28mm Battle Report: New York City High-Rise - Moon Knight & Howard The Duck Verses Stilt-Man & The Silver Samurai

HOWARD THE DUCK & MOON KNIGHT BATTLE STILT-MAN AND THE SILVER SAMURAI ATOP NEW YORK CITY

This test game was played essentially using the “Pillow A-Go-Go” ruleset, originally made available as a free PDF by Australian-based company “Fiendish Fabrications”. However as we’re planning on using it as the basis of a superhero verses villain campaign, a few modifications were made in order to start to give the “brutal pillow combat” more of a “Marvel Comics” feel. The battle took place on a rectangular 7” x 9.5” rooftop with a central chimney stack, created using some of the resin scenery from the Streetwise: Flatroof range by “Ainsty Castings”. 

“The story so far… Having tracked Wilbur Day across New York City following a series of bank robberies the masked vigilante Moon Knight has finally cornered his foe on top of a high-rise rooftop. Unfortunately however Stilt-Man was simply rendezvousing with his partner-in-crime, the Silver Samurai, and the rest of their gang. Offering a pray to his Egyptian deity Khonshu, Moon Knight is astonished to discover that the Master of Quack-Fu, Howard the Duck has also been tracking down the criminals. Determined to bring the villains to justice, the masked man and cigar-smoking bird decide to team-up…"

THE TABLETOP - A 7" x 9.5" ROOFTOP MADE FROM "AINSTY CASTINGS" RESIN SCENERY PIECES

Unlike the “Pillow A-go-go rules” where each of the combatants’ three attributes are allotted points in order to improve their statistics neither of the Silver Samurai’s two thugs were given any at all; although the Goon with a Crowbar was awarded the special ability of being able to knock his opponents back 2” when he hit them on account of his weapon. Howard the Duck was awarded one point for Defence and two points for Agility. Whilst Stilt-Man was given one point for Attack and twos points for Agility. As something of a more deadly villain, the Silver Samurai was not only allocated two points for Attack and one point for Defence. But also had the special ‘Sword-Master’ ability of +1 to hit. Finally Moon Knight, nominated a Super-Hero, was given two points for Attack and Defence, and one point for Agility. He was also awarded ‘Throwing Darts & Nunchaku’, which gives him two attacks per Turn.

STILT-MAN ARRIVES TO CONFUSE AND CONFOUND MOON KNIGHT AND HOWARD THE DUCK

The fight started with Howard the Duck throwing himself straight at the unarmed Thug in the southeast corner. Spluttering on his stogie the funny animal missed. To one-side the feathered foul spotted the Goon with a crowbar swinging his weapon at his beak and managed to dodge the formidable blow. Stilt-Man meanwhile lumbered into Moon Knight and knocked the hero back onto the northern ledge. Desperate to press home an early advantage, the Silver Samurai rushed to his unlikely partner’s side (or at least his telescopic legs). But it was too late, as the Fist of Khonshu leapt back down onto the roof’s surface and rushed southeast to aid his diminutive friend. Unfortunately however Marc Spector arrived just in time to see the Thug pick the water-bird up and throw him up over the eastern ledge. With a “Waughhh….” and some feathers, Howard the Duck was gone…

MOON KNIGHT BATTLES STILT-MAN AS HOWARD THE DUCK IS SENT FLAPPING TO HIS DOOM?

Angered by the apparent demise of his companion, Moon Knight gave the Thug a ‘Double Whammy’. Stunned, the criminal tottered back onto the southern ledge. The Goon with the crowbar swung at his all-white foe but missed and then froze as Stilt-Man lurched behind the cowled super-hero and knocked him deeper into the south-east corner of the roof.

Realising how dangerous a position he was in, the Fist of Khonshu attempted to knock the Goon over the southern ledge but unfortunately missed his blow. However his opponents were equally as unlucky with their attacks and panting all three combatants sized one another up for another series of furious blows. Now came though as seizing the moment Stiltman collided with Moon Knight from behind and automatically sent the Moon-God’s servant crashing into the Thug on the roof ledge. With a startled cry of betrayal the man plunged to his death, whilst Moon Knight replaced him as an enticing figure tottering on the southern edge of the roof top…

EAGER FOR REVENGE, MOON KNIGHT STARTS DISHING OUT A SERIOUS BEATING

With a ferocious yell the Silver Samurai was on the roof’s ledge swinging his enormous sword at the hero’s head. The two mercenaries exchanged a series of blows, but all were to no avail. Suddenly Stilt-Man grappled with Moon Knight once again and needed only the smallest of advantages to send Marc Spector to his doom. Sadly for the villains both players rolled a six which meant the contest was a draw.

Wilbur Day again attacked Moon Knight but was emphatically dodged this second time, and then watched in horror as his partner, the Silver Samurai, first missed an attempt to slice the vigilante’s head off and then fell to his doom courtesy of a ‘Round House’ from Marc Spector. The villain’s forces were steadily being whittled away.

STILT-MAN DEMONSTRATES WHY HE'S SUCH A FORMIDABLE TOWERING VILLAIN

 Knowing just how hazardous it was to remain upon the roof ledge any longer Moon Knight jumped down and started to pound away at the Goon with the crowbar. Stilt-Man made a third attempt to hurl his hated foe off of the rooftop. But once again when the dastardly inventor needed just the slimmest of edges over the caped crime-fighter, both players rolled another six apiece.

The final turn saw Moon Knight, who was enjoying a sensational run of initiative wins, thwack the goon with the crowbar with a ‘Round House’ off of the edge of the southern ledge. It was just him now and Stilt-Man. But before another punch could be thrown, the engineer was off on his telescopic legs and the contest a draw.

HAVING FINALLY DEFEATED THE SILVER SAMURAI, MOON KNIGHT BESTS A GOON

This battle clearly didn’t go according to the heroes’ plan and with hindsight Howard the Duck should never have charged straight into the enemy, even if his swift removal was due to an incredible dice roll. However it’s really clear just how powerful a character can be if they’re awarded five attribute points plus a special ability (i.e. Moon Knight).

As a side issue this frantic fast-paced game also let us settle upon a rule called ‘Ganging Up’ where any model attacking gains +1 Attack per other friendly model in contact with target, and also rewrite ‘Stunned’ from the “Pillow A-go-go" rules so that just such a model now has no movement during their Turn and any Defence bonus’ which they have are ignored. In addition should the model be a minion (i.e. it starts with Defence of 0) then the model’s Defence is -1 for the Turn. Stunned models also don’t count towards ‘Ganging Up’.