There has been unusual activity in the past few days, and a wehrmacht patrol was wiped out in a vicious ambush. The partisan base has been identified, and the hauptmann has gathered a patrol to eliminate this threat once and for all!
Back in the 1980s when I was a big fan of D&D, I read an article in TSR's magazine, The Dragon, entitled Sturmgeschutz and Sorcery, or How Effective is a Panzerfaust against a Troll, Heinz? Naturally, I've been wanting to play a similar game for decades. Well, as a fan of Dan Mersey's Lion Rampant series, I of course picked a copy of Xenos Rampant when it was released. The XR toolbox is really well suited to mixing genres, so I decided that the time had finally come for my own version of S&S!
I chose to make my own scenario rather than copy the one from the original article. I used my 1940 Germans (so no Sturmgeschutz or Panzerfaust) and a collection of old Ral Partha orcs and giants, Wargames Atlantic giant spiders and Saruman from GW's Lord of the Rings SBG.
I took the game to the Trumpeters' August meeting at Bonsor. Craig was interested in the game, so I assigned him the Sorcerer's forces. Tony S also joined the fantasy forces. Kevin took the Germans, but he was only told that his mission was to hunt down some partisans. He took the twist with good humour!
Here is the basic setup. Germans arrive in vehicles on the road, and were informed that the partisans were using the ruined castle as a base. The "partisans" were allowed hidden deployment, with the orcs and spiders in the woods and swamp, the giants in the further woods (on the hill) and the sorcerer in the castle.
The German column arrives. I goofed - the Germans were supposed to have an armoured car, but I accidentally left it at home!
German infantry 'debusses'.
Orc archers and giant spiders emerge from the forest, and swarm the German machine gun team!
Craig managed to roll a Yahtzee - all ones!
After crunching the MG, the spiders chased after the Opel Blitz (after a dicey exchange, the truck escapes).
Orc infantry learn the hard way that swords and spears are not enough to take on an armoured vehicle!
Germans learn to use their firepower to clear away the orcs and spiders.
But also enjoyed the visceral experience of crushing the bugs with the halftrack!
Meanwhile the balance of the Germans made an end run around the swamp. They chased off the remaining orcs, but have yet to face the giants (in the background).
The sorcerer finally makes an appearance!
Another Yahtzee!
The giants are subject to 'wild charge'. This causes them to charge the nearest target, in this case the unoccupied staff car. With their strength, the giants made short work of the vehicles.
Having destroyed the staff car, the giants move on to the Opel Blitz!
On the other side of the table, the orc archers realised that they were better off charging into combat, rather than engaging in an unequal firefight. This was the end of that German squad.
Meanwhile, the German Hauptman decided to do a very cinematic one-man charge through the castle to find and defeat the sorcerer!
However, the sorcerer fled the hauptman, and left him to be crushed by the giants.
EDIT: I had a request to share the lists used. Here they are!
Xenos Rampant – German Army List 24 points
Commander – Light Infantry, medic
Points 2
Attack 6+ Attack Value 6
Move Free (5+) Defence Value 5+
Shoot 6+ Shoot Value 6 / 18”
Courage 4+ Maximum Movement 8”
Armour 2 Strength Points 5
Special:
Medic – can restore one strength point to a unit within 6” on a roll of 4+ (or 5+ after medic is below half
strength)
STAFF CAR (for Commander) - Soft-skin vehicle
Points 2
Attack 6+ Attack Value 6
Move Free (6+) Defence Value 6
Shoot 7+ Shoot Value 6 / 6”
Courage 4+ Maximum Movement 12”
Armour 3 Strength Points 5
Special:
Vehicle – subject to all Vehicle rules
Transport (5)
ARMOURED CAR Sd Kfz 221
Points 3
Attack 6+ Attack Value 6
Move Free (6+) Defence Value 5+
Shoot 6+ Shoot Value 4+ / 18”
Courage 3+ Maximum Movement 12”
Armour 5 Strength Points 5
Special:
Light Armoured Vehicle – subject to all Vehicle rules
All Terrain – does not halve movement in difficult terrain
High-powered blades – count target’s armour as one point lower when Attacking or Defending
Light Infantry Squad 1
Points 3
Attack 6+ Attack Value 5+
Move Free (5+) Defence Value 4+
Shoot 6+ Shoot Value 5+ / 18”
Courage 4+ Maximum Movement 8”
Armour 2 Strength Points 10
Special:
Increased Squad Size (10)
Firefight – may attempt Firefight reaction against first enemy unit to fire on it each turn
Go to Ground – may Go To Ground as a Move action instead of moving
Half-track Sd Kfz 251 for first squad
Points 5
Attack 6+ Attack Value 6
Move Free (6+) Defence Value 6
Shoot 6+ Shoot Value 5+ / 12”
Courage 4+ Maximum Movement 10”
Armour 5 Strength Points 5
Special:
Vehicle – subject to all Vehicle rules
All Terrain – does not halve movement in difficult terrain
High-powered blades – count target’s armour as one point lower when Attacking or Defending
Transport (10) – can carry an infantry unit of up to 10 strength points
Light Infantry Squad 2
Points 3
Attack 6+ Attack Value 5+
Move Free (5+) Defence Value 4+
Shoot 6+ Shoot Value 5+ / 18”
Courage 4+ Maximum Movement 8”
Armour 2 Strength Points 10
Special:
Increased Squad Size (10)
Firefight – may attempt Firefight reaction against first enemy unit to fire on it each turn
Go to Ground – may Go To Ground as a Move action instead of moving
Opel Blitz for second squad
Points 2
Attack 6+ Attack Value 6
Move Free (6+) Defence Value 6
Shoot 6+ Shoot Value 6 / 6”
Courage 4+ Maximum Movement 10”
Armour 3 Strength Points 5
Special:
Vehicle – subject to all Vehicle rules
Transport (10) – can carry an infantry unit of up to 10 strength points
Tripod Mounted MMG Support Infantry
Points 5
Attack - Attack Value -
Move 6+ Defence Value 5+
Shoot (Free) 7+ Shoot Value 4+ / 24”
Courage 4+ Maximum Movement 6”
Armour 2 Strength Points 5
Special:
Firefight – may attempt Firefight reaction against first enemy unit to fire on it each turn
Spotters – if a unit of Support Infantry targets an enemy that is within 12” of a friendly unit that has not been activated this turn, that unit may forgo its action this turn to act as spotters. Spotters improve the Support Infantry’s Shoot Value to 3+ for this action only. Support Infantry must be able to draw line of sight to the enemy as normal.
