Taking a Punt on Orc Boats

Scenario involving a landing? That'll need some boats then, which means a nice little hobby project (within the hobby, but you know what I mean).

Now, I've wanted to make some boats for years, especially since Perry Miniatures put out those lovely Napoleonic British boats years ago, which I won't look at since I'm going to feel old by checking the date of release.

So, how to knock something up quick and cheap? The basic shape is pretty easy - its a landing boat, not a work of art - but what to do about a frame for it? 

The answer lay close to hand - the sprue surroundings for bases. 

Great. Right shape, readily available, good use of redundant materials, and I know that at least ten models will fit v nicely into this space. 

A short amount of cutting and gluing later, and we have the below:

Next, to fill this out with planking and decking. Easy.........

No, this didn't involve running up the nearest Costa and stripping them bare of coffee sticks. For a start, I don't drink coffee, and secondly, I'm an upstanding citizen and paragon of good behaviour in my local area, so such things are beneath me. A £5 order for a couple of hundred did the job.

Quick blast of black primer, followed by a light blast of grey. Drybrush up with some bone. 

Texture with AK corrosion effect for some muck n filth. 

Unintentionally, this means that one boat looks like someone has dropped a turd in it, which I cannot unsee now I've noticed it.

And there we go. One Orc fleet of landing craft all done in a quick hour or twos work. Nice. 

Obvs have to get all the toys out and pose them in the boats, because We Must.

Next stop is to watch the lads get a consumate jobbing when attempting to make land in these. 

Perhaps I should have modelled engines on them.........powered by "magic", naturally.

Erehwon - Orc Landing in Norsca.

Date: Weds

 26th June 2024

Game: Warlords of Erehwon

Orcs, being bastards, have managed to sail the Sea of Claws, head across the top of the Empire, skirt underneath Norscan longship patrols and the ice borders.......arriving on the coast just to the north of Erengrad. Captain Ruzzgut of the Orcimedes has well and truly earned his pay!

This led to much activity from the Norscan patrols along the coast, who quickly scramble to send for aid from Kislev and other Norscan settlements, before gathering a hasty force together to meet the incoming threat. As they begin to rally, Orc landing boats begin being rowed out to shore.........

Scenario Special Rules

Dice bag is capped at 12 dice.

When a dice is drawn, all units on that side activate at the same time.

Orcs have to row onto the shore, so units are deployed in landing boats:

• Boats have a capacity of 12 models/6 cavalry
• More than one unit can be put into a boat, if they all fit.
• If a unit breaks morale in a boat and attempts to flee, they are destroyed
• Boats move by being given an order dice to advance. They move 2D6".
• Boats can be given more than one order dice per turn.
• When a boat reaches the shore, the units deploy onto the beach where the boat lands.
• Boats get recycled to continue shipping Orcs into the battle, until all units have tried rowing out.
• A unit can be given an order whilst in a boat (e.g. shooting or magic), but the boat will not advance whilst this happens (the crew are doing something other than rowing/holding steady to allow whatever action to happen)

Deployment

Orc boats start 20" away from shore.

First defending force is deployed between 12" and 24" away from the shoreline.

The Second defending force is deployed up to 18" in from the table edge directly opposite the shoreline

The Third defending force arrives in turn 3 from a randomly selected table edge.

Order of Battle - Orcs

3 x 750 point armies, chosen from the Orc list:

https://thisgaminglife.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/erehwon-orc-warband-v2.1.pdf

Trolls may not be taken for this scenario (too 'eavy, and when they get seasick, they melt the fuckin' boat!)

The Orc fleet has support weapons available on deck, allowing the Orcs the following free units:

2 Small Bolt Throwers 
1 Small Stone Thrower

These will automatically fire as the first action of each turn, without requiring an order dice.

Order of Battle - Norsca/Kislev

3 x 500 point armies, chosen from either the Vikings or the Knights list:

https://thisgaminglife.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/erewhon-knights-warband-v2.1.pdf

https://thisgaminglife.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/erehwon-viking-warband-v1.0.pdf

No war machines may be taken by the defenders.

The three defending armies are deployed in accordance with the outline given above in the deployment section.

Victory Conditions

The Orcs need to establish a beachhead and ensure their forces are in good position. 

The defenders need to hold back the greenskins and destroy all enemy forces.

HYW - Agincourt - Battle Report

Agincourt..........AGINCOURT. 

Its one of those battles, isn't it, that all gamers have on a mental ticklist somewhere of ones to do? But, as a strong advantage, with the benefit of being reasonably doable!

So, after the scenario was done, we were ready to go..........

Table layout and deployments. 

The English went for the classic "fighters in the middle, archers on the flanks"

French went for some v organised lines of troops, and an odd column of cavalry units down each flank

Soon to be disorganised lines of infantry

French make the first move and almost instantly start getting bogged down in mud

Doesn't look that far!

English commanders sit back and watch the (shit)show

French lines begin making their way across

English archers just within range to begin opening up on the French cavalry

Who promptly rolled a brigade blunder, turned tail and all fled straight back to where they'd started!

Some plucky French light shooting units attempt to set up shop

Before getting promptly demolished by longbows

The other cavalry brigade begin to weave through the mud and other units, making v little progress.

At this point, the rearmost French commander gets impatient and forces his way through the other brigades to take the front, causing mass disorder and unrest in his wake.

English sitting back having a jolly and firing rather nicely.

Until, disconcertingly, a couple of units of French make it out of the mud, in quite a foul mood, and spoiling for a fight

Damned English men at arms were clearly not ready (not as if they had ample warning!), as they couldn't fight for crap on the day

Rest of the French still wallowing though!

Archers on the English left go in to support the fight in the front.

Can the French lines re-order in time to take advantage?

Henry getting stuck in royally.

With the support from behind for the English, the distinct lack of advance from the French rear, its looking threadbare on the main attack

And with that, the English managed to break a few units, opening their lines up to take some choice of charging, and it was clear the French were going nowhere as the clock sounded.

A solid English win. That'll cost you!

Really good game. Being on the English side made for much amusement, as we could feel pressure as the lines advanced, but once the mud started bogging down the French and the various generals started elbowing past one another for position, it was a source of much mirth all round. Loads of chaos and all good fun!