Continuing the series to find the best all round army we have the Goblinoid force of Morglum Necksnappa versus the Humans of the 2nd Army contingent of the Imperial forces of the Empire.
Outline General Duc de Bordeleaux rode at the head of his long column. His orders from the emperor were very clear. The raids of the Goblins from across the border were on the increase. The General's force was to attack the Orc settlement at Xarg to teach them a lesson. The settlement was three days march from the border and this was the second day of the march. However unbeknown to the general his column had been spotted as it crossed the border and the local tribes had banded together under the renowned war leader Morglum Necksnappa. Rather than risk a face to face confrontation Morglum decided on a surprise attack.
The Forces: Goblinoids Morglum is an Orc hero. He wears full armour and carries an axe enchanted with "Mighty Strike". He rides an armoured boar in battle. Bulg is his companion. He doesn't wear armour as he says it's "sissy". He carries an enchanted sword of "double damage". The 'Jabbers' and the 'Slashers' are two units of twelve Goblin infantry. They wear leather armour and carry swords and shields. The 'Bullets' and the 'Hornets' are two units of Orc bowmen, ten figures each. The 'Bloodier Teeth' are a unit of fifteen black Orcs in leather armour sword and shield. The 'Backcrackers' are a unit of fifteen Hobgoblins armed as above. The 'Fullmoon Widowmakers' are a regiment of twenty five Orc infantry, in leather armour, sword and shield. Finally the 'Sharp Fangs' a regiment of ten Orc wolfriders. This unit is classed as Elite. The total Goblinoid army comprises 110 figures.
The 2nd Army Contingent of the Imperial forces of the Empire The General wears full armour and rides a warhorse. His enchanted sword has the property of magic Absorption. His 2nd in command (2IC) is the wizard Alphonse Astrologie, a high level magic user. The 'Knights of Avolie' wear full armour and ride war horses. They are armed with lances. This unit comprises twelve figures. The 'Archers Du Brest' are a unit of ten bowmen.
D'Agnons retinue consists of seventeen foot knights with full armour and hand weapons. The 'La Oville' retinue consists of thirteen foot knights with full armour and hand weapons. The 'Guyon' retinue numbers only seven foot knights whilst the Levy numbers twenty eight men in leather armour, shield and swords. Finally the contingent is accompanied by two Dwarven light cannon mounted on carts pulled by oxen. Three wagons carrying supplies complete the column. The total 2nd Army contingent comprises 102 figures.
SET UP This battle was going to be in the form of an ambush. The table was set up as shown (8' x 4') with plenty of cover. Ten areas were marked out and numbered 1-10. The Goblinoid units were marked on a piece of card with the 'Sharp Fangs' being divided into two units of five figures and one unit of fifteen figures. These cards were then shuffled face down. I threw a 1D10 for each card and then placed that card into the appropriate area. So that at the start of the battle I didn't know which Orc units were where. The following number of units were at the following areas: Area 1 x 2 units, Area 3 x 4, Area 4 x 2, Area 5 x 2, Area 6 x 3, Area 7 x 1 and Area 8 x 2. The plan was to ambush the main force but there was a chance that the ambush would be sprung too early or too late. Area "X" on the map was the area chosen for the ambush to be sprung. A D6 was thrown.
Result:
- One - Orcs attack 1st enemy unit to reach this point.
Two - Orcs attack main body when one move (8") from this point.
Three - As above but one move from this point.
Four,Five,Six - Ambush sprung on time.
Once the ambush is sprung a second D6 is thrown for the other units:
- One,Two - Attack enemy this turn.
Three,Four - Attack enemy next turn.
Five, Six - Attack enemy in two turns.
The Human contingent was moving along the trail from A-B. D'Agnon's retinue was the advance guard one move (8") in front of the main body. Guyon's retinue was the rear guard one move behind the main body.
THE BATTLE
Baron D'Agnon loosened his breast plate strap as once more he cast his eyes around the valley. It had been a tiring days march and he would be glad when they reached the stream just up ahead as this was the site of tonight's camp. Little did he or his men know that in the bushes lurked a hidden danger. Orcs of the Fullmoon Widowmaker tribe and the Bloodier Teeth Black Orcs lay hidden in wait for the Column. Morglum Necksnappa, "the boss" had told them not to attack until he gave the signal. But he wasn't here and the Humans were. Each tribe wanted to be the first to attack. Fearful that the others would beat them to it both tribes jumped up at the same time and yelling their war cries charged into the flank of the startled Humans.
