Callum and I played this game a couple of years ago. He was 8 at the time and he had painted some of the orcs with a little help with detailing from Grandad (me)
This was our first battle using the Games Workshop Lord of the Rings Strategy Game rules.
Battle at the White Gate
Callum decided to be the "baddies". His 4 warbands of Orcs with a "package" (a hobbit) are returning from a raid with a captured hobbit. They have to get the hobbit through the gate to deliver him to the evil wizard. We do not have the figures of the orc carrying a hobbit so one of the orc models had a sticker (a bit of blutack) stuck under his base to denote who was carrying the hobbit. If the orc was killed then any other unengaged orc in base to base contact could pick the hobbit up. If no orc was in contact then the hobbit stayed where it was but could escape in the "baddie" move phase if a 1 or 2 was thrown (untying himself).
Grandad had 4 warbands of Gondor infantry to try to rescue the hobbit.
The ground - the gateway into the Orc's lair is at the top.
We did not have any "Gondor Captain" figures so Grandad changed the arms of some figures, painted their shields blue and gave them white tunics so that they were easy to recognise.
The Orcs had a nice banner - so the wizard could keep an eye on them (Callum's joke).
They spot each other
GRAAAGH!!!! The Orcs charge
Battle is joined (you can see the unit captain with a blue shield to denote his rank)
On the flank 2 warbands head straight to the gate
Two orc two warbands charge again as a sacrifice to draw in three Gondorian warbands.
Callum's two warbands reach the gate but one Gondorian warband led by Faramir (Grandad) tries to stop them. But Grishnak (Callum) (with the hobbit) heads straight at the gate and he sacrifices his third warband to pin the Gondorians in place
Resounding Victory!
Callum achieved his mission even though he lost (deliberately) most of three warbands. The little scamp has quite a grasp of tactics! The spoils of victory included a Capri-Sun drink!
He knew the key to victory and performed well.