May 30th second Midgard Heroic battle game

 

Empire initial deployment

So this was a repeat of the Bloody Beck scenario but with both armies having only 350 points and two players. I had reduced the point total from the earlier game as we only had two players and the games was starting around 5:30-6 pm and we did not want to go too long. That would not be a problem!

Once again Orcs took advantage of the uncontested areas and sent their cavalry charging across the shallow river

Fortunately Empire cavalry had arrived on the table in reserve

In an unexpected move, the Empire sent their hand gunners across the river!

The hand gunners eliminated one skirmish unit, but failed to wound the Orc Army Commander, then the Giant attacked!

May 30th Game day Midgard Heroic battles first of two games

 

Defenders deployment 

So, our recent gameday saw us play two games of Midgard and one game of What a Cowboy! Both Midgard games were the same scenario, The Bloody Beck but with different players and different army values. Game one saw two 450 point armies and four players battle it out while the second game saw two players using two reduced armies of 350 points each.

Orc disposition 

Mad dash across the river!

Cangames 2026 Midgard Heroic Battles

 

Dwarf defenders hold the hill as the Orcs launch their attack

So, this year I finally decided to run something at Cangames, our local gaming convention in Ottawa, Canada. Cangames has been running since 1977 and I have attended it many many times over those years but I just never ran anything. I still have the trophy from that first * the second, 1978, Cangames convention (I won it for FGU's Space Marines) which I somehow was able to keep despite being kicked out of the convention. Just to clarify, it was not the well run event that it is these days and me and my mates managed to wander in without seeing any place to pay for admission. I managed to play in two games before we were spotted and ejected for not having paid to play. Oddly we were not offered a chance to continue to play if we paid up, we were just ejected. Ahh memories...

* Correction after posting this I looked at the trophy and it was for the 1978 convention!

I cannot really say why I ran something this year, I blame it on the Ottawa Miniatures Gaming club, that I belong to as they seem to have softened my natural curmudgeon troll like demeanor. Whatever the reason, on Friday night I suddenly decided to run something on Saturday afternoon. Thankfully I had  my Orc and dwarf troops out on the table and all the scenery too, so not too tough to quickly pack everything up and cart it off the the convention. So time to try out the scenario Too Eager once again.

Early in the battle

I had four player, none of whom had played the game before, but all were veteran gamers and picked up the rules pretty fast. 

The game had it all. there was an archer duel that saw the Dwarfs retiring from all the missile fire, but as is normal few if any casualties inflicted. The Orc mage did manage to wipe out a dwarf scout unit with a well aimed mighty missile spell but missile fire was generally a nuisance factor causing the expenditure of mighty deeds.

We even had a dramatic fight between the Dwarf leader and an Orc general, that started when both Orc and Dwarf unit that the heroes had been attached to were wiped out leaving them engaged with each other.

It was another close battle, with both armies running low on reputation as the end of turn four approached. In the end the Orcs managed to inflict just enough damage to win the game.

Inspired to work on my Empire forces for Midgard

 

So, a while back I started rebasing and or creating movement trays for my old Warhammer figures to use them for Fantastic Battles. In FB 28mm figures are typically mounted on 60mm x 60 mm bases. For a while I was straddling between two worlds, keeping my options open as it were, using figures like those above on movement trays so that should I want to use the for both/either game I could. However the reality is that I cannot ever see myself playing Warhammer again. Even if I did I am sure I could figure out something. Mostly I have been working on my Orcs/Goblins and some of my Dwarfs.

Now enter Midgard Heroic Battles and new inspiration. Midgard typically uses 120mm x 60mm bases, so two of FB bases will work as one unit in Midgard. For some of my Orcs I have used the full base, but for the Dwarfs I have just paired up two FB bases to form one unit. After a few games and some thought, and for a few reasons I plan to stick with two 60mm x 60mm bases (for the most part) as they offer some potentially useful options. 

So, with this decision made about basing and with the realization that Midgard Heroic Battles is a fun game, I have become inspired to tackle my other old WH armies, starting with The Empire.

My (mostly) Empire proxy troops

It works out that I have 12 infantry units, all painted and ready to go. Most are Old Glory renaissance troops, but there are some GW flagellants and GW  Zweihander figures. In the unpainted pile I have 24 cavalry, aome outriders and some swordsmen. 

