Across the Dead Earth campaign: final preparations

I managed to get some Across the Dead Earth in last weekend. There are no pictures as it was just a 'practice' game that Xander and I had to keep out hands in, my group still isn't painted, but it was fun, and we finalised some details for our campaign, and that's what I want to talk about.

We decided to drop the points limit down to 300pts. With no skills or advanced weapons, 400pts resulted in a slew of troops, with 13 models a side. It was still enjoyable, but I think we want to start at a lower level, so I've culled 2 copy paste characters, one of the dogs, and the little girl. They were taking up space, and not really adding to the fluff.

And the fluff is key. I've got a very strong idea of where I want to go with the story for my group, and I have background for everyone, so Xander, ever gracious, decided to play the 'bad guy.' He'll be running his own gang as well, but he'll also run some third parties, notably a cannibal gang and a group of cultists. When these gangs pop up they'll gain upgrades to a level commensurate with my group. While my storyline will take account of my various victories and defeats and the nature of my opponent I plan to focus my fluff more on my groups interactions inter game (but don't worry, there'll be plenty of batreps) as the group changes and grows.

This arrangement allows Xander to play lots of different groups and allows me to tell a narrative, something I've never really had a chance to do before.

Speaking of the inter game we've decided to modify the loot rules by taking pointers from bloodily ripping off Mordheim. The rules as written really incentive murder as the only way to get credits, and the idea that the State has an open bounty on everyone simply didn't fly with either of us. It also didn't really suit the narrative bent we were aiming for. So Wyrdstone becomes scavenged goods, heroes becomes any non-yob available for the next battle and I'm going to rewrite the unique locations list.

I'll post a file containing our modified rules when they're done.

Happy New Year everyone! Let campaign awesomeness commence.

P.S. I need ideas for a campaign name. So far I have:

A Legacy of Rust
The Inheritance

Tanksgiving 2014

Today's post is mostly going to be a photo dump. Tanksgiving was great, with our organiser, Jono, really pushing the boat out with mince pies, crackers and prizes.

The format was a series of battles focusing on Tank and Mechanised companies (it's really all there in the title) with an eye to fielding as many vehicles as possible, not that this stopped some fielding extremely infantry heavy lists.

I was running my newly formed Armoured Recce Squadron.

I heart Challenger A30's

Alex walked away with best painted for his Panzer Kampfgruppe

And the other armies were suitably impressive

...If not always for their paintjobs

Stu's Soviet horde

The other Soviet horde

The less horde-y Soviet army

My first game was against Alex's Kampfgruppe. Pleasantly (for me at least) this went the same way as our practice games, with my Challengers' semi-indirect 17pdrs raining fire down upon his units.

While miraculously escaping return fire unscathed

However, it was a close thing. The thing about fighting Alex is, as we progress, I always feel he learns from me, while I mostly bum around doing the same things. Don't fight the same opponent for too long lest you teach him your art of war and all that.

My second game against Kai was an unmitigated disaster.

Early game; note cheesy tide of cheese rolling across the board

Poor set up meant I was bunched up for his air support, and had the wrong units on the board. His Jumbos strolled nigh-invincibly towards me, with only a lucky couple of Challenger rounds really doing anything. Meanwhile, his Super Pershing lurked in the centre of the board daring anything to show itself. With its powerful gun and impenetrable armour, only a flanking manoeuvre would take it out, Something which came to late, allowing him to roll onto the objective early on, before my reserves could be brought to bear.

Much to my surprise I managed to pull off a legitimate win against Stu's massive Soviet blob.

Although again, by the skin of my teeth

The game did include one oh shit moment, when his infantry blob began its advance on my depleted armour.

Luckily my 2IC managed to flank the assault, murder the Spetsnaz protecting the objective and sit there for the win.

Even with two wins under my belt I wasn't able to secure a spot in the top three. I lost out due to the way in which we scored points in a tie breaker, one point for each destroyed platoon, losing out on the next place up by 1 point.

All in all a greatly enjoyable day.