Brian McGonigle Wargames Blog

A short trip down the M6 saw me take my Free Folk out for first event under new changes, at Gareth Hammerton's Knights of Summer event at Board in Brum in Walsall. 12 players rocked up, including at least four who were playing in their first event, which was good to see given all the nay-sayers and doom-mongers out on social media of late.

Also, with an event this coming weekend 11th July in Essex and one on 2nd August at Daventry shows still plenty going on in the UK.

(if interested follow links)

More events at end of reports

With Free Folk, as usual I did have a Mance list but also took the Mighty Mag (boo!!!)

LIST 1

Spearwives with Mance (C) Bonelord's Chosen with Rattleshirt Spearwives with Jarl & Raid Leader War Mammoth Faramyr Sixskins Shadowcat Free Folk Raiders with Borroq

Borroq's Boar NCU's

Lady Val & Craster

LIST 2

Mag the Mighty (C) War Mammoth Savage Giant Savage Giant Giant Spear Thrower Frozen Shore Chariots NCU's

Lady Val & Mance Rayder

GAME 1

Steve "Orvar" Harris

A Dance with Dragons

Baratheons

I've met and played Steve before, he plays with Steve Butler and is pretty chilled. though was running a pair of nasty Baratheon lists, one Stannis and one Renly. He was also kind enough to lend me dice for the event, as I didn't pack mine. Hence the Brotherhood dice you'll see me rolling...

Facing Baratheons is never a good match for Free Folk infantry, so I opted for List 2, as so many attacks ignoring armour seemed sensible

Steve chose a Renly Rainbow Guard list as below

Rainbow Guard with Renly (C)

Thorn Watch with Pikeman Captain

Baratheon Wardens with Thorn Watch Sentinel

Highgarden Pikemen with Cortnay Penrose

Baratheon Sentinels with Master Warden NCU's

Eldon Estermont. Jaqen & Alester Florent

RANDOM TERRAIN & DEPLOYMENT

Terrain: Hedge, Wall & Woods

BARATHEONS: Wardens, Thornwatch, Rainbow Guard,

Sentinels, Pikemen

FREEFOLK: Giant, Giant, Spear Thrower, Mag,

Mammoth, Chariot

ROUND 1

We moved up a bit, but I did score a long range hit that killed a Warden

and Steve dropped 3 more from a bad panic check

Tactics Board End of Round 1

BOARD END OF ROUND 1

I had moved up rapidly, and swung chariot back from the right as wanted to concentrate on what I deemed the weaker side (my left)

ROUND 2

Steve had his Thornwatch in range with a shift, so took swords

Shifting up, he targeted Mag and got a few precision hits...

But I had Mance take bags and heal Mag. The Thornwatch targeted Mag again, leaving me back on having taken 3 wounds.

I had Val take the Horses, and swapped out the move action for "Shrug it off" to make all Steve efforts a waste

On my left, I used Hurl Boulder to kill four Wardens and Steve had another bad panic check from the attack...

The key moment of the game really came when Steve rolled a 2 on a 3+ charge with Renly. That was just after I had asked what the Banners did as I was weighing up a Mammoth charge at Sentinels and wasnt sure if there was a banner move. Steve did say they could give a re-roll charge if used. That allowed my Mammoth to charge in...

Steve did Sentinel up his Sentinels, but Mag charged in and another bad panic roll saw Renly dropped down to a lone man...

The Mammoth died after the Sentinels flank it and I failed a panic. More importantly, it did 3 wounds on Mag. The Sentinels dropped back a bit, allowed my chariot to charge in on Renly but sadly only managed one wound!!!

Board End of Round 2

I took the left and centre objectives, while the Pikemen held the right. The Warden dropped back.

When I took the left, I ended up in Overwatch range if the Thornwatch and took 3 wounds

But I was first activation, had Mag engaged with Renly who only had one wound left...