A pair of light artillery that I am working on. They do not need to be on a 60mm x 60mm base but I think they will look nice with their limber based behind them. In this case I plan to use two 60mm x 120mm to give the bases some more options. I might even split the limbers off from the guns for even more flexibility.

Since all bases are supposed to be 120mm wide, this war wagon should also go on a 120mm x 120mm base, but it looks a bit empty. By doing two 120mm x 60mm bases and adding some outriders I hope to make the unit look better while keeping some flexibility.

Similar idea for the steam tank, but on a 60mm deep base.

Might even get around to basing this guy up for an army general.

Midgard AAR May 2nd Game 2

 

The battlelines are drawn

Orc right flank

Orc defenders

Hilltop defenders

Dwarf attackers

Opening moves

Assault on the hill, while Dwarf scouts harass the advancing Orcs

Midgard AAR May 2nd Game 1

 

So, we had a game day this past Saturday, two groups of players two games, same scenario. In game 1 the Dwarfs were the defenders vs a horde of Orcs. The scenario was too eager and both sides were built on 499 points. This time around I created my own army list, I built the Dwarf army inspired by a Roman army, for the Orcs I upgraded their armour and made the odd other tweek. The two army lists can be found here Midgard army lists The battlefield was largely devoid of terrain save for the large hill at on the Dwarf left flank. The scenario called for the deployment of an advance unit of Dwarfs on the hill with the remainder of the Dwarfs deploying to the right of the hill. Starting at the end of turn 2, the top of the hill grants one reputation at the end of each turn to whichever army controlled it.

The Dwarf commander deployed two elite units supported by a formed crossbow unit 

Orcs deployed in force, focused on the hill

Midgard Heroic Battles AAR from April 26th

 

Orc opening moves completed

So, I changed up the scenario from my 'Badlands' scenario to the official scenario 3; Take the High Ground. Not too much different really the defenders get to stay in place while the attackers have to march across open ground. Like my solo game, the attackers had a tough time trying to achieve their objective, the high ground. Also the defenders start in possession of three salient points that begin to grant bonus reputation at the end of turn three to whoever holds them. It was an uphill struggle for the Orcs!

The two armies were from the rulebook, built on 400 points. It was the first time playing the game for three of the players, but they picked it up pretty fast.

Some Dwarf units take advance positions off the hill

Goblin cavalry continue their flanking move

Orcs  engage in the centre

Orcs won on their right flank and try to turn the Dwarfs but the Orcs loose in the centre

The Dwarf left flank drive back the Orc attackers while Orc units are routed in the centre

The Orcs, while numerically superior were just no match for the Dwarfs. The difference in armour had a major impact. Interestingly the Brittle trait did not have that big an impact on the outcome like I thought it would. Missile fire was not a major factor though the Dwarf cannon inflicted a lot of damage more than than any other missile unit. 

The inability of the Orc commanders to roll their command for movement was a major impediment and stopped them from being a credible threat regarding the salient points. 

Ultimately we found the scenario was not well balanced. the bonus reputation for the salient points all went to the defenders who really just had to hold their ground, all the effort was by the attackers. The Dwarfs had too much reputation, the Orcs were never going to  catch up, and as they lost units they just saw their reputation in tatters. Giving the attackers more points than the defenders may have been a simple solution to the apparent imbalance. 

Nevertheless we had a fun time playing the game.

May 2nd upcoming game of Midgard

Roman Dwarf army

Two army lists for upcoming game.

Midgard Heroic Battles Solo game AAR

 

Orcs and Dwarves form their battle lines. The Dwarf defenders were in a defensive stance primarily on three hills., while the Orc invaders stacked their centre but also deployed troops on both flanks in an attempt to flank the defenders.

Turn 1

The Orcs had deploy on some hills on their own side of the battlefield. Turn one saw them advance into the grasslands between the two ridges. 

Mounted bows advanced into range to harass the Dwarf left flank 

The Orc centre advanced towards their Dwarf counterparts

On the Orc left flank, two units of Orcs with a Mage try to outflank the Dwarf line

For the most part the dwarf army stayed in place, playing the waiting game. On the dwarf right flank one unit was move off the hill to defend against the Orc flanking march.