Warning, this is another one of my long waffling type battle reports, not the more reader friendly format of mostly pictures and a bit of text. The latter are quicker to do, but revisiting my old orc army got me feeling nostalgic.
If you particularly prefer one style over another, please leave a comment.
As Boðvoc has been working through the scenarios in order (nice logical mind) we played Dominate with 1200pts a side.
The Orc Horde of Hurglik the Vile
My choices were partly dictated by my lockdown force, (750 points). I based and rebased a couple of extra units and painted up a new unit to give the orcs a bit more sticking power.
Hurglik theVile, Orc Krudger 95
Vespa, Orc Flagger 50
Bagragh, God Speaker with Drain Life spell and artifact 95
War Drum with Sacred Horn 95
Troll Horde 190
Gore Rider regiment with Healing Potion 190
Two Ax regiments 130 points each (The Blackshields and the New Ax)
Morax troop with artifact125
Skulk Raider troop 100
The Elven Host of Lord Cadvan Dunmail
Lord Cadavan Dunmail, Elf Prince
Eritas the Scribe, Archmage
Army Standard Bearer
Kindred Tallspears regiment
Kindred Gladestalkers troop
Kindred Archers troop
Forest Shamblers horde
Silverbreeze Cavalry troop
Drakon Riders regiment with Diadem of Dragonkind
Bolt Thrower
Set up
Boðvoc had set the table beforehand, apparently based on a battlefield from a magazine. As guest, I had choice of table side.
I was trying to be vaguely tactical, in that I positioned the Krudger and Flagger for best Inspiring effect, the Godspeaker to benefit from Tribal Magic, and the War Drum to boost as much of the Horde as possible.
Boðvoc seemed to have a better grasp of his army's capabilities, and certainly made better use of the woods.
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| The field of battle |
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| The Elven Host |
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| The Orc Horde |
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| Another view of the elves |
Opening Moves
The Skulks crept into the far woods and the Glade stalkers occupied the near wood.
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| The scouts do their thing |
The Elven far flank advanced, their arrows targeting the Morax, though the Elven wizard proved singularly ineffective. The Morax quailed under the onslaught, but the stern gaze of Hurglik kept them in place.
The Gladestalkers similarly shot the Trolls while the Elven centre stood, giving the greenskins the chance to close the distance; the Drakon Riders hopped over the woods to face the Trolls.
In response, the Skulks edged through the woods, hoping to surprise the Elven far flank and loosing a few shots at the Kindred Archers. The rest of the orc horde steadily advanced, the Gore Riders threatening the elven far flank.
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| End of turn one |
The Archers entered the far woods and shot the Skulks, causing them to mill around in confusion.
The Silverbreeze backed off, shooting the approaching Gore Riders, the Archmage added a Lightning Bolt, and the Bolt Thrower also shot them. Despite the damage, the Gore Riders were unfazed. Hurglik was watching!
The Gladestalkers damaged the Trolls further, but the bigger threat was the Dragon Riders who flapped over to the orc line, then turned to threaten the Troll flank. Unfortunately for them, they'd moved too hastily to use their fancy Diadem of Dragonkind*.
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| The encounter in the wood |
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| End of elf turn two |
The Trolls turned to face the new threat, while Bagragh flung a Fireball at the winged menace. Alas, so far from the rest of the Horde, his magic was underpowered, and only a few flames scorched the scaly beasts.
While the Skulks dithered around, hoping they could withstand the inevitable Elven attack, the rest of the horde moved up, the Morax peeling off towards the wood. Could they get to help the Skulks in time?
The Gore Riders smashed into Eritas, the Elven Archmage, pulping him into the earth. They'd aimed for the Silverbreeze, or failing that, the Bolt Thrower, but they stumbled to an embarrassed halt, just short of the Elven line.
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| End of orc turn two |
The Main Battle
The Archers took aim at the Skulks, loosing a deadly volley and wiping them out. The Silverbreeze just sneak in against the flank of the Gore Riders, doing little damage. The Forest Shamblers crash into the New Ax regiment, causing enough casualties to waver them, but failing to wipe them out.
