Post by Krieghund on Aug 24, 2008 22:52:51 GMT 1
The wife and I played a game using my Dusk of the Third Age variant rules. I played the Shadow.
Things started slowly for the Shadow Armies, as Muster dice were rare in the first two turns (one each). However, Rage of the Dunlendings helped build a little force for Isengard, and the Armies of Mordor were on the move. The Free Peoples took advantage of this to make good progress with the Fellowship, moving three times without incident.
Then things got more interesting. Saruman entered the game and rapidly increased the massed forces at Isengard through his Voice. Gandalf left the Fellowship and headed south to deal with the Many-Colored Wizard. A swift Isengard attack bottled up the Rohan forces at Helm's Deep. Meanwhile, the Fellowship attempted to traverse Moria, and then the real fun began.
Legolas was lost to the goblins as the Fellowship was revealed passing through Moria. This disturbed Boromir, Gimli and Merry so deeply that they gave up the Ring quest altogether, preferring to Break the Fellowship and strike out on their own. To make matters worse, a Foul Thing From the Deep had followed them into Dimrill Dale and dragged Pippin away screaming, leaving Strider alone to Guide the Fellowship. Despair then overcame him, and the Lure of the Ring became too great to resist. His attempt to take the Ring for himself resulted in his untimely demise. Gollum then slunk out of the Shadows and offered to Guide the Master of the Precious.
While all of this was transpiring, the Shadow built up Armies in the north, courtesy of the Balrog and Orcs Multiplying Again. Sensing a threat, the Elves reinforced their defenses by demonstrating A Power Too Great to assail. Between this and Gondor's awaking by the Wisdom of Elrond, Sauron's northern forces decided to cool their heels for a bit while the southern forces leaped into action.
Mordor's hordes rapidly besieged Minas Tirith, but their warlike ways roused Galadriel, and the northern offensive was postponed indefinitely. The Southrons and Easterlings refused to come to Mordor's aid (still few Muster dice!), and while the second Mordor Army marched toward Dol Amroth, its defenses grew stronger. A Rohan Army was also building in Edoras, and the south was becoming a real battleground.
With most of the Free Peoples southern forces bottled up in Minas Tirith, Dol Amroth and Helm's Deep, Saruman decided it was time to eliminate the Horse Lords once and for all. The remaining survivors at Helm's Deep (including Gandalf) were quickly dispatched, and the Uruks moved on Edoras. The attack inflicted heavy losses on both sides, but the Rohirrim survived, and both sides began to regroup.
The Fellowship had been making steady progress south with Gollum as the Guide. He had no desire to visit the nassty Elves at Lorien, and there was no time for a detour to Minas Tirith (even if he wanted to). The plan was to make directly for Mordor with all possible speed. A few encounters with orcs and Nazgul along the way increased Frodo's weariness, and even Athelas did nothing to soothe his spirit. Things were looking grim, but there was still hope. Galadriel remained in Lorien, and Mordor was growing closer with every step.
The siege of Dol Amroth, the strongest of the Free People's besieged Strongholds, began in earnest. Dreadful Spells battered the defenders, then Grond smashed their defenses, and Dol Amroth was broken. As the victorious Shadow Army marched east, the Southrons finally broke out of their torpor and moved to the aid of the siege of Minas Tirith. The Witch-King appeared, and the White City's fate was sealed. The valiant defenders fell quickly to the Shadow Onslaught as trolls and Mumakil stormed the walls. With Gondor defeated, Sauron turned his Eye toward Rohan and the north.
Not wanting to brave the dangers of Lorien (even with the Balrog), the Army of Dol Guldur had been creeping northward. The Woodland Realm seemed like easier pickings, since there was no pesky Ring of Power there to make things inconvenient. However, the sudden appearance of Gandalf the White in the Stronghold just as the Army arrived did put a small crimp in the plan. Coincidentally, the Fellowship also arrived in Mordor at this point (with 5 Corruption).
But poor Frodo didn't really have a chance. Despite Gandalf's Heroic Death, both the Woodland Realm and Edoras fell to the Armies of Sauron before Frodo could reach the Crack of Doom, and the war was lost.
This was actually a pretty close game. Despite the massive punishment at Moria, the Fellowship had a decent chance of dunking the Ring, if they had the time. The Hunt Pool was very favorable in Mordor, with all the big numbers gone and only two Shadow Specials (including The Ring Is Mine!), and Galadriel was there to eliminate Eyes. One broken siege or a few more Character dice would probably have given them that time, but it was not to be. (Rolling four Muster dice on the last turn certainly didn't help!)
