Batrep: Classic Battletech is on the Rise

I had my first game of Classic Battletech last evening (sorry no pictures this time). Boy has it been a long time. 15 years to be exact. Most of the game has stayed the same with only a few minor tweaks in the current edition. I was amazed at how quickly I was remembering aspects to the game, but how slow it actually resolved itself. I truly hope that the slowness of play was more an aspect of my long absence and trying to remember the game and not that is just is always that slow.

Overall the game I played was fun. I think officially it was a draw, but I think I was losing the game. I arrayed a Panther, Dervish, Dragon, and an Atlas against a Centurion, Dervish, Grasshopper and an Awesome. After 2 hours of play my Dervish was literally on fire from heat, and my Panther had been downs to a lost leg.

For game mechanics I can see very early that placement is important and cover is important also. Additionally, its very important to understand the level conditions and their effect of LOS. Many times we could see model to model, but the true LOS due to level terrain said otherwise. Using the level terrain to mask your 'mechs from the enemy is a great tactic and one I 'should' have used given the placement of terrain and my starting side.

Finally, I wanted to comment on the game rules themselves again. This is a game I hadn't played in over 15 years. In GW terms that is 4 versions ago. What amazed me is that the rules for the most part were the same ones I used before. A couple minor tweaks had been made, but overall it was the same game. Considering Battletech has been sold off multiple times during that time its great to see that the original game designers created such a great rule set that it truly has lasted the test of time.

Aragorn

Well, I actually completed Aragorn 2 weeks ago, but with life and batreps I just never got a chance to take some pictures.

I chose to use this model of Aragorn as it's not too flashy and it appears to be the lesser seen model of him on the table. This is sometimes an advantage as my opponent can lose track of him in the game. Not something I thought of originally, but something I found out during my game of To Kill a King.

Any way. Here he is.

Batrep: Grey Company vs Angmar and vs Mordor

Played this yesterday afternoon. Great games overall.

Good: The Grey Company (Aragorn's Return) - 599pts

• Aragorn(Anduril, Bow, Elven Cloak)
• 2x Rangers of Arnor(Spear)
• Rangers of Arnor
• Ranger of the North(Spear)
• Rangers of Arnor(Spear)
• 2x Rangers of Arnor
• Ranger of the North(Spear)
• Rangers of Arnor(Spear)
• 2x Rangers of Arnor
• Ranger of the North(Spear)
• Rangers of Arnor(Spear)
• 2x Rangers of Arnor
• Ranger of the North
• Rangers of Arnor(Spear)
• 2x Rangers of Arnor
• Ranger of the North
• Rangers of Arnor(Spear)
• 2x Rangers of Arnor
• Ranger of the North
• Rangers of Arnor(Spear)
• 2x Rangers of Arnor

Model Count: 28
Might: 9 + Mighty Warrior
Bow Count: 28

First game: To Kill a King

I played my Grey Company and was arrayed against a nicely modeled Angmar force. Unfortunately for them the scenario rolled was to kill a king. As we lined up I was able to use terrain to great effect by forcing my opponent to cross a river slowing his movement.

Basically my tactic here was to set Aragorn with 3 Arnor rangers and 3 Rangers of the North with 3 Arnor rangers each as roving squads who made slow advances towards the enemy lines shooting. I also had 3 Rangers of the north with 9 Arnor rangers who grouped in a double line for Volley fire.

Volley fire in the past has been very hit and miss for me(Mainly miss) but it worked out this time as in the first round I scored a hit on the enemy leader(Buhrdur) causing him to burn his fate right away.

The second round accounted for 2 more wounds on Buhrdur and then a final wound was scored at the beginning of round 3 ending the game. It was the fastest game I had ever played, but I see how my force is uniquely designed to succeed at that scenario.

Outcome: Major Victory

Second game: Reconnoiter

In this match-up I played my Grey Company and was opposed by a horde of Mordor Orcs. Oh the humanity! As we lined up terrain was less of a concern as the objective was to move to the other side anyways. I got the honor of lining up first, but in hindsight given my lower number of models I think setting up last would have been better!

As it turned out the enemy force lined up on my side of the river leaving a single Ranger of the North a 3 Arnor ranger on the far side alone. This allowed him to move up the side of the table basically unbothered during the game.

The main force I arrayed in 2 sets of volley fire lines. Aragorn set up with one group on the right side of my line allowing the other group to cover the middle and rivers edge. The enemy lined up with a large force of Warg riders on Aragorn's side and Orc spearmen in double rows behind. The middle was held by Mordor Uruk Hai and an Armored Troll. And finally the other side by the river was being held by a line of Orc archers and orcs with hand weapons for support.

