Cruthanarc: The Infected Colonies Part 6

Battle Report 01

According to the Campaign Rules of Grimdark Firefight, each participating war band should have 150 points worth of troops and a name. Although the rules specify that only one hero can be purchased, the relative low point total of the war band makes this cost prohibitive for many army lists. Indeed, the two below do not have any heroes. Psychic powers are also absent for the same reason.

The first skirmish of the Cruthanarc Campaign sees Cymradian’s Brain Lords, an Alien Hive war band (named after an alien race that appeared in Planet Comics #43) going up against H.A.L.’s Hoplites of the Robot Legion. Here are the point break-downs:

Cymradian’s Brain-Lords

Soul-Snatcher [1] | Qua 3+ Def 4+ | 40pts

Weapons: Piercing Claws

Abilities: Fast, Scout, Strider

Shooter Grunts [3] | Qua 5+ Def 5+ | 40pts

Weapons: 3x Bio-Guns, 3x Razor Claws

Abilities: Strider

Shooter Grunts [3] | Qua 5+ Def 5+ | 40pts

Weapons: 3x Bio-Guns, 3x Razor Claws

Abilities: Strider

Winged Grunt [1] | Qua 5+ Def 5+ | 15pts

Weapons: Bio-Gun, Razor Claws

Abilities: Ambush, Flying

Winged Grunt [1] | Qua 5+ Def 5+ | 15pts

Weapons: Bio-Gun, Razor Claws

Abilities: Ambush, Flying

H.A.L.’s Hoplites

Eternal [1] | Qua 3+ Def 2+ | 40pts

Weapons: CCW, Flux Carbine

Abilities: Regeneration, Robot, Slow

Warrior [1] | Qua 3+ Def 4+ | 25pts

Weapons: CCW, Gauss Rifle

Abilities: Regeneration, Robot, Slow

Warrior [1] | Qua 3+ Def 4+ | 25pts

Weapons: CCW, Gauss Rifle

Abilities: Regeneration, Robot, Slow

Guardian [1] | Qua 3+ Def 3+ | 30pts

Weapons: Atom-Caster, Void Sword

Abilities: Regeneration, Robot, Slow

Guardian [1] | Qua 3+ Def 3+ | 30pts

Weapons: Atom-Caster, Void Sword

Abilities: Regeneration, Robot, Slow

This fight pits the numbers and speed of the Alien Hives against the slow resiliency of the Robot Legion. The battle field has four objectives, only three of which the Hoplites have a realistic chance of contesting; however, the battle begins well for them. Their range and quality shine as four Shooter Grunts and a Winged Grunt are knocked out from the game. In addition, in a brutal mid-board melee between Cymradian and H.A.L., the Hoplite Leader manages to shake off several hits and recovers from two wounds, taking the points for the side-mission of the battle.

Unfortunately for the Legion, a combination of Alien Hive speed and bad luck dooms their chances at victory. In the last round, Cymradian rushes across the board to contest a Legion-held objective to change the score from 2 objectives each to 2-1. The Hoplites rain down fire upon the Alien Hive leader, but three consecutive 1s seal their fate.

H.A.L. proves too slow to be able to contest
the Alien Hive controlled objective

The post-game Casualty Check does not go well for the Brain-Lords. The loss of two Shooter Grunts reduces the war band strength and makes this a pyrrhic victory.

Results:

Cymradian’s Brain-Lords 2 VP and 10pts; loss of two Shooter Grunts; +1 XP for Soul-Snatcher, two Shooter Grunts, and one Winged Grunt

H.A.L.’s Hoplites 0 VP and 40pts; +2 XP for one Guardian and one Warrior, +1 XP for everyone else