Battle for The Fords of the Isen

 

"The First and Second Battles of the Fords of Isen (which took place within a week of each other) were the opening skirmishes that fit into the overall campaign that Saruman planned to wage against Rohan in his quest to amass enough power to challenge Sauron. Saruman decided to launch an initial surprise attack on the Riders charged with protecting the western part of Rohan - the West-mark. The River Isen was essentially the Western border of the Mark. It flowed down from Isengard, out of the southernmost end of the Misty Mountains and down through the Gap of Rohan

Though the idea of an attack from Isengard was anticipated by Rohan it was not expected to come as soon as it did. On February 25th, Theodred's scouts reported a force of Orcs massing southwards from Isengard, marching along the western side of the River Isen.....

Hello everybody, despite all social restrictions with Covid 19,I was able to play a new fresh and dinamic battle in the Middle Earth, using the very solid "war of the Rings" system fron Games Workship (unfortunately out of print but I managed one copy during  last year)

This time we simulated one of the diverse initial raids of the Uruk-Hai warrriors from Isengard in the territory of the Kingdom of Rohan, at the beggining of the War of The Ring

A raiding force is trying to enter Rohan, crossing the  border through the river Isen

We prepared an easy battlefiled: the river divides the table in 2 Halves. The Isengard army must cross the river with more than half of their forces and survive before the batle ends.

Rohan must just survive and try to avoid that the evil invade their land!

There are two fords which allow to cross the river (rest is impassbale) and we added some Wood and a Hill.. That is all.. Fast movements are necesasary here..

A formation of lighter uruk scouts (theree companies strong ), a unit of heavier Uruk Warriors with swrd and shield (theree comnpanies strong ), A company of uruk crossbowmen,   company of Uruk Berserkers (with special ability of Berserk Rage) and finally an armoured War Troll to give this small army a good taste )

I took the command of  the invaders from Isengard

A defensive Force of Rohan would try to stop them: 2 units of Rohirrim horsemen with captains and Banner bearers (I named them  as Green regiment and red regiment, 4 companies strong each)  , 2 companies of foot militia archers  as support and a company of strong Royal Guards on foot to give some steady ground resistenace where necessary.

Eomer, Marshall of the Mark and nephew of King Theoden, led these troops. My friend Luis was commanding  him an his men from the other side of the Table.

 

Yoy can see the initial look of the Battlefiled  here, as well as myself checking the rulebook  with my VirusWarmask on my face.

Warchief Mahaur was in command of this Isengard raiding party, leading the scout unit on the right flank

"Go on on this human´s land, we will eat their Flesh tonight!!!

However, they failed to move fast and stopped for a while there..Some problems also while manouvering an moving the crossbowmen...Uruk Right flank was a little mess

Left flank, occupied by heavier forces (Armoured uruk, berserkers and war troll) advanced surprisingly fast to the river bank, hoping to cross the river in the next round.

However, it was Time for Rohan men to react. The humans were sure, only some very fast approach and strike could maybe make the invading beasts stop in place.

The Rohan Force was commanded by Eomer,  who took position by the red cavalry regiment during the Battle, on Rohan right flank. This unit, supported by some more foot archers  would try to harrash and make the enemy advance move slower

On Rohan left, some foot archers, the Infantry royal Guards and the Green regiment were ready to action

Move forward Men, THEY SHALL NOT PASS!!!

Rohan mobile forces moved steadily to engage the enemy as fast as possible.

Also, both infantry archer units advanced to better fring positions

Green Captain was faster and crossed the river with his horsemen thorugh the left river pass

Hurry! We will fallon them!

Rest of Left rohan force (infantry Royal Guards) also crossed the river throghu the same point, looking for contact with the enemy in support of green cavalry Regiment

. 

Eomer stayed  at the other side with the red Regiment,  still not cvrossing the river, firing arrows to the  attacking heavy-uruk,preparing for a well planned strike...

