Mansions of Madness
The Witch
Phil (and Izzy), Andy, Bruce and Darryl played against evil overlord Mike. This was a fascinating scenario with lots of twists and turns. The players managed to find the secret ladder and enter the master bedroom. At this point the scientist (Izzy) managed to reveal the objective using her once per game ability analysing the clues revealed. This caused he Witch to spawn. The players had to destroy her before she could escape.
It seemed impossible with so little time, players suffering insanity, traumas and heavy damage with hordes of Shoggoth spawning but somehow they made it into the final cave to attack the Witch. Bruce went insane and tried to kill another player, Andy dropped his machine gun, Phil picked it up and missed! Darryl got hold of the evil book and the statue only to draw the overlords attacks as he struggled towards the altar!
Soon however Andy struck with his axe, Bruce shot with his pistols despite his broken arm and Izzy, though concussed hit with a spray of gunfire. The Witch was dead once more as Nola’s body lay ruined. The players were victorious and for once the evil overlord defeated. Just in time as a moment later the Witch would have escaped with the turn of the last event card! Without the scientist’s ability to reveal the objective when the players were in the master bedroom and faced with three different directions of travel they would surely have failed. A tough scenario.
Battlestar Galactica
Mike, Daryl, Phil, Bruce and Andy tried out the new Exodus expnsion. Before the sleeper phase the unified crew travelled no less than 6 distance. Mike was Admiral, Andy CAG and Darryl the scheming President. Phil was the engineer and Bruce the heroic pilot.
However it soon turned nasty when an explosion occured in hangar bay and the President identified Bruce as a cylon when both he and the engineer where in Sickbay. The engineer executed Bruce using her firearm.
Bruce returned even more deadly than before and took charge of The Cylon Fleet. The players then drew seven no vote cards in a row suffering badly and struggled to repair the increasing damage on galactica. Also resources especially fuel and morale were dwindling fast. All the pilots and vipers were returned to base but with command and hangar bay damaged could not be launched again. Unopposed the raiders struck! Soon after Galactica suffered a sixth damage token and the players lost. Mike and Bruce claimed victory as the Cylons.
Lord of the Rings with Batttlefields expansion.
Phil, Mike and Darryl tried our hand at the new Battlefields expansion. Well we’ve had it since 2006 but had never opened the box except to punch the counters. Our group has not won a game of Lord of the Rings since 2004 using my set so things were not looking promising as our merry band headed out of Bag End, setting Sauron at Space 12. This time though we had Gimli, Aragorn, Legolas and Boromir helping us out, so what could go wrong?
Pretty much everything. It did not help that we forgot how to Defeat the monsters on the tiles but nevertheless we bravely struggled onto Shelob’s Lair, feeling quitely confident. Unfortunately events occured incredibly quickly and Darryl’s Pippin died due to a lack of a joker or 3 shields almost immediately despite holding 6 cards at the ready and being in good health. Oops!
So we set out again with Sauron on Space 14. This time we were ready with our jokers when we arrived in Shelob’s Lair. However Shelob soon attacked and Phil’s Pippin, followed by Darryl’s Frodo were soon corrupted to the dark side. Phil had 11 incredible cards but lacked shields to call Gandalf so did not even get a go as events overtook him whilst he slept! Every card Sam and Frodo drew but one turned proved to be an Event! Sam was then horribly devoured by Shelob and Sauron was victorious, yet again.
Next time we will win, I am sure!
Formule De
James’ two green cars finished miles ahead. Phil came second and finished with his two red cars still on the track. Mike and Andy both lost a car each, playing yellow and white. Bruce though not the fastest at least managed to get both his blue cars home safely!
Hail Sauron
Hail Caesar rules for a Lord of the Rings theme.
Mike came round and we tried out a scenario. The Southrons and Easterlings (Mike) were besieging Pelargir. A relief force of Gondorian troops (Phil) have marched south in an attempt to break the siege.
Based on the Road to Damascus scenario in the HC rulebook. A blocking force of Haradrim and Easterlings are holding the road in the suburbs of Pelargir. If the Gondorians can break through then the Evil force will have to lift the siege or face their supply lines being cut. The holding force must hold the road long enough for the Harad cavalry to arrive in support. If Gondor can get their forces to advance and leave the table off the far (south) edge then they will be victorious.
Outcome
The Harad, Easterling and Morgul cavalry were severely delayed. Though the Easterling phalanx was able to hold off an attack from the Guards of the Fountain Court eventually they were forced into retreat following subsequent persistent attacks from the Gondorian infantry. The cavalry were too late in arriving and then failed their command roll when they did and so failed to halt the advance. Also they suffered from overly powerful siege engine fire from the ramparts of Pelargir.
Victory for Gondor.
Lord of the Rings Strategy Battle Game
Osgiliath; Gondor in Flames
The ruins of this once proud centre of learning now form the focus for this fight.
Hail Caesar
The Treasure of Traprain Law. A Saxon Raid into Lothian 516 AD.
Here is how it fought out.
Mansions of Madness
Evil overlord Mike tricked Andy, Phil and Bruce into the monastery. Lured by a letter from an old friend they took on the Cultists. Andy’s Nun armed herself with a dagger and carved up the Cult leader. Doning his robes she searched the caves mingling with impunity amongst the brethren and picking up a sackful of old books. Phil’s gun decayed leaving him powerless. Darryl’s axe decayed forcing his Professor to resort to his old boxing skills from his undergraduate days with deadly effect. Bruce proved a powerhouse with his guns when he was not dropping them or tripping over. Rapidly losing his mind he became a cleptomaniac, as well as blind and then panicky.
Finally all was revealed as a betrayal and the heroes raced for the exit, leaving the hapless Bruce to fend for himself. For some reason he kept running towards the Cultists but finally just managed to make the exit on the last turn! Victory for the players!
Tumultu ad Molendinum or “Trouble at t’Mill”
Hail Caesar Scenario
Last week saw Riothamus and the Romans victorious over Hengest and Childeric. Hengest suffered a wound and both Arvandus and Childeric fled the field. The barbarian cavalry fled without striking any blows so were able to screen Hengest’s retreat towards Gallia Belgica. There the remaining Saxons who survived the slaughter have been able to link up with Childeric and more Frankish reinforcements. Riothamus and Arvandus lost contact with the defeated army having had to gather more infantry reinforcements following the loss of Arvandus’ Roman infantry during the battle. Many Saxon and Frankish infantry however did not survive the pursuit having been scattered or slain in the vicious fighting and subsequent cavalry encirclement of the central battlefield.
This time Childeric is clearly in the ascendency and Hengest has been reduced to the role of subgeneral. The barbarians have mustered around an old Roman watermill lying alongside a pleasant river. This mill and granary complex is well supplied with grain, food and weaponry stores (Frankish axes and heavy throwing spears having recently been shipped in and placed in the warehouse by the Romans). Whilst the Franks and Saxons are enjoying the fine Gallic weather and taking part in bouts of martial profficiency with these new weapons their cavalry are out scouting. Cunningly Arvandus and his Tribune of Scouts have led the Roman forces through a little known route and come upon the barbarians with swift and ruthless efficiency.
Realising what is happening as the Romans deploy for battle the Barbarians sound their warhorns and prepare for clash of arms. Will their cavalry return in time? Will they run away again as fast as they did last time? Will Hengest gain his revenge on Arvandus for the wound received in personal combat during their last encounter or be able to settle old scores with Riothamus? Will Childeric prove a superior commander?
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