Underdone Overdron
Following my pretty disjointed and non-committal game against Tim (Chainsaw), Frank (fwashburn) generously offered his time as well to help me playtest.
I’m confident that the list isn’t the problem, I’m just bad at the game or something, or at least worse at it than Tim, lol! I did have one very minor tweak, which was to change the Kaitok to the chain rifle version, allowing me to get another Ikadron into the order pool. I resolved to try again, this time against Frank’s ISS.
Overview
- Mission: ITS13 Supremacy
- Forces: Combined Army versus Imperial Service (300)
- Deploy First: Combined Army
- First Turn: Combined Army
The list is the very similar to the last game, but I’ll recap quickly. Bit and Kiss amplify the power of the Anathematic, the Caliban supports the Overdron and can do some serious damage on its own, and the Rindak does Rindak things. I had intended to be very aggressive with the Kaitok, but was prepared to use it in a more defensive role depending on the table and the way the game developed.
Santa is Coming to Town
GROUP 1
9
1
GROUP 2
ANATHEMATIC (Lieutenant, Hacker, Hacking Device [UPGRADE: Trinity (+1B)]) Plasma Rifle, Nanopulser ( ) / Pistol, Shock CC Weapon. (0.5 | 76)
OVERDRON Plasma Sniper Rifle(+1B) / Shock CC Weapon. (1.5 | 58)
STALDRON Flash Pulse / CC Weapon. (0 | 0)
CALIBAN (Engineer, Deactivator) Submachine Gun, Pulzar, D-Charges ( | GizmoKit) / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 28)
RINDAK (Paramedic, Forward Deployment [+8″]) Boarding Shotgun, Blitzen(+1B) / Heavy Pistol, PARA CC Weapon. (0 | 35)
GREIF-OP (Surprise Attack [-3], Impersonation [IMP-2]) Combi Rifle, D-Charges / Breaker Pistol(+1B), CC Weapon. (1 | 21)
Bit (Hacker], Killer Hacking Device [UPGRADE: Oblivion]) Submachine Gun, Pitcher ( | Deployable Repeater]) / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0.5 | 21)
KAITOK Chain Rifle(+2B), Flammenspeer / Heavy Pistol(+1B), CC Weapon. (0 | 22)
IKADRON (Baggage, Repeater) Light Flamethrower(+1B), Flash Pulse / Pistol, PARA CC Weapon(-3). (0 | 9)
4
TAIGHA Chain-colt / AP + Shock CC Weapon. (0 | 5)
3.5 SWC | 299 Points | Open in Infinity Army
Frank’s list is quite efficient. He’s got a Kuang Shi core powering a Su Jian and a Hsien, Zhanying Hacker and CSU haris. The other group has Lunah, an all-Dakini Haris, and a “spare tire” for the Dakini as Frank put it. Lunah is also in there for additional pew pew.
Imperial Service
GROUP 1
CELESTIAL GUARD Monitor Combi Rifle, Smoke Grenade Launcher / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0.5 | 13)
KUANG SHI Chain Rifle / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 5)
SÙ-JIÀN Heavy Shotgun(+1B), Panzerfaust / Heavy Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 50)
HSIEN (Lieutenant) MULTI Marksman Rifle, Nanopulser ( | TinBot: Firewall [-6]) / Pistol, AP CC Weapon. (+1 | 53)
ZHÀNYING (Hacker, Hacking Device) Breaker Combi Rifle, Chain-colt, D-Charges ( ) / Pistol, PARA CC Weapon(-6). (0.5 | 25)
CSU (Specialist Operative) Breaker Combi Rifle, Nanopulser(+1B) / Pistol, PARA CC Weapon(-6). (0 | 15)
GROUP 2
PANGGULING (Hacker, EVO Hacking Device) ( ) / PARA CC Weapon(-3). (0.5 | 15)
MAJOR LUNAH VIRAL Sniper Rifle / Pistol, CC Weapon. (1.5 | 29)
XI ZHUANG Combi Rifle, Light Flamethrower(+1B), Flash Pulse, Madtraps / Pistol, CC Weapon, PARA CC Weapon(-6). (0 | 21)
DAKINI MULTI Sniper Rifle / PARA CC Weapon(-3). (1.5 | 20)
5.5 SWC | 297 Points | Open in Infinity Army
Deployment
I lost the rolloff and Frank took deployment. I really wanted to take second turn, but I didn’t think I could handle a Su Jian alpha very well. I decided to go first and deployed appropriately. I held the Greif and the Overdron in reserve, then set up the Ikadron and Taigha to defend against a Garuda dropping in. The Rindak and Caliban sat next to objectives, and I placed the Kaitok on the left, figuring I had more opportunities to push it aggressively forward on that side.
