The Goth's Judgement Day

StarDate 2216-01-07

Region-Barren wastes of Prestonpans.

                  This piece has been sponsored by Necro News where our motto is that if it is not fit to be published it will be published!

                              This one time prosperous area of Terra was today ravaged by appearances of hordes of mutated animals and gross human forms supplemented by the appearances of Chaos Marines teleported in from the other side of the galaxy

Prestonpans 2216-nothing's really changed.

                                  The local gangs and warlords were as in the early part of the 21st century the first line of defence against these incursions.
22nd century Prestonpans was a far cry from the quiet Edinburgh suburb of 2 centuries previous but after being combined by an alien infested government  100 years previous into a mass urban sprawl that had Mega City as its twin town, it has turned into a barren landscape infested by alien species and fauna,ruled over by the various gangs and factions as the civil population had long since headed for the sunnier climes of other planets.

Sam Burn's yard 2216 style.

                                     Anyway enough of the bedtime stories.Colin Jack in his infinite wisdom has decided to make an honest woman of Liz so we thought that  we had better arrange some form of stag do but since the youngest of our motley crew was in his late thirties the idea of flagons of ale,exotic dancers and being handcuffed to a lamppost were definitely not on the agenda."How about a game of Necromunda chaps?"stated Dave O'Brien.""Spiffing!"came the reply so a game was set up in what is fast becoming a very popular venue for us.So after meet and greet Bacon rolls and coffee we divvied out all the gangs and proceeded to purge 22nd century Prestonpans of its new incomers.

                             There were 7 participants overseen by Dave and myself and what a motley crew they were.

"So how's the life of a rock star Ray?-All Snacks and Candy Mike!"

                      Previous pirate game winner Dave Paterson turned up with his Cawdor gang looking to retain his winning run.On the other side of the table Bart was still festering over his close defeat by Dave P so we gave him one of the quietest gangs around-Redemptionists,who just hate everybody and are just at their best cleansing and burning their way through life.

                        Mr Ray being a rock star was given a gang of cultists recently excellently painted by my son Stephen.He gets his painting ability from his mother definitely not me.Our favourite interplanetary accountant Donald appeared obviously enticed by the thought of a bacon roll.

                       
                      Dave's o'Brien's pal Bill was given a force of Tallarns who went by the name L.R.D.G-The Long Range Dessert Group but were definitely no soft centred muffins.  Mike P being definitely Mr Macho was given a Goliath gang hoping that he would build on his previous victory and last but not least the man of the moment,Colin,decided to stick to the norm and sent his Escher girl gang into the fray.

                           The morning's play was going to take the shape of the gangs dealing with the incursions both internal and external with the use of playing cards to determine which unhuman life forms appeared throughout he table.
                                 Dave P's gang hoping to build on his previous game came face to face with a chaos marine in his first random encounter suitably accompanied by some sly sniggering from Bart.The scene was set.In typical gang fashion he fired at it with everything he had but it all just bounced off the marine who just cackled with every hit but in true David and Goliath fashion was dispatched by a lowly juve armed with a measly pistol.That put the smile back momentarily on Dave's face especially with the 300 points he had just gained.
                                Mike decided to climb up high in order to gather any loot and shoot everything from the safety of his high perch which went okay until he was confronted by a s**tload of giant rats straight out of a James Herbert novel.This didn't seem an obstacle until his leader's melta gun decided to dry up.His men now became ratbait.

Who ya gonna call?

                               Mr Ray must have felt at home with all these groupy type zombies and mutants heading for him and none of them wanting an autograph.He started off well but then his heavy weapons started to malfunction and the age old curse of newly painted figures came back to haunt him as his gang started to dwindle.

Typical a gang.s first outing and wasted

                                 The other side of the table was a bit more sedate with the trio of forces belonging to Colin,Donald and Bill were slowly making their way on to the table interspersing killing mutants with having a general chit chat and enjoying the ambiance with Donald worrying about whether his beloved Dunfermiline Athletic could cope with his absence(they did they won 2-0).Colin was hoping to gain a few creds obviously needing to re-equip his gang with replacement stockings and lipstick.Well a girl has to still look her best in 23rd century Prestonpans.A bit different from 21st century P/pans.Bill although an expert toy mover and dice roller was still getting used to the vagaries of the game and the present company.That would change over some ale and a delicious lunch.
                       And Bart he just cleansed and burned everything in his path which is just a normal day at the office for him. Whether it be redemptionists,T34s or Polish cavalry there is only one plan-go forward and kill,kill,kill.
                        Lunch arrived served up by my favourite barmaids and the morning's play was debated over some nice steak pie and curry(not on the same plate).

Look Dave,my gang is going to rape,kill and eat your gang but not necessarily in that order.

