Thane's Games

Bolog's Folly
A 28mm Battle Report by Justin Floyd
Orcs vs. Sylvan Elves

A young Orc warchief fresh from uniting the squabbling city-states of his native desert, Bolog gathered his warbands (played by Justin Floyd) and set off into the nearest forest to make his name known throughout Arcana and to line the knap-sacks of his troops with enough booty to keep them fighting abroad.

Little does Bolog know that this particular forest is zealously guarded by sylvan-elves (played by Thane Morgan), a sneaky, untrustworthy people, more likely to fire arrows from trees and run away rather than take part in a stand-up fight. But in the wooded realms, the elves' rules go...

At the ruin of a human village, Bolog confronts his doom...

Bolog's near flank is anchored by 3 Scorpion Riders (one is a Great Orc Hero). Next is a unit of hardy Spear-Orcs led by Bolog's most trusted advisor and an Air Shaman. Behind them are a bloodthirst band of Berserkers and a unit of Bow-Orcs. Next to the spears are a unit of Great Orc Veterans, their skin blackened by years of fighting under the hard desert sun. Honding the center are a large mob of Orc warriors with two weapons.

Behind the center mob of orcs is Bolog's cousin, riding his pet Wyvern (an adult). Next to the mob is Bolog himself, with his tutor, a Dread Shaman of Chaos, accompanied by Great Orc Veterans wielding two-handed axes. Behind are the scout-orcs, riding great desert-wolves. Anchoring the far flank are a unit of Orc Rangers (Great Orcs with Long-bows) and a block of Orc Warriors. Bolog carries a Scroll of Dispel.

The Wood Elves' far flank is held by Orion (demon lord stats with nature magic, I think). Next are a unit of Tree Spirits, Archers with an Air Wizard and Spear-Elves led by a Nature Sorceress. Behind the spears are a mounted Elf-Lord and an Earth Drake.

On the Wood Elf near flank are two Chariots, two units of Archers and some Feral Elves with Feral Elf leader anchoring the line.

THE BATTLE BEGINS!

(picture is end of turn 1)

Bolog ordered his horde forward, trying to keep a tight battle-line. The Scorpions and Orc Rangers headed for woods. The Elves advanced with the Feral Ones hiding in a ruined building and the Earth Drake rushing forward for a good shot - and how. The Air Shaman tries to cast Guardian Wind on his unit, but the elven gods prove stronger and the spell fails. The Drake petrified 4 of Bolog's Great Orc Vets, while pin-point accurate Elf archery wiped out a third of the Spear-Orcs. Orc return fire killed a promising 1 elf. The Orc veterans broke under the horror the Earth Drake's magical breath.

The Wyvern-Rider charges the Drake! ... and dies ... The Berserkers charge the Chariots! ... and die ...

The Orcs continue to advance. The Orc-on-Wyvern engages the Earth Drake and drops from the sky, turned to stone by a blast of drake-breath. The Berserkers reach the elven chariots but are ridden down by spear and scythe. The Elven Spears get Strengthened by their leader, while the Orcs with two weapons get blessed by an Aura of Chaos - and promptly go mad, wiping themselfves out! Live by Chaos, die by Chaos... The Spear-Orcs advance bravely, and are completely destroyed by elven bow-fire, though their leaders escape the field. Finally, the petrified Orc Veterans rally.

Bolog's failure.

Having lost three full units, not to mention a shaman and wyvern-rider, the Orcs decide this forest is full of crap that they never wanted in the first place and withdraw, despite Bolog's curses and bellowing. The Orc army breaks (turn 4, I think) and the Elves preserve their little woods.

ANALYSIS

Despite some good rolling in the missile phase by Thane, I really did my army in and got properly owned. I was trying to use battle-line tactics and almost completely ignored terrain. Even though I won a lot of initiative, I matched up my units poorly. I should have broken stuff into skirmish and stuck to cover instead of trying to stoutly march into wood-elf bow-fire. Oh, well. Both our armies look great, I think.