Tales of the free-trader "Wolverine"-1

These are the tales of the free-trader "Wolverine", a very old Mammal Class Star Freighter. On a whim over Christmas, I bought the 5Core/5Parsecs rules from Nordic Weasel. I was intrigued by the combat system and knew I could use my existing 15mm sci-fi figures. I am using the 5Parsec campaign rules, but keeping the 5Core combat system.

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The crew of the "Wolverine" are a band of lovable rogues staying together for their own protection in a deadly universe. They are currently on the planet Viva making repairs to the jump drive:

Captain Miroslav: an orphan and once a struggling artist, he sided with the losers in a local civil war. He fled the planet to discover another way to fight back. He is the oldest of the crew, conceited, and a harsh disciplinarian. A heavy gambler, he knows the local administrator well.

Adolf: a soldier from one of the many industrial heart worlds, he now adventures to regain his lost wealth so he can buy his own ship. A close combat brawler, he is surly and picky in choosing his friends. He does not get along with Leo.

Leo: a sickly youth, he escaped an isolated religious cult and now seeks to overcome his poor reputation. Wielding a glare sword, he is the youngest of the crew, eager to please if overconfident.

Eli: an alien Apex, he has traveled far seeking adventure to put his thug life behind him. Quiet, he is hard working.

Bronson: fled his home research facility after being framed for murder. He is loyal to the crew since signing on and has quickly become trusted by all for his personal discipline and attention to detail.

Tarik: a newcomer recently recruited by Bronson on Viva. A farm worker from the wastelands, he dreams of leading his people to take over as an independent system.
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Spending some time in the backwater settlement of Tibbs Hollow, the crew sets to work. Miroslav wins 4 cr gambling, Adolf guards the ship, Leo fails to find work for the crew, Eli meets an alien merchant but does not strike a deal, and Bronson hires Tarik to join the crew. Tarki asks the crew to come to his farmhouse to help pack his things...neglecting to tell them that the five alien mercenaries that have been staying there don't want to give up their comfy new quarters.

The first battle:

The crew approaches the farm house across some rough ground. They plan to set up overwatch on two sides and then rush the building.

The guard on the balcony is out of position while the crew gets set.

One thug sees the crew break cover and pours on fire...only to be suppressed by Bronson's LMG.

Eli gets into a firefight and has to fall back after blasting one of the thugs on the balcony with his Fusion Rifle.

Eli's pride is hurt after having to duck for cover several times. He almost lost his NY Giants hat!

The rest of the crew make their assault. Leo cuts one down with his force sword, while Miroslav clears the balcony and takes down the ganger in the courtyard...just as Adolf arrives to finish him off. 

The merc leader makes a hasty getaway...I'm sure he will be back. 

Mission complete....4 alien merc's taken down with no friendly casualties! Found 6cr, a pistol, and an AutoRifle. Later that day, they met the town doctor, and Bronson heard a rumor for a new job.

Downed aircraft

Reports have filtered in to Baron Otterford's HQ that a plane has crashed near the old quarry south of Priors' Park Wood. Little do the ROV LDB know that the passengers that parachuted to safety are none other than the younger brother of the BUF XI Legion Commander and his mistress. A BUF flying column is rushing to rescue the wayward couple while ROV defenders move to the scene of the crash.

Played with heavily modified Force on Force rules. While I like the combat mechanism, the rest is very complicated for solo play. I used the double-blind activation from Combat Patrol, and used random move distances.

BUF in red, ROV LDB in blue

xxx

View from the ROV side...crashed plane in the quarry,  the wayward couple hiding in the building.

ROV forces rapidly make it to the building and take the pair into custody...then get a barrage of incoming fire.

BUF forces set up overwatch down this long lane...it will be important later.

ROV squad moves on the BUF flank.

Fire Fighters move towards the crash to put out the flames...big mistake.

The local police have taken the couple into custody and are headed south.

BUF have suppressed the ROV defenders at the building and are making a close assault.

Firefight on the flank heats up.

BUF legionaries kill 2 firefighters and take the other 2 prisoner.

Coppers are making the getaway.

BUF team checks the wreckage for survivors. 

Friendly fire while the police cross the lane with their prisoners. 

Despite heavy casualties, the ROV LDB now has a very important prisoner. Too bad his mistress caught a round from the BUF team on overwatch and was killed just as they were about to reach cover.

CASUALTIES

ROV LDB
- 3 KIA
- 2 Heavy Wounded-POW
- 1 POW
- 1 Heavy Wounded
- 1 Light Wounded

BUF
- 2 KIA + mistress KIA
- 1 Target POW
- 2 Heavy Wounded
- 1 Light Wouned

2018 Round Up and 2019 Plans

Time for my year in review...sorry for the wall of text, this serves as my hobby diary.