Care in the community

                                   The afternoon's play got underway with extra characters being handed doled out to every player ranging from ratskins,bounty hunters,underhive scum. Lo and behold Colin ended up with Mad Donna Ulanti for his sins.

"Like a virgin"

                                 Once again the aim was to head into the centre of the table fighting off even more mutant incursions along the way to seek the 30,000 point holy grail which was hidden amongst some radioactive mist waiting to be captured for the greater good.
                                  Mike had become stagnated up in the upper reaches debating calling Rentokill to get rid of his rat infestation that was confronting him.Mr Ray was wondering why the entire rock band Kiss(both past and present) were heading his way making him eventually bottle out and head for the safety of the nearest bar.
                                 Colin's ladies were heading for the centre ably bolstered by Mad Donna only for her to come to a sticky end  melting into a glorious heap of molten makeup.Donald's Dunfermiline boot boys effortlessly made their way through ruined buildings infested with some alien plant life dispatching mutants along the way, only to be confronted by an appearance out of thin air by a chaos marine but once again due to a salvo of shots and lucky dice rolls managed to reduce him to scrap metal.

I wonder how the Pars are doing?Quite well without you Donald,and Bill's pondering why Genestealers have lots of claws-the more to shred you with.

                        Bill meanwhile enjoying a nice sedate afternoon enjoying everybody's company was confronted by the sight of a genestealer heading swiftly in his direction which made a few of his Desserts desert.His attempts to dispatch this creature with a rocket merely made the shell go the same way as his men to the rear.
                              Dave P's initial success was the highlight of his day as his men in their endeavour to reach the hidden prize seemed to walk into every trap,gurgling pool and every ambush out there making his gang the first to head for the hills.To make up for his disbelief he was given charge of the Planetary Law and Order Department or P.L.O.D for short hoping he would arrive and arrest Bart's Redemptionists who were just cleansing and burning which  should be at least be worth 20 hours community service.As has just been said Bart was just igniting everything in sight in true Bart style.

"When the foeman bears his steel!"

               

"Tarantara!Tarantara!"

"We uncomfortable feel-Tarantara!"

Near the end of play the mist in the centre of the table dissipated to reveal an inactive chaos dreadnaught as the object of everybody's desires but there was no time for anything other than admire its form as darkness and the final whistle had descended on sleepy Prestonpans with an almighty victory through cleansing and burning by oor Bart.

Donald wondering if he can get the dreadnaught tax free?

Another day of burn,burn,burn.

                            A great day was had by one and all and was complemented by some  excellent cuisine and a few flagons of ale which were  brewed on the premises.
                            Although a few ales were consumed coffee was provided throughout the day by our hosts making it a bit more sedate than the bride to be's hen party in nearby North Berwick where I believe a fair part of the world's red wine was consumed.
                              Most of the scenery and figures were supplied by my partner in crime Dave O'Brien,a lot of which was used a long time ago in a galaxy far away and should be familiar to Necromunda players of yorn.I chipped in with some scenery and figs whilst my son Stephen who couldn't be there due to work schedule provided the cultists and a couple of excellently painted chaos marines who albeit turned into cannon fodder.
                       We hope to have another get-together in a couple of months for another multiplayer game with ideas of either Back of Beyond,gangsters,cowboys or some other suggestion.
                              See you when I see you.
                                 
                           

Prestonpans A.D. 2116

Prepare To Be Judged!

                  Terrain all ready for tomorrows game.May the best gang win!

Day of Infamy-Infamay,infamay.They've all got it infamay

IWed 7th December

Pure class

                       Well it is Pearl Harbour day and getting into the pantomime season.

                    Pre Xmas game in Sleepy Hollow-sorry Garvald,the one Xmas tree town saw us being true to the day indulging in a Bolt Action game involving Japanese,Chinese and Americans.
  Five of us turned up including young Isaac Neal who obviously needed a bit r&r before his maths exam at Edinburgh University the following day.

                           

 Sides were chosen with Dave o'Brien taking charge of the Manchukuo infantry(Chinese allies of Japanese),Bill taking care of the Japanese infantry leaving me to care of Japanese naval infantry backed up by some light armour.The opposition was provided with Colin's Seebees supported by armour and the Neal boys taking charge of the remainder which consisted of an awful lot of Chinese

The Neal boys make a plan

                              The game plan was for the Japanese to take over an airfield being built by the Seebees.Dave and I were going to attack the airfield whilst Bill's hordes would deal with the reinforcements.Sounded like a quick evening.How many times have you heard that from me.

The object of our desire

               

 Our forces moved up to the treeline where we stopped hoping to soften up the defenders with gun and mortar fire before heading across the open ground and victory.

Our plucky armour

                                   It started well for us with the American mortar being eliminated by our own mortar and the defenders taking a few casualties-but not enough.I decided to charge as I had noticed that Colin's defenders had a dice that statingthat  they had already moved but it turned out that was a dice from previous turn that hadn't been moved so being a gentleman and it was his dojo I gave him benefit of doubt which cost me dearly.

