Rogue Stars Grandma Wendy's gold - the games!

If your normal rules cannot cope with witches and giant mutant cocks - time to 

Up Your Game!

Last post I detailed the campaign.  The good thing about campaigns is that they NEVER survive contact with the players!

Note on marker dice:

Big used as stand denotes flying/levitating.

Blue Stress

Yellow Pin

White sitting target.

Red Wound

Black Steadfast

Diagonal Valley.

Game 1.  The Witch attempts a frontal assault on Grandma Wendy's cocks.  Cock Force? 

Coming out of the sun, to the sound of huge beating wings (Note to self, give one a ghetto blaster) The Cockatrice!  Most dangerous foe - in goes a grenade going Bang! 

The Terrorbird comes off worse.  Oops, Cockatrice should be down.

The monkey swoops in to finish the brute off - a reaction and one dead monkey!

The cunning plan - the Witch moves to hit the enemy with a Mindscream!  But- one miss and turn over!  It could have been so different--.  Instead Huge Grant moves in for the kill -- Blink!

The dread Cockatrice comes in and kills the witch (obviously a failed blink) Hum.  One monkey routs.  The last one does a runner.  That puts them into Diagonal Valley-----.

IF we wos doing it normal, and there was a gap - they would have gained a whopping 12p for this encounter.  Plus a grenade for free.  Now when do you apply?  I'd suggest a gap, a run-on game like this, well there could be a couple of terrorbirds waiting in the wings, say.  The remove X type I prefer to apply at turnover.  After all, you lose your stress so seems the most obvious.

Game 2 - the beginning.  The Bears had set up an ambush.  The 2 fleeing monkeys trigger this. both coming to nast ends.  One shot in the back and the other entangled. Again, they would have got 9p and a grenade in a normal game.

Ah but who is this?  one of the Fox Force Five!  Now for the next.  The narrative flows into the next game.

Game 2 - the Middle.  There is yelling, negotiating and an agreement.  Together the 2 teams march on the Cocks!

Spot the Cocks.

The Invaders!

Ripper runs in (ee's 'ard, he can take 'em all!)  Terrorbird takes his face off, only to lose own head in retaliation.

Bears in shock!  (Last use, Ripper earned his name by killing 4-)

Now the ladies, particularly Ms Black.  First the Cockatrice - then Huge Grant!  "My cocks are being penisalised!"

SHE is being threatened!  "A cock, A Cock!  My Empire for a Cock!"

Game 2 The End.

Introducing the Chickenbust of Initiative and how not to roll dice---.

She's dead!  the Cocks are spent, one being kicked to death---.  But now all the Dominars force are in front of the Bears!

At the end of the day it's all about getting the bullet in the back of the head. 

Was it Paddington Bear who shot Dominar Rigel?  Questions will be asked in the house! Ted takes a shot.

You need to go that way!

Six pins, a wound  and irs up.  How do you sex a Dodo?

Pa readies his tangler.  Ever had your cock tangled?  It's the feathers being pulled out--.

Just finish that cockatrice!

Outclassed and outgunned, the Bears make a strategic withdrawal.  They take punishment as they wont leave a bear behind.

Yogi drags Paddington.   Pa drags a ripped Ripper.  Curiously, Flambear who is lethal in close combat, never got a shot off.  Let alone ambidextrous hail of fire with his 2 flamers!

That leaves Pa, Ted and a wounded Flambear to cause trouble--.

Game 3 Trogs attack the ex-witch's stronghold.  Watching for their mistress's return.  The Goblin Guards start to patrol in a random direction.  It's what they do.

They may be big, but they're stealthy. But the simian eyed monkey spots one and swoops!

And gets clobbered- all deaded.

The sneak goes on---.

Shock!  What the hell happened!

They're coming through the trees!  Running into contact the halberdier gets a free hack, to no avail!

Sneaks down the hedge and goes Boo!  Through decades of retroevolution he does not try to discuss relative codex's.

Ganging up works in melee.

He's down!  Lay it on!

Ah- time to swap---.

He's up and walloping!

They got another one down!  But they're going down faster!

3 out of 5 Guards and the monkey down - no wounds on the Trogs.  Time to go.  That was surprisingly easy - the Trogs didn't throw nuffin!  Probably a different story against a shooty up party---.

