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Miniatures Adventure => Fantasy Adventures => Topic started by: James Morris on October 31, 2022, 08:18:21 PM

Title: A Tolkien double-header: Dwarves and Elves and Orcs
Post by: James Morris on October 31, 2022, 08:18:21 PM
I've been a bit pushed for time recently, but thought you might appreciate a couple of Middle-earth battles from my recent gaming.  We've just played two games using my own Midgard Heroic Battles rules (due to be published at some point in the future) - here are a few highlights.

1) BATTLE IN THE MIST
This was an encounter between Isengard and a Dwarven army in the mountains (the scenario was loosely based on the 1471 Battle of Barnet).  Much teddy bear stuffing was used to simulate the mist! The armies were Pete's Orcs (all GW miniatures) against my Dwarves (largely Conqueror and Thistle and Rose (ex Vendel) miniatures.

Full battle report here: https://mogsymakes.net/2022/10/22/battle-in-the-mist-dwarves-vs-orcs-in-middle-earth/ (https://mogsymakes.net/2022/10/22/battle-in-the-mist-dwarves-vs-orcs-in-middle-earth/)

2) THE LONE HERO
This scenario took its inspiration from the 1066 Battle of Stamford Bridge, with a lone Elf Hero (taking the role of the Viking 'berserker') trying to hold up the forces of Saruman for as long as possible while the Elves mustered their forces.  Again, Pete's Orcs took on my Elves (mostly Oathmark plastics with a host of conversions and kit bashing).

Full battle report here: https://mogsymakes.net/2022/10/31/stamford-bridge-in-middle-earth-an-orc-invasion-of-rivendell/ (https://mogsymakes.net/2022/10/31/stamford-bridge-in-middle-earth-an-orc-invasion-of-rivendell/)

Scenery for both games was a long pile (OOP) battle mat from Cigar Box, with scratch built river and rocks by myself, plus trees from model railway stores and The Last Valley.

I think the Middle-earth project is long overdue some reinforcements and have pulled out the Victrix Norman knights to convert into Elf cavalry already!
Title: Re: A Tolkien double-header: Dwarves and Elves and Orcs
Post by: Elk101 on October 31, 2022, 08:24:05 PM
Quite a spectacle, it looks like a great set up.
Title: Re: A Tolkien double-header: Dwarves and Elves and Orcs
Post by: fred on October 31, 2022, 09:41:44 PM
That really looks great - the figures, the terrain the overall look!

One question, how many teddy bears were sacrificed, to get the ‘fog’ in the first photo?

- read the battle report to find out the answer to this question!
Title: Re: A Tolkien double-header: Dwarves and Elves and Orcs
Post by: DivisMal on October 31, 2022, 09:46:02 PM
Lovely pictures from the battlefield! I like your usage of the movement trays. It looks pretty good that way. Are the dimensions arbitrarily chosen or do they follow some rules?
Title: Re: A Tolkien double-header: Dwarves and Elves and Orcs
Post by: DalyDR on October 31, 2022, 10:03:50 PM
Great stuff!  Those dwarves are just superb.  Keep telling myself I need to get some of them while someone is still selling them . . .
Title: Re: A Tolkien double-header: Dwarves and Elves and Orcs
Post by: Pattus Magnus on October 31, 2022, 10:13:09 PM
Beautiful games! The whole spectacle is great!

The Conqueror Models dwarves are on my ‘to buy’ list, too. So many things ahead in the queue, though!
Title: Re: A Tolkien double-header: Dwarves and Elves and Orcs
Post by: Golgotha on October 31, 2022, 11:00:05 PM
Very impressive especially like the river and its lush banks.
Title: Re: A Tolkien double-header: Dwarves and Elves and Orcs
Post by: WitchQueenofAngmar on November 01, 2022, 12:42:15 AM
Glorious battle!
Title: Re: A Tolkien double-header: Dwarves and Elves and Orcs
Post by: hubbabubba on November 01, 2022, 06:03:27 PM
Great looking game, thanks cor posting.
Title: Re: A Tolkien double-header: Dwarves and Elves and Orcs
Post by: FramFramson on November 01, 2022, 08:57:27 PM
Oh my word I want your river.
Title: Re: A Tolkien double-header: Dwarves and Elves and Orcs
Post by: Pattus Magnus on November 01, 2022, 09:07:53 PM
LoL! That’s almost exactly what I thought when I saw the pics. I’m scheming about how to build something similar with supplies I have at hand. The look on the table is excellent.
Title: Re: A Tolkien double-header: Dwarves and Elves and Orcs
Post by: Phil Portway on November 02, 2022, 12:11:59 PM
Looks Great.

