Wednesday, 25 March 2020

Starting virtually

 Since wargaming, especially Infinity, seems to be a hard drug, we had to search for an opportunity to continue gaming. So we gave Vassal a try last Monday with not so bad results. We chose Vassal over TTS since internet-connection here is not the best and there had to be enough "space" for discord to talk things through. Of course, you need to be flexible a bit, since the recent module is from 2017 and there are some bugs. The biggest problem may be the 2D set-up, but this can be solved by a good pre-game discussion.

Since it was more a try-out than a full game, we took a preset table and a straight forward mission: Annhilation.

Druze Bayram Security
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GROUP 1[​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG]6 [​IMG]1
HUNZAKUT (Forward Observer, Deployable Repeater) Rifle + Light Shotgun, Antipersonnel Mines / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 18)
BRAWLER Heavy Rocket Launcher / Assault Pistol, Knife. (1.5 | 18)
BRAWLER (Multispectral Visor L2) MULTI Sniper / Pistol, Knife. (1.5 | 28)
BRAWLER Lieutenant Rifle + Light Shotgun / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 16)
DRUZE Hacker (Killer Hacking Device) Combi Rifle + Pitcher, D-Charges / Viral Pistol, Knife. (0 | 25)
DRUZE (X Visor) Shock Marksman Rifle, Chain-colt / Viral Pistol, Knife. (0 | 27)
FUGAZI DRONBOT Flash Pulse, Sniffer / Electric Pulse. (0 | 8)

GROUP 2[​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG]7
FUGAZI DRONBOT Flash Pulse, Sniffer / Electric Pulse. (0 | 8)
PATHFINDER DRONBOT Combi Rifle, Sniffer / Electric Pulse. (0 | 16)
PATHFINDER DRONBOT Combi Rifle, Sniffer / Electric Pulse. (0 | 16)
KAMEEL Hacker (EVO Hacking Device) Electric Pulse. (0.5 | 25)
BRAWLER Hacker (Assault Hacking Device) Submachine Gun / Pistol, Knife. (0.5 | 17)
SCARFACE & CORDELIA TURNER . (1.5 | 78)
[​IMG] SCARFACE 2 Mk12, Heavy Rocket Launcher / AP CCW. (1.5 | 61)
[​IMG] SCARFACE Boarding Shotgun / Pistol, CCW. ()
[​IMG] CORDELIA TURNER Combi Rifle, Chain-colt, D-Charges / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 17)

5.5 SWC | 300 Points

Open in Infinity Army

I wanted to give Scarface an other try, since he was not that active in the last game.

Jurisdictional Command of Bakunin
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[​IMG]10
REVEREND CUSTODIER Hacker (Hacking Device Plus) Boarding Shotgun / Pistol, Knife. (0.5 | 32)
REVEREND HEALER Combi Rifle, Nanopulser / Pistol, EXP CCW. (0 | 33)
KUSANAGI Lieutenant MULTI Rifle + Light Flamethrower, E/M Grenades / Pistol, Shock CCW. (+1 | 44)
RIOT GRRL Spitfire / Pistol, Knife. (2 | 34)
RIOT GRRL Missile Launcher / Pistol, Knife. (2 | 33)
RIOT GRRL Boarding Shotgun, Stun Grenades / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 27)
RIOT GRRL Boarding Shotgun, Stun Grenades / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 27)
ZERO (Minelayer) Combi Rifle, Antipersonnel Mines / Pistol, Knife. (0.5 | 19)
ZERO Combi Rifle, Antipersonnel Mines / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 18)
BRAN DO CASTRO Boarding Shotgun / Pistol, DA CCW. (0 | 33)

5 SWC | 300 Points

Open in Infinity Army

Again, Bakunin showed up slightly modified, this time again with Brando instead of a third Zero or some other stuff.



We had no clue how to quickly build a cool table, so that was the one suggested. With all the houses, LoS were quite restricted and only two long ranges were available. But crossing the street was a deadly thing then. We defined the solid obstacles and filled packages as S2 high, while the partly filled packages were something around S1. All walls had infinite height, exept for the one building on the upper left. We concluded that Infinity is about solving difficult situation, so we accepted the layout as it was and took it as a challenge.

I lost the roll-of and got turn two. Since I imagined the blue DZ to be better to defend, I took blue.

