28mm Battle Report: Star Wars - Envelopment On Jakku

HAN SOLO AND CHEWBACCA TAKE ON THE STORMTROOPERS OF THE GALACTIC EMPIRE

This game was played using some homemade rules and takes place upon my usual 2x2 gaming board. For simplicity's sake we used some pre-painted "Star Wars" miniatures by "Wizards Of The Coast" which have just been re-based. The battlefield was populated with a variety of pre-painted scenery produced by “Gale Force Nine”, most notably several Badlands rocks and a couple of toxic pools. We actually used the scenario “Envelopment” from the “Bolt Action” wargames rulesbook by “Warlord Games”, as it provided us with a Rebel force trying to resist an envelopment by Stormtroopers. The Imperial Forces would be the attacker and score 1 victory point for every enemy unit destroyed, plus two points for each model that finished within 6 inches of the northern table edge. The Galactic Empire would get three points for each model which actually moved off the table edge by the end of the game; either Turn Six or Turn Seven. The Rebels simply scored two victory points for every enemy model they destroyed.

THE TABLETOP - THE DESERT OF THE PLANET JAKKU

“The story so far… Desperate to keep control of the planet Jakku the Imperial Forces based there have started to try and sweep the deserts clean of any rebels. Needing time to evacuate a nearby village before they are massacred, Han Solo and Chewbacca lead a party of Rebel soldiers in a desperate mission to temporarily hold up the Galactic Empire. But the Emperor’s elite soldiers are well-armed and confident in their mission. So for once the Force may not necessarily be with the roguish scoundrel and his Wookie companion…

 The Rebellion’s forces are made up of Squad Organa in the north-west, Han with Chewbacca in the north and Squad Antilles in the north-east. The Imperial forces consist of Squad Vader in the south-west, Squad Tarkin in the centre and Squad Tagge in the south-east.

SOME KIND OF LOCAL TROUBLE - THE REBELLION PREPARE THEIR POSITONS

Turn One saw a general advance north by the stormtroopers, with Squad Tagge approaching the south-eastern rock formation known as The Hutt. Knowing that their DH-17 pistols lacked the range of their Imperial adversaries the rebels split up around the various northern rock formations. Whilst the former-smugglers decided to move past the eastern edge of the cluster of rocks in front of them.

YOU BIG FURRY OAF - HAN SOLO AND CHEWBACCA LEAD THE REBEL FORCES

Turn Two had Squad Tarkin split in half, with two of its stormtroopers heading towards Jabba’s Thumb and the others moving to the southern edge of the large toxic pool. Squad Tagge also split in two around The Hutt. Whilst Squad Vader, carrying the name and expectations of the Sith himself, moved north in a typically professional manner, as two soldiers stood their ground providing covering fire as their colleague moved forward. This would be a strategy the Imperial warriors would employ throughout the battle and immediately reaped a reward as a rebel from Squad Organa was felled. In response the rebels scrambled to find better firing positions just north of the large toxic pool as well as along the eastern edge of the battlefield. Relying upon the longer range of Chewbacca’s bowcaster, Han Solo moved south towards Jabba’s Thumb. With a growl the Wookie fired at one of the stormtroopers from Squad Tarkin, and although the elite soldier’s white armour deflected one bolt, a second shot took him down.

REBELLION 2 VICTORY POINTS - GALACTIC EMPIRE 1 VICTORY POINT

Turn Three saw Chewbacca firing again as Solo reached the northern edge of Jabba’s Thumb. Unfortunately the Imperial forces' high grade plastoid armour kept the stormtroopers safe from the Wookie’s shots. Across the large toxic pond Squad Organa started to blaze away at their formidable foes, but were still out of range. Squad Antilles moved south to form a small line around the edge of the small toxic pool. Whilst two of the rebels scuttled west to flank Solo. Squad Vader marched forwards again, with two stormtroopers firing as the others advanced. Fortunately the Force was with the members of Squad Organa crouched down by the large toxic pool, as all the shots missed. Equally as bad shots were the soldiers of Squad Tagge in the south-west, as their laser-bolts whizzed all-about the rebels of Squad Antilles. Squad Tarkin however, decided to concentrate their fire upon the ‘traitors’ clustered around the large toxic pool and blasted two of them to bits. One of the stormtroopers even made a bead on the enormous Wookie and scored a hit.

REBELLION 2 VICTORY POINTS - GALACTIC EMPIRE 3 VICTORY POINTS

Pressing home their advantage Turn Four started with Squad Tarkin pressing north, firing at both Chewbacca and Han Solo but without any success. Squad Vader and Squad Tagge also advanced, realising they still had a long way to go if they were to successfully envelope the ‘rebel scum.’ Sensing the moment of truth was fast approaching when the Imperial line would crash into the rebel formations, Solo dropped back to try and bolster the troopers around him and as a result saw two stormtroopers fall beneath their enthusiastic shots. Chewbacca also fired at the stormtrooper who had wounded him, and brought the Imperial down. Unfortunately a depleted Squad Organa, seeing no less than six of the Emperor’s elite soldiers advancing towards their position, retreated north and hid behind a large(ish) rock formation in the north-west corner of the battlefield.

REBELLION 8 VICTORY POINTS - GALACTIC EMPIRE 3 VICTORY POINTS

Turn Five heralded another major advance north by the forces of the Galactic Empire. Their E-11 blaster rifles roared and scored another hit on Chewbacca and killed one of the rebels by the small toxic pool. In retaliation Squad Antilles moved south to try and push back the stormtroopers of Squad Tagge. Whilst Han gave Chewie a “Hey, It’s Me” grin and positioned himself in the centre of the battlefield. The great Wookie blasted another member of Squad Tarkin, essentially cutting the Imperial line in half.

REBELLION 10 VICTORY POINTS - GALACTIC EMPIRE 4 VICTORY POINTS

Believing this to be the final Turn (Six) and still being some way short of the Rebel line, the Imperials advanced further north once again, with Squad Tarkin providing the covering fire. With a roar of anguish the Wookie saw the captain of the Millennium Falcon suddenly topple having been hit by a torrent of laser fire. In the north-west the first stormtroopers of Squad Vader reached the rebel deployment line. Knowing they just had to hold on for a short time more, the rebels from Squad Antilles fired away at Squad Tagge and dispatched one of the Imperials’ number. At the other side of the battlefield, with a yell “For the Glory of House Organa” the two surviving rebels from Squad Organa charged into Squad Vader and clubbed one of the stormtroopers to the ground.

REBELLION 14 VICTORY POINTS - GALACTIC EMPIRE 5 VICTORY POINTS

Having rolled to establish whether the inhabitants of the local village had been evacuated, it was clear that the Rebellion needed a bit more time. So Turn Seven started with Squad Tarkin gunning down a rebel who was positioned in the centre of the table. The stormtroopers of Squad Vader launched an assault on the remnants of Squad Organa and battered one rebel to the dirt. However their celebrations were cut short as a vengeful Chewbacca blasted one of them with his crossbolter and another was bludgeoned by the remaining rebel trooper from Squad Organa.

Having counted up the victory points the Imperial Forces managed to obtain 7 points. But the Rebellion chalked up an impressive 16 points. Which according to the scenario gave them more than clear victory over the evil Galactic Empire.

For those interested in finding out a bit more about the new "Marvel Worldwide" adventures of Han Solo, Chewbacca and the Rebellion I have reviewed the first couple of issues from their latest comic book series here:

Star Wars #1     Star Wars #2     Star Wars #3