Date: Classified,
Location: Classified (but hot and sunny, possibly near the steppes although strangely snowy).
Forces Involved: US Squad Able and Squad Baker (both 5 man
Professional Troops armed with Assault Rifles).
Insurgents: People's Democratic Republic militia (2 groups
of 6 Conscript/Militia with Assault Rifles)
Colonel 'Kurtz' observed the small village ahead, another inconsequential group of old adobe buildings, 1960's industrial units and cheap modern temporary structures thrown together. Vague signs of movement could be discerned but it was impossible to tell from this far out exactly what was waiting for his men. His orders were far clearer though, sweep the village for rebels and clear out any he found. Squad Able was directed to enter the village from the south with Squad Baker entering from the west. Things started to go wrong from the start. Baker advanced into the village and took up positions behind a fence.
Then the first militia squad advancing from the North East corner of the village opened fire.
The rickety fence proved scant defence against AK47 rounds and 3 of Squad Baker became combat ineffective (aka out of action, aka Dead). In response Squad Able sent two men onto the roof of a nearby building where they could spot a member of the second insurgent group in the east of the village.
Several rounds later and the first insurgent lay dead. Having realised that getting hit by bullets was dangerous the rest of turn one was characterised by taking cover and going prone.
Turn 2 and the first Militia squad advanced towards the two surviving members of Squad Baker who were sensibly hiding behind a house. Sadly for them they were in sight of the two roof mounted members of Squad Able who killed two of them from long range.
Covering fire from the second insurgent squad proved ineffective and further fire from another member of Squad Baker saw a further two insurgents killed. Finally the rest of Insurgent squad 2 managed to shoot down one of the members of Baker coming out of cover to do it.
Turn 3 and the remaining two members of the first Insurgent squad advanced more cautiously towards Baker.
The second squad
advanced some of its members towards Able in an attempt to take out
another of the ground level members. Bakers two survivors re-manned
the barricades and killed two more of the second squad as they had incautiously
exposed themselves to fire from the north while advancing towards the south.
Another member was despatched by the snipers on the roof. But one more member
of Baker was killed in the crossfire.
Turn 4 and the US gained the initiative. The remaining member of baker drew a bead on the last two members of the first insurgent squad causing one to dive for cover while the other fired back ineffectively. Unfortunately the cover proved to be in line of sight of the two snipers on the roof - exit another insurgent. In the final move a member of Able shot down the last insurgent advancing towards him down the main road before moving to the other side of the building to shoot the final member of the second insurgent squad.
With only one member of the insurgency left it was decided
to call time on the game. The US were left with the village and the
victory - but with 5 casualties was the cost worth it?
****************************
The first play test of Badlands, a set of rules currently
being play tested on behalf of the author. An early version of the rules
with only Assault Rifles being available (hence the set up) and a card based
initiative and combat system. 10 Professional soldiers v 12 Militia
should have been a walk over by the US but with Rob running the US and low
cards being preferred it was court cards all the way at several points in the
game.
The game was played on a snow mat to improve the contrast
between the figures and terrain on the camera - which worked.
Chris
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