The Tallspears charge the Blackshields' front, while the Gladestalkers take them in the flank. To make sure of victory, the Drakons ignore the Trolls and fly over them to catch the chance doomed Ax Regiment in the rear.
Unsurprisingly, the orcs are quickly demolished.
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| End of elf turn three |
Things are looking grim for the orcs. Half their infantry are gone. What remains is damaged, and the trolls are stuck out on a flank, facing the wrong way.
Still, orcs don't give in (unlike myself, who was just about ready to concede), so time to fight back.
The Morax charged into the wood. Despite the undergrowth hindering them they made short work of the Archers, then turned to face the main action. The Gore Riders quaff their Healing Potion then turn to face the Silverbreeze and are similarly successful, then completing the manoeuvre to face the main battle.
The New Ax are unable to do anything to the Forest Shamblers, but Hurglik charges into their flank, though does little damage.
On the near flank, Bagragh once more Fireballs the Drakons, but again causes very little damage. The, by now quite dizzy trolls spin round to face the action.
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| End of orc turn three |
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| The centre of the action |
The Drakons once more fly over the ground sloggers and smash into the Morax, crushing them completely. The Forest Shamblers turn to face the Orc leader, sure that the Tallspears could deal with the Ax. They damaged Hurglik, but he just laughed it off.
The Tallspears caught the Ax in the flank, but a combination of tough orc flesh and armour, and simply not hitting enough, meant that the orcs survived.
The Bolt Thrower crew grinned, those Gore Riders didn't stand a chance. Unfortunately, they missed! The Gladestalkers shot Vesp, but he shrugged of the minor damage.
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| Drakon Vs Morax |
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| End of elf turn four |
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| The big fight again |
Bagragh uses his magic to hurt the Tallspears, then redirects their vital energy to heal the Ax who have turned to face the elves. Vesp runs in too, but despite his dubious assistance, the elves remain, bloody but unbowed.
The Gore Riders are more successful, charging in alongside Hurglik, between them they smash the Shamblers into kindling.
The Trolls, furious at being kept out of the action for so long, charge the Gladestalkers and make short work of them.
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| The orc fight back begins |
End Phase (apologies, only one photo from the very end)
The Elven so called heroes back off. They are wise enough to know when their cause is doomed.
The Bolt Thrower crew haven't got the message, and plug away, cheering when their bolts hit, but groaning when the huge arrows bounce off the rubbery Troll hide.
The Drakons again bring Death from Above, wiping out the Gore Riders, while the Tallspears continue to fight the Ax, finally finishing them off.
Bagragh lobs a Fireball at ASB, but misses. Vesp and Hurglik smash into the Drakon Riders, as does the War drum (I'd assumed it was a War Machine and thus unable to fight, but it classes as a monster, so time to get in on the action). This unlikely combination finishes off the wannabe dragons.
Not to be outdone, the Trolls charge the Tallspears. They take out their frustrations on the poor elves, leaving nothing standing.
Seeing what little remains of the proud Elven host, Lord Dunmail slinks away, accompanied by his trusty banner bearer and the crew of the Bolt Thrower.
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| All that remains |
After Action
Well, a well fought battle that we both really enjoyed. The game certainly had it's ups and downs for both sides. The Elven elite rule was very effective, I think it gained at least one hit every time.
My Inspiring was also effective, especially given the Nerve boost granted by the War Drum (which managed to avoid the curse of the newly painted unit). I think it was this combination that gave me victory; several units were saved by it and went on to cause considerable damage to the elves.
You can read the elven report over on The War Crow
I took more care over deployment than I usually do; I had grand plans involving combinations of troops, heroes and artifacts. But no plan survives contact with the enemy, and mine started falling apart long before contact. Two of the artifacts never got used (but then, neither did the Drakon Riders Diadem). The Sacred Horn definitely proved it's worth though.
Boðvoc was very canny in his use of flying troops, to which I need to find a counter. Orcs have little opportunity to take to the air: likewise ogres. Something to think about in my new army.
* I thought this was a great choice of item to give them. The poor Drakons can't breathe fire, so their riders carry an item so it looks like they do. They might even tell the Drakons that it's them doing it.
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