First Battle of the Fords of Isen Battle Report

This scenario was run at Historicon 2014 held in Fredericksburg, Virginia in the US.  We had six players, three on each side.  Isengard was led by Vrashku's Talons with one player commanding the Isengard orcs, one player controlling the Dunland allies, and one player commanding the Uruk-Hai scouts flanking force led by Sharku's Hunters.  Rohan was led by Theodred's Knights with one player Theodred and the East Bank force, one player commanding the West Bank Force led by Grimbold's Helmlingas, and one player commanding the relief force led by Elfhelm's riders.

The scenario is not balanced and Isengard has twice the points value in their forces than the Rohan players.  The victory conditions for Isengard to be in control of all three fords by the end of any turn with no enemy within three inches of the ford.  Rohan's victory conditions are to destroy two thirds of the Isengard army by the end of any turn.  If neither of these conditions are met, the game is a draw, unless Theodred is killed.

 

The Rohan side begins with initiative and they decided to move all their forces to the East Bank and take the Isengard army head on.  A bold move, but they gave up the river’s natural defenses.  Any formation touching one of the fords and loses a fight suffers an addition 1D6 casualties.  Rohan did move Theodred’s Knights into the eyot, but could have also pulled Grimbold’s Helmlingas back to the West Bank.

On Turn 2, when the Isengard flanking force arrived on Turn 2, they easily made their way into Rohan’s rear, cutting off any chance of retreat. 

 

Back on the East Bank, Isengard used At the Double moves and several Heroic moves when Rohan had initiative to move into charge distance range.  The seizing the initiative they were able to use the open terrain to their advantage and double up on the Rohan formations.  If they remained on the East Bank, they could have channeled Isengard in the fords and taken them on one on one and if Isengard lost a fight they would have suffered the additional D6 hits.

On Turn 3 when Grimbold’s riders arrived, they charge a formation of Uruk Hai Scouts.  Sharku’s Hunters saw their chance and used all three points of Sharku’s Might to add to the die roll of their charge move to reach the flank of Grimbold’s formation.  Sharku was killed in a Heroic duel and Grimbold’s riders survived and regrouped, and decided to back away and fire arrows at the Uruks from distance.

 

 

The Rohan attack on the East Bank quickly disintegrated and Isengard was able to take two of the fords.  The only objective remaining was to take the final ford, but Theodred’s Knights were prepared to make a stand at the eyot. 

 

After a failed charge, Isengard decided to pull back and pummel the eyot with arrows.  The eyot gave the Knights a total of Defense 9, so the orc archers had to roll 6’s then 5’s to cause casualties.  It came down to Turn 8, but the sheer numbers of arrows were enough to kill Theodred and his remaining knights.

And so lies Theodred, Heir to Kingdom of Rohan, killed defending the last remaining ford, and leaving the Westfold open to the treachery of the forces of Isengard.