VSF Scenario Design Contest Entries

Assault on Argyre Planitia

by wminsing

Scale

28mm. I'd recommend 3-4 infantry figures per base, and 2-3 cavalry. Guns and commanders should be mounted singly.

Rules

Principles of War, first edition

Length

No time limit.

Players

One British, one Martian.

Forces

Roll for final unit strength at the beginning of the scenario.

British Expeditionary Force

Same as rulebook standard.

Gen. Roland

Average

Col. Timmins

Average

Col. Toman-Hillpot

Average

Major Robinson

Average

British Foot (BLR)

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8*

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

British Foot (BLR)

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8*

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

British Foot (BLR)

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8*

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

British Foot (BLR)

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8*

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

British Foot (BLR)

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8*

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

British Foot (BLR)

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8*

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

Medium Gun Battery (STE)

1

2

3

4

5

6*

7

8

9

10

11

12

-

-

-

-

-

-

Cavalry (MW)

1

2

3

4

5

6*

7

8

9

10

11

12

-

-

-

-

-

-

Cavalry (MW)

1

2

3

4

5

6*

7

8

9

10

11

12

-

-

-

-

-

-

Light Horse Battery (STE)

1

2

3

4

5

6*

7

8

9

10

11

12

-

-

-

-

-

-

All British Foot are Steadfast.

---

Horde of Qud-ib

Based on the Dervish list.

The Qud-ib

Good

Veteran Foot (MW)

1

2

3

4

5

6*

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

Veteran Foot (MW)

1

2

3

4

5

6*

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

Skirmish Foot (NBL)

1

2

3

4

5

6*

7

8

9

10

11

12

-

-

-

-

Skirmish Foot (NBL)

1

2

3

4

5

6*

7

8

9

10

11

12

-

-

-

-

Skirmish Foot (NBL)

1

2

3

4

5

6*

7

8

9

10

11

12

-

-

-

-

Notes: If Qud-ib is slain, the replacement officer is average, not good.

Chieftain As-kabark

Average

Fanatic Foot (MW)

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8*

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

Fanatic Foot (MW)

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8*

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

Fanatic Foot (MW)

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8*

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

Warrior Foot (MW)

1

2

3

4*

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

-

-

-

-

Skirmish Foot (NML)

1

2

3

4

5

6*

7

8

9

10

11

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Skirmish Foot (NML)

1

2

3

4

5

6*

7

8

9

10

11

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Skirmish Foot (NML)

1

2

3

4*

5

6

7

8

9

10

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Skirmish Foot (MW)

1

2

3

4*

5

6

7

8

9

10

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Notes: The "Warrior Horse" are, in fact, riding Martian War Beasts. These animals send horses into a frenzy, so any such unit gains an additional column shift right on the odds table when fighting Earthling cavalry.

NML stands for Native Muzzle Loader.

Chieftain Mak-rab

Poor

Fanatic Foot (MW)

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8*

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

Fanatic Foot (MW)

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8*

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

Warrior Foot (MW)

1

2

3

4*

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

-

-

-

-

Warrior Foot (MW)

1

2

3

4*

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

-

-

-

-

Skirmish Foot (NML)

1

2

3

4*

5

6

7

8

9

10

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Skirmish Foot (NML)

1

2

3

4*

5

6

7

8

9

10

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Skirmish Foot (NML)

1

2

3

4*

5

6

7

8

9

10

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Warrior Horse (MW)

1

2

3

4*

5

6

7

8

9

10

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Notes: Martian War Beasts, see above.

Chieftain Gru-dak

Poor

Veteran Foot (MW)

1

2

3

4

5

6*

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

-

Veteran Foot (MW)

1

2

3

4

5

6*

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

-

Veteran Foot (MW)

1

2

3

4

5

6*

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

-

Warrior Foot (MW)

1

2

3

4*

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

-

-

-

-

Warrior Foot (MW)

1

2

3

4*

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

-

-

-

-

Skirmish Foot (NML)

1

2

3

4*

5

6

7

8

9

10

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Skirmish Foot (NML)

1

2

3

4*

5

6

7

8

9

10

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Warrior Horse (MW)

1

2

3

4*

5

6

7

8

9

10

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Notes: Martian War Beasts, see above.

Situation

Sub-Chieftain Turh-arag slowly approached the ridge where Qud-ib was kneeling starting at the rising sun. He watched as the Qud-ib stared at the pale orb, seemingly lost in thought. Then Qud-ib suddenly motioned with his hand; "come to me, sub-Chieftain."

