Night Watch duty Patrol in the Far North

Hi, we played a little battle between a small force of Night Watchmen against a medium raiding Free Folk force..

You can see here both armies: The "crows" are commanded by Allson Torne commanding1 unit of enhanced veterans (top left), then 2 units of sworn brothers, with Jon Snow in the second one, and 1 unit of crossbowmen.

Jon's Wolf, Ghost, was sent to left sode ton support ser allister in a potential flanking countersattack

Non combat units were Maester Aemon and expert Blacksmith Donal Noye.

Melee units will keep resistance the best they could, and crossbowmen would be kept in second line as mobile reaction force. 

Wildling force were split on 2 groups: first 2 unit of freefolk raiders, then 1 unit of  elite thenn warriors with Thormund Giantbane  and 1 Giant. All bet on melee punch

The second group had also a giant and a wild unit of Cave dwellers.
Supposed to be a flanking force

Non combat units were Mance Rayder king-beyond-the wall directing his troops and Styyr, magnar of the Thenn

The wildlings advanced fast.... The crossbowmen  were  able to maneuver and keep a good bolt arrow on some enemy units inlcuding one giant (that in wildling flank zone).

We missed to do some pics of the first and heaviest encounters, in the centre which were actually critical...  The wounded giant (Watch right side) tried to attack in the brothers unt  in centre, where Jon Snow Was, but failed (after inlficting many casualties), Watch was lucky and one giant was killed! First trouble for the wildlings (we had some polemics about how wound were dealt and recieved by giants...)



The second giant in turn took some profit and was able to attack  again on the weakened Jon´s unit.. All killed, even Jon (lets say better he was just seriuosly woundedn and lyying on the filed for narrative reasons :))! problems started also for the Watch


In the meanwhile, Thenn warriors with Thormund crashed against the second brother unit... Fight was a draw, but then victorious giant then attacked them from the rear!!!.. Crow unit was  almost killed, but they performed good, and they survived...Specially thanks to a polemic card which allowed all damage from giant to be blocked., twice..
Many wounds were recovered thanks also to Aemon healing powers and the watchmen could attack the second giant and kill in turn!! Winds of victory started to change again.. (but only after again same polemics about giants attacks and how to be dfended....)




On the Wtach right flank, The cave dwellers advanced fast,  but crossbowmen mocved to get in the middle of their way and shoot again...The cave dwellers,after taking several casualties from crossbow bolts, tried to charge the crossbowmen..  But The crossbow brothers then made a succesfuly bolt counter-volley against them... and Even worse for the wildlings, the charge failed.. Many casuaties taken for nothing..

The Watch left flank was an easy business for The watch veterans under Ser Allister command and the Vengeful Wolf, Ghost.. The wolf alone could defeat a whole raider unit which were panicked of the white beast, and then attack together on the second raider unit.

Veterans and Ghost  destroyed easily the second raider units in the Wtach left flank,  They would have been howerver more useful omewhere else!

Most critical point for the second Watch brothers unit.. Almost destroyed after the Giants charge (even if the giant was killed) and then charged by Thormnd...
However the healing powers of MAestar Aemon and some lucky cards kept them alive... They could counter the wildling last effort.

End result on right flank of the crows.. Altough they finnaly got charged,The lucky crossbowmen stood and finished all cave dvellers, as the had superior numbers.. Victory for the Watch but with some polemics.. (we realized leater, we dealt too many wound from giants in natural situation, becausee we misread the rules,  but also the blocking crads whci were used against it wer enot legal..)

So we can say It was some kind of pplemic. cheating draw battle... War beyond the wall is usually dirty stuff , with no rules, and never decisive battles are fought.. However, indeed the hardest men perfomed good as desired form both players

..An Now My Watch begins

I could not go very far Away form my everlasting project in the lands of GRR Martin  Westeros
Now turn for a new faction to bring on the Battelfield, defending the Realms of Men  against the Wildlings and maybe some  Undead Terrors...  I present to you all.. The Night Watch

This concript force is supposed to defend a Gigantic Wall of ice in the norhtern border of the "Civilizated" Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, being politically indpendent form all of them and their disputes. They must defend it form any extern threat (this Wall is a remind of actual Historical Walls as That oif Hadrian in Britain or theGreat se Wall..)

The origin of Watch´troopers is no too epic, as apart form a few volunteers, their reclutes are drafted among the worst in the society: criminals, rapers, robbers, traitors and so on, who can exchange a Death punishment to serve in the Watch fpor the rest of their lives..

After some first "novice" time, they take an Oath and so their pasts are forgiven, they became all members of a Brotherhood and must serve the Watch and all his duties (for example  only wearing black clothes or not being married) Of course, any deserter is executed inmmediately.. (so; they represent some mix of militar Military Orders together with the French foreign legion ..)

They have therefore so little staff available to defend the big Wall many fortifications Only the strongest survive the hard conditions in thw Wall. Also supplies are supposed to be shport there, so not to expect here a disciplined and well equipped military force...

Let me show you firs tsome  inspiration images, from several sources: the Internet, The TV Series and the Art form the  Miniatures Game " A Song of Ice and Fire"
You can see, they all look similar as: as expected black clothes, much black fur cloaks, beards, long hair, general irregular looking, light equipment but however an excesive uniform appearance in my opinion (I used this, but also brought my own ideas as shown later)

 

This is my (quite improvided at the moment..)  home version of the Wall and the general look of the Watch units and charachters garrisoning it

 The "common" watchmen i tried to represent keeping the previously described look (cloaks, long hair, beard, no headwear) but not only this way, wantign to have more variety, less uniofrm look and giving the more personality  and realism. I thought, these men in relaity would wear whatver  clothe they had avilable (ok, lets stay still in  very dark grey or brown or real black if possible) , and available equipment is not so much, but of course any helmet, light leather or mail armours  and something as basic as shields are very appreciated!! Weapons woudl be also varied: swords, but also axes and lances (more affordable) ..

