Dropzone Commander Tournament - Aftermath

Bloody hell that was an experience. Dropzone Commander is definately not just a pick and play game. I was pretty shell-shocked after my first 3 games of the tournament but I had seriously learnt a hell of alot about what my force can and cannot do.

The last 2 games on the sunday went alot better. Mixed fortunes but tactically and strategically I think I played alot better.


Game 1 - Military Complex Scenario vs Scourge (Chris Green)

Jesus these jellyhead gribblies are fast. This was my first entrance into the world of Dropzone, and I think I got a pretty good start. This mission was primarily objective based and the Scourge started so fast but I had a slight advantage over their skimmers as i had quite alot of Anti-Air stuff which negate the Skimmer's bonus when you shoot at them.

Chris was only just a bit more experienced at Dropzone than me and the game went back and forwards right to turn 6. At the end it was a Draw but I had destroyed quite alot more scourge than he had wiped of my PHR.

RESULT - DRAW


Game 2 - Ground Control Scenario vs Shaltari (David Bonner)

I was completely and utterly schooled in this game. Shaltari are a tough bunch of spiky aliens and have some insane units and  infantry. This scenario involved controlling board quarters. I came up against Davids heavy walker list, this had Jaguars, Coyotes, Dreamsnares, Ocelots and a Firedrake - I got wasted, I lacked mobility and even though I was putting serious damage on the walkers I just couldnt take enough down and just when I was close, the Shaltari passive saves negated the damage.

Unfortunately even though I got completely totalled I didnt enjoy the game as I could not get any rapport with my opponent. The conversation was just so dry and staid it became a slog and I dont mind getting beaten (especially in a game I have never really played) but I like to be able to have fun with my opponent. Ah well learning curve!

RESULT - HUGE LOSS

Game 3 - Take and Extract Scenario vs UCM (Dean McGunigall)

Dean was brilliant to play against, friendly, enthusiastic and a cracking opponent. I voted him for  Best Sportsman and he did the same with me, at the prize giving he won the Best Sportsman and I am not surprised.

This mission involved a central Focal point and you score a victory point for being within 6" at the end of the game and another victory point if you had more points within 6". Right upto the last turn the game was neck and neck, with my PHR forces dropping UCM assests left and right.

Then it was a race to the centre. In a last ditch cinematic moment I swooped in with a Triton Troop Dropship to offload my Siren infantry to bolster my forces at the focal point but just as I crested a small building the UCM let rip with some devestating AA fire and sent it crashing into the ground. The Siren survivors crawled from the wreckage but were just out of 6" range. I was going to lose by one point.

Then I remember my Mercury Scout Drones even though being aerial assets could lend their points to a focal point!

RESULT - DRAW

Game 4 - Recon Scenario vs Shaltari (Stephen Jones)

Another great fun game with a cracking opponent. This game saw us fighting to gain Intel which was included in every building and could possible be an objective or a booby trap. Yet again I struggled with Shaltari first, as their ability to nip around the board using their gates completley overshadowed my lack of mobility. I constantly put the hurt on these red clad aliens and managed to destroy a considerable amount of the enemy.

The Shaltari had a few bad searches and managed to set of a couple of booby traps whilst my Immortals and Sirens had a run of luck and found objectives which were hastily recovered to the rear. The nummerical supremacy of the Shaltari infantry started to tell though and they managed to find objectives as well.

It all came down to the last two searches. Both my infantry units available were going to be CQB'd by Shaltari but had a chance to search. The first found Intel and survived the ensuing melee but the Immortals on the outskirts came across an Objective. All I had to do was survive. No chance, the Shaltari were Firstborns and massacred my Immortals, picked up the Objective and scarpered through a Gate.

RESULT - LOSS (just)

Game 5 - Secure the Flanks vs UCM (Dan Ewing)

Two Focal points and 3 Objectives in this game to contest over and an opponent who had the most appaling luck. I started the game with the best Command Card I could have started with - Underground Monorail. This enabled me to link the Objective held building closest to me with the Central building also housing an Objective.

I sent my infantry straight in and managed in a few turns to find and extract both Objectives quickly whilst seriously damaging the UMC forces, taking out 2 Gladius Heavy tanks one after the other with lucky hits from my Hyperion Sunspear laser.

My Phobos Anti-Air units shot down Starsprite Drones in droves and Dans Armoured battle group was mauled by my Odins.

Dan had sent his Infantry right into the building closest to him with an Objective but throughout the game failed every search roll and I continued to blast away at the building killing off his infantry and finally took that building and Objective as well totally tableing him 20-0!

RESULT - MASSIVE WIN

So overall W1 D2 L2 - not bad for my first foray into Dropzone and as said before some massive lessons learnt.

Just some of the fantastic forces used during the tournament

 



My PHR

PHR (Metallic Blue)
 

PHR (Urban Camo)

UCM

Scourge

Shaltari

Shaltari (Tournament Winners force)

UCM

Shaltari (Best Painted)

Scourge