Jhokalups – Field Operation Action Report – 13

2019-01-27 Jhokalups

Jhokalups – Field Operation Action Report – 13
“Boarding Shotguns are the Best Choice For Overwatch Models”
Bakunin vs Caledonian Highlander Army
300 / ITS X – Frontline

This week I had a rematch against SprocketGX in preparation for our Fearsome February Event. We quickly set up a table and got started a bit earlier this week. Unhappy with the list performance last week I decided to roll back to my comfort zone with a Riot Grrl Core

Wip Roll

Bakunin – 1
Caledonian Highlander Army – 10
Decision: CHA
Deployment: Bakunin
Initiative: CHA
1st Turn: CHA
1st Deploy: CHA

Caledonian Highlander Army List:

Caledonian Highlander Army

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GROUP 1

WALLACE Lieutenant Combi Rifle + Light Flamethrower, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, EXP CCW. (0 | 35)

HIGHLANDER Chain Rifle, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, AP CCW. (0 | 6)

McMURROUGH 2 Chain Rifles, Grenades, Smoke Grenades / Templar CCW (AP + DA). (0 | 31)

CATERAN T2 Sniper Rifle / Pistol, AP CCW. (1 | 24)

SCOT (2nd Battalion) CH: Camouflage Missile Launcher / Assault Pistol, Knife. (1.5 | 31)

SCOT (2nd Battalion) CH: Camouflage Molotok / Pistol, Knife. (1.5 | 30)

S.A.S. Chain Rifle, Light Shotgun / Pistol, AP CCW, Knife. (0 | 21)

GROUP 2

VOLUNTEER Chain Rifle, Light Shotgun / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 6)

VOLUNTEER Light Shotgun, Light Grenade Launcher / Pistol, Knife. (0.5 | 10)

VOLUNTEER Paramedic (Medikit) Rifle / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 10)

HIGHLANDER GREY AP HMG, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, CCW. (1.5 | 34)

VOLUNTEER (CH: Limited Camouflage, Inferior Infiltration) Rifle, D-Charges / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 11)

6 SWC | 299 Points

Open in Infinity Army

Bakunin List:

Riot Punch!

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GROUP 1

REVEREND CUSTODIER Hacker (Hacking Device Plus) Combi Rifle + Pitcher / Pistol, Knife. (0.5 | 34)

REVEREND HEALER Boarding Shotgun, Nanopulser / Pistol, EXP CCW. (0 | 32)

RIOT GRRL Spitfire / Pistol, Knife. (2 | 34)

RIOT GRRL Missile Launcher / Pistol, Knife. (2 | 33)

RIOT GRRL Boarding Shotgun, Stun Grenades + TinBot B (Deflector L2) / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 30)

RIOT GRRL Combi Rifle, Blitzen, Stun Grenades / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 29)

MODERATOR Lieutenant Combi Rifle / Pistol, Electric Pulse. (0 | 9)

MODERATOR Combi Rifle / Pistol, Electric Pulse. (0 | 9)

MORLOCK Chain Rifle, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, DA CCW. (0 | 6)

GROUP 2

ZERO Hacker (Killer Hacking Device) Combi Rifle, Antipersonnel Mines / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 21)

ZERO (Minelayer) Combi Rifle, Antipersonnel Mines / Pistol, Knife. (0.5 | 19)

MORLOCK Chain Rifle, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, DA CCW. (0 | 6)

MODERATOR Combi Rifle / Pistol, Electric Pulse. (0 | 9)

5 SWC | 300 Points

Open in Infinity Army

For my deployment I made two really dumb decisions that affected how the game turned out. There was a large catwalk that ran diagonally across the table. I had one of my Moderators, my Custodier, and a Riot Grrl with a boarding shotgun all staring down this long corridor, knowing full well about the AP HMG Grey on the other end. I could have put the moderator into Total cover elsewhere on the table. I also could have had a Combi Rifle, or even better the Missile Launcher Grrl in that overwatch position and been in a more commanding position. Lessons learned, onto deployment!

Deployment:

Sprocket hid his lieutenant on the right side on top of a building and prone. His highlanders were spread out across the mid field, intermixed with some Camo Markers. The link Team was set up at one end of the catwalk. One Volunteer succeeded at the infiltration roll, another did not.

