Shorter Scenarios

[Saxon]

Hello,

I am a great fan of this game, but regrettably I seldom have the time to sit out a whole FTF game in one session. I have seen a couple of interesting variants starting from the Shire in Internet forums, and thus the idea of developing shorter scenarios come to mind.

I hope you find this variant balanced and true to the book. It should cut playing time by about one fifth. I am working on other shorter variants, starting from later points in the LotR. Please post your feedback.

Anyway, here it is:


Scenario 2: Lothlorien

Place the FSP in Lorien

Place the FSP Progress marker in the 0 box, hidden side up. The Corruption marker starts in the “2” box.

Strider is the FSP Guide. Gandalf the Grey has been killed, and the White has not appeared yet. Place all other Companions in the FSP.

Place two Elven Ring counters in the FP side, one in the SP side.

The Saruman minion card is already in play.

Discard the following event cards:
SP: Balrog of Moria, Foul Thing from the Deep, Cruel Weather, Flocks of Crebain, Orcs Multiplying Anew, Halforcs and Goblins, Many Kings to the Service of Mordor.

FP: Axe and Bow, Grimbeorn the Old, Eomer son of Eomund.

The following events are displayed face up on the table: Wormtongue, Palantir of Orthanc, Mithril Coat and Sting, Horn of Gondor

Shuffle the event decks with the remaining cards; then the SP draws 1 Army event card, 1 Character event card, plus 1 card of either deck at his choice. The FP draws 2 Army event cards and 3 Character event cards.

The following Hunt tiles have already been played: 3, 2 Reveal, 1 Reveal, 0 Reveal.

The SP gets 8 Action Dice, the FP 4 Action Dice.

Political Markers: Dwarves 0 Inactive, Elves at War, North 2 Active, Gondor 1 Inactive, Rohan 0 Inactive, Saruman at War, Sauron at War, Southrons and Easterlings 2 Active.

Troop setup is as follows:

Dwarves: Same as Rivendel scenario
Elves: Same as Rivendel scenario
Gondor: Same as Rivendel Scenario

The North:
Bree 1 Regular.
The Carrock 1 Elite, 1 Leader, 1 Regular.
Dale 1 Regular, 1 Leader.
North Downs 1 Elite.
1 Regular has been taken as a casualty.

Rohan:
Edoras 1 Regular, 2 Elites, 1 Leader.
Isenfords: 2 Regular, 1 Leader.
Helm’s Deep: 1 Regular.

Sauron:
Barad-Dur 4 Regular, 1 Elite, 2 Nazgul.
Dol Guldur 8 Regular, 1 Elite, 1 Nazgul.
Gorgoroth 5 Regular.
Minas Morgul 5 Regular, 2 Nazgul.
Moria 1 Regular.
Dimrill Dale 1 Regular.
Mount Gundabad 5 Regular.
Morannon 5 Regular, 2 Nazgul

Southrons & Easterlings:
Near Harad 2 Elite, 8 Regular.
Umbar 5 Regular.
North Rhun 4 Regular.
Ash Mountains 1 Elite, 3 Regular.

Saruman:
The Shire 2 Regular.
South Downs 1 Regular.
South Dunland 2 Regular.
Isengard 3 Elite, 3 Regular, Saruman.

[Veldrin]

Looks very promising!

Have you tried it and if so how did it go?

[glow=green,2,300]Veldrin[/glow]

[Saxon]

Hello, this is the second shorter scenario, which begins just after the breaking of the Fellowship. This scenario should cut playing time by approx. one third.


SCENARIO 3: THE TWO TOWERS

Place the FSP in Western Emyn Muil

Place the FSP Progress marker in the 0 box, hidden side up. The Corruption marker starts in the “3” box.

Gollum is the FSP Guide. Place the Companions as follows: Gandalf the White in Fangorn. Strider, Legolas and Gimli in East Emnet. Merry and Pippin have been taken as casualties when belonging to the FSP; thus, they are out of the game but may be deployed again with a Mustering action. Boromir has been killed.

