Cautious Kendrat
Next up in the league was a 250 point game of Last Resort, again on the airplane table. This time, I’m playing Jordan. I’ve been playing a lot on this table, mostly because it’s my travel table. I’m usually too tired to carry it up the stairs when I get home from a tournament, so I just leave it in the garage by the car… this means it’s usually the table I throw in the car when we need an extra one for game night. We’ve changed it up a bit by adding some quonset huts this time.
Overview
- Mission: Last Resort
- Forces: Tohaa versus Kosmoflot (250)
- Deploy First: Tohaa
- First Turn: Tohaa
We’re playing Last Resort, which is Adam (TheDiceAbide)’s take on Unmasking. Basically instead of deploying HVTs, you deploy three impersonation tokens, one of which is the target with the other two being decoys. This is to multiple spies and suspicious persons embedded in a shared environment.
Each player gets points for discovering your opponents impersonated HVTs. You have a special trooper which gets +3 to Discover and Biometric Visor and you get points for keeping it alive, and you get points for absconding with the enemy decoy in CivEvac state. Your opponent gets points for preventing this by… terminating the contract of their target. For the details, check out the RCR 5 missions:
I’m straight up cheating at this mission by playing Tohaa–they have the exact set of tools required to excel at this mission: Kaauri Sentinels. I took four of them, two of them with the Mirroroball Pheroware, which is key for getting them where they need to go, and two of them to power a Diplomat. I decided to play a shell game with Tohaa impersonators–you can choose to deploy the HVTs as either IMP-1 or IMP-2 tokens, so I figured I’d deploy them all as the lower-grade of impersonation token to really fake Jordan out.
Last Resort
GROUP 1
10
1
GROUP 2
KAMAEL (Paramedic) Combi Rifle ( | MediKit) / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 14)
SUKEUL K1 Sniper Rifle / Pistol, Breaker Pistol(+1B), CC Weapon. (1.5 | 30)
KAAURI Sentinel Combi Rifle, E/M Mines, Pheroware Tactics: Mirrorball / Pistol, PARA CC Weapon(-6). (0.5 | 16)
JAAN STAAR Light Shotgun, Shock Mines / Viral Pistol(+1B), CC Weapon. (1 | 31)
GREIF-OP (Surprise Attack [-3], Impersonation [IMP-2]) Combi Rifle, D-Charges / Breaker Pistol(+1B), CC Weapon. (1 | 21)
KENDRAT Vulkan Shotgun, Chest Mines / DA CC Weapon, Heavy Pistol. (0 | 22)
KOTAIL Combi Rifle(+1B) / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 31)
IGAO Combi Rifle, Nanopulser, Pheroware Tactics: Mirrorball / Pistol, DA CC Weapon. (0.5 | 28)
1
DIPLOMATIC (CC Attack [-3], Specialist Operative]) Nanopulser, Flash Pulse, Pheroware Tactics: Eraser / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 5)
5 SWC | 250 Points | Open in Army | Copy Code
After my 200 point game of Supply Drop, I decided I needed a more consistent support package. I threw in the Sukuel K1 sniper powered by a pair of Kamael. I want to make the Kotail work, so I keep taking it. Ditto for Kendrat. The Igao is the ultimate cheat code for the mission because it starts near the HVTs and it can in ARO drop an eclipse zone, totally preventing the discovery of the HVT.
Jordan is rocking Kosmoflot for this league, and he’s got a full Volkolak ML/Rokot link and Wallace guarded by a pair of Varangians. The rest of the list is where all the tools are, with Pavel, Uxia, a Cateran, and the Polaris team.
Jordan (sprocketgx)
GROUP 1
WALLACE (Lieutenant) T2 Rifle(+1 Dam), Light Shotgun, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, EXP CC Weapon. (0 | 35)
VARANGIAN Chain Rifle, Smoke Grenades / Heavy Pistol, AP CC Weapon. (0 | 9)
GROUP 2
VOLKOLAK Missile Launcher, Chain-colt(+1B), Grenades / Heavy Pistol, AP CC Weapon. (1.5 | 40)
ROKOT (Paramedic) Submachine Gun, Grenades ( | MediKit) / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 11)
PAVEL McMANNUS Ohotnik, Chain-colt, Shock Mines, D-Charges / Pistol, T2 CC Weapon. (0 | 32)
UXÍA McNEILL (Specialist Operative) Boarding Shotgun, D-Charges, Smoke Grenades / Assault Pistol(+1B), AP CC Weapon. (0 | 27)
CATERAN T2 Sniper Rifle / Pistol, AP CC Weapon. (1 | 23)
IRMANDINHO Chain Rifle, D-Charges, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, AP CC Weapon. (0 | 8)
POLARIS TEAM undefined / undefined. (0 | 32)
POLARIS BEARPODE Chain Rifle(+1 Dam, +1B), Grenades, Smoke Grenades / AP CC Weapon, Trench-Hammer. (0 | 23)
2.5 SWC | 250 Points | Open in Army | Copy Code
Deployment
I was deploying first, and I felt pretty good about pushing with the actual impersonators. I set up the two Decoys on the left protected by a Kauuri SMG. Jan Staar went in the middle to make an attack run, and then the Greif went on the right to screen the actual Target with a Kauuri backstopping it and a Igao ready to cover it with a mirrorball template if something walked by. I set up the 2 Kauuri combis in the middle as my HVT hunters, and then the Kosuil went on the left with the Sukeul on the right covering the under-wing approach. The Kosuil was disguised as a Makaul for fun and profit.
