Hitorios' Revenge: Part 1 EotBS vs FSA Battle Report

Hey Folks,

Here is the follow up to Rear-Admiral Hitorio Hanso's punitive expedition to teach that pig Sheridan a lesson...This was our first game using the revised rules from Blog Updates and overall they work really well. The new critical hit table, updated MAR's and unit tweaks really make a difference.

Kiagun Shosho Hitorio Hanso stood in the atypical Japanese Naval Officers pose, rigid,  one hand behind the small of his back while his sword hand gripped the hilt of his Katana.  The knuckles of his sword had went white when the wireless operations officer informed him that recon planes of the Ho-o Air Armada had sighted the enemy.

DFA-170's alpha-strike the FAS Battleship

The IJNS Masaka was steaming in line abreast with the crusiers of Ryu Squadron in close support.  The IJAF heavy bombers and scout gyros were further out to starboard.  It appeared that the FSA fleet was concentrated opposite the IJNS Naval group and Hitorio sent an order for the IJAF forces to move towards what looked to be two Battleships and engage.
 The DFA-170 Bombers in close formation sighted the first Independence class Battleship and let loose their massed rocketry...scoring a palpable hit! Hitorio smiled coldly as fires broke out across its decks. 


Suddenly lookouts called out that giant flying Iron Men were approaching...these must be the "John Henry" robots he had heard about.  All forces were directed to engage and they were eventually bought down in a storm of cannon and rockets.

Thunder from Heaven: EotBS Air Support

Hey Folks,


Hope you all had a good Christmas!


Here is my work over the last few days.


I have always though that the Tiny Tokens cast on the resin bases looked pants, so resolved to "set my flyers free".  I also made flight stands out of clear acrylic, GW flight stems and blister pack plastic.  I also converted up tiny torpedo bombers...which was a bit fiddly. 


Finally I painted up the extra DFA-170 bomber and repainted my other two at the same time to match. 


Here is also my first "in character" post...:)

A sight to warm any Naval Captains heart: Ho-O Air Armada units pass overhead 

Kaigun Shosho (Rear Admiral) Hitorio Hanso stood at the rail of the weather bridge on his flagship, the Sokotsu Class Battleship Masaka, and pondered the uncouthness of the baku gai-jin Capitan Sheridan. At the State dinner after the treaty signing in Bangkok the pig had had the gall to describe the Divine Empress Shizuna as a "pretty slip of a girl!"

How dare he talk of our Divine Empress in such a low manner!. His attempt to teach the teach the cur a lesson ended without resolution, or satisfaction.  His Honour demanded that the lesson be delivered, and with suitable emphasis so that it was well learned.  

Shinobi agents within the FSA CINCPAC headquarters had sent work that the Americans planned to contravene the terms of the treaty by deploying Saratoga Class Fleet Carrier's into the Coral Sea to reinforce Sheridan's Battle Group.  This gave him a convenient political reason to exact revenge on the pig, and in doing so restore the Honour debt to its correct balance.  If the payment was in the keels of his enemies fleet, than so much the better. 

The Masaka was only escorted by a small naval detachment consisting of the cruisers of Ryu squadron Nagara, Yura, Natori and Shatori as well as the Ichi frigate squadron Hatsuune, Enoki, Hatsuzakura and Hinoki.

Appearances can be deceptive however...the drone of rotors grows to a thunderous roar as the squadrons of the Ho-O Air Armada arrive to support his punitive expedition.  A gleam enters Hitorio's eye as he watch's the finest precision engineered fighters and bombers in the world stream past followed by the more stately DFA-170 Bombers and the Inari Scout Gyro's.  While he has always preferred the sway and swell of the sea instead of the bucking turbulence of the sky, he truly appreciated the capabilities of the Air Armada's forces. He almost felt sorry for the Americans who will be on the end of the the Air Armada's rockets.

Tonight he shall have his honour debt fulfilled. 

No ship is safe from the wrath of our Torpedo Bombers

Swarms of Blazing Sun Fighters darken the sky.

DFA-170 Bombers are the scourge of enemy shipping, able to stand off and smash them apart with massed rocketry

The FSA will not know what hit them! 