PAINTING
J: 30
F: 60
M: 75
A: 50
M: 0
J: 21
J: 102
A: 78
S: 60
O: 62
N: 47
D: 65
Total:650, down a little, but have been working on 6mm and 28mm, not my usual 15mm.

2018: 650
2017: 753
2016: 712
2015: 431 
2014: 1708
2013: 1990
2012: 1119
2011: 1013
2010: 1389
2009: 441

GAMES
11, 6 of them at Historicon...must get more on my own table.

BUDGET
Went off the rails this year. Must be better disciplined in 2019. 



Review of the Original Plans for 2018:

1- 6mm Sci Fi
--- All on hand figures complete.

2- Wooden Warriors
--- Finished two forces.

3- Zombies
--- All on hand figures complete.

4- Spending: Keep things to <$1000, plus Historicon expenses. Really need to abide by my budget this year. I know I will buy some 6mm sci-fi...but they are the only planned purchases right now.
--- Massive Failure...started the AVBCW project and purchased a huge amount of Slaughterloo figures.

5- Gaming plans
- 6mm Sci fi - Check
- Wooden Warriors - Check
- Katzenstein Campaign- No
- Pulp Alley- No
- 15mm Fantasy- No

6- Fantasy Rules: continue to tinker and add in the magic and characters/leaders portion; use my new home card deck
--- Continued to tinker; moved everything over to google docs.

7- Local Gaming: get in at least 2 games with the local crew
--- None.

8- Attend Historicon and check out NJCon
--- Attended Historicon, but had to work during NJCON


Plans for 2019

1- Complete all on hand AVBCW figures by end of June

2- Game more than 10 games

3- Attend Historicon

4- Keep spending under $1000 (plus Historicon)

5- Consider the next major task from the list below:
- Phase II of 6mm SciFi
- Phase II of Wooden Warriors
- Phase II of Zombies
- Phase II of AVBCW
- Return to 15mm Fantasy
- Start Slaughterloo


Project Update
A Very British Civil War: My latest project, half done painting the 600+ figures.
---Last Painted: Dec, 2018
---Last Gamed: Dec, 2018

Slaughterloo: Not started
---Last Painted: Not started
---Last Gamed: Not started

Zombies: Phase I complete.
---Last Painted: Jul, 2018
---Last Gamed: Oct, 2018 

Wooden Warriors: Phase I complete.
---Last Painted: Jun, 2018
---Last Gamed: Jun, 2018

6mm Sci-fi: Phase I complete.
---Last Painted: May, 2018
---Last Gamed: Apr, 2018

Fantasy 15mm: Large number of figures on hand to be painted.
---Last Painted: Jul, 2016
---Last Gamed: May, 2017

Pulp Alley: Will have some bleed over with the AVBCW figures. No major additions needed. I will continue to collect all of the Pulp Alley cards and scenarios.
---Last Painted: Dec, 2017
---Last Gamed: Dec, 2016

World War Two 15mm: No planned additions.
---Last Painted: Jan, 2013
---Last Gamed: Jul, 2014

Sci-fi 15mm: A mix of sci-fi and modern figures. No planned additions...but I just started looking at the 5Core/5Parsecs rules from Nordic Weasel.
---Last Painted: Jun, 2013
---Last Gamed: Oct, 2013

WW2 Air Combat: No planned additions.
---Last Painted: Apr, 2013
---Last Gamed: Apr, 2013

Splintered Lands Animals: No planned additions. 
---Last Painted: Dec, 2011
---Last Gamed: Feb, 2013

Starmada Space Ships: No planned additions.
---Last Painted: Jun, 2011
---Last Gamed: Feb, 2013

Kingdom of Katzenstein: My 15mm "Napoleonic" imagi-nation. This is the project that got me started in November 2008.  I will continue to add a unit every now and then.
---Last Painted: Dec, 2018
---Last Gamed: Dec, 2011

15mm Pirates: No planned additions.
---Last Painted: May, 2016
---Last Gamed: Never


Long Term Plans at the Ten Year Mark
1) Finish the AVBCW project in 2019
2) Fill in the final parts of the 6mm sci-fi project
3) Decide if I want to add any wooden warriors and zombies
4) Continue the 15mm fantasy project...tons of lead on hand. This is my open ended opus project
5) Start the Slaughterloo project with the massive amount of Alternative Armies figures I bought this year on a very expensive whim.
6) Game more
7) Attend more conventions...this will be a major goal once I retire.
8) Keep spending in check
9) Don't start any new projects
10) Add to the terrain collection

December 2018

Closing out the year with continued progress on the VBCW figures. About 300 more to go...all primed and ready to go.

Christmas loot

VBCW figures...300 to go!

Vega Baja Musketeers...a commemorative unit for the time my National Guard unit spent in Puerto Rico for hurricane relief

VBCW battle in progress

PAINTING
53 x 28mm VBCW Figures: 53 points
12 x 15mm imagi-nation figures: 12 points
TOTAL: 65


GAMES
1 x AVBCW game


BUDGET
$50 in rules from Nordic Weasel. Some very interesting skirmish rules.

