Rogue Stars B Team loses it there in a whole world of hurt

When you have a job need doing,

if you can find them, 

hire the B Team.

Bounty Hunters to the stars.

The Scene's modern range. Some of the first 15mm I bought a few years ago-.

Vinnie Leader 1 Marksman1, Reactive, Veteran

Assault rifle 5, auto, 2 hand

Slug pistol 4, short range

Wagner Marksman1, Reactive, Veteran

Machine gun 5, heavy, 2 hand

Slug pistol 4 short range

Xbox Marksman1, Reactive, Tech1 Veteran

Plasma grenade launcher 2 @ 8 each 4, 12” range 4” radius, Scorching, Energy

Slug pistol 4 short range

Yank Chucker, Danger sense, Marksman1, Reactive, Weapon master1 Veteran

Assault rifle 5, auto, 2 hand

2 Knives, 1 primitive

Zak Fire into melee, Marksman3, Reactive, Stealth 3, Veteran

Laser rifle 5, Blind, 2 handed, Energy

Slug pistol 4 short range

Tactical discipline 5 firepower tokens, hail of fire no -2 penalty.

Handy scenery- this was from Asda Halloween range holding a glass bowl.  Used in shop until broke, then recycled.  I must finish it as a piece of Martian terrain.

I was going to use a rubber duck until I found this while looking for a crashed chopper.

Sorry about the pics, the figures just melt in too well.

Dirty jobs done dirt cheap. All the Llhurg want to do is tear ass around the galaxy and shoot things and chop them up.

These are just about my favourite alien. From Khurasan. There's another pack with just swords that I must get enough to use for fantasy as well. Come the better exchange rate, another clan!

Llhurg Mercenaries of the Uuti Clan

Leader Fast1, Leader 2, Marksman1, Reactive, Stealth1, Weapon master 2 =36

Smg, 4, automatic Vibroblade 3 =10

Mutant Big, Marks1, Reactive, Tough3, Weapon3 =44

Machine gun 5, heavy, 2 hand

2h weapon 3, primitive, clumsy, 2 hand =12

Clan fighter Fast1, Marksman1, Reactive, Stealth1, Weapon master 2 =24

Smg, 4, automatic Vibroblade 3 =10

Clan fighter

Fast1, Green-8, Marksman1, Reactive, Stealth1, Weapon master 2 =16

Smg, 4, automatic Vibroblade 3 =10

Clan group

Leader Uuti 46

Mutant Muuuti 56

2 warriors 68 Ruuti, Suuti

1 green warrior 26 Zuuiti

Total=196

Discipline Move It 10 tokens +1” to walk, run, sprint.

I think Ambush will suit these guys. Dense terrain, and the Llhurgs have a rookie.

Tony took the Llhurs (for a change) and got the initiative. So I set up in the middle, as I only had 5, I concentrated my force in a wedge with Wagner on the high point. Zuuti (my front) started by moving in, got spotted by Wagner who let loose with a hail of lead, pinning him and destroying his sword.

Song of Uuti and Suuti (my rear and left respectively). Uuti came in fast and strong, took a poor pot-shot at Vinnie. Suuti sneaked around the pillars. Wanger got a reaction and sprayed them with a hail of fire (hah, got chit, no -2!) Suuti is down, not gone but bleeding out from a head hit. Uuti hides behinds the handy pillars. At this point I managed to get the initiative and Vinnie does a step out ready-to-spray but his gun goes clunk! But he gets there in the end and Uuti goes down close to his warrior.

Song of Muuuti. (My right) With the initiative he moves forward and takes cover behind a clump of trees that soon get shredded and laser burnt. He lays a hail of fire down on Yank (pinned) and Vinnie who's hit in the torso and goes crashing down. Up comes Xbox and he goes down shredded. Some bad rolls gives the hunters the chance to put him down. He's not dead, but also bleeding out. Hard bastards, these.

Song of Zuuti and Xbox. Zuuti stayed low after being shot at and moving left. Slowly he moves to get a shot at Xbox. A critical fail. Xbox takes the reaction (at +2) but he rolls a critical fail. That leaves him a sitting duck. Zuuti tries again, but gets another critical fail, weapon malfunction requiring a 2 actions tech fix. He does a runner.