The Reverend-link went in the left quadrant, a bit advanced, while the Riots were placed around the truck on the right, ML out to ARO. Two camo-markers infiltrated with one roll into the building on my side across the street on the left, a third camo-marker went behind that building.

Scarface and most of my REMs took the left building, with a Pathfinder on overwatch over the street. My link went into the right building to access the Riots through the buildings. Only the MSR Brawler was out on the street to avoid them ramboing over the street. A Fugazi, a Pathfinder and the AHD were also placed in that building, more in the center. I had to cover some vectors, since there would be an additional camo-marker to be deployed somewhere.

As expected, a camo-marker infiltrated right next to my MSR, but also in LoS to my Fugazi. Most nice spots for my Hunzakut were denied, so h started in the right forwarded building on my side. We forgot to nominate datatrackers.

Bakunin 1: Overclock activated. The camo-marker next to my Brawler moved a bit and moved again, after my Fugazi opted to discover and the MSR waiting. Brando got unconscious after the next order without doing anything (mistakes were made, I guess). Then the Reverends advanced, as well as a forwarded camo-marker on the left. The moving camo-marker showed to be a Zero, wrecking my Pathfinder and entering suppressive fire.

Druze 1: There was no option to get the Zero with cover for Scarface, so I wanted to advance via the right side. My MSR took a shot with stun-bullets on the ML-Riot, critically stunning it and forcing it out of LoF. I made three shots here, since we forgot about the reduced burst of stun-mode. This mistake raised my chances to succeed from 46% to 58%. By checking the odds now, the DA-mode would have beena good option, too, since I had a 35% chance of dropping the ML. I estimated it lower, so I wanted to stun her first. After the ML out of the way,my Hunzakut advanced and placed a repeater on the other side of the truck with all Riots in ZoC and retreated as far as possible. Group two had nothing to do, so the right Fugazi advanced, placed a sniffer on the left building and took better position. The Pathfinder was not able to discover things in his ZoC.

Bakunin 2: I had overseen a corridor on the center-line, which was used by Kusanagi to shoot my Hunzakut, then wrecking the repeater. Now the Riot-spitfire killed my MSR, but was not able to wreck the Fugazi, which had stunned the ML unopposed before.

Druze 2: My losses were higher than Bakunins, so I had to remove things without high risks. So the almighty Fugazi took a run into the left building, splitting burst with his FP to two Riots and stunning both (well...). Now the Custodier was in ZoC, so my KHD tried to burn it while advancing to get LoF to Kusanagi maybe. All orders of group one were burned against the breakwater-programm of the Custodier. With 35% chancce of success for both sides, that was not unexpected. Now I had to take the risk of using Scarface to kill the suppressive fire Zero and after some orders, the Zero was down, Scarface retreated in suppressive fire and had a repaired wound by Cordelia.

Bakunin 3: Kusanagi cut the edge towards my Fugazi with her Lt-order, so she fell out of the link and wrecked it. The link was reformed and advanced, without cautios. So my KHD got the Custodier in ZoC by some mm and fried his brain unopposed. The Healer revived Brando and cut Scarface into halves with her exp-CCW. Kusanagi tried to secure the street against my link insuppressive fire.

Druze 3: Normally things were done here, if the Healer and Brando were not positioned that bad: Both had a place in their back, where my AHD-Brawler could get easily. So my AHD advanced, shot Brando first, then killing the Healer. With his SMG warm and tested, he crossed the street, entering the building whichs other entrance was guarded by Kusanagi. A shot of his SMG killed her easily. I thought about ending it here, since I should have a slightly lead in points here, but I thought about good odds with my HRL against grouped Riots. This time the 10% for the Riot were the way to go (68% for my for one wound, 50% for two!!), and my HRL went down.



In the end, Bakunin had 140 points surviving, I had 144 including my baggage, which lead us to a 4-4 draw. I have to admit, that it was only luck what brought me away from a clear loss. The hit of my MSR in the beginning, Scarface killing the Zero and the killing-spree of my AHD, not talking about my glorious Fugazi...The good rolls were not well distributed this time and the randomizer did a ridicilous job here. But also my defensive play worked well and forced my opponent to waste valuable orders, which lead his units in sub-optimal places and situations most of the time.
With some more games done now, I totally love the hacking-game of Druze. The combination of Hunzakuts, a Druze KHD and the Brawler AHD, as well as Pathfinders and Fugazis available wherever you need them is gold and can force so many unexpected bad situations for each opponent. But I miss the EM-launcher here, since I can't place a thread by spotlighting enemies.

