SAGA Age of Magic Halloween battle report November 10, 2019

Vikings versus Undead- Halloween game

This was my second battle using SAGA Age of Magic (AoM) this time with a couple of friends who were not at the club for the first game.  It was held in my games room on November 10, 2019. It also served as my annual Halloween game, so of course I pulled out my Pumpkin patch scenery.

Pumpkin Patch

This was an 8 point battle between the Legion of the Undead and the Viking Kingdom.

Once again I used my Undead Warband with some minor modifications, switching the biped werewolves for Quadruped Dire Wolves to give my force a bit more speed.

Undead Legion  10/11/2019:                                  Undead
Necromancer  / Lich foot (Warlord)                       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 Skeleton Warriors (8-4 = 4 figures)                        1 point (4 figures 2 figures each to above 2 units)
1  Levy Mindless – Scarecrows (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 Static War Machine, Skull Thrower catapult           - 4 warriors

Total                                                                              8 points

 Sacred ground = Crypt.

My two opponents (John and Ted) played a Viking warband I created, a regular historical SAGA unit with some magical elements included (Creatures, Monsters, Sorcerer).

The Great Kingdoms 1 - 10/11/2019            Vikings

1 Warlord Thor or regular 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 – Trolls (2)                        1 point 2 figures

1 Monster – Fire Giant                                    1 point

Total                                                                8 points

Sacred ground = Monument.

As with the previous battle this was a clash of Leaders scenario - both sides were simply trying to break the enemy forces.  We wanted to keep it simple as this was the first game for 2 of the players.  We took turns deploying scenery then units.

I used a similar tactic to the last game deploying my infantry on the left flank, catapult sorcerer and mindless scarecrow  troops in the centre on the two speed creature units (wolves and giant bats) on my right flank.

First move after initial deployment

A battle quickly developed for the hill on the left flank with the skeleton Warriors facing off against Viking Levy Archers, Trolls and a Fire Giant.

Advance on to the Hill

The two sides were more cautious in the centre of the battlefield.

Mindless move towards the crypt

The Catapult opens fire.

Catapult and giant bats

The Vikings hope to use the sacred ground benefit provided by the monument (Sacred Ground)

Vikings move toward the monument.

The Undead spring a trap with the Necromancer casting a spell to mirror damage inflicted on the Trolls on the Levy archers also. It is a big gamble as it will leave the Skeleton warriors exposed if they don't destroy both enemy units.

Skeleton Archers and Warriors pound the trolls.

The Undead forces manage to kill the Trolls with the help of the Grave Guard (Hearthguard) pilling in but  the Viking Levy archers survive and they now open fire on the skeletons.

Victorious Skeleton units exposed

In the Centre the Vikings are not advancing, bur rather hanging back on the defensive forcing the Undead to advance on them before the left flank collapses.

Undead advance in the Centre.

The Viking Sorceress Loki casts spells on the Grave guard diminishing their numbers.

Loki's magic powers cause  the Undead problems

Undead throw in the Giant Bats to attack the Viking centre as they can't wait for the slow moving Zombies to make a combined attack.

Giant Bats advance

On the Left flank the Vikings cut down the Undead Grave Guard and Skeleton warrior archers, leaving the skeleton spear armed warriors to defend the hill on their own.

Skeleton Warriors being surrounded don the hill.

The graveyard walls slowed the already slow moving Scarecrows, but the Lich Lord urges them on.

Scarecrows advance

The Viking Levy arches cause more damage to the Skeleton warriors as the giant approaches them.

Skeleton spearmen alone on the hill.

A Scarecrow contemplates in the Pumpkin Patch.

The Fire Giant climbs up the hill and crushes the skeletons.

Fire Giant

The Vikings capture the hill.

The Giant and archers occupy the hill

Sensing the tide has turned the Viking Hearthguard (somewhat diminished by Undead Catapult fire) advance killing many of the Scarecrows who retreat leaving the  Lich Lord vulnerable.

Viking Hearthguard advance.

Having polished off a unit of Viking warriors the lone surviving giant Bat attacks the Viking Warlord. Both figures have taken a lot of fatigue hits so it will be a close and decisive battle.

Giant Bat versus Viking Lord.

It is the Undead turn and the Lich / Necromancer / Warlord will need to race over to help the giant bat if the battle is to be won, but can he make it in time.

Lich in a dangerous spot

The Catapult can't do much to help the Undead forces at this point

Undead Catapult fires on Vikings behind a stone wall

The Undead Dire Wolves attack the Vikings behind the wall after they catapult had "softened them up" but despite having more dice (12 to 16) the wolves are repulsed and suffer fatigue hits.

Battle on the Undead right flank and centre.

The Undead manage to kill most of the forces around the Viking Warlord but not the Warlord himself.

Battle in the Centre.

Warlord Versus Bat

Overview of the battle at the end.

Unfortunately we did not have time for another turn to see how the battle between the Viking Warlord and the Giant bat would turn out but the odds seemed to favour the Warlord so it was declared a Viking victory.

The final victory point total favoured the Vikings 27 to 19. The Undead lost 3 full units versus only 2 for the Vikings.

We were still learning some of the rules so the game moved a little slower than we had hoped as the rules were spread over 3 books.  Nonetheless it was enjoyable and we look forward to another game on November 24th.