June 3025: The Battle for Wuhan Pass (Battletech: Alpha Strike)

11th June 3025, Wuhan Pass

"Right, Lemmings, our job is to hold Wuhan Pass. We'll be working with Johnston's Battalion of the 12th Vegan Rangers and will take our turn on patrol. I expect you to show them that we are much better than they are! Mike and Dirk will be leading a combat patrol today. Your job is to break through the enemy defences and wreak havoc in the rear area, and then get your arses back home safely."

The Scenario

This is a Breakthrough scenario with the Lemmings attacking. The Lemmings must exit 50% of their force off the enemy's base edge to win.

The Opposing Forces

Full Throttle Lemmings two lances (134 points):

1. Mike Hunt - Wolverine WVR-6R (Named Pilot)
2. Dirk Savage - Phoenix Hawk PXH-1 (Named Pilot)
3. Barbara Dwyer - Awesome AWS-8Q
4. Ivor Biggun - Archer ARC-2R

Elements of 3rd Benjamin Regulars (108 points):        

1. Banshee BNC-3E
2. Dragon DRG-1N
3. Panther PNT-9R
4. Panther PNT-9R

The Battle

As the Lemmings advanced through the pass, their scanners showed the hostile mechs arrayed in a loose screen across it, using hills and woods as cover. Moving in pairs, Mike and Dirk took the left flank, while Barb and Ivor took the right. It was not long before they came under fire.

Barb cursed, "Mike, shoot those blasted techs if I don't make it back to do it myself, will you? They've not closed up the armour panels properly again. Just took a hit to the engine. It's getting hot in here."

"Focus on cover and giving us support, Barb. We'll do the rest."

Barb did as instructed. She and Ivor turned the armour on the nearest Panther to slag and its pilot quickly retreated.

Mike in his Wolverine and Dirk in the Phoenix Hawk headed out on the left flank against the Dragon and the other Panther. Both mechs plastered Dirk's mech so that red lights showed on much of his display.

"Panther Alpha is retreating. Focus your fire on Panther Bravo."

Lasers and autocannons blazed, leaving the Panther looking like a Swiss cheese. The pilot punched out as his mech collapsed to the floor. As he drifted down again, he could see his lance-mate retreating through the woods towards camp. He spat.

With only the Banshee and the Dragon remaining, the Lemmings turned on the Dragon. With its fire control systems trashed and missing an arm, the Dragon started retreating but did not get far. With both legs blown off, it collapsed to the floor and its pilot signalled surrender by powering down.

The Banshee was so far barely damaged and it backed up towards the hills lining the pass. It did so under a hail of neon fire but dished out damage in turn. Barb's Awesome had barely any armour left by this point and was struggling to move, but she kept baiting the Banshee pilot.

Eventually, it succumbed and moved out to engage the heavily damaged Awesome. As it did so, Mike moved his Wolverine in behind it. Missiles streamed from the Wolverine's SRM-6 and slammed into the back of the Banshee. The Banshee seemed to suddenly shrink into itself before exploding thunderously right in front of Mike.

"Right in the poop chute!" he crowed as he manoeuvred his mech away, "Right, folks, the way is clear. Let's move out and finish the mission."

Afterthoughts

Focusing my fire on individual mechs to reduce the number of shots being taken at the Lemmings worked well. It resulted in the first Panther taking enough damage to be forced to withdraw. The second Panther suffered a "Mech destroyed" critical hit and the Dragon was just worn down by fire. The most satisfying part of it all was scoring a through-armour critical hit on the Banshee that resulted in an ammo explosion. I believe this is the first time ever I have achieved an ammo explosion on a hostile mech. Nice.

Keeping these scenarios to one lance on each side is working well to keep the games moving at a good pace. Playing this scenario on a four mapsheet playing area with the whole company involved would be interesting though, because it could offer more opportunities for manoeuvre and a chance to win by running off the board.