I forgot to mark the Anathematic on the picture, but it’s prone on the ground floor in the center of my deployment zone. I figured I’d have an opportunity to get stuck in with it if I wanted. Bit and Kiss went right in front of it to throw pitchers. That was my big plan. The turret from the scenario went up high to see my entire deployment zone–no Garuda, thank you very much.
Frank castled his Kuang Shi on his left, figuring they would be mostly safe there from things like the Kaitok. A Taigha or two would be no problem. The Dakini went on the opposite side of the table, presumably to slow the advance of the Kaitok along with Xi Zhuang. Lunah covered that same approach from a different angle, and then the turret and Hsien haris anchored the middle of Frank’s deployment zone with everything tucked away safely.
I deployed the Overdron in a way that would allow me to challenge Lunah and the Dakini quickly, but that ended up stacking up a lot of firepower on the side with the Kaitok. I was also a little concerned because the Caliban was on the left side so the TAG was sort of forced to be there. I was particularly proud of my next placement, which was the Greif in a position where no one could see it except for Lunah, and I’d be in cover and Lunah would not, within 16″.
Frank deployed the Su Jian prone on a roof and out of LoF of basically any part of the table. With that, we were off.
Turn 1
Top of 1 – Combined Army
I knew I had to advance into my quadrants or I’d have trouble, so I pushed the Overdron forward and aced the Dakini sniper. So far so good.
Lunah was next on the chopping block, but I figured I’d use my clever play with the Greif. I’ve got 3 on 14s versus one on 7s, which feels quite good. I unfortunately immediately get crit and fail all 3 saves. Not very auspicious now.
The CSU was on the way to Lunah with the Overdron and shockingly passed 2 plasma saves. It had rolled total immunity but plasma doesn’t care.
Lunah was less lucky and was obliterated by the Overdron.
At this point I see an opportunity to template Xi Zhuang off of his madtrap which wasn’t carefully placed enough. I hit twice but Xi Zhuang passed all 4 plasma saves. Throughly irritated, I attempt to push the button the Rindak is standing next to and fail. He does make it to the roof and can see the Su Jian with his Blitzen if the Su Jian stands up, so that’s good.
I clear out the turret on the Overdron’s way back, and settle in for a fight.
I land some pitchers next to the Su Jian and on the advance path of many of Frank’s power pieces… but I’m too scared to reveal the Anathematic with its Lieutenant order to try and Isolate the Su Jian, especially with the Hsien’s Tinbot -6.
Frustrated and a little demoralized, I pass turn.
Bottom of 1 – ISS
Frank sets up smoke with the Kuang Shi team to rescue the Hsien from the watchful eye of the Overdron and move the link into the nearest quadrant. He also smokes up the Rindak’s view of the Su Jian.
The Panguling EVO buffs the Dakini HMG with assisted fire and Frank reforms the Dakini like with Xi Zhuang.
I attempt a hack on the Hsien as it moves around with both Bit and the Anathematic, but the Tinbot protects him. Before Frank continues, he uses Xi to quickly dispatch my two repeaters. Whoops. Didn’t see that angle. I blame TTS and its tunnel vision and not my incompetence. That’s the story and I’m sticking with it!
The Dakini HMG attempts to remove the Overdron but only manages to do one wound with almost all of its order pool. It does manage to down a Taigha though. The Hsien is pretty pinned and wants to get into a better position in its near quadrant. It and the link were prone and using one of the consoles as cover. He elects to YOLO and coordinate an order with the Hsien, the Su Jian, the Zhanying, and the CSU to all shoot at the Overdron. I beat the members of the link, killing the CSU, doing a wound to the Hsien, but not scratching the Zhanying. The Su Jian unfortunately hits the Overdron, and I lose two wounds, KOing the Overdron.
With the Overdron down, the Dakini HMG forces the Kaitok into cover.
Turn 2
Top of 2 – Combined Army
We tie on quadrants, so no points. I have some Taigha in striking distance of the Kuang Shi link so I make the attempt. I misjudge the distance on the first Taigha and am out of chain colt range. I can’t dodge that many bullets and I lose the Taigha.