Things started slowly for the Shadow Armies, as Muster dice were rare in the first two turns (one each). However, Rage of the Dunlendings helped build a little force for Isengard, and the Armies of Mordor were on the move. The Free Peoples took advantage of this to make good progress with the Fellowship, moving three times without incident.
Then things got more interesting. Saruman entered the game and rapidly increased the massed forces at Isengard through his Voice. Gandalf left the Fellowship and headed south to deal with the Many-Colored Wizard. A swift Isengard attack bottled up the Rohan forces at Helm's Deep. Meanwhile, the Fellowship attempted to traverse Moria, and then the real fun began.
Legolas was lost to the goblins as the Fellowship was revealed passing through Moria. This disturbed Boromir, Gimli and Merry so deeply that they gave up the Ring quest altogether, preferring to Break the Fellowship and strike out on their own. To make matters worse, a Foul Thing From the Deep had followed them into Dimrill Dale and dragged Pippin away screaming, leaving Strider alone to Guide the Fellowship. Despair then overcame him, and the Lure of the Ring became too great to resist. His attempt to take the Ring for himself resulted in his untimely demise. Gollum then slunk out of the Shadows and offered to Guide the Master of the Precious.
While all of this was transpiring, the Shadow built up Armies in the north, courtesy of the Balrog and Orcs Multiplying Again. Sensing a threat, the Elves reinforced their defenses by demonstrating A Power Too Great to assail. Between this and Gondor's awaking by the Wisdom of Elrond, Sauron's northern forces decided to cool their heels for a bit while the southern forces leaped into action.
Mordor's hordes rapidly besieged Minas Tirith, but their warlike ways roused Galadriel, and the northern offensive was postponed indefinitely. The Southrons and Easterlings refused to come to Mordor's aid (still few Muster dice!), and while the second Mordor Army marched toward Dol Amroth, its defenses grew stronger. A Rohan Army was also building in Edoras, and the south was becoming a real battleground.
With most of the Free Peoples southern forces bottled up in Minas Tirith, Dol Amroth and Helm's Deep, Saruman decided it was time to eliminate the Horse Lords once and for all. The remaining survivors at Helm's Deep (including Gandalf) were quickly dispatched, and the Uruks moved on Edoras. The attack inflicted heavy losses on both sides, but the Rohirrim survived, and both sides began to regroup.
The Fellowship had been making steady progress south with Gollum as the Guide. He had no desire to visit the nassty Elves at Lorien, and there was no time for a detour to Minas Tirith (even if he wanted to). The plan was to make directly for Mordor with all possible speed. A few encounters with orcs and Nazgul along the way increased Frodo's weariness, and even Athelas did nothing to soothe his spirit. Things were looking grim, but there was still hope. Galadriel remained in Lorien, and Mordor was growing closer with every step.
The siege of Dol Amroth, the strongest of the Free People's besieged Strongholds, began in earnest. Dreadful Spells battered the defenders, then Grond smashed their defenses, and Dol Amroth was broken. As the victorious Shadow Army marched east, the Southrons finally broke out of their torpor and moved to the aid of the siege of Minas Tirith. The Witch-King appeared, and the White City's fate was sealed. The valiant defenders fell quickly to the Shadow Onslaught as trolls and Mumakil stormed the walls. With Gondor defeated, Sauron turned his Eye toward Rohan and the north.
Not wanting to brave the dangers of Lorien (even with the Balrog), the Army of Dol Guldur had been creeping northward. The Woodland Realm seemed like easier pickings, since there was no pesky Ring of Power there to make things inconvenient. However, the sudden appearance of Gandalf the White in the Stronghold just as the Army arrived did put a small crimp in the plan. Coincidentally, the Fellowship also arrived in Mordor at this point (with 5 Corruption).
But poor Frodo didn't really have a chance. Despite Gandalf's Heroic Death, both the Woodland Realm and Edoras fell to the Armies of Sauron before Frodo could reach the Crack of Doom, and the war was lost.
This was actually a pretty close game. Despite the massive punishment at Moria, the Fellowship had a decent chance of dunking the Ring, if they had the time. The Hunt Pool was very favorable in Mordor, with all the big numbers gone and only two Shadow Specials (including The Ring Is Mine!), and Galadriel was there to eliminate Eyes. One broken siege or a few more Character dice would probably have given them that time, but it was not to be. (Rolling four Muster dice on the last turn certainly didn't help!)