15mm Wargaming for Fun and Sanity: Rogue Stars Buy the Farm or Get Home.

"All survivors will pro-ceed to ZZAlpha for immediate reassignment."

The gunship isn't some sleek saucer. It's a brutal, functional design. Crew 2. A commander/pilot and a gunner/engineer.*

Three external anti personnel stations hold scouts, special forces or as in this case, survivors.

It drifted from orbit like any other piece of debris. Settling into a thin copse that burst into flame with its accumulated heat.

Locals either hid, crept out of the line of fire or won a Darwin.

* "Did you see the size of it?" - "You know I don't follow the news, send me a link. Thal, that's as big as a Morvellan's recycler!" Contemplative silence. "I am picking up - Thal! That idiot keeps shooting at the weld on no.3!" "Report!" Pause. "It's right above my dome. Three incoming Dalek signatures, all green. Two scouts and - a Blacktop." The lack of response spoke volumes.

Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on your point of view a passing Agricultural Resources Monitor satellite, noting a new agricultural building, unlicensed that appeared to be on fire. Both were reportable and subject to close examination.

Word was passed onto the Sons Of Fun military and a small scratch force from the nearest militia company was sent to investigate.

Big games can lead to small games. In the last 2 there were Dalek survivors.

The first game, there was the Black Top leader.

Then there's the 2 scouts from the last game.

This gives me the excuse to a) use my most expensive ever single wargame vehicle £25 - about the same cost as some plastic or resin must have from other 28mm monstrosity--. Plus my UNSC light(er) infantry and a few more PAU militia.

Imperial Daleks. Star Cops. Black top sub commander, 4 drones, 2 experienced, 198

Tactical discipline Cool under fire Armour3

Crawl 1” Walk 2” Run 4” Sprint 6” +1 spotting. Halve distance if aimed shot.

Blacktop sub-commander Leadership3 Marksman2 Fire into melee. Reactive. 40 Total 66

Light Power Armour Legs/arms 3 Body/head 5

Bionic eyes

Laser pistol (4) mounted variable, 7

Drones Alert. Marksman3 Steadfast3 Veteran Reactive. 40 Total 66

Light Power Armour Legs/arms 3 Body/head 5

Bionic eyes

Laser pistol (4) mounted variable,

Local Militia with seconded UNSC noncom. 197 Crawl 1” Walk 2” Run 4” Sprint 6”

Bushwackers 8 Terrain Tokens Pass a terrain roll.

UNSC Sergeant Blade

Leader2, Marksman3 Reactive, Veteran, Weaponmaster 3 Total 50 = 80

Light Power Armour Legs/Arms. Torso/Head 5 Sealed 18

Plasma Rifle 5. Scorching, overheat, 2 handed, energy. 12

Chidubem Marksman 2 Steadfast 2 Stealth Tough Total 29 = 41

Plasma Rifle 5. Scorching, overheat, 2 handed, energy. 12

Dogo Marksman 2 Steadfast Stealth Tough Total 26 = 38
Plasma Rifle 5. Scorching, overheat, 2 handed, energy. 12

Eke Marksman 2 Steadfast Stealth Tough Total 26 = 38

Plasma Rifle 5. Scorching, overheat, 2 handed, energy. 12

The game. This one is By The Book, just to prove we have

actually read it. Some of it we understand.

Mission 17 - get to the ship Alive.

Location 13 Farm.

Complication 11 Surrounded by hostiles.

Tony took the locals leaving me with the Daleks who also got initiative.

Set up was on the baseline with Tony near the silo.

I advanced, Chidubem got point duty and sneaked out on reaction.

I got these building for my Mars participation game and never used. Very quick paint job.

They're close, real close.

Shot at by locals AND a Dalek, not a good place to be.

Dalek goes one way, trooper the other. Very sensible.

Making use of a lull to leap forward in a keeping to cover mode.

He's behind you!

Chidubem takes revenge for being shot at - 20:5, scratch one Dalek.

Another exchange, stopped by the armour.

The Sergeant tries an aimed long shot. Natural 20:8 puts down the next!

The Blacktop surges up the wall-

Safe! 1 out of 3. Brutal. Tony suffered none! "Get the Thral out of here!"

Game 2. Swapsies!

The wall by the grassy knoll. I got the initiative and advanced.

But I gave away some reactions-

B knocked down but not out - reboot!

Get in close - but a 1! Fumbling for the fault - 4 failures, Sergeant shoots at point black, but it ricochets of the armour! At last - fixed!

17:4 at point blanc. The Sergeants head explodes. Now the locals shoot at a Dalek.

Time to regroup in a circumvent direction. Chidubem becomes the main target of the locals.

Chidubem knocks down A.

B reboots and gets up.

Sneak attack!

Eke's turn to lose his head-

Now Dogo loses his heart to a Dalek.

Chidubem makes a complete mess of getting over the wall! Two 1's - double sitting target. Ever get your trousers caught? Two shots ring out, he's lucky, but now has a whole mess of pins that he needs to get rid of.