The Rise of Mordor. [WotR]

[Sedge]

OK so I have decided to start a new army after my Elves (already?). I have chosen Mordor as an intrest choice, mainly for the cheaper troops, Defence 7, cool Heros and spellcasters. I am starting at 1000pts but I imagine I will quickly go up to 1500pts.

Gothmog
Wraith (Betrayer or Khamul)

5 Morranon Orcs
6 Mordor Orcs DHW
2 Orc Trakers
3 Black Guard + Hero
1 Bolt thrower
1 Troll Chieften.

Quite small but It should hit hard. This is abbout as much as I can paint in two weeks, (next game Monday 10th) SO I tried them out at long last. I havn't quite painted them all but hey close enough.

I was up against Grahams Fallen Kingdoms...
Queen Beruthiel
Khamul,
Easterling Cohort x4
Easterling Archers x2
Easterling archer x2
Easterling archer x2
Easterling Kataphrakt x6
Easterling Kataphrakt x4
Mordor Ballista
Khandish Ckariot King
Troll.

It was Battle for pass and sieze prize. (again, I'ved played this set up 4 times in a row!!!)
I was L to R
6 orc with Goth, 5 Morr with Khamul, 3 BG and troll behind, Boltthrower on for right.
He was (My) left to right...
Archers, Boltthrower, Archers, 6 Cav with Khamul, 4 Infantry behind, 4 Cav, troll and archers.

We advanced straight across battlefield for couple of turns,
I position as a solid line in centre with BG behind right flank.
His big Cavalry charged my Morr orcs with Chariot. Orcs countercharged chariot, troll counter charged Cav. Khamul joined BG to cast wings of terror Giving them distance to hit 4 Cav and archers.

Big fight first. I popped Epic Defence (D9!!!) with Gothmog; I Challenged with Troll. He killed Khamul and 2 Cav. His Chariot killed 2; My troll killed 4. Cavalry killed 2 more. Then the Orcs destroyed chariot (with great weapons) and infantry finished off the rest of the Cav!!! WOW. what a combat. and I gained 2 hobbits

The BG not to be out done, gained +2S from Berserk, killed 5 cavalry and 8 infantry for only a couple of losses.

He realled back from his losses but took it with a smile.

It was down to the rest to mop up. The was a rash of failed charges but the orcs fianlly crashed into his archers on the left flank. killing 8 for 6 losses. Morr orcs didn't fihght any more in the battle. The BG finally killed of the cavalry and archers.

All over bar the singing.

This was a great fun game. So for a unit by unit appraisl.

Gothmog - Very handy fellow, great as a might battery for other heros.

Wraith Khamul - I liked his spell, teh rebound wasn't ammaising but he was surposed to stay with teh orcs for max effect.

5 Morranon Orcs - What an anvil.

6 Mordor Orcs DHW - D3....I loved 'em. Yes they died in droves but they did hit quite hard after all that.

2 Orc Trakers - Mmmmmm, the big under achievers. Not sure yet.

3 Black Guard + Hero - Very useful, I might bin him for the Epic Fire wiz?
1 Bolt thrower - Not great but that was my dice. Might bin for Epic Fire wiz.
1 Troll Chieften. - Killed Khamul!!!! Great. His ability to march was very handy I feel. He will stay I think.

All in all I feel like i could do with a few more troops but not sure where to put them. I have some wargs I can use along with more Morr orcs.

[Pete T]

Ah sedgey welcome to the dark side!

Sounds like you enjoyed a change. I sense a battle of the two towers on the dustcloudy evening sunset horizon...

[John Hart]

A Mordor army that wins ?

That means I can't blame the rules anymore !!

Yes welcome to the Bad Boys

[Mr Pete]

The dark side has so many variations to the lists, with Mordor could you make a Troll list with that chieftan? I believe his we all charge rule would hirt a lot!

[Sedge]

This 'troll list' could work, heck they will all work, but remember you still have to capture objectives to win. Infantry will win I feel.

[Mr Pete]

No major excuses, but I only get my rulebook on monday.

Can,t trolls capture objectives? At the very least they can smash you out of the way and steal them back!

[Sedge]

Ok so I had my second game with my new Mordor Army last night against Jerry's Gondor army.
Army of Gondor
Faramir
Perry
3 WoMT
3 WoMT
3 Archers
3 knights
Court of the dead kingx3 (CoDK)
Bolt thrower
2 Ents

Horde of Minas Morgul.
Khamul the Eaterling
Gothmog
Kardush the Firecaller
6 Orcs with DHW
5 Morannon Orcs
2 Orc Archers
3 Black Guard of Baradur (BGoBD)
3 Wargs
Bolt thrower
Troll.
Classic battle, Kill general and pitched battle
I had to set up so I went for strong centre with BGoBD and troll on my RH flank, wargs and archers on LH
Jerry had both infantry, archers bolthower in centre, CoDK and Ent on RH, Knights and Ent on Left.

I started strong, pushed everyon up centre and Right. Archers occupy building Wargs edge forward.
He stays static in centre, LH Moves forward but on RH, CoDK shoot behind my BG with Ent threatining front.
I try and fry Ent but fail. He rear charges BG kill a few.

I storm right into his face in Centre. Archers threaten knights with Warg support. BG face Ent. Troll advances on CoDK.
He aligns charge with Knights on Archers and moves Faramir with infantry to face orcs, he repositions Ent to charge Orcs as well. CoDK hit BG again (Troll failed terror test!) I did manage to Black Dart his Faramir. (Fight and Courage now 1)
Achers butchered by Knights! He heroic charges orcs then ent charges flank. I fail to charge with MO so he charges me.
Troll gets in and kills a few.
Big fight. I attempt Heroic Duel with wraith but fail to hurt him (I rolled 1 and he used 3 might to draw). He kills a lot with his ent and infantry my hits back kill his Ent and smash his infantry I still lose by one.

I swap Wraith and Firecaller around, windgs of terror to reposition BG and Firecaller Dark fury and shatter shields ready for charge. Troll bimbles around the rear for the rest of game. BG align for rear charge. Wargs get in position for rear charge on Knights. Infantry charge Orcs and perragrins Infantry charge MO.
BG fail charge! Ent charges wargs.
Gothmog splats Perry in Heroic duel. Combat lost by MO but roll steadfast. Ent smashes 3 Wargs who kill 2 knights. Faramirs infantry smash orcs leaving 1 1/2 stands, they in turn destroy all of the formation. Faramir now dead!!!

Fire caller abandons spent orc formation to join MO but forgets to cast spells. BG finally destroy CoDK. Wargs charged and destroyed. Orcs wiped out by shooting. Ent hits flank but infantry fail charge. Ent kills a few but nothing to worry about. Game over....
Result.
Jerry scored 4 vps for stands) ,
I score 4(Faramir) + 1 (Peragrin) + 3 (stands) 8Vps.

A great game, It was very close and well thought out with both of us playing well. Jerry's CoDK caused no end of problems as they neutralised my best shock units all game. Ents wern't to bad to kill. The man/unit of the match for me was my lowly orcs. they took a beating but hit very hard in return. Under achievers were the Morannon orcs.

Not sure how I will expand my list yet so watch this space. Any thoughts anyone?

[Kiwidave]

Is Perry a weird morphing of Merry and Pippin? a Hobbit with 4 arms and two heads?

[Sedge]

Is Perry a weird morphing of Merry and Pippin? a Hobbit with 4 arms and two heads?

Argh, thats it, damn I just couldn't remeber his name. thanks for pointin that out Dave.

[Scotty]

It did look close towards the end, even though jerry didn't have much left.