Song of Ruuti. (My right) While the mutant draws fire and the leader does his dash, Ruuti lays low watching for his opportunity. When they're dead it's up to him and Zuuti. The enemy gives up the initiative, thinking they've won. He heads to the right and moving fast until he gets the drop on the leader, Vinnie. Shot – dead. Looks right, another one, Zak, shoots again-dead. Big one with a big gun, tries to shoot him, but it goes clunk (critical fail). Another shot, Wagner's dead. Heads left to meet up with Zuuti.

Ruuti lines up Vinnie, adding to the pile.

Song of Zuuti and Yank. Ruuti (feeling the clan chief roll settling on him) lets Zuuti have him. Yank gets a reaction and tries to shoot, critical failure! Again! Zuuti (probably in a rush of empathy) brings his vibroblade crashing down on his head, Yank was probably still fumbling with his magazine, rolled really, really low and lost his head.

Ouch, that WAS deadly. I think from now on my squads are going to have a medic!

Aftermath. For winning the game and killing all the opposition they get a massive 18 XP.

Clan at start: Uuti, Muuti, warriors Ruuti, Suuti, Tuuti, Uuuti, Wuuti, Xuuti, and newbie Zuuti

Clan after the game:

Ruuti is the new Uuti (which gives him a “free leadership upgrade” ) taking another level of marksman (6) and a level of steadfast (3), as this reflects what he achieved, giving a new total of 54.

Zuuti is no longer green (8), he's been wounded & killed in hand to hand, and has one XP “in the bank”. So up to 34.

The “new” Muuti, Ruuti and Suuti- one may be green.

New roster could be:

Uuti 54, Muuti 56, 2 Warriors 68, green warrior 26 = 204.

Uuti 45, 4 Warriors 136, green warrior 26 = 207.

Or, if allowed, as part of a campaign, Uuti 45, 5 Warriors 170 = 215.

Uuti (sword raised) hides from Wagner as Vinnie gets up & stalks forward

"He's close, real close-"

Rogue Stars Dominar Rigel and the Ying Tong of Yam Sham Poo

Dominar Rigel vs 

the Ying Tong of Yam Sham Poo

A quick note on my modus operandi. This is the Dorset Hardback which is now officially a rare breed.

I start planning a game from an idea or opening boxes until inspiration leaps out. The basic details, points etc. are worked out on paper then transferred to a document and tidied up/revised. This document then generates a playsheet and checklist to make sure I'm not frantically chasing around looking for the one figure or scenery bit at the last minute. A pile develops on my tabletop, you'll often see small forces on a CD movement tray on pics at the start of the game.

During the game Tony and one take pics. This has grown to be an enjoyable part of the game and gives me an invaluable aid memoir when doing the reports. I try and do these ASAP but life can get in the way!

Why should you start a blog? Well, it makes you plan. I finish figures etc. on a regular basis rather than my old “that will get it on the table” never to be finished- standard. I would prefer more feedback (hint) but it is gratifying to see my post shared and enjoyed by community.

The reason I thought I'd share this is that it went wrong here so I'm have to go back to my scribbled notes-.

A quick word on the figures. For the first time since somewhen all the figures are from the same company. The Dominar and family plus the first batch of Prang-not-Sheyang were from 15mm.co and the rest of the Prang (couldn't resist the frock coated captain) and Xin are from the sister Ion Age. A quick word on these, I bought the original deal on a whim and these are from the more restrained split. The others are the more “big trouble in little China” half, I've had a real painting block on both of these.

The Plot On the planet Neuvo Mars in the unpopular outer righthand spiral of our galaxy is to be found Location 9, predators lair. Here a Complications 18 space vortex thrums. A worthy acquisition for a Pirate Dominar and his Sheyang bodyguard. BUT other Pirates from the dread Yang Sham Poo are on a Manhunt to capture said august being.

Setup. Regular readers will once again be astounded, shocked and amazed that Tony took the Dominars side. I'd laid out 10 items of terrain allowing him to dice for location of the monster and his startup. Logical to presume that he would have done his homework and found out about the wee timerous beastie that is either from or attracted to the vortex.

