Robot Wars

We played a test game to try out the Rogue Trader robot rules prior toa larger, GM’s game the Pontiff will hopefully be running soon (as soon as Captain Jack is off nights!) The battle was between a single Conqueror Class robot using the old Rogue Trader rules, versus Patrol Drake (with around 2000 gang rating’s worth of members). It was a fairly even match and the we added in various rules for random movement when the robot didn’t have a target, just so it didn’t just stand there doing nothing. The battle program worked well when it did have a target, to such an extent that anyone not hiding when in its frontal arc was pretty much dead!

+++CONTACT REPORT DKK-1O/Z+++

At 09.22 local, Patrol Drake answered a distress call from a bonded Archeo-logist operating in the wastes of the restricted Zone KK-12. They had no way of knowing what would await them.

What the patrol found was a mining site, from which had risen from amongst the wreckage of past wars a fully functional war-robot. The Archeo-logist had taken cover behind her machinery, while the robot lurched and shuddered in response to long-corroded programming.

The moment Drake’s patrol arrived, the robot targeted them with its autocannon, the blast knocking Corporal Drake to the ground and wounding Signaller Mak. Trooper Reko went to attend to Mak’s wound, but was initially driven back by the weight of fire, though he spent the remainder of the contact staunching Mak’s bleeding, before being wounded himself and dragged clear by Specialist Kiri.

Upon coming under fire, the remainder of the patrol split into two groups and advanced using the cover of vegetation. Lance Corporal Kash led a group of the local defence militia, working his way around to rescue the Archeo-logist, who they successfully exfiltrated.

The second group engaged the war-robot. Troopers Tyrik and Serik fetched melta guns from their transport and stalked the robot through the vegetation as it lurched about, seemingly at random, seeking to engage the stealthy targets. Trooper Tyrik closed and got off a shot, but the robot’s armour was proof against the blast and Tyrik was knocked to the ground and stunned as it landed a heavy blow upon him. Serik got off three melta gun blasts, damaging the robot, but was unable to defeat it before his weapon ran out of ammunition.

The Archeo-logist rescued, the patrol recovered its wounded, consolidated, and withdrew. Their primary rescue mission was complete, but it now seems there is a potent war-robot loose in the wastes. We have no way of knowing when it will turn up next.

Colonel Kane/Jeriko Reach Imperial Guard Garrison CO

The beast arrises!

The Archeo-logist is escorted to safety.

Robot hunting.

March of the Robot

Aerial recce of the battlefield.

March of the Robots

So, we're planning a game of Necromunda, with the gangs going up against the robots (using the old Rogue Trader rules found in the Warhammer 40,000 Compendium). Having looked at the rules and matching them to the miniature shown in the post below, we have a Conquerer, who with a standard load out and battle program will come out at around 200 points. When converting units from 1st/2nd edition 40k to Necromunda you want to apply a x10 points modifier to arrive at a rating (you can see this in action if you compare things in the 2nd ed codexes to the ratings of the same things in Necromunda), which gives a rating of around 2000 points. As it happens, that's about the value of Patrol Drake.

Only problem is a Conquerer has a Toughness of 8, which most gangs will struggle to harm unless they raid the quarter master's stores before hand. I reckon a couple of melta guns, with the rest of the gang running interferance should be fun. It may end up culling the gang down a bit, but that's fine with me and all part of the fun!

Colonel Kane

Oh yeah, I just noticed we have our first blog follower - hi Chickenbane! :-)

More peeks of things yet to come...

Here's some more of my rogue trader stuff I'm currently trying to paint up most the 87-88 range

Not amazing pics cos they are done with a camera phone.

Conqueror class war robot:






Some mercenaries to go with the above:







Some more garrison troops to go with the existing couple:



Imperial psyker/citizen (the eye looks really dodgy in some angles but it looks ok on the mini)

Astropath

WIP: Guilder Wide Wheeler 'Scree Buggy'

A semi civilian vehicle for government characters in the campaign.

Cant decide the colour scheme...

Either
All over sand

UN style White

Codex grey

Olive Drab

or

Sand and Olive camo

Disturbing Reports

+++++Intercepted Communication #Planet Jeriko Reach#+++++

+++Patrol Report #DELETED#+++

Colonel #DELETED#,
I have disturbing findings to report from the patrol into the equatorial belt, lead by Cpl Drake. They ran into more than just the expected Eldar Pirates, who were suspected of holding one of the Mining Guilds men in an abandoned tropical zone. This resulted in the possible death of at least one Guardsman, and the Guilder. There are also disturbing reports of troopers suffering inexplicable physical problems leading to the jailing of one Guardsman. We have limited Pict scans from the area, due to the aggressive nature of the local flora and fauna to the machine spirits on the equipment supplied #DELETED#.

From the outset there are inconclusive scans of two quicksilver mutants who over ran the pirate position in the first moments of the engagement. The Eldar were ripped to pieces before they could get a single shot off. The creatures identified as possible #DELETED# and were so fast that they caused the patrol severe difficulties to deal with at all. Unfortunately the Pict scans show #DELETED#; however the mutants caused enough of a distraction and allowed the tribesmen following time to get into favourable positions. From the ensuing fire fight several Guardsmen were knocked off their feet, and only the swift actions of the medic saved the patrol from destruction by healing Cpl Drake and several other members of the team.

Cpl Drake is to be commended for taking control of the situation, after his wounding. In decisively taking the fight to the enemy, enough casualties were caused to force the mutants to retreat. It appears they were broken after concentrated fire from the entire patrol and are suspected to be #DELETED#. No remains of the #DELETED# were found after the action, unfortunately. However one tribesman was captured and is currently imprisoned, and guarded by sanctioned Psykers along with the guardsman who suffered mysterious effects during the mission.

+++End of Intercept+++

My Lord, I believe this has to be of interest to you. Your knowledge of the splinter fleets can help us +++Transmission Lost. Unknown cause+++ pict files are currently being re-built

+++++End of Report+++++

The Horizon Grows Dark!

It would appear that Jeriko Reach is about to receive more unwelcome attention. Do you fear the wild lands? Well you should, as you might bump into this one monster gang!

The lead creature of the hive mind is slowly assessing the potential of the planet for the Hive's needs and what their alien minds will decide nobody knows.