Kings of War - DK's first game.

Well DK managed to come over for a game of Kings of War. 

We played Elves versus Hobgoblins (Orcs) in a 1750 point game. The scenario chosen was Kill and Pillage (but as it turned out this was irrelevant). 

A roughly symmetrical battlefield was set out so no advantage was given to either side. DK had had a look at the free set of rules available on the mantic website, so had identified that getting the first charge in and flanks are important. 

Initial deployment. Hobgoblins to move first. 

After suffering withering archery the Hobgoblins advance. The lack of ranged weapons mean that the Hobgoblins need to get into melee fast. 

The Wyvern faces off against the Dragon and Knights - both of us trying to avoid allowing the other to get the first charge in!

 The Hobgoblins have at the Elves centre - but they have taken some damage!

We managed to fight over the only bit of bad going in the centre of the field. 

The wolf-riders (Gore riders in KoW) and the giant push at the Elven left flank. 

Due to some poor dice from DK who should have routed the Elf Guard with a combined attack by a regiment of Hobgoblins and the Wyvern in the flank - which would have allowed  the Wyvern to turn to face the Dragon - unfortunately the Wyvern was caught in the flank and taken out of the game!

Things are looking bad for the Hobgoblins - a couple of units gone and the Wyvern .....

The Knights clear out the Hobgoblins on the hill and then catch the Hobgoblin horde in the flank while the Dragon takes them from behind! 44 Points of damage .... Only snake-eyes can help them now - but he didn't come out to play!

The remainly Hobgoblin units (a giant, wizard and hero) ready for the end game. 

After the Dragon destroys the Giant and the Knights ride down the wizard - the last action Hobgoblin hero takes on the Elf horde (already weaken by the Hobgoblin horde and the fireballs from the wizard) - and routs them!

Only to become Dragon food!

A crushing win for the Elves - total wipeout! There first win against the Hobgoblins. 

Overall another good game of KoW - however I'm not sure that DK really enjoyed it and got a good feel for the rules.  In retrospect I should have done a few things differently. I don't think I should have had flying monsters in the game as they can be game changers - especially against a newbie. I think 1200 points would have been a better start game with regiments, troops, heroes and the odd monster to get a feel for the rules.

I would like to set up a mini campaign with smaller armies for the group to play. But the I want to do that with Frostgrave and Maurice.......

Also managed to get in a game of Carcassone against DK and Steedo - won that too 👍

So a good evening for me!

Morts

A few more painted!

Some Saxon thegns painted - more for SAGA and combined with the other unit of warriors a 12 men Regiment for Kings of War. 

Morts

Goodies arrived!

Well my Frostgrave "nickstarter" arrived.

So I now have the latest scenario book, a rather nice wizard screen, 3 new objective markers, a werewolf, a wizard and an apprentice .... And 20 plastic barbarians.

All very nice - I probably won't keep all of them. It would have been nice to have the barbarian sprues when I was making the Vikings and evil Vikings as they would have given more options. 

I have also picked up some Fireforge foot sergeants and plan to get some Conquest archers for both a Frostgrave and SAGA warband.

Morts

Work in progress ......

Well been doing some reviewing of stuff and thinking about the order of painting ....

Currently working on Saxons for my SAGA warband and Lion Rampant. Thegns with axes and the Warlord and Standard.

Then I have extra command figures for the Kings of War Kingdoms of Men army - mounted standard and the Captain (and a Sargent to add the the 3 I already have). Then I have the Slaughter Priest and an Ogre Hero.

All of the above have had a base coat then a wash - sepia and or black over the armour. Then hopefully a couple of hours and a unit will be complete. There are 2 more units of Saxons to do (4 thegns and 8 warriors with spears).

The plan is to finish off the Hobgoblin archers and Hobhounds next, then either some Starship Troopers stuff or some men of Gondor!

So this a plan - let's see if I can keep to it when the frostgrave stuff turns up. 

Morts

Saxons - first warriors done ...

Well I have painted 8 Saxon warriors with swords and axes for SAGA, Dragon Rampant and Kings of War. 

Not the best paint job - but a good gaming standard. Went for the green and white as had already used red on the Vikings so needed a contrasting scheme. The shields work with the Devon flag (not Plymouth Argyle!) - will be putting some red and black in some of the other shields.

Varnish and basing to go!

Morts

Evil Vikings

Well I have painted something and managed a quick blog post.

Apart from some varnish I have 12 evil Viking types now - Gripping Beast Vikings and Saxons with GW Chaos Maurader shields and heads (and an old Goblin standard). 

Not totally sure what to use them for ..... Kings of War, Dragon Rampant etc. 

But I have had fun doing them. Might add to the little gang with some of the Frostgrave barbarians. 

Started on some Saxon warriors for SAGA. 

Lots to do on the to do list .... Including sorting out units for various systems and selling on the rest!

So much to do and not enough time!

Morts 

A late Kings of War report......

My older brother travelled over from the continent to play a game of Kings of War game (and go on a 23 mile hike on the moor but enough of rambling!). 

We played an unpointed game due mainly to a heavy beer night which left everyone a little sluggish. 

My brother took the force of darkness - Ogres and Hobgoblins, while Steedo took the forces of good - Men and Elves. 

Initial deployment. 

First move involved a lot of shooting by the forces of good - the Ogres and Hobgoblins charge across the battlefield. Their giant killed off by the bolt shooters on the beasts of war. 

The Wyvern which had taken hits from the bolt shooters on the beasts of war went for the dragon. 

The dragon counter-attacked. The elf knights get isolated again ....and destroyed by a hobgoblin horde  over at the far end. 

With the previous damage the dragon makes short work of the Wyvern, then attacks the 2nd horde of hobgoblins in the flank!

The Ogres are making head way against the humans but the beasts of war are a tougher nut to crack. 

The dragon wavers the horde which withdraws but this allows the hobgoblin wizards to fireball the dragon .... Making it waver!

The human knights held up a unit of gore riders for about 4 turns before being overwhelmed. 

The hobgoblin wizards fireballed and destroyed the dragon while the beasts of war destroyed the ogre hordes.  Unfortunately the elf Mage and archers are overrun by hobgoblins. 

Below the end of game - victory to the forces of darkness! The survivors ....

A human wizard, general and 2 beasts of war. The forces of darkness,a hero, 2 wizards, a horde, a regiment and 2 regiments of gore riders .... The ogres had a warlord left.  

Another entertaining game of Kings of War - during the first few turns I thought I would need to find some more forces for the hobgoblins and ogres as they seemed to be being getting a beating. The game was going to and fro ... Everyone seemed to enjoy the game. I think the forces were a little unbalanced but I haven't had a chance to point it out and now probably won't. 

Thanks to Steedo and my Brother for being commanders. 

On Friday Steedo, DK and I managed to play Alien Frontiers (a win to DK), Carcassone (win to Steedo) and Welcome to the Dungeon (win to me!). 

Hope to get some painting done soon - have ordered the Men Who Would Be Kings ... A colonial variant of Lion Rampant and Frostgrave Forgotten Pacts .... So should be fun!

Morts