Gaming in 15mm: Hordes of the Things

Hordes of the Things is a free to download 15/28mm army level game set in any fantasy universe you want it to be. This is made possible by dividing unit types into broad groups such as Heroes, Spears, Magicians, and Knights. Pretty much every conceivable regiment can fit under one of these headings. Armies consist of 24 points, and elements range in price from 1-6 points. Regiments are represented by strips of models which represent amassed units of infantry, the size and shape of which represent their training and bravery.

My primary reason for this article, however, is to show off my armies. They're destined to collect dust, as nobody around here plays the game, but I enjoy making and painting these armies.

I'll begin with the Arthurian army mentioned in the last post. The army consists of a Hero General (Arthur), a Magician (Merlin), 4 units of Knights (Knights of the Round Table) 2 units of Riders (squires) and 2 units of Shooters (archers). This is an aggressive army which favors wide, outflanking moves and army disruption, The Hero General excels in combat, but has to be careful not to get stranded away from the rest of the army, lest he be overrun by peons. The Magician is good for taking out enemy heroes, as his ability to bespell them removes them from the board unless the controlling player forgoes activating 6 units in the same turn (which is a very big deal).

Next is my Viking army. The diversity of Hordes of the Things allows for historical armies to clash against fantasy ones. This army consists of a Hero General (Jarl), 4 units of Blades (Axemen), 2 Warbands (Berserkers), 4 Hordes (Bondsmen), and 2 units of riders (Cavalry).

This army benefits from a coherent battle plan, focusing on disrupting the enemy battle line while keeping the Axemen organized by harassing the flanks of enemy formations with the Riders, and sacrificing the Hordes to prevent enemies from doing the same to them. The Warbands and Hero are for providing a sledgehammer to break up prolonged combats.

Next up comes standard fantasy fare- Dwarfs. This army has a Blades General (Dwarf King), three more Blades (Clansdwarfs), three shooters (Crossbows), Three units of Knights (Bear Cavalry), and a Hero (Dwarf Prince on Bear). The reasoning for placing the General in the Blades unit is to represent his slow nature and less than stellar close combat capability (he's getting kind of old...). This is a sturdy, slow moving army designed to grind with an enemy army and come out ahead. The Hero is again the hammer to the dwarf line's anvil. The fact that he's not the army General allows him to take risks that Arthur could not.

...And now the armies get a little weird. These are the "Accursed Getinmabeli", savage pygmy women compelled to eat men. The army is made up of a Hero General (Matriarch), a God (Tiki God), 3 Spears (Spearwomen), 2 Warbands (Axewomen), 2 Shooters (Archers) and 2 Lurkers (Blowpipers). This is an infantry based disruption army. These warrior-women want as many forests on the table as possible to compliment the speed and terror effect of the Warbands and Lurkers. The God is the ultimate disruption unit with his ability to appear almost anywhere on the board and massive combat capability. The fickle nature of Gods makes the model a bit unpredictable (he may leave at the beginning of any turn), but until he leaves he's a force to be reckoned with.

My final army gets really weird. This is the army of the Penguish Civil War. Yes, that is an army of penguins armed with icicles and snow balls. This represent the pike and shotte nature of an English Civil War army made of Penguins. The army consists of a Rider General (a Seal Cavalry Officer), 3 more units of Riders (Seal Cavalry), 4 Shooters (Penguins with Snowballs), 2 units of Spears (Icicle Pikemen), and a Behemoth (Polar Bear). Yes, I know that Polar Bears are arctic creatures, not antarctic. It's a spoof army, so give me a break. Honestly, I've never used this army, or considered how it would play. It's just a nifty army I wanted to show off.

That's it for my Hordes of the Things armies. I may post a short, solitaire game report in the future, but don't hold your breath...