I have finally got around to starting my LOTR campaign - Running through the 3 Journey Books. Not with my usual gaming buddies as I had planned, but with my 2 boys (8 and 10).

The Fellowship of the Ring - Scenario 1: The Hunt Begins

Forces
Good - 9 Dunedain Rangers
Evil - Witch King of Angmar, 2 Ringwraiths (all with minimum Will).
Having read somewhere that this was a difficult scenario for Evil, I made them all mounted.

Terrain


Objectives
Evil - At least 2 models to escape from the Western edge

Deployment
The Dunedain had to deploy in the centre, the Ringwraiths opted to deploy all at one edge to make a run for it up the Western board edge.


After the Evil gang had run up the edge for a turn, the Witch King headed towards the Dunedain to try to keep them back so the 2 normal ringwraiths could head for the Shire.


The Dunedain managed to unhorse one of the wraiths, but couldn't get close enough to charge them, and had to try to stop them with arrows, but the 6/5 to wound proved too much - Despite 3 shots getting the initial 6 to wound over 2 turns, the rangers failed to score any wounds, and the wraiths slipped away.


Victory to Evil, the Shire is open to the black riders!

Maybe try it again with the unmounted versions and switch forces?

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"Diplomacy is the art of saying 'nice doggie' until you can find a rock." -Will Rogers

Nice to see another go at going through the journey books, hope your boys enjoy it.

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"Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer."

They are already asking when we can do the next one, so I think they had fun

I've enjoyed your WIP thread and the terrain you've been making for the journey, I'm looking forward to see how you get on with your playthrough

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/captainquark38/

The Fellowship of the Ring - Scenario 2: The Trust of Arnor

Forces
Good - 9 Dunedain Rangers
Evil - Witch King of Angmar, 8 Ringwraiths (all with minimum Will).
Again, I made all the wraiths mounted.

Terrain


Objectives
Evil - At least 50% (5 models) to escape from the Western edge

Deployment
The Dunedain could deploy 6 rangers across the Western edge, reinforced by D3 each turn from the Eastern edge. The Ringwraiths had to wait for D3 each turn, also from the Eastern edge. The rangers spread across the board to try to prevent any easy road for the Nazgul.


Game

The Witch King and 2 wraiths made a break on the Northern edge, the rangers closed in around them, but their shooting was poor and nothing was achieved.


Then still more Nazgul came on to charge up the Northern edge, while the Witch King cut into the middle and killed a ranger with a Black Dart. Everything looking good for the Forces of evil.


Having drawn all the rangers to the North, the remaining Nazgul took the chance to charge forth to the South. However, the Dunedain improved their archery and took down the Witch King, while a brave soul charged one of the terrifying black riders to keep him pinned back.


Unhorsing a couple of wraiths slowed them down enough for the Dunedain's bow skills and some well-timed use of Might to thin them out, until there were only 5 left, all heading for the board edge as fast as they could go.


Fortune smiled on the hard-pressed Dunedain, however, and an arrow flew true to take down a horseless rider, leaving only 4 remaining and a victory to Good.


Hopefully this will give Frodo time to make his escape from the Shire before the black riders get to Bag End!

Those first two FotR scenarios seem tougher than they need to be for Evil (who were the "historical" winners, I would reckon). Given the ringwraiths horses at the minimum seems like a good idea.

Let's hope Mr Frodo is already packing his things!

I like your gaming mat, looks easy to play on and store. What brand?

Keep up your reports, very enjoyable.

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"Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer."

Cool, always nice to see people starting a LotR campaign. Let's hope you can stick with it to the end.

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For scenario and campaign playthroughs, visit https://aiwendil.net/

The Fellowship of the Ring - Scenario 3: Short-cuts make long delays

Forces
Good - Frodo, Sam, Pippin, Gildor Inglorion
Evil - 3 Ringwraiths (all with random Will, all ended up with 6 each).
Again, I made all the wraiths mounted.

Terrain


Objectives
Good - Frodo to escape from the Eastern edge
Evil - Kill Frodo!

Special Rules
The Nazgul are using the rules for Sentries, and until the alarm is raised the Hobbits have to make Courage tests in order to move, otherwise the Evil player gets to move them! Also, all Good models count as having Elven Cloaks.

Deployment


The searching Nazgul were deployed on the N, S and W board edges, while the Hobbits hid behind a tree at the edge of the road.


Initially, the Nazgul blundered around aimlessly, while Frodo and Sam headed towards safety. Pippin, blissfully unaware of the danger, failed his first 2 Courage tests and headed back towards the road to investigate some mushrooms! Gildor meanwhile headed towards the Ringbearer to lend him aid if required.