                             

Banzai

 My infantry were whittled down by gunfire before I even reached the target and in the ensuing scuffle were eliminated.

Hand to hand(but a wee bit blurred)

                                   Dave's infantry were being the object of desire from the airfield's other defenders and went down never to play an important part in this evening's festivities apart from being cannon fodder.

"Oh the grand old duke of York"

                          Bill's plan were to storm through the village albeit at a snail's pace hoping to get to grip with Mr Ray and Isaac's forces but it turned into a slogging match with hardly any ground being taken or given.

Bill's boys

                       

More of Bill's boys

Meanwhile my armour was driving up and down the road keeping to cover,looking for an ideal shot before the heavier tanks got their beedy eye on me.
                             

Looking for a gap

  This was how the game was taking shape with a hard slog all around and something was needed to turn the tide which came in the form of air support from both sides.

Bandits at twelve o'clock high

                           

The good guys arrive

  Firstly the allies call on air support but this was delayed so we thought that we had better reciprocate.Our airsupport was called for but not before Colin had called the support down on Dave's infantry who threw caution to the wind and charged towards Colin's defenders but were interrupted by the machine gun fire from the American aircraft being decimated in the process.

                             

Target rich envirnoment

The Neal boys diverted some of their forces to attack our defended treeline and once they came out into the open provided our plane the opportunity to strafe them but didn't do them to much trouble.

"This is how it's done boys"

                       Bill's forces had made slow headway through the town and apart from destroying one of Colin's vehicles we were heading for stalemate and the final whistle with a score draw as the result.
                   

Kaboom!

    A nice game to finish our year of Garvald struggles.
                    All figs ,scenery and scenario provided by Colin Jack as well as a scrumptious Biryani complemented by some haggis pakora-an unusual combination.
                             This brings the shutter down on our 2016 figure games but I'm sure I can fit in a game of something before the end of the year.

Black day for the All blacks

Thursday 1st Dec

                          With Lady Watson still knocking the cherry vodka back in Warsaw I decided to head for the club to see what was on offer.The usual suspects were playing a Napoleonic game which for me was an instant turnoff.

Lull before the storm

                                  On offer at the next table was a game called Spectre Operations which raised my eyebrows but alas it wasn't a James Bond game that I hadn't heard off but a game involving New Zealand special forces against insurgents in some mythical state on the Arabian peninsula.Obviously although the game sounded like some real scenario taking place in another part of the middle east the names had been changed as the actual skirmishes might have felt a bit to close to home.

Typical downtown Thursday evening.

                               Jack Glanville who was playing against Michael Charge offered to let me take on responsibility of one of the spec op squads as they ventured into a hostile village with the the intent of nullifying arms caches.Sounded straight forward and for the most part of the game it was with the All Blacks taking care of the insurgents with ease including a sinister looking heavy machine gun crewed by a sinister looking guy.

It actually had more bark than bite.

                                Although the bad guys were well armed they were just one step up from an armed mob and even although they were indulging in mob heavy charges the spec ops guys were holding their own with just a few grazes.

My squad leader just about to fire a well placed grenade into the onrushing horde.

                               

The result.

 This set the pattern for the evening with Jack and I fighting of the hordes with ease until the game changing moment came when Campbell wandered over from his own game and mentioned to Michael that his sniper had a clear shot at my squad who were hunkered down safely behind a concrete barrier picking off bad guys with ease.

A few well placed shots

The one shot that turned everything upside down.

                                    One shot changed the game plan with one of my men going down with a serious injury and being true to western philosophy I decided to drag him back into cover in order for us to fix him up.
                      This changed the whole outlook of the game with forces pounding our guys with machine gun and rpg fire most of he time unchallenged as the focus of the insurgent fire was concentrated on my second squad as the first squad were out of the line of fire.
                           

Jack heading for a bar room brawl

  Meanwhile Jack's squads had made their way around the side of the village without any problem and had made their way into a side street only to get invoved in a firefight with the depleted horde that had been on the end of my grenade and lmg fire.
                                       His squad ended up going toe to toe with insurgents in some buildings where shotguns and grenade were used with abandon.

A balcony with a view.

                             As the evening wore on it was obvious from our casualties it was time to get out of Dodge but since we had no helicopters it was going to be a long walk home.Luckily the final whistle went and no more damage could be done to us.
                                    A very good game where the rules balanced out the difference in numbers.

                         Figures and scenario were provided by Michael Charge with Jack Glanville providing the NZ Special Op forces(although I think he is away to paint some with shotguns) as well as scenery.
                      Also thanks to Campbell Hardie for letting me use some of his photos.          Thanks for the game boys.