Place one Elven Ring counter in the FP side, one in the SP side. Discard the third one.

The Saruman minion card is already in play.

Discard the following event cards:

SP: Balrog of Moria, Foul Thing from the Deep, Cruel Weather, Flocks of Crebain, Orcs Multiplying Anew, Halforcs and Goblins, Many Kings to the Service of Mordor, The Breaking of the Fellowship, Orc Patrol, Bane of Isildur, Rage of the Dunlendings.

FP: Axe and Bow, Grimbeorn the Old, Eomer son of Eomund, Horn of Gondor, Galadrim of Celeborn, Guards of the Citadel, Mirror of Galadriel.

The following events are displayed face up on the table: Wormtongue, Palantir of Orthanc, Mithril Coat and Sting.

The following Hunt tiles are prepared for entering the Hunt Pool when the FSP is declared in Mordor: Shelobs Lair, The Ring is Mine, Phial of Galadriel, Elven Cloaks, Elven Rope.

Shuffle the event decks with the remaining cards; then, each player takes one card from one of his decks of his choice and discards it face down. Lastly, the SP draws 2 Army event cards, 1 Character event card, plus 1 card of either deck at his choice. The FP draws 2 Army event cards and 2 Character event cards.

The following Hunt tiles have already been played: 3, 3, 2 Reveal, 2, 1 Reveal, 0 Reveal, 0 Reveal, Eye.

The SP gets 8 Action Dice, the FP 5 Action Dice.

Political Markers: Dwarves 0 Inactive, Elves at War, North 2 Active, Gondor 1 Inactive, Rohan 1 Inactive, Saruman at War, Sauron at War, Southrons and Easterlings at War.

TROOP SETUP IS AS FOLLOWS:

DWARVES: Same as Rivendel scenario

ELVES: Grey Havens 1 Elite, 1 Leader, 1 Regular. Rivendel 2 Elite, 1 Leader. Lorien: 3 Elites, 1 Leader, 1 Regular. Woodland Realm:, 2 Elites, 1 Leader, 1 Regular.

GONDOR: Dol Amroth 3 Regular. Pelargir 1 Regular. Osgiliath 1 Leader, 2 Regular. Minas Tirith 1 Leader, 2 Elites, 3 Regular.

THE NORTH: Bree 1 Regular. The Carrock 1 Elite, 1 Leader, 1 Regular. Dale 1 Regular, 1 Leader. North Downs 1 Elite. Casualties: 1 Regular.

ROHAN: Edoras 1 Regular, 1 Elite, 1 Leader. Isenfords: 1 Elite, 1 Regular. Helm’s Deep: 1 Regular. Casualties: 1 Leader, 1 Regular.

SAURON: Barad-Dur 4 Regular, 1 Elite, 1 Nazgul. Dol Guldur 8 Regular, 1 Elite, 2 Nazgul. Gorgoroth 5 Regular. Minas Morgul 5 Regular, 2 Nazgul. Moria 2 Regular. East Emnet 1 Regular. Eagle’s Eyrie 5 Regular. Morannon 5 Regular, 1 Nazgul. Western Brown Lands, Dead Marshes: 1 Nazgul each.

SOUTHRONS & EASTERLINGS: South Ithilien 1 Elite, 4 Regular. Minas Morgul 1 Elite, 4 Regular. Umbar 5 Regular. North Rhun 1 Elite 5 Regular. Ash Mountains 1 Elite, 3 Regular.

SARUMAN: The Shire 2 Regular. South Downs 1 Regular. Isengard 3 Elite, 5 Regular, Saruman.

Veldrin, I have not tried Scenario 2 yet. I have tried Scenario 3 and it was a relatively easy FSP Ring victory. If you agree that it is a bit biased in favour of the FP, you may try any or both of the following Scenario Special Rules SSR:

1. Lost in Emyn Muil. The first action die spent to move the FSP does not affect the Movement Track. It is placed directly in the Hunt Box. Conduct a Hunt as normal. Gollum is not yet considered the Guide for this Hunt. After this first action, Gollum becomes the Guide as normal.

