Battle Report: Sir Dugdale Appears

Hi!

Following a skirmish between Wilson's Hussars and the Pirate force that has been plaguing the Canopian world of Rynn's Steading, word has gone out that there may be more of the marauders operating in the region. Operating from the settlement of Three Sisters a the freelance Mechwarrior Sir Dugdale in his venerable Goliath has set forth to find some action.

North of the Three Sisters, near the River Rumbling, Sir Dugdale encounters a group of enemy Mechs and decides to engage them despite being badly outnumbered, convinced of the heavy armour of his Goliath and skill.

Rynn's World Campaign Map

"Calling hostile Mechwarriors. This is Sir Dugdale. Power down your Mechs and Surrender or I will be forced to open fire!"

"Screw you oldtimer!"

Sir Dugdale V Red's Marauders

Sir Dugdale is represented by a single GOL-1H Goliath whilst the Marauders have a LCT-1V Locust, WSP-1A Wasp and an ASN-21 Assassin. 

Rules Used: Battletech basic and advanced from the 3rd edition rulebook.

The skirmish takes place in rolling, hilly country with several rivers and lakes as well at patches of scrubby woodland. The Goliath enters from the East and the Pirates from the West.

The game started with the lighter Pirate Mechs sprinting forward in an attempt to get their weapons into range and trusting to their speed to avoid the lumbering Goliath's weapons. Despite this, Sir Dugdale let rip with both his LRM10's at the rapidly moving Assassin. One salvo flies wide but the second scores a critical hit on the Pirate Mech's centre torso, damaging it's jump jets.

The subsequent turns saw the Pirates close with Dugdale and attempt to get into his rear arc where he cannot bring his weapons to bear and they can target his weaker rear armour. Several rounds of combat saw repeated light weapon hits to Dugdale's rear armour but he managed to hold his cool by retreating into the nearby lake and turning at bay.

The turning point of the game was when the Pirate pilot of the Locust slipped and fell whilst trying to maneuver into position atop a hill and in the following tumble succeeds in damaging his Mechs arm. Seizing the initiative, Dugdale lets rip with a full alphastike and blasts off the damaged limb and cores out the Locust's right torso.

Panic ensues with the Pirates who try to make a break for it but Dugdale fells the Assassin with a blistering attack that blows out the mech's centre torso and strips all remaining armour from it's legs.

With this the remaining Pirate withdraws after a failed strike into the doughty Goliath's rear, instead hitting the surrounding water. Seeing he will not be able to survive alone against such a heavy machine, the Mechwarrior flees leaving his lancemates.

 Smoking ruins!

Conclusion

Dugdale has claimed the downed Mechs as salvage and hopes that at least one can be put back into operation. Meanwhile Red's Marauders are reeling following the loss of three Mechs in a week and they need to either strike hard to grab as much loot as possible or retreat off world and seek easier prey.

Meanwhile there is rumour that Capellan Confederation agents are headed to Canopian space, supposedly for a trade deal but what else could the Coordinator be up to?

It was interesting to play a game with three light machines versus a lone heavy but in hindsight, I'd be tempted to go for some Mechs with a bit more punch such as a Panther as the Pirate force just couldn't do enough damage to the Goliath. 

All in all, the game took about an hour to play but I think I could have speeded it up if I hadn't been referring back to the rules to check on but it was really fun to game out!

I think Sir Dugdale will be getting a lancemate soon and the Pirates are going to strike back and then there's Wilson's Hussars, the Capellans and Canopian dissidents who aren't happy with the presence of mercenaries hired by the Magistrix...