BoneSnap's Maps -- Mines of Moria

[BoneSnap]

Well, I guess it's time to give it a go with the whole map thing.

June 10, 2011: Helm's Deep added.
June 22, 2011: Mines of Moria added.
October 18, 2011: Mines of Moria -- Version 2 added.

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[1] Helm's Deep
[2] Mines of Moria
[3] Mines of Moria -- Version 2

[BoneSnap]

Helm's Deep
By: BoneSnap and Mista


Here we start with an overview of the map. I'll apologize now for the Deeping Wall -- we were rather low on fortress pieces (I wonder where they went…), so it's a tad crooked.


Next up, we have a side-long view of the main gate.


You can see the small section of wall missing on that side tower to include the area that Aragorn and Gimli jumped from. Believe it or not, there is actually a path in there so that figures can really move through the tower to the jut, but we discovered later that you can only do it if your hands are a lot smaller than mine. We also have the ladders and pseudo battering ram.


Then we move on to an aerial view of the Hornburg.


You can see the battering ram at the gate in the bottom left corner. From there, the attackers had to work their way towards the tower and around that edge of the inner wall to the courtyard. There you can see the steps (Dungeon pieces) that lead to the interior of the fortress.

It's rather hard to see, but there is a bridge from the outer wall to the inner courtyard along the rocks in the bottom right edge of the gate area. It was very useful when the gate was breached and save almost 300 points of my army that got cut off from a more normal means of escape.

Along the Hornburg outer wall, there is also a small gap. For those interested, it leads directly to the top of the Deeping Wall. It actually caused me more than a little worry when the Deeping Wall was overrun before they even touched the gate. I almost had to abandon my first layer of defense before the true siege even begun. However, some heroics from Sonlen kept that opening bottled up.


Moving on, we have a close-up of the Inner Courtyard.



And a view from the back side, or "Throne Room."


You can see the Brandar Glyph set there in the back. That lead to the Caves, which were the last hold out if the defenders got mauled. I, for some reason, neglected to take any pictures of the caves, but they were no more than a single BftU's worth of terrain.


Well, I think that covers the Hornburg, so we're on to the Deeping Wall.


In this, you can see the inside view of the Deeping Wall. It's really not anything special, but it served it's purpose. The main things to point out are the two retreat routes into the Hornburg. As mentioned earlier, there is a passage directly from the top of the wall to the keep, but you can also see the stairs in the bottom right. There is a glyph at the top, right up against the base of the tower. This actually leads directly to the inner wall*. For those of you wondering, the section of the Deeping Wall directly over the water is actually removable so we can "blow it up."


To complete our grand tour, we have a closer look at the escape option mentioned above.


That little indent there is where the escape comes out. It also gives a look at the entrance to the inner courtyard. Overall, it didn't come into play much, but it seemed right to add.

*Explanation

Spoiler Alert!

We did some looking in the movie, and some books we have, but couldn't determine if there was a route like this, but we figured we could take some artistic liberties with our own map and we put it in anyway. We actually have some reasoning for it, but I won't bother spouting it unless anyone really wants to know.

Scenario
For those interested, the scenario we built for this is also listed below.

Spoiler Alert!

Defenders: Each defender will start the game by picking 1200 points of army cards to defend the Hornburg and Deeping Wall. In addition, each defender will be allowed to pick up to 500 points of scenario-specific figures (Theoden, Aragorn, Lorien Archers, etc…). Their goal is to defend Helm’s Deep until Gandalf arrives with reinforcements at first light.

Attackers: Each attacker will start the game by picking 2000 points of army cards to attack Helm’s Deep. In addition, each attacker will be able to select 1000 points of scenario-specific figures (Uruk Commander, Lighters, Ballistas, etc…). Their goal is to overwhelm the defenses of Helm’s Deep and secure the fortress before Gandalf arrives. Helm’s Deep may be secured by accomplishing one of the following:

-Kill all defending Heroes
-Capture the Yellow Glyph in the Glittering Caves

To simulate the endless hordes of Uruk-Hai, the attackers will have an unlimited number of troops, accomplished through a re-spawn system. When an attacking figure is destroyed, it may be placed back on the battlefield, behind the rearmost figure in the attackers army.
As order markers are truly the real deciders of overwhelming odds, the attackers will also have the ability to move their army without order markers. When an attacker takes a turn, he may move every figure in his army up to 3 spaces, excluding army cards that have unused order markers on their army cards. Figures moved in this way may only move and may not otherwise attack, use abilities, or activate siege implements and/or glyphs. Only army cards with order markers on them will be able to actually take their turns as normal.

