CRISIS IN THE ATLANTIC!
An independent exploration team, scouring the seafloor of the South Atlantic, has located a cache of valuable sturginium crystals in the middle of the Parker Island Group. Unfortunately, both the Grand Coalition and Imperial Bond were holding fleet exercises in waters nearby, and the exploration team's wireless transmissions were intercepted by both Coalition and Bond radio operators. Our correspondent embedded on the Coalition's flagship says both fleets are now bearing down at flank speed on this lonely corner of the ocean, ready to stake their claim--by massed broadside, if necessary--to this incredible strategic asset...
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OK, we're on for Collectormania in Parker this Saturday, 21 March. A few of us will be there right at 1000 to reserve the table, but I would like us to try to start rolling dice by 1130 if possible.
The scenario will be "capture and hold". We will set up islands in a large ring in the center of the table. The islands will be big enough that nothing can shoot over them/see over them except aerial models (and any models that can conduct indirect fire, provided they have a spotter).
Forces will be arrayed as Grand Coalition vs Imperial Bond. Any Free Nations forces will be divided up between the GC and IB fleets so we have an even number of players on both sides (or as close as possible).
Each player will field one "battlegroup" of up to 550 points (if you have to go over by a few points, that's OK, but let's try to keep it at 550). Battlegroup composition must follow these rules:
-must be a core aerial or a core naval force
-can consist of core aerial with naval support, or core naval with aerial support; not required to have both aerial and naval models (so all naval or all aerial models are fine)
-core force must contain at least one small, one medium, and one large/massive squadron
-each battlegroup can contain any mix of IB or GC models, ignoring minor power "close ally" rules (see page 135 in the admiral's edition [non-hardback] of the DW 2.0 rules for a list of fleets for each faction)
-battlegroups cannot mix IB and GC models
-each battlegroup can bring one SAS squadron in support, in addition to any SAS models provided by carriers in the battlegroup
In order to speed up play, each activation will consist of one GC and one IB player activating a squadron from their battlegroup, as long as they are not targeting each other's models and the simultaneous activations won't interfere with the activating squadrons' firing phase. Also, we will not use TAC cards or National Commodore Abilities.
Victory conditions:
The objective for each fleet is to control the center of the board, inside the island ring. At the end of each turn, the fleet with the majority of models in the center (at least 5 ships more than the opposing fleet, naval or aerial) will be awarded points as follows:
1 point for each small squadron (must be at least half of its starting strength)
2 points for each medium squadron (must be at least half of its starting strength)
3 points for each large/massive model (must have at least half of its hull points remaining)
If neither fleet has a majority, no points will be awarded to either fleet for that turn.
We will play for 7 turns, or until one fleet becomes combat ineffective, or until we run out of time.
What you need to bring:
-One battlegroup for either the Grand Coalition or the Imperial Bond. If you want to bring one of each, in order to jump in on either side, that's fine (I'll likely have a battlegroup built for both fleets just in case).
-Dice, tape measure, and Dystopian Wars tokens. If you are lacking any of these, that's OK, other players can likely help you out.
-ACTIVATION MARKERS. We're probably going to have a LOT of squadrons on the board, so it will be vital to mark which squadrons have been activated. I don't care what you use--Litko markers, beads, pebbles, dice, shrunken skulls, whatever. Just bring something that will work for this requirement.
-Dystopian Wars 2.0 rulebook, if you have one.
-Statistics for the models that make up your battlegroup. Remember to bring the stats to cover ALL the factions you will have in your battlegroup, in case you are mixing factions.
We'll probably organize a pizza delivery at some point in the afternoon for anyone who is interested, so bring cash if you'd like to pitch in for that. Also, if you've not been to Collectormania before, they have snacks and sodas on site (cans of soda are $0.50, I think).
That's it! If you have any questions, drop them in the thread here or send me a PM. Hope to see as many people as possible on Saturday!
