Orcs v Elves, Kings of War.

 MisterC came up for our long anticipated game of Kings of War today. With our wives heading off for a walk MisterC and I set up. He had brought his Orc army along to face my Elves. As I had set the table up MisterC chose table edge and quick dice throws decided that I would start deployment first and then take first turn. 

Deployment, elves to the left, orcs to the right. 

We were playing scenario 4: Dominate, a fight to control the centre of the board. 

A close up of MisterC's new unit of orcs (the red ones) and his Orc Wardrum which was to have quite an impact on the game. 

First moves, my elves move their missile troops forward to shoot at the advancing Gore riders. Elf shooting was good and we caused enough damage to Rout them but the nearby Orc Krudger used his 'Inspiring' rule to force a re-throw which saved them. The elves also shot at the far troop of Moraxes and should have routed them as well but the Inspiring re-throw also saved them. 

Note the Drakon Riders who used their fly and nimble to get around the flank of the trolls and lead them on quite a dance. 

Taking cover in the woods 0n the left, some Orc Skulks shoot at my Kindred Elf Archers and scored an incredible five 6's with their 8 attacks. Thankfully this resulted in just 3 damage which the elves were able to shrug off. 

Why is my Magic user standing out in the open, someone could charge him...?

Meanwhile the elf Kindred Archers entered the woods on the left and rout the Orc Skulks.

Whoops, Eritas the Scribe gets eaten by Gore riders. That was very careless of me as he had been using his Lightning Bolt to great effect. 

Orc Sandwich as I try and get as many elf units attacking just two orc ax units, some getting the extra attacks for flank and rear attacks. I was hoping to control the table centre by the end of this turn but sadly for me, one of the orc units survived. Damned wardrum helping them survive. (Good use of that by MisterC). 

My Silverbreeze Cavalry bravely charge into the flank of the Gore Riders who survive then turn and squish my poor cavalry troop. I think a certain Wardrum or Inspiring character helped the Gore Riders again. 

At this point my Elves seemed to have the upperhand. The trolls were stranded out wide having no effect on the game and we were winning the big central clash. 

If you look closely you may spot Elf Prince, Cadvan Dunmail finally entering the fray. 

The orc Moraxes routed my Elf Kindred archers in the wood so my Drakon Rides flew over and routed them in return, things still going well for the elves. 

With that damned Orc Wardrum saving the remaining Orc unit again MisterC was able to move some of his characters into the melee and his Godspeaker, Baragh (magic user) started blasting elves with his Fireball spell. 

Oh no, my Tree Shamblers and then the Drakon Riders get routed and suddenly things are not going well for the elves. The orc warlord Huglik the Vile alongside Vesp the Orc flager had ganged up on the Drakons to see them off. 

Finally with just 2 characters and my bolt thrower left and the Orc trolls largely untouched and in control of the table centre my remaining few elves withdrew to fight another day. MisterC was certainly in control of the table centre. 

This was a classic and most enjoyable game of Kings of War. After 3 turns MisterC and his Orcs were looking doomed, by the end of turn 5 it was the elves who were running off leaving what few Orcs were left to enjoy a narrow but deserved victory. 

This is how wargaming should be, great fun with a good mate. 

I think next time I play Orcs I will have an Orc Wardrum kill squad in my army.