Rohan vs. Isengard

A blog on Rob’s Lord of the Rings game played at the centre on 3 July.

As the two sides face each other, Rohan looks outnumbered, just as Tolkien foretold. Faced with ranks of orcs, warg riders, and a Troll, the Rohirrim stand firm.

Turn 1 of the match sees Orc crossbows move into range, but they fail to hit.

Turn 2, and the Isengard army continues to close on the ranks of the Rohan defenders. The Rohirrim left are pushed back by crossbow fire, with the first casualty of the clash. Rohan responds, and the Orc crossbow unit also takes a casualty, helped by a Mighty Deed. Rohan’s right flank also inflict a casualty. 

Turn 3, The Orc army continues to move on Rohan’s position. Warg riders supported by a Troll charge the right flank. In the middle of the field, orcs move into contact and, with substantially more dice, push the Rohirrim unit back. The centre ground also sees a drawn combat that yields no casualties, but Rohan is again pushed back despite the presence of Theodred. Things seem to be going badly for Rohan.

Turn 4, The remainder of the Orcs charge into contact, as does the Troll. The warg riders on the right are in range with their bows as the Rohan left is engulfed by orcs. The first Rohan unit on the left flank is pushed back, so is the next. The next two combats see Rohirrim units pushing the orcs back. Combat in the centre ground is also won by Rohan, and Grishnak, an orc leader, is killed but strikes a final blow before dying. The Troll attacks a Rohan unit, inflicting a casualty and pushing them back. 

Turn 4 continues with the defenders’ move and combats. Rohan cavalry units arrive to support both flanks. Back on the left, Rohan fight well. In the centre, a combat ends with mutual destruction at the same time a double raven dice roll causes the loss of Theodred. Back on the left, an orc unit is destroyed whilst the Troll breaks a Rohirrim unit who are taken off table. The end of melees and ranged fire; another Rohan unit is forced back. The warg unit led by Sharku inflict a casualty, again pushing Rohan’s forces back., the extra dice from mighty deeds tipping the balance.

With no crystals remaining, Rohan is lost but are still in possession of the three stones. An extra turn is played, and Elfhelm’s cavalry charges and kills ‘Malcolm’ the Troll.   

An engaging game. Well played the Orcs!