Dread Yang Sham Poo

Dr Syn Die Civilian, Leader 2, Tech1, Reactive, Weapon master 2, Martial arts 2 =23

Light combat armour, Neuro whip =18

Lord Poo Civilian, Weapon master 2, React, Agile3 Tough 2, Martial arts 2 =27

Light combat armour, Force sword =18

Slash Civilian, Weapon master1, React, Agile 3 Martial arts 2 =9

Light combat armour, Force glaive, Needler pistol built in arm =31

Minion Civilian, Marksman1 Martial arts 2 = 0

Light combat armour, Heavy blaster rifle 22

Mission crew:

Dr Syn Die 41

Lord Poo 45

Slash 40

3x Minion 66

Total 192

Dominar & bodyguards

Dominar Rigel Amphibian, Diminutive, Fast 2, Leader 2, Reactive, Marksman1 = 34

Force shield, Sonic rifle =22

Oddjob Big, Amphibian, Heavyworlder, Marksman2, Reactive, Tough2 =37

Light combat armour, Plasma pistol Built-in flamer rifle torso 32

Jaws Big, Amphibian, Heavyworlder, Marksman2, Reactive, Tough2 Weaponmaster 1=40

Light combat armour, Plasma pistol, Sword Plasma pistol Built-in flamer rifle torso 34

Total 199

The Game. I started in one corner and started searching out, intending to proceed in an anti-clockwise rotation. Amazingly Dr Syn Die got 3 activations, jumped on the central monolith as close to the vortex as he dared. I probed forward, steadily building up stress.

Problem with all civilian crew, you need to roll 3 activations to go anywhere. That gave Tony almost as many reactions as I had actions. Oddjob worked around the obilisk. Jaws headed for the beasts lair.

The Dominar decided to head me off.

A minion triggered the wee beastie. Tony ran it, he'd taken the trouble to dice for its exact location. Now it rolled a success, critical failure and a success. First it successfully moved down the building. Then the failure, I turned that into a prone (slipped on scree?) then got up – but no chompy chompy! Minion ran back & shot from cover, wound, pin. Then Lord Poo runs in and kills it with a head shot!

That leaves a big corpse in a handy place. And I'm dragging to a halt with stress. Very easy to take the initiative. Jaws moved into position, took aim and one dead leader! My stress and pins begin to rise again! Now its Rigel's turn, taking up a good position he shoots my lead minion. Another dead! These guys cannot miss! To prove the point, Oddjob on top of the obilisk takes a shot and Slash is gone.

That's it, I'm surrounded, 3 dead in rapid succession, I get the flock out of dodge. Ouch.

Very interesting game and very cinematic.  I could see the Tong standing around posing going "Ho! and "Hah!" a lot.

If the monster hadn't slipped, killed my minion and gone on a rampage?

And slip!

Lord Poo moves in

Jaws sneaks forward

Oddjob sneaks into position

The bad doctor and the minion

BLAM! Jaws shoots leader - ZAP Dominar kills minion top right

Dominar in position

Oddjob takes out Slash

Run away!

OGAM Olympics- Husband and wife strife.

What we need is a figure of Jerry Springer as a referee!

I needed an excuse to buy some Splintered Light new goodies and Old Glory 15mm Mycenaean & more, before the price went up. There's also the impetus of the new Celtic supplement foe Ogam with added warband and chariot rules. We're just breaking in Rogue Stars so that's to come.

I hope you enjoyed our recent Olympic Games series. I'm hoping to do this again, and here's 2 new competitors, husband and wife, Hephaistos and Aphrodite. 

 That just leaves the biggies, Zeus, Hades and Poseidon and Apollo. Do I have a premier league?

I'd rolled up this mat and shoved it in the window, needed a bit or rolling, but no touch-up. Proper job.

Hephaistos. Not the oldest of gods, being “born” with metal smithying.

