Admiral Von Shtupp was
aboard the Sturmbringer Submarine U-102, hunting for more of the hated
Antarcticans. Rumour had it they were heading
for one of the new Prussian Territories, recently captured in the Caribbean. Von Shtupp was crossing the Atlantic as
quickly as his task force could.
“Battle Stations! Battle Stations! Admiral to the bridge!”
“Status Report!”
“Admiral, our Recon
flight just reported in. They’ve spotted
a task force heading our way. It’s the
Antarcticans!”
Puzzling, thought Von
Shtupp. We’re in the middle of the
Atlantic. How did they know where we
are? Was it some new invention? Or was it just blind luck?
Regardless, they were
hostile and it was time to prove once again why they need feat the might of the
Prussian Navy!
Here we go again. Graham is using the same CoA force as last time, whereas I changed fleets a bit. Using random terrain, we rolled: NOTHING?!?!? Can't remember the last time that happened!
Deployment:
Prussian Empire (PE –
Top to bottom):
- 3 X Donnerfaust Support Cruisers
- 4 X Zerstorer Strike Bombers with the Sturmbringer Submarine + Reconnaissance flight
- Flight of Torpedo Bombers
- Flight of Fighters
- Rhine Carrier with 2 Wachter Escorts, wing of Torpedo Bombers
- 4 X Arminius Frigates
Covenant of
Antarctica (CoA) – Top to Bottom):
- 2 X Plato Cruisers
- 3 X Diogenes Frigates
- Aristotle Battleship with Energy Turrets
- Flight of Fighters
- 1 X MK I & 2 X Mk II Fresnel Cruisers with Fighter Wing
- 3 X Diogenes Frigate
- 3 X Diogenes Frigate
After deployment, the Antarctians rolled “Destroy all Larges
and Massives”. They elected to do the
“Sink or capture70% of the enemy’s Fleet Value”. The Prussians rolled the default 70% as well.
Start of Game
Turn 1:
Prussians won initiative for the first turn.
Realizing the Carrier was open to attack, the Prussian
Frigates turned to Starboard and screened the Prussian Carrier from direct fire
from the Fresnel Cruisers.
"Protect The Carrier!!!"
To try and open a gap in the Frigate Screen, the CoA Central
Frigates moved forward and turned, attempting to do a torpedo run on the PE
Frigates, but found themselves out of range.
The PE Strike Bombers moved forward at maximum speed at Obscured
height. CoA Fighter Drones moved to
intercept the Strike Bombers but again, were out-of-range. Killing an activation, the Prussian Sub’s
Reconnaissance flight moved forward while the Antarcticans moved the Frigates
on the far left moved straight ahead at maximum speed, hoping to curl in and
flank in the next couple of turns.
Finally, some combat: Prussian Fighters moved forward at
maximum speed and shot down 3 CoA Drone tokens for the loss of 1 and an extra
fuel! The 2nd CoA Fighter
Wing oved at maximum speed, hoping to intercept the Prussian Strike Bombers
next turn. The Prussian Torpedo Wing
moved forward at maximum speed, using a fuel pip.
Frustrated by the Prussian Frigates, the CoA Fresnal
Cruisers moved forward, failed to activate the generator on the Mk I, and fired
on the Frigates individually. When the
smoke cleared, one Frigate was sunk and two others crippled! First Blood to the Antarcticans, but the
Carrier’s screen was more-or-less intact!
The Frigates Under Attack
The Prussian Carrier’s Torpedo Bombers moved towards the
Fresnels at max speed. The CoA Frigates
on the right moved forward and shot down 1 fighter token. Finally, the Prussian Carrier moved forward
with her escorts. The Carrier failed to
damage the Plato Cruiser with a long-range barrage shot, but the escorts sank
one of the CoA Frigates.
