On Friday night, Nov 7, I put on a Terminator game at Fall-In using modified Stargrunt II rules. Overall the game went very well with about 8 or 9 turns being played before the slot ended- once everyone got into the flow and understood the activation method of SG II we just zipped along.
For a mood effect I brought along my 1:1 scale battle-damaged endoskeleton skull with glowing eyes, 1:1 scale 40w phased plasma rifle, and 20" lit-up flying hunter killer. In the center I placed my laptop which played a rather well done 4 minute fan-film I found online. As I play this at other cons this coming year I will also drag along my 28" tracked hunter killer and half scale T-800 endoskeleton. Overall the little display drew a crowd to my table during the slot.
The scenario involved a primary and secondary mission on each side. Tech-Com forces under John Connor had to get just one resistance fighter into what was assumed to be the bunker entrance to a Skynet facility with a secondary objective of protecting Connor. Skynet forces had to prevent access to the bunker with a secondary objective of destroying as much of the human resistance as possible. Later on Skynet forces realized John Connor was on the field with the secondary objective being updated to eliminate him.
Tech-Com forces consisted of 6 squads armed with plasma rifles, plasma SAW's, and one guided missile per squad. Support units consisted of 3 jury-rigged armored trucks (1 guided missile truck and 2 trucks with heavy plasma weapons salvaged from destroyed Skynet forces), and 2 sapper squads. As a surprise Tech-Com forces also had access to one of the few remaining armored MICV's equipped with guided missiles and a dual-purpose chaingun.
Skynet forces had 3 squads of T-800 endoskeletons equipped with 40w phased plasma rifles and 100w plasma machineguns. Support was in the form of 3 tracked H-K's and 3 flying H-K's with a unit of mini-flying H-K's that could be deployed from the main flyers as an independent unit. As a surprise Skynet also eventually had available the use of a T-800 infiltrator unit.
The game began with Skynet and Tech-Com forces surging forward. The first unit taken under fire and destroyed was the Tech-Com guided missile truck which was destroyed by a tracked H-K. Tech-Com forces attempted to shoot down a flyer but missed with their missile. Two of the flyers immediately deployed their mini-flying H-Ks which then began to search for sapper units. Other Skynet tracked and flying units shot at various resistance squads but had little effect due to distance and cover.
The following two turns saw the most forward tracked H-K pull back as a sapper unit began to close. Tech-Com scored a hit bringing down a flying H-K with other missile and heavy weapon hits failing to penetrate Skynets other large units. The few shots sent at endoskeleton units also failed in appreciably damaging these squads. The foremost Tech-Com unit was lashed by a number of Skynet units resulting in one death and suppressing the squad. More damage was not done as the unit went "in position" within a wrecked building that provided hard cover.
As the battle dragged on one of the sapper teams managed to get within striking distance of a tracked H-K. Of the two plasma charges thrown one missed while the other hit, the resulting detonation destroyed the H-K. However, a charge into close combat by a T-800 endo squad made short work of the 2-man sapper team. Other Tech-Com forces on the left began to be squeezed by advancing endo's and mini-H-Ks resulting in at least one Tech-Com squad being rendered ineffective due to suppressions. However, Connor's forces did manage to destroy a couple more large units leaving Skynet with one flyer and one tracked H-K, but in return one of the heavy plasma gun-trucks was destroyed.
Near the end of the battle the second sapper squad was successfully detected as it ran between buildings while trying to advance on the last tracked H-K. Like cockroaches caught in the light they quickly scampered back to the protection of a nearby building but were unable to go back into hiding when a mini-flying H-K unit took them under fire. A Tech-Com squad came to the sappers aid only to be pinned by an advancing endo squad.
Meanwhile, the remaining resistance tank made its appearance, winding its way through the rubble and destroying the last tracked H-K. Return fire crippled the tank resulting in a systems failure that rendered its weapons useless- the tank began to withdraw. Fire from numerous human resistance fighters did manage to damage an endo squad by over 50 percent severely degrading the combat effectiveness of the unit.
Meanwhile, a nearby Skynet infiltrator unit made its appearance. Unfortunately the command team led by Connor could not be targeted initially due to a pair of dogs that would have provided a warning to the command team. Instead the T-800 appeared directly behind a resistance squad who spectacularly failed their roll to spot the incoming infiltrator giving Skynet maximum firepower. This was used to full advantage as the infiltrator killed 4 out of 6 Tech-Com troops. The following turn saw the Terminator finishing off this squad.
Slightly forward of the infiltrator another endo squad attempted to close assault Tech-Com troops who broke and ran behind a rubble pile. The endo's advanced again but fell short of engaging the humans. A mini-HK unit flew up behind this human squad pinning it with their fire. The remaining gun truck was unable to damage the endo squad as it screeched around the corner.
On the other end of the board the sappers and 3 human squads again pummeled another endo unit causing more damage and outright destroying one endo. The Tech-Com unit in the middle of the board began to withdraw from their positions in a building in order to bolster a rapidly collapsing left side.
As the game ended the T-800 infiltrator attempted a combat move in order to fire on Connor and his command squad, but was unable to make good progress through the rubble. The remaining Tech-Com squad on the left side looked to be in serious trouble as it was pinched between an undamaged endo squad and the mini-H-K; Skynet was poised to make a hook into the side of the humans.
On the right Tech-Com still had two complete squads that were rapidly destroying at least one endo squad. However, Tech-Com had also run out of missiles leaving one flying H-K still viable with the only hope of a shoot down resting with the remaining gun truck. The third still complete squad was beginning a run back to take on the infiltrator in order to protect Connor.
When the slot ended everyone stated they had a good time. We did a quick AAR so that I could gather constructive criticism to make the game better for the future. One item most agreed on was that the missiles were very powerful. In play test they did not seem to be, but at the con they really did tremendous damage. Most individuals felt that making it a little harder for the missiles to hit by lowering the fire control system would probably bring these weapons back in line with what I envisioned.
Also- the Skynet player knew that the bunker did not lead to a bio-weapons facility but rather to a research node for Tempus One- the code name for Skynets time travel research. Tech-Com forces that penetrated the bunker would have been able to transmit partial data back to resistance HQ's giving them their first glimpse into Skynet's plan for a temporal weapon.
Here are some pictures:
From the Skynet side- Skynet units advance:
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Tech-Com side- one squad has taken position in the middle, dark grey building while John Connor and his bodyguards hide out in the lee of a wrecked building down in the lower center:
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Skynet forces continue to advance but most of their heavy units have been destroyed0 it once again rests with the PBE (poor bloody endo's) to root out the human vermin:
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T-800 infiltrator has single-handedly destroyed a Tech-Com squad and now goes hunting John Connor:
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The last remaining Tech-Com squad on the left after breaking and running when close assaulted. Suppressed and trapped between cold metal- an endo squad and mini-HK's. There only hope is that the gun truck next to the endo's may help in some small way:
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paints and individually bases some 6mm sci-fi infantry.