And why not any single headwear on the inspiration images ?? come on, it is  very cold out there! for sure someone can knit a hat!!!

Only the veterans or the most previously wealthy or noblr men  would have such better equipations and the better clothing, of course

Miniature choice was difficult... But i think I managed:

I took a mix of Mars rusian/lithunaian medieval warriors,  strelets russian militia types, some early rus warriors  and even ancient germans and dacians, and a fantasy undead;  and some other more...and as a final discovery, the surprising and recent Alliance fantasy Corsairs!! they all suited well!

The Watch keeps many heavy projectile weapons on top of the wall, as this Ballista:

And of course, achers and crossbowmen ar essential in a defensive- small number force!

Going on to main charachters; 

When all the Game of Thrones story begins, the commander of the Night Watch os Jeor Mormont, former head of house Mormont.. Nicknamed as "The Old Bear" he is supposed to be a ferreous and strict but also admired leader... He has usually a big black raven on his arm (wildlings use to name the Wtach as "crows" with disdain because of their black clothes) 

One very importan characher in all the Story is Jon Snow, bastard of Ed Stark in Winterfell who enlists the Watch as volunteer to avoid conflicts at home about being first born Son of the Lord Stark

He is accompanied in all battles by his white direwolf "Ghost"

To finish;: Jon Snow closets friend is Samwell Tarly..militarly almost unuseful, but very curious for reading ancient texts and records which will be very helpful for the Defense of the Human realms.. All thuis information is brought to him by old blind Maester Aemon, a very wise old  man who was a Targayen Pricne in his youth!

SO.. when is first Threat to the Wall appering..? coming soon!

Hope you liked that!!!


As extra last  gifts: here I present some pre-shots for Daenerys Targaryen Army with The unsullied spearmen and his commander Greyworm, and my first uncomplete  tests for Dothraki horse riders

some activity-- Beyond the Wall Epic Battle Report!!!

Hello, I made several  things, but did not have time to post anything,

Here my las progresses with the Dragons of Daenerys Targaryen
I even made a little battle with friend Gabi,  in which some Song of Thrones Charachters were surrounded in the cold North, beyond the Wall by lots of  undead Wights.
The Living are Some Night Watch + Wildling elements with Jon Snow,  Tormund Giantsbane and Sandor Clegane "The Hound" (We  simply played the events of Chapter "Beyond the Wall" form 7th Season of Game of Thrones show). The loyal Direwolf Ghost will also play

The Army of the Dead inlcudes several undead troops with an undead White Bear,  an undead Giant, White Walkers as leaders and The Night King himself

As no combat units "The Living" had a mix with Tyrion Lannistyer, Arya Stark and Sansa Stark... The dead had only a not-official Night Queen ...

We made some house rules in order to get some narrative form the Series: Daenerys and Jon must susvive for Living victory, and the Night King has a power: in shooting range of a dragon, if he rolls a 4 on D6 he autimatically kills that dragon.. Only 3 shots available.. God bet, isn it?



Fortunately, Queen Daenerys arrived with 2 dragons and was able to rescue most of the Raiding Party after acomplishing mission

The Living fought hard , able to destroy some undead units, and retreat to get picked by the dragons


Starting situation: 3 "Living" units surrunded by 7 of undead. They have to resist until rescue arrives. First casualty they make on Undead they must take also back to the south...

Jon Snow unit

Sandor Clegane "The Hound" unit

Tormund Giantsbane unit (Wildlings)

Undead:

 

Some had fighting between the Wildlings and "mounted" undead troops: The living try to scape from the Bear!

 Very hard  attacks and counterattacks between the Living and the dead: Jon Snow has problems to move through a infinite  horde of zombies

Queen Daenerys arrived with Drogon (black) and Viserion (golden) : Air Power+ Fire for the living!







Viserion was moved to the back of the dead, trying to get some attention...

Finaly the scaping unit of Tormund will be mount on him after distracting enemy attention!






Drogon moved to Jon Snow and tears many enemies away to help the survivors to scape, but te ice spears of Night King were too Scary, so the dragon was a little reluctant to get into the heaviest bulk of the fight







Finnally Jon  and his last men get on the  back of Queen´s Dragon!!!

Only Sandor Clegane was too far from the Salvation, and died Bravely surrounded everywehre..





The dead keep the ground but they lose their main preys

Poor giant was only walking around,,, not a single combat action!



No dragon casualties (the opposite as the show..) and many of the Living scape, but the Hound and his men stayd behind to protect the rescue and were killed by the dead.. They are part of the Army of the Dead now..

other Heroes of the Day:

Ghost: The brave Wolf made lots of damages on the zombies and could survive with his master Jon Snow

Tormund and some wildling survivors: they could jump on Viserion and fly away.. Enemy did not expect thier movement!

Jon Snow and Daenerys: Love is stronger than all things, as this pair fought hard and scaped together on fierce Drogon,. who killed many zombies but not so many as desired.. Presence of Night King conditioned the game and I was afraid of moving the dragon too close..; maybe we should have thought a difeferent rule.. Anyway it worked and avoided having a "Killing unstoppable machine" on the table

The night King;: He lost this Battle... Anyway, all the time he approached to Dragons , it made them fall back,., So the poor foot units had to move and fight more for their lives.. what they did!!!..

Extremely fast  and heroic game, we were very happy.. My friend relaised too late that he was leaving my units free , focusing too much on threatening the dragons!!

Last pictures:  Here some fresh units for next battles: Night Watch types, recruited form all over the 1/72 ancients and medieval sets.. What do you think of them?