SAGA AoM: The Undead Legions vs the Horde

 

Myself and Luis got together at my place for a game of SAGA, it was the first meet up for us in awhile and it is always good to see Luis. We decided to have an Age of Magic game and I believe it has actually been sometime since I played this Universe. The game was also a couple of firsts for me, it was the first time I have played this warband, but more importantly it was the first time my Revenants have seen the table.They were painted many years ago.

The Undead Legions-7 Saga Dice

Necromancer-Nightmares, Precognition, Erosion

Black Knight

Monster-Behemoth

Static War Machine.

Warriors x 6

Bow-armed Warriors

The Crypt

The Horde-7 Saga Dice

Warlord

Monster-Titan

Quadruped Creatures x3

Hearthguard x2

Warriors x5

Bow-armed Levy

Sacrificial Stone

Set-up-Chaos

Rough Ground

Vanguard

Until Dusk

Target

Mostly SAGA figures, with some LoTR figures added. 

I believe around turn 3, as you can see I advanced my 10 figures warrior units in both the centre and to my left flank, at this point I had lost a unit of warriors in a melee with Luis's creatures, but it was worth it as I took out 3 Creatures. Five massacre points vs 12!

Luis's Titan, a beautiful figure.

Luis's warriors surrounding his Warlord.

I made excellent use of the Crypt with my Necromancy ability.

Not a real Catapult!

By Turn 5 it was clear to me that I was ahead on points, as I had taken out Luis's Hearthguard and his Creatures. I started to pull back my troops, Luis was able to get one final charge on Turn 6 in the upper left of the table, but I was lucky and just lost 4 warriors with 4 figures reamaining. The final score: 21 points for the Undead and 7 for the Horde.

I enjoyed the game and I found The Undead Legions very interesting to play, certainly they may favour a defensive style of play. The War Machine did not at much as the Horde have a SAGA ability that puts them in solid cover, I think they only scored 2 kills on 4 shots, might not take them again. I made no use of the Monster but I believe he might be useful once I figure out how to use it. Although, the Black Knight did nothing in the game I believe him necessary to protect the Necromancer in case he takes a hit. I made good use of the spells except Erosion but it maybe it is enemy dependent.

Thanks Luis for coming over.

Now to prepare for an AoI game with PY.

SAGA-AoM

Had my second in-person game this Monday at the Hobby Bunker at it's new location in Wakefield. It is funny how reliant and sophisticated we have come with Virtual wargaming but it is fun to get together and have a game. This was a SAGA game with my friend Adam. I actually have another in-person game coming up in Montreal at the end of next week, it will be my first trip in 18 months and I will be quite happy to be there.

Game Set-up (BoB Chaos)

Scenery-Unknown Lands

Deployment-Refused Flank

Special Rule-Hostile Land

Victory Conditions-Show of Force

Game Length-Until Dusk

The Lords of the Wild (8 SAGA Dice)

The Hunter (1)

Monster Titan (1)

Creature Flyers (1)
Ranger (4 warriors)

4 Mounted Hearthguard (1)

8 Bow Armed Hearthguard (2)
8 Bow Armed Warriors (1)

4 Warriors (1)
Sacred Ground-Primitive Totem

The Horde (6 SAGA Dice)

Warrior

Champion

Behemoth

3 Trolls
16 Hearthguard
8 Warriors
Sacred Ground-Sacrificial Stone

We were a little rusty, but the game went fairly quickly. I quickly got 4 points for getting my flying creatures on Adam's edge. We then engaged in multiple small skirmishes, some I won and some I lost. I put my Warlord in jeopardy but was able to pull him out to safety although he lost one of his companions. I took several shots at the Trolls but they were invincible. Six turns went quickly and when we tallied up the points it was a clear victory (Lords of the Wild) for myself 19-11.

SAGA is always both fun and a challenge, we are however planning something different for our next game as my Spanish fleet is going to finally sail into Salem!

SAGA AoM - In-Person Game!

On Thursday last, I finally got in a game where my opponent was in the same room...over a year! It was my first game with Adam since the fall of 2019 and my first game of AoM since the Summer of 2019. I had some AoV SAGA games with my friend Luis in Montreal in December and January of last winter, it is amazing how the past year and some has been turned upside down.

Anyway it was great to get in a game and interestingly enough, I suspect it will be my last game at the Hobby Bunker........as they are moving to a new location in Wakefield.

 

Game Set-up (BoB Chaos)

Scenery-Standard

Deployment-Confusion

Special Rule-Forced March

Victory Conditions-Subjugation

Game Length-Until Dusk

The Lords of the Wild (7 SAGA Dice)

The Hunter (1)

Monster Titan (1)

Creature Flyers (1)
Sorcerer (1)

4 Mounted Hearthguard (1)

8 Bow Armed Hearthguard (2)
8 Bow Armed Warriors (1)
Sacred Ground-Primitive Totem

The Otherworld (7 SAGA Dice)

Archdemon (1)
Winged Sorcerer (1)

Monster Scourge (1)
12 Hearthguard (3)
8 Hunter Warriors (1)
8 Warriors (1)
Sacred Ground-Unstable Portal

Although the game was set at 6 turns, time was limited as Adam had to pick up his little girl. The game started off well for both of us, I was able to get in the first kill by using the ability Call of the Spirits, which took out 4 of the The Otherworld Hunters. We seesawed back and forth then, with Adam taking out 1 of my Mounted Hearthguard as well as his Scourge killing all my Warriors. I was able to take out a few of his Hearthguard with my Bow Armed Hearthguard. Adam did a much better job using his Magic spells than I which did give me quite bit of grief. Unfortunately, time went by quickly as we had not played any AoM for over 18 months and we had to finish off after 5 turns only. We did the Arithmetic and Adam was ahead, but it was pretty clear as you can see in the last photo his Archdemon was under significant threat. I believe if we got to turn 6, he would have been done for as I had yet to initiate the Call of the Wild, a one off ability the Hunter has to activate all units for free. Famous last words!