END OF ROUND 2

BARATHEONS 2 VP's ( 1 unit, 1 objective)

FREE FOLK 2 VP's (2 objectives)

ROUND 3

So no surprises, I took the swords and had Mag splat Renly

Steve took the bags to prevent me healing and also heal up 4 Wardens. I thought this rather rude, so I hurled a boulder, hit and rolled a 3 on the D3...

The Thornwatch had good sense to move away from my approaching Giant while Mag made a rather puny attack (weakened) on the Sentinels who had also smashed the Chariot.

END OF ROUND 3

FREEFOLK 6 VP's ( 2 units, 4 objectives)

BARATHEONS 4 VP's (2 units, 2 objectives)

ROUND 4 & 5

Mag simply swatted the Sentinels and we played out the remainder of the rounds

END OF ROUND 5 (& GAME)

FREE FOLK: 11 VP's (3 Units, 8 Objectives)

BARATHEONS: 6 VP's (2 Units, 4 objectives)

A good win but have to say Steve was seriously unlucky with his Wardens on the left and Renly's failed charge. My Boulder hurling Giants allowed me to get ahead and control the left while the Pikemen didn't feature other than objective sitting on the right. With Renly dead and Mag on the centre drawing fire and healing, it was hard for Steve to do much. The Thornwatch were a pain with their precision, but as well as the Hurl boulder, I also had both Shrug it Off cards early, so could counter their damage. No doubt about it, these new Giants are really tough.

PAINTING

My FREE FOLK

Nigel Bartlett's Free Folk

Steve Harris's Baratheons

Benjamin Worsley's Baratheons

Robert Gee's Nights Watch

Steve Butler's Greyjoys

GAME 2

Jonathan "Birchi87" Ball

Winds of Winter

NIGHTS WATCH

I'd met Jon up in Scotland in April, where my Varamyr list hadran rings around him. eh was determined to put up a better showing and despite no Scorpions, Jon's lists were both very nasty for Giants, and so I opted for List 1 with Mance, as he is better for NCU control, it fitted the scenario better and gave me far more activations.

Jon went with his veteran heavy Mormont list as below:

Veterans of the Watch with Jeor Mormont (C)

Veterans of the Watch with Captain

Coldhands - Mysterious Ally NCU's

Aemon, Yoren & Tycho

RANDOM TERRAIN & DEPLOYMENT

TERRAIN: Stakes, Wall, 3 x Palisade

NIGHTS WATCH: Veterans, Jeor's Veterans, Coldhands, Veterans

FREE FOLK: Mammoth, Mances Spearwives, Varamyr, Bone Lords Chosen, Borroq's Raiders, Boar.

Spearwives came on straight away on left as Jon was going first

ROUND 1

The Spearwives on left used Swords to destroy Stakes, Varamyr did same to Hedge after his cavalry move. Jon split his forces, and I knew I'd have to concentrate on objectives and Jeor and Coldhands as the Captain Veterans were too good for me to face

ROUND 2

I played score for each objective, Jon played take Swords or Horses. I also brought Shadowcat on my right. Jon passed his NCU's as I left the Swords and Horses but he didnt take them. I sacrificed the Spearwives by marching up and sitting partial on the far left objective to prevent Jon scoring, as I took both on my side and the centre. My left Spearwives lost 9 from the Veterans who charged, allowing me to move the Mammoth up off of Diversion Tactics. I then marched it up behind Jeor's unit, forcing Jon to turn and face rather than destroy the palisade as he was likely to do. On the right, the palisade remained a blocker as the Veterans there took the far right objective.

BOARD END OF ROUND 2

FREE FOLK 3 VP's (3 Mission)

NIGHTS WATCH 1 VP (1 Mission)

ROUND 3

With Jeor facing away to deal with the Mammoth, O played score from centre while Jon played Swords or Letters

No pictures this round, as it was tense. I had Endless Horde on the Spearwives on my left, who died easily. My Mammoth survived Jeor's charge, only taking a few wounds and was then flanked by Coldhans who fluffed before dying when the Mammoth scored found wounds despite his "flock of seagulls" (Raven flock) and the Veterans Prowess giving a -2 to hit. I scored the centre for two, and both zones were not claimed

