I finally managed to get a game of Stargrunt going, which I have been wanting to try for quite some time. My opponent, Jonathan, and I played the first scenario in the main rulebook (Recon in Force) using infantry squads only to keep things simple while we learned the game. I was using my Pig Iron Heavy Infantry, and Jonathan was using a set of the old FASA Vor Union minis (which I was very impressed by I must add).
After a quick explanation of the rules, we set up. The scenario allows for hidden set up with dummy counters in the mix for both sides. Then once you've put all the counters down, you take away three from your opponent (without looking at what they are) and if any units are drawn, they aren't available for the game.
After this draw two of my squads wouldn't be in this fight, leaving me with my HQ squad and a leadership 3 squad. Urgh! Jonathan wound up not losing any of his units to this draw.
As far as our troop lists, because of what minis Jonathan had available, he had fewer troops than I did, with 6 per squad as opposed to my 8. Our troop quality was Veteran for me and Regular for Jonathan. His troops had better armor (d8 to my d6) and I had slightly better weapons (FP3 to his FP2).
Jonathan set up mostly on the right flank of his side of the table, starting behind a hill. I spread my unit more across the middle. The table had a gulley between some hills and woods running across the center from right to left.
Our objectives were to ID the enemy units, shoot them up as much as possible, and minimize our own casualties.
The turns passed quickly, and I lost count of how many we played. What I can say is that they went pretty quickly. not counting any time I spent with my face in the rulebook looking things up.
At the start of the game, Jonathan used an Observe action to spot a hidden unit counter in some woods which turned out to be a dummy. Then he moved into the woods in the center of his side of the table.
I activated my HQ squad, moved it behind some rocks on the hill it was on and went In Position. The HQ squad stayed there for the rest of the game.
link
As the game developed and more squads were revealed, the rest of Jonathan's platoon moved up the hill on his right, while my remaining squad moved forward behind a wall on my right.
link
By this point the shooting had begun, with Jonathan's teams in the woods and on the hill firing at my HQ squad. With hard cover and the benefit of being In Position, the fire, heavy though it was, only managed to put one Suppression marker on the Legion HQ. When Jonathan tried to move his HQ squad into the woods, my HQ squad opened fire, scoring a kill on his radioman and wounding his sniper (we weren't playing with the detailed sniper rules at this point, just counting them as support weapons in the squads). He later managed to get the HQ squad behind the woods and out of LOS, and gave 1st aid to the wounded sniper.
link
Both Jonathan and I began using our platoon commanders' ability to transfer activations to our squads. Jonathan kept the fire on my hilltop position hot but the combination of range, cover, and in Position die shifts, and some unhelpful rolls for Jonathan, kept my HQ squad fighting. They were usually able to shake off any Suppression markers and only took one KIA during the game.
With two enemy squads on my left, and one in front, I figured I needed to do something bold. With a Transfer activation from the platoon leader, my 3rd squad ran across the sunken road and onto the rocky hill. Once they moved into position, they were able to combine their fire with that of the HQ squad to lay multiple Suppression markers on the German units in the woods.
Jonathan kept shooting at my HQ squad, but again, bad dice for him and die shifts in my favor for cover and In Position kept me going there.
link
With the German squad in the woods under double suppression, and out of LOS from other enemy units, I decided to charge my 3rd squad into close combat. Reaction rolls were made and I went in and Jonathan's troops stood their ground. In the fighting that followed, the Legionnaires wounded two and KO'd two of the Grenadiers, forcing the survivors out of the woods.
I now found myself rather far forward of my starting positions and Jonathan's troops were quite close and in numbers. Jonathan regrouped his shattered squad, bringing the survivors together into his HQ squad. I then began to withdraw, 3rd squad taking two of Grenadiers along with them as prisoners.
link
link
There were a couple more turns before Jonathan decided to concede. We figured he could have dumped even more fire on my HQ squad and probably pinned or caused a few more casualties before I managed to retreat 3rd squad off the board.
I had a good time playing this and Jonathan said he enjoyed it too. I really like the way Stargrunt makes the actions of the unit the primary focus and doesn't rely on individual heroes waving swords around in a high-tech firefight. I like the way it doesn't use points, and doesn't require balanced sides to make a good game. Good tactics, good troops, and a bit of luck (and yes, decent gear) are what takes you to victory.
I like the activation and command system, and it's fun trying to allocate commands and actions to best effect. I also like the way the tactics come together – suppression by fire and movement by squads really mirrors actual tactics more than a lot of rulesets I've seen. And I enjoy the way it is scenario based
I know we made some rules goofs. I pulled my 3rd squad back carrying along two of the wounded grenadiers as prisoners when I should have grabbed the KO'd guys (whom we actually allowed to escape from the aftermath of the assault). I still need to get my head fully around the casualty determination mechanics – it's not hard but it involves just a bit of calculation that caused me to stumble up a couple of times. And I need to look at the activation mechanics a bit more closely.
But, all in all, it was a good, fun first game, and it gave Jonathan and I a good introduction to the Stargrunt game.
I'm really looking forward to playing again, maybe a sniper hunt scenario or some sort of game involving troops waiting for the dropship to come in and pick them with their wounded before a much larger enemy force overruns the LZ.
Stargrunt! Hoo-ah!