Game 4 - a Murder of Terrorbirds.  In the spirit of "the last generation of males"  (Hint-Hammers Slammers)  we thought we'd try a swarm of big nasties against the Fox Force 5 (Looked them up yet?  Excellent Khurasan figures, for cost of one plastic-)  and Dominar Rigel (You must-)  You need a LOT of them to make 200 points so had to bring in some others - Terrors and others are Pendraken 10mm.  If you haven't checked out their new fantasy-- https://www.pendraken.co.uk/10mm-12mm-fantasy-monsters

Grandma is dead, the cock-parents are dead.  The children are flocking mad and out for revenge!  I'm guessing the ship has been moved and the gold loaded a bit sharpish.  That's what I'd do.

First attacks don't go so well for the birds.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4thNIrzqUXs

Morale not good - whose idea was this?

2 on 1 - 4 of the 5 have martial arts training and they keep kicking!

Meanstwhile -  Ms Black has made it to cover with her sniper rifle.  2 down with head shots.

 

But numbers have their own quality.  All bar Ms Black and the Dominar are gone.  Only the ruins protect them!

Dominar manages to shoot one but Ms Black finally gets chomped.  Dominar runs for the ship and is - away with the gold.

What now?  The revenge phase.  Come bucky to the scene.  

There's the Bears-  I have Khurasans -  so new local militia (green) recruits?  

Trogs are still at full strength.

Will bucky pursue the Dominar across the galaxy?

Perhaps the Evil Empire of the Emperor Minge the Utter Bastard?

The Venus of 1899?

This literally just appeared-  I have more Selinites, intended to make improvised armed workers.  So 1899 Moom?

Rogue Stars Campaign Grandma Wendy's Gold

I've done this before so seasoned readers are allowed to skip.

Why have a campaign?  Good question that chap.  Having a campaign ready to go is pre planning for those times when life - just - twists.  It gives you time to get other stuff ready.

Proper Planning Prevents Poor Playing

Bonus excuse for buying just a few new figures.

Have a theme to hang everything on.  This is the internal logic, the reason d' wosname.  Mine include Trouble at the (a) mill.  Moon (running down corridors in Dr Who mode).  Mercenaries of Mars, this developed from a larger game and highlights how smaller games can develop from and/or influence larger games.  I started an Expanse series, but then Covid hit and it just seemed too real!

The sides need a reason.  Money, power, terrain or revenge are good starts.

In this one I've added more specific movement and a central, neutral area all must pass through.  Once there, apply one of the scenarios.

Closure- the end.  I guess in this one its when the gold gets off table with a team and someone takes or keeps terrain.  Most just fizzle out.  But!  There have been some interesting games, the teams have been given some character.

I have an idea for a time wars campaign, using a snakes & ladders game board.

The Prologue:

Once Upon a Time there was a huge corporation.  It sat like a malevolent spider in young boys bedrooms, sucking the individuality and money from its victims and their family.  But the world changed, leaving an embittered old hag hunched in the ruins of her once glorious fortified gingerbread tower in the depths of (an) Nottingham Forest.

Somewhere, in those ruins there's her gold.  Gleaned from selling expensive and making cheap.  The guardians of the treasure are the Mutant Cocks.  Beasts mind enslaved and their terror bird offspring.

Methodology.

Each team has its own home layout.  Each has to cross the Diagonal Valley to get anywhere.

The terrain has 6 patches of wood, an X of road and river.  Players with energy weapons etc.  need to avoid the water and use the bridge.

Grandma's Mutant Cocks

Big Bad Bear Bounty Hunters

Dominar Rigel and the Fox Force Five

The Trogs

Bucky O Hares Avengers

The Witch, Guards and her Monkeys

To move, the active player makes 3 rolls for the Leader.

1 Activation gets the team assembled and at the edge of their home.

2 Activations get them over the river of Diagonal Valley

3 gets them into their chosen target OR to set up an ambush in the Valley.

If the player is successful or driven off, the process is repeated. If a player is driven off, they are gone.

The Mutant Cocks* Pirates Determined, 4 remove stress any time counters 204

Brooding on the past, they sit and wait for times to get more favourable.

