Okay I’ve stopped grizzling about turn 4 results so I’ll give the run down. The attack in the far south has ground down now, with most of the harbours removed. The last attacking force has been intercepted away from our towns, and the march to attack Harad has significantly extended. A gathering of Freep forces at 2732 was thwarted by the arrival of CL forces (now that is another startup case of awful awful luck) leaving just one fortified pop thwarting their decimation of the north. The freep will struggle now to end the N.Harad and take the fight to S.Harad. Whatever has gone before, the coming turns and equalisation of forces leaves Harad a cauldron of desperate actions and reviving DS fortunes…
In the NW a hideous brawl has opened with more freep icons than I think I have ever seen in my life. There’s been consistent and effective blocks going in, but overwhelming numbers of freep icons and force hitting the defenders. With Dol Guldur burning this turn and forces closing on Gob Gate no doubt, the Rhu needs to shake a leg…
on the Sea of Rhun another major battle as the combined LR and BS forces hit a range of freep reinforcements. Only turn results will show how this one is to go.
Otherwise Mordor remains unmolested with the Ithil region threatened and in the hands of the FK, turn 4 has run, and the next turn should be the last of winter. That’s all good to the DS.
The fights on all theatres outside Mordor have been desperate and have attracted every last Freep army. Will the gambit of destroying all externals and forcing the DS into Mordor with it’s limited backup MT’s work? Can it be done quick enough?
On the character front, no luck to the DS with Erennis dying previously to Celdrahil and losing all the LR agent arties. RoW and RoC started firmly in the NW with the freep throwing huge character assets at it. They would certainly be feeling good about cleaning up agent arties.
Also a bit of bad luck for the WK and good planning for Will has seen the WK comm arties fall into their hands and a range of WK comms killed.
However not quite balancing the books, but Vinyaran’s army destroyed in S.Harad grounding the fleet, so the NG is for the time being landlocked, and Vinyaran captured.
Whatever comes next, it’s been bloodthirsty to the nth degree, a true confirmation of the strengths, determination and might that few players can muster above the 12 man team. I think barring any unfortunate disasters, mistakes, and eliminations, the game promises to be a hard fought, high volatility affair.
Well done to Will so far for playing such a good hand, with dragons making their entry now, and the inevitable move towards character improvement, the next half a dozen turn are extremely important to his fortunes…
There’s no competing with that amount of pressure on Harad - well done! Time for the DS to batten down the hatches and wait for the coming night. The period up to turn 10 now is going to be hugely interesting. Can’t wait to see how this unusual theatre by theatre shake down is going to work out. Again - well done. I don’t mind taking the beating it’s who gives the last beating that matters :-). Cheers Winsten Wun Toof
