Jhokalups – Field Operation Action Report – 31

Jhokalups – Field Operation Action Report – 31

Raucous August

300/ITS X

Recently we had our monthly ITS event, Raucous August. The attendance was a little lower for this event, but we still got all three rounds. On the docket was Tic Tac Toe, Rescue, and Safe area. An interesting set of missions that didn’t have the strongest of killing elements.

I have been thinking over my style for tournament reports. I have found that having more than one game in these blogs makes writing them a challenge. I am not able to complete them in a timely manner, which diminishes the effectiveness of what I am trying to do. So I will be trying out a different and more abbreviated style for these reports.

Game 1 – Xammy
Tunguska vs Neoterra Capital Army
Tic Tac Toe

Wip Roll
Tunguska – 7
Neoterra Capital Army – 5

Decision: Jhokalups
Deployment: Jhokalups
Initiative: Xammy
1st Turn: Xammy
1st Deploy: Xammy

Neoterra Capital Army List:

Open in Infinity Army

Tunguska List:

 RA T3 and SA

Open in Infinity Army

My first game of the day was against Xammy. Xammy plans on switching over to O-12 soon, but for this event, he went back to his NCA roots. Our table was an interesting set of terrain, we had 3 levels of terrain, but realistically only the bottom one got used.

Deployment:

Xammy had a fusilier link full of hackers clustered around a central building. The attack remotes, two Bulleteers and a Peacemaker were set up on the middle third lines. Flash pulse bots the back line and the EVO was placed furthest back. There was a Machinist off on the right, and a TO Hexa Killer Hacker near the central back antenna.

I set up with my Warcor and Perseus on my left in total cover with a Trasductor on the building above them. One of my hecklers was deployed up high with easy access to an antenna. Centrally on the ground I had my Kriza lieutenant and my EVO Salyut Zond. My Tsyklon Sputnik was on top of a building in my deployment zone. I had my Zondnautica and Zondmate deployed seperate as G:Sync on my right side with my last Transductor guarding the right.

Top of 1: Xammy NCA

Before Xammy starts, I spend two of my command tokens to put up overclock and deny 2 orders to order pool 1. Then to start things off for Xammy, a fusilier hacker puts Marksmanship 2 onto the Bulleteer on my right. That Bulleteer then came up and took out my Tsyklone. The Bulleteer on the other side then advanced up to take out my Kriza. When it walked in range it walked into the repeater on a Transductor Zond, and I attempted to carbonite it, but failed. When it fired on my Kriza I manage to immobilize it but lost my LT. The Evo hacker activated to retreat to safety and my left Killer Hacker Heckler took it out with a Red Rum. Finally a Hexa killer hacker revealed and tried to paste my heckler, but my Hecklers took out the Hexa instead.

Bottom of 1: Jhokalups Tunguska

I am in loss of LT this turn, but not without options. I have my Zondnautica mount up with the Impetuous order, and attempted to hack the Bulleteer on my left, putting it into Isolation so that I could activate my Heckler without worry. The left Heckler then captured the top antenna. And I brought Spector in and converted an order to have him Coup De Gras the Evo bot on the far side, completing my classified. Then I passed my turn.

Top of 2: Xammy NCA

Xammy is understandably worried about Raul Spector in his back line, so he spends a couple orders getting robots in position to fire on Spector if he comes out. A garuda then drops in and takes out my left transductor, the right heckler and my Evo Bot. Before finally getting gunned down by my Zondnautica. That done Xammy passes turn.

Bottom of 2: Jhokalups Tunguska

First thing I do is have the Zondnautica mount up and throw some smoke towards the Peacekeeper. Then it drives forward and attempts to throw smoke in front of the bulleteer, that smoke failed. So I have the Rider dismount and capture the right antenna that is closest to my deployment zone, before having them retreat to safety a little. I have spector throw out a drop bear and come a little ways forwards. I attempt to drop my Meteor Zond in to be near the remaining hackers so that I could have my Heckler take them out, but fail and instead land on the left antenna closest to Xammy’s deployment zone. I move Perseus and my Warcor out of cover to look down the middle. Then out of orders I pass turn.

Top of 3: Xammy NCA

Xammy has his Isolated bulleteer take out my Meteor Zond. Then the peacekeeper and Aux bot take down my Zondnautica and Zondmate. After claiming 3 antennas across his side and one antenna on my side, Xammy advanced all his bots up to cover my remaining dudes. After bringing back the Hexa Killer Hacker, Xammy passes turn.

