Vulture's Wargaming Blog: December 2023

Sunday, 24 December 2023

BattleTech Mercenaries

Check out this interesting page on BattleTech Mercenaries. This format is for both quick casual games and for multi-round events. It's a scenario based format where each player controls 4x Mercenary BattleMechs. Link

I haven't tried it myself, but intend to do so.

Classic Battletech - Battle Of Duncansviller Power Station

I dived back into the crunchiness of Classic Battletech with my old friend John Elwen on Thursday night at the Harrogate Wargames Club with a 4,000 point aside battle on the planet of Drozen.

The peace loving traders of the Lyran Commonwealth (House Steiner) defending the recently 'acquired' power plant of Duncansviller Power Station were brutally attacked by the Capellan Confederation (House Liao).

The Liao raiding party consisted of a Crusader CRD-3L mech supported by 4x Condor Heavy Hover Tanks (standard configuration). Opposing this unwelcome incursion was a Jenner JR7-F mech supported by 3x Manticore Heavy Tanks (standard configuration).

Straight from the off the aggressive manoeuvring by the (ridiculously) fast Condor Hover tanks seized the tactical initiative and forced the Lyrans onto the defensive. The inability of the Hover tanks to enter woods though was exploited by the Manticore tanks who made good use of the cover available (or tried to hide like cowards, depending on your viewpoint! LOL). After several inconclusive exchanges of fire the Liao unit swept in and reduced most of the firing to point blank, inside the minimum ranges of the PPC and LRM equipped Condors. Two critical rounds of fire and physical attacks by the Javelin who jumped behind a Condor and repeated kicked it resulted in the destruction of 1x Condor, and the immobilisation of another. The Lyran's had 2x Manticores immobilised and the Javelin's external armour was badly shredded.

Assessing that he was outgunned at this point, the Liao commander decided to withdraw his force (although we considered it a draw really). A fun very closely fought game. It's a long time since I've used vehicles in Classic Battletech and it was a reminder how very vulnerable they are to receiving critical mobility hits which reduce them to the status of a pillbox.

Looking forward to the next game ! 🙂

Details

Rules: by Catalyst Games - Battletech Manual - Rules Of Warfare.
Gaming Mat: by Catalyst Games - Battletech Battlemat - Desert.

Terrain: Small trees sold for model railways, remainder 3D home printed (FDM).
Mechs and Condor Hover Tanks: by Iron Wind Metals.

Manticore Heavy Tanks: Resin models supplied by Badger 3D.

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Here are a few pics from from the game.

The Steiner forces enter the battlefield...

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The Liao Condor Heavy Hover tanks make their presence felt.

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An air reccy photo from a Steiner Lucifer aerospace fighter as it screams over the battlefield

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Under pressure and outmanoeuvred the Steiner tanks seek refuge in the cover of some Light woods.

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After initially keeping its distance the Liao Crusader jumps in to close the range down and support a Condor that had just been immobilised by a PPC hit from a Manticore.

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A pair of Condors flank the beleaguered Manticores and heavy fire is exchanged.

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The Steiner Jenna has jumped behind a Condor that came down the road and has proceeded to block it in.

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A savage exchange of fire sees all the Javelin's armour stripped off its right torso and some internal structure eaten into. The Condor is immobilised by repeated SRM hits from the one of Manticors.

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With one Condor destroyed and another immobilised and isolated the Liao commander decides to retreat to fight again another day. His Crusader is not that damaged and could keep fighting for some time, and the Steiner forces have taken a beating and two of the Manticores are immobilised. Critically though the Steiner unit still has its full firepower available and is a close supporting formation.

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