Creating a new army list

Writing stats for the Woodmen of Mirkwood and testing them in a game got me thinking. Why not write a new army list? There are some unexplored people in Middle Earth (at least when it comes to SBG), mostly due to them not starring in the movies.

So, the plan is, to first create a list for the Northern Anduin. This is the home of the Beornings (the folk that chose Beorn as their leader after the Battle of Five Armies), the Woodmen of Mirkwood, the Léofrics (relatives of the Rohirrim who didn't follow Èorl down into the Riddermark) and even some Wild Hobbits (relatives of Sméagol).

So, for heroes, there's Radagast (who is considered a important counsel to the Woodmen) and Beorn (the leader and kind of chieftain to his people). But as the people of the Anduin Valley are living between the Misty Mountains and Mirkwood, there's certainly a lot of heroes that are not known by now.

But where to get miniatures? Now, as described by Tolkien, the people of Wilderland should look something like the various Germanic tribes of the Dark Ages. Therefore, historical miniatures like those for the SAGA system are a perfect fit (better than a lot of the movies, in fact).

Here, we have Gripping Beast Jomsvikings, perfect for the Woodmen.

Viking archers are perfectly suited to represent the rangers of Mirkwood.

Viking warlords can be used as the Hirth, elite warriors of the Woodmen.

Battle Report: Radagast's Alliance vs. Easterlings

After painting four different armies for MESBG and playing only a few games, I've finally got a game going that was worth a battlerep.

First, my better half wanted to try the Easterlings (OK, initially they were meant as an evil army for me, but ok...). Second, I finally got around to write a whole new army list for the Woodmen of Mirkwood.

Why an additional, unoffical army list, some may ask. Now, for one I don't like the look PJ decided on the Wilderland cultures. They are remnants of a Northmen culture, siblings of the later Èotheod - so, they should look more like Northmen.
GW neglected the Woodmen - the main allies of Radagast. They even founded a settlement around Rhosgobel, holding the Things there. The official army list has Radagast (in his cramp-causing incarnation from The Hobbit, mostly) and Great Eagles - point. I don't think anyone plays that army without allies ...

So, I picked profiles from Rohan and Dunland (being the closest cultural choices), and wrote profiles for my Gripping Beast Jomsvikings.

The Good army had 555 points with 17 models, the Evil one 562 with 27. The scenario was Secure the Area - and I placed a watchtower in the center to fight over.

I rolled for arrivals - and found it very handy that I had only two warbands, as I was rolling only for my opponent to decide upon the entering edge...

The Easterlings were commanded by Amdûr - and he underestimated the power of Radagast, sending his Cataphracts against him. The Dragonknight was unhorsed before he could even charge, his mount fleeing in terror.
On the other side of the village, the Woodmen, lead by Jarl Viglaf of Woodland Hall, cautiously moved forward.

The Great Eagle got wounded by two lucky bowmen, but ripped through soldiers like a whirlwind of death. Radagast got surrounded by the riders - and shook them out of their saddles with Wrath of Nature. The eagle came to his rescue and shredded two Cataphracts, allowing the wizard to move away.

On the other side, Amdûr charged the woodmen - a deadly mistake. He got surrounded, unhorsed and hacked to pieces by the warriors, while his shieldwall was pushed back.

The Great Eagle tore the Dragonknight down, charging the remaining Cataphracts, while Radagast cast a Healing spell upon him. Immobilizing one of the horses, the eagle came over the unlucky riders wiht claws and beak...

Viglaf lead his men to the tower, where three bowmen had practiced their shooting at his warriors. The Easterlings where pushed back, and broke under the charge of the Woodmen. Some fled the battlefield.

And then, felling two Easterlings with his mighty sword and axe, Viglaf routed the enemy. Screaming in terror, they left their dead behind and ran for their dear lives.

The Easterlings would have won the scenario, had they not been broken and the Woodmen still standing fast. So, they battle ended with a 5:3 victory for Radagast's Alliance.

A classical strategy won the day: keeping the cavalry occupied and using the narrow space between the houses to confront the infantry. I let the Easterlings get the tower too soon, though, so I had to kill their commander and brake them. Against a less aggressive opponent, this may have cost me the victory.