Game One - Deathwing Assault!

High-ranking members of the Fallen are known to be hiding in a PDF base.

This should be a hardened bastion with Void Shields and serious defence-in-depth bastions, walls, maybe trenches etc. We have a large number of plastic Warhammer Castle parts that can be used for this, but we'll need some defence turrets etc. If this is on a 4' wide table it might make sense for the fortress/base to be backed up against one long edge and extending about half way across the table, with ground-bound attackers coming on from the other three sides - as much from modelling possibilities as anything.

From a background point of view it would make sense for IG to be defending this, although this might mean that Rob & Richard end up facing each other again, unless we have lots of players and Richard takes the position of DA C-in-C.

Ian

Near the PDF base is one of the planet's Defence Laser installations. Which might look a bit familiar from previous games...

This would be a Spearhead game played lengthwise with the Defence Laser being toward one end (maybe on an 8x6' board rather than 10x4'!).

The Defence Laser 'Fiat Lux' will have it's own small fortress/defences but much smaller than the main PDF base. As per the Apoc datasheet, it can shoot down certain types of assets when they are used (on any table), and possibly also Drop Pods. If it can shoot Drop Pods then we would probably need 'sustained assault' Drop Pods to make sure that the models eventually hit the table, plus a chance to hold their arrival back.

The Defence Laser would be able to shoot at any table with the usual 60" minimum range, but possibly with targeting restrictions to stop it being insanely powerful - anything smaller than a Dread is too small for it's targeting array, for example.

Ian

Sounds good mate :) Shaping up quite nicely!

Looking good Ian, liking the sound of it all. Especially the fact that the thunderhawk would be a force wide reserve, gives it more scope and it would probably be much more useful carrying say, 20 tactical marines and a dreadnought as the support force.

One thing I would say is that the people in charge of the two sides could control the reserves, that would make for a bit more excitement!!

I'd like to put my name forward for the deathwing assault, and I have 5 units of terminators that I can bring to the table to bolster the numbers.

Yep, good mix of troops and a heavy hitter.

That's the general idea - the overall commander for each side gets to decide how resources are allocated to the different battles.

With the three units from last week, a couple of AoBR units, some units from Richard and if need be some of my metal ones in assorted colours we should be able field a big chunk of the Deathwing. The whole Deathwing would be nice to aim for and is certainly doable in the points - 20 units should be under 5,000.

Ian

Indeed it should be easily doable! I have the command apothecary and standard bearer that we can use so thats not an issue, my belial is, quite frankly, naff so Richard's would fill that slot well. We can also stick in some librarians and chaplains in terminator armour, I have one of each. I assume we'll have some dreadnoughts for the deathwing too? And what do you reckon about mounting a few units in land raiders? I'll gladly use mine and if Richard would allow the use of his then that keeps the others free for the battle companies.

If it's on Sunday, then I'd probably be interested, (much cheaper parking then!). Although how would the Blood Angels play? Defending? Counter-attacking?

Either way, I can supply an entire BA army, as per last week's, and the increased size sounds exciting - gives me great impetous to paint up some more.

Only downside is I can't get any more of the army cases that can hold vehicles.

At the moment we've got IG (and allies?) defending the base against the Deathwing, somebody (presumably BA) defending the Defence Laser in a Spearhead game but the third game is undecided.

Making the third game a counter-attack by the BA with the DA defending could make a good contrast.

Cases - as I said on Tuesday I have a big pile of single-width and double-width GW cases, but mostly with regular foam, let me know if you need to borrow/buy any.

For the DA forces I've now got another (and very nicely painted) Ravenwing Attack Squadron including Land Speeder and Attack Bike plus a character with a big lance on a bike. Remind me again - why can't Company Masters be on Bikes?!? Plus a couple of Predators, 2-3 more Terminator units, a total of about 9 Dreads and another 10 assorted Bikes although some of the Bikes are unpainted.

Ian

I'm looking for at least another case that could hold vehicles, especially more landraiders, so I might as well go for the double-width case.

I'll try and remember to bring one in this Tuesday.

Ian

I'll have blood angels for this, but it'll be probably just a 1500 or 1750 point army as i'm going to have a bit of a clearout of extra bits

I reckon it'd be more exciting if a small-ish force of BA joined the IG as a counter-attack army. E.g. 3-5k, giving someone with a smaller army a chance to join in.

You could make this army have a flank assault asset, (or whatever's the equivalent), or stick them in reserve and have them ride out from the IG base. Would look impressive.

Don't know how practical it would be, but we could even combine the two defensive games into one; or would that be too large?

Could you also just confirm that this will definitely going ahead, as I'd like to order some stuff ready but don't want to waste the money if this gets cancelled.

Thanks.

I will be bringing my BA again, and I can easily field 3-4k of points, so I can be teamed up with a smaller player if needs be.

Sounds good, depending on how many points Rob wants to use for his IG. From what Tim just said, it could be his forces.

I think having them come in from reserves would be enough, although in a Planetstrike game Flank March would be less overpowering than usual as defenders come on randomly from any table edge anyway.

We've found that anything over 8k or so starts slowing down. Also I like the idea of playing around with the different tables interacting. ;-)

For the third game, we could have some form of beachhead that the Dark Angels have established, with the opposing forces then attacking it. Maybe with a landing pad, and if it's not under DA control then the reserve force Thunderhawk suffers some form of handicap.

So far we have something like:

Catch the Fallen in their base
Rob IG & Tim BA defending against Luke's DA/DW

Defence Laser Spearhead
Dom BA + allies or Paul BA defending against Jonathan, Richard or Clive? Could make sense for this one to be Ravenwing-heavy.