Battle of Westcombe Crossing

For three weeks, the British Union Of Fascists XI Legion "Dux Arthur" have thrashed the Somerset Freedom Fighters cells around Taunton. Confident after their series of victories, the BUF is bold enough to send patrols south of Blanding Hill into the River Otter Valley. Archibald Royston, Baron Otterford, will not suffer such insults. The River Otter Valley Local Defense Brigade has established a series of checkpoints along the roads leading South from Taunton. After months of relative calm in the valley, a serious clash was bound to happen. A BUF patrol moved to dismantle a checkpoint obstacle near a crossroads north of Westcome Moor on the western side of the valley. The ROV LDB force in the area is determined to keep the valley free from the Fascist stain. Led by the impetuous young Katherine Royston, Baron Otterford's younger sister, the two sides have a stand off at a choke point near the crossroads. Fresh from a few months listening to the mysterious Bolshevik Ivan Ivanovich during a trip to Paris, Kate is ready for a fight. Together with several teams of green ROV LDB volunteers, "Red" Kate moves to confront the Fascist threat. Little does she know that some BUF regulars are moving to support their autocratic compatriots at the crossroads.

BUF arriving in red from the north...ROV LDB at the crossroads and coming from the south.

Some background on the fearless leader in the River Otter Valley:
Third Baron Otterford, Archibald Royston.
Commissioned during The Great War and posted initially to Palestine. Returned home after being wounded in a skirmish with the Turks. Served on the Western Front until the Armistice. Posted as a liaison to American forces in Murmansk in 1918. Wounded in a Bolshevik ambush, returned home to recuperate. Posted to Palestine again in 1922. Fought Arabs and Jewish settlers for several years. Caused a scandal locally and at home by marrying Miriam Rutledge, the daughter of a wealthy Jewish merchant. Returned home in early 1936 upon the death of his father to became the Third Baron Otterford.

As the current crisis involving the King unfolds, Baron Otterford feels mixed allegiances. Having married his own heart's desire, he sympathizes with the King, but has reservations about the influence of "That Woman". Having been a King's Officer, he could easily side with the royalists if not for the  fascist dominance in the government. While he could even live with that snake Mosley as Prime Minister, the thugs of the British Union of Fascists are down right ungentlemanly. At least they are not Bolsheviks! Not a religious man himself, Baron Otterford is a bit taken aback by the hardline stance of the Anglicans, glass houses and all. Traditions are important, but not worth the end of the Empire. Albert is a fine chap, a man could follow that honorable fellow if only his brother would step aside. Quite a mess all around. On the whole, Lord Otterford is just hoping the brothers Edward and Albert can come to an understanding and leave politics and religion in the gutter where they belong. Good God! Even the anarchists and Luddites have returned.

Stand off at the crossroads...ROV chaps have a fine position.

The shot heard down the valley...we may never know who shot first. (Actually it was the lewis gunner on the hill)

BUF forces take cover and start trading heavy fire.

Crazy old Robert Smythe charges out at the BUF.

"Red" Kate brings up the ROV LDB reinforcements.

The two inexperienced forces trade lots of inaccurate fire...ammo quickly becomes an issue.

BUF regulars arrive to begin a flanking move.

Casualties slowly mount on both sides. 

Does Kate know about the regulars sneaking up on her flank?

I don't think so...her team is behind the hedge shooting it out with the thugs to the north.

BUF gets ready to make a major push.

Poor Larry Lenoire the lewis gunner takes a round in the chest.

The regulars lose a man to a long range shot from a ROV LDBer in the second story of the house.

With Larry out of the fight, the BUF get bold.

The action becomes general.

Kate leads her team in a rash charge...only to be met by a hail of fire.

BUF heroically charge the hill only to get shot to pieces.

Kate and crew retreat to the hedgerow minus one man.

Kate has second thoughts about mixing it up with the BUF.

BUF regulars are on the flank...the camp is in danger.

BUF move in to take a prisoner...but even wounded Sam Niles knows he can't fall into fascist hands.

BUF move to cut off the line of retreat.

Sam runs for it.

Kate orders a retreat...taking the wounded that they can with them.

BUF have won the race to the camp...that will cost the ROV LDB lots of ammo, food, petrol, and a truck.

The bloody affair comes to a close with the ROVers in retreat.

A fun battle using the card driven Combat Patrol rules from Buck Sardu. I liked the rules...flowed very easily. Have played them a few times at Historicon too. Next game I think I will try Force on Force to get a comparison.

ROV LDV started out with some good results in the ambush, but the BUF gained the upper hand. Baron Otterford will not be happy with Kate's impetuousness. 

Casualties;
LDB
-2 killed
-1 critically wounded
-2 heavily wounded
-1 lightly wounded

BUF
-3 killed
-3 critically wounded
-2 lightly wounded