Wow has it really been that long! Sorry for the lack of any updates recently, I'm afraid every time I've played a game I've either forgotten my camera or the battery ran out before I could take any pics. In this first comeback post I'd like to talk about a playtest game that myself and a fellow gamer had of Critical Mass Games own ruleset. They are developing these to coincide with their own Miniatures range and background. It is currently undergoing a beta playtest but I understand that a published version will be made available next year sometime (Sooner hopefully, rather than later).
The mission we played was called, base of operations which involved an attacking player catching the defender out at his base. The play escalates in scope as reserves are pulled in by both sides to seize or capture objectives. This also helps or hinders the amount and level of support that can be pulled into the area as well. It's a nice slant on the take and hold missions and works very well with the wonderful communications rules that they have developed to allow for Artillery strikes, orbital bombardments among other effects that can be called on as well.
Arc Fleet Armour on the Southern Flank.
Armour and Mech Recon on Northern Flank.
The above photo shows the Terrain layout. Quite sparse desert terrain with a dry riverbed along the north table third and a BUA in the southern third of the board. The area of trees around the green felt is actually an oasis (we did not have any blue felt, but this is an alien planet anyway).
BUA with my heavy troops and the little guys!
I was the defender. I deployed two units in the BUA, a horde unit of little misfit like aliens, think the grunts from halo (Squamata Imperialis) and a unit of Heavy hitting Augmented troopers with heavy cannons (Draco Aganath Imperator). I put my two elite units with the CIC and 2IC in the wadi and bhind the crest of the central hill to cover those two objectives. Finally I had one unit of strong fighters (Agaamids) in reserve.
My opponent placed his units almost to either flank. A unit of light scout tanks on each flank. a unit of mounted (on jetbikes) recce troopers on his right and a unit of medium armour to his left. I immediately saw the error in judgement as my heaviest infantry was in the dead centre away from his approaching armour. I decided to stick with my original plan, cross my fingers and hope my reserves didn't turn up too late.
The game itself was a grinder. At first there was an awful lot of maneuvering for position. In fact in the first turn of the game there were only 2 casualties from both sides! But as the units started to pin down their enemies the struggle started to reach fever point. Both sides were drawn into a pointblank firefight for the BUA in the centre whereupon the Kaamados 2IC instructed his comms truck to signal the orbiting battlecruiser and bombard the position. The comms were successful and even though the 2IC himself was caught in the resulting annihilation, the bombardment broke the centre of the Arc Fleet assault (the 2IC was lucky enough to survive). One tank destroyed outright one out of action and almost half a recon platoon wiped out. My Heavy troopers (Draco Aganath Imperator) in the BUA followed up this devastation with a barrage of fire of their own nocking out one more tank and almost demoralising the remaining tank to the point where it nearly routed itself.
Following that turn the Arc Troops were on to a hiding to nowhere and were unable to shake the remaining Kaamados troops. A successful assault by the Little Guys (Squamata Imperialis) saw off the remaining tank and at that the Arc fleet retreated with one under-strength Recon platoon. only 4 out of their starting 6 Scout tanks and their CO lying wounded or dead on the field. I had lost my 2IC following a valiant close combat for the objective on the central hill in which both sides destroyed each other. I had major casualties in the Squamata Imperialis infantry (only 3 out of 8 left). The Agaamids had only taken two casualties and had weathered everything the northern most scout tanks could muster. The Draco Aganath Imperators had taken a single casualty which I thought was sterling work considering the amount of ordnance that was loosed in their general direction. I had lost two APCs and all my elite troops though. This was a bitterly fought engagement and both sides did deserve the win.
Overall I would have to say that I love the Critical Mass game. The turn is exciting, it forces you to think strategically and you find yourself planning sometimes a few moves ahead. Then of course one of your units comes under fire and you have to judge if you want to try and overwatch, take cover, or take the pain which may result in you being pinned which in turn sets your plan back a turn or two. Excellent game and I can't recommend this enough when it is released. It rips away that I go U go nature that is very much a standard in wargames for some reason.
I have to say though. I am biased. I like games with interaction between players outside the normal turn sequence. I play Epic, I play Cold War Commander, I play Battlefield Evolution, I play AT-43. All of which either alternate activation or at least have an element of reaction to an opponents actions. This is the way it should be. Real soldiers don't just lie down and say, "It was a fair cop guv'nor. It wasn't my turn to shoot". No! They duck for cover, they shoot back, they run back to the safety of that nearby building and hunker down.
I know I'm ranting here but I really believe that this kind of game is more realistic. I think that Battlefield Evolution is the best Skirmish combat system in the wargames community at the moment. From the looks of things and my own personal opinion of what I've played so far, for mass combat at a company or battalion level it's far too close between Epic Armageddon (and may I say it Games Workshops BEST game ever) and Critical Mass for me to make a call. I'm sorry but you'll have to figure that out for yourself.
Take care until next time and happy gaming!
The Legend.
;-D
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