2. The Black Gate is Closed. The first time the FSP declares in Morannon or Minas Morgul, it is instead moved back 1 area by the FSP player. The FSP may never again declare to be in that Mordor space.

[Saxon]

I have already tried Scenario 2. The game was very balanced, it ended in a FP Ring Victory in the same turn that the Shadow got to 11 VP. I think the reason why Scenario 2 seem to be more balanced is that "Historical" Shadow moves were sound in the first few turns (i.e. hit the FSP a lot and build up armies), but later Sauron military deployment was much slower than is usual in the game.

Has anyone else tried these scenarios?

[Saxon]

This scenario starts just after the defeat of Saruman, and with the FS having just decided they will not enter Mordor by the Black Gate. I have not playtested it yet.


SCENARIO 4: THE TURNING OF THE TIDE

Place the FSP in Dagorlad

Place the FSP Progress marker in the 0 box, hidden side up. The Corruption marker starts in the “5” box.

Gollum is the FSP Guide. Place Gandalf the White,.Strider, Legolas Gimli, Merry and Pippin at Orthanc. Boromir has been killed.

The Witch King and the Mouth of Sauron have not been mustered yet.

Place one Elven Ring counter in the FP side, one in the SP side. Discard the third one.

Discard the following event cards:

SP: Balrog of Moria, Foul Thing from the Deep, Cruel Weather, Flocks of Crebain, Orcs Multiplying Anew, Halforcs and Goblins, Many Kings to the Service of Mordor, The Breaking of the Fellowship, Orc Patrol, Bane of Isildur, Rage of the Dunlendings, Candles of Corpses, Stormcrow, Wormtongue, Palantir of Orthanc, Musterings of Long Planned War, The Fighting Uruk Hai, Threats & Promises.

FP: Axe and Bow, Grimbeorn the Old, Eomer son of Eomund, Horn of Gondor, Galadrim of Celeborn, Guards of the Citadel, Mirror of Galadriel, We Will Prove the Swifter, Riders of Theoden, Treebeard, Athelas, Cirdan’s Ships, Entmoot, The Power of Tom Bombadil, Fire! Fear! Foes!

The following event is displayed face up on the table: Mithril Coat and Sting.

The following Hunt tiles are prepared for entering the Hunt Pool when the FSP is declared in Mordor: Shelob’s Lair, The Ring is Mine, Give It to Uss, Phial of Galadriel, Elven Cloaks, Elven Rope.

Shuffle the event decks with the remaining cards; then, each player takes one card from one of his decks of his choice and discards it face down. Lastly, each player draws 2 Army event cards.

The following Hunt tiles have already been played: 3, 3, 2 Reveal, 2, 1 Reveal, 1 Reveal, 0 Reveal, 0 Reveal, Eye.

The SP gets 7 Action Dice, the FP 5 Action Dice.

Political Markers: Dwarves 0 Inactive, Elves at War, North at War, Gondor 1 Inactive, Rohan at War, Saruman at War, Sauron at War, Southrons and Easterlings at War.



TROOP SETUP IS AS FOLLOWS:

DWARVES: Same as Rivendel scenario

ELVES: Grey Havens 1 Elite, 1 Leader, 1 Regular. Rivendel 2 Elite, 1 Leader. Lorien: 3 Elites, 1 Leader, 1 Regular. Woodland Realm:, 2 Elites, 1 Leader, 1 Regular.

GONDOR: Dol Amroth 3 Regular. Pelargir 1 Regular. Osgiliath 1 Leader, 2 Regular. Minas Tirith 1 Leader, 2 Elites, 3 Regular.

THE NORTH: Bree 1 Regular. The Carrock 1 Leader, 1 Regular. Dale 1 Regular, 1 Leader. North Downs 1 Elite. Casualties: 1 Elite, 1 Regular.

