Rogue Stars Moon Mayhem, Lunar Lackaday, doctor!

 

The first British contact with the Selenites did not go well.  Over the centuries they had watched with horror the human ability to slaughter their own kind.  They reasoned that the only way to negotiate with humans is by slaughtering in the first instance.  Thus the party was met by overwhelming numbers.

Now a new party is assembled.  A message is sent asking for a parley and information on their Martian enemies.  

The answer is - not good.  But the doctor has a simple but cunning plan.  If he can locate the central control room*  and introduce the Quantum B42 Space Procrastinator Valve to the matrix then reverse the polarity.  This will effectively freeze the hive allowing the doctor to gain control of nearby members (and other parts), download data and troopers can acquire weapons from the dead.

The bad news is - he has only one, so the second he withdraws it the hive will awaken and its dash to the truck time.

*As we all know, landing on an alien planet will put you within a short distance of the control centre, which of course is unlikely.

Star Cops. Retain the initiative. Any attempt at -2.  Equipped with: 

Naval Worksuit Ether (space suit. Plasma proofed) Armour 1  8

Jump Pack Jump 8” from standing. Free disengage.   Broken ground TN5 or fall. 6

Musket (4) Reload, 2 handed. Fixed Bayonet (2) Primitive. 6

This basic load can be supplemented with:

Whoosh Bangs (stun grenades) 12” range 3” blast TN10 failed

Flashers (plasma grenades 4) 12” range 4” blast 

Move Crawl 1” Sneak 2” Walk 2” Run 4” Sprint 6” Jump 8”

The Selinite Squad:

 

Gordon R Major. Alert. Leader3. Reactive Marksman2. Weaponmaster2. 42 Total 62

 

Nobby (Clerk N) Specialist Driver. Reactive. Marksman. Weaponmaster2 17 Total 37

 

Thomas D Specialist Engineer. Robot (read Martian) tech. Marksman. Weaponmaster 11

Total 35 Intrusion kit +2 Tech rolls 4

Doctor  (a meddler) Civilian, Leadership, Tech3 Tough2 Psi Master  28 Total 68
Naval suit and jump pack

Blink  TN15, 1 stress 2”  6
Bolster target +1 morale rolls   4

Encourage target +1 Activation.  4
Guidance 10+  gives target +1 all reaction rolls.  4

Healing** remove wound, temp cripple, staggered within 4” -1 each 4”  8 

As we know, the doctor is able to channel Ying Tong healing energy through his Liddle Li Po.

Selines

Hive Mind.  4 chits, give reaction for successful reaction or ignore morale roll.  Armour 2.  

Ambidextrous, Extra arms, Insectoid, Light worlder, Psi.  

B, D, Laser Rifle 5 Blind, two handed, Energy.    

H, J,K Laser Pistol, 4 Blind, Energy, Short range.     Sword 2 Primitive 

M Ambidextrous, Extra arms, Insectoid, Light worlder, Psi, Tech 

The Game  This starts as Mission 10 Hacking.  Location Crystal forest (there were no laser misses)  Plus Complication 4 Micro meteors, but no 1-2's!.  

With a heavy but hearty Chuff, Chuff, Chuff the Harrods van arrives.  Out leaps our intrepid explorers, who use their rocket packs to rapidly descend on the control room.

What is this?  A lone Selinite appears(on reaction), it rushes up to our Major Gordon and slices 'n dices!

A shot rings out!  Our Nobby. but he misses!  The fiend turns on him and closes.  Note my inability to roll over 5 when taking a hit.

Slowly, the Selinites encroach, moment by moment.

As the fearsome brute closes its claws upon the body of the doctor, with one Blink!  He was free!

Thomas takes a shot and the beast is downed, but not out!

The doctor applies healing.  Gordon's alive!  But - so is the beast who lumbers to his feet!

Major Gordon goes in with the pointy bayonet, dispatching with great gusto and vim.

 

Nobby is revived.  Understandably shaky, he spots another Selinite - bang!  It's dead!

Other Selinites approach with care, staying behind cover.

A laser pistol shot- long range (-1)   Again I roll a 4, with armour of 1 - Gordon's Dead!

With the locals turning in, the doctor rushes back to the controls!

Nobby on point, they gather menacingly.

Nobby is rushed!  a furious back and forth takes place with Nobby's stress going up--  help arrives only to be struck down!

Then both are down!  The way to the doctor  is clear, well, apart from trip hazards.

A nineteen!  The doctor has succeeded!  The Selinites freeze.

More healing.  Now it's time to extract the digital.

The Second Part.  Now the game changes to a short 17, Make it to the van alive.  the 3 dead Selinites are recycled.

Now the new allies bolt, starting from the back.

On no, here come the enraged locals!

Once again a laser pistol Blat's out!  Nobby rolls a 4.  What is it with 4's.  No it's a different dice.

Another shot.  Can you guess what our Tommy rolls?

Tony fails to get the initiative and my now- somewhat depleted team picks up steam.  The doctor is so close!  Note the figure in the distance----

Another long laser fifle shot.  The doctor fails to Blink - which would have put him in the Van!  Guess what he rolls as his chest explodes in a fountain of squidgy bits and gore?

