Last weekend I ran a Battle of Five Armies scenario at the Little Wars game convention in Chicago. I ran it twice. This report is the evening game in which I did a better job of taking pictures of.
The Scenario is geared for nine players. Four good guy players. One human command (with possible Eagle reinforcements), two dwarf commands (with a possible reinforcement by Thorin and Co and Beorn in bear form) and an Elf Command. The humans deploy on the good guy far left, following by the two dwarf commands in the middle but still left of the Running River, and the Elf command alone on the right side of the impassable river. There are five bad guy players. All Goblins (or Orcs if you prefer). One command is five regiments of large undisciplined mobs, two commands of goblin regulars with short bow support, one command of unridden wolves as well as Bolg and his body guard, the final command is mostly Goblins on Wargs as well as some light skirmishing goblins who can reinforce from the good back having scaled the mountain.
The Game Opened with a General advance along the entire front. Things to note in this picture. Gandalf has parted the River Running and a unit of Dwarf heavy crossbow has marched across to help the Elf flank. Also note the location of Wolf units just this side or the river and the Elf swords in silver mail just on the other side of the river. Things get interesting later for these opposing forces.
Over on the Elf flank the wolf units have diverted over the bridge and managed to catch the Elf swords on two sides. The Elf swords managed to kill a number of mounted Goblins but ultimately routed from the field hard pressed from two sides.
The movement of the Dwarf heavy crossbow to the Elf flank proved fortuitous. They manage to deal overwhelming damage to the unmounted wolves on both their approach and subsequently after the sword units departure. Shaking both Wolf units and forcing them back off the hill.
In the meantime, the Goblins have pressed the attack on most of the Dwarf/Human flank and the climbers have come in the rear of the lines. The humans are rushing a unit of swordsman to intercept.
One of the Elf Longbow stand steadfastly on the hill but are ultimately slammed by the mounted Goblins. The Elf Halberds have to pull of the front line to deal with the their own set of Goblin climbers. This ultimately proves very little challenge for the polearmed unit. In addition the Eagles arrive and begin the search for a choice target with their keen eyes.
Over on the Dwarf Human side of the river the humans have traded blow for blow and are nearly destroyed but have seriously hurt the Goblin regulars in the process. The Dwarves are standing strong and steady against the undisciplined Goblin Hordes.
Over the next few turns the Dwarves manage to diminish, destroy, or rout most of the Goblins mobs. They turn the flank and begin the approach on Bolg and his guard.
Thorin and Company make the die roll to drop their defensive wall and sally out, but never make it to combat before games end.
And therefore Beorn never comes to their rescue.
Battle ends as a Good Guy victory.