The Aces system is working really well for these scenarios so far. It is clearly well thought-out and not specific to particular times and places in the Battletech universe. I look forward to the next game.

13-18 Sviftmont - Troll Trouble

 After a good meal and a good night's sleep, Broneslav spent the day with the villagers. They begged him to tell the story of the fight with the dragon, which he did with a will, and they feted him in return. It was a relaxing day, and he felt almost said that he had to depart on the morrow. However, he needed to return to his enterprises. So, when the next day dawned, he wished the villagers of Mantru farewell and set out back towards Tanaroa.

For several days, he followed the same path he had taken to get there, dodging the pteranodons round the bridge from the plateau to the mountains and circling around the areas where the rock baboons had raised an outcry at his intrusion on their territory. The journey went well until he reached the mountains south of the plateau. At that point, he stumbled upon a troll looking for a quick snack. The fight was over almost before it began and he escaped with only minor wounds.

Knowing that the troll would regenerate if left long enough, Broneslav built a fire and put the corpse on it. He hoped that would be enough to destroy the evil creature. Then he carried on south, making camp that night in the best shelter he could find. He was well into the mountains now but knew that he would reach hills soon and then the jungles beyond.

May 3025: They Shall Not Pass (Battletech: Alpha Strike)

4th May 3025, Wuhan Pass, near New Wuhan City

Jennie surveyed the assembled team.

"Dracs have landed and are pushing on New Wuhan City. We are part of the task force sent to stop them. I shall be taking a mixed lance out to scout the Kuritan forces in the area. Our goal is to feel out their defences and take their measure before the main assualt. Don't take risks and don't be foolish. You have your instructions, so ask any questions now and then mount up. We move out in 30."

There were no questions.

I decided to experiment with playing on the Battletech hex maps using the conversion rules from Alpha Strike Commander's Edition for this campaign. A planetary level Abstract Combat System map comes with the Historical Turning Points: Galtor supplement, and it is very tempting to use that for a Battleforce: Abstract Combat System campaign too. I must resist!*

The Scenario

The scenario is a Meeting Engagement with equal points and numbers on each side.

Two companies of the 21st Galedon Regulars have been detached to secure Wuhan Pass and access to New Wuhan City, while the rest of the Regulars assault New Derry. Two companies of Johnston's Battalion of the 12th Vegan Rangers have been tasked with taking the pass back and stopping the Kuritan force. The Full Throttle Lemmings are working with the 12th Vegan Rangers and are one of the companies given this job.

Both sides are racing to secure the Wuhan Pass and will enter from opposite sides of the board. The winner will be the one that drives the other side off. Forced Withdrawal is in effect for both sides.

Maps:

Foothills #1

Foothills #2

The Opposing Forces

Full Throttle Lemmings scouting force (119 points):

1. Commander Jennie Raytor - Battlemaster BLR-1G (Named Pilot)
2. Paige Turner - Thunderbolt TDR-5SE (Named Pilot)
3. Theresa Crowd - Shadow Hawk SHD-2D
4. Paul Bearer - Locust LCT-1V

Forward elements of 21st Galedon Regulars (120 points):

1. Charger CGR-1A1 (Commander: Skill 3)
2. Griffin GRF-1N (Skill 3)
3. Shadow Hawk SHD-2H (Skill 3)
4. Jenner JR7-D (Skill 4)

The Battle

"Hostiles coming in," Jennie called to the others as her scope lit up with heat signatures advancing through the hills towards her.

"Roger that. Theresa and me taking a position in the centre," Paige responded.

"Paul, keep an eye on the left flank. Something fast coming in there."

"Roger. On it like a comet. It's a Jenner, Jennie. Taking up position to take it on. Haha, not only do you look like a toilet but I'm going to bust your arse like you were one," Paul crowed as he whizzed his Locust around the Jenner.

Jennie left him to it. Half of what he said did not make sense and most of the rest was just nonsense.

