This last weekend would have been BOYL (postponed until October) and since many of us had already booked accommodation and leave it felt like a shame not to play some games. Some lovely folks volunteered large gardens (and ultimately booked us big, ventilated village halls to game in as the weather was a tad variable) and we trouped across the country to answer the call of mass miniature battles.
The big Saturday game was a goodies vs baddies battle to save the ancient woodland of Albion from the evil De Pfeffel:
"Baron De Pfeffel (the corrupt and narcissistic ruler of southern Little Albion) and his evil Tilean advisor ‘Dominico the Rat’ have a plan to build a new high speed cart track through the ancient woodlands of central Little Albion. De Pfeffel is selling the cart track on the basis that it will cut 5 minutes off the four day journey from the fetid, southern swamplands of Hacked-Knee Marshes to the frigid, northern moors of Mankburgh. Why anyone would want to make this journey, in either direction, is a complete mystery."
This was a nice opportunity for my wood elf army from last year's lockdown to get their first outing. I threw some last minute paint on two Alternative Armies treemen and some eagles and elf characters from Forlorn Hope (ex Grenadier) to bolster the force a bit in the face of trolls and a particularly nasty piece of tree-clearing apparatus...
Paul lines up his pigmies against Richard's wood elves Appropriate that such non-PC and controversial miniatures should be drawn to the service of De Pfeffel.
Woodland folk arm up to defend their homes.
My contingent form up in the trees Two wardancer units supported by a pair of treemen and a mounted lord for flanking.
Curtis' giant tree processing plant prepares to cleave its way through the ancient wood. De Pfeffel and his cronies supervise the carnage beneath their Boris banner.
An Alternative Armies treeman prepares to stand in the path of the orcish monstrosity.
More denizens of the deepwoods take up arms for the fight.
A Hinchcliffe (now Broadsword Miniatures) treeman on his hill.
Another Alternative Armies treeman.
Another view of my elves with some bows from Richard's contingent backing up their advance.
Harry's contingent- as many archers as I could throw down for him. They would be tasked with peppering the deforesting horror with arrows.
As the battle begins a rolling noise from the good side heralds the arrival of their own secret weapon!
The first trees fall despite the best efforts of their guradian.
Elf archers take up their positions.
Wardancers charge towards the norsemen under the cover of the trees.
The dwarf deathroller overtakes the striding treeman on its way to confront the harvester.
Jerome's mighty regiment of horse try desperately to charge ahead but are hit by powerful wind blasts from the pigmy shaman.
The norse mammoth tried to uproot the Hinchliffe treeman and ends up caught in its branches. The two would stand locked in a dead heat for pretty much the rest of the battle.
Bow elves in cover.
De Pfeffel, Dominico the rat, Uglee Pattel and MoggMogg advance...
...and decide to engage in a spot of fox hunting and badger culling!
The forest folk give as good as they get from the stupid trolls.
Goblins and trolls process the trees they have mown down.
The eagles swoop! Caw-cawbyn the great eagle builds up momentum.
The badger lord shows Uglee Pattel his proof of citizenship.
Skirmishing horse archers break through the line to pepper the machine with arrows. Under the hail of fire it begins to fall apart.
As the treeman and death roller race to halt the machine the wardancers prepare for a boarding action.
Despite being pushed back a treeman holds its own against a unit of norse bondsmen.
The horse lords are still getting nowhere! To make matters worse on the left flank some harpies help themselves to the halfling hotpot, and its crew!
The battle of the rollers proves that size DOES matter.
Another stand of trees falls beneath the giant crusher, but missiles slicing through the ropes are starting to have an effect. Metal plates are slipping from its armoured sides.
The wardancers prepare for their death and glory moment...
...survive their perilous dive through the crusher...
...and die in pools of troll vomit beyond!
Caw-cawbyn throws a badger into De Pfeffel's face, clawing the tyrant to death! Hooray!
The sacrifice of treemen, wardancers and death roller are not in vain. Another volley of shots brings the contraption to a standstill. Its crew pile out of the stricken destroyer.
Combat on the right flank, where in-fighting has robbed the elves of victims but there are plenty of goblins to mop up.
Giant smash!
Using his concealed chainsword the death roller dwarf cuts himself free of a bundle of logs and sets upon the orc crew.
Wardancers tie up the norse whilst their support units get onto the flanks. Professor Tiggywinkle charges to join the fray.
Battle is joined on the left flank, where the tigers find themselves some tasty bite-sized treats.
Pigmies charge a treeman, which rolls horribly (needing 2s Jerome rolled 2,1,1,1 to lose the combat!) and flees, on fire, into the nearest patch of woods. Causing not inconsiderable panic!
Trolls and goblins attempt to complete the logging operation on foot. They are cut down by archers and flee, HS2 is defeated!
Chainsaw dwarf fights for his life.
The surviving treemen wave goodbye to the nasty developers... the ancient wood is safe.
Thank you to everyone who made this such a fun day, and especially to John Ratcliffe for hosting.