First CoA Casualty
The Antarctican Battleship moved up and turned to port,
exposing all 4 Energy Beam Turrets to the Prussian Carrier. Being a Large ship, the Battleship had no
problem seeing over the Escorts and Frigates and blasted the poor Carrier,
causing a Crit (Hard Pounding – 3AP left) and lighting the Fuel Reserves on
fire!
The Prussian Carrier Burns!
The Prussian Cruisers moved forward at maximum speed, but
the CoA Battleship’s shields saved the Antarctican from damage. The Plato Cruisers lept forward at the opportunity
and blasted one of the Donnners, causing a Crit – STURGINIUM FLAIR!!! The hapless cruiser teleported straight ahead
5”, barely in formation with the rest of the formation!
"How'd We End Up Here?!?!?"
In the final activation of the turn, the Prussian Sub
surfaced, turned to starboard and fired all weapons at the MK I Fresnel
Cruiser, causing a Crit (Fusion Leak).
Unfortunately, the sub failed to make a Panic Dive test and found itself
exposed on the surface.
Turn 1 End Phase:
The Prussians were unable to put out the fire on the Carrier
– leaving it with only 2AP left. The
Antarctican’s managed to kick off the Lightning Rod, but unable to repair the
Fusion Leak on the Fresnel Cruiser.
End of Turn 1
Losses:
PE: 61 pts
CoA: 65 pts
PE: 61 pts
CoA: 65 pts
Turn 2:
CoA won the initiative.
The Antarctican Battleship started things off, turning its
bow towards the nearest Donner and firing the Particle Accelerator at the
hapless Cruiser. The PA blasted a Crit (Raging
Fire – 2AP, 1HP left). Fortunately (for
ME!), the extra dice that were used against the Sub on the other side of the
Cruiser failed to damage the Sub.
The Cruiser takes a PA Shot!
The Prussian Cruiser retaliated, turning all weapons to bear
on the Battleship and managed to Crit it (Raging Fire AGAIN!?!? – 5AP left) as
well as sticking another Lightning Rod into the hull. CoA Drones attacked one flight of Torpedo
Bombers, shooting down 3 tokens and making them use an extra 2 fuel for the
loss of 2 Drone Tokens! Focusing on the
Battleship once more, the Prussian Sub fired its weapons but only managed to do
a single HP damage, then failed to do its Panic Dive again. CoA Frigates on the right made a minimal move
and turn towards the Prussian Sub for another Torpedo Salvo, but failed to
damage it. The damaged Torpedo Bomber
Wing moved towards the Carrier, dropped their fish on a damaged CoA Frigate,
sinking it and caused the squadron to break.
The Bombers then landed on the Carrier to re-arm, reinforce and refuel.
The CoA Plato Cruisers on the right advanced and targeted a
single Prussian Cruiser, first critting it (Systems Offline), then added
another HP damage with broadsides, crippling a 2nd Cruiser in the
squadron! The Carrier’s Torpedo Bombers,
inspired by their brethren, attacked the damaged MK I Fresnel Cruiser, and sank
it with a crit! The rest of the Cruisers
passed their Break Test.
Torpedo Attack!
The Fresnals, seeking vengeance (and a clear line of sight
to the Carrier), fired on the Prussian Frigates, and sank the 2 damaged ships,
but failed to damage the nearby Cruiser (with a single HP left). The Frigates passed their Break Test.
Revenge of the Fresnels!
The Prussian Carrier moved up but failed to damage anything,
though her Escorts succeeded in damaging another Frigate. The Central CoA Frigate Squadron charged the
(finally) exposed Carrier and added another HP damage.
Carrier Under Torpedo Attack!
The Prussian Strike Bombers dove from the clouds and made
their attack run on the Antarctican Battleship, 3 of the Bombers getting a bead
on the ship and taking advantage of the Lightning Rod embedded onto the
hull. When the smoke cleared, the great
ship suffered a Double-Crit (2 X Engine Damage)!
CoA Battleship Bombed!