Im Not Dead!

Long Time - No Post

As the title says I am not dead, just busy busy with Real Life alas.

I have been doing a bit of gaming and painting, with a little bit of Impetus as well as a fair bit of Dystopian Wars.

Speaking of Dystopian Wars I have finished some Inari;

The Empresses Finest ready to be really brave and hover way up in the stratosphere lobbing rockets at the enemy :)

We have lots of option's in play for next years Wargaming projects...and I intend to actually FINISH some of these lol.

Cheers
Jason

Assembling the Fleet

Hey Folks,

Long time no post, for which I blame work and the release of The Eldar Scrolls: Skyrim for Xbox 360...

I am not alone in a sudden drop of productivity, but at least I have managed to assemble my Prussian Fleet which took its sweet time to turn up from Old Blighty.  This was after NZ Post left it on my front porch for a couple of days as well, in which it got soaked (thankfully my rulebook survived!) and was amazingly not stolen!

In all there unpainted and semi-painted (read: stealth) glory;

So that's Destoyers at the front, followed by Crusiers and a Dreadnought flanked by two Battleships.  Two squadrons of Frigates flank the battleships while two squadrons of Escorts are in the centre.  The supporting Luftwaffe consists of two Scout Zeppelins, two Bombers, 3 squadrons of Tiny Fliers, a Recon Tiny Flyer and the massive Sky Fortress. Bringing up the rear is a par of wading Metzgar Giant Robots

Cruisers are part painted, will take good photo's when they are finished. 

 As you can see the fleet is in good order, mainly because;

Man this thing is huge!

So Jamie has Challenged me to have a 1000pt fleet painted in a little over a week.  Easy.  But what to paint?

Cheers
Jason

We all live on the Yellow Japanese Boat Train, We all live...

Hey Folks,

As you can probably tell we have been getting in alot of Dystopian Wars games with  Pooch's KoB victorious in its last encounter against the Japanese Boat Trains and also Jamie's FSA paddle steamers giving the poor Japs a good kicking.

I feel that regardless of the shame of defeat, we have more style.  Go Yellow Fleet!

Yellow Fleet moving through a strait in the Coral Sea somewhere.  "Ichi" Frigate Squadron (Hatsuune, Enoki, Hatsuzakura and Hinoki) leads the way  followed by "Roku" Crusier Sqaudron (Nagara, Yura, Natori) and the mighty Sokotsu class Battleship Masaka.  Bring up the rear is the "Ni" Frigate Squadron (Kaede, Kaki, Kaba, Hagi) while two DFA-170 bombers of the Fleet Air Arm pass overhead.

The Masaka

The Yura

Frigates of "Ichi" Squadron

DFA-170 Bombers

The Core of the Fleet

The Natori showing the Kanji symbol for Yellow that is carried by all the vessels in the fleet.

So overall I am quite happy how they came out.  I think the masts and ensigns really help get across the fact they are ships, and not trains!.  Even if I did put most of the flags on upside down...

I have reinforcements inbound but I also picked up another starter box that gave me the BB as well as the extras to do a fourth cruiser for "Roku" Squadron, another 4 frigates to form "San" Squadron and and extra DFA-170 bomber so I can field a full squadron of those too :)

Next up, Prussians...

Cheers
Jason

First Dystopian Wars Game!

Hey Folks,

Pooch and I played our first game of Dystopian Wars and it was pretty brutal!

We each had 3 Cuisers and 6 Frigates (two squadrons of 3 each) with Pooch leading forth his Kingdom of Britannia Fleet while I fielded my partially painted Empire of the Blazing Sun train-boats that I scored in the Southern Sort Out buy/sell at Conquest.

I also managed to get the remaining three sections of the Board up to a playable standard.

We played two games, but I only got (bad flash) pics of the first one;

Japs to the left and Brits to the right...

A steamp punk Light House keeps watch

KoB Fleet deployed for battle, they may be stumpy but the look awesome and Pooch has painted them really well. 

Part painted EoBS. I'm still tinkering with a paint scheme as I can find one I really like.  Not sure about the Bands...

Fleets manoeuvre, initial salvos take a point off all my "Ichi" Squadron of frigates while I sink a KoB frigate and damage a Cruiser. 