All ladies Sneak/hidden/walk 2”  Run 4” Sprint 6” + Fast.

Grandma. Civilian, reptile, Leader2.  Psi  (48)  -4 action/reaction.

Blink  TN14 2" when hit.

Detect witness TN 9 12" +1 damage.  5

Electrokinesis  TN9 Dam 2 ranged attack.  4

Mind control   TN15 10"  LOS.  Target 12 to activate and no reaction.  18

Refraction Field and Natural armour 3   

Dodo, Big, Fast3, Marksman1, SMG 6, (25p)

Chuck Arny Big, Fast1, Marksman3, Machine gun (30p)

Chick Clucky Big, Fast2, Marksman2 Stealth3, SMG 6, (30p)

Cockatrice Big, Fast3, Martial arts2 (32p)

Beak (claws) Tail (Spear)  Feet (Sword)  Flight pack Flight pack 8" Hover 2"

Huge Grant Fast3, Huge, Weaponmaster2, Built in claws (22)

Terror Bird.  Big.  Fast 3 Beak & Claws.  (17)

*I got to no.4 on google search Mutant Cocks.  Hopefully I brought more players to the game.  

The Big Bad Bear Bounty Hunters  Last seen October 18 2018. Total 205

The Bears have a history with Grandma.  No one else is going to get that there gold!

Bounty Hunters. Bushwackers 8 terrain tokens, auto pass terrain roll.

Sneak/hidden/walk 2”  Run 5” Sprint 7” 

“Ripper” Boo Boo (blue hat) Big, Fast, Medic, Tech, Tough 1  Vibroblade (3) (24p)

Paddington (red hat) Big, Fast, Tough1, Marksman, Vibroblade (3) 4 Sonic pistol (2)  

(29p)

Pa (yellow hat) Big, Fast, Tough1, Marksman, Monowire tangler (3) (29p)

Ted (mohawk) Big, Fast, Tough2, Leader1, Marksman 2, Zap rifle, (4) (46p)

Yogi (green hat) Big, Fast, Tough2, Marksman 2, Molecular slugthrower (4) (40p)

Flambear Big, Ambidextrous, Fast, Marksman 1, 21 2 Flamer pistols (3) built in (37p)

Home location cave entrance.

Dominar Rigel and the Fox Force Five.  Last seen last week!

The Dominar is willing to deal with anyone, but he needs that gold!

Opportunity Fire.  +1 any shot on Reaction.

All ladies Sneak/hidden/walk 2”  Run 4” Sprint 6” 

Dominar Rigel Civilian(-4 morale)  Difficult target, Fast, Free disengage, Leader.  

Activate 12 React 14  Flight pack 8" Hover 2". 

Zap pistol 3 Built in, Electrical +2 bionic limbs & Artificial, 

Energy, short range 

Ms Black  Marksman 3  

Light Combat Dress Legs/Arms 2 Torso/Head 3  

Laser rifle, 5  Blind, 2 handed energy 

Accurate Weapon +1 called or aimed shots 

Ms White.  Marksman 2  Martial Arts 2  Medic 

Light Combat Dress Legs/Arms 2 Torso/Head 3  

Hunting needler, 3 silent, 2 handed 

Ms Grey  Marksman Martial Arts  Tech 

Light Combat Dress Legs/Arms 2 Torso/Head 3  

Zap Rifle 4 Electrical, 2 handed, energy  

Ms Blue  Marksman Martial Arts 

Light Combat Dress Legs/Arms 2 Torso/Head 3  

Zap Rifle 4 Electrical, 2 handed, energy  

Ms Green  Marksman Martial Arts Stealth 

Light Combat Dress Legs/Arms 2 Torso/Head 3  

Zap Rifle 4 Electrical, 2 handed, energy  

Home landed small spaceship and campsite.

The Trogs. "Miners" Bushwackers 8 terrain tokens each allows pass a terrain roll. 203

Intensely territorial and only wanting peace and quiet, they will attack any invaders or those who have engaged in violence.

Devolved from her followers, who took to the woods to grow mystical plants after finding a way to reproduce without females.

