Greg "Greggers" Deane got first dibs in for 2025 against my newly arrived and painted Brotherhood. I decided to go with the units and NCU's and not take attachments to try and feel the army and tactics deck first.
The Brotherhood without Banners
Beric Dondarrion (C) in Men at Arms
Peasants with Eric Dayne
Peasants
Archers
Knights
NCUs
Ravella Smallwood, Thoros of Myr and Ghost of High Heart
(Spoiler Alert: I made a bit of a major error in that I used Lady Stoneheart instead of Ravella. I didn't notice the error until turn 4 and we just cracked on, as you do, despite her not being allowed in an army with Beric)
Greg was looking forward to seeing the BwB at first hand as couldn't check out their tactics cards as not on Stats yet. Looking at the actual cards at least he could do as they were still current.
He also let me choose the scenario, and I opted for A Game of Thrones as it's my favourite
Greg went with a standard had hitting Lannister force
Casterly Rock Honor Guard with Kevan Lannister (C)
Lannister Crossbowmen with Bronn
Knights of Casterly Rock
Gregor Clegane - The Mountain That Rides
NCU's
Lord Varys, Tywin Lannister & Pycelle
RANDOM TERRAIN & DEPLOYMENT
Terrain: Corpse pile x2, wall & Weir wood tree
Lannisters: Kevan in Honour Guard, Crossbows, Knights, The Mountain
Brotherhood: Eric in Peasants, Berics Men at Arms, Knights, rear Archers, Peasants
We kept the objectives hidden, its more fun
ROUND 1
Greg had choice and let me go first Turn 1 so I used Lady Stoneheart on Letters and added to my card hand, which was a good spread.
I also then realised what Lady Stoneheart does when influencing an enemy unit. A wound each action, ideal for cavalry solos...
Greg took the Horses to advance up the Crossbows so I took the bags to keep the weakened on the crossbows and deny any healing of a soon to be wounded Mountain.
The Honour Guard moved down on my left.
While my peasants marched down on my right. I'd played But the Realm Remains on the Knights too.
I clumped up heavy on my right, ensuring the archers were protected with Greg's final activation moving the Mountain in behind his Knights and taking two wounds in the process. Grge had used an NCU swap to give m Archers Bribery, reducing their attacks to 4.
The Lannisters clumped centrally, with the Mountain hurt and the crossbows weakened
ROUND 2
Going first saw Greg with a choice of targets for his Crossbows. He elected to shoot the Peasants on my left instead of the Men at Arms, but with the weakened saw me lose only three men as I passed the panic. I then used Beric's Sentinel to move up into easy charge range of the crossbows, took the bags with Dead Catelyn and played Assault Orders
Dead Catelyn also influenced the crossbows
I dropped a few crossbows but a Varys token allowed two to come back. With my Men at Arms un-activated, Greg felt he had to commit his Knights and charged them in, over a wall reducing their effectiveness.
I lost two Men at Arms, and a third to a failed panic despite the Old hag's influence. I advanced up my Peasants to block a flank charge from the Honour Guard
My Knights flanks the ones form Casterly Rock, killing five.
The Mountain then flanked my Knights, before I cut down a rank of the Casterly Rock knights with my Men at Arms. The Crossbows took a wound in retreating out off the Horses and would take another after shooting into the Peasants...
Greg spent a Counterplot to deny me using Take up the Sword
But despite this and Bribery, the Archers managed to drop the Knights of Casterly Rock down to one wound, due to failing one save and taking three wounds form the panic. Greg then failed a 4+ charge against my depleted Peasants.
Board End of Round 2
BROTHERHOOD 2 VP's (2 objectives)
HOUSE LANNISTER 0 VP's
ROUND 3
I took a while weighing up using Regroup and Reform to reinforce the left Peasants but decided against it as didn't wat to weaken my Archers. I had Lady Stoneheart take the Swords to allow Beric's Men at Arms to kill the Knights of Casterly Rock.
Greg spent a Varys token to do three hits on the left Peasants and wiped them out.