Reaching the road, and seeing a Black Rider bearing down on him, Pippin came to his senses and started following the others. 2 of the Ringwraiths were still blundering around, whereas one managed to roll 2 sixes in a row, bore down on Frodo and raised the alarm - The chase was on!


The wraiths started their pursuit - The first one charging into Frodo and Sam. Thankfully, Gildor was in range to charge in, spending 2 Will to Immobilise the Nazgul on a 6 - But with his master's prize so near, the wraith managed to resist the Elf's magic, however Good managed to win the fight, Frodo narrowly missing out on laying low the Wraith who remained to fight on.

Winning Priority, Gildor managed to charge into the closest wraith, giving Frodo and Sam room to make a break for it. Again, Gildor's immobilise on a 6 was resisted, this Nazgul now being named "Mr 6". However, the Nazgul lost the fight and was pushed back further.


Eventually, "Mr 6" was worn down, ran out of Will and faded away - Gildor managed to immobilise the other closest Nazgul too, to give Frodo and Sam a chance - 2 Heroic Moves from Sam speeding them away and over the board edge to safety.

Victory to Good and the Hobbits can now press on to try to get to Rivendell. However, the Nazgul now know their prize is close, so will be hot on their heels!

Man of the Match was definitely Gildor Inglorion, his well-timed Immobilise on the non-engaged Nazgul giving the hobbits the breathing room to get away, and his Fight of 6 gave him the edge in the fights.

Sorry, missed your question - It's from Deep Cut studios, and yes, v easy to roll up and store

I thought having the Ringwraiths mounted would tilt this scenario in favor of Evil. Good on Good for pulling it off anyway!

The Fellowship of the Ring - Scenario 4: Buckleberry Ferry

Forces
Good - Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin
Evil - 3 Ringwraiths (all with minimum Will of 7).
This time we decided not to have the wraiths mounted.

Terrain


Objectives
Good - Frodo to escape from the Eastern edge
Evil - Kill Frodo!

Special Rules
The Nazgul are using the rules for Sentries. Also, all Good models count as having Elven Cloaks.

Deployment


The Hobbits were in a group, heading for the Ferry, while the searching Nazgul clustered round as close as they were allowed.


Initially, the Nazgul failed to get the scent of their prey, wandering around in the wrong direction.


The hobbits closed in on the Ferry, but breaking cover meant the nearest wraith caught sight of them, rolling a 6 and heading straight for them, raising the alarm - Time for the hobbits to get moving!


The hobbits piled towards the ferry in a panic - The Nazgul charged in on Merry, but the plucky young hobbit won the fight and pushed the Wraith back, though failing to score a wound.


Losing Priority, Frodo called a Heroic Move to get on the Ferry, but the Nazgul piled on too as an unwelcome passenger. He beat Pippin in a Fight, landing a heavy blow, but Pippin passed his Fate roll.

The next turn, Pippin and Merry combined on to win the fight, and pushed the Ringwraith off the ferry. Plop!


The remaining 2 wraiths were left howling with rage on the far bank, they were reduced to trying to pick off hobbits with Black Darts - One hit Merry who managed to pass his Fate, and another hit the ring bearer, but Frodo used Will to resist.

Merry and Pippin certainly earned their place as Frodo's companions in this battle! Next they all have to negotiate the Old Forest, however...

The river looks really great. The scenario--not so much.

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"Diplomacy is the art of saying 'nice doggie' until you can find a rock." -Will Rogers

Very simple scenario for GW, had to go back and read why the hobbits had elven cloaks.

Well done.

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"Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer."

The Fellowship of the Ring - Scenario 5: Fog on the Barrow Downs

Forces
Good - Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin, Tom Bombadil, Goldberry
Evil - 4 Barrow Wights

Terrain


Objectives
Good - At least 3 Hobbits to escape from the Eastern edge
Evil - Sacrifice at least 2 Hobbits within a Barrow.

Special Rules
An unnatural fog hangs over the Downs, Good models must roll a 2+ to move normally, on a 1 the Evil player moves them instead. Once a Hobbit has spotted a Wight he can begin calling for Tom Bombadil each turn, with a 6 needed on D6. Hobbits defeated in combat do not lose their wound, but instead are Paralysed, and can then be dragged to a Barrow for sacrifice.

Deployment


The Hobbits were in a scattered group in the centre, heading East. The Wights deployed one on each Barrow.


The Shirefolk pushed on towards the Eastern edge, while the Wights looped around to cut them off.


Suddenly, looming out of the fog, a Terrifying Wight appeared! Trusting to luck, the brave hobbits all piled in as close as possible, so they could all see the Wight and be eligible to try to call for aid from old Tom.