I set my Riot Grrl link up across the catwalk from Sprocket’s volunteer link. My reverend mini-haris was on the catwalk watching two approaches. I had my Morlocks on either side. With my zeros covering my right side. Originally I had my moderators on top of three buildings. Then I remembered the Xenotech requirements and moved one to the ground to be the Xenotech minder. I should have then moved my most exposed Moderator to the total cover spot. I set up my more disposable Grrls up top and upfront. Looking back on it. If I had switched the Riot Grrl with the Tin Bot with any of the other Grrls, that would have been a better choice. The Spitfire and Missile Launcher would have also been much rougher in ARO than a boarding shotgun that could only dodge. WIth that done we started the game.

Top of 1: CHA

The first order of business for Sprocket was to have the Gallwegian Highlanders run up to provide smoke cover. Several of them got to provide smoke without issue. One did go down to dogged in the in an exchange with a Riot Grrl. There was a smoke cloud thrown to the top of a building to cover a climbing plus camo marker. A couple orders advanced the Xenotech bonded to a rogue volunteer and placed the multi-scanner. Then the AP HMG Grey started advancing down the board and taking shots at my Riot Grrl Tin Bot, Custodier, and Moderator. The Moderator went down, the Custodier went down, but the Grrl survived that onslaught. Next a Scot with a Missile launcher tried to take down the exposed Grrl, she lived through all those shots as well. (Fortunately for me the Scot was shooting in AP mode.) Eventually between a revealed Cataran Sniper and more shots the TinBot Grrl went down. McMurrough came down my right side to play. My minelayer Zero successfully got a wound on McMurrough, who survived a mine and several more shots and eventually taking down the minelayer. With that done Sprocket passed turn.

Bottom of 1: Bakunin

Four models down isn’t so bad. I have a good plan to be able to bring back the Custodier and the TinBot Grrl. I have my right Morlock advance and get in smoke fight with McMurrough, everyone won that fight. The Morlock on my left started advancing to create a smoke wall around the Grrls and block out a safe area for the healer to come around and do some healing. Before making the wall too large I want to achieve a classified, so I have my Riot Grrl make a discover shoot, putting two into the Camo Marker and 2 into the T2 sniper. I take out the volunteer, but the Grrl goes down. The Morlock starts throwing more smoke and gets into base contact with the unconscious Volunteer. Attempting “In Extremis Recovery” while walking by. I fail the WIP roll and decide that I can deal with it later. On the fourth smoke cloud my luck runs out and the Morlock goes down to T2 without managing to screen the Healer. While attempting a Missile Launcher fight with the Grey to bring the big guns to bear, my Missile launcher goes unconscious. I attempt to use my last Combi Grrl to take out the Cateran, but she goes down as well. With just a few orders left I know I need to get my Xenotech out of my deployment zone. Two orders later and I have a multiscanner deployed. I also attempted to take down the Missile Scot with my Morlock, who dies for his troubles, while the Scot continues to live. With that wonderful disaster of a turn done, I pass it back to sprocket.

Top of 2: CHA

Looking at the mission Sprocket decides the best thing to have happen is to send McMurrough on a murder spree. While acting in smoke and tanking shots like a boss, McMurrough takes out my last Zero and the Moderator guarding my Xenotech. A Highlander attempts to take out my Healer, but she knocks him out with her Boarding shotgun. Successfully dodging a shot from the Cateran I have her dodge into total cover. After just walking his Xenotech up and the link team, the turn is passed back to me.

Bottom of 2: Bakunin

I am currently in Retreat. With one chance to salvage the game. I crawl my Reverend Healer over and retreat my Riot Grrl. That done I pass turn.

Top of 3: CHA

Sprocket basically haves this game in the bag. He almost just passes turn, but then remembers to play to scenario. Walking another model into my zone. And passing turn.

Bottom of 3: Bakunin

One Order left, one remote chance, If my healer can take out the little volunteer and live, I can dominate my close zone. It doesn’t work and the game is over.

Final Score: 10 – 1 CHA Total Victory

Lessons Learned:

Think about deployment better! In attempting to protect the more valuable Grrls I wound up squandering my range band advantages and losing a link when I could have forced Sprocket into a difficult position.
I had no reason to put the Moderator where I did. She could have been prone on a roof without access. And then that order would have been available.
Knowing our area, I need to have a plan for Ariadna. The Custodier Haris, which can be fairly monstrous into most other factions, is fairly use impaired into Ariadna and especially CHA. Talking it over with the guys. I have a Fearsome February style list that would be much stronger into what I played against in this game.
ODD is a nice tool, but I cannot rely on it to protect my Reverends. I need to work on getting them deployed in better areas that allow them to access the areas I need while protecting them from my opponent. They have been too exposed in the last three games. I think forward deployment from ITS X is a trap a lot of the times for the Reverends.