Tolkien First Age: dwarves vs orcs

[James Morris]

‘Those [orcs] that fled north from the great slaughter were waylaid by the axes of the Naugrim that issued forth from Mount Dolmed; few indeed returned to Angband.’
-JRR Tolkien, The Silmarillion

This one-liner was our scenario for tonight’s First Age game: a retreating force of orcs under Gurukk, Captains in of Angband, were holding a ridge on the lower slopes of Mount Dolmed, and the dwarves were going to remove them from it!

We played using my own Midgard rules; the dwarves had six warrior units, two groups of archers and three heroes, led by Nundir, Lord of Mount Dolmed.  The orcs had five warrior units, two archer units and a troll bodyguard for their champion, Myrzol of the Axe, with a couple of wolf riders and a pack of wargs out scouting. Sam took the newly-painted dwarves and I commanded the orcs.

The dwarves undertook some redeployment in the first turn, moving out towards the flanks of the orcs.  Gurukk responded by sending down his archers to harry the dwarves, causing some consternation down on the dwarven right.

Nundir’s line ground forward to the crest of the hill, where the first combats were fought.  The dwarf guards utterly devastated the trolls in a fierce combat, but then Murzol of the Axe challenged Nundir to a duel.  The dwarf lord accepted but was unable to strike down the orc with his runic hammer- they drew both rounds with three hits apiece, dealing each other a mortal wound.

With their leader felled, the brothers Mundir and Mimbir stepped up to lead the dwarves to victory, utterly crushing the orcs on the left flank and taking the hill top.  A late-arriving party of wargs and orc scouts harried the dwarf right, but the hill had been taken and the battle was lost.

Great fun to be able to play a live opponent again - cheers Sam!  And somehow the newly-painted dwarves won their first game....

[Romark]

 

[Jonny]

Great looking game! 

Your models are all very well painted and based. Which miniatures ranges are they from?

Edit - I’ve found the answer to my question in your other thread!

[GamesPoet]

Lovely, congrats!

[Grumpy Gnome]

Another great looking game!

[Ragnar]

Fantastic James. 

I'm also liking your loose, multi basing style.