Last week I played Danny and used my Normans against his Vikings, tried some different moves, and being very tired from work went down for the count…. could not roll a save to save my life (or the Norman Hearthguard) 4 mounted Normans destroyed by his Levy’s! I didn’t take many pictures (to tired) and the battle is a bit fuzzy (same excuse) but there were a few and I do remember a some well intentioned charges by the Normans followed by horrendous die rolls….and in the end a large pile of dead Normans! Well at least I got rid of my bad dice before the con.

The Warbands face off!

The “Dead Pool” and it would get bigger!

Near the end, I think a last Norman charge at the two Viking Hearthguard killed them but in the fray the Normans failed saves again and took 3 casualties to the Horse!

Steve G got back from Georgia Friday so we just hung at my place Saturday and Steve was kind enough to act as my “sparring” partner for a few SAGA tune-up games…lol! First a straight up Warlord vs. Warlord, Norman (me) vs. Viking bash, Vikings went down after a hard fight. The next was a Viking vs. Viking with me using my almost complete (a few with unfinished bases) Vikings warband in the “Battle at the Ford”

With many of our games Steve and I play “Friendly” and advise each other of mistakes or suggest better moves when playing so we improve both our games in the future, this was the case in our first game but the second one I advised him that the “gloves were off” (well sort of) and my Vikings were out for blood! Steve decided to make the first bold move and charged over the bridge on the right, he also led with his “chin” placing his Bezerkers in front of the charge across the bridge and not waiting for his bowmen’s support! Behind them a second Hearthguard and his Warlord. My bowmen had taken up position and rained arrows on the Bezerkers in the middle of the bridge…a dead Bezerker, bad as there are only four! Facing them my 8 man Hearthguard screamed in defiance as his Bezerkers charged into them, his second Hearthguard unit followed on their heels jumping off the bridge and hitting my Levy archers… My 8 man Hearth guard fought well (rolled) and after a sharp exchange his Bezerkers went to see Odin! I lost only one Hearthguard. Steves other Hearthguard unit did little better in melee taking out two bowman while losing one of theirs. On the other side of the “battle at the ford” the action consisted of little more than hard stares as his force of 2-8 man Warrior units with a 4 man Hearthguard unit faced my one 8 man Warrior units along with 2 Hearthguard units and my warlord. The next turn saw more action on the bridge with my Levy Bowmen retreating to a house in the center and my large Hearthguard charging and vaporizing his remaining Hearthguard. His Warlord now stood on the bridge alone, my Hearthguard activated a second time charged, used FRIGG to remove FATIGUE and GAIN an ATTACK die, and he too followed his warriors to Valhalla!

Got to love those “FOUNDRY” Vikings, Bill’s victorious Hearthguard charges over the bridge.

At this point Steve was ready to toss in the towel but after much cajoling by me about “don’t give up the ship”, “victory from the jaws of defeat” and some other rot…. He got his second wind and started to advance on the other flank. I could have sat back and let my archers weaken him (they were now occupying the building in the center) but that would not be the “Viking way” so I decided to oblige him and join battle at the ford. After all I was stronger on this flank and he was rising up to the fight, he should go down swinging!

Meanwhile back at the Bridge my large Hearthguard after running down his Warlord continued over and off the bridge striking his archers in the woods, another quick fight, and using the “THOR” ability to fight a second round of MELEE at no fatigue cost Steve’s dead Archers made it a busy day in Valhalla! I now had a 6 man Hearthguard unit on his side of the river. 6 point of victory unless he could push them back…unlikely as he was was down to 3 SAGA dice per turn and I now charged over the ford to meet him on the left. Overconfidence on my side and good play and rolls by Steve made the “Ford” a bloody place! First my warriors and his Warrior unit clashed, his men obviously angered at the Death of their Warlord fought like demons and my Warriors were reduced to a single man, retreating out of the way as my 4 man

Hearthguard unit charge in to avenge their brothers. The Hearthguard severely hurt his first Warrior unit but also failed to save the hits (5) his Warriors caused, a second “defeat” for my force as my lone Hearthgurd figure retreated to join the lone warrior off in the bushes! Now it was my Bezerkers turn! A powerful unit if given the proper chance… they charged in and tore apart his second warrior unit, dead to a man! However the fighting was fierce, the Bezerkers took enough return damage and failing their saves also melted off the battlefield, Wow! This was turn seven and the game ended with Steve’s last unit, the 3 man Hearthguard unit stared at my Warlord across the ford littered with the dead and dying to see my Levy archers and Warlord standing there as ripe targets. With a bit more time they “might” avenge their Warlords death and the enemy incursion onto their side of the river…however daylight and the howling of my larger Hearthguard unit approaching to their side caused then to withdraw and think of next seasons battles!

Our Warriors clash at the Ford!

This was our first “scenario” and we both liked it as a change from the Warlord vs. Warlord standard fights.

Steve G and I are probably going to Kingdom con for the SAGA tourney. Thought it might be nice to see and play and see how a different group handles SAGA. There will also be a SAGA “Samurai” demo on Friday night. Steve and I will definitely be there for the Saturday SAGA game so if anyone wants to “car pool” please let me know. Should be a hoot!

Bill W

The finish with my archers in the building, my Hearth guard on Steve’s side of the river, and my Warlord saying “Go back to your women, this land is ours now!”