Spiders versus Dinosaurs (and people)

 Number Two Son requested a game today, spiders versus dinosaurs "and some people too, PAINTED people!".  I had a tub of Alternative Armies Muster that I got second hand a couple of years ago that fit the bill, plus some Retained Knights that I painted back when they were Free Companies Crusaders for Firefight version one in the 1990s.

Our battle takes place on the planet Endross... where "spiders are scouring the city".  Apparently "people are going missing... spiders are feasting on them!"  I love his descriptions of what is going on in our games! (Though sometimes they can be slightly disturbing.)

 Anyway, to combat this worrying development, troops have been deployed to the city.  Combat robots are positioned on some of the sea platforms nearby.

"My spiders have 1000 points of damage.  The big boss spider has 2000 points!"

"Wow", I replied, "how many points of damage do my humans have?"

"2!"

I expressed my reservations about the slightly unbalanced scenario, but my concerns were brushed aside - after all, I also had DINOSAURS to help me!  Pterosaurs to "scout around", velociraptors to race into action, plus more nearby!

Troops warily enter the city.

Combat robots.

Port patrol.

The city.

Smoke rises from burning ground vehicles...

 

Troops cautiously move towards the harbour front.

Dinosaurs stand guard over the sea wall and ships.

Spiders swarm from the sea.

"Look out!  Our guns are having no effect!"

Spiders scuttle through the streets.

Troops fall back and try to get to the ships.

A spider blocks the way to the sea platforms.

"Quick, shoot it!"

The boss spider leads its arachnid minions.

Dinosaurs attempt to hold the line.

"Give us a piggy-back?"

We didn't play an actual game, I was just given a script of how my troops should give shocked exclamations from time to time while the spiders overwhelmed the dinosaurs and blew up the town, but it was all good fun.  Some of the photographs use my ultrasonic mist-maker for background smoke, though it isn't all that visible.

As I feared might be the case, the road parts of my city board scratch very easily, so I think I'll have to sand and repaint them.  I've got a black spray can that might give a harder wearing result.  These scratches didn't even happen today, it's just from being in storage.

An enjoyable morning, always fun to get the city out and take a few photographs.

BattleTech Alpha Strike - Communications Station Attack

After having a go at Mechwarrior 4: Mercenaries yesterday, Number 2 son asked for a game using my BattleTech stuff, and I was more than happy to oblige.  Alpha Strike was the obvious choice, I don't think that he's quite ready for the detail and crunchiness of original BattleTech quite yet.  Alpha Strike will get more units on the table too, something that he was keen on.  It was nice to have an opportunity to use some units that I haven't ever had the chance to use since I bought them!  Only the Commandoes, Javelin and Stinger have taken part in games before, probably more than 25 years since they were last in action!

 

Seiduts, Coreward part of Draconis Combine/Lyran Commonwealth border region

12th September 3039: 

++Begin transmission++

++FAO: Commanding Officer, Tiger Squad++

++Recon has identified a Lyran communications centre on Seiduts.  Destroy the generator building and the main transmission tower.  Enemy forces identified in the area include light tanks and missile carriers.  Enemy 'Mech reinforcement may join the battle, so destroy the targets and escape with best speed.++

 A couple of reinforced lances from Tiger Squad mercenary company have been tasked with disrupting communications for the Lyran Commonwealth.  A unit of the 8th Arcturan Guards is patrolling the area and will arrive as reinforcements for the Lyran Commonwealth side on turn 3.  The mercenaries under contract to the Draconis Combine must destroy the generator building and communications tower.  Tiger Squad are equipped with mainly lighter weight recon units, suited for hit-and-run raids.  The defenders are 5 Scorpion light tanks, 2 Striker light missile tanks, 3 APCs, plus a couple of LRM carriers for fire support.

Tiger Squad mercenary forces.

 

Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces defenders.

  The generator (radar station standing in for this) is located in a patch of woodland about halfway down the board.

Generator building.

The communications relay is close to the Lyran edge of the board.

Communications tower.

Tiger squad deploy in 2 groups, the command unit with slower 'Mechs like a Catapult and Panther, Javelin and Valkyrie, plus a Jenner and Locust which will range ahead to hunt out the enemy.

Tiger Squad command lance

The Recon Lance with 2 Commandos, a Stinger and a Wasp, will move down the centre of the battlefield.

Tiger Squad recon lance.

A sturdy Lyran Fire Lance will be reinforcing the defences from the start of turn 3.

8th Arcturan Guards reinforcements.

