28mm Age Of Sigmar Battle Report: Doctor Who & The Cybermen Verses The Yeti

THE GREAT INTELLIGENCE THREATENS DOCTOR WHO AND THE TEMPLE OF RASSILON

This game was played predominantly using the free downloadable rules of “Age Of Sigmar” by “Games Workshop”. However as we were only playing with eleven models aside on a 2’ x 2’ battle-board, a number of house rules were implemented in order to make the skirmish flow more smoothly. This included having each model represent a single unit (and thus having its own Warscroll or rather Black Scroll of Rassilon with which to “provide all of the rules for using them in the game”) but additionally allowing two of these models per force to be upgraded to unit leaders (and thus gaining an extra attack); and then nominating one of these two ‘leaders’ as the General. In addition although we omitted to roll for any random terrain features, we did partially apply the Mystical rule to the Temple of Rassilon, which meant that a dice was rolled for each friendly unit inside the terrain feature during the Hero Phase. On a roll of a 1 the unit is befuddled (by the trickery of the Timelords) and can’t be selected to move or attack until their next Hero Phase.

In addition we agreed that a unit could only charge another unit if it could first see it and as we were using units of just a single model we decided that during the Battleshock Phase, when “both players must take Battleshock tests for units from their army that have had models slain during the turn”, we would instead test any units within 3” of an eliminated friendly unit, and add the number of removed models to the test’s roll when comparing it against their Bravery statistic.

“The story so far… The Timelords have used the Time Scoop to teleport a group of robotic Yeti and the Cybermen into the Death Zone on Gallifrey in order for the High Council to watch them fight. Unbeknownst to them however Doctor Who is also in the forbidden area and realising that the Great Intelligence plans to desecrate the Temple of Rassilon and plunder its technological secrets, has made an uneasy alliance with the red-domed Cyber-Controller to thwart the plans of the inter-dimensional being…”

THE TABLETOP - THE TEMPLE OF RASSILON IN THE DEATH ZONE ON GALLIFREY

Before the game started a number of boulders and trees were positioned around the circumference of the tabletop, and the Temple of Rassilon was placed in the centre. The Great Intelligence deployed its Yeti first and decided to spread out its forces in order to try and outflank its opponent. Its Chief Yeti was placed in the centre of the battle line along with two Guard variants and an Attacking Yeti. Whilst the Intelligence itself inhabited a big Attacking model just to the North of the Chief and selected a Guard Yeti and Attacking Yeti as its protectors. In return the Cyber-Controller decided to concentrate the bulk of his force in the centre of the table and drive West straight to the Temple. As a result he was accompanied by two Mark II Cybermen, with three more of the “Tomb” variants just to the South. The silver giant then placed his inferior Mark I models to his flanks, and noticed that the troublesome time traveller had joined the two “Mondas” units he had dispatched to the North-West corner of the battlefield.

THE YETI PREPARE TO ATTACK DOCTOR WHO AND THE CYBER-CONTROLLER

Battle Round One started with the Cybermen winning the initiative, and their Cyber-Controller, as the force’s General, used his Command Ability of Inspiring Presence to ensure one of his ‘bodyguards’ would not need to take any Battleshock Tests until their next Hero Phase. This was aruably a rather moot move as it was unlikely that any silver giants were likely to be destroyed within the First Round, especially as their Bravery statistics were at worst a formidable six (for the “Mondas” model) and seven for the upgraded units. In addition we decided that Cybermen wouldn’t flee anyway. But perhaps the Cyber-Leader would consider a tactical withdrawal if he believed it was logical to save a unit from further damage. It was felt that the Great Intelligence would probably behave similarly, although its units’ Bravery statistics were a little lower and the inter-dimensional being could feel fear…

In the Movement Phase the Cyber-Controller and his central line stalked West towards the Eastern Entrance of the Temple. Whilst his Mark I Models to the South, ran and reached the Southern Entrance. Doctor Who moved cautiously towards from rocks in the North-West corner of the battlefield. As no Cybermen were within charging range of the Yeti, it was the end of their turn.

In response the Great Intelligence commanded his faster moving robots East and two actually entered the Temple of Rassilon through its Western Entrance. The Chief Yeti and two more of the shaggy robots rushed South-East towards the Cybermen near the building’s Southern Entrance. Deciding to deal with the silver giants to the North itself, the Intelligence moved East and urged its slower Attacking Yeti onwards behind it.

Having moved to the Charge Phase two of the Yeti South of the Temple, one of which was the Chief robot, both successfully rushed into the “Mondas” Cybermen by the Southern Entrance. However the two Yeti to the North disappointingly failed to roll high enough to reach Doctor Who and his group of Mark I Cybermen and therefore could not move.

