“The road goes ever on and on, down from the door where it began. Now far ahead the road has gone, and I must follow, if I can.”
— Bilbo Baggins, The Fellowship of the Ring
Right, let me tell you about this playthrough—it follows a band of Gondorian Rangers operating in the contested lands of Ithilien during the War of the Ring. Using the Battle Companies Community Edition, we’ll explore how narrative progression and character development can create compelling Middle-earth campaigns.
Company Creation
The Rangers of Ithilien
The company is a Gondor faction with 6 models, led by Captain Faramir (Hero) and including 5 Rangers of Ithilien.
Starting Roster
The starting roster includes Faramir as a Hero with bow and sword, and five Rangers (Anborn, Damrod, Mablung, Iorlas, and Hirgon) each with bow and sword.
Session 1: The Ambush
Setup
The Rangers have been tracking a group of Orcs moving through Ithilien. They’ve set up an ambush in a ruined watchtower, hoping to catch the Orcs as they pass through a narrow valley.
Scenario: Ambush
The objective is to eliminate all enemy models in terrain featuring a ruined watchtower, scattered rocks, and dense undergrowth. The enemy consists of 6 Orc Warriors led by a Captain.
What Happened
The Rangers waited patiently in the ruins as the Orcs approached. Faramir signaled the attack, and the Rangers unleashed a volley of arrows. The Orc Captain fell immediately, and two more Orcs were wounded. The remaining Orcs charged forward, but the Rangers’ superior positioning and skill told. By the end of the battle, all Orcs were dead, and the Rangers had suffered only minor wounds.
Battle Results
Gondor achieved victory with no casualties. Faramir gained 1 XP and Anborn gained 1 XP, while the company found 2 gold pieces and 1 healing potion as loot.
Reflections
The ambush felt authentic to the source material with the Rangers’ superior skill and positioning making sense for experienced warriors. The Community Edition rules worked well, providing clear guidelines for experience and advancement. The clean victory established the Rangers as skilled and experienced, creating emergent narrative. No house rules or adaptations are needed yet, as the experience system seems well-balanced.
Next Time
The Rangers will continue their patrol, investigating reports of increased Orc activity in the area.
Session 2: The Orc Camp
Setup
The Rangers have discovered an Orc camp in the ruins of an old Gondorian outpost. They must eliminate the Orcs and recover any intelligence about their plans.
Scenario: Raid
- Objective: Eliminate all enemy models and search the camp
- Terrain: Ruined outpost, campfires, scattered equipment
- Enemy: 8 Orc Warriors led by a Captain and a Shaman
What Happened
The Rangers approached the camp under cover of darkness. Faramir led a small group to create a distraction while the others moved into position. The plan worked initially, but the Orc Shaman’s magic caused problems. Anborn was wounded by a curse, and the Rangers had to fight their way out. In the end, they succeeded in eliminating the Orcs and recovering valuable intelligence.
Battle Results
- Victory: Gondor
- Casualties: Anborn wounded (1 wound)
- Experience: Faramir gained 2 XP, Damrod gained 1 XP
- Loot: 3 gold pieces, 1 magic item (Ring of Protection)
Reflections
- Tolkienian Feel: The Orc Shaman’s magic felt appropriate for Middle-earth—subtle but dangerous. The Rangers’ teamwork and skill were well-represented.
- Mechanics: The magic system worked well, providing interesting tactical options without being overpowered.
- Emergent Narrative: Anborn’s wound created a personal stake in the story.
- House Rules/Adaptations: None yet, but the magic system seems well-balanced.
Next Time
The Rangers will return to base to report their findings and tend to Anborn’s wounds.
Session 3: The Orc Pursuit
Setup
The Rangers are returning to base when they’re ambushed by a larger force of Orcs seeking revenge for their fallen comrades. They must fight their way through to safety.
Scenario: Escape
- Objective: Get at least half the company off the opposite edge of the table
- Terrain: Dense forest, narrow paths, rocky outcrops
- Enemy: 10 Orc Warriors led by a Captain and 2 Shaman
What Happened
The Rangers found themselves outnumbered and outmaneuvered. The Orcs’ superior numbers and the Shaman’s magic made the situation desperate. Faramir ordered a fighting retreat, with the Rangers covering each other as they moved. Anborn, still wounded, struggled to keep up, but the others refused to leave him behind. In the end, four Rangers escaped, but Damrod and Iorlas were captured.
Battle Results
- Defeat: Gondor
- Casualties: Damrod and Iorlas captured
- Experience: Faramir gained 1 XP, Anborn gained 1 XP
- Loot: None
Reflections
- Tolkienian Feel: The defeat felt authentic to the source material. The Rangers’ loyalty to each other was well-represented, and the capture of Damrod and Iorlas created real stakes.
- Mechanics: The escape scenario worked well, providing a different type of challenge. The capture rules added interesting consequences.