"Godsdammit," Paige cursed as armour panels turned to slag on her Thunderbolt, "I only just got that fixed."

First blood to the Kuritans, while the Lemmings' fire hit low rises and trees but not the enemy.

Theresa was unhappy, "There's something wrong with our guns today. If we make it out of this, I am going to have a serious word with the techs."

Paul, who had got right in behind the Kuritan Jenner agreed, "Shit, I can't hit the broad side of a barn from the inside with this laser. Sighting is definitely off! And now that shithouse is behind me!"

The Jenner's guns blasted armour off Paul's Locust and he swore some more.

The Lemming mechs darted from cover to cover, but the Galedon Regulars had their range now and  their blood was up. Lemming armour was being slagged at an increasing rate.

"Come on, people! Focus your fire and take them out," Jennie called to the others.

The fight descended into a swirling melee. Jennie and Paige held the centre with the Thunderbolt and the Battlemaster, while Paul was engaged in a dance of death with the Jenner and Theresa's Shadow Hawk sought to use cover to supplement its paper-thin armour.

"Eat that!" Paul had finally managed to get his head in the game and the Jenner's rear armour was blasted to shreds. It fled before he could finish it off.

"Hey, Jennie, my display's showing red," he called to his commander, "My armour is trashed."

"Hang in there Paul. We got the Charger and the Shadow Hawk. They're retreating. Maybe pick off one of them if you can. Salvage would be nice."

"Gotcha," Paul responded as he manoeuvred his Locust in behind the heavily limping Charger. He hit the firing stud. "Shit, how the hell did I miss that massive bugger?"

Even as the rest of the lance fled, the Griffin moved to take the fight to the Lemmings. It's pilot had seen that Paige's back was open and that Jennie's Battlemaster was dripping bits of slag armour with bare myomer showing  all over.

"Moving to support you," Theresa announced.

Paige triggered her jump jets and was suddenly behind the Griffin as Jennie pulled back to vent heat. Theresa sought a position of cover to snipe the Griffin from.

"I'm on it," Paige announced as she let rip an Alpha Strike into the rear of the Griffin, "Ha! Let's see you get back up without any legs!"

The Griffin crumpled to the floor, its power going offline to signal surrender.

"Ah, shit," Paul cursed, "That Charger's limping in my direction."

The next moment, a massive blast rocked his tiny mech.

"Left leg is gone! Gonna have to pull back."

He took cover briefly, only to poke his mech's head out again as the Charger retreated instead of finishing him off.

"Come back and fight," he called after the Charger, "I still have a leg left to kick you with!"

Aftermath

The Full Throttle Lemmings roared down on the Kuritan forces like a tornado with the 12th Vegan Rangers in tow. It was a hard-fought fight, but the charge was irresistible and the battlegroup eventually pushed the Regulars back out of the pass and secured it. New Wuhan City was safe for now.

Discussion

The first three turns were characterised by the Kuritans scoring hits and the Lemmings missing everything. After that, things improved slightly and the Lemmings began to focus their fire to wear down the enemy. The first mech to have to withdraw was the Charger, but its progress was slowed by a motive system hit that halved its movement. This was made worse later when it took another motive hit and could only move one hex per turn. But at least all those hexes were towards its home edge. The Shadow Hawk and the Jenner followed, but were able to sprint off the edge towards home on the turn after they were crippled. The Griffin seemed mostly impervious to being shot until the three big Lemmings could swarm it.

Some of this might have been easier, if the Lemmings had won the initiative more, but they only won three times in a ten-turn game. I think I need new dice for my mercs!

The difference between Ilclan-era mechs and 3025 mechs was made manifest in this game. The destruction went more slowly because both sides had much lower damage outputs, and the mechs were slower too. The game had a completely different feel to it. That was a Good Thing.

Playing on the mapsheets kind of broke my brain a bit in the beginning, but I got into it after a few turns. A few questions arose about the conversion too. I need to check the rules about rounding movement values or how you address fractions of 2" when each hex represents 2" and you have to move in whole hexes. I'll do that while planning the next scenario.