A couple of 3D printed Striker missile tank proxies move out from the communications centre.

Striker missile tank proxies.

5 Scorpion light tanks move down one flank.

Scorpion light tanks.

The Jenner rushes in and opens fire on a couple of APCs.

Jenner attacking APCs.

With the Locust leading the charge, a small unit of Tiger Squad close in on the generator building, delivering several hits.  The building will take 10 damage before being destroyed.

Mercenaries close in a pincer movement on the APCs, destroying both, one after the Jenner has given it a good kick.  The Jenner and one Commando have taken light damage.

The 2 Strikers move into range and pummel the Jenner into wreckage.  In the woods, the generator takes more damage.

The Scorpions also open fire, but their shooting is ineffective, bar a single hit on a Commando.

The Valkyrie circles behind the Strikers while the Catapult confronts them.  In the woods, the Locust and Javelin continue to bombard the generator.

The Recon Lance move away from the burning APCs towards the Scorpions.

The LRM carriers commence long-range bombardment of the Valkyrie, but inflict only light damage.

The Valkyrie's shots destroy one of the Strikers, while in the woods a large explosion signals the demise of the generator.

Scorpions and light 'Mechs exchange fire.  One of the damaged Commandoes falls, and a Scorpion is also destroyed.

The 'Mechs hold their ground as the Scorpions try to encircle them.  Autocannon, SRMs, lasers and machine guns flicker back and forth, eventually leaving a Stinger and the other Commando wrecked on the Tiger's side, while 2 more Scorpions and the other Striker are destroyed on the Lyran side.

With the other Tiger 'Mechs closing in, the remaining 2 Scorpions and a lone heavy APC will soon be destroyed... but has their delaying action worked?

The Lyran reinforcement lance has arrived at the communications centre, ready to defend it.  The LRM carriers are trading long-range fire with the Catapult and have inflicted heavy damage to its armour, having already badly mauled the Valkyrie.

At this point, it was lunch time, so we had to pack up quickly and lay the table.  He enjoyed the game, so we'll definitely be playing again.

So, what is the butcher's bill?  Tiger Squad have lost 5 scout 'Mechs, half their force, with the Valkyrie and Catapult almost out of armour.

Tiger Squad casualties.

The Lyrans have lost 7 vehicles, with one of the 2 surviving Scorpions devoid of any armour.

LCAF casualties.

I edited a lot of the 'Mech cards to use the original 3025 Technical Readout images, because I'm using the original metal BattleMechs from the 1980s.  It's really easy to do in the online unit creator, all you do is just edit the existing card and insert a link to the image file.  In this case they're all easily found on the Sarna.net, where each 'Mech or Vehicle includes images from all the different Tech Readouts.  I also edited some of the cards to match the vehicles in my possession, all of which were 3D printed.  These were a bit more awkward because there weren't URLs to locate the images.  I had to save the record cards as PNGs, then open them in Paint and paste the correct image in, but it didn't take very long.

Alternate heavy APC.

Old school LRM carrier.

Striker proxy.

Full Spectrum Dominance APC.

 

 

3D printed APC

 Number 1 son's starship crew need transport.  Because Coldwater is a fairly inhospitable world, they need something chunky and tough, so I printed one of Smight's 6mm APCs at 285%.  It looks like it can travel over Coldwater's rough surface, be big enough to travel in relative comfort, plus handle storms.

Considering this is supposed to be printed at 6mm scale rather than 15mm, the detail is excellent.  The only problem was that it was a real fiddle removing the supports from around the wheels, but a scalpel, a pair of thin tweezers and some small pliers eventually got most of it out.  The chunky details suit FDM printing.

The base colour is Humbrol 24 matt blue, as per Number 2 son's request.  I added a few drops of 1980's Citadel Colour enchanted blue (light blue) to the Humbrol to lighten it for drybrushing the highlights, then thinned some black paint 50/50 with matt varnish and some water to outline the panels, hatches etc.

Wheels were painted Humbrol 29 dark earth, then drybrushed with Humbrol 33 matt black to leave the recesses dusty.  Lights were painted in with silver.

 Decals were added (from 1:144 Apache gunship, Airfix CVR(T) Scorpion, WWII German panzer numbers), then burnt umber and burnt sienna rust patches sponged on, followed by some silver sponge chipping. Finally, a Humbrol 29 dark earth drybrush up the sides and rear of the vehicle finished it off.

Now that the crew have their transport, they're safe to drive off to battle 2 of their adventures.