It was great fun to go to the Hobby Bunker, see Adam again and get in a game of SAGA. I also was quite pleased to get a new warband for SAGA on the table. Hopefully another game soon.

SAGA AoM: The Lords of the Wild

I finally finished my second Warband for SAGA Age of Magic, my first was Masters of the Underearth and was based on the Goblins from the Games Workshop collections for LotR and the Hobbit.

The Lords of the Wild faction is also based on Games Workshop figures but this time on the Elves, aside from a few additions. I really had a lot of fun putting together this Warband, many had been painted by my son many years ago which I touched up but there are some additions by myself.

The warband is as follows:

Base Force

Warlord

Lieutenant (figure cost)

Sorcerer (1)

Titan (1)

Creatures (flying) x2 (1/figure cost)

Hearthguard (1)

Heavy Weapon Armed Hearthguard (1)

Bow-Armed Hearthguard x2 (2)

Warriors (1)

Bow-Armed Warriors (1)

Specials/Legendary Units

Bow-Armed Ranger (Lieutenant)

The Hunter and the Great Hunt Warlord (1)

As you can see, the maximum points fielded here can be up to 10. I would like to add some Levy eventually as well as some Shapeshifters. I already have on hand a Mounted Warlord and Mounted Hearthguard. They are a little back in the painting queue.

The Hunter with his 2 companions

Flying Creature One....

....and Two

These are great figures.

Anyway, I hope gaming resumes soon but I suspected I will be trapped in the USoT for many months yet, so I will have to be patient. Next up will be some more figures for another Studio Tomahawk game.

More Elf Hearthguard

One of my favourite scenes

The Lords of the Wild is one of the few warbands in SAGA that allow Bow-Armed Hearthguard.

   

 

These plastic figures were very nice to paint

 

Leader figures for the Warband. The lieutenant (Ranger) can be armed with a bow or sword, to the far left is the sword version and just to his right is the bow armed version. In the centre is the Huntsman, a legendary unit, I need to find a couple of animal companions for him. Second from the right is the warlord for the unit and the odd figure on the right is my Sorcerer. All from the GW LotR line, from left to right: Haldir, a High Elf Archer, Gil-galad, Elrond and Radagast.

I painted Gil-galad and Radagast, while my son Simon painted the rest about 15 years ago.

A Titan Monster for the Warband

again painted by my son some years ago.

I am pretty sure that I can now field a 8 point AoM Lords of the Wild warband, but I do have plans to give myself some options, a little tough now as a lot of the larger figure manufacturers are not delivering orders, including Games Workshop. No reason not to put in an order to your local hobby shop though to sort them through these lean times.

Eleven Hearthguard-AHPCX # 10

 

Still plugging away at the painting. One of my goals during the challenge was to complete a Lords of the Wild warband using elves from my LOTR collection for SAGA AoM. Next up are 2 Hearthguard units. These were half painted by my son many years ago, they were airbrushed with Tamiya flat black and re-painted and based to match the the current war band. I thought about stripping the metal casts but decided against it, so they are a little less defined than the plastic sculpts which just had been previously primed. I am happy enough with them. I have 11 more figures to go but I somehow another think that this will not get done for the Challenge.

 

 

 

AoM: Refused Flank

 

Myself and Adam got in our second game of SAGA Age of Magic last night, but our first using sorcerers. We went with the same warbands as previous and both started with 7 SAGA Dice.

Game Set-up (BoB Chaos)

Scenery-Marshy Country

Deployment-Refused Flank (fighting along the long axis)

Special Rule-Fog (no L Shooting or Charges in first 3 turns)

Victory Conditions-Target (Massacre Points with bonus for killing target unit)

Game Length-Cautious (5 turns-opponent moves first)

The Great Kingdoms (7 SAGA Dice)

Warlord
Sorcerer
Captain (cost 6 Levies)
Paladin (cost 4 Warriors)
3 Hearthguard (half mounted)
2 spear-armed Warriors(-4)
2 bow-armed Levy (-6)
Sacred Ground-Memorial

Masters of the Under Earth (7 SAGA Dice)

Goblin King
Sorcerer
Lieutenant (cost 2 Hearthguard)
3 heavy-weaponed Hearthguard-Grim Hammers (-2)
1 cross-bow armed Warriors-Uruk-hai
1 cross-bow armed Warriors-Moria Goblins (-2)
1 Destruction Team-Moria Goblins (cost 2 Warriors)
2 units of  Goblintown Levy
Sacred Ground-Underground Network

Initial Set Up

Masters of the Under Earth

The Great Kingdoms

Early use of Chasm to slow the GK advance

Sneaky Goblins have come through the Underground Network

This Paladin just would not fall

 It was a fun game and went quite smoothly, using spells was quite interesting and relatively easy. The fact that we got a combination of Fog and a 5 Turn game with two shooting armies really kept the attrition down, but I did ike out a Victory with the MaUE scoring 15 points to tthe GK's 9.