Stackton Trestle a town through time and rules

 

 I had this idea.  I wanted to redo this game, which has been well up in my favorites.  Prompted by Alternative Armies bringing out a bigger version.

https://unitrecon.blogspot.com/2021/02/flying-lead-clacking-contraptions-of.html

I want to do it VSF again.  Then I thought "hang on, what if I do a later rerun version?"

One thing about the UK, I'm not sure if it's the same elsewhere, but building plots tend to remain intact.  Even if burnt or bombed they keep going.  Many of our roads follow the Roman road network.

Uses might change.  A Medieval common pasture might become an estate or public park.  This might be developed as a housing estate, military camp or business park.

Old cloth.  Mark out roads and river.  Sorted.

Now I had a further senior mercurial moment.  Why stop there?  Got the cloth, got other stuff.  I have churches and a large barn from my Pool In Flames.  These stay.  

The barn featured  has just had an internal makeover but didn't need any structural work.  It's over a thousand years old.  Still in daily use.  

https://unitrecon.blogspot.com/2022/02/poole-in-flames-first-playthrough.html.  

This is my itial list, it will change.

Lion Rampant. 1066.  During the Viking invasion, Odbad the Bad leaves the camp with his warband, claiming to "pop into town to visit the bakers".  He takes orders.  He has heard that the church of St Englefart has a holy relic that he believes is a relic of Odins spear Gungnir.

Lion Rampant. 1069.  The Harrying of the North.  Newly appointed Bishop Dido decides if anyone's going to do some harrowing, its going to be him.  He is rather partial to lamb chops and getting a load of stuff he can sell to the army going north should be a nice little earner.

Dragon Rampant.  In the time of (an) King Edward.  Scottish lord McFume hastily marries the widow Karen of Stackton.  He mistakenly believed that the coloquial "Me Duc" means that she is a duchess.  She isn't.  He raises a large group of clan followers and colonists from the Scottish midlands who flee perceived oppression  and settle in the town.  They bring the chiltron and the sheddes of war to a town that has already by charter been excused longbow, as the locals prefer the sling and ever-present rocks.

Xenos Rampant 1899.  The evil Baron Von Alone seizes the town in the belief that the fabled artifact is an ancient or alien device that will allow world domination of all custard related products.  The Royal Engineers respond, supported by the Lummoxshire light infantry respond!

Xenos Rampant 1979.  What! the contraptions are back!  They were supposed to be scrapped, bar one in a local museum!  Baron Silas Greenback has recovered or built a new force!  Now he is trying to find the artefact, believed stored in the local museum vault or in the church of St Englefart.  Now it's the turn of UNIT to stop him, again supported by the home service (Territorial Army) Company of the Lummoxshire light infantry.

Xenos Rampant 2369  Daleks (or other- I could use the Ixx to go WAY back!) have invaded.  The town has no military significance.  Units of the Anglican Company of the Lummoxshire light infantry supported by UNIT fight in the ruins.   https://unitrecon.blogspot.com/2013/08/troublet-mill-beingadventures-in.html

That's my list.  Sort of a campaign by other means.  Please take this concept and run!

Xenos Rampant VSF Royal Engineers (and Baron Greenback)

Horses For Courses.  When we stage are wee fights they are normally like for like.  As a wise chap once told me (another old soldier gone now)  A sopwith Camel.  Fast, agile and decent firepower.  Try taking it down with a modern jet fighter.  The missiles won't lock, there's not enough heat or radar return plus the plane is simply going too fast.  A helicopter has similar characteristics but the rotor makes it a big target for heavy machine guns.  

Consider the dragon.  That can go places the others cannot.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGhGQ4d2xFw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aXv1J9ewjY

A Knotty Ash Problem!  How many points, pray?  The book says 3-10 units for a 24 point game.  But we're sneaking in more vehicles!  Let's go for 30.

