5 Parsecs - Haywire Bloodstorm

The crew of the Hermes renewed there adventures in recent weeks with two more missions. 

Turn 9 - Haywire 

The Captain decided to renew the quest for the missing data shard, which involved following a tip-off about a isolated research station which hold the shard. 

After a long speeder ride across the frozen surface of Travois moon, they arrived at the research in the gathering gloom to find a group of haywire robots on guard. Maybe one of them contained the shard? 

The aggressive robots attacked immediately, moving swiftly across the icy ground to engage in combat. After some tough hand-to-pincer combat the threat was neutralised but no shard was found.

 

Turn 10 - Bloodstorm

This mission was the second part of the ongoing story arc in which the crew are trying to track down a rival who tried to have them eliminated in turn 6. Their rival Q'narr has hired a team of the feared Bloodstorm Mercs to take them out.

Both the Crew and the Mercs sought high ground so there was a race to get onto the rooftops and find a good spot.

 

Both teams picked the same large building and so a close range firefight ensued. The crew were hit multiple times but their high Toughness and Battle Armour converted these into stuns not wounds. Over a couple of turns they managed to whittle the Mercs down before they withdrew.   

Ivarr was downed but luckily his weapon too the brunt of the damage and he suffered only minor wounds.    

Next time the crew blast off for the prison moon of Amarion in search of greater profits and further clues to the where abouts of Q'narr.  

 

Italian Wars - Turn 4, part 1

Turn 4 saw three attacks - Virreza vs Montegrifone (for the third time), Roccamurata vs Taverno and Catellombra vs West Gallomaga. All three did the Battle around the flag scenario in which the defenders have been caught unawares in their camp and must quickly respond. The attackers scored by getting units into the camp and the defender by destroying attackers   

The first battle (V vs M) was not completed and so the report only covers the other battles.

The Roccamurata forces attacked the corner and short side of the Taverno camp to try and overwhelm the defenders. The cavalry attacks had only limited impact as the Demi lancers were pushed back and failed to make a break through.      

Taverno camp

Taverno Demi Lancers

The infantry attack was more successful as the Taverno unit defending the corner of the camp was disordered by artillery fire before being assaulted and pushed back. This created a hole that could be exploited. Roccamurata won after 5 turns being 5 points up.   

Montegrifone camp

West Gallomaga camp

The second battle that was resolved was the Castellombra vs West Gallomaga emcounter. The initial attack by Castellombra was measured which allowed the defenders to move out of the camp and establish a perimeter beyond its boundaries.   

Roccamurata attacks

Montegrifone artillery in action 

A series of confused melees saw the West Gallomaga take several losses and the attackers able to make steady forward progress. By the end of turn 4 the attackers were 3 points ahead but in a good position. It was agreed that Catellombra would likely end the next turn 5 points ahead, and so they were declared the winners.   

Father Savoranola, Prince Bishop of San Barzano

West Gallomaga expand their perimeter 

   

Weekend roundup

I've managed a couple of non-campaign games this week, so an additional update. 

Blucher

At Robin's I tried another Sam Mustafa game - Blucher, which looks at grand tactical scale with each unit a brigade. Like LaSalle it has Momentum as a currency you spend, but it only affects the movement phase. We played 6mm Austrians vs French. 

French heavy artillery

The rules focus on commander abilities, use of reserves and grand movements. The French are much better at than the Austrians. 

Carbineers

|Austrian infantry brigades

The rules also combine combat effectiveness, morale and attrition all into a single "strength" score for fast play and an uncluttered table. I'm feeling tempted by Russians sand Baccus have some nice ones.

French infantry brigades

Firefight

The weekend saw me in Fishponds playing some Firefight, my first game since the rules / lists got updated. I played the Space Marines Enforcers vs the Matsudan,  giant sumo space lizards. 

Matsudan infantry

The aim was to dominate three zones in the centre of the table with progressing scoring and the central zone scoring the most. We both had pretty shooty armies so a gun-battle was in prospect.

Enforcers striker with AT gun 

We both attack our left and the centre with only a token force on the right. The Enforcers shooting proved superior, enabling them to win the centre and go onto a solid win. 

Italian Wars - Roccamurata

Finally, I've been working on some units themed after the City State of Roccamurata, my country from the Italian Wars campaign. They are red, white and yellow after the cities flag. All units are WArlord games Landsknecht.

Roccamurata infantry in field square 

Not easy to see from this angle but the figure I'm using to depict my leader bears an uncanny likeness to Barry Gibb.  

The Alchemist of Roccamurata 

  

  

Italian Wars - Turn 3

In turn 3 Montegrifone, with West Gallomaga allies, attacked Virezza, Roccamurta attacked Fiorento and Castellombra attacked Taverno. 

All three games were "Determination" when players scored for having units across the half way line. 3 points for a large unit of infatry and 2 points for everything else, plus 1 point for the CinC. Guns did not score. 

Fiorento foot - flexible shooters and fighters

Virezza field squares attack

In Roccamurata vs Fiorento the defenders deployed with their Elite heavy cavalry deployed on one side and a screen of light cavalry on the other. The Roccamuratans massed all their units aga8nst the lights, using the river and some light infantry to screen their open flank. Largely unmolested they held off a late Fiorentan attack to win 17 points to 9 in turn 4. 

Taverno field squares in traditional piratical dress 

Fiorento heavy horse

The second battle between Virezza and Montegrifone both sides were reinforced by allies, with both opting for additonal infantry. With limited manoeuvre space a tough battle was joined up the many hilly slopes on the field. Montegrifone and their West Gallomaga allies ran out narrow winners.     

West Gallomaga contingent 

Montegrifone foot

Roccamurata lights cover the flank of the advance 

Roccamurata foot hold off the Fiorento hussars

In the Castellombra vs Taverno clash both sides deployed to mirror each other and advanced towards the enemy. After a bitter struggle neither side had the upper hand so a draw was declared with the Castellombra forces withdrawing back to their own lands.  

Montegrifone attack the Virezza forces