With Neighbours Like These... (Lite Battle Report)

We played a rather big, 3-player game today which took maybe two hours from setup to pack-down - a nice way to spend some time with the family.

Both Paddy and Alex used an Ork Tribe (Nob, MegaNob and three Bois) who were attempting to steal four green 'Ork Crystals' from the ruined edge of Libuscha Prime.  I was charged with repulsing the Orkish incursion using a force of (our newly minted) Nova Corp Marines (a Captain, Power Suited Fire Support and six Marines).  Victory conditions were pretty rubbery: working together the Orks would truly overwhelm me, but it wasn't in their interest to let the other Tribe win - yes, I was encourage Tribe-vs-Tribe, Brother-vs-Brother grudges!

We played the game using Rogue Planet rules, with a couple of modifications just to make things a little simpler - some of these rules evolved whilst we were playing.

Action Points: we always rolled for Action Points with the highest outcome being able to choose who commenced the Turn. Only 1d6 was used per side.

Crystals: could be picked-up by the Orks using a full Action or attempted with a Move Action but requiring a Skill Roll with a Failure resulting in a FX move of the Crystal in a random direction.  Should a Unit carrying a Crystal die or expend Energy avoiding damage, then a Skill Roll is made to see if the Crystal is fumbled.

Partial Successes and Failures: because there was three of us, each free Move resulting from Partial Successes and Failures were awarded to a roll-off between the other two opponents.

The boys put the map together themselves with only basic instructions from me.  I told them I wanted the Western third forest, the middle third ruins and the Easter third a City and that's where the crystals were to be located.  It was nice to see them discussing things between themselves, thinking about what would make sense and be fun rather than just trying to fill the table with terrain nor trying to make it too easy.  Nice going boys!

So what happened?  

Well Alex got the jump on Paddy and moved up a couple of his Boyz to the centre pretty quickly - my Fire Support Marine held them back but was eventually locked down in melee with a MegaNob.  That particular melee lasted almost the length of the game which was surprising.

Good thing this Human wore his Powered Armour - with all those Greenskins inbound, he's going to need it!

Whilst Alex and I were occupied, Paddy sped past with his MegaNob and Nob and managed to nick two crystals from under my nose!  I just couldn't roll enough Action Points to deal with them both!

Paddy's MegaNob sneaking the first Crystal for the day whilst
all hell breaks loose behind him to the West.

Alex, in true Orkish style, decided that he wasn't going to let Paddy win so turned his attention onto Paddy, locking him up in the gully to the South West.  That gave me an opportunity to rain fire down on the combined Orks which slowly but surely started yielding results - a couple of Critical Hits on a few of the Boyz made a big difference (Critical Hits on Light Armour cannot be offset by Energy).

Eventually Paddy did manage to get two Crystals back but his attempt to secure further Crystals were stopped by determined Nova Corp fire from the high ground - both the ruined building and the bunker, both to the West of the Crystals.

"Let's get out of here Boss!"

Soon after Alex's last Ork was taken down, both Paddy and I ran out of Energy, but the difference being I had 4 Units left to Paddy's 1.  Gaining a 6:1 Action Point advantage during the last Turn allowed me to pile my troops onto Paddy and using a press of numbers, I managed to knock him out.

Paddy declared the game a tie between me and him - he said if Alex had managed to get a Crystal I would have lost (losing 3 of the 4 Crystals), but since I only lost two, I didn't lose.  He was pleased with his effort and said next time he'll beat me - now he knows how.  Mmmm.... Megan was a bit surprised that Alex didn't come out on top this time, we've finally broken his lucky streak 👍

So brother, you beat me this time... I will have to rethink my strategy!