Dunlending tactic

[mrweasely]

When you're waging war with Dunlendings and an attack is on the verge of failure, make sure to abuse the rearguard rule.

For example, six dunlendings are attacking three North regulars in the Shire. If the Free people rolls all hits, you're dead no matter what, right? Wrong. Attack with 5 dunlendings, keeping a rearguard of 1 dunlending. If both sides score 3 hits that rearguard dunlending will be sole survivor and take the city.

Example 2: Two dunlendings attacking a regular? Your odds of taking the region when attacking all together are 62.5%. If you attack with just one Dunlending, keeping the other in the rearguard and flinging him into the fray only if the point guy dies, your odds improve to 76%.

And my favorite attack is to split off a lone Dunlending to attack the last regular in Lorien with Durin's Bane. That elf is Legolas and Galadriel led, so its a death sentance...but only if the Balrog misses. In case of failure the elves still have to spend an action die to sortie.

[magicgeek]

rear gaurds stay home, so why do they take the city?

I figure this is because you are useing the next dice to make the next attack.
When I try this, there always seems to be an extra elite defending.

[Krieghund]

MagicGeek is correct. Units left in the rearguard may not advance after combat. See page 13 of the rules.

[mrweasely]

Point taken.

However, this still works for sieges, where the Mutual Destruction leaves the rearguard as the sole occupier of the region.