HOBBITS

Loosely based on the works of Tolkien and the D&D game. They are an often stereotyped "little folk" who are fond of their creature comforts and quite a bit of fine dining, but more than willing to defend themselves by force of arms if necessary. Stronghold: a rounded hill with small door and windows.

Shooter General (Hobbit Leader and Guards) @ 2AP...1
Warbands (Hobbit militia) @ 2AP...5
Shooters (Hobbt archers) @ 2AP...4
Lurkers (less aggressive Hobbits) @ 1AP...4

Alternatives: Blades (Dwarf allies) @ 2AP, Magician (Gandalf or some such) @ 4AP, Flyers (allied Eagles) @ 2AP, Sneakers (bold yet stealthy Hobbits) @ 3AP

DESIGN PHILOSOPHY

OK so this is the little halfling list I have cobbled together. I figured Warbands represented a fairly brittle formation that is still capable of doing some good once in a while. Shooters are a given in my mind for Hobbits. Blame Sebastian from the HotT mailing list, and his Stacked Goth Hobbit Chicks for the Eagles. And Lurkers I think were Sebastian's idea, too. And many thanks to everyone on the HotT mailing list for their contributions and general discussions, even the postings about midget porn stars. And now my delusions of grandeur can include losing with Hobbits as well as with every other army I play.

STATUS

10oct2001: 5 Warbands, 4 Shooters, 4 Lurkers, and a Shooter General done, as well as the Stronghold. That's enough to play a game with, but I still have an element of Sneakers to paint up, and I plan to order some Warmaster eagles from GW mailorder at some point...

BATTLES

30oct2001: So my Hobbits had a chance of revenge when Duke Draken and Felix pursued them back to their wooded homeland. With the Hobbits defending, the game ended in the second engagement as Felix (the Hero) captured the stronghold. Quick game. Then Darkhost suggested we play on as if stronghold had doubled Felix and he fled 600 paces. Suddeny things started happening for the short guys. Lots of Shooters versus lots of Knights. My Warbands and his Blades played very little part in the game. In the end, Hobbits were victorious, and I have yet to deploy any of my four Hobbit Lurker in a game. Lessons learned: don't send Warbands on long trips through the woods; block your stronghold with them instead. Don't let Heroes near your stronghold. Just because you're short doesn't mean you can't win.

16oct2001: Today was my first ever game with the short furry-footed guys. I Was the attacker. Terrain had one impassable piece (one of Duke Draken's portable volcanoes), a hill, and a mid-size wood. So much for my 4AP of Lurkers. So there I was, 20AP of bad-going specialists who would all die if beaten by Knights in contact, facng an army with a multitude of Knights on a board with virtually no bad going. I had lost three elements before I managed to regroup in the woods, and then a string of sixes for PIP rolls allowed me to redeploy my forces and sally forth from the woods to stomp the living daylghts out of those mounted medievals! What actually happened was I sallied forth, killed a Knight, and lost another three elements in a variety of combats. But the important thing is that the HOBBITS WERE NOT SHUT OUT. THEY DREW BLOOD! NOT A WORTHLESS ARMY! Somewhere I read that it's good to have an army you can love even when they lose, and I think this is the army for me. And the good news is, next time I'm the defender, and i plan to cover the board 49% full of bad going...

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