Fords of Isen.

 Game of the Lord of the Rings, border of Rohan, late February 3019. 

Using Midgard, in 28mm.

Organized, using terrain by Tim Snoddy, models by David Smylie and umpired by Tim Snoddy.

AAR by Tim Snoddy.

Players

Rohan    : Jeremy Dowd and David Pentland.
Isengard : David Smylie, Chris Caves, Billy McClenaghan .

The quiet battle field, before the armies arrive.

The scenario revolved around a river that was impassable except for two fords. Victory is decided mainly by holding the fords. It is based on a scenario from Lard Magazine 2024.

Isengard sent a flanking force of light riders and skirmishers which would arrive later in the game on the right flank on the Rohan side of the river.

Rohan had called up reserves of heavy riders who would also arrive later in the game.

The defenders had to deploy first and the cunning Isengard generals stacked their strength against the less well defended left flank ford.  Including the much feared unit of trolls.

Defenders deploy so that anyone attacking across the right hand ford will have to charge two units.  Missile fire is weaker in Midgard than in a lot of rule sets, only really effective at close range.  Luckily close range is enough to cover the entire length of the ford.

This is late game at the ford on the right flank.  Isengard forces have suffered heavy losses trying to cross the ford.  Defenders led by a hero hold on determinedly. 

Meanwhile the Isengard flanking force of Warg riders also led by a hero has arrived.   

Skirmishers move to a ploughed field to protect themselves against Riders of Rohan who have also arrived.  

There is a great battle in the field but despite making the best of the terrain advantage the Isengard skirmishers are routed.  

The unit of Warg Riders charges the unit of defending archers only for the Warg Rider unit to be routed. 

The hero fought on and in a dazzling display of martial skill defeated the archers on his own.  

He then charged the defending unit on the ford and routed it!  

This led to high drama and controversy.  Only a defending hero remained on the ford.  

He had to fight on and I ruled that he only had to fight one of two enemies who had been fighting the unit he led.  This meant he remained on the ford at game end.  

The other ford was in Isengard hands and the game was a draw.  

However I checked with the rules author and he said the situation was not covered in the rules but he felt the last remaining hero defending the ford should have fought both enemies.  

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Photos curtesy of Tim and the Editor.