Dark Angels Beachhead
Dom BA + allies or Paul BA attacking Jonathan, Richard or Clive?

How many people are interested in playing? I'd still like to have a force commander for each side who isn't playing directly but instead doing asset management & controlling/handing out reserve reinforcements, but that's only possible if we get at least ten players together.

Also, how do people feel about unlimited turns, we play to a set time such as 4pm even if it goes past seven turns? Most of our larger Apoc games only got to the end of turn four.

Ian

Perhaps just link the two defensive tables, as I reckon it makes sense if units could interact between the two; you could imagine that they're not far from each other and each side could re-deploy as they needed.

As for the third battle, I'm thinking maybe a BA, (and IG?), lightning strike force, with transports, jumppacks and/or bikes, attacking something. I have over 30 bikes which could help anyone here, (or have I just volunteered myself for that battle?).
Although not sure about the landing pad stopping their thunderhawk, as I can't see that working in reality nor in the game - unless you're talking about re-fuelling and/or re-arming? I don't know enough about them to know how they work in-game.

I'm hoping to get some super-heavy vehicles ready in time, so can help out if needed.

I might have to bring out the Leviathan again then, either that or get the Reaver assembled, hmmm

Paul - a fast strike force sounds good. Rather than stopping the Thunderhawk I was thinking more in terms of some kind of minor handicap, for instance if it's off-table/wants to move from one table to another then it would need a 4+ instead of it being automatic. Something like the re-fuelling idea - by controlling it's supporting base you reduce it's manoeuvrability.

Rob - getting out the Leviathan again would be good. A bit like the design studio photo which shows a fortress gateway blocked by three Vindicators side-by-side. :-)

General - moving stuff from table to table. What I'd like to have is some way for the commander-in-chief on each side to move units from table to table, but in limited numbers.

For instance (assuming we synchronise the start of each turn on the different tables) at the start of their side's turn, they can nominate three units (plus transports and attached ICs) across all the tables, if those units reach a table edge in their movement phase they can then enter a new table at the start of their next movement phase. So the DA C-in-C could say 'Those two Ravenwing units need to help take the Defence Laser and that Land Raider needs to help defend the beachhead.'

A Strategic Redeployment asset would allow this on a larger scale, plus the reserve super-heavies such as the Thunderhawk and Warhound would be in addition to the three-per-turn.

Ian

This sounds good, although perhaps rather than downgrading the ability for the Thunderhawk, we simply say it can't at all? It therefore has to stay on the current table. If it can't re-fuel then the pilot's not going to risk moving troops that far with the risk of running empty...

I'm quite happy to take control of the deathwing assault forces, being able to be told to redeploy some force by the big boos is a great idea, and the thoughts on how to execute it seem good!

I'd like to take part if I can make it. As before not too bothered about which side I represent and I have a lot of Salamanders that can be used as DA stand-ins if necessary.

Also if I would like to squeeze my Stormblade in somewhere if possible.

I am quite interested with taking part in the follow up games. Will happily use the Ravenwing for it too.

Also content to lend Luke my Belial, land raiders and as many terminators as he needs. (Plus librarians and a chaplain in terminator armour too.)

Unless we get a bunch more players it looks like we won't have enough for a commander-in-chief as well as the actual players, so we'll have to nominate an overall leader from the players.

Regarding beachheads and inter-table movement - Paul's comment gave me a better idea. The beachhead table has a landing pad and a communications centre of some kind. The DA forces can move two units from table to table per turn, plus two if they control the landing pad, plus two if they control the comms station for a potential total of six. The Thunderhawk (and any passengers) 'costs' three units to move.

So even once the DA have lost half their beachhead the Thunderhawk can be moved from table to table, but at the cost of coordinating the movement of other units. Once the beachhead is gone, the Thunderhawk is stuck on whatever table it's on (or whatever table it moves onto if it was off-table at the time).

The IG/BA side would have a similar setup, but maybe limited to four units per turn.

Ian

Given the time before the game is going to run and that is assuming that it does run then i'm sure we have plenty of time to both flesh out the background and missions and also include other players into the overall scenario! Lets settle into the new club and get ideas on whether we are allowed to hold events at the weekend and how much time they need in advance to book such an event!

I'd also like to find someone to pair up with us, so if there's anyone who's interested in playing and doesn't mind joining forces then please say so. Simply because, last time I struggled to cope on my own and this time the armies will be larger.

It may help if someone wants to play but can't field a large enough army, or simply doesn't want to supply the models.

Just to give you guys a heads up, something monumental is happening with me on the 21st so if the poo hits the fan there is a chance I won't be able to make it. I will most probably be there, certainly if I get my way with things but in the unlikely chance that I can't would you guys be able to have someone who's ready to cover in my absence? If not I can make some arangements so that the monumental thing doesn't happen until sunday night.

Just wanted to say that if we go ahead, I'd love to throw my IG into the fray, though they are much reduced in numbers!

I can't make it on the 22nd. Apologies.

Based on the diary entry, this looks like it's been postponded by over a month. Right?

It's probably for the best and gives me time to put together my two baneblades, (variants actually), in case they end up being needed...

Oh, and now that we know how much it'll cost, has anyone thought about how we're going to pay for this?

Paul

Looks that way... and ooo, we get to take Baneblades?! Yippeee!

Yes, it's been postponed by quite a bit. Partly because August/September has turned out to be much busier for me than anticipated and partly to give people more time to get models ready.

I'm hoping that we will have eight players plus myself as GM, if we get the £38 rate that would be a bit over £4 each for the day - something like 10am to 6pm should give us a solid 6.5 hour's play even with setting up, lunch and packing up.

Any more people interested in taking part? Two people per side per game would be ideal.

Ian