Wednesday 14th & Thursday 15th July saw the 3rd game of Star Wars Chain of Command. Yet again no vehicles made it to the table, although the Rebels had a large static Laser Cannon.
Scenario
The Rebels have acquired the design plans for a powerful new Ion Weapon, capable of disabling the Empire’s Star Destroyers. The key components for this are rare Energy Crystals. Empire spies have reported that these crystals, contained in 4 secure crates, are currently located in a Rebel bunker on the forest moon of Endor. The report also states that the Rebels are preparing to ship the crystals to an unknown destination where the assembly of the weapon will commence. The Empire have a short time window to attack the Rebel base and destroy these crystals before the Rebel transport and its X-Wing escort arrives. As failure to achieve this could render the Empire’s fleet useless, the Emperor has commanded Darth Vader to lead the attack on the base. Failure is not an option! Darth Vader must therefore be deployed on the table at the earliest possible opportunity after the first squad is deployed. There are Rebel non-combatants working at the base, which the Rebel troopers should try and protect, if possible, to avoid “Bad things happening” should the Empire kill them. The crates are all stored (or so the Empire was informed) within a hardened bunker, requiring the Empire to breach the armoured door to gain entry. Each Stormtrooper squad is equipped with two powerful Thermal Detonators to use to destroy the crates. They are fitted with timers to allow the Stormtroopers a chance to escape their devastating effect. The Empire have a spy in the Rebel base who will provide Darth Vader with an aerial photograph of the Rebel base (after the Rebels have deployed any fixed assets) to help the Empire select their support options and plan their assault.
Phil & Dave played the mighty Empire and Mal the plucky Rebels. The game was hosted over Zoom (and reported) by Rob.
Unbeknown to the Empire’s spy, the Rebels had already started to move the crates from the bunker to the landing pad, ready for loading on to the transport. The Rebel technicians had also covered the crates with camo netting to hide them from aerial surveillance.
The spy did however report the presence of the Rebel Laser Cannon on the rocky outcrop. The Empire activated first, deploying a squad of Stormtroopers in the centre woods, and Darth Vader with another squad in the southern woods. The Stormtroopers quickly took out the Laser Cannon team, disabling it before it had chance to fire. Too late, the Rebels deployed a squad of Pathfinders with barricades next to the now defunct Laser Cannon, and another on the Landing Pad loading lift, which they immediately elevated, giving them a good vantage point of the battlefield.
At the first sound of weapon fire, the non-combatants on the base quickly ran for cover.
Luke Skywalker deployed from the Bunker with a 3rd Pathfinder squad, and took position behind barricades, whilst Han Solo joined the squad on the hill. The Empire were up against a solid line to well protected troops.
The Empire continued to deploy more troops, now trying to advance along the northern edge towards the base.
With only light cover for protection, and Darth Vader forcing them to continue to advance towards the base, they were repeatedly caught in the open. Luke used his 4 command initiatives and 12” command range to good effect, directing concentrated Rebel fire to cut them down. Whilst the Rebels, protected by hard cover, took few hits from return fire.
Even the feared Empire Death Troopers struggled to advance. A Rebel victory seemed all but certain. Then the Empire’s luck changed. Rolling four 6’s, a Random Event occurred – it started raining very heavily, reducing visibility to 18”. This was the break the Empire needed. The reduced visibility allowed them to close on the Rebels without taking heavy fire. The tide had turned. The Empire continued to advance along the north of the map, towards the landing pad, taking positions in the nearby woods. A squad of Stormtroopers made a dash for cover under the landing pad, but failed to make it, taking heavy losses from Rebel fire from above. It was now the turn of the fabled Death Troopers. But before they made their move a 2nd group of Stormtroopers, which had been advancing through the wood behind them, managed a lucky hit on Luke, wounding him and rendering him out of action for the rest of the turn, and also costing the Rebels 2 Force Morale.
At this point the Rebels ended the turn, allowing Luke to re-join the battle, but also allowing the advancing Stormtroopers to open fire at range. The Death Troopers now advanced towards the landing pad, unleashing their devastating firepower on the Rebels above them, pinning them. Taking the advantage, they sprinted towards the Landing Pad, climbed the stairs and attacked the Rebels from behind.
Surprised, pinned, and heavily outgunned, the Rebels broke and fled, leaving two of the valuable crates in the hands of the Empire.
This was the final straw for the Rebels, with their Force Morale now zero, the battle was over.
Post Game Analysis
The game became more of a war of attrition than the expected tactical attack. The Rebels effectively had a killing zone into which they could pour heavy fire from well protected positions. Without any armour to attack with, the Empire’s only choice was to throw men at the Rebels and try and overcome them by force of numbers. This was looking unlikely until a change of fate brought on heavy rain and reduced visibility, giving the Empire much needed cover to allow them to advance without further heavy losses. Although the Rebel losses were relatively low, they had a big effect on their Force Morale. Whereas the Empire’s heavy losses had surprisingly little effect on morale. This resulted in a win for the Empire without them needing to complete the difficult task of breaching the bunker or destroying the crates. The Death Troopers were the Empire’s trump card. Once at close range their firepower becomes devastating – a full squad firing with 18 FP. Being Aggressive and Elite, they are also formidable in close combat. The Rebels can closely match this with a Wookiee squad, but one was not selected for this scenario. Instead, the Rebels hoped their Laser Cannon would have given them an easy victory. But unfortunately it was left unsupported for too long, and its crew was taken out before it could be used.
With Star Wars bringing unfamiliar troop types, weapons, and Force Users to the game, and having no real historical basis, it is not easy to achieve a fully balanced scenario. But in this game, what seemed an almost certain Rebel victory quickly turned into a defeat due to an unpredictable random event. The dominance of the Empire continues to increase.
Another Star Wars game will be planned for the near future.
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