Bottom of 3: Jhokalups Tunguska

I have two antennas that I need to get if I want to win. Getting the middle antenna on my side will allow me to have 3 in a row. And getting an antenna on Xammy’s side will disrupt his 3 in a row. Unfortunately with the Bots covering the way and the hacker coverage, I don’t have the orders to get Spector to an antenna on Xammy’s side. And cannot get my Heckler to the central antenna. With that done, we tally up the final score. With the classified, 3 antennas in a row and an antenna on my side, it is a:

Final Score: 10 – 1 NCA Total Victory

Lessons Learned:

I think I lost this game in deployment. I had Perseus in a very safe spot, and my Kriza LT exposed; If I had swapped them Xammy would have had a harder time killing it. Had I had full regular orders on my first turn I could have developed my position a bit better on turn one. And having the big gun available would have been nice as well. The Tsyklone died immediately to a bulleteer, though that is not the fight it is supposed to be in and win. The Kriza might have been a better fit for that spot as well. I need to practice deploying the Kriza and Tsyklone. This game provided a lot to think about, needing a way to deal with a Bulleteer first strike is important. I think I could have set up a better repeater net with my Transductors to force the Bulleteers into my hacking area in order to fight anything. Perseus would have also been a good anti Bulleteer piece, having smoke grenades to force the closer and ODD to push the odds back towards my side. Things to think about as I started game two.

Game 2 – Zelaponeepus
Tunguska vs Haqqislam
Rescue

Wip Roll
Tunguska – 5
Haqqislam – 15

Decision: Zelaponeepus
Deployment: Jhokalups
Initiative: Zelaponeepus
1st Turn: Zelaponeepus
1st Deploy: Zelaponeepus

Haqqislam List:

 Save em! V3.2
──────────────────────────────────────────────────

Open in Infinity Army

Tunguska List:

 RA Rescue

Open in Infinity Army

After our lunch break I got paired up with Zelaponeepus. Formerly a Pan Oceania player, Zelaponeepus has been playing Haqqislam to great effect. Our game was played on the plane wreckage table, which is becoming one of my favorite tables to play on. The multitude of saturation zones, low visibility, and difficult terrain makes this table a challenge. Not only do you have to have a plan for what your opponent will do, you need to account for how the table will impact everything you do. The mission for this map was Rescue, which provides an additional complication, requiring careful thought on how to retrieve the HVTs and how to prevent your opponent from rescuing their own HVTs.

Deployment:

Zelaponeepus had a Daylami that tried to infiltrate across into my dead zone, but failed and deployed on the back line watching the left half of the board. A Farzan minelayer guarded the left side of the dead zone. There was a Liberto Minelayer on the right dead zone. The mutts spread out evenly across the front line, ready to run up and smoke. The two Hafza hid as mercs in a forest on the right. Knuaf, the Baird and a Ghulam were hugging a mid-right forest. There was a Namurr hiding centrally behind a tree. A Djanbazan Sniper was atop part of the plane, able to see much of the map. A Fiday impersonated into my deadzone out of sight of most things.

I had my Tsklone set up on the broken airplane wing, watching my right side. I had the Lunokhod on my left covering the deployment zone with his Koalas. Mary Problems was set up toward the exclusion zone to cover the one HVT on my left. I had my Libertos and Puppet Master minelayers covering the central two HVTs with my Kriza Lt. I had a Warcor set up on my far right. I brought along three Spektrs for this mission, as infiltrating specialists, I was hoping to get one or two in a hidden deploy spot to snag an HVT and then book it across the exclusion zone. I had one fail, and deployed it behind the Lunokhod. The other two made their rolls and were set up in the rear of the airplane’s fuselage and hiding next to some crates to the right of the airplane’s tail.

Top of 1: Zelaponeepus Haqqislam

The main highlights from this turn were that the Tsyklone pulled way more weight than it needed to, critting the Djanbazan off the table and putting the Fiday into unconsciousness. Other things of note are the Mutt that made it all the way across the board to fail at jamming Mary Problems and covering the way for a Libertos to make it forward in camo, before face tanking the crazy Koala.

Bottom of 1: Jhokalups Tunguska

On my turn I had the Lunokhod walk up to hit the Mutt and camo marker behind it with a heavy shotgun. Once I saw the Liberto, it fell prone, making it hard to see. I also had the Warcor Coup de Gras the Fiday so that I could complete my classified. I brought the Kriza up to try and take out some models in the middle, but Knauff pushed him back.

Top of 2: Zelaponeepus Haqqislam

The Liberto managed to bring the HVT back to the dead zone on Zelapneepus’ side before getting taken down by a Spektr in hiding. One of the camo markers came forward to threaten my Spektr. Some more Mutts try to make it forward but get gunned down by the Kriza and the Tsklon.

Bottom of 2: Jhokalups Tunguska

I have my second Spektr reveal and do a complicated mine dance to be able to take out the Faran minelayer with a mine and a shot from the Kriza. After my Kriza goes down to Knauf I drop Raul Spector in to face tank a mine and try to take him (Knauf) out. I manage to get Knauf and try to set up Sepctor defensively. My Spektrs attempt to grab HVTs. The center one goes down while the one on my right gets the HVT and brings it midway across the table.

Top of 3: Zelaponeepus Haqqislam

The Lt that has been disguised as Aida comes forward and with the Namurr takes out Spector before snagging the HVT and bringing it fully into the deadzone.