Greg then popped his Tywin Super power to do four hits on my Men at Arms, force a on panic my Knights and switch off their abilities and weaken my Archers
And then Greg took the Crown and had Kevan and his Honour Guard flank Beric's unit.
I would have been wiped out, but played Six Times too Many to keep Beric alive. I had several cards that could bolster the unit, but was now unable to play them on the Men at Arms...
So I healed up off of the bags instead
My far right Peasants marched up onto the far objective to give my Archers options
My Knights hacked at the Mountain, turning to face.
But they fluffed their attacks... new dice issues???
The Crossbows shot down my men at Arms, giving me a second token for my Knights for But The Realm Remains. I moved my Archers to secure the right Objective before the Honour Guard moved up to occupy the centre and threaten the Rear of my Knights, but when Greg had the Mountain attack the Knights, after doing a single wound on them, I played Sudden Retreat and managed to roll a six, getting them well out of the way (and from the Honour Guard charge arc)
Board End of Round 3
BROTHERHOOD 5 VP's (1 unit, 4 objectives)
HOUSE LANNISTER 3 VP's (2 units, 1 objective)
ROUND 4
I played But the realm Remains on my Archers. Greg took the bags and had his crossbows shift and shoot my Knights, rather ineffectually. I took the Swords but failed to do much with my Archers, Greg shot with the Crossbows and dropped a rank off my Knights but then I had Thoros take the Horses to deny Greg but swapped the zone to heal two wounds plus two more with rank destroyed tokens on my Knights Greg passed with and NCU, I took the Crown with the Hag but the Crossbows passed their panic, Greg took Letters.
And with the tactics board done, we got down to it...
I activated my Archers but Greg played Subjugation of Power on them. I passed the panic check, even with the panic token which meant Bribery was removed. Greg was the one that pointed this out, and he realised his mistake so I said he could take it back (as he had been chilled with me learning my army, and after fact things). But he said no, his error...
His generosity was rewarded with another bad roll with these new dice... maybe it was the dice tray?
Anyway, fair to say that although I dropped a rank off the Honour Guard, Greg triggered Lannister supremacy and I lost five Men
With Greg's activation advantage (he had a pass token), I brought my Knights over behind the Honour Guard. this forced Greg to turn and face, rather than go after my infantry. The Mountain hit the Peasants, who had been influenced by the Old hag. Cutting down seven men, due to a failed panic check. But this meant the Mountain was made vulnerable and weakened. And I played Sudden retreat to maintain the objective, much to Greg's dismay.
BROTHERHOOD 7 VP's (1 unit, 6 objectives)
HOUSE LANNISTER 4 VP's (2 units, 2 objectives)
BOARD AT END OF ROUND 4
ROUND 5
I weighed up flanking the Crossbows, but decided to go for a bolder option as the Mountain, although fully healed, had all three tokens (the right objective gave out a panic token). I first played Regroup and Reform to increase my Archers ranks from the Peasants (risky dropping them to three although there were no Varys tokens left), then had Lady Stoneheart take the Swords, influence the Mountain and got the Archers to shift and shoot into the Mountains flank, looking for the Precision
I managed only 3 hits, and no sixes...
But that scored two wounds with the Vulnerable and Greg then went and failed the Vicious flank shots panic check for a further two wounds, dropping the big guy...
Well, that worked better than planned and admittedly not as planned. Greg retorted by taking the Crowns and charging the Honour Guard into my Knights.
I survived with good armour saves, although did drop a horse. I took the bags and healed up the Knights
Greg took the Horses and moved over towards my Peasants
But I played a second Regroup and Reform to heal the Peasants from the Archers before Thoros healed them up further by swapping Letters for his ability.
Not bad healing to frustrate the Lannisters..
I survived the shooting, and the Honour Guard attack on the Knights, who duly retreated away from the melee leaving the Lannister infantry holding the centre as the Brotherhood melted away into the countryside...