Moving on here "San" squadron has destroyed a KoB Cruiser behind the Oil Derrick with some insane dice rolling while the KoB Frigate counter attack guts my Frigates...but then is smashed by the waiting EoBS 

Cruisers

KoB fleet mid game, its down to two Cruisers (one damaged) and a couple of frigates.  At the top of the photo "Ichi" Squadron burns.

Cruisers swing round with the top one being nailed by a "Hard Pounding" critical.  In a collision followed by boarding attempt Pooch's frigate killed off the marines from my frigate, but then I shot his marines down as well so we ended up in contact but unable to prize the other.  My Cruiser boarded to resolve the issue, but then had to All Stop so as not to ram the rocks!

And the Kob Cruisers take more of a pounding and use the Island for cover.

In the end I had sunk all of Pooch's fleet except a badly damaged Cruiser.

We played a second game which we didn't get to finish in which once again the Japanese frigates got the upper hand on their Pommy counterparts and my Cruisers had sunk a KoB Cruiser for minor damage.

What seems to be decisive is that my ships have a higher Critical Rating by one point, which means my Frigates  and Cruisers are really survivable compared to the British. I did tend to get some insane dice with the "exploding dice" mechanic (one chain of 4 "sixes" which was silly) and this lead to multiple critical hits which will kill any Cruiser. The KoB seem a bit weak in this department...so perhaps Shield Generators might be the way to go, even with the reduction in Firepower.  Air Power will add another element too...with KoB CAP Dive Bombers being particularly cool.

It is really hard to line up the fixed arcs of the EoBS ships though, so this will take some practice.

Overall its silly, fun and I get to roll lots of dice so I give DW a big thumbs up!

Cant wait for my Prussians to arrive!

Cheers
Jason

FJ's @ Conquest 2011

Hey Folks,

Just finished up today at Conquest today and things went pretty well, all my joking about "submarining" after Bob's Para's slaughtered me...but I ended up picking up;

Which was awesome.

After much "list frothing" I ran 6th Fallschirmjager from Market Garden as seen here with the addition of two of  Pooch's Jagdpanthers. I did change the list a little bit to have two 7 stand FJ platoons and a 7 stand FJ Pioneer platoon (with 2 Flamethrowers) and a full HMG platoon.  It was quite a good choice in the end.

I didn't take my camara alas, so in brief;

• 1st game was vs's Bob's British Paras in a Free Fall on the Bocage Table...went down 1-6 as I sort of faffed about and didn't plan my attack (or defence) well. Bob played a perfect game and let me hang myself out to dry.  Bob's a great man to play too :)
• 2nd game was vs Simon's British Rifles (with breaching group) in a Fighting Withdrawal...at night!  Simon hadn't played Fighting Withdrawal before and I hadn't fought at night...it was interesting and bloody.  I managed to hold out in the end with a Jagdpanther and one platoon holding out for just long enough (the full 8 turns) wining it 4-3.  Simon should have won and some unlucky unpinning rolls cost him dear. 
• 3rd game was vs Adam's Neisei in the City with Not One Step Back.  I had played plenty of cityfighting but it was Adams first fight in the bloody mess that is Urban warfare.  It takes a bit to get used to how the room/ building interaction works and how tough infantry are.  The Arty/Air got my Jagdpanthers in the end but I ground through his flank to take it 5-2.  As with the game vs Simon the HMG's did good work suppressing the enemy infantry.
• 4th game (today's first game) was vs Jeff's British Rifles (with Croc's and Wasps!) on Craig's Awesome Cassino Table in a No Retreat...and again at night!.  I managed to hold the hordes off and keep most of the flamethrowing vehicles away (no thanks to the Jagdpanthers who continued there suck form).  Jeff failed some critical unpinning checks again and I managed a 6-1 win.
• 5th and final game was vs Jim's Panzergrenadiers in Dust Up.  We both had never played this mission before and it was quite interesting.  We each set up a strong defensive fort in our quarters and once it was obvious he wouldn't come to me (which would have been suicide) I sent a platoon with Vondy off  over a river and towards his edge and my incoming reserves.  Jim had two Tiger I's (ROF3) waiting for my flanking Jagdpanthers and we traded fire with the Jagd's coming off best but losing one in the process. My flanking force got pinned down but the platoon on the trek got in and grabbed the objective after a bitter fight.  This left my initial defence force weak and Jim's flank force almost pushed through and grabbed MY objective.  In the last turn my PaK's ran away so 5-2

Estella picked up a well deserved Best Sports with Pooch and Craig 1st equal, but Craig landing 1stPlace (for like the 10th time :)) as he defeated Pooch in their game.