Playing with Vassal was not as bad as we expected it. The discussion of terrain before was very important, but then the module worked well (besides broken dices for 2d20 and 3d20). So we will exploit this for the moment to get some games done, until measures were lowered and it will be wise again to meet up for normal games.

Stay safe guys!

Saturday, 21 March 2020

And now with DBS

Due to the current circumstances, this could be the last report for a while, depending on how strict covid-19 measures will become. Sorry for that!

Since I love to compare the Iguana with Scarface and wanted to achieve the same outcome with him, I swapped back to Druze for the current game and build a list around Scarface, what was not that easy. I thought about taking the HMG Anaconda due to the HMG, but compared to Scarface, the HMG can't even all the drawbacks of the Anaconda. Nevertheless, the limited range of the MK12 was not feeling well.

Druze Bayram Security
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GROUP 1[​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG]6 [​IMG]1
HUNZAKUT (Forward Observer, Deployable Repeater) Rifle + Light Shotgun, Antipersonnel Mines / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 18)
BRAWLER Heavy Rocket Launcher / Assault Pistol, Knife. (1.5 | 18)
BRAWLER (Multispectral Visor L2) MULTI Sniper / Pistol, Knife. (1.5 | 28)
BRAWLER Lieutenant Rifle + Light Shotgun / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 16)
DRUZE Hacker (Killer Hacking Device) Combi Rifle + Pitcher, D-Charges / Viral Pistol, Knife. (0 | 25)
DRUZE (X Visor) Shock Marksman Rifle, Chain-colt / Viral Pistol, Knife. (0 | 27)
FUGAZI DRONBOT Flash Pulse, Sniffer / Electric Pulse. (0 | 8)

GROUP 2[​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG]7
FUGAZI DRONBOT Flash Pulse, Sniffer / Electric Pulse. (0 | 8)
PATHFINDER DRONBOT Combi Rifle, Sniffer / Electric Pulse. (0 | 16)
PATHFINDER DRONBOT Combi Rifle, Sniffer / Electric Pulse. (0 | 16)
KAMEEL Hacker (EVO Hacking Device) Electric Pulse. (0.5 | 25)
BRAWLER Hacker (Assault Hacking Device) Submachine Gun / Pistol, Knife. (0.5 | 17)
SCARFACE & CORDELIA TURNER . (1.5 | 78)
[​IMG] SCARFACE 2 Mk12, Heavy Rocket Launcher / AP CCW. (1.5 | 61)
[​IMG] SCARFACE Boarding Shotgun / Pistol, CCW. ()
[​IMG] CORDELIA TURNER Combi Rifle, Chain-colt, D-Charges / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 17)

5.5 SWC | 300 Points

Open in Infinity Army

Scarface restricted my order pool a lot and took away ressources of my core-link, so I was dedicated to a more defensive game here, where everything should evolve during turn 3. The SMR in the core-link could finish things off then, but with the Brawler Lt stuck somewhere in safety, the mobility was limited here. Most of the work needed to be done by the Hunzakut and Scarface, maybe supported by the Pathfinders.

Jurisdictional Command of Bakunin
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GROUP 1[​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG]10
REVEREND CUSTODIER Hacker (Hacking Device Plus) Boarding Shotgun / Pistol, Knife. (0.5 | 32)
REVEREND HEALER Combi Rifle, Nanopulser / Pistol, EXP CCW. (0 | 33)
KUSANAGI Lieutenant MULTI Rifle + Light Flamethrower, E/M Grenades / Pistol, Shock CCW. (+1 | 44)
RIOT GRRL Missile Launcher / Pistol, Knife. (2 | 33)
RIOT GRRL Spitfire / Pistol, Knife. (2 | 34)
RIOT GRRL Boarding Shotgun, Stun Grenades / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 27)
RIOT GRRL Boarding Shotgun, Stun Grenades / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 27)
PROWLER Spitfire, D-Charges / Pistol, CCW. (2 | 36)
MODERATOR Combi Rifle / Pistol, Electric Pulse. (0 | 9)
ZERO Combi Rifle, Antipersonnel Mines / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 18)

GROUP 2[​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG]1 [​IMG]1
MORLOCK Chain Rifle, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, DA CCW. (0 | 6)

6.5 SWC | 299 Points

Open in Infinity Army

Nothing new, but partly more optimized then in the last run. I actually don't know the thoughts behind the Custodier-link with Kusanagi, because they are overshadowed by the Riots and simply annoy a bit with their ODD-stuff and the HD+. But I am sure, Bakunin could field some better stuff for that costs. The Prowler was new this time and quite suprising - but not worse than a normal Zero, I guess.



