Midgard - Fords of Isen

This scenario comes from Mr Savage’s excellent article in the 2024 TFL Special, rescaled to match the figures I have. It follows Scenario 2, “None Shall Pass” from the main Midgard rulebook. The table layout is played longways rather than widthways across the table, to give space for the flanking forces to arrive. The game is 6 turns long and Rohan would win if they still held both crossings at the end. Isengard win if they hold both crossings. Alternatively, the game ends when either side has its Reputation reduced to 0 or less. Both sides start the game with the same number of Reputation Tokens as the Isengard forces (11 Tokens), despite the Rohan force being smaller.

Rohan Main Force:

• Eomer, Prince of Rohan (Army Commander), with 2 Units of Rohan Warriors (foot) & 1 Unit of Rohan Formed Archers
• Balin, Dwarf King, with 1 Unit of Armoured Dwarf Warriors, 2 Units of Unarmoured Dwarf Warriors & 1 Unit of Dwarf Formed Archers

Rohan Relief Force:

• Theoden, with 2 Units of Riders of Rohan

Forces of Isengrad, Main Force:

• Mauhur, Urjuk-Hai Captain (Army Commander), with 2 Units of Uruk-Hai Phalanx, 2 Units of Uruk-Hai and Warriors and 1 Unit of Uruk-Hau Crossbow
• Ugluk, Uruk-Hai Captain, with 1 Unit of Isengard Trolls & 2 Units of Orc Warriors
• Gorbag, Orc Captain with 2 Units of Orc Warriors

Forces of Isengrad, Flanking Force:

• Sharku, Warg Rider Chieftain, with 2 Units of Warg Riders
• Guritz, Orc Captain, with 2 Units of Ork Archer Skirmishers

Eomer & the Rohan foot took-up defensive positions behind the Southern ford and Balin and his Dwarves, behind the Northern ford.

The numerous hordes of Isengard split, with the Urk-Hai aiming for the Northern ford and the Orcs, supported by the trolls, headed for the Southern ford.

The disciplined Uruk-Hai advanced strongly toward the Northern ford, whereas the Orcs were rather more shambolic in their move toward the Southern ford!

Mauhur & the lead Uruk-Hai phalanx ploughed into the northern ford, rapidly rolling back the armoured dwarf defenders (Rob’s dice rolling on form again!).

The lead orc unit did manage to struggle across the Southern ford, only to be driven back by Eomer’s Rohan foot, slaying the orc captain, Ugluk in the process. Bloodied but undeterred, the Orcs surged again, but stalled once more. The trolls behind them were now getting very frustrated!!

Back at the Northern ford, Mauhur’s Uruk-Hai phalanx had crushed the armoured dwarf defenders and set about chasing the unarmoured dwarven warrior support. Part of the collapse of the Dwarven flank, was the arrival of the orc flanking force. The orc skirmish bowmen quickly worked their way into the woods and were assailing the dwarven right flank, forcing Balin to turn his attention (unsuccessfully!) to clearing the woods.

The flanking Warg riders were hoping to fall upon the beleaguered Dwarven rear, but Theoden and his Riders of Rohan intercepted them and rolling cavalry melee ensued, in the plains behind the fords.

After destroying the Warg riders, Theoden charged on, into the now damaged Uruk-Hai phalanx, finally removing that threat, only to find another fresh phalanx behind that! The Northern ford was lost!

Back at the Southern ford, the trolls finally tramped over the bodies of the orc vanguard, but while they hewed great rips in the Rohan ranks, they too fell to the Rohan spears. This left the orc third wave to carry the ford. They set about a mutually destructive assault on the ford, bringing down one unit of Rohan spear, before the second unit, once more drove the orcs back into the ford, slaying a second orc champion!

However, Eomer knew that he had to recapture the ford (turn 6!), so he rallied what few Rohan spear that remained and charged again, only to be driven back! The fords of Isen lay in Isengard hands!?