There’s another Taigha on the other side of the table that dodges closer against the Su Jian’s boarding shotgun.
The last Taigha on the right sneaks closer and then I can start pushing hard. I get into view of the Zhanying and try to chain colt, but it passes ARM.
Tim has been lurking in our TTS game and suggests I get the Anathematic involved, so I oblige and and push forward.
The Su Jian dodges prone as I keep moving, but I get smoked out by the Celestial Guard as I attempt to plasma it down. This lets me dodge a Taigha into view…
and berserk it. It passes ARM and the Taigha definitely, definitely dies.
The Caliban fails to push the button, but does manage to pick the Overdron back up with a Gizmokit.
The Hsien is in range of a repeater though, so I spend my last two orders isolating it with the Anathematic as I retreat to a more reasonable position.
Bottom of 2 – ISS
Frank’s in loss of lieutenant and spends a two orders trying to down the Overdron again. I pass something silly like 10 ARM saves, so Frank gives up.
The Su Jian fails to take out my last Taigha, which is great.
Xi throws a MadTrap to threatenthe Overdron and then retreats a little.
He moves the Panguling into the quadrant, eating a Blitzen from the Rindak.
Frank then drops the Overdron with the Hsien’s order, although I do pass my MadTrap save.
Turn 3
Top of 3 – Combined Army
I send in my last Taigha to beserk the Zhanying, but lose it to fire from the Su Jian and the Zhanying, who of course passes armor.
I pick up the Overdron again, and immediately lose it to a bad fight with the Hsien. How irritating.
I try to get the Kaitok involved but take a wound from the Hsien’s ARO.
The Caliban finally gets its console, and the Anathematic gets the Rindak’s. That’s all I’ve got. I can’t get anything else with the orders.
Bottom of 3 – ISS
The Kaitok is forced prone by the Dakini HMG.
Xi Zhuang tries to push up, so I dodge the Caliban into view to threaten a Pulzar. The Dakini Paramedic can’t finish it off…
but the HMG can.
Frank grabs two consoles and pushes the Hsien into one of my quadrants with the orders he’s got left.
This makes it a
4-2, 233-172 Imperial Service Victory!
Post Game Analysis
Frank is a delight but man that was a frustrating game of multiple low probability dice rolls. I could have done better tactically, of course. Being more aggressive with the Kaitok, pushing harder with the Anathematic, etc. Frank was very convinced post game that I should have just YOLOed the Anathematic into the Kuang Shi, which is something I just disagree with. I’m not against YOLO plays with the Anathematic, although I fully admit that I’m too scared right now with it. I am, however, against pushing an Anathematic into multiple chain rifles. ARM 5 is good but templates just negate the vis mods entirely.
I think given the matchup, I should expect a Hsien, Lunah, and a Su Jian, maybe a Lu Duan or Ru Shi. Most of those things are weak to my Ikadron/Bit repeater net, and I have an Overdron which negates their MSV. I think the huge misplay here is just that I went first. I have the tools to both defend in depth with Taigha and quality hacking AROs, and all of ISS’s main attack pieces outside a Wu Ming link have MSV, which the Overdron punishes.
The Dakini are a threat, but we learned that ARM 6 in cover is a pretty solid order drain on DAM 15 weapons. I think basically I can withstand the alpha much better than I did Tim’s, mostly because of ISS’s difficulty accessing AP weapons, and then I can put some very chonky boys into quadrants and get an early point lead. Frank has that option instead of me, and he’s got enough linked stuff or just chonk to out point me in some scenarios.
Given the fact that I went first though, what I should have done was push Bit and Kiss forward immediately after taking out Lunah with the Overdron, and then spend whatever orders I had left hacking things with the Anathematic. It’s not great, but it’s better than what I did, although I did feel pretty good about my MadTrap plan. I think it was too cheeky and and overextension, as funny as it was.
I probably had enough orders to isolate the Su Jian and maybe kill the Zhanying, which lets the Rindak possibly hunt the Hsien. Super unsatisfying game as I felt I made reasonable decisions. Definitely had some suboptimal plays but nothing catastrophic Just had some bad dice and then it just snowballed. I didn’t get enough murder done either, as you can tell by remaining VP. Some good lessons learned, which was the point of the exercise. A big thanks to Tim and Frank for helping me practice!
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