The Leftmost CoA Frigate Squadron raced forward to make
another Torpedo Attack on the Prussian Carrier, but in an amazing display of
timing and accuracy, the Concussion charges from the Carrier and its Escorts
stopped all the torpedoes from hitting the carrier!
The Prussian fighters maneuvered and shot down the rest of
one wing of CoA Drones for the loss of 1 token, then landed on the Prussian
Carrier. This gave the Carrier a total
of 5 tokens it could launch next turn.
The remaining CoA Drones attacked the Prussian Strike Bombers, but
failed to damage any. The remaining
Prussian Frigate attacked a CoA Frigate, but failed to damage it. And the Prussian spotter flew around as the
last activation of the turn.
End Phase:
Neither the CoA nor the PE were able to repair
anything. This dropped the Carrier to 1AP
left.
Losses:
PE: 183 Pts
CoA: 234 Pts
PE: 183 Pts
CoA: 234 Pts
Turn 3:
CoA won the initiative.
The CoA Battleship moved forward, lined up the Particle
Accelerator on the Prussian Sub and damaged the Sub while the turrets finally
sank the one Prussian Cruiser.
The Battleship sinks the Donner
Knowing its time was soon, the Prussian Carrier launched a
full wing of Torpedo Bombers from the bits and pieces of two squadrons and the
spare token. After moving forward, the
Carrier fired its Bombard at the Battleship and sank it! (A No-No!
We’d realize it later and put the battleship back on the table with its
previous damage.)
Oops! Shouldn't have sunk the Battleship!
CoA Plato Cruisers moved forward in Line Of Battle and fired
on the damaged Donner, and finally sank the Cruiser.
Another Cruiser Bites The Dust!
The surviving Cruiser passed its Break test,
then activated, moved forward, and blasted a Plato, causing a crit, Hard
Pounding – 1AP left as well as embedding a Lightning Rod.
The CoA Central Frigates made an attack on the Prussian Sub
and the Carrier Escorts, but only damaged an Escort. The last Prussian Frigate sank the last CoA
Frigate from the right side.
Sinking a Frigate
The CoA Frigates from the left made an attack run on the
Escort protecting the Carrier’s midsection, and sank it.
Sinking an Escort
The Prussian Sub moved forward its minimum move and turned,
firing two turrets at the closest undamaged Plato, and the bombard against a
Fresnel (the Platos were within minimum range).
The Plato took a crit (Weapons Damage), but the Fresnel was left undamaged. The Sub FINALLY made a successful Panic Dive,
slipping to safety beneath the sea’s surface.
The Fresnels moved forward and shot the (finally) exposed
Prussian Carrier, causing a crit with their Broadsides (Engine Damage) and
another HP damage from the turrets, leaving the Carrier with 1 HP &
1AP!
The Carrier’s Torpedo Bombers moved back and landed on the
Carrier, hoping to re-arm and relaunch before the Carrier was sunk. At this point, we realized that the Carrier
shouldn’t have sunk the Battleship (It can't launch planes and fire in the same turn), so we placed the Battleship model back on the table
again. (Ooops!). At this point, we thought all the CoA
activations were complete, so the Prussian Strike Bombers activated, all but 1
making U-Turns. The other overflew a
Plato, intending to drop its bombs, but was shot down by the Platos before it
could complete its attack run!
"Drop the bombs.. >BANG<"
CoA then realized he forgot his Drones and attacked one of
the Strike Bombers, damaging 1. Once
more, the PE Spotter token ended the activations, floating around the war zone…
End Phase:
CoA managed to repair 1 Engine Damage on the Battleship and
removed a Lightning Rod on a Cruiser, but failed to repair any other
damage. Prussians failed to put out the
fire on the Carrier, so used the Commodore’s re-roll and rolled a 6! ANOTHER fire!!! This left the Carrier with 2 Fires, 1 HP and
no AP!