Ladders
-Must be carried by a squad or a figure larger than a large 6.
-May be placed at any space along the Deeping Wall.
-May be knocked off the wall by an adjacent figure. That figure must roll 1 attack die, instead of attacking normally. If that die shows a skull, the ladder is knocked over and any figures on it must roll 1 unblockable attack die against themselves.
-When a ladder is knocked over, it is re-spawned like any other attacking figure.
-Figures may be loaded onto ladders and siege ladders before the ladders are placed against the walls. The figure at the top of the ladder may attempt to leap onto the wall. To do so, it must target an enemy figure that would be adjacent and roll it’s attack. If it scores one or more wounds, place it on the space occupied by the targeted figure and place the targeted figure on the nearest adjacent space. If no adjacent spaces are available, that figure will fall onto the nearest available space within the courtyard and roll for falling.
Jump
-Any two figures may use the side door to jump on the causeway. Use only one time per game. They may stay there for as long as they wish. For each turn they stay out, the gate may remove 1 wound marker. The figures are placed on the nearest adjacent spaces. Instead of attacking, these figures may be moved onto the nearest free spaces on the top of the wall above the gate. If they do, the gate may no longer be repaired.

Scenario Specific Units

Spoiler Alert!

Attacker:
Ballista
Life: 4
Move: 4
Range: 5
Attack: 2
Defense: 4
Siege Points: 100
-When a ballista is placed on the board, place a siege ladder on it’s card. When the ballista successfully raises a ladder, remove the ladder marker from the ballista’s card and add 3 to the ballista’s attack and 1 to it’s range. A ballista may only raise a ladder if it has a ladder marker on it’s card.
-To raise a ladder, the ballista must target a wall space on the Hornburg and roll it’s attack. If it rolls a skull, the ladder may be raised against the wall. Any further attacks by the ballista will function as normal attacks and will be subject to normal rules.
-Ballistas are always placed on the very last space on the battlefield

Battering Ram
Move: 4
Range: 1
Attack: 8
Siege Points: 150
-The Battering Ram may never be destroyed.
-The Battering Ram may never move or attack unless it is activated.
-To activate the Battering Ram, either a squad or hero larger than a large 7 must be adjacent. Activating the Battering Ram will take the turn of the chosen army card. The figure(s) that activate the Battering Ram will move along with it.
-The Battering Ram starts at the bottom of the causeway and is not subject to normal placement rules (It may be placed on uneven terrain).
-The Battering Ram may only attack destructible objects.

Uruk-Hai Lighter
Life: 8
Move: 4
Range: 1
Attack: 4
Defense: 3
Siege Points: 80
-When the Lighter reaches the Deeping Wall space, it is able to ignite the bombs placed there, destroying that segment of the wall and throwing the figures on those spaces back into the courtyard. All figures thrown will receive 2 wounds. All figures adjacent to those affected spaces will roll 1 unblockable attack die against themselves. The Lighter is instantly destroyed.
-No double turns on the Lighter

Uruk-Hai Commander
Life: 7
Move: 5
Range: 1
Attack: 5
Defense: 4
Siege Points: 250
Battle Commands: After taking a turn with the Uruk-Hai Commander, you may roll the 20-sided die. If you roll a 13 or higher, you may immediately take a turn with an army card that has at least 1 figure within 4 spaces of the Uruk-Hai Commander.
-There may only be 1 Uruk-Hai Commander.


Defender:
Gamling
Life: 5
Move: 5
Range: 1
Attack: 4
Defense: 3
Points: 75

Banner of Rohan: All friendly figures within 3 spaces of Gamling may roll the 20-sided die after attacking. If they roll a 16 or higher, they may attack again.
Fall Back: Instead of attacking, you may move Gamling and 8 friendly figures up to 10 spaces each. Figures moved by Fall Back must be within 5 sight spaces of Gamling before moving. Figures moved by Fall Back will not take any leaving engagement attacks. Use Fall Back only once per game.

Theoden, Horse Lord
Life: 6
Move: 5
Range: 1
Attack: 4
Defense: 5
Points: 150

We Will Outlast Them: All friendly figures within clear sight of Theoden may add 1 to their defense.
Draw Swords: All friendly figures within 4 spaces of Theoden with a range of 1 may add 1 to their attack until the end of the round. Use only 3 times per game.
Ride Out and Meet Them: All friendly figures may add 3 to their move
if they end their move adjacent to an enemy figure. While under the effect of Ride Out to Meet Them, all friendly figures may take another turn if they destroy a figure. Ride Out to Meet Them lasts until the end of the round and may only be used once per game after the Attackers capture the Hornburg.

