Sickles, game 11 - Just passing by

So, another game. Since we are only two persons playing the campaign we allowed us to get a bonus every 5th game to evolve our companies faster. Furthermore, we removed the need to pay to upgrade our companies to the next tier as that would only delay the progress further. So, with much needed kUC to buy tier III units we took the next step and thus gained another doctrine. I chose the 'strength in numbers' which allows me to field an additional unit one tier lower than the tier of battle. Hence, 18 composition points now becomes 20!

This time we played the scenario 'Demolish', setting the Sickles to be defending, again. We made some stupid but in hindsight 'easy-to-fix' errors while making the terrain. As the scenario is played corner to corner, the terrain we set up gave little or no cover, becoming the major factor for the outcome of the battle. So, I short game and not that fun due to the mistake with the terrain. Well well, lessons learned! Since PMC 2640 is so fast played, not much harm were done as we didn't spend hours of playing.

The Sickles fielded:
- (Field Command 4rd Grade) Lieutenant Ruchka, tier I (once again!)
- (Lhurgg Irregular Troops) Hard Hoofs, tier I
- (Lhurgg Irregular Troops) Swift Swords, tier I
- (Grenadiers team) Storozh Smiters, tier II (once again!)
- (Lhurgg Assault Infantry Team) Shiny Slicers, tier III (!!!)
- (Remote Mortar Section) Ground Gagarin, tier II
- (Rocket-Armed Team) Ataka Away, tier III
- (Light Combat Vehicle) Rasputin, tier III
- (Lhurgg Heavy Patrol Vehicle) Alnico, tier II
- (Lhurgg Heavy Patrol Vehicle) Cobolt, tier II

The Varuna Legion fielded:

- (Remote Mortar Section) Alpha, tier II (last stand, can remove all suppression points once per game)

- (Regular rifle team), tier III

- (Field Command 2nd Grade), tier III

- (LMG Section) Omega, tier II (adrenaline rush & bad reputation, may activate two times during one turn, and may not be promoted *boo hiss*)

- (Rocket Armed Team), tier III

- (Irregular Troops) 4th Colonial, tier I (shooting experts, grants a firepower bonus)

- (Rookie Rifles), tier II
- (Rookie Rifles), tier II

This is the first time had so many high tier units! I usually go with the 'quantity has its quality on its own' kind of thinking. And I also maxed out the number of vehicles (3)! They were set as my reserve due to their high movement.

Setup. Lhurggs, HQ, mortar, engineers and the tier III on the right side (robots as stand ins. I hadn't painted my lhurggs in battle armour at that time.).

The Varuna Legion en masse. There is a lot of s*!t heading my way!

Spreading out! The mortar vs. mortar game began! Who moves first, dies.

The Sickles also spread out, staying behind terrain features. The defence was set to defend deep.

View from the central ruins. A major part of the battle.

Sickles got to the ruins! Yeehaa!

Tier III unit taking up defensive positions, remaining there for the rest of the game as a last resort to protect the objective.

Just out of range and sight! Move forward, shoot, move back, regroup. That's the order if any pesky varunians should close in.

Here they come! LOLOLOLOLOLOL

HQ took point, with its high defence and morale! The Varuna train goes choo choo! Officers first mind you!

A small part of the force act as flank threat and locks down a huge portion of the map with the mortar. A stalemate occurs between the mortars while the main thrust of the legion moves forward.

The Sickles defensive positions, now with armor support!

"Kwavak zresvi vlak!" [Roughly translated to: "Eat my 20mm you social program nerds!". Yes, lhurggs have a efficient language that includes a word for 'eat my 20mm', a common phrase in the lhurgg society (mostly between chieftans).]

Rasputins main gun rolled a '9', killing two from the HQ and breaking them! Gee, some luck there! The HQ set an example, falling back! A LMG section tried to return the favour, but with little effect.

The Varuna Legion takes to the woods and sends out the flanking threat to engage. All or nothing!

"You go ahead! We got you covered... sort of..."

Charge the ruins! From all sides, go!

Chaaarge! Fix bayonettes and RPG:s!

"Yikes! Too many sickles here, and too many nines!"

A mish mash of beat up units.

"It's not worth it. Varunians, fall back!" - XO of the Varuna Legion task force

The ruins that were the main scene of battle. The Sickles had few casualties, and they lived happily ever after.

So, first off. Terrain is very important (as with many games). All the terrain features on the Varuna Legions side were aligned to give minimum cover which made the advance mostly taking place in the open. That combined with the fact the they had no vehicles, compared to three long range firing vehicles gave the varunian commander Joel a mighty good headache. I also rolled like two '9's  as my first rolls, almost destroying two units. Later, more '9's were rolled... for my part... Most of my game was just to pass with units, waiting for Joel to make his move, leaving cover. And then, retribution was harsh. Well well. I got my second level on a unit, and a win! Now it's 4 wins of 11 games. Losses in total (number of models) are almost the same now! My mortar got the "semper fidelis", which makes the units to automatically arrive as a reinforcements. It's not a great combo with the stats of the mortar unit, but hey! It's free!

By the way, Joel chose the 'rapid relocation' that allows him to swap positions on half of his units! I really like that we choose so different doctrines and units, cool cool!