Having survived 2 rounds of fighting with the Barrow Wight, and survived 3 attempts to paralyze Frodo (2 failed, 1 resisted by Will), they managed to call Tom and heard his merry song coming from the forest as the magical fog evaporated. All the Hobbits then ran to try and meet him. The Wights followed, but did not push in to charge, which hesitation would prove costly...


2 turns after Bombadil arrived, Goldberry also made her way onto the board. The Hobbits had now made it back to Tom, and from this point on the Wights didn't really stand a chance, though they put up a fight, with Tom Bombadil failing his first 2 Banishment cast rolls, and Evil winning 3 priority rolls in a row, charging into Tom to prevent him casting, and starting to run down his Will points. The Hobbits also got into a couple of fights, but Samwise proved his worth, fighting back a Wight twice, even taking off one of its wounds!


However, with Tom having 15 Will and Goldberry 10, it was only a matter of time before the Evil spirits were banished back to rest in their Barrows.

"Get out, you old Wight! Vanish in the sunlight!
Shrivel like the cold mist, like the winds go wailing,
Out into the barren lands far beyond the mountains!
Come never here again! Leave your barrow empty!
Lost and forgotten be, darker than the darkness,
Where gates stand for ever shut, till the world is mended."

The Hobbits are now on their way to Bree! An interesting scenario - Evil should probably have pushed harder earlier, as once both the Good reinforcements arrived, they had no chance of keeping a Hobbit paralyzed long enough to drag them to a Barrow.

It's interesting to see this scenario under the new rules. When I tried it Way Back When, Tom couldn't be charged and his powers were unlimited. Seems like now maybe the Wights would have /some/ chance of pulling off a win even when he's around.

Maybe for balance Goldberry shouldn't be included? She wasn't there in the books.

Thanks for sharing!

Having re-read the rules, we were playing it wrong, no-one can charge Tom Bombadil.

Still, it added a bit of a chance for the Evil player, and when you are 10, having a bit of a chance really counts

Awesome! Playing through the Lord of the Rings with my future children is a big dream of mine.

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For scenario and campaign playthroughs, visit https://aiwendil.net/

The Fellowship of the Ring - Scenario 6: The Grey Pilgrim and the Black Riders

Forces
Good - Gandalf the Grey
Evil - Witch King of Angmar, 8 Ringwraiths

Terrain


Objectives
Good - Defeat at least 4 Nazgul to be able to escape
Evil - Kill Gandalf.

Special Rules
The ancient ruins count as difficult ground, basically to make the small playing space work. The ancient power of the ruins also affects the Evil models, who count as Broken for the whole game.

Deployment


Gandalf deploys in the centre of the ruin, 2 Ringwraiths start at the edge. A further Ringwraith can arrive each turn on the roll of a 5+.


In an eventful first turn, Gandalf managed to use Sorcerous Blast to hurl a Ringwraith off the top of Weathertop - 1 down! However, the other moved in, successfully struck Gandalf with a Black Dart, and Gandalf failed his Fate roll.

The Ringwraith tried to close with Gandalf, who kept his distance. An ineffectual exchange of magic saw a Black Dart and Collapse Rocks both fail.


The Evil side received reinforcements in the form of the Witch King himself!


Gandalf moved away from the Witch King, Immobilising and charging the other Ringwraith, but he failed to land a killing blow.

Following up his advantage, Gandalf Immobilised and charged again. But was then struck in the back by a Black Dart from the Witch King - He passed his Fate, but was now out of Fate points. Evil received another reinforcement who moved up alongside the Witch King.

In the following fight, Gandalf won again, and the Ringwraith was now out of Will, so faded away. 2 down!


Turning at bay, Gandalf faced the 2 oncoming Nazgul, who both failed to strike him with Black Darts. Dodging the Witch King, he managed to Immobilise and charge the other Wraith - Losing the fight, but not taking any strikes.


The Witch King, obviously overwhelmed by the power of Gandalf and the ancient power in the surrounding stones, failed his Courage test and fled the field to keep his power in reserve for another day - 3 out of 4 down!


In a tense series of turns, Gandalf battled 2 more Nazgul, surviving several attempts to Black Dart him, and fighting desperate melees but failing to find a way through the Ringwraiths' defences.

Finally, another Wraith was overwhelmed, failed his courage test and faded away - Gandalf took his cue and scarpered, alive but only just!

Black Dart is a very vicious spell, and had Evil taken more of a risk and thrown more Will into getting it cast, Gandalf could have been bested, but he survived to keep trying to meet up with Frodo.