The valley echoed to the roars of the Orcs and the cries of "Ambush! Ambush!". The Orcs swarmed over the Barons men slashing and hacking. The Baron tried to rally his men only to be run through by the Orc chieftain of the Widowmakers. The Baron's men broke and ran, the blood thirsty Orcs in pursuit. When General Bordeleaux heard the sound of battle up ahead he ordered his men forward at the double. This caused the column to become split up as units unencumbered by armour outpaced those who were.
There was great consternation amongst the Orcs. Hidden throughout the valley they could not as yet see the Humans. The signal for the attack was supposed to be Morglums warhorn but that had not been sounded. Now they could hear the sound of battle. Should they attack or should they wait? For the 'Hornets' the sights of the enemy only 40 paces away was too much. They let fly with their bows. Their target was La Ovilles retinue who turned to face their attackers.
By now the General had reached the ambush site. The Baron and his retinue lay on the ground where they had fallen. The Orcs were slightly to his left about 60 paces away intent on slaughtering the last survivors of the ambush. Lightning shot from the magic users Alphonse's staff as he cast a spell killing a couple of the Orcs. Seeing the knights the rest of the Orcs went to ground amongst the rocks. More Orcs appeared on the General's left and let loose with their bows. But these were ineffective against the armoured knights. The General's own bowmen returned the fire. Now the general became aware of Orc warhorns and drums sounding from all around the valley. He realised that he had led his men into a trap!! The only way out seemed to be the bridge across the river maybe 150 paces away. Once across they would be able to hold the crossing against the Orcs. He quickly issued orders to the column. He would lead his knights in a charge to seize the bridge so that the others could cross. He gave the signal to charge!
As the knights thundered up the trail they were charged in the flank by the Fullmoon Widowmakers and the Bloodier Teeth. Leaping from boulders and rocks the Orcs pulled the knights from their warhorses, despite their losses the knights surged on. Nearing the bridge the General saw that it was defended by a unit of Orcs (15 figures of the Fullmoon Widowmakers!) but without pausing he charged into their midst. The press of Orc bodies on the narrow bridge first slowed then halted the knights. By sheer weight of numbers the Orcs swarmed over the knights hacking them to pieces. Despite Alphonse's fireball and lightning spells he too was slain, when an Orc spear took him in the chest.
By game turn 5 all the Goblinoid units had been activated. The majority of the Human units, by now in the centre of the table, were assailed from all sides. Units were attacked from flank and rear and once routed were quickly annihilated. The Dwarven swivel guns were over run by the 'Fangs' before they could fire more than one shot. A brief stand by men of La Oville's retinue on a small copse was the only highlight in this disaster for the Empire. A few Humans did manage to escape in ones and twos. But for the rest this was their last campaign.
LOSSES Of the 102 figures representing the contingent of the 2nd Army, only 12 figures managed to escape, 2 Bowmen, 1 Dwarf and 9 Levy. The price of the Goblinoid victory was 37 Orcs. Morglum Necksnappa's defeat of "a massive 'Uman invasion with only a 'andful or Orc boyz" was about to become an Orc legend.
AFTERMATH The points of a good ambush is surprise and the bearing of a massive amount of firepower into the killing zone to overwhelm your enemy before he can retaliate. I thought that the Orcs had attacked prematurely when they attacked the knights but this in fact served to draw in the rest of the column. Intent on destroying the Orcs they could not see the danger they were in until it was too late. Alphonse the Empire wizard was expecting to attack an Orc stronghold so was equipped with spells like "Tunnel through Stone", "Wall Shaker" etc which was of no use to him in this stand up fight. All in all the defeat was a sore lesson for the Empire.
Finally, a table showing which Orc unit was where and the game turn at which it was activated.
| Area | Unit | Game Turn |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 10 x Fullmoon Widowmakers | 1 |
| 4 | 15 x Bloodier Teeth | 1 |
| 7 | 10 x Hornets | 2 |
| 1 | 15 x Fullmoon Widowmakers | 3 |
| 5 | 12 x Slashers | 3 |
| 5 | 5 x Fangs | 3 |
| 6 | MORGLUM NECKSNAPPA | 3 |
| 6 | BULG | 3 |
| 8 | 10 X Bullets | 3 |
| 3 | 5 x Fangs | 4 |
| 8 | 15 x Backcrackers | 4 |
| 6 | 12 x Jabbers | 4 |
Map
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