Bottom of 3: Jhokalups Tunguska

Low on orders and in Loss of Lieutenant, I try and sprint my Spektr and HVT across to my deployment zone. Sadly he goes down and we call the game there. With the HVT tied to his Data Tracker and in his dead zone, and me only having 1 classified the final score is:

Final Score: 4 – 1 Haqqislam Victory

Lessons Learned:

This game was a lot of fun, I did feel bad about the number of times were the dice went my way especially well. Like the Tsyklon winning several face to face rolls with the Djanbazan Sniper before critting it off the table. The bane of this game for me was Knauf, I didn’t have a good plan for him, and did not properly appreciate the effect that his MSV1 would have on face-to-face rolls. Knauf was the primary killer, taking out everything but Spector that I sent in to kill him. I might have been able to drop spector into a different spot to take out Knauf earlier, and then my Kriza would have been able to dominate the rest of the board better. There are some additional things towards the end that I missed, like ARO’s from Spektrs and possibly other paths to take the HVT. All in all, an excellent game, and I look forward to playing Zelaponeepus again soon.

Game 3 – TheDiceAbide
Tunguska vs Steel Phalanx
Safe Area

Wip Roll
Tunguska – 1
Steel Phalanx – 5

Decision: TheDiceAbide
Deployment: Jhokalups
Initiative: TheDiceAbide
1st Turn: TheDiceAbide
1st Deploy: TheDiceAbide

Steel Phalanx List:

 Steel Rescue
──────────────────────────────────────────────────
10

 

Tunguska List:

 RA T3 and SA
──────────────────────────────────────────────────
GROUP 1  9 1

Open in Infinity Army

My last game of the day was against one of our Warcors, TheDiceAbide. I was excited to play him again, I haven’t played against TheDiceAbide since my fifth game, last October. This time he was playing Steel Phalanx, instead of FRRM. Our table was the same one I played on round 1, so I had a better idea of what to expect from it.

Deployment:

Thrasymedes was deployed in the center, ready to be a scoring piece. The flash pulse and evo bots covered the lower two levels. A total reaction HMG sat up covering the top layer from the middle. Atlanta the sniper was on a tower to the right. The netrod dispersed to be easily accessable by me. The support staff also hid in total cover. Achilles as the reserve model came in below Atlanta.

Learning from game one, I had my Kriza hidden behind several layers of boxes. I had my Tsyklon out to ARO. The flash pulse bots tried to watch the back area for a potential AD troopers. I split the Hecklers across the board. Perseus sat in the middle ready for some smoke. And I had the Zondnautica out on my right, dismounted and ready to make some havoc.

Sadly I did not get a picture of this deployment. I was pretty spent by this point in the day.

Top of 1: TheDiceAbide Steel Phalanx

Something I forgot to do at the start of this game, was to have the EVO bot put out Overclocked on all of my repeater bots. So the HMG Bot was able to take out my Tsyklon with ease. Then Diomedes dropped in and completely trashed my backline. I lost the Zondmate to my Zondnautica. I lost both flash pulse bots, and I think the warcor. Then Atlanta took out one of my Hecklers that I thought was safe, but there was a line that could clearly be drawn.

Bottom of 1: Jhokalups Tunguska

I have Perseus hunt down Diomedes, so I don’t have to worry about that anymore. I drop in my Meteor Zond to take out the Total Reaction HMG bot, using a combination of Carbonite and then shooting it. The Meteor Zond also takes out support staff in the back and the Kriza clears out the Netrod.

Top of 2: TheDiceAbide Steel Phalanx

Achilles makes an effort to take out the meteor zond, and then starts to advance across the center of the table. The Zondnautica and Perseus are also taken out. The multiscanner is placed.

Bottom of 2: Jhokalups Tunguska

I get Kriza up and drop off my multiscanner, and get set up a bit for my last turn.

Top of 3: TheDiceAbide Steel Phalanx

Achilese comes through and kills of the Kriza, and the Dactyl runs up to the console at the center of TheDiceAbides right zone. Thrasymedes also runs over to grab a console.

Bottom of 3: Jhokalups Tunguska

In loss of LT I airdrop Spector in to take out the Dactyl in CC. Which lets me control a console and complete my classified. With more sectors, the Xenotech in a dominated sector and two consoles, the game finishes in a:

Final Score: 6 – 2 Steel Phalanx Minor Victory

Lessons Learned:

I really should have put out Overclocked at first. Extra shots would have gone a long ways towards stopping the HMG Bot and Diomedes. I also probably could have left the Tsyklone in a spot to not ARO and better cover my deployment zone. Bots are something I am still working on figuring out. I overextended Perseus to take out Diomedes. I could have used super jump to take the same shot and then fallen into total cover, leaving me with another attack piece and potential zone capturer for turn 3.

Final Thoughts:

I had a lot of fun at this event. I have always viewed the littler events like this one as a small fee to play at least three games in a day. Thank you to TheDiceAbide and WiseKensai for running the event. And thank you to my wonderful opponents Xammy, Zelaponeepus, and TheDiceAbide for the excellent games. I enjoyed playing and learned a lot.

I will continue to refine what I want these event reports to look like. I need to find a way to be able to complete them more quickly.

Until next time.