END OF ROUND 3

FREE FOLK 6 VP's (1 unit, 5 Missions)

NIGHT's WATCH 2 VP's (1 unit, 1 Mission)

ROUND 4

I figured Jon was playing go first and score a VP, so I played Swords or Horses. Jon did play go first (moving up to 3 VP's before round started). He also cashed in Yoren's tokens to bring on Conscripts and Coldhands came on ready to run down the Shadowcat or Board

Not using Swords, Jon activated his Conscripts and charged the Mammoth (rolling a 1). They did manage to score a few wounds, before I failed a panic and thrashed about, killing 3 Conscripts and a Veteran.

I activated the Mammoth, needing 4+'s to hit due to Veterans Prowess. But I played Overwhelming Assault as I had eight dice due to wounds took Critical Blow. I managed 8 wounds against the conscripts, who failed their panic and died. Jon was disappointed...

Mance's Spearwives were rear charged by the left Veterans, but I retreated, healed and then regrouped and reformed from the Endless Horde reinforcement Raiders to full health, and got Mance out. Jeor killed the Mammoth and Shadowcat ran away. On the right, the Veterans killed a palisade

END OF ROUND 4

FREE FOLK 7 VP's (2 units, 5 Mission)

NIGHTS WATCH 4 VP's (2 units, 2 Mission)

ROUND 5

I played Unengaged unit in enemy deployment, Jon take tactics zone first (neither of us would)

Jon had Jeor charge in, rolling yet another one.

He did roll four precisions though but didnt kill them and I retreated

I scored 2 VP's for having unengaged unit, going into a 9 - 4 lead.

ROUND 6

I played Swords or Letters, Jon from Centre objective. I tried to hold up Jeor by charging him in the rear with Shadowcat but forgot he had Night Gathers and died from the hits before even attacking. Jeor charged in and ,y Bonelords Chosen were smacked badly and had to retreat, allowing Jon to score another two VP's

END OF ROUND 6 (and Game)

FREE FOLK 9 VP's ( 2 units, 7 Missions)

NIGHTS WATCH 6 VP's (2 units, 4 Mission)

Another cracking game, and I had to be on the ball for this. I played the Missions well, and got a lucky break when the Conscripts went down like they did. The Jarls spearwives allowed me to deny Jon a VP early on and the Mammoth diverted Jeor so I could score the centre unmolested. Having 2 NCU's meant the Missions favoured me and with Wildling diplomacy I could make Jon pass as he wouldnt risk Coldhands from my D3 + 1 wounds. Jon did get ran around again, but his Veterans were simply untouchable and they beat me in any fight, despite rolling four 1's on charges (which helped me survive at times) So I avoided and frustrated the Watch and secured a standard victory. Good to see and play Jon again, and he definitely upped his game from April. Just needs to work on his charge rolls...

GAME 3

BENJAMIN "BENRATHEON" WORSLEY

A FEAST FOR CROWS

BARATHEONS

Not met or played Ben before, think this was his first event to be honest. But he was playing me on table one with a real hard pair of Baratheon R'hllor lists to choose from so figured he knew what he was doing with them.

With another Baratheon list, it was back to List 2 and Mag. Better for the R'llor panic and heavy armour

Ben's chosen list didn't have Melisandre as took the Sentinels for the unit instead.

R'hllor Queen's Men with Stannis (C)

R'hllor Lightbringers with Davos Seaworth

Baratheon Sentinels with Devan Seaworth

King's Men with Axell

Stag Knights with Bryen Farring NCU's

Cressen & Alester Florent

TERRAIN & DEPLOYMENT

TERRAIN: 3 x Stakes, 1 Palisade and Wall

BARATHEONS: Kingsmen, Lightbringers, Stannis Queens Men

Stag Knights, Sentinels

FREE FOLK: Spear thrower, Chariot, Mag, Mammoth

Savage Giant, Savage Giant

Simple plan, keep the left interested with the Spearthrower,

hammer the right side units.