The other thing that arose was checking how many points the Lemmings should get. They only had one crippled mech, but repair costs are high, so I think I need to scale rewards a bit higher or maybe pay my pilots less. After paying the pilots, the Lemmings warchest had taken a hit despite them winning the scenario. That is not so bad for the first scenario, but if they have five more equally "successful" scenarios then they will be broke. I guess that means that I should take what they earned for achieving their objective in this scenario and increase the reward with each subsequent scenario. A single loss should not totally wipe them out, which it would if the victories all go like this, so they need to earn more for those victories.

*With the plethora of rules available for Battletech games, the megalomaniac in me is drawn to using them all to play games at every level all the way up to the entire Inner Sphere at War.

Arrival on Galtor (Battletech: Alpha Strike)

2nd May 3025, near New Wuhan City, Galtor III

The briefing room was buzzing as Jennie Raytor marched up to the front, followed closely by her best friend and XO Anna Daptor. The assembled Lemmings quieted as she turned to face them. They had been on planet

"The boring garrison duty is over. The Dracs have landed and we need to move out to engage them. Early reports indicate that we shall be facing elements of the 7th Sword of Light, so the XO has gathered all the intel on them that we can find. Details have been sent to your noteputers. Study it and be aware of what is going to come."

Rules Stuff

The Lemmings force comes to 347 points, so I diced for the make-up of the opposing force using the RATs in Historical Turning Point: Galtor with a view to making a 350 point force. With 11 mechs diced for, I then picked a mech to make the force up to precisely 350 points. This produced a nicely Kuritan-looking company to face the Lemmings, and conveniently forced me to pick out and paint a few unpainted mechs, so the campaign has already had a positive effect!

Although the mechs are assigned to lances in the list below, I shall randomise which mechs appear in each mission. I anticipate that each game will see a lance of Lemmings fielded and the Kuritan force will be created based on the points value of the fielded lance and the opposing force rules for the specific mission.

Although my mechs are painted as the 8th Sword of Light, and the notional Kuritan company is from the 7th Sword of Light, which historically got wiped out on Galtor, they will stand in for a variety of different Kuritan forces according to where the Lemmings are fighting and what action was happening during the campaign that month.

3 Company, Kismet Battalion, 7th Sword of Light

Command Lance

1. Banshee BNC-3E
2. Stalker STK-3F
3. Grand Dragon DRG-1G
4. Panther PNT-9R

Battle Lance

1. Dragon DRG-1N
2. Dragon DRG-1N
3. Wolverine WVR-6R
4. Panther PNT-9R

Recon Lance

1. Charger CGR-1A1
2. Griffin GRF-1N
3. Shadow Hawk SHD-2H
4. Jenner JR7-D

6-12 Sviftmont - Return to Mantru

 Broneslav awoke stiff and sore but still alive. The dragon's corpse near him was testament to the horrendous fight he had the day before. He immediately decided that it would be unwise to travel as battered as he was, so he set about checking the dragon's lair and making a proper camp. He would wait here a couple of days before heading back to Mantru and then back to where he hoped his ship would be waiting for him.

Breakfast of iron rations did not appeal to him, so he cut out the dragon's heart and roasted it. He had heard in the old tales that eating the heart of a beast like a dragon could grant you special powers. Nothing happened, except that his belly got full. Well, at least he had tried.

On the second day he went out looking for water and to scout the area. He found a large lake surrounded by jungle vegetation. Massive long-necked lizards were immersed in the water. Even the dragon would have felt dwarfed by them, standing ten times and more the height of a man. They ignored him as he filled his water flask and he returned to the cave.

Early on the third day, he set out towards Mantru once more. The journey went well and he managed to avoid any hostile encounters along the way. The villagers were surprised to see him and astounded that he had killed the dragon alone, but they had to believe him because he had its skin with him.