"You Are An Infiltration Prototype."

"Cyborgs don't feel pain."

This 28mm scale metal Killbot is manufactured by "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio", and can be bought individually as Killbot A, or as part of the four-figure deal - SKU: DEAL 347. The single-cast model was undercoated with "Vallejo" Heavy Grey, washed in "Citadel" Biel-Tan Green, dry-brushed with "Vallejo" Gunmetal, and subsequently shaded using plenty of "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade.

I then applied some "Mig Productions" Extreme Rust Wash to its joints, and blended this in with a dry-brush of (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Grey, allowing some of the previously-applied "Vallejo" Gunmetal to still shine through. Finally, its weapon was treated to a combination of "Citadel" Abaddon Black, "Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal, and "Citadel" Nuln Oil. I also dotted its eyes using some "Scalecolor" Speed Metal as a base layer, and later dabbed a little "Citadel" Flesh Tearers Red over these areas.

Beregond shockingly finds his position assailed by deadly Uruk-hai Bezerkers within the opening turn

With the third of my Killbots completed, I also managed to play some "Middle Earth: Strategy Battle Game" by "Games Workshop", fielding my current 500 point Isengard force against a similarly-sized army of Gondor. As this was our first fight using the rule-set for quite some time we played the opening scenario - Domination, slightly reducing the recommended set-up measurements to better accommodate the three foot square table we were using.

Considering that both sides could immediately deploy up to the halfway point of the battlefield, the main aim of both armies was to push the other back so as to claim the larger share of five scattered objective markers. To this end I placed my Uruk-hai scout archers on the edge of a forest on my right flank, relying upon their "Woodland Creature" special ability to allow them to melt into the undergrowth if frontally assaulted, and 'Heroically Moved' Lurtz and his Bezerkers straight towards Beregond's archer unit on my left. This provided the White Wizard, Saruman, plenty of room in the centre to deal with any threats.

Beregond dies whilst battling Lurtz as Gondor looks to its centre and left flank for victory

This bold move clearly threw Gondor into complete disarray as both the Knights of Minas Tirith and Gandalf repositioned themselves, and allowed Lurtz to smash straight into Beregond's terrified troops. Unsurprisingly, my fierce Bezerkers hacked the armoured human archers to pieces, and soon buried their so-called champion alongside them. In addition, Saruman appeared more than a match for a unit of Gondor swordsmen who thought they'd secure the central objective, courtesy of a Sorcerous Blast and The Palantir.

Gondor discovers just how brittle its Knights of Minas Tirith actually are

Reeling from these early blows, Gandalf made a beeline straight for my Scout archers, hoping to catch the leather-clad Uruk-hai in a pincer move with the splendid-looking Knights of Minas Tirith. However, a few flights of arrows actually managed to fell one of the armoured riders and cause them to go their separate ways - with a pair even wheeling right back around and moving to help the survivors of Beregond's poorly performing band.

This change in the cavalry's direction set-up one of the highlights of the game as Saruman managed to hurl a Knight into another rider with another Sorcerous Blast, outright killing the first and unsaddling the second. With Gondor's entire right flank eradicated, and Lurtz sweeping towards the centre, Gandalf's only hope was to attack my Scout archers and then follow it up with a charge from some remaining Swordsmen.

Isengard's Uruk-hai Scouts fend off some of Gondor's better-armoured soldiers

A Sorcerous Blast from Shadowfax's rider definitely got my Uruk-hai Scouts out into the open. But with orc blades drawn, and lead by a Captain, the unit still managed to hold their own against the better armoured infantry of Gondor. Indeed, before long, my Isengard forces had completely whittled away their opponents to a quarter of their starting number and collected numerous victory points with their mastery of the objective markers. A well-won victory for the White Wizard was in the books...