ROHAN: Edoras 1 Regular. Helm’s Deep: 2 Elite, 1 Regular, 1 Leader. Isengard: 1 Leader. Casualties: 1 Leader, 1 Elite, 2 Regular.

SAURON: Barad-Dur 4 Regular, 1 Elite, 1 Nazgul. Dol Guldur 8 Regular, 2 Elite, 2 Nazgul. Gorgoroth 5 Regular. Nurn 5 Regular. Minas Morgul 5 Regular, 2 Nazgul. Moria 2 Regular. Eagle’s Eyrie 1 Regular. Morannon 5 Regular, 1 Nazgul. Western Brown Lands, West Emnet: 1 Nazgul each.

SOUTHRONS & EASTERLINGS: South Ithilien 1 Elite, 4 Regular. Minas Morgul 1 Elite, 4 Regular. Umbar 5 Regular. Carnen Valley 1 Elite 5 Regular. Ash Mountains 1 Elite, 3 Regular. Nurn 3 Regular.

SARUMAN: Buckland 1 Regular The Shire 1 Regular. South Downs 1 Regular. The Saruman minion has been killed, Sharkey is thus available for mustering.


SCENARIO SPECIAL RULES

SHARKEY: As submitted in the "Minion Boosts" thread:
After Saruman is killed, Sharkey may be mustered instead of a Nazgul in a normal SP Mustering action. Sharkey is placed with any Isengard army. He functions with Leadership 1 for movement and battle purposes and has no special abilities. Sharkey is affected by FP Combat Cards as a Nazgul. Once eliminated, he may not be replaced. Use the Saruman miniature to portray Sharkey.


ENT-DRAUGHT: The “Merry & Pippin, Not Great Generals” Optional Rule should not be used in this scenario.

THE BLACK GATE IS CLOSED: The FSP may only declare in Mordor at Minas Morgul.

[Saxon]

I have tried Scenario 4 with a friend. Playing time was about half the normal game. The FP won a narrow Ring victory, but came very close to Military Victory. We thought a FP Military Victory seemed relatively easy to pull out, especially as Moria and Mt Gundabad may not recruit any more Orc Regulars at the start of the game. It was also "unrealistically" easy to reconquer The Shire, as the FP can recruit at Lindon, the Blue Mts and Bree, whereas Saruman reinforcements have to come all the way from Dunland.

We would suggest the following changes to the set up provided above:

S&E The units that start at the Ash Mtns should start in Dagorlad instead
SAURON The Nazgul that starts in the Brown Lands starts in Dagorlad. No Orc regulars in Nurn; instead, Eagles Eyrie has 4 Orc Regulars.
THE NORTH Add 1 Elite at The Carrock

Saruman should only be able to recruit in The Shire and Bree, if controlled. No recruitment is allowed in Dunland or Orthanc.

Other changes that may be considered: Any SP Army entering Orthanc takes 1d6 hits (the Ents stand guard). Orthanc is worth only 1 VP to the FP.

[perry]

Wow, that looks really good man! Thank you for providing!
I have entered the setups & scenario rules into excel spreadsheets, that makes it more easily setup. I would provide the setups here as an enclosed file, but it is not possible to attach files afaik.

[perry]

You have posted Scenario 2-4 here. Were is scenario 1 ;D

Or maybe you mean that the Out Of Box-rules are Scenario 1 ?

Cheers!

[perry]

We played a game of "Turning of the Tide" today.

Troop listing for Rohan had 1 Leader in Orthanc, but no units. We placed a Regular instead of the Leader. That was the intended placement, right?

Great job!

[Saxon]

Hi Perry, thank you for the encouragement!

I have had a daughter and so have not had much time for WotR lately... now to your queries:

Scenario 1 is the standard out-of-the-box game.

The intended placement at Isengard was indeed 1 Leader, as in the book, only a dozen riders escort King Theoden to the wreckage of Isengard. But I agree that, in game terms, it probably makes much more sense to deploy 1 Rohan regular in Orthanc instead. Otherwise it may be too easy to reconquer for the Shadow.

Please do tell us how it went in your playing of Scenario 4