Never Attacks.
Xenos Rampant – Sorcerer’s Army List 24 points
Sorcerer (Commander/Beta Class Psychic)
Points 5
Attack 6+ Attack Value 6
Move 5+ Defence Value 5+
Shoot Free (6+) Shoot Value 6 / 18”
Courage 4+ Maximum Movement 6”
Armour 3 Strength Points 5
Special:
SMU
Firefight – may attempt Firefight reaction against first enemy unit to fire on it each turn
Go to Ground – may Go To Ground as a Move action instead of moving
Beta Class Psychic
Psychic Powers Table
Name Difficulty Target Duration Effect
Visions of Enemy Unit within 18” Until Unit Suppresses target unit.
Terror 7+ that is not suppressed rallies May not be used on a
suppressed unit
Tranportation 7+ Self or any unit within 18” Instantaneous Roll two dice, the
target unit is moved up
to that many inches in
the direction chosen by
the manifesting unit’s
player
Paralysis (create 7+ Enemy unit within 18” Instantaneous Movement or combat
counts as rough terrain
– only effects target
unit muddy ground)
Orcs (Primitive Infantry) 1
Points 2
Attack 5+ Attack Value 4+
Move Free (6+) Defence Value 5+
Shoot - Shoot Value -
Courage 4+ Maximum Movement 8”
Armour 1 (2) Strength Points 10
Special:
Go to Ground – may Go To Ground as a Move action instead of moving
Open Order – does not halve movement in difficult terrain
Armoured – counts as Armour 2 in attack/defence, but armour 1 against shooting.
Increased Squad Size (10)
Savages – subject to Wild Charge special rule
Orcs (Primitive Infantry) 2
Points 2
Attack 5+ Attack Value 4+
Move Free (6+) Defence Value 5+
Shoot - Shoot Value -
Courage 4+ Maximum Movement 8”
Armour 1 (2) Strength Points 10
Special:
Go to Ground – may Go To Ground as a Move action instead of moving
Open Order – does not halve movement in difficult terrain
Armoured – counts as Armour 2 in attack/defence, but armour 1 against shooting.
Increased Squad Size (10)
Savages – subject to Wild Charge special rule
Orc Bows (Primitive Infantry)
Points 4
Attack 5+ Attack Value 3+
Move Free (6+) Defence Value 5+
Shoot 6+ Shoot Value 6 / 12”
Courage 4+ Maximum Movement 8”
Armour 1 Strength Points 10
Special:
Go to Ground – may Go To Ground as a Move action instead of moving
Open Order – does not halve movement in difficult terrain
Armoured – counts as Armour 2 in attack/defence, but armour 1 against shooting.
Increased size (10)
Bows – target unit’s armour value is increased by 1
Giants (greater xenomorph)
Points 6
Attack 5+ Attack Value 3+
Move Free (6+) Defence Value 6
Shoot - Shoot Value -
Courage 3+ Maximum Movement 10”
Armour 4 Strength Points 5
Special:
Open Order – does not halve movement in difficult terrain
Ranger – uses normal Attack/Defence profile in rough terrain
Wild Charge – subject to Wild Charge special rule
Fearsome – Courage tests caused by the Giants suffer an additional -1 to the total
High-powered blades – count target’s armour as one point lower when Attacking or Defending
Giant Spiders (lesser xenomorph)
Points 6
Attack 5+ Attack Value 3+
Move Free (6+) Defence Value 5+
Shoot 6+ Shoot Value 5+ / 12”
Courage 4+ Maximum Movement 12”
Armour 3 Strength Points 10
Special:
Open Order – does not halve movement in difficult terrain
Ranger – uses normal Attack/Defence profile in rough terrain
Swarm – 10 strength points
Stun weapons (webs) – hits from shooting do not cause strength point loss, but have double impact for
courage tests
Speaking for the poor Germans -- now, if I actually had a sturmgeschutz, things might have turned out differently! ;-)
ReplyDeleteOr maybe even that armoured car that you were supposed to have :)
DeleteGreat report Will, kind of harkens back to those Victoria Steampunk Games with the Napoelonic Elves & Dwarves we played in.
ReplyDeleteThe game was great fun, will probably need to have a rematch sometime!
DeleteI shared command of the partisans / orcs / fairy-tale creatures. We mixed things up early just for fun, and the spiders definitely proved to be fun.
ReplyDeleteThe traffic around this table was pretty impressive, with several people inquiring whether this was an S&S game. I think Will has found a great vibe. Plenty of potential for more games like this.
Hey, Craig, thanks to your suggestion I re-watched 'Top Secret' and have some ideas brewing already.
DeleteI'm still trying to dig up an old copy of "The Keep".
ReplyDeleteMovie or book? Book available from VPL. Not sure where to find the movie (legally...)
DeleteGreat battle report! I have been toying around with this great old idea as well. I hope more battles are in the offing!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Northtroll! I'm not sure when my next game will be. This one was most likely a one-off, though :(
Delete