All Sneak/hidden/walk 2”  Run 4” Sprint 6” 

Big Trogs. Huge. Chucker2. Steadfast. Stealth. Tough3. Weapon master3 (49 x 2)

Trogs. Big Chucker2. Steadfast. Stealth. Tough2. Weapon master2 (35 x 3)

Home huts and crops.

The Witch, Guards and her Monkeys Cultists

Witch 63, 3 Monkeys (120= 183) 3 Fragmentation grenades Dam 3 12" range 4" radius. 15

Witch 63, 2Monkeys (80=143) 2 Halberdiers (62) = 215

Witch 63, 3 Halberdiers (93) Monkey (40) + 1 grenade 201

She's the Witch, the Big Bad Witch. She wants Grandma's ruined tower. The Gold and to beat off anyone else.

Witch  Difficult target 3.  Leader.  Reactive.  Psi master 3.  (63) 

Blink  TN14 2" when hit.  

Encourage 1 friendly target.7+ +1 Activation. 

Levitation 7+ 8" 1 action 1 stress per move until takes pin, wound or lands.  

Mindscream roll 7+ each within 5". 1pin 1stress, 1wound if critical. 

Halberdier  31 

Fast  Crawl 1"  Sneak/Hidden/Walk 2"  Run 5"  Sprint 7"  

Reptiloid  Ignore 1st pin. Psi.

Tough +1 to endure roll.

Light Combat Dress  Legs & Arms 2  Torso & Head 3  7

Vibrospear  3 Long hits 1" + free hack at attacker.  3 

Flying Monkeys  40 each.  Fongo, Jongo, Pongo, Unko

Agile2. Big. Extra "leg". Fast2.  Martial Arts3 Tough2. Chucker.

"Flight pack" 8, 8” per move, hover 2” (above combat) Free disengage. 

Land on rough TN5

Big. Psi.

Extra "leg" (Wings) Fast3.  I imagine that these do a semi powered hop rather than walk.

Move Crawl 1”, Sneak/walk 2” Run/Sprint 8” 

Martial Arts3 

Tough2. +2 endure roll.

Can carry any other person.

Bucky O Hares Avengers. Star Cops. Brawlers. 10 reroll failed melee roll tokens.

What the trogs, bears monkeys and birds have done to the local population is unspeakable. The Avengers are here to right this wrong and restore the balance. If the gold is recovered, well running a crime fighting organisation is expensive.

Old burial mound that leads to a secret underground high tech base and starship.

I cannot find Bucky and crew! We used them after the move but they are hiding somewhere! Bonus pic!

You had to look it up, didn't you?

Unboxing: Daddy's been to Temu. Unbagging not unboxing!

 Temu?  Home of stuff that doesn't make Wish's strident quality standards.  'er in doors like the crap - well buys it, uses it a couple of times then sells it on or the charity shop when wardrobe nears critical mass.

Squares aren't quite an inch.  Material is a stretchy fleece that stretches nicely.  Works OK with some weight on it.  Instant dundeon for those "oh shit" occasions.  See next post for use.

Not the best quality but scream Quar.  Perfect size.  I'll use these as a top up to get free posting.

Like these!  2 of each, remind me of the alien scenery in the Expanse.

Lump with ladder

Love these!  Each lantern is different.  Under 25p an item for scatter terrain.

Yes you can make them, but why bother?

A bit small, but for that mansion garden  with a little stream- good hard cover.

Tons of plants! Perfect for smaller scales, upgrading fences and hedges, gardens and orchards.  Neen troops carrying Birnham wood?

Venus!  Should got more at this silly price.

I took a real punt on these 2, but happy.  This first one is a plant pot (!)  Will fit in well with my Peter Pig and Alternative Armies buildings.  Small hilltop monastery.  The "pot" calls out for a dragon or steampunk device.  Or Yeti's. 

Rule Of Thumb.  When looking at toy vehicles, buildings etc,  Compare your thumb to a doorway, having checked the scale of miniatures you use.  Nice detail!  Bit of paint-.

Interesting, not sure how it is printed but it has the crisp finish of an assembled plastic model.  Aize wise it's a bit small.  Perfect for Essex or Peter Pig figures or Alternative Armies Japanese goblins.  I feel I want to add to it, make a nest with a posh bit on top.