Part 2 of the Battle Report.

And now… a short note:  Terraformation does not photograph well.  At least it doesn’t when the batteries on your camera are dying, as mine apparently were, and so we have…well, no pictures of the Terraformation.

Such in life in Hell.

But on to the fighting.

Deployment (Click twice to see large version):

Trevor’s notes:  I was trying to spread out and contest six of the seven pieces of treasure.  My goal was to ensure that I could put up a solid fight on the five on my left flank, so I really overloaded that side of the battlefield to do so.  The large hill on my right flank meant a slow redeployment if I had to walk over there, so I put one Arquebusier and the Deserter over there.  This isn’t really part of my plan of two forces (see last Hiring Post for Trevor’s army list and plan) but instead was to ensure that I could at least put up a fight and not totally let those two treasures get made off with.

And the Lost Deployment:

Robert’s notes:  I went for mini-groups, largely.  Isha-Akshay and the two Retarius form a group, there are two groups of two Squamata Warriors, and the two Squamata Nomads form their own group.  The Fangs of the Pit is a group of one, but mostly I just hope he can rush up, grab treasure and head back with it – I’m hoping he won’t be the biggest threat and as such won’t catch a lot of shots.

TURN 1

Both sides advanced and largely put their plans into motion.  The Lost largely went all out for speed and grabbed three treasures.  The Westerners took a more balanced approach – largely because they are slower, and because they chose to shoot over racing for the treasures.

Combined fire from Aiden Saint James and two Arqubusiers put one of the Squamata Warriors into the dirt.  The third Arquebusier wounded – barely – one of the Squamata Nomads.  The Swashbuckler, seeing the need to get in closer faster, activated his “The Lord Guides My Hand” order and then raced across the field 12″, to threaten one of the Treasures on the next turn.

Trevor’s notes:  Not really any surprises here.  I was pleased to bring down one of the Squamata Warriors with shooting – too often I can get them Wounded from shooting but then watch as their Regeneration brings them back into the game at full effectiveness.  Still the speed of the Lost is always trouble in Scavenging scenarios.

Robert’s notes:  Largely working according to plan.  I am a little concerned about the Swashbuckler – he IS my favorite model, after all, and I know he can wreck havoc on a battle line.  Still he’s racing into the nastiest part of my army there, and the Arquebusers will be reloading for the next two turns.

The Westerners are dominant.  The Swashbuckler goes first, charging into the Squamata Warrior.  Sadly the dice fail him and he only lightly wounds it.  The Squamata Warrior, on the other hand, rolls nicely – in part thanks to two extra dice from Vae Victis- dealing the Swashbuckler a nice bit of damage in spite of his high Defense.  Then insult to injury, one of the Retarius charges in…

And that didn’t go well for the Swashbuckler at all.  He sold his life rather cheaply.

Trevor decided that the loss of the Swashbuckler needed to be avenged!  He activated Aiden Saint James’ “Reload!” order, taking the Westerners down another two permanent Command, but returning full threat to the Arquebusiers.  And they made it count – killing one of the Squamata Nomads, and another Squmata Warrior.  Still the Lost aren’t entirely unsuccessful – the Fangs of the Pit has grabbed a treasure and has pulled it back to the Lost deployment zone, one of the Arquebusiers is on a single life thanks to a Squamata Warrior’s War Disk, and the Deserter got his just deserts facing the 2nd Squamata Nomad.

Trevor’s notes:  Wow, the Swashbuckler didn’t last nearly as long as I had hoped.  I guess I was overly optimistic about my dice and probably shouldn’t have played him so aggressively.  But I needed something to slow them down – if the Squamata Warriors had all raced up, grabbed treasure and just avoided combat I’m not sure I could have done a whole lot about it.  Their War Disks aren’t going to win the shooting war but my reload speed ensures that they have plenty of escape time.  Still I’m pleased that two Warriors and one Nomad are down – now I just need to deal with Isha-Akshay and the two Retarius.  Piece of cake!

Robert’s notes: It is a little unusual to operate Scavenging scenarios.  I do have the speed but I can’t be over-confident.  I didn’t expect him to use the Reload! order – he’s down four permanent command now,  which will be telling in the coming turns.  Still I suspect that the shooting is done now and he’s going to be all over me next turn; but that’s where the Lost really shine.  Come get some!

Next Episode of The Hiring Post – Part 3, the final turns of the Battle

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