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I played a mass combat scenario with minis using converted stats from The One Ring characters, NPC's and enemies. The rule system used is called Open Combat. Providing a framework for converting from The One Ring to this mass combat system took some time and thought but is well worth it. Why "Open Combat"? Because it is realistic, simple, efficient, and very fun.

Pics are provided below.

The scenario is far along in my campaign. Here is an abridged plot. The orcs eventually tunnelled through to the mine at Mountain Hall and took the village by surprise. Many Woodmen of Mountain Hall died, but most made it to the Burg to take refuge. A few escaped including Berenald, the bridge warden, and two Blue Mountain dwarves who were living there helping with the mine (their importance detailed soon). The Burg was put under siege by the orcs and their chieftain.

The companions at that time were travelling in the Anduin Vales and discovered the escapees hiding out from pursuing orcs. Two companions are Blue Mountain dwarves who were responsible for enticing more of their kind to come and work with the Mountain Hall people, so there was great motivation to help lift the siege.

They went to the nearest Woodmen settlement along the Anduin river, got its most experienced warriors to join in on an attempt to help lift the siege.

The companions, along with these woodmen would attack the bridge, hoping that Hartfast would come out of the Burg and attack the flank. This part of the battle would be imagined, where a battle would take place as they exited the Burg while the comapanions attacked the bridge, taking the attention away of a great many orcs. The success of the battle of the main village/burg depended on the success of their attack on the bridge.

It was a fun night of gaming, and the companions succeeded in destroying the enemy forces at the bridge, but many of the woodmen died, the two Blue Mountain dwarves succumbed to their wounds, as well as one companion in a toe-to-toe battle with the orc chieftain.

Mountain Hall was saved though with big ramifications in the campaign. Now rules for The One Ring will be used until the next campaign battle...

Here are some pics:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/shale5qdmqui ... 9HVSa?dl=0

This is awesome. Beautiful terrain as well.

What a great way to depict the battle and such dedication! I'm awestruck. That had to have been a great experience for all involved!

Thanks guys. I am really excited about the campaign I run which emphasizes The One Ring rules but accommodates epic battles like those in Tolkien's writing using Open Combat. Like I said, I have converted the character stats from The One Ring to the Open Combat sytem - it is cool to have two sets of character stats for both individual play and mass combat.

My campaign includes these mass battles: Retaking Mountain Hall; Viglund vs, Beornings, Assault on the Greydelve; possibilty of the Bardings vs. an Easterlings incursion depending on what the characters do. (I have been running my games now based on PC choices and thus they may never deal with the Easterling subplot.)

I designed and built the Greydelve 3-D scene last year; the characters have spent many sessions getting ready for the assault(and many sub-plots) and it will be played out soon. So far they have the allegiance of exiled Dwarves, Barding archers from Laketown, a Barding troop from King Bard, Mountain Hall Woodmen and Mirkwood elf 'Watchers of the Forest'. I have created a selection of minis from mostly Gripping Beast Miniatures and The Lord of the Rings elf and orc collection to play this out.

More to come!



I will post pics of the Greydelve.

Is there any way I can get a copy of rules for Open Combat?