THE YETI CLASH WITH MARK I CYBERMEN SOUTH OF THE TEMPLE

In the Combat Phase the Chief Yeti, albeit a basic guard model, rolled his two Attacks needing a 4+ to hit. The dark brown hairy beasty’s rending claws gave it the Ability to “re-roll hit rolls of 1” but it didn’t need them as it rolled a 5 and 6. The robot then rolled to see if either of its hits wounded the Cyberman, again needing 4+ and this time rolling a 5 and 5; two wounds. Fortunately for the “Mondas” model it had a Save of 4+, and confidently felt its suit of armour would protect its internal wiring, especially as it had the Ability to “re-roll Save rolls of 1”. With a frothing gurgle of pain though the silver giant crashed to the ground lifeless having rolled a 3 and 2… First ‘blood’ to the forces of the Great intelligence.

Realising his colleague had fallen, the other “Mondas” Cyberman to the South attacked the Yeti who had just charged him. One of his two attacks struck his opponent’s furry hide and penetrated his inner workings. The (older) Guard model had no Save whatsoever and exploded into flames. With both sides having lost models within the Turn it was time for some Battleshock tests for the surviving combatants. Unsurprisingly both the Yeti and Cyberman passed them.

Battle Round Two began with one of the two Yeti already inside the Temple of Rassilon succumbing to the mind tricks of the Timelords and was unable to move or attack until their next round. The other hairy robot moved further East, supported by an Attacking Yeti model, and spied the Cyber-Controller at the Western Entrance. All of the Yeti in the North, including the one inhabited by the Great Intelligence also pushed East in order to threaten the Cybermen and Doctor Who. Whilst to the South, a lone Attacking Yeti moved past a tree and targeted the “Mondas” Cyberman stood by the Southern Entrance.

In the Charge Phase the two Yeti able to move within Rassilon’s Temple ‘piled in’ to the Cyber-Controller and the Mark II Cybermen accompanying him. Another Yeti to the North also managed to reach this main Cyber-group, so the fur looked certain to fly momentarily. Meanwhile one of the other Yeti in the North, an Attacking model, managed to reach the Mark I Cyberman leading the way for Doctor Who.

THE YETI ENTER THE TEMPLE AND ASSAULT THE CYBER-CONTROLLER

In the South the Chief Yeti twice slashed away at the solitary “Mondas” Cyberman near the Southern Entrance. The shaggy robot’s claws managed to penetrate the silver giant’s armour once. But it was not enough for their emotionless foe to fall. Instead it attempted to strike home a couple of fatal chops on the neck of the recently arrived Attacking Yeti. However neither blow was successful. In retaliation the angry hairy beastie hit back with both its clawed paws and despite the Mark I Cyberman’s armour, which allowed it to “re-roll Save rolls of 1” the mighty humanoid fell lifeless to the ground. In the North the Yeti and Cybermen exchanged a series of blows which resulted in one of the Great Intelligence’s pawns being destroyed. All of the observing Timelords’ eyes though were fixed to the battle taking place on the steps to the Temple’s Eastern Entrance. The Cyber-Controller made three formidable attacks on the nearest Yeti and utilised his electrical charge Ability, which on a Hit Roll of a 6 “inflicts 2 Mortal Wounds instead of its normal damage” and therefore does not need to “make a Wound or Save Roll for the attack”, to immediately bring the hairy brute down. A Mark II Cyberman beside the red domed leader brought down the Attacking Yeti in a similar manner. Whilst the final Yeti from this charge was smashed to pieces by a deadly chop from another “Tomb” Cyberman. In return for their great loss the Great Intelligence’s robots had simply damaged a couple of the silver giants. The Cyber-Leader had survived the inter-dimensional being’s pre-emptive attack. Now it was his turn…

Pointing with one of his massive hands the Cyber-Controller directed three of his Mark II units South-West to engage the triumphant Yeti threatening his group’s Southern flank. The red domed monster himself confidently strode into the Temple of Rassilon along with a single bodyguard. To the North Doctor Who and a “Mondas” Cyberman joined a Mark II model in order to tackle the fast approaching Great Intelligence and the Yeti accompanying it.

THE CYBERMEN PREPARE TO WIPE OUT ALL OF THE YETI STATIONED SOUTH OF THE TEMPLE

 In the South the newly arrived superior “Tomb” Cybermen immediately made their presence felt by chopping the Attacking Yeti near the Southern Entrance into the ground. The Chief Yeti desperately fought back. But despite gouging two deep wounds in one of its silver assailants, the hairy robot failed to bring its foe down. These Mark II Cybermen were tough with three Wounds apiece. However before the Yeti could do another else an electrical discharge from one of the other Cybermen surrounding him brought the beasties down. The Southern flank was now completely in the Cybermen’s control.

