By Ransom Trimble
Rob and Rodney faced off in what turned out to be a very interesting and enjoyable short scenario.
The scenario is set at a farm where a small force of Orks (Rodney) is encamped. The Tau (Rob) are performing a recon in force with orders to evaluate the strength of any Ork forces in the area and to destroy any enemy heavy weapons encountered. The Orks mission is to withdraw their force intact. But withdrawing without drawing blood would be considered cowardly.
The dominant terrain feature is a large field in the center of the table situated between an orchard and a paved road running the entire length of the table. A forested ridgeline runs perpendicular to the road near one end of the table and a small hill sits at the opposite end. A stonewall separates the farm from road.
The Orks began the game hidden and Rodney deployed the bulk of his troops in the field with a small advanced team forward hidden in a trench. He deployed his IG gun and its tractor far to the rear on the road.
The Tau began the game under "Blinds" (i.e. partially concealed) and Rob advanced his squads to the ridgeline overlooking the field. They went on overwatch and began making spotting attempts but had no luck spotting any of Rodney's troops.
Having no luck spotting any of Rob’s troops on the ridge Rodney opted to withdraw his advanced team but in doing so exposed one of them. Having taken exception to the presence of this poor fellow Rob made short work of him. But the poor sap did accomplish his mission by exposing ¼ of Rob’s troops.
All the while Rodney was waiting for his gun’s card to come up so he could roll it out of cover and fire away but alas the cards did not come up in his favor. By the time the right card came up his target had moved off the ridge. With two Tau squads now moving around the far side of the field threatening to cut off his escape Rodney opted to hitch to up the gun and get out of Dodge. Rodney also began pulling what was left of his still hidden vanguard squad out of the field and moving it toward the road. He did leave one poor soul who was now under a Blind to distract and delay Rob's two flanking squads.
Rob advanced his left flank squad around the field and caught the remnants of Rodney’s vanguard squad in the open. Miraculously only one of the Orks went down. Rodney then sprang an ambush on the offending Tau squad with one of the squads he had hidden in the field. Rob lost ¾ of his squad in the exchange leaving the lone survivor to scurry back to the relative safety of the ridge.
Having bloodied the Tau, Rodney began to withdraw his troops, I called the game and Rob gave his guess of the strength of the Ork forces.
Based on the fact that Rodney gave as good as he got in casualties with his low quality troops, got the majority of them off the board (including the IG gun) and that Rob's recon report was way off I declared an Ork victory.
Overall I was pleased with the game and feel the rules are coming along well. I will be running the scenario again on October 16th, 2004 at the Hobby Bunker.