Jordan stuck Wallace and friends in the trees on the left, and then the Volkolak and Rokots in the middle with the Volkolak obviously out to ARO. His HVTs are strung out with the Target all the way on my left, his right. Pavel is in the middle to do stuff, and the Cateran protects the approach to Wallace and guards the back side of the Rokots.
Then Jordan puts down Inspector Bear and Jenny Sitzincorner, aka the Polaris Team. I put down Kendrat as my reserve in the middle, and Uxia is his near my Target. Ruh Roh. Jordan chooses the Bearpode as the Special Master, which is just hilarious and I choose Kendrat for funsies.
Turn 1
Top of 1 – Tohaa
Jordan takes two orders from my main pool. I know I basically have one window to take out the Bear, and if I do, he loses all access to Biometric Visor and +3 discover. If I can do this, then the amount of pressure on me drops a lot. Jan Staar pushes forward past all the AROs and just parks around the corner from Inspector Bear, who delays. I reveal to viral pistol and Inspector Bear chucks a grenade. I do a wound but Inspector Bear is still up.
Another round of shooting finishes off Inspector Bear, only a few days before his retirement.
Now I can double template the controller and the Cateran. We’re playing with Saturation Zones and low vis, but the Cateran dodges making it a legal target so I can use full burst on Jan Staar’s shotgun. The Controller templates back, and I take them both out with Jan Staar passing ARM.
I set up Kendrat near my Decoys to help, move the Kaauri SMGs into positions actually covering the HVTs, and throw them into suppression. The Diplomat scoots forward to be annoying in the midfield on the next turn, and Jaan Star re-impersonates before I pass turn.
Bottom of 1 – Kosmoflot
I’m definitely breaking away with a solid material and toolkit advantage now. Jordan is definitely going to be playing from behind this turn. He lets the Irmandinho impetuous forward, throwing a Panzerfaust at my Diplomat from its Booty roll. We both whiff.
We’ve talked about Jordan’s doggedness in attempting to paramedic models, and this game is no different. He wants to bring the Cateran back to have another gun, which is reasonable. Unfortunately he keeps whiffing the shot with the MediKit, and this drains quite a few orders and keeps the link awkwardly stuck in his deployment zone only to eventually fail the PH roll and kill the Cateran.
Still, the Volkolak is a threat, and it tries to take out my Special Master Kendrat for those points and takes the “free” burst split on my Diplomat. I don’t want to deal with this and keep dodging Kendrat away further into the trees. Even though the Volkolak is technically immune to flash pulse, I can still win the face to face, which I do, keeping the Diplomat alive.
Jordan keeps forcing the issue, and the short range and low vis zones keep my stuff alive.
The Rokots end up a little bunched up here, which is not good for Jordan. He spends all his orders in the second pool moving Pavel closer to my Decoys and then passes turn.
Turn 2
Top of 2 – Tohaa
I can’t be letting the Volkolak take shots on my stuff, and I suspect I’ll get more mileage out of Jordan firing the missile into trees at short range than actually trying to kill the Volkolak. My plan is to mirrorball the Volkolak this turn and then do the mission. The Igao moves to do this and gets discovered by one of the Varangians.
No matter. I’m here to mirrorball the Volkolak, which I do.
I send in the Kaauri sentinel and easily discover the Target.
Pavel’s nearby, so I don’t want to run the Kaauri out just yet. I figure I can push the Diplomat into the Rokots and do some damage to Jordan’s order pool. I dodge into view of Pavel to not grant an ARO on my second short skill…
and then trade the Diplomat for one of the Rokots. Not a great trade.
I had hoped to take out more to free up the Kaauri to move, but I just force the issue with the Kaauri itself and clear the way with its combi.
I get to the HVT and CivEvac it, but Pavel reveals and drops a mine to pin the Kaauri.
I’d like to take out Pavel, so I move the Kaauri directly away from it and try to take him out through the low-vis zone. We whiff there but the Irmandinho’s panzerfaust does not! I was hoping it would miss on a coin flip, but sometimes it doesn’t work out.
I briefly think about dodge-clearing the mine with Kendrat, but think better of it and try to preserve my points by retreating her further into the trees.
Bottom of 2 – Kosmoflot
Jordan plays to the objective and moves Pavel to to see one of my Decoys, forcing the Igao into cover on the way.
