Defend the Pass October 5, 2025

 This was a Fantastic Battles Defend the Pass Scenario held at my local games club on October 5, 2025. I provided the Dwarf and Dark Elf Miniatures and Morgan provided the Vikings that he played.   The Dwarfs played by Morley were the defenders and the Dark Elves and Vikings were the attackers.  I played the Dark Elves.

 

Initial deployment turn 1

 

Forces 

The Dwarfs had 500 points consisting of: a units of 3 spear companies with Shieldwall, a unit of 3 companies of Long beards with double handed axes and a unit of 2 companies of Bugman's rangers with axes and crossbows. 

The Dark Elves had 500 points consisting of: a unit of 3 companies of mounted Cold One Knights, a unit of 2 companies of Witch Elves and a light cavalry unit of 3 companies of dark riders with lances and crossbows. 

The Vikings had 500 points consisting of: a unit of  3 companies of Ostmen (shield wall) led by a king/commander, a unit of 3 companies of ostmen (flanking shield wall) led by a chief/captain, a unit of 2 companies of berserkers, and  a units of 2 companies of skirmishing archers.  However in the pre-game mishap rolls the Vikings lose 1 company of skirmishers that deserted. 

Terrain and Mission 

The terrain on the flanks was impassible and there was only an 8 base width (bw) gap in the centre that the dwarfs had to defend half of which (4bw) was rough terrain and 4bw clear terrain.  There was also an area to the dwarf rear where an enemy flank march could arrive with the appropriate dice rolls (that often takes 3 to 5 turns to achieve).  The Dwarfs needed to hold out for 6 turns.

 Turn 1

The Dwarfs set up their spear shieldwasll on the left side in the clear terrain and the the longbeards partly in the rough terrain and the opted for the unusual tactic of placing Bugman's ranges in column in the rough terrain to advance!  

 

The Dark Elves deployed both their cavalry units to advance to the gap, but only one of the units would fit, that would be the heavy cavalry, the Cold One knights, the light cavalry (Dark Riders) would have to hold back and snipe with their crossbows.   The two companies of  Witch Elves advance with the Cold One Knight to guard their flank.

 

The Viking  had a unit of berserkers supporting the archers in the initial attack on the forest, while the third unit of spears is held in reserve to flank march. There were two units of 3 companies of shield wall, one acting as a reserve behind the berserks/skirmishers and the other a flanking force

 

Attackers view, Dark Elf Sorceress / Mage Lord in foreground

Dwarf view

 

Turn 2

 The Dwarf Bugman's rangers advance to meet the Viking onslaught and deploy out of column but soon realize they our outmatched and out numbered. A battle between Bugman's Rangers and the Viking Spears and Skirmishers ensues

Attackers Advance

Foreground Dark Elf  Maglelord / Sorceress on Pegasis

 Meanwhile the Vikings advance on the outnumbered Bugman's rangers, who are also fired upon by the Dark Riders cavalry. 

Turn 3

The Cold One Knights charge into the Dwarf Spears and the two units begin a slogging march, with some of the best cavalry in the game fighting some of the best foot defenders against cavalry (shield wall, spears). Meanwhile the Witch Elves(Irregular unit) protect the Cold Ones flank by engaging in an uneven contest with the more numerous elite  Dwarf Long Beards. The Witch elves do uprising well in the first round of combat and survive.  

The berserkers and skirmishers attacked the long beards simultaneously after routing Bugman's rangers but the berserks brake and are scattered.

Combat in the gap

Witch Elves and Bugman's Rangers both outnumbered

The loss of Bugman's Rangers leaves the Dwarf flank in the rough terrain vulnerable

Turn 4

 The single company of Viking skirmishers attack the Dwarf Long Beards on the flank to support the Witch Elves.

 

Combat in the rough terrain on the right flank.

Slogging match between the Dwarf Spears and Cavalry continues

Witch Elves and Long beards fight in the rough terrain

Viking skimmers attack the Long beards flank

Turn 5

 The Combat turns bloody in the rough terrain, the Viking Skirmishers, Witch Elves and Dwarf Long Beards are all scattered leaving the right flank open to the Viking spear-men.  Meanwhile the Viking reinforcements arrive in the Dwarf rear.

Dwarf units in the woods have all been scattered

Cold ones supported by Dark Riders versus Dwarf Spears fight on

Scattered Viking Skirmishers

Witch Elf casualties

The Dwarf Warlord is killed in the Cold Ones versus Dwarf Spears battle

Viking reinforcements arrive, Dwarf casualties at top right

The Battle between the Cold Ones and the Dwarf Spears is the last remaining battle and was nearing its end as both units had taken heavy casualties in this slug-fest  with the Dwarf Warlord being killed in the battle.  However the outcome of this battle no longer mattered, the Dwarfs having lost so many other companies in the rough terrain that their army has broken and the game ends with a Viking / Dark Elf Victory.

 

Conclusion

 It was an enjoyable game but not as close as some of our other games, it in fact should have ended at the end of turn 4 when the Dwarfs lost over half their army but we wanted to fight out the spear versus cavalry battle for one more turn.  There was some debate if this scenario was balanced, did the Dwarf's need more troops?   I am not sure the Dwarf tactic of advancing Bugman's rangers rather than using them to shoot and scoot in the rough terrain did not lead to their defeat.  This tactic resulted in the rangers being killed and that flank collapsing. I would like to see what would have happened if the rangers had been used more effectively.  Making the Dwarf Long Beards elite Rangers with the Forester ability would also help the Dwarfs (they would lose reliable).  Another possible option for the Dwarfs would have been to take some indirect artillery (catapults) rather than Bugman's Rangers as it would have been very effective against the Dark Elf Cavalry as it advanced.  That being said the last two times I ran this scenario with different forces the defender won in both cases.

 As for the attackers the Viking reinforcements arrived to late to make a difference (they were not needed) and the Dark Elf Dark Riders played a very minimal role in the game as they could not get into combat other than some shooting and flank support.  The Witch Elves and Viking Skirmishers were scattered but they took out the Dwarf Long beards so it was a worthwhile sacrifice. The Viking skirmishers and Dark Riders also helped the Viking Spear-men scatter  Bugman's Rangers.

 This game presented a number of problems for me as the organizer providing all the terrain and most of the  troops (other than the Vikings), as one player had to drop out on short notice due to illness, so I had to switch from a couple of two player scenario to the three player Defend the Pass scenario the night before.  Unfortunately my printer had broken down so I could not print out new rosters and I used what rosters I had previously printed from games in the past months.