The Empire Responds to the invasion of the Uruk Hai
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About the Project
I have spent a few years building a large terrain board, some small armies and one large army of Uruk hai. I now want to build up another army to match the size and force of the orcs (Uruk hai) and goblins (Moria). The only two forces I have of any scale is undead and Empire, my mates have some empire too so I shall do my empire principally. And we can use the allies from other human provinces during games to top us up in points as high as possible while the forces slowly come together. Though I may get distracted from the slog again from time to time. This is now part of the process! So expect: undead, Men of Numenor , Eregion Elves, Morian Dwarves and maybe even some dungeon saga. Possibly a small bit of sci fi too as I’ve wanted to get on to my Aliens from the film for ages! But mostly, FOR THE EMPIRE!!!! And dogs of war…..
Related Game: Warhammer Fantasy Battles
Related Genre: Fantasy
This Project is Active
An explanation
When I make armies it is an exploration of the instinct. I instinctually feel my way through what miniatures I want in the army. What theme do I want? What monsters and machines? Then I can decide what base troop units I want to make the army look and feel good on the table. I’m talking aesthetically and visually good. I could not care less how they play, I can figure that out when I’m playing! Adjust tactics, use differently etc.
But how it looks is key. And that is pure gut instinct in the making.
My gut is currently telling me that I do not want any more foot troops. But I do need some more cavalry, a bunch of light cavalry. I will make some Roders of Rohan into Numenorian light cavalry. Probably two large units or 3 medium size units. I will also make 2 numenor scorpian bolt throwers to go with the crew I made a couple years back. And a large Roman ballista will look lovely with Numenor crew.
My gut also says a second elf bolt thrower is required, and the elf chariots need pennants flying.
Lastly I think I need an elf riding a Griffin. I think I will explore the high elf griffin model from the island of blood warhammer set and see if I can make it work with some Lord of the rings elf rider.
Maybe I will have a small unit of lothlorian elves at helms deep that I will use as shadow warriors in warhammer games. All these Lord of the rings will do double service as a last alliance version of the high elves army lists in warhammer fantasy. So that central block is 75 sword masters of Hoeth, not bad! That unit of spears and bows mixed together will be some lothern sea elves city guard.
I’ve made so many minis lately because it’s been so hot I didn’t even want to bother painting. But it’s cooling down now……and I am bored of making models. I’ve got another Uruk hai battalion to paint. Yes, I bought more.
Well they came up bloody cheap on a discord group! You would have too!!!
An army of undead to paint.
And now this army of last alliance.
Of course there is also all those empire to do……………
I’ve also included a useless wandering wizard who, like rincewind, travels from game to game making Cockups and then dimensionally jumping to our next game for another tale of woe. Next to him is a converted familiar that I made from my free model given to me at BOYL this year! It’s Bryan Ansells head on a snake neck holding the citadel (yes the actual citadel logo of GW legend!) on a platter.
The main body was converted into an elf mage.
I don’t know why I did this, probably a heinous crime. But the cosmos told me to sit and do it.
You should always go with your gut.
Alright! Half a packet of love hearts and that’s my final offer!
I have now finished the 360 skeletons from warlord games children of the hydras teeth sets. That’s 720 separate feet. But they are marvelous skeleton miniatures with superb adaptability. I adore my converted siege bombard from Perry miniatures. The skeletons can be put to any purpose, the entire army is all the same sprue of 6 skellies. Halberdiers and arqubusiers here to the charioteers, crossbowmen, spearmen and war mammoth crew etc. A great sprue.i have never known a more adaptable sprue. Finally I would like to take note that the Siege ram has all the pegs in its mortice and tenons as per a real one if I made it using my carpenters training, I could not leave it unless the legs where in. I have two miniatures left to convert for the undead army and that’s a vampire coach using the warlord generals coach from their pike and shotte range. Then I have 5 carrion riders using mythic americas condor riders. I’m not certain how to do the condor riders yet as I need to source appropriate riders which is proving tricky. Frankly though, I have had enough of building miniatures for a bit, I’m going to have to paint some soon, it’s just a bit hot! 
D-day part deux
Played a great game of Warhammer last night.
Orc assault the river bank to try and take the mausoleum from the undead.
Forces were secretly allocated to boats.
Boats would come on at orc players discretion from turn two onwards. The undead had to have uncontested base to base contact if the mausoleum for one whole turn sequence to double the raise the dead results for the rest of the game! They could also raise undead kraken in the water to attack the boats.
Orcs win if all necromancers dead or the have control of the mausoleum by end of play.
The orcs rolled atrociously. It was evident from turn one the orcs should have taken more magic users. The undead dominated magic and it was all that could be done to turn back just one spell!
The undead concentrated on raising the dead and using their fear to make orcs panic! And panic they did…..
Also, the orcs chose this day to have many bouts of animosity.
A particular highlight was the orc commanders unit in the big raft with Lee the giant, choosing to attack Lee in the boat. Lee attacked back and yelled and balled, scaring the orc unit to run away…….jumping overboard. 2/3 of the mega unit drowned including the commander. Many were lost to undead kraken.
Lee landed ashore and jumped up and down on a skeleton horde while the bedraggled survivors hauled themselves back on the boat just in time for the end of the battle. The other boat with berserkers managed to destroy kraken and land successfully on the beach, only to be shot down by screaming skulls and crossbow fire. They ran away.
Amazing fun game with a thorough victory to the undead. Next time we have decided to do a full board beach asssault with smaller number of defenders and large amount of orc assault rafts!
Great evening of Warhammer!
the assault rafts are made entirely from balsa wood with working drop ramps! The project was taken out of the old battles in middle earth magazines from games workshops first lord of the rings film release in 2001. Great magazines they are too, among the best for hobby projects ever. I’m currently working on a corsair ship from these magazines for an upcoming assault the sea port mega game this autumn. Can’t wait!