The rules, we the be based on the War of the Ring basing, 8 infantry and 2 Cavalry?

Just heading over to your Blog now for a read!
Title: Re: A Tolkien double-header: Dwarves and Elves and Orcs
Post by: Grumpy Gnome on November 02, 2022, 03:04:25 PM
Epic! Looks like great fun. Tough on Elven heroes though…
Title: Re: A Tolkien double-header: Dwarves and Elves and Orcs
Post by: James Morris on November 05, 2022, 01:31:44 PM
Lovely pictures from the battlefield! I like your usage of the movement trays. It looks pretty good that way. Are the dimensions arbitrarily chosen or do they follow some rules?

Thank you!  The movement trays are all around 12 cm wide as Midgard works on all units having roughly the same frontage.  Base depths aren't important, but we tend to put cavalry and monsters on deeper bases (8 - 10 cm) than regular infantry (6 cm).
Title: Re: A Tolkien double-header: Dwarves and Elves and Orcs
Post by: James Morris on November 05, 2022, 01:33:06 PM
That really looks great - the figures, the terrain the overall look!

One question, how many teddy bears were sacrificed, to get the ‘fog’ in the first photo?

- read the battle report to find out the answer to this question!

Cheers!

I'm pleased to report that all teddy bears used were actually roadkill, so there was no unnecessary teddy bear suffering.  lol lol
Title: Re: A Tolkien double-header: Dwarves and Elves and Orcs
Post by: James Morris on November 05, 2022, 01:34:40 PM
Very impressive especially like the river and its lush banks.

Thank you very much.  I've just added a blog article about the river if you're interested: https://mogsymakes.net/2022/11/05/hold-the-ford-the-4-rules-of-rivers/ (https://mogsymakes.net/2022/11/05/hold-the-ford-the-4-rules-of-rivers/)

Title: Re: A Tolkien double-header: Dwarves and Elves and Orcs
Post by: James Morris on November 05, 2022, 01:36:33 PM
Looks Great.

The rules, we the be based on the War of the Ring basing, 8 infantry and 2 Cavalry?

Just heading over to your Blog now for a read!

Thanks Phil!  As mentioned above, Midgard works on all units having a similar frontage - my standard ones are 12 cm.  I think that's similar to War of the Ring for the infantry.
Title: Re: A Tolkien double-header: Dwarves and Elves and Orcs
Post by: Argonor on November 05, 2022, 06:34:38 PM
Quite a spectacle!  8)

I really love those Dwarves, magnificent minis!
Title: Re: A Tolkien double-header: Dwarves and Elves and Orcs
Post by: Old Hob on November 06, 2022, 12:35:43 PM
The tabletops for your games always look so beautifully detailed and immersive. Thanks for the guide to building the river, waterfall and the gorge (which I especially like). Off to source me some cork...
Title: Re: A Tolkien double-header: Dwarves and Elves and Orcs
Post by: James Morris on November 06, 2022, 05:13:56 PM
The tabletops for your games always look so beautifully detailed and immersive. Thanks for the guide to building the river, waterfall and the gorge (which I especially like). Off to source me some cork...

That’s very kind of you, thank you! I remember being inspired to make terrain like this at Partizan in 1993 when I came across the Perrys’ Late Roman vs Picts table. Cork ain’t as cheap as it used to be, but it goes a long way if you cut it up for river banks.  lol
Title: Re: A Tolkien double-header: Dwarves and Elves and Orcs
Post by: DivisMal on November 06, 2022, 06:26:34 PM
Spectacular! So the Peak District is like Middle Earth?  ::)
Title: Re: A Tolkien double-header: Dwarves and Elves and Orcs
Post by: James Morris on November 08, 2022, 05:42:00 PM
Spectacular! So the Peak District is like Middle Earth?  ::)

It IS Middle-earth, none of this NZ nonsense!  lol lol
Title: Re: A Tolkien double-header: Dwarves and Elves and Orcs
Post by: Belgian on November 09, 2022, 10:59:55 AM
Cool, thanks sharing the pictures and river tutorial.
Title: Re: A Tolkien double-header: Dwarves and Elves and Orcs
Post by: plessiez on November 10, 2022, 04:51:55 AM
Great looking games as usual James. I've enjoyed being one of your Midgard playtesters and am looking forward to it coming out.