Thanks heaps to Stephen S for running it and Comic's Compulsion for Hosting the event. 

Cheers

Jason

Dystopian Wars Terrain

Hey Folks,

Did this awhile ago, but here is the first 2' by 2' section of my naval terrain I am making for my impending Prussian Empire fleet;

Steam Punk Oil/ Sturginum drilling platform

So, brass and bricks and wood!

Some of Poochs KoB Destroyers dropping off prisoners to the  Australian Re-education  and Scrivening Enclave (or A.R.S.E Prison Island)

Back of the A.R.S.E facility, with the General Population and Main Prison Admin building. 

Little Arse Island

Little Arse from the other side

Bottom is High Security, Middle General Population and the single building with out the walls is solitary

Board sans Poochies KoB fleet.

Back of the Island

The boards are 3mm MDF (which is a bit thin)  with the water areas covered in tin foil, sprayed a couple of shades of blue, drybrushed a lighter blue and then given a couple of layers of gloss varnish.

The islands are thick as polystyrene covered in bostik gap filler and then a mix of sand with the rocks being pumice.  Painted with test paints.

The kids helped me cover two open flat boards with foil and I have added foil to another board with islands.

I will be looking to add a landmass to one with a largish city as well.

Cheers
Jason

6th Fallschirmjager at Market Garden, Christchurch Cavaliers Total War!

Hey Folks,

Here is a the first 4 turns of the Total War game organised by Simon.  It was super awesome and the other Christchurch Bloggers have been blogging up a storm about it.

Jamies Report

Adam's Flyby

Martins Brilliant Report

Super kudos to Simon for organising it, Andy T for ironing out the game play wrinkles and Stephen S for all his awesome terrain...and I will think you will all agree it looked suitably EPIC :)

Looking from Eindhoven through Nijmegen to Arnhem at the far end. 

Nijmegen

Arnhem

6th FJ Deploy on Hells Highway...yes thats a Jagdpanther

Facing FOUR 30 Corps Companies! 

I don't know why, but the Jagdpanther seemed to put the woolies up the Allied Tank Commanders...

At the other end - British Paras advancing from Oosterbeek

Jamies Sperrverband defending the outskirts of Arnhem

2cm FlaK 38 Portees! Super Cool

Frost's boys hold the bridge

Gott in Himmel! Jabos!

30 Corps Advances...

And starts to grind through my FJ, who fall back toward the Highway in the Center

But Nowhere is Safe!...Panzerfaust Trap team takes out a Bogged Tank left all by itself...

An the Jagd is Bailed, and stays Bailed as a) I cant roll a 4+ to remount in two turns and b) I  seem to only roll ones for Armour Saves!

Panzerschreks race forward but only bail one tank...

So wisely retreat to await the onsalught

And this is how it was when I passed command to Pooch, who was commanding the Luftwaffe Company "holding" Nijmegen...apparently the poor FJ's were  wiped out to a man in subsequent turns.  

And a parting shot of the Para's slowly getting ground down in Arnhem

What I didnt take photos off was my PaK 40 Ambush that I popped on the far flank next to the 2 Priest Batteries that had just double moved...it killed a 3 Priest and drew off a Sherman Platoon and a Motor Rifle Platoon.  Likewise when I pulled out a Panzerfaust Trap team down by the Priest's later on a Motor Rifle Platoon came back to deal with him...

This diversion of forces, defensive tactics (and the Jagdpanther "psy weapon") delayed the Allied Armour and helped ensure they didn't quite get to the Bridge in time to save Frost.

End result was a Narrow Victory to the Germans...how historical!

Cheers
Jason