Star Eagles - Playtest 2.

A little behind on the posts but finally a few minutes to report back on the recent Star Eagles run through. A simple affair with the newly commissioned War Ricket Ajax sent off on a mission to attack the the capital of Frigia, the Ice kingdom ruled by Queen Fria.

Flash and his allies set off to intercept it.

For this encounter added in a couple new skills for pilots and I increased the quality scores, which in retrospect I should have kept at Q4 for your average pilot by moving to Q3 there were very few misses on the night.

Ajax and it's escort move towards the Frigian Capital.

The lightly armed Frigian fighters move to intercept the Imperial forces with Flash in support.

The Frigian craft are swept aside. Flash sends out a transmission for help.

The Hawkmen Squadron enters the table and make their prescence felt, destroying an Imperial fighter.

After some very unluckly dice for Ming where he manages to roll early double fails two turns in a row, Flash evades the imperial fighters and tails the Imperial bomber firing his blasters at short range. The turrets of Ajax inflict minimal damage in return.

In true Saturday morning TV style, Flash brings down Ajax with less than a minute or two to spare just as it was lining up for it's bombing run.

It's been quite a gap in between games but Star Eagles is quick to pick up and the game has some very subtle rules that keeps players interested along the way, unlike other Songs of Blades rules, once activated a ship can perform its move without the need to use an action, actions are only required to perform special moves such as firing or special moves.

When tailing and with aimed fire you find yourself pretty much out of the fight very quickly but long range and side fighters stick around for a while before they are back in the box. Watch out for flying through unactivated enemy ships who take pot shots at you as cross their arc that can be annoying.

There are a couple of areas which need some clarity or perhaps a deeper understanding of the rules.

In particular ships with multiple weapon systems and whether once action allows you to fire all guns?

The question of height given the over and under taking between Flash and the War Rocket at the end and does the enemy get a free shot when you leave his arc rather than simply passing through?

But all in all a good game, I plan on pulling together reference cards for each fighter and introducing a few more weapon variables together with introducing player strategy cards in the next game to see how they change the dog fights.

A fun nights gaming and plenty of action. 

You should be Flash and Star Eagles making an appearance at Hammerhead in March let's hope the Kickstarter is not to delayed.

War Rocket Ajax

With a club outing this evening I wanted to try and see how a larger Crusier type would fair.
From the first play test, fighters were mighty fast so how would a larger craft be handled under the rules?

Another casting from the chaps at Hydra and their War Rocket range and perfect to represent War Rocket Ajax from the Flash Gordon movie of the 80's.

It is a beast 4x the size of the other ships with 3 turrets and 2 front facing lasers. Full AAR to follow.

Gordon's alive

And hiding out in Hay on Wye....

 

A few days away in Hay on Wye or the "Town of Books" as it is known to bibliophiles. Whilst it is all to easy to jump on to Amazon and within a couple of clicks you have a full basket, there is something quite satisfying about hunting down titles a little more off the beaten track. 

The Internet has certainly taken it's toll on Hay and there are far fewer book shops than I remember as a kid, there are still around 12 books shops many housing extensive military sections many of which include a number of titles never seen on a google search engine. 

As the rain beats down (it is Wales) what better way to spend a sunday.

Apart from several new purchases on Egypt and Haiti which I have slipped on to the bookshelf, I spotted these tucked away in one of the less occupied areas of one of the book shops. The complete works of Alex Raymond's -Flash Gordon what a find and perfect timing.

On my return home the chaps at Hydra Miniatures had delivered my latest purchases from their War Rocket Range, which I shall be using the Star Eagle Rules.

After the last brusing encounter I figured I needed something a little more bulky for Ming's forces to defend and the Class 4 War Rocket will do just the job to represent Ajax.

I also picked up some Pirate fighters which look very slick perfect for whizzing round the table.

Settling down to read the opening episodes the first story line involves an attack by Gyro's on the Capital. - Looks like another faction in the offing.

War Rocket - Hydra Miniatures

Several years ago I painted up a number of 28mm Flash Gordon Figures, but what I really wanted to do was Space Combat like the sci-fi Cliff Hangers from Saturday morning telly as a kid. When I saw Hydra Games Produce War Rocket how could I resist.

The models have sat unpainted in a box for several months but with the Evesham Wargames Club AGM this Sunday I was looking for a quick 1 hour game that did not involve Zulu's.





I quick read through the rules and we are ready to go, The rules follow a number of simple phases Orders, Delayed Action, Movement, Attack, Damage Phase & Recovery Phase. It seems to follow rather nicely with the slowest models always move first, and the fastest models always moving last.

The Delayed Action Phase allows you to move and fight before anyone else. Sneaky.

Each ship Firepower and Defense stats which should keep book keeping to a minimum. The rule book provides for 4 warring factions, but I have plan for the various Nations on Mongo, Each Space Fleet has 4 classes of ship I, II, III and IV. Depending on the size of the ship, Class I being single seater fighters and the like.

I have painted up a couple of the starter sets to enable me to play some quick scenario's I also brought some ships from Hangar 18 several years ago for a flash Gordon game, they are cast in resin so can be a little brittle but seem to compliment the excellent Hydra Castings.

http://hangar18fasaships.blogspot.com/

Full AAR to follow but in the mean time the gathering forces.....

Ming's Fighter Squadrons.

Class II War Rockets

Flash Gordon and Fighters from Frigia

Arborian Fighters

Until next time viewers....