Games Workshop

Siege of Gondor

Reviewed by Steve Crofts

The 65 pages within the covers are of a typically Games Workshop set up. The topics included six scenarios, extra rules for gaming the scenarios and Modelling tips.

I’ll start with the scenarios, at the very beginning of the book is a brief historical account of Gondor, which sets the scene and helps pull the scenarios together into context.

The first scenario deals with Osgiliath, Boromir and Faramir’s defence of the city, this is a multi use scenario and can be played a number of times using different forces.

It does seem to be a bit of a skirmish game rather a full blown battle with approximately 61 figures on the evil side and 43 figures on the good side, I would be tempted to double if not treble the numbers and make it a real set to, which is the beauty of this type of scenario, chucking in extra figures equally doesn’t tend to unbalance the scenario as the odds stay roughly the same.

Next up is the Assault on Cair Andros, again a multi use scenario which can have a few permutations added to give further use to the scenario, there are points match options so it’s a matter of finding what size points allocations meet your needs.

The Second Assault on Cair Andros is covered next, again as with the previous two this to me seems to be a skirmish with very few figures, but as is with the other scenarios a points match system can be used to beef up forces, (I mean come on if your going to have a battle, have a battle!).

The Rammas, this is a rolling assault for the evil forces, every time a model is killed it is replaced on the board edge, it lasts 15 turns and could be quite an interesting little game in itself.

The Siege of Minas Tirith is another little scenario that whets the whistle, played over twelve turns this could be a very entertaining and challenging scenario for both sides.

Again the possibilities on this scenario are enhanced by the points match option and these again could be doubled or trebled to make a large scale battle.

Next is the Pyre of Denethor, this one is totally fictitious, but again quite an interesting little game in it’s own right, again points matches can be used as an alternative, although I would suggest playing the scenario as is first, as this I think would be a good challenge on it’s own, then try the points match for the flavour of variety!

Now here is where we leave Gondor and head over to Rohan???? In the Appendices.

And yes it’s back to Helms deep for the last two scenarios, first up is The Defences Must Hold! 

Initial forces in the scenario lack the umph of the books and the film, and it looks more like a skirmish, again, points can be allocated to both defender and attacker to beef up forces and make them more sizeable in the points match game.

Last of all is the recreation of the charge by Theoden out of the gates of Helms deep, again not as spectacular as the book or the film but still it’s a game I guess.

Overall not a bad set of skirmish games, which with some modification could be changed into a more spectacular set of battles, each of the games are set up to be played on a 4x4 ft board except the last which is designed for a 6x4.



Rules

All the extra rules for fighting in around and through fortifications are included in the book, plus stats for characters ect…. Including, Boromir before he was off to Rivendell for the council of Elrond.

Siege engine stats and rules are also covered.

Modelling

Well I was surprised that the usually expected guide to painting was not in this book, but I honestly didn’t miss it, the Modelling pages were in instead, and quite a decent set of tips they are too, Quite useful and they do give a few ideas for things to make.

Final Thoughts

Not a bad little book, pity about it being mainly set up for what I’d call skirmish games but I suppose with the points match system you may be able to field bigger armies.

The book is certainly colourful with pictures of minis, artwork and stills from the movies, all tied up into this neat little package.

Do I think it’s worth it? Well…. It does save a lot of work and messing around, plus it holds the rules for fortress warfare and siege engines, so in that respect yes.

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