Gimli
Life: 5
Move: 4
Range: 1
Attack: 4
Defense: 2
Points: 140

Dwarf Tough: Whenever Gimli rolls defense dice, he may add 1 automatic shield to whatever is rolled.
Axe of Erebor: Whenever Gimli attacks with height advantage, he may roll 1 additional attack die.

Legolas
Life: 4
Move: 7
Range: 9
Attack: 3
Defense: 2
Points: 100

Agility 13: Whenever Legolas attacks or is attacked, you may roll the 20-sided die. If you roll a 13 or higher, Legolas may either attack again, or ignore the attack made against him.
Deadly Shot: All skulls rolled by Legolas count as one additional hit.
Expert Archer: Attacks made by Legolas are never affected by height advantage, but when a figure defends against attacks made by Legolas, that figure is not affected by height advantage either.

Haldir of Lorien
Life: 4
Move: 6
Range: 7
Attack: 3
Defense: 4
Points: 120

Coordinate Volley: When any Lorien Archer attacks, it may roll one additional attack die if no other Lorien Archer attacked that same target.
Sword of Lorien: Haldir may add 2 to his attack when he attacks an adjacent figure.
Fight to the Last: If Haldir has 3 wounds on his army card, he may add 2 to his defense.

Lorien Archers
Squad: 3
Move: 6
Range: 7
Attack: 2
Defense: 3
Points: 70

Draw Swords: Whenever a Lorien Archer becomes engaged, it may add 1 to it’s attack.
Agility 17: Whenever a Lorien Archer attacks or is attacked, you may roll the 20-sided die. If you roll a 17 or higher, you may either attack again, or ignore the attack made against him.

Aragorn
Life: 5
Move: 6
Range: 1
Attack: 4
Defense: 4
Points: 100

Elessar’s Rage: Aragorn may attack up to 2 additional times.
Leap: Instead of moving normally, Aragorn may target any figure within 2 spaces and move adjacent to that figure. He may then attack that figure with 6 attack. Aragorn can’t use Elessar’s Rage if he used Leap this turn.
Flame of the West: All friendly figures adjacent to Aragorn may roll one additional attack and defense die.

Royal Guard
Squad: 3
Move: 5
Range: 1
Attack: 3
Defense: 4
Points: 150

Bodyguards: After an enemy figure attacks Theoden with an adjacent attack, a Royal Guard within 3 spaces may move and attack that figure, if possible.
Loyalty: After taking a turn with the Royal Guards, you may roll the 20-sided die. If you roll an 18 or higher, you may take another turn with the Royal Guards. You may add 1 to your roll for every wound on Theoden’s army card. If Theoden is destroyed, you may add 6 to your roll.

[Son of Arathorn]

nice work on the battlefield . might I inquire as to how many sets you used

[BoneSnap]

Originally Posted by Son of Arathorn

nice work on the battlefield . might I inquire as to how many sets you used

You might. I'm not entirely sure what the answer is, other than a lot. This build combines virtually all the terrain we have between the two of us, which, at that point, was 10 RotV, 6 SotM, 4 BftU, 3 RttfF, and a number of the smaller expansions that had the terrain included. It was really surprising how many pieces it took to build up the base for the fortress. The Hornburg is sitting on a solid mass of tiles.

As for Fortress sets, I'd like to think that we had around 5-6, but I can't really remember. Since then and now, we've acquired more (found them at CoolStuffInc.com for $15; who wasn't going to buy?). We eventually hope to capture a real Minas Tirith, though rough calculations suggest we want 14+ Fortress sets plus a massive amount of terrain. Oh well, 9 down, 5 to go.

[Son of Arathorn]

oh, Lordy Lou... epic

[pjnormandin]

Too massive! WOW! +rep
~P

[Darth Vader]

Wow, that is one heck of a job! I did something similar once, but yours blows mine out of the water. Now I really wanna get a half dozen more fortress sets. Great work.

[A_Train]

Very nicely done, Bone Snap.

[Nickydude]

I have a Fortress set coming in a couple of day... hmmm...

Thanks for the pics, looks great!

[habs1009]

Wow, that destroys mine.

[BoneSnap]

Hey guys, thanks for all the feedback. I'm glad you all enjoyed it so much. To be fair, though, we have done this two or three times before. I even have a picture of our last version:



This one was really blocky and hard to deal with. The structure was fragile and we weren't overly happy with it. That stupid tower fell so many times that we only put it back on to take the pictures. The only good thing about it was that we learned a lot for this build.

I've also got some good news. This week we're going to attempt a Mines of Moria scenario. Mista and I are going to begin setting up and planning tomorrow, though we won't play until friday.

[Son of Arathorn]

mmm... Khazad-dum...