Pavel fails to discover the Decoy thanks to the low-vis zone…
and I dodge my Kauuri SMG out to see Pavel and threaten a nanopulsar.
The Volkolak tries to missile the Kaauri, but I dodge, and the Igao mirrorballs to discourage further attempts.
Thoroughly annoyed, the Volkolak whips a grenade at the Igao through the smoke and knocks it out. Drat.
Jordan keeps on Medikitting and kills another Rokot.
There’s a slight angle that Jordan can see my remaining Kaauri combi through, so he takes a shot. I return fire with the combi. Thankfully the other Kaauri is just out of template range. We both whiff.
The Volkolak tries to discover the actual target and fails, thanks to the low viz zone. What a punishing table for this mission! I keep firing at the Volkolak with the Kaauri with no effect.
The Volkolak takes the high ground, climbing up on the plane fuselage and splits burst between the two Kaauri, killing neither.
Pavel makes a push and tries to discover a Decoy, tanking the nanopulsar from the Kaauri while Kendrat dodges. I’m really just trying to keep her alive for the points at this point.
Turn 3
Top of 3 – Tohaa
My objective now is to secure the target and then deal with as many of Jordan’s forces as possible. The Kaauri SMG manages to take out Pavel, finally.
Jan Staar leaves his hidey hole in the trees and CivEvacs the Target to safety… in Jordan’s deployment zone? Seems fine.
I get the Greif behind the Volkolak and take shots with breaker pistols, but Jordan can’t fail a save on this guy today, it seems.
I settle for taking out a Rokot with the Kaauri on the right side, but fail to get through it’s ARM save.
I climb the Sukuel on top of a quonset hut and take a shot, dropping the Rokot Paramedic.
I then break the link and try to remove the Volkolak with my Kamael Lt. I hit, but again, Jordan makes his save.
Bottom of 3 – Kosmoflot
Jordan wants to get some points on the scoreboard, so he retreats the Volkolak, firing at my Lieutenant and the Kaauri SMG on the right as he does so ineffectually.
He makes it all the way over to the Decoys and discovers both while my forces take repeated shots on him without doing anything.
I decide to dodge Kendrat into view and challenge him to stop him from discovering the Decoy.
Uxia makes a play, getting discovered by a Kaauri on the way in.
She tries to discover the target but gets gunned down after failing the roll.
Jordan and I then agree to have a slap fight with Kendrat and the Volkolak after it discovers the last Decoy. Kendrat wins, but of course the Volkolak passes ARM.
That’s game.
7-4, 161-109 Tohaa Victory!
Post Game Analysis
This mission, this table, and Tohaa is just such a match made in heaven (of threes! how appropriate). I don’t think it was really all that possible for Jordan’s Kosmo list to do very well on this mission on this table, especially after Inspector Bear met his untimely end. Had I made the most optimal play of using the stronger impersonation state and given up on the shell game, it’s likely that Jordan might not have scored any points. He would have been on a net -6 after the low-vis zone to discover, even at close range, and he would have had to do it twice.
I do think that Inspector Bear was a good and fun choice for the Special Master–mobile and tough helps a lot… but I knew it would be a problem and removed the option for him. I think in this particular case we can point to the lists as the key reason for the victory. I had an abundance of tools that were not affected by the additional handicap of the low vis zones on the table, and Jordan had basically none, aside from the one the mission gives you. This is definitely a mission that demands list building attention. Anything with MSV would have helped a lot–this is actually a pretty good case for using MSV1 Uxia out of camo to be the special master, especially if you’re going first.
Jordan made a valiant effort to use the Volkolak, but the missile profile simply can’t output enough dice to be a reliable attack piece, especially once you get within that 24″ rangeband. He hadn’t expected to need it, but I’m also unsure as to what the plan for the first group was–maybe moving Pavel or Uxia into that group early on and getting some utility there would have been helpful. In fact, I think that’s probably the big miss here by Jordan. Ignoring the disparity of the lists and the additional help I got from the table, he could have just moved Uxia into group 1 and started getting work done. Of course I have complete knowledge now–there was now way for him to know that the HVT by Uxia was my Target, but he could have guessed.
On that note–my careful dodging around with Kendrat read to him like I was trying to defend my target, and one of the two Decoys must have been the real thing. I of course was just regretting putting Special Master on Kendrat and not the Kotail, because I couldn’t let her die and therefore couldn’t use her! So not a very big brained play by me, but it threw up enough of a distracting smoke screen for Jordan to commit forces over there. Also, he probably would have had to move both Uxia and Pavel to Group 1 (and should have), because moving Uxia would have starved Pavel of orders. One alternative is move one, do a bujnch of stuff, then the next turn move the other. Then the ML is doing what it’s supposed to do–keeping me pinned, presumably, and the infiltrators can do what they’re supposed to do.
Anyway, thanks to Jordan for a great game, especially one where he’s fighting from a severe disadvantage by not having Kaauri Sentinels. Tohaa are really silly sometimes. Thanks for reading.