BROTHERHOOD 10 VP's (2 units, 8 objectives)
HOUSE LANNISTER 5 VP's (2 units, 3 objectives)
Sorry there were some basic errors, but that didn't detract too much from an enjoyable game with my first run out with the Brotherhood. Greg was taken a bit by surprise with some of the cards and NCU shenanigans, and they were very reminiscent to me of my Mance Free Folk. The Brotherhood excel at frustrating, as despite being a bit weak on paper, they can hit hard and be healed well. But are pretty fragile if hit hard enough, as Greg showed end of Turn 2 and start of turn 3. I played the objective game, but when the Honour Guard crumped me I though I was done for. The Sudden retreat card on my knights I think was the pivotal moment of the game. As always, Greg's sporting play made it a thoroughly fun learning experience...
UPCOMING UK EVENTS
(plenty already)
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Element Legends ASOIAF
One Day Tournament
Saturday 11th January
Element Games, Hallam Street, Stockport, UK
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Plastic Throne IX
Cryptic Cabin, Warfield, Bracknell, UK
SATURDAY JANUARY 18th
12 Player event
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"Blood Over Highgarden" - Become "Warden of Kent"
YECATS MINIATURES
SATURDAY JANUARY 18th
RAGNAROK HOBBIES
2nd Floor, 33 High St, Gillingham ME7 1BQ
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The Road to King's Landing
Dark Sphere Shepherd's Bush Gaming Centre, London, UK
16 Player, 4 Game event
Saturday 25th Jan
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A Song of Scouse & Wools
Greg has gone and organised our first event for a few years over in Liverpool.
Sunday 2nd February
Justplay Games, Liverpool
61 Tithebarn St, Liverpool L2 2SB
18 players, Three game event
New Players Welcome, Fun and Friendly themed
Tickets and info ASOIAF Stats
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8th & 9th February 2025
50 player event
Vlad's Emporium
278 St. Vincent Street,
Glasgow,
G2 5RL,
Scotland
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WARDENS OF THE SOUTH
Southern GT
BEACHHEAD WARGAMES SHOW
24 Player, 4 Game event
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March 1st/2nd 2025
(Sold out, reserves being taken)
Pontnewynydd, Pontypool, UK
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(I'll be there with other Wardens of the North-West)
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4 weeks later, March 29th/30th 2025
and needing no introduction...
ASOIF STATS INVITATIONAL
(I'll be there with other Wardens of the North-West)
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Spring Showdown!
Board In Brum West Midlands Gaming Centre, Walsall, Willenhall, UK
Sat Apr 05
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SUNDAY 27th APRIL
SOLD OUT
(RESERVES LIST UP)
The Battle of the Chained Stag II - Vengeance of the South
Daventry NN11 4PH, UK
(I'll be there with other Wardens of the North-West, defending my title with my trusty squire)
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MAY 11th
LEODIS GAMES, LEEDS
Links and tickets
(TICKETS NOT ON SALE AS YET)
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Aftermath Gaming Club
Saturday MAY 24th
Lazar House, Sprowston Road, Norwich, UK
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DEAD META GAMING
NORTHERN GRAND TOURNAMENT III
24th & 25th MAY
Pro-Tech Games, Stockton-On-Tees, TS18 2PN
Tickets/Stats Sign Up
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70 Player, two day event
(37 sign ups so far...)
28th/29th June
Best Western The Thurrock Hotel, (on site accommodation)
Ship Lane, Aveley, Purfleet, UK
Sign Up ASOIAF Stats
I'll be there to represent the Wardens of the North-West
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Board in Brum Summer Bash
Board In Brum West Midlands Gaming Centre, Walsall, Willenhall, UK
Sat Jul 19
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Autumn War!
Board In Brum West Midlands Gaming Centre, Walsall, Willenhall, UK
Sat Oct 18
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RIBBLE RUMBLE
NOVEMBER 29th/30th
ELEMENT GAMES, STOCKPORT
(TICKETS NOT ON SALE AS YET)
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Winter Has Come!
Board In Brum West Midlands Gaming Centre, Walsall, Willenhall, UK
Sat Dec 13
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Between Yecats Miniatures, DLS and Wardens of the South there are plenty of events going on in 2025 in the UK
Thomas & Paul will be running two events at Leeds as usual, and Dead Meta Gaming will hopefully be putting on the Northern Grand Tournament again
