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Post by mikedski on Nov 25, 2017 13:56:12 GMT
January 1910 - western Kansas
After the failed raid on La Junta, Colorado, Martian pod leader Untaferdus retreated north into the bleak vastness of the high plains. Untaferdus was able to report to Subcommander Qetjnegartis that the damaged tripod was repaired but with a reduced heat ray capacity. Qetjnegartis ordered Untaferdus to continue the raids further east. But instead of following the human rail line and risk ambush (two tripods were lost due to their predictable movements) the method of attack was to strike in an random fashion along North - South axis against the larger human settlements along the river and transportation line. This would divert the efforts of the prey creatures away from the real damage being done just behind the prey creature army.
Garden City, Kansas on the arid, treeless plains along the Arkansas River was co-founded by C.J. "Buffalo" Jones in the late 1870's. Part idealist, part adventurer, part huckster, but all cowboy, Buffalo Jones was a former bison hunter. During the 1870's he saw first hand the decimation of the bison and began his own personal mission to save the great animal from extinction. His efforts as one of the first conservationist received international acclaim and he would later become the first game warden of Yellowstone National Park in 1902. In 1907 while lecturing in New York City, Mr. Jones met a struggling writer named Zane Grey. Mr. Grey was so taken with his time with Buffalo Jones and the American Southwest that the personal qualities of Mr. Jones appeared in many of the novels later written by Mr. Grey, most prominently in, "The Last of the Plainsmen".
At the time of the second Martian invasion, Buffalo Jones had just finished an expedition to the Artic to capture musk ox and was preparing for an African safari. When he learned of tripods raiding western Kansas he had every intention of roping and capturing a Martian machine.
Special Rules.
CJ Buffalo Jones skill with a rope was legendary. He could lasso rattlesnakes, antelope, wild cats, bison, and even grizzly bears. During his (real) 1910 African safari at the age of 62 he would lasso rhinos, giraffes, and a cheetah. The mounted horse teams (and only his teams) representing Buffalo Jones can launch tow cable attacks instead of explosives. Only a total of three attacks can be launched in the entire game. His entire unit is considered fearless.
One Martian tripod was damaged during the failed attack on La Junta, Colorado. The hull has been repaired but the heat ray is at reduced capacity. It can only fire as a light heat ray equivalent (+3/ + 2 power, Range 20/ 10)
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Post by mikedski on Nov 25, 2017 13:57:14 GMT
i.imgur.com/npR0gT2.jpgMartian Order of Battle - Three Assault Tripods, one with light heat ray capability - 575 points Human Order of Battle - Field HQ - A command team forwarded from Camp Dodge to coordinate defenses bringing a mix of support: One Horse Cavalry troop of three units - armed with explosives Regular Infantry Platoon with two infantry squads and one machine gun squad Regular motorized field gun battery. Two Kansas State National Guard Squads One Women Auxillary Sniper Program unit CJ Buffalo Jones rope unit with three teams Cowboy unit with grenades with three teams
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Post by greenbeanie on Nov 25, 2017 14:27:40 GMT
As always, I love your battle reports. I look forward to this one. What company did you use for cowboys and female snipers?
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Post by mikedski on Nov 26, 2017 0:41:20 GMT
As always, I love your battle reports. I look forward to this one. What company did you use for cowboys and female snipers? Cowboys - Blue Moon. Snipers -Just AQMF marine snipers.
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Post by mikedski on Nov 26, 2017 21:56:12 GMT
1) The Martians are not following the rail line as before. They appear to move quickly to strike towns and rail infrastructure along the Arkansas River. They then retreat back into the empty plains to prevent pursuit. The Martians will arrive randomly along one of the six red axis focused on the tallest structure for a twenty -five miles: the grain elevator. 2) The grain elevator while being an obvious magnet for the raiders also makes a handy observation tower. Though there is a light snow falling and a bit hazy visibility is 3 - 4 miles. In fact, Buffalo Jones is counting on this. His teams of cowboys are hunkered down in the grain tower waiting for word of any approaching tripods. 3) When word arrived that the Martians had crossed the Colorado-Kansas border, the Finney County Sheriff Department went to all the outlying farms and evacuated as may people as possible to the more defensible city and evacuation through the train station. The city's population is about 50% higher represented by the dice on the buildings. Homes and churches have taken in additional families. The Windsor Hotel is overbooked with displaced people and military personnel. 4) The only human force deployed at the start of turn 1 is the field HQ at the armory, Buffalo Jones lasso unit and the cowboy unit at the grain elevator. The other units arrive randomly at the following locations: 1 -4: US Cavalry units already on patrol outside the town and now converging on the approaching Martians. 5-7: Kansas National Guard (two infantry squads and sniper squad) at the armory. 8-10: Regular Army ( two infantry squads, one machine gun squad, and one field gun battery billeted at the train station/ army rail car The human player will role dice at the start of each turn to determine arrival of reinforcements. One die turn one, two dice turn 2, three dice turn 4, etc…. 5) At the start of turn 1 the Martian player will randomly determine the approach axis. This will be openly determined as the human defenders have a bit of early warning of the grain tower observation team. The humans will have automatic initiative on turn one due to the early warning.
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Post by mikedski on Nov 27, 2017 10:06:51 GMT
Turn 1: Martians are spotted due south approaching the city. Buffalo Jones and cowboys leave the grain elevator. A cavalry unit arrives in pursuit from the south. The Martians cross the river destroying rail cars, grain elevator, and building.
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Post by mikedski on Nov 27, 2017 10:08:51 GMT
Human Turn 2 - Humans win initiative. Two National Guard Infantry squads scramble from the armory. Cavalry double times to launch explosive attack. Two hits but no damage. Civilians flee the burning building. Buffalo Jones and cowboys move forward.
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Post by scottwashburn on Nov 27, 2017 16:53:26 GMT
Great looking table! I look forward to more of the report!
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Post by mikedski on Nov 27, 2017 17:18:08 GMT
Great looking table! I look forward to more of the report! Paper Terrain!!
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Post by scottwashburn on Nov 27, 2017 17:50:16 GMT
Well, some of it But it all looks great! Well done!
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Post by mikedski on Nov 27, 2017 18:05:14 GMT
Great looking table! I look forward to more of the report! Paper Terrain!!
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Post by mikedski on Nov 27, 2017 18:10:10 GMT
Well, some of it But it all looks great! Well done! I’d love it if you made paper grain elevator, wooden crib style, warehouses, and Santa Fe style station.
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Post by mikedski on Nov 28, 2017 2:52:43 GMT
Martian Turn 2 - Two Martian machines use command tokens to double time and attack the train station. The billeted troops suffer casualties. One infantry team and field gun team are destroyed and their respective units route. The third tripod heads west and sweeps the rail cars destroying one cattle car and a section of track.
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Post by easye on Nov 28, 2017 23:19:46 GMT
Lovely set-up and great scenario. The based cows could be used to "stampede" around the feet of a Tripod to disorient it or waste shots at "not humans".
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Post by David N.Tanner 07011959 on Nov 29, 2017 1:02:37 GMT
Why can't I see the pictures?
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