Turh-arag swiftly obeyed, kneeling next to the one his people believed was destined to lead them to glory. "What is it that concerns you, my friend?" the Qud-ib asked in his melodious voice.

"There is a large pack of Yerreterk-cursed Earth-men coming this way, my master," Turh-arag answered. "They are here to kill you," he added.

Qud-ib smiled slightly, and said, "Yes, I know. They believe they can stop the coming storm. We will show them that this storm is beyond them." With that, Qub-ib rose to his feat and turned towards his camp. He looked over to Turh-arag, and motioned him to follow.

As they made their way to the tent city their people had raised, Turh-arag asked, "Do you think we can really stop them?"

The Qud-ib stopped, and Turh-arag also halted, fearing he had overstepped his bounds. Qud-ib turned to him and simply answered, "The storm stops for nothing."

A large force of Martian nomads has been gathering in the deep desert, rallying around a charismatic warlord calling himself Qud-ib, or the Sand Storm that Scours the Unclean. He calls for the expulsion of off-worlders and the punishment of the "weak canal dwellers" that treat with them.

The British Martian Territorial Government has decided to intervene before the situation can escalate, and has assembled a force to crush Qud-ib, under General Roland. The force was airlifted into the region by several ships of the Royal Air Service three weeks ago. They have been tracking the Qud-ib on foot, as the seasonal sandstorms makes flying in the area extremely dangerous. Now, they have located the camp where Qud-ib is mustering his forces to strike at the canal dwellers and the British colony of Heathrow.

As the sun rises, the British advance on the camp. Are they the hunters, or the hunted?

Victory Conditions

The British are trying to disperse the Martian horde and kill Qud-ib. To kill Qud-ib, the British must get an "officer killed result" while firing at or being in close combat with Qud-ib or a unit he is attached with. To disperse the Martian horde, they must destroy at least 50% of the Martian units, not counting commanders, and one unit must spend at least one turn inside the Martian Camp (the unit is chasing off and capturing the non-combatants).

The Martians are attempting to both bloody the nose of the British, and make sure the Qud-ib survives. To bloody the nose of the British, they must destroy at least 50% of the British force.

If Qud-ib is slain and the Martian Horde is dispersed: Total British Victory. The power of the Martian nomads has been broken for generations.

If Qud-ib is slain but the Martian Horde is not dispersed: Major British Victory. Without the Qud-ib, the nomads will not be as serious a threat to the British presence on Mars, but they will still cause trouble for a long time.

If the Martian Horde is dispersed but the Qud-ib is not slain: Minor British Victory. You've prevented any immediate threat to British holdings on Mars, but the Qud-ib will be back....

If neither of the above, and more then 50% of the British Units survive: Minor Martian Victory. You've shown the British the desert is yours, and yours alone. More warriors will soon flock to your cause.

If neither of the above and less then 50% of the British Units survive: Major Martian Victory. Tales of this battle will told around the fires for a hundred generations, and the salvaged equipment will be a powerful addition to your swelling ranks as you eliminate the rest of the Earthling forces.

Set-Up

The British start in the British Setup Zone.

The Martians start in the Martian Camp, except for one command (player's choice, but it cannot be the Qud-ib's command) that may start in Martian Setup Zone 2.

Special Rules

If Qud-ib retreats from the map voluntarily, he is counted as slain (his followers lose faith in him).

Recommended Figures

Martian Skirmish Foot

I'd go with Parroom Station Musketeers (product number: CDM 1 to CDM 12, plus the units packs, CDMU-1 and CDMU-2)

Martian Fanatic, Veteran and Warrior Foot

Parroom Station Sverdvolk are the obvious choice (product number: CDS-1 to CDS-10, and the unit pack CDSU-1)

Martian Warrior Horse

Probably Parroom Station Royal Cavalry, though they seem a little too fancy for nomads (product number: CDRC-1 and CDRC-2, or the unit box CDCU-1).

Martian Commanders

I would use Parroom Station CDL-3 or CDL-14 for the nomad commanders.

British Foot

I would go with Old Glory Zulu Wars British (packs CZB-02 to CZB-05).

British Cavalry

Old Glory Zulu Wars Dragoons serve nicely (CZB-08).

British Artillery

For the gun itself, I would use CZG-01 and the gunners CZB-06.

British Officers

The command pack (CZB-01) would be overkill, so I might go with a few Castaway Arts British Officer (DC1).