BGiME #8: Trees and Forests

Trees are a wargaming table staple. No matter what system or period you prefer, you can always spruce (heheh) up the tabletop with trees. From lonely pines to small groves of oaks to full forests capable of hiding divisions, trees are the bee’s knees.

They’re also something I lack in my terrain inventory. I have a few I repainted and based from dollar store Christmas scene trees, but I need more. I’ve been waiting for the Battlefield in a Box woods to be manufactured again, but they seem to be on permanent pre-order. So I was enthusiastic at first about issue #8 demonstrating cheap and easy means to create tabletop trees.

I started in making them and I was satisfied with the first phases of the process. The twisted garden wire trunks—covered in masking table and spackle for texture—turned out great. Then came adding the foliage. I used the magazine’s suggestion of doing the foliage with sisal moss, a single package of which I found at the dollar store. The original moss was light tan in coloration, so I purchased a small can of green spray paint to give it the proper hue. 

The problem may be either that I didn’t have enough moss or that I did a poor job affixing it to the trees. Regardless of the reason, my end results weren’t quite equal to those show in the magazine. They’d serve in a pinch, but they’re not something I’m particularly proud to put down on the table. I’m chalking these up to a lesson learned and going to continue to keep my eyes peel for good-looking commercially made trees in a suitable scale.

BGiME #8: Raid on Lothlorien

As mentioned in this issue’s overview, the battle scenario for BGiME #8 sees Frodo and Legolas facing off against two bands of Moria goblins, trapped in between fleeing raiders from Lothlorien and hunters looking for revenge. The encounter occurs in the eaves of Lothlorien: half of the board is covered in trees, with the last 6” of it being dense forest and therefore difficult terrain.

Frodo must escape deep into Lothlorien to evade the goblins and win a victory for Good. The Moria goblins, however, need only slay the Ringbearer to achieve victory. Although the forces of Evil greatly outnumber those of Good (nine goblins including a Goblin captain vs. only Frodo and Legolas), the Elf Prince’s three attacks during the Shoot phase and Frodo’s mithril coat might buy them enough time to escape. Or at least, that’s the theory.

In practice, things turned out pretty bleak for Good. We played the session a good four or five time with three people present, swapping sides after each bout so that everyone got a chance to try out their tactics for either side. In the end, Good only managed to achieve victory once. I employed the gambit of keeping as much cover between Frodo and the goblin archers—including using Legolas as a meat shield—while the elf’s arrows thinned the fence of goblins standing between the Ringbearer and the escape edge of the board.

After playing through eight of the BGiME scenarios, Evil seems to have an advantage most time. I believe this might change once we start using some of the more advanced rules. But as it stands, Evil often wins on either numbers or Defense scores in many of the bouts. This one was no exception.

Goblins advance of the Ringbearer and the Woodland Prince.

The Moria Goblin Captain draws a bead on Legolas.

Legolas tries to winnow down the goblins' numbers as they close on Frodo.

Good is locked in combat and cannot escape!

We'll try again. Maybe if we go this way...

"Not so fast, Blondie! Eat arrows!"

Once again, Good is overwhelmed numbers and unable to flee.

Frodo takes a goblin sword in the back!

"Ok, boys. Let's get 'em one more time!"

Legolas eyes the goblin archers off camera as Moria sword goblins approach.

All alone in the eaves of Lothlorien. Can Good ever triumph?

BGiME #8: Painting Legolas

I own a plethora of Legolas (Legoli?) models. As is my wont, I decided to paint two versions of the Woodland Prince. One is a plastic version from my Mines of Moria starter set, and the other is a metal model from the original Fellowship of the Ring boxed set. 

Since the Battle Games’ instructional painting sections, at least for now, are aimed at beginning painters, I don’t mind if my plastic Fellowship heroes are done in a most basic tabletop standard fashion. My metal heroes, however, I’d like to be of better quality. So with that caveat in mind, here’s the two Legolas models I now have painted and ready to take the table.