The new papercraft-table had evolved a bit, but still was not ready. We added some scatter this time, what made it easier to play.

The mission was transmission matrix, I won the Lt-roll and went second. I got the south DZ with no good spot for a defensive link.

The opposite side saw the Riot-link on the left side, Kusanagi and her girls in the center and two camo-markers in the center of the table. The Morlock took the left flank.

My core-link scattered somewhere on the left around the building with the red box. MSR on the building, everything else scattered around. The Lt was placed on the building next to it, hopefully in 4" to the antenna. EVO and AHD-Brawler hid behind the small central building, Scarface and Cordelia in front of them. One Fugazi and one Pathfinder on each side to provide some FPs.

A camo marker appeared on the left, while I set up a camo-marker on the right side, near the center line. The opposing designated target was deployed on the left side in the center, mine was on the right flank centered. The Healer became datatracker, I nominated Cordelia for this.

Bakunin 1: I went all in and invested two CPs for overclock and to reduce the Riots by two regular orders. The Riots advanced and forced the right Fugazi into cover. This opened the path for the reserve-camo, slicing the pie from the left flank. It was the Prowler, gunning down the left Fugazi and my MSR. We discussed it a lot and were sure, the Pathfinder would crit the Prowler in the next attempt, but the greed was stronger here. Of course, the Prowler died to a crit from my Pathfinder. With the last orders the Reverends shuffled around the right antenna.

Druze 1: There was no option to access the Riots and shoot them down, so I played for the mission and cleared the center with Cordelia and my Pathfinder. It took some time, but first the mine was discovered and shot, then the Pathfinder could kill the Zero. Unfortunatly, the Riot ML had a LoF towards the center, so I could not advance on the central antenna. My Hunzakut took a walk, placed a mine next to Kusanagi, then shot the Custodier with his LSG. I misjudged the distance here, but got lucky and shot down the Custodier, while Kusanagi dodged the mine. My critical Pathfinder also killed the Morlock.
Kusanagi got the right antenna, the Riots the left, while I secured my antennas: 1 - 1

Bakunin 2: The Riots advanced with the ML getting stunned and the spitfire then wrecking the left Pathfinder. Some stun-grenades bounced off Scarface after the link reached the center in front of my DZ. The spitfire got greedy and was hacked after failing to wreck my Kameel. Quite stuck, the Riots shuffled around in the central corridor.

Druze 2: Now in close quarters, I tried to shoot things with Scarface, but was not successfull, since there were always some stun-grenades with good odds. After Scarface was stunned, I changed to my AHD-Brawler, gunning down the Riot spitfire. My HRL then shot down the Riot on the central antenna. To secure my actually free left antenna, the SMR crossed the corridor, splitted burst and died on his way. I reformed the link and let the Lt crawl a bit into the 4" of the left antenna.
With the far left antenna now uncontested and the central one cleared, I scored 3-1.

Bakunin 3: The Reverend Healer advanced towards the right side, killing my designated target, then Cordelia and my AHD-Brawler, but was shot down by Cordelias chain-colt. The Riots shuffled around the central antenna.

Druze 3: I had to re-secure my right antenna and got one more to win. With no good options to clear the central one, my HRL was the only one fast enough to reach the far left antenna. He survived the AROs from one Riot on his way, could kill the designated target and reached the antenna just in time, while the left over Fugazi secured my right antenna.

This brought me to a 6-4 win. This one was very lucky, since I critted on important points, while my opponent was not successfull at some points. My REMs tanked so many shots and rescued my order pool. With some more commitment on the Riots and less badluck on the dice, the Riots could have cleared me completly, without any chance to get rid of them. Scarface depends a lot on the terrain, if there is no smoke available. Otherwise he is pinned down by a ML or a MSR too easy. For what I had to leave at home to get him, he adds not enough in return, I guess. A second Hunzakut can do more. After all, this game felt more difficult due to missing easy options to create favourable FtF-rolls.

Joining the wrong neighborhood [DBS vs. CA]

Even if it went very quite here, I have not quit playing Infinity. Nevertheless, we joined some other systems (Dystopian Wars, Dropfleet Com...