ROUND 1

Mance on Horses moved Mammoth after influencing it with Mance, used swords on it to kill stakes, gaining two cards in the process. I then swung the Chariot around to the right to objective sit. Ben marched the Baratheons up, but erred by placing his Sentinels too close to the palisade, limiting his options.

ROUND 2

More tense maneuvering, with the Kingmens fearlessly marching onto the left corpse pile through the stakes. Unfortunately, I had already taken the horses so when I shifted and hit them with the Spearthrower, Ben failed the panic and dropped the objective. The Sentinels stayed put, keeping the Palisade where it was. So when I sent the Mammoth into the Stag knights, they couldnt maneuver

My right side Giants stayed put, moving up to score and objective and chariot stayed back. I had a plan for that.

BOARD END OF ROUND 2

END OF ROUND 2

FREEFOLK 1 VP

BARATHEON 0 VP's

ROUND 3

Going first, I had the Mammoth smack the Stag Knights. Stannis then charged in, wounding the Mammoth who failed the panic for one but dropped both Baratheon units a few men, leaving Bryen on his own.

But Bryen used Sustained assault for max attacks on activation, with sundering, rerolls etc. Seven hits on the Mammoth resulted in only one unsaved wound. And fortunately for Bryen, I passed my morale. Unfortunate for Ben though...

As I activated Mag, played Blitz to allow him to re-roll charge distance and gain +2 move, for a 3+ charge. (I need the re-roll too) He easily smote down Bryen Farring, then played Overrun into the Sentinels flank, killing another six from his swing and three more from their failed panic

I used Val to move the right giant into the flank of the remaining Sentinels, who wisely retreated, while the chariot took the dropped objective with cavalry move, then destroyed the palisade. The female Giant turned to face Stannis, while on the left, the Spearthrower came under pressure from the Lightbringers and the Kings Men. So I moved away from them

END OF ROUND 3

FREE FOLK 3 VP's (1 unit, 2 Objectives)

BARATHEONS 0 VP's

ROUND 4

Ben made a big play, sacrificing Cressen on the swords, allowing Stannis to finish off the Mammoth, before activating Stannis to charge into Mag's rear and with Tactical approach on, dealing an extra +2 wounds. It was a valiant effort, as it left Mag on one wound. I resisted the temptation to let Mag die by attacking, instead using the right Giant to charge and finish the Sentinels (who would have done for Mag had I attacked Stannis)

The Horses allowed me to move the Giant around onto corpse pile behind Stannis, then I played Chieftains Orders to allow him to charge Stannis in the rear

Mag retreated out (or rather limped away on his one wound) before the Giantess flanked Stannis, forcing a To the Last to be used...

The Spearthrower marched past the Kingsmen, but took some wounds from the Lightbringers on the left corpse pile

END OF ROUND 4

FREE FOLK 6 VP's (2 units, 4 objectives)

BARATHEONS 2 VP's (1 unit, 1 objective)

ROUND 5 & 6

Mance took the swords and had the rear Giant thump Stannis who used his last "To the Last" before failing the panic and being wiped out. I grabbed two objectives while the Lightbringers took one. The Giant Spearthrower finally got engaged and killed by the Kingsmen.

BOARD END OF ROUND 6

END OF GAME

FREE FOLK 11 VP's (3 units, 8 objectives)

BARATHEONS 5 VP's (2 Units, 3 Objectives)

Again, I got some luck. Steve's loaned Brotherhood dice worked well for me, the terrain rolls with 3 palisades hindered unit trays more than solo units and my tactical plan worked well. One spear thrower on the left kept two units busy, while I concentrated my forces on my right. And I had some really good cards in hand when needed. Not sure Ben could have done much more given the terrain, mission and the "new" Giants.

A cracking event, with new players too. A tie for Most Sporting saw both Nights Watch players collect a prize, Jon Ball and Robert Gee

Nigel won best painted with his Free Folk, Dan Lowndes at his first event placed 3rd with Bolton, Steve Butler second with Greyjoys and my three wins secured me 1st place