 

So yet another intrusion ends badly.  Vicious wee things, aren't they?  I think the doctor is pretty well balanced.  I'm hoping for some positive feedback.

Beach Head planning the participation game. Update 1

The element I need to run a participation game:

The event. Raid on Poole in August 1405 that burned most of the town down.

Rules

Mat or similar

Scenics

Figures.

I didn't proceed in that order. I got (begged, pleaded, grovelled) Blotz to make some new 15mm buildings & roofs first. https://blotz.co.uk/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=23_28_294

I've also asked for a tithe barn to make my large town store that was the main thrust of the raid.

This original ruined house existed (I bought another 6) but no "unruined".

Got to love a supplier who LISTENS!  Another 6 of these, 2 of each new roofs plus I made another 6 thatch roofs.

Each bit is numbered so I can safely do lorra lorra pre painting, which pays off when assembled. LET IT DRY!  This not my first go, so I know to follow the order.  Yes, read the instructions.  Take the bits off and add as you need them!

Hiding the tabs. You can still see them, but stippling with different shades helps hide.

I need 6 scenic bases, started the 1st 3.

First table- top use of the buildings.  This was a "destroy everything" Rogue Stars game.  1st the complete, 2nd destroyed.  Needs more work.  Looks good close up, but not from a distance.  Needs that smoke and flame!

The Rules. I decided on Peter Pig's Wars of the Roses version of Bloody Barons.  It has the right feel to it and the zones should work well.

The playing are is 48" by 36" which is perfect size for a 6x4 table.

This is split into 16 zones, a 4x4 grid with movement from grid to grid. Perfect, no measurement.

The aim is to do the game - it's also to kickstart (my ass into) producing DBA based figures, to start producing "generic" Medieval armies - swap out the commander, standards and you're there.

I cannot draw fer toffee. I had intended to cart everything to Entoyment to lay out, cut, plan- but at time of writing I'm still waiting for my booster jab and Omega has just started to spread. I have to focus that this is a long range project aimed at displaying the event as well as running the game. Will Beach Head go ahead? all I can do is aim for that date!

Let's look at the 4 strips:

Attacker 1 This is water, the initial starting point.

Attacker 2 The waterfront, mostly mud (Poole doesn't do beach)

This area is the maximum range of heavy crossbow mounted on the galleys.

Defender strip 3:

Left 1. (left) Baiter, hedges, light industry. Has 1 base Levy bill, workers with axes, etc.

Left 2. Residential Poole, Lagland street, Skinner street. 2 buildings. 2 hordes civilians.

Left 3, Port of Poole, Town Cellars/King Charles, Scaplens Court. 1 horde civilians.

(All these existed, the town cellars was the focus of the raid)

Left 4 (right) Hedges, light industrial, Has 1 base Levy bill, workers with axes, etc.

Defender strip 4:

Rear (left) Poole hill, light industry. Road, entry/exit point.

1 base Levy bill, workers with axes, etc.

This seems to have been the original point of entry for the relief.

Rear 2 Residential. 2 buildings. 2 hordes civilians.

Rear 3 Residential. Road, entry/exit point. Possible entry for relief.

2 buildings. 2 hordes civilians.

Rear 4 St James church. 1 horde civilians.

(This church existed and may have been burned down)

Game plan.

Invaders. Destroy buildings and locals. Get out. 3 separate commands each with small flotilla of boats.

Defenders. Resist raiders.

Hordes of civilians getting to the church or town cellar and a levy unit is formed, rest of horde seeks to leave the town.

The church can also upgrade 2 bow and 1 bill to retinue status.

Here's my provisional list.  I've adapted Peter Pigs units to DBA as that seems to be the norm for rules these days.

CB = crossbow.  Bd = blade.  Ax = auxiliary.

Catalans

3 Generals
1 household troops French 4bd  (15mm depth base)
10 Levy foot  comprising 4 CB  (3 bw, all 20mm) 6 Javelin (3 ax 20mm)
7 Retinue foot, 2 CB (4 bw, 20mm) 5 Spear  (15mm)

Provisional breakdown. French will appear when they are ready--.

General 1  2 Retinue Spear.  2 Levy Javelin.  2 levy CB.
General 2  2 Retinue Spear. 2 Levy Javelin.  2 levy CB.
General 3  1 Retinue Spear.  2 Retinue CB.   2 Levy Javelin. 

Plan is to have a CD for each, boat silhouette folding the force, similar to this one (unflocked) chariot base.

Now let's look at the locals. At the start of the game the civilian population are spread throughout the area in "hordes". These have to get away from the invaders and "harden" into a resistance.

So at the start there will be 2 of the 3 generals in place plus 2 levy foot, representing the industrial areas where there is a larger number of males with work tools.

8 civilians. 1x 7 horde  (30mm) rest 5 horde.

Those civilian hordes can "evolve" into (total) 10 Levy: 
5 archers, 3 Bw (Fast 20mm), 5 bill.  4 bl (15mm)

2 units can then "evolve" further to: 2 Retinue Bow.  1 Retinue bill.

Eventually the local manors will provide a relief force:

1 General.  
1 Household foot. 4bd (15mm)
1 Retinue bill.  4bd
2 Retinue archers. 4 Bw (20mm)