The combat in the North was no less brutal as the two robotic warring factions, and one elderly Gallifreyan, clattered into one another. An Attacking model Yeti, directly in front of the unit inhabited by the Great Intelligence desperately tried to bring down the Mark II Cyberman before it but failed to hit it. A second Yeti beside it had more success with its “Mondas” model opponent. But the grey-faced Cyberman still didn’t collapse to the ground despite suffering a Wound. Doctor Who produced his sonic screwdriver and made 3 Attacks on the Yeti which stood between him and the inter-dimensional being. The Timelord needed a 4+ to Hit and a 3+ to Wound but only managed a single hit on the extra-tough hairy robot, who promptly made a 4+ Save. In turn this allowed the hairy beastie to utilise its Gore Claw Ability which allowed it to roll a dice and “for each roll of a 6, the attacking unit [in this case Doctor Who] suffers 1 Mortal Wound after all its attacks have been made.” Fortunately the Yeti failed to strike his blow home.

AS DOCTOR FACES THE GREAT INTELLIGENCE THE CYBER-CONTROLLER GOES MAD

Battle Round Three, whose initiative was won by the Great Intelligence, didn’t initially see a great deal of movement as most of the combatants were now warily circling one another. The Yeti inside the Temple of Rassilon freed itself of its Gallifreyan befuddlement and stomped South towards the damaged Cyberman stood just outside the building’s Southern Entrance.

Believing it would never have a better time to rid itself of Doctor Who the Great Intelligence urged the Yeti it was inhabiting onwards and attacked the Timelord once again. This time the hairy beastie twice managed to Wound the time traveller, and only once did the Gallifreyan manage to make his 4+ Save. Roaring balefully the inter-dimensional being directed one of its accompanying Yeti to further assault Doctor Who, and again the old man found himself on the receiving end of two successful Wounds. With a sigh the Timelord fell to the ground unmoving, having failed the second of his Save rolls. Delighted with the downfall of his nemesis the Great Intelligence had even more cause to rejoice as one of his Yeti took down another of the “Mondas” Cyberman in the North. Disappointingly for the entity though things were not going its way in the South where the Yeti which charged the injured Cybermen just outside the Southern Entrance to the Temple of Rassilon was destroyed before it could even raise a claw. The double deaths in the North did however result in the remaining Mark I Cyberman in the area needing to make a Battleshock Test. Which the grey-faced robot unsurprisingly passed with ease.

THE GREAT INTELLIGENCE DEFEATS DOCTOR WHO...

Momentarily ‘alone’ within the Temple of Rassilon the Cyber-Controller went ‘mad with power’ meaning he could not move or attack until his next turn. However that didn’t stop the red domed robot from directing all of his Mark II Cybermen in the South to run North either through the building or around it’s perimeter in order to face the Great Intelligence’s rising threat. In the meantime the Yeti tried desperately to take advantage of their numbers in the North by battering the few Cybermen in the area. Fortunately for the Cyber-Controller, and despite his units taking some Wounds, none of his Cybermen fell before the hairy onslaught…

THE GREAT INTELLIGENCE LEADS A FINAL ASSAULT AGAINST THE CYBERMEN

Battle Round Four was won by the Cyber-Controller and the red domed robot immediately had his remaining unengaged Cybermen circle North and trap the remaining Yeti in that area. Thundering through the Temple of Rassilon himself the silver giant made his way to the steps of the North Entrance and from there directed the attack personally. However his 3 Attacks upon the nearest Yeti were incredibly saved by the furry robot’s hairy hide and in return, using its Gore Claw ability, the ‘Abominable Snowman’ rent a hole in the Cyber-Controller’s armour. Sensing the slightly towering figure was vulnerable another Attacking Yeti launched an assault and managed to injure the Cybermen’s leader further. Surely the unthinkable was not about to happen…

OUTNUMBERED THE YETI BEGIN TO FALL BENEATH THE CHOPPING BLOWS OF THE CYBERMEN

Rallying around their badly wounded Cyber-Controller, the silver giants savagely fought back with one Mark II Cyberman savagely chopping a Yeti to pieces. However before its target expired the hairy robot managed to utilise its No Respite Ability, which means that when the “model… is slain in the Combat Phase, you can make a pile in move and then attack with the model before you remove it”, and damaged its armoured assailant. Sensing this as a weakness in the sea of Mark II Cybermen surrounding it, the Great Intelligence lashed out and injured another of the “Tomb” models. But before the inter-dimensional being could do anything else the Yeti it was inhabiting was suddenly fried by an electrical charge from another of the Mark II Cybermen…

THE LAST OF THE YETI ARE DEFEATED AS THE CYBER-CONTROLLER ENJOYS VICTORY

With the Great Intelligence (momentarily) vanquished, and the Cybermen in complete control of the Temple of Rassilon, it was clear that the Cyber-Controller had won the day (and even managed to get rid of that pesky time traveller too)…