Each British operational battalion then consisted of a staff and eight companies, each with about one hundred soldiers. Each company, commanded by a captain, was divided into two half-companies (50), each commanded by a non-commissioned officer. Each half-company was further divided into two sections (25).

Line company of 2 Sections would then total 6 points and 2 units and 20 figures.  (Damn, I need to paint more!)  Or 1 section of Scots/Gurkhas.

Bung 'em on a lorry!  4p, so we're up to 10 points and 3 units.

Swap for SAS with special insertion and 95th with same.

RE Section  Charabanc with 2 squads making 11p, 3 units and 10 figures.

That leaves 9 points.  Command car is 4p leaving 5 for something interesting of a Tankette and going 1 over!

Now lets consider Baron Greenbacks recent purchases!

Contraptions, Greenbacker and Mechafrog plus 2 units of cultists = 31 points, 5 units. 

I've trod this road affore:

https://unitrecon.blogspot.com/2018/08/fl-battle-of-stackedon-trestle-elvira.html

https://unitrecon.blogspot.com/2018/08/ww1-parade-of-vehicles-bovington-tank.html

https://unitrecon.blogspot.com/2018/01/fl-mercenaries-of-mars-1-world-of-hurt.html

https://unitrecon.blogspot.com/2017/02/flying-lead-fowl-things-afoot-in.html

https://unitrecon.blogspot.com/2017/02/royal-corps-of-engineers-1899-yorkshire.html

First up the Special Aeronaut Section.  An elite force using cutting edge technology such as liftwood buoyancy aids and jetpacks to achieve mobility and the ability to jump from aeronefs or balloons.  Using such around vehicles is dangerous, thus an open truck for mobility.

7p  SAS 5		Move 5+ 12”		Attack Free (5+)  Attack V4 DefenceV 4
Courage 3 Armour 4		Shoot Free (5+) 4+ 18”		Back into Fray.  Firefight.  Ranger.  Mobile.   Special Insertion +1
4p  Lorry, Track  1 as 5		Free (6+) 8”		Attack 6+  Attack V6 DefenceV 6
Courage 4 Armour 3		Shoot 7+ 6+ 6”		Slow.  ATV Transport 15p.
3p  Lorry, wheel   1 as 5		Free (6+) 8”		Attack 6+  Attack V6 DefenceV 6
Courage 4 Armour 3		Shoot 7+ 6+ 6”		Slow.  Transport 15p.

 

Now the rest of mine.  Charabanc is an APC.  A coach built (wood frame) covered lorry.

4p Command Car 1 as 5		Free (6+) 10”		Attack 6+  Attack V6 DefenceV 6
Courage 4 Armour 4		Shoot 7+ 5+ 12”		ATV.  Imp. Armour.  CQD  Engulfing - Tgt no cover
5p Charabanc 1 as 5		Free (6+) 8”		Attack 6+  Attack V6 DefenceV 6
Courage 4 Armour 5		Shoot 6+ 5+ 12”		ATV Slow.  Transport 10p.
3p RE H.I  5		Move 5+ 6”		Attack 6+  Attack V4 DefenceV 4
Courage 4 Armour 3		Shoot Free (6+) 6+ 18” Tgt-1 arm.		Firefight.  Go to ground.  AP
6p Tankette  1 as 5		Move Free  (6+)  6” Line Breaker not slowed barricades		Attack 6+  Attack V6 DefenceV5 Demolition vec’s half armour.
Courage 3 Armour 6		Shoot 6+ 4+ 18”  AT vec’s half armour.		ATV

Here's a few others.  Kipling had a very poor opinion of County regular line infantry.  I've included a few others:  

Shooting party.  Possibly civilian adventurers or a bunch of chaps after bagging a tiger.

Volunteers will also fit dismounted cavalry.

Naval volunteers could be a semi military group such as a ships crew after, say, a big ape.

