Many thanks to Warhawk, BrdingPrty, Dakkar, MarkyMark, and Zorper for a fun games day at Collectormania today! Warhawk, BrdingPrty, Dakkar, and MarkyMark played a couple games of Star Wars: Armada, while Zorper had a pretty good game of Halo: Ground Command.
From what I gathered, the SW:A game was a teaching/learning game for just about all involved, but all seemed to enjoy it and I think a few ships were purchased before the day was through.
MarkyMark and BrdingPrty both told me this counts as showing up to play with painted miniatures. I guess, TECHNICALLY, they're correct.
I haven't had a chance to play this game yet, but it does look pretty cool on the tabletop. Might have to give it a go sometime.
On the other table, my UNSC was squaring off with Zorper's Covenant in a "Take and Hold" scenario:
Essentially, we both had a large bunker placed in our respective deployment areas. This was our opponents' objective--6VP per turn if they could occupy it. Getting there, of course, was quite hazardous, especially for my UNSC infantry which had to dodge indirect fire from the Covenant Wraith tanks (mostly unsuccessfully). There were also two smaller bunkers worth 2VP per turn along the centerline of the battlefield. I rushed Spartan Rogers-341 up quickly and was able to take one, while a Covenant infantry unit grabbed the other.
Pro tip: don't let Hunters charge your Scorpion. Like, EVER.
Then they set their sights on this poor infantry unit. It wasn't pretty.
After changing out his Battle Rifle for a Spartan Laser and handing control of the bunker over to an infantry unit, Spartan Rogers-341 made a mad dash for the objective bunker in the Covenant deployment zone...
He took some damage dealing with a Hunter along the way, but was able to charge the bunker and eject the Covenant troops inside!
But then...
In undoubtedly the most cinematic moment of the game, one of the Covenant Wraiths turned it's massive weaponry on the bunker, and Spartan Rogers-341 FAILED HIS SAVING ROLL.
This was, of course, the last turn of the game. To be honest, though, even if Rogers-341 had been able to hold the bunker, UNSC losses would have still ensured defeat.
It wasn't a close game, but dang it was fun, as usual. Zorper and I have yet to play a game of Ground Command that is a runaway victory on either side. Usually a nail-biter down to the end.
I'm planning our next games day back at Collectormania on 15 April. Will try to get our standard two 4x6 tables. Come out and join us if you can!