Here's my metal version:

As always, I don't foresee any Golden Demon awards in my future, but I'm pretty proud that I can do a tolerable job of painting my wargaming forces. Legolas, in whatever guise I choose to field, is ready to take on some Moria Goblins in this issue's scenario. Let's hope he fares well!

Battle Games in Middle-earth #8 Overview

We take a journey into the realm of the elves with Battle Games in Middle-earth #8, temporarily forsaking the world of Men, Hobbits, and Orcs for an older race. Fans of Legolas Greenleaf undoubtedly rejoiced when this issue hit the stands, as it not only provides rules for including the elven archer in your tabletop battles, but a lovely metal miniature of him as well. 

This issue’s “Guide to Middle-earth” covers more ground than normal. First off, the chapter examines the various weapons one might wield or face in battle. Uruk-hai crossbows, bladed orc bows, elf bows, throwing axes, two-handed weapons such as elf swords and dwarven axes, and general hand weapons all are briefly described accompanied by movie production photos. 

The second section of the chapter gives us a thumbnail look at Lothlorien, Land of the Elves. This provides background information for the scenario appearing later in the issue, as well as presenting an extremely brief overview of Lothlorien’s place in Middle-earth and its mistress, Galadriel.

The third section introduces the reader to Legolas, Woodland Prince. It covers his role in the Fellowship, his skills and natural talents, and describes his “battle highlights” of memorable moments in the conflicts the Fellowship endured, up to and including Helm’s Deep.

After this lengthy “Guide,” issue #8 dives into the “Playing the Game” section. This issue’s chapter isn’t an in-depth one as others have been. I suspect the increased page count of the preceding section cut into the available space for #8’s “Playing the Game.” We received a mere two pages that broadly describe SBG’s missile weapons. Basic rules for thrown weapons, previously undiscussed, are the most useful piece of information from the two pages, although the crossbow is also introduced. Alas, while it’s stated that an Uruk-hai armed with a crossbow cannot move if it wishes to fire during the Shoot phase, no range or Strength rating is given for the weapon, making the new weapon yet unusable in your combats.

The “Battle Game” chapter is “Raid on Lothlorien,” a scenario which takes place shortly after the Fellowship flees Moria. The premise is that the goblins of Moria emerge after nightfall to hunt them down. The horde of goblins clashes with Haldir and his elves, sending some of the forces of Evil scrambling back towards Moria. Simultaneously, Frodo has become separated from the Fellowship and Legolas catches up with him just as a band of goblin hunters—led by a Moria Goblin Captain—stumbles upon them. Making matters worse, goblins fleeing Haldir and his guards come upon the scene from the opposite side of the board, effectively catching Frodo and Legolas between the hammer and anvil. Can the Ringbearer and the Woodland Prince escape?

“Painting Workshop” provides the usual step-by-step method of turning this issue’s model into a tabletop ready combatant. Legolas Greenleaf comes to life as the tutorial explains how to use a black lining technique to create more realistic looking clothing and faces, instructions sure to be useful as we increase our collection of models. Also helpful is a tip about using tile as a mixing palette. Cheap and re-usable, it’s a great new addition to our inventory of painting tools.  

Our last section, my beloved “Modelling Workshop” covers how to scratch-build trees for your table. Trees are a miniature wargaming staple, and no board is complete without at least a few of these to breakup lines of sight, provide cover, and offer dense terrain to negotiate. The instructions provided demonstrate how to make cheap but presentable trees for your table. The results, at least on paper, look good. We’ll see how they stack up when we sit down to craft our own.

Issue #8’s final page offers up a preview of what Battle Games in Middle-earth #9 has in store for us. It looks like bad news for Rohan next time as we get a scenario pitting Uruk-hai against a Rohan village, a metal Uruk-hai Captain model to paint and to lead them, as well as new rules for weapons including pikes, two-handed swords, and others. Luckily, it seems like instructions for building a Rohan warning beacon are also provided, giving us hope of calling for aid.

Until then, let’s dive deeper in Battle Games in Middle-earth issue #8!