More Mechs

In preparation for a club game tomorrow night (Not Alpha strike but Battle suit Alpha), I've been finishing off a few more Mechs. These 4 all from the Alpha strike boxed set. This will be my second lance for the Dragons Fury regiment. The last 4 just need their bases completed.

So from left to right we have the following, ARC-5R Archer, BJ-3 Blackjack, TR1 Wraith and the LCT-3M Locust.

ARC-5R Archer

BJ-3 Blackjack

TR1 Wraith

LCT-3M Locust

Really pleased with these. The third lance will be finished tomorrow, I've also picked up the Command lance boxed set. This will provide a fourth lance, though I may swap one of them out for an Awesome that Mitch has printed for me.

Battletech Alpha strike

I'm sure we all have one of those regrets of a collection / game that was sold off. Mine was Battletech, the original game produced by FASA with the card models. Had many hours of fun before deciding to sell it off as I was no longer using it. An idiotic decision of my youth. So all these years later Mitch is into Mechs and wants to use them for a display game next year. I was happy to get involved. I did have a few of the CAV Mechs that could be used. However Neil at the club then produced a load of the new Battletech Mechs and I was hooked. These were far superior to the old Ral Partha metals from yesteryear.

So I went online and bought a 'Lance' boxed set. They were title as Inner sphere Battle lance containing 4 very nice plastic models. But what colours to paint them? a little research uncovered literally hundreds of different colour schemes, I plumbed for the Draconis Combine and the Dragons Fury regiment. Red and a black/grey colour scheme.

So here they are the 1st 4 Mechs.  From left to right, Warhammer, Rifleman, Pheonix Hawk and Wasp. The first three were some of my favourites from the original game.

Warhammer

Rifleman

Pheonix Hawk

Wasp

While I was doing research I also came across the Battletech Alpha strike game, this is supposedly a faster version of Battletech, allowing a lot more Mechs to be used. Now this is more like it, so a purchase was made. The added bonus is it comes with another 13 Mechs for me to paint up. While I was waiting for these to arrive I also painted up a few vehicles to support the Mechs. These were 3d prints provided by Mitch.

So now I have myself another little side project on the go. Delaying the start of my Romans.

A Quar skirmish

So at the club I thought I'd try out the Rhyflers rules for Quar. It was also a chance to get the new buildings on the table. So Sean and I set up a small skirmish game to run through the rules as Sean hadn't played the rules and I was a veteran of 1 game. We probably made more than a few mistakes but we had a laugh. So know real report, just a few photos from the game for you all.

The Coftryans ended up with the win, but the result was secondary to just giving the rules a run out. I also need to get the 3rd building put together and painted up.

6mm SciFi

So one of the options for a display game at next year's Border Reiver show is some 6mm SciFi fun with Mechs, vehicles and aliens. Mitch is taking the lead on this idea and I was happy to help out with one of the Mech Lances and their support vehicles. Luckily I already have some Mechs painted up, so it was more around adding some support vehicles. Now back in the day I picked up a small bundle from Brigade models which provides most of what I need. Mitch has provided some 3d printed tanks which I'll hopefully get done next weekend.

2 infantry detachments with vehicles

2 Air support gunships

Various light vehicles

The force so far

Not bad for a day's work. Just had to add some tufts to the Mechs to bring their bases inline with the rest of the force.

Episode III - On the cutting table

A post name in keeping with the film analogy. So game 3 was sort of played on Thursday night. It did not go well. So it all started with me knowing I would be late to the club, so I asked Mitch to set the table up, which he did and a grand job he made of it. Then my lateness got later, players were waiting for me to arrive, my stress levels were rising as it had not been a good week at work. I took a call from Mitch, did I want to postpone the game? no was my reply as I didn't want it hanging over me for another week. I emailed him the force lists so the figures could be ready and everyone would be ready to go.

Finally I arrived, grumpy and tired (you can see where this was going). So the figures were not sorted, so I had to get that done. Finally players were in position, then I forgot the hidden set up for the Rebels (Did I say I was very tired). So first turn, Imperials get the drop on the Rebels and carnage (Forces were not balanced) Mitch and his crew made a dash down an alley way, Imperials cut them off and more carnage (Hmmm players reacting to events figures could not see). By now tiredness, grumpiness and the realisation I'd forgot the hidden set up and the Rebel. The looks on the Rebel players faces said it all, 2 turns and 5 of 9 Rebels were down and only 1 Imperial down. They had no chance and as it was a campaign their crews would be decimated. I called the game off. So Episode III is on the cutting table and will not be part of the final campaign.

I did manage a few photos, but even lost enthusiasm for that.

So a bad day at the club. Not often I get a scenario so imbalanced, but it can happen. Think I need a break from running the large games at the club as the creative juices are running on empty.

Episode 2 - Free the Rywanda 2

So with Jon Oberte and Se'an M'voy taken into custody by the corporate security. The scene was set for game 2, a rescue mission. With just the remaining crew members left, they had to ambush the transports ferrying their leaders to an awaiting transport to take them to the Prison planet Rywanda. But like all missions everything doesn't go to plan. D'vas and his rebel cell were surprisingly missing from the venture, Now shorthanded, they recruited in 2 rebel operatives to assist in the mission, Darboo the Rodian and the Ithorian, Donarbas.

This time the security teams were being run by players and wouldn't be the push overs they were in the first game. So table was set up and the game began. It was quick, it was bloody, very bloody. Much carnage, allegations of prisoner brutality. In all just 5 turns and 14 figures out of action. For those that have played Galactic heroes will know that in general, players will suffer a number of wounds and shock throughout the game. However our erstwhile players seemed unable to roll under a 9 on D10. This was the resulting bloody carnage. The photos will better provide the synopsis of this brief game.

The ambush begins as Jon's crew opened fire from the rooftops. A number of the security team were quickly taken out.

Se'an's crew moved into position getting ready to unleash hell

Things hot up in the street as security get to cover and return fire. The lesson here is not to be standing on a roof when you get shot. You'll have seen westerns and know what happens and it did.

Jon's crew already down to half strength and are the main target for the security team.

Darboo is down and hurt as the transports try to break through.

The recovering Darboo eventually boards the transport and engages in hand to hand with a security droid. His attack is beaten off and he loses his footing and falls off the transport and out of action.

In the heavy fighting, Jon Oberte manages to get free, unarmed he makes a dash for the alleyway. He is caught by 2 members of the security team. Who repeatedly beat / take reasonable measures to subdue him, depending on your point of view.

The attack was a disaster for the rebels with all 8 attackers out of action and both leaders still in custody. Not a good day for the Rebellion. Squ Idwar has taken command of Jon's team as they lick their wounds to fight again another day. For Se'an though, it is over, his team are scattered, in custody or dead. 

So plans are afoot for Episode III - Suppression. A new Imperial commander has been dispatched to Sicaro 6 with orders to bring order and stamp out the rebel insurgency on the planet. A sweep of the residential areas has been ordered to root out any surviving rebels.

Two more cargo sleds

In preparation for episode 2 of our Star wars campaign, I needed a few more vehicles to make the table look a little more authentic. So Mitch printed me off a pair of cargo sleds. They are very nice models and took little effort to get painted up for the game.

I just need to get a few more cargo boxes and other pieces of clutter for future games. I've ordered a couple of market stalls and other bits and pieces from Oshiromodels to help add some clutter and cover for games.