Here again my shooting was both a blessing and a curse. I was able to whittle down the Wargs to only a single model left. Once combat started Aragorn was an absolute monster taking down all opponents he came into contact with. His might hero ability really stood out here.

Unfortunately, the Troll was able to make contact with my other line and was about to eat through it when time was called.

Outcome: Draw (but had time continued I didn't have the sufficient numbers to stop all the orcs and most likely I would have received a Minor Loss had the game continued to the 2.5 hour normal game time limit.)

Batrep: Grey Company vs Gondor

So I finally got a chance to try out my LotR army list in a primer game. Jerry, aka Incitatus, was gracious enough to field his Men of Gondor against my Grey Company.

Scenario: Contest of Champions

Good: The Grey Company

Aragorn's Return(Grey Company) - 600pts

• Aragorn(Anduril, Bow, Elven Cloak)
• 3x Rangers of Arnor
• Ranger of the North(Spear)
• 3x Rangers of Arnor(Spear)
• Ranger of the North(Spear)
• 3x Rangers of Arnor(Spear)
• Ranger of the North(Spear)
• 2x Rangers of Arnor(Spear)
• Rangers of Arnor
• Ranger of the North
• 3x Rangers of Arnor
• Ranger of the North
• 3x Rangers of Arnor
• Ranger of the North
• 3x Rangers of Arnor

Model Count: 28
Might: 9 + Mighty Warrior
Bow Count: 28

Evil: Gondor/White Tower

• Boromir(Horn of Gondor, Horse)
• Beregond(Longbow)
• Warrior of Minas Tirith(Banner)
• 8 Warrior of Minas Tirith(Spear)
• 8 Warrior of Minas Tirith
• 9 Warrior of Minas Tirith(Bow)
• 6 Guard of Fountain Court(Spear, Shield)
• 6 Knights of Minas Tirith(Lance, Shield)

Model Count: 39
Might: 7
Bow Count: 9

In the haste to get started, I neglected to get a table shot to show the terrain placement, but basically Gondor was funneled around some hills placed closer to Jerry's table edge while The Grey Company had an open field of fire, but limited cover options.


Grey Company lined up at the start in a Volley Line.


Gondor grouped their force along the side of the table with the Knights able to race down the edge.

After the first round of movement and firing (which only The Grey Company ever fired a single bow) the first casualty was taken by Gondor. Killed the Horse and threw the rider.


Rider Down.

So basically the game flowed with Gondor moving full towards the Grey Company, while the Grey Company advanced more cautiously and continued to fire bows. Bows worked well for me, even given the superior army and defense values that Gondor presented. Of the 6 knights and Boromir, only 2 Knights and Boromir ever made combat, and the combat was stolen by The Rangers of the North who used a Might point to move into combat preventing the charge from the cavalry. During the combat, 1 Knight was outright, 1 survived, and Boromir was de-horsed. The following round saw a massed amount of combats taking place with few casualties on either side, however Boromir had a dismal day of fighting as his only kills totaled 2 models.

On the other side of the hill, the remaining Gondor forces, led by Beregond, engaged the remaining 3 groups of Rangers and Aragorn and his rangers. This started out to look like it would be a blood bath with Aragorn carving his way through the Gondor ranks, but alas I misjudged the terrain and forgot about the higher ground rule, which Godor held. Unfortunately, due to this oversight, Aragorn failed to break the line, even after calling a Heroic Combat :(. As such, Aragorn also only claimed 2 kills for the day (one of which was sadly by bow, which means his Mighty Warrior, plethora of attacks, and Anduril only accounted for a single kill. Not really a value given the cost of Anduril and Aragorn in general.

Overall it was a great game and I think both Jerry and I learned a lot about our individual armies and the game flow. Here is how the game broke down.

Rangers of the North

After getting other things sorted in my daily life I have now had enough time to complete the work on my unit of Rangers of the North which I feel came out very well. The pictures don't do them justice I feel, but you have to have pics to see them so oh well.

I chose to use a different coloring scheme for these versus the Rangers of Arnor I completed last. The cloaks on these I chose to go more grey with a green Wonder Wash overcoat. I think it makes them stand out very nice against the basic troops in my army.





Remaining on the list of to-paint items for the upcoming Indy GT include 6 Dunedain, Halbarad, and Aragorn. Hopefully, I can get some practice in soon with this force so I am use to playing them. I look forward to having the MIght bonus that Aragorn provides in the game