Hephaistos Q2 C4 Short move, Smithy. (I may add hammering blow in the future) 212

Legends

Tauroi Khalkeoi (bronze bull) Q3 C4 Armoured, Artificial, Big, Combat master. 118

Talos the bronze giant Q3 C4 Armoured, Artificial, Huge, Hammering blow. 120

Perseus Q3 C3 Invisibility helm Stealth, Ambusher (bad choice, never mind) 72

Mortals

Automata Q4 C2 Artificial 17x 8 = 136

Heroes Q4 C3 Armoured, Steadfast, Greedy 27 x 8 =216

Javelin, Q4 C1 Shooter short, 11 x 12 = 132

Total 1,006

Aphrodite. Probably vies with Pan for the oldest, small statues of her survive from the stone age. An interesting skills set, in a normal game you can choose troops with care, but in the mix that's not possible. Could she be another surprise package? This army is Cretan, possibly post invasion.

My approach to the Minotaur is rather different. But consider this: whatever he was, he was a member of the royal family and if takes the field it's not going to be in a bit of leather. Maenads wore bull head masks. Could the original be a castrated royal (which encourages huge size) probably a priest? Here he is, taking the field in his bull mask mounted on a chariot pulled by 2 sacred bulls. Chariot & oxen by Museum Miniatures (best on market IMO) head from 15mm.co's Sendoku range.

Aphrodite Q2 C3 Transfix, Love conquers, Breathtaking beauty 272

Legends

2 Harpies Q3 C2 Flying, 2x60= 120

Minotaur Q3 C3 Mounted, Armoured, Dashing, Labyrinth =118

Mortals

4 Chariots Mounted, Long, Javelin Shoot short. (I've used the Amazon cavalry stats) 33x4= 132

City state infantry Q4 C2, Shielded, Dash, Javelin Shoot short. 22x8 = 176

City state infantry Q4 C2 Shoot(M) Good shot 23x8 = 184

Total 1,002

The Game.

Tony took Hephaistos, but I got the initiative. He set up with a strong line, denying his right flank. Mine was a traditional line-up, but I kept Aphrodite back, fearing his legends and Automata.

My chariots and a harpy started winging up the right, Minotaur and another harpy on the left. Tony had a plan, put Talos, Hephaistos and the Automata in the centre, then take on all comers. But I disrupted that. Spectacularly. We'd used Labyrinth before, but never to such effect. Didn't help that I kept getting 3 activations. So the Minotaur does a fly-by on his javelins, then “sucks” them and the heroes in behind him then drags 'em all across the centre to the other wing. In hindsight I should have dragged them off table, and I should have picked up Talon on the way through!

There's these poor chaps being dragged across my front to run the gauntlet of my archers and javelins. Who take pity and fail. Talos makes a bid to whack the Minotaur, but fails. That was a mistake, 'cos once the train was out of the way my archers have a good shot (remember, these who missed a long column of running chaps?) and he's gone!

On my other flank my chariots fail 2 complete reactions and a 3-dice reaction. The auto's crunch into mine, pushing 'em back and back n back. In crashing on my archers, contacts but no combat, comes his bull (there's never been so much bull on a non grandma wendy game) I drag a harpy and Aphrodite into the fray and it goes tail up (phew, if it had caught my archers they would have dissolved).

Meanstwhile the Minotaur and passengers are behing Tony's line and he grasps that its time to get heavy, so the heroes get into contact, the javelin flank and Perseus comes crashing in. Perseus kills the Minotaur. Noooo! My chariots did manage to do some skirmishing and running up and down a bit, as chariots do.

On the other flank I send a harpy into one of Tony's javelin to stop them invoking. This goes out, taking a javelin with it (tied result).

Aphrodite took on the heroes in an unfair fight, grinding them down and back. Hephaistos and Perseus took on my right infantry and a very interesting cut & thrust battle between my remaining archers and all the rest of the javelin. 10 vs 4. Numbers were going to tell, but the archers used every reaction and activation to good effect. They would have died, but they earned their salt.

At the end, Tony had more troops in the centre and I had nothing to get rid of them.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable game, lots and lots of bull related quips before and after. For once the 2 gods did not clash. No real reason except modern sensibilities showing through?

Better archers were worth the cost.

Harpies need a little something extra, either C3 or long move.

My 2 super bronze legends didn't live up to their promise, but I'll keep 'em the same for now.

Minotaur was a whole steaming heap of fun!

"Big chap with sword, 2 volleys rapid!"