When green regiment had approached enough distance, and as Rohirrim had already enough charge capacity, Both cavalry units fell together by surprise on the main heavy-uruk unit, getting advantage of two "unstoppable charges", on front and flank!!!

 Big losses on the uruk (2 of 3 companies destroyed on a single strike) and the remainig warriors of the unit became disordered.. Anyway, even as defetaed , uruks kept the position but had lost much fighting capacity... But positin was now weak for the brave horsemen of Rohan., unless they moved fast again

Next turn, army of Isengard got again the iniatitive,  but Eomer decided to cross again the river to stay safe from enemies and trying to combine again a arrow volley with a cavalry charge, a favorite rohirrim tactic.. So, using some Might for dispatching an Epic Strike  combined with heroic fght of his Captain asistant, he charged the still disordered uruk on the river bank

On the other side, however, uruk general Mahaur reacted in time and tried to recover some control on the battle...He ran to the rohirrim  green Regiment who was in delicate position, trying to get their flank. 

Green captain disengaged and tried to get a better position fast...

...But he was not able to avoid a double frontal charge of the uruk scout raiders together with the War Troll! such big strike was also received incidentally by the Foot Rohan royal Guards, who as good veterans reacted instantly to form a good battle line. 

A hard, long fight started there and the heroes used all his might

On the rohan right flank, Eomer´s charge  had been totally wild and succesful! .The remaining disordered urukinfantry warrioir were totally slain,.. And morover, Eomer had the chance to charge further on the  flank of the unaware Berserker unit, who had not even participated in the battle yet !!!

With many charge advantages and still enjoying the highr 10 fighting Value due to eEpic strike, Eomer and his comrades slained totally the berserkers, who were not able to strike back!!!

Uruk left flank had dissapeared! But things for the other Rohan units were not going well...

Most Rohan men were dying after taking so heavy charges. They inflicted many causalties as well.But the Odds were hard to reverse

All remainign horsemen died at the end, followed some later by the Foot Royal guards who fought bravely till the last man, defending the Royal Banner.. One and a half  Company of Uruk Hai was also destroyed during this hard fight

Final round: Isengard has again the Advantage, but Eomer expent some Might still trying to countercharge the War Troll.. he was succesful, but no damages on the Troll.. The slow brute monster was in turn also not able to hit a single Rohan man or horse...

And so finished the battle.... The Courage of Eomer and his men won the day.. 

They stroke hard  and fast from the beggining, in a very authentic rohirrim way,  not allowing a single invader to put his dirty feet on Rohans ground!! 

The Victory is today for Rohan, but many brave men died in order to get it... And what is worse, more and more uruk forces are reported to be approaching soon from Isengard....

As final conclussions: we had a very good, dynamic and fine game. Still many rules were not clear in our minds, but we were able to adapt fast in many situations (we did not spend much boring time in searching for any unclear rule, we were deciding step by step and writign down the unclear things, to be searched just after the battle), we did like the narrative scenario and the proposals we arranged, and they did work fine in that purpose . 

In terms of playing strategies: I do not know if Isengard could  actually have crossed anyway the river or not, but the Rohan movements were definetely right (and also lucky, but it was a deserved Luck)

 They stroke in the right moment to the right enemies, avoiding the Uruk hai to cross in the first Ford, then retiring to a better position and holding the line as good as they could when the uruk and Troll attacked; while keeping the offensive with Eomer still in the other sode, eliminating another very strong uruk threat not allowing even to counterstrike. It was just three rounds, we had no time for a fourth and we decided that the result of the battle was already clear: Isengard was not destroyed but they had suffered big losses. They could not cross. Eomer also suffered big losses but he had still chance to cross back to his land and wait for reinforcements during recvering from the fight. Victory was in Rohan´s hands--at leats for that evening

Luis did like the rules set (he had not played before) so we are waiting to have our nex battle soon...

Many Orc reinforcements are being prepared, so maybe we can try a new army soon

Hope you did enjoy!