Tactical Battle - Brigands vs. Orcs - 29 Feburary 2024

 Our first encounter between two groups of Monsters occupying Castles in the same adventure hex as our Cleric Patron (Hex 45:47).  

Randomly determining where they meet involved simulating excursions by each group from their Castle hex with Direction (d8) Distance (d6) rolls.  I'm assuming these represent weekly forays into the wilderness for various reason, hunting for prey, exploration, random pillaging, etc.  Once the path of travel for each group intersected on the same roll, the groups would meet up.

This encounter occurs in sub hex 6, this is primary Scrub 1 mile hex with a road running through it from the Northeast to the Southwest.  To set up the battle map (24"x48"), we divide the playing area into 16 sectors numbered as shown below.  Rolling against the Appendix B Random Terrain chart from the DMG, using the Scrub column provides these results:

The terrain generation resulted in a few features:
    Two small ponds

    A small hill

    Woods in the Southwest corner

    Two patches of Desert, which I perceive as unusually flat ground with sparse vegetation in this circumstance. 

Setting the scene:

Orcs enter the battlefield from the Southwest, Brigands from the Southeast.
Surprise:  Brigands 2 (Yes), Orcs 5 (No)

Distance:  (6d4) reductions for Scrub & Surprise = 11"

Time of Day (d6: 1-3 am, 4-6 pm = 5 ) (d12: hour = 12) 12:00 Midnight - No problems for Orcs

Initially adjusted Reaction Rolls:  

    Brigands = 40 - Uncertain but 55% prone toward negative

    Orcs = 18 - Hostile, immediate action

Force Pools:

    Brigands = 80 troops - 10 Light Horse & 70 Light Foot + 9 Leader types + 1 Cleric & Assistant

    Orcs =  180 regulars + 24 Leaders + Subchief & Guards + Witch Doctor

Since the Brigands were surprised the Brigands must place their troops within 9" of the midpoint of the two Southwest sectors first.  (I use 9 vs 11 to give the Orcs some leeway to position their troops.)  They decide to position a line of the Foot along the road facing the Southwest, with some missle troops to the side behind the pond and Horse and Command in reserve behind the Foot.

The Orcs mass their troops in line formation (two ranks deep), within the woods on the Northeast corner of that sector separating off six of the troops with missile weapons to maybe flank or provide cover fire if necessary. 

As the battle begins,