Losses:
PE: 386 Pts
CoA: 348 Pts
PE: 386 Pts
CoA: 348 Pts
Turn 4:
CoA won initiative – AGAIN!
The (Cute Female) Store Clerk warned us we had less than 15
minutes before the store closed so we burned rubber (dice?) to get through this
turn.
The Antarctican Battleship attempted to shoot the Prussian
Carrier but had suffered so much damage, just couldn’t generate the required
dice to make an impact. The Prussian
Carrier deck crews replaced the missing token and launched a full wing of Dive Bombers,
then the Carrier moved forward and collided with a CoA Frigate. The Carrier easily sank the Frigate under its
bulk, but apparently broke her back running over the Frigate! Thus the proud Prussian Carrier sank with the
Frigate beneath the waves! Her Escort,
fired at a nearby Frigate and was already in formation to join the Prussian
Sub.
What a Way To Loose A Carrier...
The CoA Plato Cruisers circled the last Prussian Cruiser,
critting it (Chaos & Disarray) while sinking the last Prussian Escort.
Last Escort Gone...
The Prussian Cruiser fired everything into the Battleship –
hoping to get that last hull point but failed to damage the crippled ship. The last CoA Frigate from the Center Squadron
moved forward and sank the last Prussian Frigate.
..there goes the Frigate!
The Prussian Strike Bombers overflew the Battleship and
AGAIN, the Battleship avoided taking damage!
The CoA Frigates from the left moved forward but failed to cause any
damage. Getting desperate, the Prussian
Sub Surfaced, collided with the Plato Cruiser and fired on the Battleship –failing
to damage both! The Fresnel Cruisers
tried to target the Sub, but with all the Frigates in the way, couldn’t get a
good Line Of Sight to it. The Prussian Torpedo
Bombers that launched last turn made an attack run and finally sank the CoA
Battleship! The CoA Drones attacked but
failed to damage anything and the game ended as we quickly packed everything up…
Losses:
PE: 475 pts
CoA: 465 pts
A DRAW!
PE: 475 pts
CoA: 465 pts
A DRAW!
WOW! A game doesn’t
get much closer than that!
I took another fleet list while Graham took the same list as
last time. I am REALLY loving the new
Prussian Sub and Support Cruisers. They
have great Synergy and the Strike Bombers are fun, too! The Carrier was the main addition to the box
set, providing an extra wing of Tiny Fliers and the opportunity to rearm them. While it sank, the Carrier did reload and re-launch
2 wings (though 1 wing didn’t have the opportunity to activate). I dropped one Strike Bomber from 5 to 4 so
that I could take 2 Escorts to help protect the Carrier, though in all honesty,
it was the Frigates that screened the Carrier most of the game.
The Antarcticans had the same fleet as last time. I have to say, listening to all the whining
about Energy Beam Weapons being under-powered or useless, I’m not seeing it and
neither is Graham. The only option he
had that I would question was the MK I Fresnal Cruiser. The Accumulation Generator didn’t work once
and for the ship to be useful, it needs to be far more reliable than that. Graham was also happy that he FINALLY got to
use the Particle Accelerator (TWICE!) on his Battleship. Usually, when he uses the Energy Beams, the
PA is too far away or at the wrong angle to use.
So what did I do right or wrong? I think the first mistake was leaving the
Carrier very exposed on the left flank.
Fortunately I got 1st initiative and was able to screen the
Carrier with the Frigate Squadron before it took fire in the 1st turn. The next thing, I got into a Knife Fight with
most of the Heavies on the right side of the table. Finally, and it was sort of unavoidable as we
got rushed, I got fixated on the Battleship which should have been sunk right
away on Turn 4. After the second
failure, I was too committed to stop trying to sink the Battleship. I needed the points it would give.
Anyway, a great game!
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Legiocon is on Feb 22 & 23 in Winnipeg MB Canada! I'm planning to do a Dystopian Wars Day on the 23rd! Watch this space for more info!
Anyway, a great game!
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