15mm Wargaming for Fun and Sanity: OGAM gets wet Poseidon vs Ryujin

All Hail the Hydra!

Achaean

Poseidon Q2 C4 280 points Amphibious, Part Waters, Release the Kraken, Water god

Mortals

Royal bodyguard Q4, C3, Armoured, Greedy, Steadfast (CO) (23-3+5+3) = 28 Rare (4) 4x28=112

Early tower shield spear (CO) Q4 C2, Greedy 12 points 16x12= 192

Early tower shield javelin (CO) Q4 C2 Greedy, Shooter (short) 15 points, 8x15 =120

Javelin (OO) Q4 C1, 11points, shooter (short) 11x8=88

Legends

Medusa the Gorgon Q3, C3, 90 points, Poison, Turn to Stone,

Stheno the Gorgon Q3, C3, 94 points, Armoured, Turn to stone,

Euryale the Gorgon, Q3 C3 120 points, Flying, Long move, Turn to stone,

Lernean Hydra Q3 C4, 116 points, Combat master, Armoured, Huge

God 280

Legends 420

Mortals 512

1,212

Japanese

Ryujin, the Dragon King 396 points Shapeshift as human : Q2, C5), Water God, Weather Control, Armoured, Flying, Part Waters

Legends

Orochi, Water Dragon 82 points Q3 C3 Amphibious, Huge, Armoured, Rare (1)

2x Nure-Onna, Snake-Bodied Woman 72 points Q3 C3 Amphibious, Huge

Kappa 76 points Q3 C3 Amphibious, Armoured

Mortals

Same-Bito, Shark Men (CO) 56 points Q4 C3 Amphibious, Steadfast, Rare (4) 4x56 224

Goblins (CO) 15 points Q4 C2 15x8 = 120

Goblin archers (CO) 20 points Q4 C2 Shooter (Medium) 20x8 160

God 396

Legends 302

Mortals 504

1,202

This is the probably the most-unusual OGAM game we've played. Despite playing since it came out we have avoided the big-league gods and have yet to use all of them, let alone every possible variation.

The Japanese list is rich in amphibious choice, but other than the gods, none for the Greeks. On hindsight I could have made the swamp living hydra amphibious.

The Table, roughly divided between water and land. A temple on the hill on a double sized hill. I forgot that the Temple under siege scenario called for the attacker to have an extra 20%. We were already “in the zone” when I reread it so decided to go ahead. We play for fun, not competitively.

I had the Achaeans and put the hydra in the temple and numbered my right flank 1&5 and front 2&6 then 3 the wet left &4. Tony's rear.

Tony had 2 moves before I could get in on the act and sent his naga's into the temple. I managed to push them back before the shark men could get in on the act.

I had no choice but to bring on Poseidon first and my only flying unit, Euryale second. Both came on “3” and I was able to use a lucky reaction to Part waters. I had to stay defensive, but I was lucky for a quick turnover as the next 2 activations also turned up on “3”. I also got skirmishers on 1 (my right).

In came the sharkmen and I was lucky to throw them back. Then the dragon Orochi attacked Poseidon (if he went, so did the bridge) and got cheesed despite me having no extra dice. Poseidon raised the Kraken and launched him at Orochi, who killed it easy.

On the landward side I got Medusa next to the skirmishers and close enough that when the goblin charged my skirmishers (who failed to get out of way) and they rolled a “1”, not only did they get pushed back, one poor chap got stoned.

The hill was turning into a dumping ground, with the pushed back naga's and survivors of the sharkmen waiting for their chance. But Ryujin was just below and I was expecting an almighty thump. I managed to get my Gorgons to attack. Stheno hit a naga, both killing and turning to stone! Medusa was not so lucky and was killed by the sharkmen. Euryale flew into the temple, preparing to take on Ryujin.

Finally I was able to get all my infantry off the bridge (and safe to invoke), freeing and dicing up Poseidon to attack Ryujin and the Kappa. Ryujin is dead! This has little effect on his troops, except the goblins go back far enough to be free of those pesky skirmishers and invoke him back. This allows Euryale to take out the last naga before moving on to the Kappa who swats her down. Poseidon moves in to kill the Kappa.

In the centre the archer-goblins were mentioned in dispatches. First they stood off and sent reeling spears to their front, then another spear who appeared in their rear. Before they could be sandwiched they swarmed to take the hill, taking care to ignore the hydra and gorgon behind them.

As he had reappeared to Tony's rear-left Ryujin started to move on the flank and rear of my infantry getting ready to assault the archers uphill. With a temporary reprieve, Tony took a real risk to get all his invoking before sending Ryujin into Poseidon, whose turn it was to die, the hydra actually went backwards. I managed to get him back to my rear-centre but it was all over, Tony had lost too many.

A very good game with some interesting tactical decisions. I'm sure we will look at this one again swapping sides.