Saving Prince Adam (Legends of the High Seas AAR)

When Belle and Adam attempted to escape through the woods, Prince Adam was struck by Gaston and left for dead. (See http://redcoatsandruffles.blogspot.com/2020/04/through-woods-legends-of-high-seas.html)  Belle convinced King Roland II of Enchancia to lead a search party to recover Prince Adam.  Unknown to them, Gaston intended to find Prince Adam too...

Roland's force consisted of (from left to right) Royal Guard (Militia), Baileywick (Steward), King Roland (Governor), Sir Bartleby (Militia), Queen Miranda (Steward), and Belle (Damsel).

Gaston's force contained himself (Pirate Captain), 7 mob (Pirate Rogues), and hired gun Mr. Brand (Bounty Hunter).

Scenario was "X Marks the Spot" from Legends of the High Seas.  For solo play, I used a modified system found at http://davetownsend.org/Battles/LotR-20171221/.  Every time a marker is revealed, a dice is rolled.  On a 6, (or if the marker is the last one remaining), it is revealed to be the objective.

"Not here"

The first three turns had both sides make progress across the board.  In turn 4, King Roland revealed one objective: a decoy.  Turns 5, 6, and 7 showed all markers.  Gaston found Prince Adam first and began to drag him away!

Turn 7: Prince Adam is found and battle is about to begin!

In turn 8, hired gun Mr. Brand sniped at King Roland.  Unfortunately his pistol jams rather than firing.

Turn 9 sees the beginning of combat, as King Roland dispatches a mobster with club.



Turn 10 opens with Roland in Brand's sights, but his gun jams again.  Mr. Brand needs to "visit" whoever sold him such disgraceful armament or powder!  Baileywick is wounded by an axe-wielding mob who hews him with a cleaving stroke...but is saved by a lucky break.

Turn 10 and another jam!

On turn 11, Mr. Brand clears the jam in his pistol and Roland dispatches another mob member.


Turn 12 sees everyone into battle, except Gaston and his crony who are busily carrying Adam away.  The Enchancia Royal Guard takes a potshot at Gaston and misses.  In combat, Sir Bartleby falls and a shovel slashes at Queen Miranda, but it is not her fate to die now.

Turn 13.  Both mob casualties are the result of King Roland.

By Turn 13, only Baileywick is close enough to begin hunting down Gaston.  Roland charges to tie up the axe-wielding mobster, the only character who could intercept Baileywick.  Roland wins the combat, but only rolls a 3 to wound.  He uses 2 Might points to boost his roll and dispatch his opponent.  Another mobster (who looks suspiciously like James Hiller) retaliates by killing the Royal Guard, despite being outnumbered 2:1.

Turn 14: Is King Roland exposed to a flank attack next turn?

Turn 14, and Gaston's mob pitches in to their opponents.  Rogue James falls in his turn to Belle and Queen Miranda.  Way to go, ladies!  While he is the only casualty, this creates a threat to Gaston: his force must now take Rout tests because they have been reduced to 50% strength.

Turn 15: No attack!  Roland's opponents ignominiously run!

And the Rout tests begin in Turn 15.  Gaston passes, so his companion does automatically.  But Mr. Brand and the shovel-wielding mob turn tail and run.  Probably Mr. Brand is disconcerted by the repeated failure of his pistol.  Gaston's entire shield has dissolved, but he has a good lead to crossing the river and victory.

Turn 17: Biceps to spare...but not Might points! Run!

Gaston passes his Rout test again on Turn 16 as he edges his way toward the river and victory.  If he can cross it and exit, he will claim victory.  Everyone else is following them, but only Baileywick and King Roland are near enough.

On Turn 17, Gaston finally looks around the battlefield to see himself abandoned.  He rolls for his Rout test and rolls a "2".  Not even his might points can save him!  He flees the battlefield.  With his leader gone, the last mobster decides there is no point in fighting on and follows in the rout.

Turn 17: Victory!  King Roland forms a rearguard.

 Victory to Belle!

It was a hard-fought battle.  Gaston could have attempted to exit from any spot on his board edge...but since he had originally crossed the river, I reasoned that he would want to recross it (and rivers generally discourage pursuit). King Roland was a combat machine.  His 2 Attacks (and a few Might points) allowed him to wreak havoc on the mob. I probably should have stuck Gaston into the fight, as he had a strong profile, rather than tying him up carrying Prince Adam.