“Still round the corner there may wait
A new road or a secret gate
And though I oft have passed them by
A day will come at last when I
Shall take the hidden paths that run
West of the Moon, East of the Sun.”
As I'm sure many of you are aware Games Workshop promote a 'New Year, New Army' initiative a the beginning of each year. This year, in addition to the usual hype over new armies, Games Workshop have tied it in with their annual Armies on Parade competition, which challenges people to create impressive display boards for their forces.
Now towards the end of 2021 my wife and I had a new baby and so hobbying took a back seat to night feeds and dirty nappies for the tail end of last year and beginning of this year. But following the excellent Battle Companies Challenge I recently took part in (see the results of that here) I have once again caught the hobby bug. And so thoughts turned to this New Year, New Army concept again.
Now while I really wanted Razgûsh's Elf hating Orcs and beasts to be my main focus, the eternal wait for Defense of the North has put a small pause on that project (I didn't want to get halfway through painting an army only for the rules to change or a new Legion land that changes how I'm building my army). So instead I turned my attention further South when looking for inspiration and found this scene:
And then a trumpet rang from the Citadel, and Denethor at last released the sortie. Drawn up within the shadow of the Gate and under the looming walls outside they had waited for his signal: all the mounted men that were left in the City. Now they sprang forward, formed, quickened to a gallop, and charged with a great shout. And from the walls an answering shout went up; for foremost on the field rode the swan-knights of Dol Amroth with their Prince and his blue banner at their head.
'Amroth for Gondor!' they cried. 'Amroth to Faramir!'
Like thunder they broke upon the enemy on either flank of the retreat; but one rider outran them all, swift as the wind in the grass: Shadowfax bore him, shining, unveiled once more, a light starting from his upraised hand.
The Nazgûl screeched and swept away, for their Captain was not yet come to challenge the white fire of his foe. The hosts of Morgul intent on their prey, taken at unawares in wild career, broke, scattering like sparks in a gale. The out-companies with a great cheer turned and smote their pursuers. Hunters became the hunted. The retreat became an onslaught. The field was strewn with stricken orcs and men, and a reek arose of torches cast away, sputtering out in swirling smoke. The cavalry rode on.
Minas Tirith (and Gondor in general) is one of my favourite factions in the game, there's just something about the fight against all hope from the diminished remnants of a once great kingdom that appeals to me. However, I've always run it as predominantly infantry, with only one Swan Knight currently the only cavalry having been painted. So despite the fact that Gondor isn't technically a new army for me, an all cavalry army feels like a brand new army because it'll have a completely different play style to my normal Gondorians.
As a lot of tournaments in Ireland run at 800 points that seemed like good target to aim for, especially considering the Heroes I'd want to feature based on the book passage above. So currently looks something like this:
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| Knight of Dol Amroth - Art by Imad Awan |
Warband 1
Prince Imrahil on Armoured Horse with Lance
6 Knights of Dol Amroth on Armoured Horse with Lance
Warband 2
Gandalf the White on Shadowfax
1 Knight of Minas Tirith with Banner and Shield
7 Knights of Minas Tirith with Shield
2 Citadel Guard with Horse and Longbow
Warband 3
Captain of Minas with Horse, Shield and Lance
3 Knights of Minas Tirith
800 points
22 models
At 22 models it's definitely on the low side but everyone is mounted so mobility isn't an issue. With nearly every model carrying a lance this'll hit hard if it can get a good charge off. As far as heroes go I've got a good all-rounder with some excellent magic in Gandalf, a powerhouse hitter in Imrahil and a support hero in a generic Captain whose job will be to call the Heroic Moves to get the rest of the army charging into combat. Is it the most competitive army? No. Is it thematic? Hell yeah.
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| I only hope for a better outcome than Faramir had. |
And as for display boards, since creating a Laketown tray for my Thorin's Company last year I really got into the idea of display boards for showpiece armies and with the new. And boy do I have an ambitious plan for this army. But I'll leave that for another day.
I hope you'll enjoy this journey with me as I attempt to recreate the Gondorian Knight's glorious sortie.
