SAGA Age of Magic Game Undead versus Vikings 24 November 2019

Round 2 Vikings versus Undead

This was my third game of SAGA AoM a re-match from the last game with a few modifications.  Once again it is the Undead Legions versus the Kingdom of the Vikings, held in my gaming room on November 24, 2019.  My Undead legion traded in it's catapult and some skeleton warriors to gain a giant skeleton (Titan monster) and the Mindless levy was represented by zombies rather than Scarecrows. Also the Lich was now mounted on a horse. Ted's Viking force was pretty much the same other than switching the Trolls for Ogres and Fire Giant for a giant Minotaur (same stats in both cases as they were biped creatures and behemoth monsters respectively).

Skeleton Giant (Ral Partha) + Mounted Lich (Grenadier). 
Large bat creatures (GW) in the background

We also both opted to try some different spells (you can chose 3) as compared to the previous game. 

 The Rosters:

Undead Legion  24/11/2019                                      Points

1 Warlord / Necromancer  / Lich mounted                   0 points

2 Hearthguard / Grave guard  (combined as 1 unit)   2 points 8 figures
1  Skeleton Warriors with spears (8)                          1 point 10 figures
1  Skeleton Warrior with bows  (8)                            1 point  10 figures

1  Levy Mindless – Zombies (20)                               1 point 20 figures

1  Flying Creatures unit- 2 Giant Bats                        1 point 2 figures
1  Quadruped Creatures unit- 2 Dire Wolves             1 point 2 figures
1 Monster Titan - Giant Skeleton                               1 point 1 figure

Total                                                                            8 points

Sacred ground = Crypt

The Great  Viking Kingdom 24/11/2019               Points

1 Warlord leader                                                        0 points

1 Sorcerer - Loki                                                        1 point

2 Hearthguard  units (combined as 1 unit)                 2 points 8 figures

2  Warrior units (8 x2 =16)                                        2 points 16 figures

1 Levy with bows (12)                                               1 point 12 figures

2 Biped Creatures – Ogres (2)                                   1 point 2 figures

1 Monster Behemoth –  Giant  Minotaur                                              1 point 1 figure

Total                                                                            8 points

Sacred ground = Monument.


As in the previous battle this was a clash of Leaders scenario - both sides were simply trying to break the enemy forces and we used a very similar terrain set-up to save time. We took turns deploying our units as per the SAGA terrain deployment scenario rules.

Turn 1 

 

I opted to deploy most of my warriors, hearthguard and levy in the centre with the creatures and monsters on the flanks, particularly near the hill.  The Vikings also deployed powerful forces on the flank where the hill was locate.

Initial set up, overview. 

The Vikings moved first and they opted to take the hill on their right flank / Undead left flank.

Viking advance

The viking levy archers occupy the hill with support on the flank from their giant Minotaur and their warriors move into the walled field on the opposite flank. The Undead send their warrior archers, skeleton giant  and dire wolves to attack contest the hill.

 

Battle for the Hill begins

Turn 2

There were no significant casualties during turn two as the two sides maneuvered for position for the battle for the hill.  I was also too preoccupied at this time to take many pictures.

Battle for the Hill takes shape

Turn 3

The Undead archers duel with the Viking levy archers, while the giant bats engage the Viking warriors in the walled field.  

 

Battles on the flanks overview

The Dire wolves take a beating from the Viking archers and the Minotaur comes in to try to deliver the killing blow.  The Skeleton Giant tries to come to their rescue.

Dire Wolves, pushed back with fatigue markers

The skeleton archers concentrate on the viking archers and the Lich helps them with a Precognition spell to make their arrows more deadly.

 

Overview of the battle for the Hill

Turn 4

The battle for the hill rages on.

 

Will the Dire Wolves survive?

The zombies move to support the archers who look like they may be in danger of becoming bone-meal if the Ogres get to them. 

The Lich casts a spell to help the skeleton arches

The Ogres decide to ignore the archers and pile in on the Dire Wolves who are wiped out.  But now the Ogres take the brunt of the skeleton Archer fire, and the giant Minotaur comes fails  in his attack against the skeleton giant.

The Vikings still hold the hill but it is tenuous.

Meanwhile in the centre the giant bat creatures are causing havoc reducing a formation of viking warriors to one figure and attacking a second formation.

Bats cause havoc in the centre

On the hill the ogres are shot down by the skeleton archers in a hail of arrows.

.

Ogres are eliminated on the Hill.

The giant Minotaur and the Skeleton giant fight to the death with both being killed and only the few remaining Viking Levy archers remain on the hill.  The focus of the battle turns to the centre, and  the Skeleton Grave Guard (Hearthguard) join the battle supporting the bats. Both sides take heavy loses but the Viking leader is in danger as is most of his infantry.

The battle around the Viking monument becomes crucial

The Undead attempt to move in more troops to the centre but the graveyard walls slow down the warriors and the zombies are slow.

Skeleton spearmen warriors move
 through the graveyard.

Skeletons in the graveyard, 
where else would they be!

Zombies shuffle forward, urged on by the Lich

Both sides are becoming exhausted and taking heavy casualties but the Vikings are in a more vulnerable position and the Undead have more skeletons on the way.

Viking Warlord makes his last Stand

At this point the Viking player conceded defeat ending the game. We did not really have time for another turn anyway.  It was a close game that went down to the wire, and the Undead victory was certainly not decisive as the Viking Warlord was still alive.

Conclusion

Unfortunately not all the pictures turned out as well as I would have liked but other than that it was an enjoyable game.  We seem to be getting a better grip on the rules, and there is lots of depth with many army options and tactics available with the faction boards. 

We hope to have another game in early December, and if I can get enough painting done I may deploy my "Christmas warband".