Battle of the Five armies - Third Age, October 2941
Introduction
'So began a battle that none had expected; and it was called the Battle of Five Armies, and it was very terrible. Upon one side were the Goblins and the wild Wolves, and upon the other were Elves and Men and Dwarves.'
Since the ending of the War of the Dwarves and Orcs, and
the Dwarves' ultimate victory at the Battle of Nanduhirion, the Orcs had nursed
a hatred of that race. In the year III 2941, the year of Bilbo Baggin's journey
to the Lonely Mountain, those events lay more than one hundred and forty years
in the past. Travelling through the Misty Mountains, Bilbo, Thorin and their
companions were captured by a colony of the orcs that infested those regions.
With Gandalf's help they escaped, but not before killing several of their
captors, including their leader the Great Goblin.
The loss of the Great Goblin at the hands of a band of
Dwarves inflamed the bitter memories of the orcs' War with the Dwarves. Under
the command of Bolg, whose own father Azog had been killed at Nanduhirion, all
the armies of the orcs of the Misty Mountains, and their allies the wolves and
bats, began to gather and plan their revenge.
Oblivious to these events, Bilbo and the Dwarves continued their journey eastward. They achieved their quest to recover Erebor, but in doing so they earned the anger of Thranduil, and indirectly caused the destruction of Lake-town. Thranduil's Wood-elves joined with the Lake-men, and they marched north to claim a share of Smaug's treasure in recompense. In response, Thorin called on his cousin Dain, who set out with his own army from the Iron Hills.
So the scene was set for a confrontation between the Wood-elves and Lake-men on the one side, and the Dwarves of Thorin and Dain on the other. Already the first arrows had been shot when a dark cloud was seen coming out of the north - the bats that heralded the orc-armies of Bolg. The Elves, Men and Dwarves quickly forgot their differences in the face of this new threat, and battle was joined on the slopes of Erebor and the valley beneath. The battle was ferocious, and as it raged, it was joined by others - Eagles out of the Misty Mountains, and even Beorn himself in the shape of a monstrous bear.
By nightfall the orcs were defeated, but not without great loss. Thorin himself was slain, making a bold attack against the bodyguard of Bolg, and with him fell his young nephews Fili and Kili. Bolg was dead, too, crushed by Beorn, and the goblins of the northern mountains were scattered or destroyed.(Excerpt from Encyclopedia of Arda)
This scenario has been adapted for Fantasy Rules! 2 by Chipco.
Special Rules
The Mountain Goblin command arrives on turn 3.
The eagles arrive once the Good Alliance’s morale clock reaches 4. They must attack the Goblin mountain command first.
Beorn will arrive 2 turns after the eagles arrive.
Gandalf can only be used once the Good Alliances morale clock reaches 1. He causes fear and may only cast Fire Blast.
The goblin morale clock will drop by three if Bolg is killed.
Terrain
All units firing at units defending in terrain get a -2 to their dice rolls.
The river is crossable at any point and does not effect movement.
The ruins of Dale have no effect on movement.
The tracks on the mountains count as 1 unit wide. Units fighting on the tracks cannot be outflanked and overlap bonuses do not count as the tracks are too narrow to allow this.
Units on higher ground than their opponents get a +1 to combat.
Victory conditions
Goblins
Reduce the Good Alliance moral clock to zero or destroy all their units.
Good Alliance
Reduce the Goblins moral clock to zero and destroy Bolgs bodyguard.
Scenario Notes
You may use more goblins warriors and wargs if you have the figures. The book describes as the lands being black with hordes, but this may stretch your figure collection and may not effect the outcome of the game.
The forces and special rules are designed to try and make the game follow the book as closely as possible. You may add, change or remove any special rules if you feel they are not appropriate. The unit scales vary to allow for important events and also to provide an enjoyable game.
Armies
Char/Unit name | Type | Special Abilities | Map Position |
---|---|---|---|
Iron Hill Dwarves | |||
Dain | 1 Hero | (+1 0 +1) | 1 |
Dwarf Foot | 1 HW | Elite. HA. No move penalty | 2 |
Thorin and companions | 1 General | (+2 0 +2), Fear | 3 |
Lakemen of Bard | |||
Bard of Esagorth | 1 Hero | (0 +1 +1) | 4 Spurs |
Bard Spear | 1 Sp | + attached Sk | 5 Spurs |
Spear | 4 Sp | 6 Valley | |
Scouts | 1 Sk | 7 Valley | |
Wood Elves of Mirkwood | |||
Elf king | 1 Hero | (+1 0 +1) | 8 Spurs |
Elf bodyguard | 1 HW | Elite | 9 Spurs |
Elf Spear | 4 Sp | 10 Spurs | |
Elf bow | 2 Sk | 11 Spurs | |
Others | |||
Beorn | 1 Sml Monster | Elite, Fear | Offtable. Enters at position 22 |
Eagles | 4 Sml Monster | Flying, Fear | Offtable. Enters at position 23 |
Goblins
Char/Unit name | Type | Special Abilities | Map Position |
---|---|---|---|
Main body | |||
Bolg | 1 General | (+2 0 +2) | 14 Valley |
Bodyguard | 1 HW | Elite (+2 0 0) | 15 Valley |
Wolf Riders | 3 LC | +1 CF | 16 Valley |
Goblin warriors | 24 Mobs | +1 CF | 18 Valley |
Goblin archers | 4 CB | 19 Valley | |
Wargs and wolves | 6 Swarms | Move as LC | 17 Valley |
Mountain Command | |||
Goblin warriors | 6 Mobs | +1 CF | 20 Valley |
Goblin Skirmishers | 6 Sk | 21 Valley |