3p County LI  10		Free (5+) 8”		Attack 6+  Attack V5 DefenceV4
Courage 4 Armour 2		Shoot 6+ 5+ 18”		Firefight.  Go to ground.  Increase squad.
2p 95th Recon  5		Free (5+) 8”		Attack 7+  Attack V6 DefenceV6
Courage 5 Armour 1		Shoot 7+ 5+ 12”		Firefight.  Hard to Tgt. arm 2- 12”.   Open order. Skirmish 7+ ½ move shoot 6+
6p  Ghurka/Scots HI 10		Move 5+ 6”		Attack 6+  Attack V4 DefenceV 4
Courage 4 Armour 3		Shoot Free (6+) 5+ 18”		Firefight.  Go to ground.   Assault doc. Increase squad.
4p Shooting party  5		Free (5+) 8”		Attack 7+  Attack V6 DefenceV6
Courage 5 Armour 1		Shoot 7+ 5+ 24”		Firefight.  Hard to Tgt. arm 2- 12”.   Open order.
4p Volunteer Raiders  5		Free (5+) 8”		Attack 7+  Attack V6 DefenceV6
Courage 5 Armour 1		Shoot 7+ 5+ 12”		Firefight.  Hard to Tgt. arm 2- 12”.   Open order. Skirmish 7+ ½ move shoot. No- Vet.
1p Militia/Askari  10		Free 6+ 6”		Attack 8+  Attack V6 DefenceV6
Courage 5 Armour 1		Shoot 7+ 6+ 6”
3p Naval Volunteers  10		Free (6+)  8”		Attack 5+  Attack V3 DefenceV6
Courage 4 Armour 2		Shoot 7+ 6+ 12”		Wild Charge.  Countercharge. Firefight. Open/ranger.  Inc sq.
2p Mob  16		Free 6+ 6”		Attack 8+  Attack V6 DefenceV6
Courage 5 Armour 1		Shoot 7+ 6+ 12”

Here, finally is my recent take on these Alternative Army offerings!  Other cultists are available!

Greenbacker.  Personal vehicle of The Baron!  https://www.alternative-armies.com/products/as033-dominator-sphere-any-scale-use

Contraptions  https://www.alternative-armies.com/products/hof155-dominator-spheres?pr_prod_strat=jac&pr_rec_id=fb532e6e5&pr_rec_pid=6006065594561&pr_ref_pid=15150959133058&pr_seq=uniform

Cultists  https://www.alternative-armies.com/products/hof56-cultists?_pos=2&_psq=cultists&_ss=e&_v=1.0&variant=37470681418

OK, I admit that I'm toying with redoing this one:  

https://unitrecon.blogspot.com/2021/02/flying-lead-clacking-contraptions-of.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawPBAIJleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFEd0lBVmw3MHZzeTdQTlQ5c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHuT-TwC3-Cd70eCl217RCB4oJ3wWOt2jsgo-Clo0FaPMluZOuKvERsF8QZqO_aem_cbgwf8JU6_N6QN9R_F498Q

9p Contraption  2 as 5		Free (6+)  12”		Attack 5+  Attack V4 DefenceV6 Demolitions enemy vec half armour
Courage 4 Armour 4		Shoot 7+ 6+ 12”		Wild Charge.  Countercharge. Firefight.  Open/ranger. X armour. Mobile
8p  Greenbacker   1 as 5		Move Free  (6+)  6” Line Breaker not slowed barricades		Attack 6+  Attack V4 DefenceV5 Blades Armour-1
Courage 3 Armour 6		Shoot 6+ 4+ 18”  AT vec’s half armour.		ATV Walker
3p Cultists  10		Free 6+ 6”		Attack 8+  Attack V6 DefenceV6
Courage 4 Armour 1		Shoot 7+ 6+ 6”		Fanatic discipline
8p  Stiletto’s mechafrog Support   1 as 5		Move 6+ 6”		Defence 5+
Courage 4  Armour 2		Shoot Free (7+)  4+ 24” 6’s=2 Engulfing.  No cover bonus		Firefight.  Spotters.  Heavy Weapon.