rout a second unit of Gautrian infantry, also in the first round.

Gautrians fell on the field at every combat roll. King Gorm himself was lost to an urog’s sword. It seemed the gods were not with the Gautrians this day.

Jarl Skalla’s heavy troops battled on, but the last orc units were closing on them.

With the odds overwhelmingly against him, Jarl Skalla took his cavalry and fled south to his keep in Jarlin. By days end the League of Nil-ith Horn army had won a decisive victory at Turlin and were later able to establish a winter camp and beachhead on the coast at Larbro.

Kingdom Under Siege

Skirmish on the Northern Plains

Posted on November 15, 2013 by SwordAndSorceryRPG

Some of the League of Nil-ith Horn troops crossed over the mouth of the Torgova river and marched overland in an attempt to link up with the landing parties. King Gorm’s outriders caught one such band as the orcs left the cover of the forest. Our second Fantasy Warriors battle of the day (now turned to evening) saw Bleddyn command the riders, supported by a unit of heavy infantry, and a unit of ulfhednar: light infantry with fast movement.

Graf Stukkin led the Nil-ith Horn orcs with their own heavy unit, 2 units of Vangen orc heavy infantry and 2 urog heroes. Bleddyn brought his ulfhednar across the field and through the trees, and engaged the League of Nil-ith Horn unit. The urogs attacked the horsemen, while the battle leader Graf Stukkin joined with the heavy infantry of valdgraf and continued to close with the humans. The fighting was fierce and bloody, as the valdgraf heavy infantry joined the 2 urogs in their slaughter of the cavalry.

Bleddyn’s ulfhednar routed the League orc unit and sprinted to attack the remaining orcs. Blows were dealt back and forth.

Only the orc leader and the human bannnerman remained. They each got a saving throw. The bloodbath came down to the last dice roll. Would anyone walk away from this battlefield? The lone bannerman would! Bleddyn made his save and assured the people of North Gautria would be safe from these wretched orcs.

Kingdom Under Siege

Raid on Larbro

Posted on November 14, 2013 by SwordAndSorceryRPG

The first scenario featured our daughter as battle leader of the human village Larbro defending her people against the raiding orcs. She had to get a unit of women and children away from the sod huts, across the coast and into the woods.

Alarun rowed his forces in to quickly close with the warriors and attempt to capture the women.

This battle was to resolve what happened here in North Gautria while main characters were elsewhere on the map, and answer the age-old gaming question, “If a village is sacked and no player-character is there to witness it, does it really burn?”

Our daughter was an extremely good sport, as this was not a “fair” fight. She had 3 units of light infantry for the defense of Larbro and needed to hold for about 10 rounds to allow her civilians to escape. The orcs’ 3 units wore heavy armor and were outfitted for raiding, but one unit had to remain with the boats.

The orcs also had 2 urog heroes to Meav’s one bondi leader, who seemed a bit overwhelmed with his command.

She sent 2 units to the beach and kept her best unit back to screen the women and children, unwittingly leaving her battle leader unprotected after he issued the orders. (Mom’s bad! It was our daughter’s first Fantasy Warriors battle.)

The orcs disembarked while the urogs sprinted ahead to attack the human’s leader.

Alarun told my daughter all the bad things that would happen to that leader if she lost initiative next round.

And our youngest rolled lucky!

Meav moved her second bondi unit to intercept the charging urogs.

Her first unit engaged with the Nil-ith Horn (green & black) orcs took heavy losses and was destroyed. The veteran bondi stepped forward to confront the Valdgraf (red & black) unit and their ugly two-handed weapons, but the unruly Great Northern (brown) berserk orcs crashed through their line from behind, eager to fight the humans.

The women continued their fearful trek as the Nil-ith Horn soldiers marched on them. The human bondi and their battle leader fought the urogs with valor.

The bondi veterans faced an onslaught.

They slew many.

But the humans were overwhelmed, as both her remaining units routed.

The League of Nil-ith Horn orc forces secured plunder and a beachhead due to the success of the Raid on Larbro.

Kingdom Under Siege

Sword And Sorcery RPG

Fantasy Roleplaying Games in Miniature

Category: Fantasy Warriors

Birthday Battle

Being Thankful- A Fantasy Warriors Battle

Gautrian Games

Ambush on the Road to Kednvald

Jevenkah Battles Teshub at Fantasy Warriors

Battle of Turlin

Skirmish on the Northern Plains

Raid on Larbro