- Emergent Narrative: The capture of Damrod and Iorlas created a new story thread that wasn’t planned.
- House Rules/Adaptations: None yet, but the capture rules seem well-balanced.
Next Time
The Rangers will plan a rescue mission to free their captured comrades.
Session 4: The Rescue
Setup
The Rangers have learned that Damrod and Iorlas are being held in an old Orc stronghold. They must infiltrate the stronghold and rescue their comrades.
Scenario: Infiltration
- Objective: Rescue the captured Rangers and escape
- Terrain: Orc stronghold, guard posts, prison cells
- Enemy: 12 Orc Warriors led by a Captain and 3 Shaman
What Happened
The Rangers approached the stronghold under cover of darkness. Faramir led a small group to create a distraction while the others infiltrated the stronghold. The plan worked initially, but the Orcs’ superior numbers and the Shaman’s magic made the situation desperate. In the end, the Rangers succeeded in rescuing their comrades, but at great cost. Anborn was killed in the escape, and the others were badly wounded.
Battle Results
- Victory: Gondor
- Casualties: Anborn killed, others wounded
- Experience: Faramir gained 3 XP, others gained 1 XP each
- Loot: 5 gold pieces, 2 magic items
Reflections
- Tolkienian Feel: Anborn’s death felt meaningful and tragic. The Rangers’ loyalty to each other was well-represented, and the rescue mission had real stakes.
- Mechanics: The infiltration scenario worked well, providing a different type of challenge. The death of Anborn had real consequences.
- Emergent Narrative: Anborn’s death created a new story thread that wasn’t planned.
- House Rules/Adaptations: None yet, but the death rules seem well-balanced.
Next Time
The Rangers will mourn Anborn’s death and plan their next move.
Session 5: The Revenge
Setup
The Rangers have learned that the Orc Captain who killed Anborn is leading a raid on a nearby village. They must stop the raid and avenge their fallen comrade.
Scenario: Defend the Village
- Objective: Protect the villagers and eliminate the Orc Captain
- Terrain: Village, houses, narrow streets
- Enemy: 8 Orc Warriors led by the Captain who killed Anborn
What Happened
The Rangers arrived at the village just as the Orcs were beginning their attack. They quickly organized the villagers and set up defensive positions. The battle was fierce, with the Orc Captain proving to be a formidable opponent. In the end, Faramir managed to kill the Captain, avenging Anborn’s death. The remaining Orcs fled, and the village was saved.
Battle Results
- Victory: Gondor
- Casualties: None
- Experience: Faramir gained 2 XP, others gained 1 XP each
- Loot: 4 gold pieces, 1 magic item
Reflections
- Tolkienian Feel: The revenge mission felt authentic to the source material. The Rangers’ loyalty to their fallen comrade was well-represented, and the village defense had real stakes.
- Mechanics: The defense scenario worked well, providing a different type of challenge. The revenge element added emotional weight.
- Emergent Narrative: The revenge mission created a satisfying conclusion to Anborn’s story.
- House Rules/Adaptations: None yet, but the revenge element worked well.
Next Time
The Rangers will continue their patrol, now with a new sense of purpose and determination.
Overall Reflections
What Worked
- Narrative Progression: The campaign developed naturally from the initial ambush to the revenge mission.
- Character Development: Each Ranger grew and changed over the course of the campaign.
- Emergent Story: The capture of Damrod and Iorlas, and Anborn’s death, created unexpected story threads.
- Tolkienian Feel: The campaign captured the sense of Middle-earth as a dangerous place where even small victories come at a cost.
What Didn’t Work
- Balance Issues: Some scenarios were too difficult, others too easy.
- Narrative Control: Limited ability to direct the story where you want it to go.
- Complexity: Many rules to track, which can break immersion.
- Death Consequences: Losing characters can be devastating for the campaign.
Tolkienian Feel
Battle Companies captures some aspects of Middle-earth well:
- Personal Stakes: Individual characters matter and their deaths have weight.
- Narrative Progression: The campaign develops naturally over time.
- Character Growth: Warriors improve and change through experience.
- Mystery and Wonder: The random events create unexpected discoveries.
However, it also misses some key elements:
- Narrative Control: Limited ability to create the story you want.
- Thematic Consistency: Random events don’t always serve Tolkien’s themes.
- Scale Issues: Hard to represent larger conflicts.
- Balance Problems: Some scenarios are too difficult or too easy.
Verdict
Battle Companies is a solid campaign system that captures some aspects of Middle-earth well, but it’s not perfect. The narrative progression and character development work well, but the balance issues and limited narrative control can be frustrating. For players who want to explore Middle-earth through small-scale campaigns, it’s worth trying, but it requires some patience and adaptation.
This playthrough will continue as the Rangers face new challenges and grow in experience.