Sickles, game 10 - Lost in New Teotihuacan

Long time no see, but games have been played! Me and Joel just recently ordered Marcins (Assault Publishing) new game; Shadows in the Void. We have been waiting for a long time for some pew pew in space! Hopefully it is as good as PMC 2640, but we are not that into dog fighting games... time will tell!

In other news me and Joel have made an 'expansion' which contains new units and new missions. Also, we are experimentation a space crossover with the PMC rules. Hopefully, we can have both ground and space combat within the same rules, although those battles are played parallel to each other (and we opt to make them interact (a wet dream came true)).

The game
Since it was many months ago, I don't recall all the details... the scenario was 'Hostile Takeover' making the Varuna Legion forced to advance and capture an downed shuttle containing vital supplies. Vital for the clients hiring the PMC:s at least!

The Sickles sent an expeditionary force to retain the objective, consisting of:
- Lieutenant Ruchka (Field Command 4rd grade), Tier I.
- Spitting Shpitalny (Light MG Section), Tier II
- Storozh Smiters (Grenadiers team), Tier II
- Bullet Bullies (Rookie Rifle Team), Tier II
- Honour Holders (Recruits), Tier I
- Brood Bloods (Lhurgg Irregular Troops), Tier I
- Tribal Tribute (Lhurgg Irregular Troops), Tier I
- Crepit (Lhurgg Heavy Patrol Vehicle), Tier II

The Varuna Legion assault force:
- Varuna Defenders (Rookie Rifle Team), Tier II. Determined!
- 16th Militia (Recruits), Tier I. Last Stand!
- Regular Rifle Team, Tier III
- Remote Mortar Section, Tier II
- M5 Heavy Patrol Vehicle, Tier II
- Light MG Section, Tier II

Deployment and first turns

Deployment. The Varuna Legion deployed their rookie rifles, mortar and LMG on the left flank. Forcing the Sickles to counterattack.

The (determined) Varuna Defenders moving up, covering the supporting teams until reinforcements arrive.

Reinforcements. Tier III Rifle Team, an M5 and 16th Militia.

It's cramped around the crashed shuttle.

The counterattack from Spitting Shpitalny and Crepit. Lhurgg and man working together! <3

(Robots are stand ins for the recruits, as those still are unpainted...). Units go 'over the top' to flank the enemies harassing the area with long range fire.

The brave lieutenant Ruchka waves the Sickles flag in the safety behind some cargo containers. Very brave indeed. Other units spread out to avoid the enemies range of 24"+, preferring the close comfort of 12".

The counter attack is so far sucessful. The mortar is pinned and the LMG is forced to move in the way to cover them. One more suppression point and the mortar would bail! The Varuna Legions returning fire is ineffective.

The encirclement continues. In the north we can see the Varuna 'crater'. The base camp.

*blowing whistle* "Go go go, over the top!".

They volunteered as tribute!

Tribal Tribute survived the incoming fire, by an miracle! Thus, not seeing that they actually we sent like lambs to the slaughter to withhold the legion while the flank attack prepared to engage. In an instance, they broke the determined Varuna Defenders, and then assaulted them causing massive damage, shock, suppression and kills! The left flank was now wide open. Tribal Tribute was out for more blood! They demanded TRIBUTE!

"Yikes! They seem dangerous!"

Sir Varuna bravely ran away, bravely ran away away! The tier I unit forced a total of six tiers of units off the table (with some help, of course). One unit also had 'Determined' which makes them really hard to break! In total, they killed 7 models, gained 6 (!) experience points and became my first unit with a level. They gained 'Brave', which suits them perfectly fine for the deeds they have done! They did a successful charge as this in game 6, so they are real heroes!

The supposed flank attack was now in place, but to late (!). They were pretty surprised that the lhurggs survived! The recruits took the "hill" to gain a +2 bonus in firepower, which was never needed. Much effort for nothing! :)

Reinforcements of doom

The Regular Rifle Team, which isn't that "regular" compared to our other units were indeed scary! First, they blew up poor Crepit! :'( War, war never changes.

Recruits in the fields! Flashing their cool hair cuts as untrained units do! Showing that they mean business!

The Sickles were hit hard by the reinforcements! They even used some bullets to 'convince' some of the troops to head back into the fight! That is what comrades do for one and another!

Fire is coming from all sides! Those pesky Varunians have mostly 18" range units, while Sickles tend to be more close and personal with their 12". So, advance!

The M5 had a 'cat and mouse' game with a unit on the far right, which it later lost. Vehicles are fast, durable but risky. A lucky shot and they are goners. Infantry tend to have an opportunity, most times, to lick their wounds (and they can gain defence benefits from terrain!).

Sickles moving up, with a burning M5 before them. 16th Militia use their 'Last Stand', making them hold out longer than ever anticipated from an tier I unit!

Engineers moving up, a lousy unit by the way (in most circumstances)! They look cool at least! Moving like a pseudo communist science fiction snake!

The flanking maneuver (second one...) is now complete!

Lieutenant Ruchka leads the way, as he got a defence of 10! Try hit me hombres with ombres!

The Varuna Legion withdrew! Now, Sickles had won 3 out of 10 games! Growing steadily more dangerous! Finally, I got a level! It only took 10 games! Many of my units now have 8 or 9 experience points, so they would level up soon! All fallen enemy models (except one and the M5) was downed by Tribal Tribute, the MVP:s of the game! Gee.

Two more unreported games to go! Yupp!