Into The West Review: Day 1

As this is my first tournament I just wanted 2 wins if I am honest. I went with a theme-y but I thought relatively competitive force, this consisted of:

Prince Imrahil with armoured horse and lance

2 Knights of Dol Amroth with armoured horse and lance

2 Knights of Dol Amroth

8 Men-at-arms of Dol Amroth with pike

Duinhir

4 Knights of Dol Amroth

8 Blackroot Vale Archers

I always thought that if Imrhail stayed alive I would have a chance in each game as I would have banner re-rolls for 2/3s of my force and Duinhir and his archers would only go into combat if it was needed. Plus any monsters would be target priority with handy re-rolls to wound.

My very first game was against Kieran Street and his mounted Witchking with 4 other mounted Ringwraiths playing Rescue with me as the defender. Turn one was not my favourite due to Imrahil having his Will sapped, then channeled Black Dart with a further Black Dart caused his end. For the next few turns I chased a few Wraiths and eventually combat started with quite a few men from Dol Amroth dying. This caused me to walk up Duinhir to pass the courage check and his Stand Fast! after 2 Wraiths had already run out of Will and vanished. Then Kieran played to the spirit of the game and didn't run away for the 40 minutes we had left, even though his last 2 Wraiths had only one point of Will. Despite only causing a single wound (saved by a wraiths fate) a managed to draw the game 3-3 but due to their being no models on the table for Kieran, I won.

This took me to table 2, where I faced Chris Murfitt and a bit of filth. Gwaihir, an eagle, Radagast on eagle all fine but Alfrid and Fatty Bolger meant that he had an extra drop and extra might for 2 heroes that eventually get huge. A loss of a roll off for a heroic move turn 1 meant Imrahil and the 2 mounted Knights couldn't hit Gwaihir and gain vital VPs. Nevertheless, Radagast and the Eagles got to work hurling and Immbolising Imrahil giving Chris the 3-0 victory after he broke my force.

David Farmer was my opponent for game 3 playing Take and Hold versus his Morannon orcs with Shagrat, Gorbag and a Troll Chieftain. This was the first game where Imrahil didn't die early on but he did lose his horse straightaway, this is a recurring theme, but the Troll Cheiftain was certain that he was going to hunt him down. The game ebbed and flowed with my force gradually swinging round away from the Cheiftain and back towards the middle and the objective. Once I managed to break David's force, a failed courage test meant that the Troll fled and this left my archers to fire straight at the banner denying vital VPs, due to double points award if he was also in the objective range. An Orc spearman stood in the archers way and another one behind him to pick it up if I killed him. Thankfully, my one shot that hit the front Orc killed him, then I caused a wound on the banner and Mighted another so that the other Orc that could get the banner would die too, essentially winning me the game. Lucky escape 12-8 win but nothing compared to the next game.

Game 4 was against Damian O'Byrne with his Elf Dwarf combo including Legolas and Throin. Breakthrough was the scenario and I think our reactions on Damian's journey vlog some up the game better than I ever could do in words, so I will link you to our reactions and a talk through of the game.

To end day 1 of my first tournament with 3 wins and 1 loss, I really can't complain. After winning 1 roll off all day, I can definitely say I have had luck in other places.