Tuesday 11 October 2016

Star Trek Attack Wing Report: U.S.S. Enterprise-D Verses The Doomsday Machine

This game was played using “Wizkids” "Star Trek: Attack Wing” Original Series Organised Play Event rules for “The Doomsday Machine”. The game was set up using the following vessels from the Federation Faction - Ship Card: U.S.S. Enterprise-D, Manoeuvre Card: Galaxy Class, with Captain Card: Jean-Luc Picard and the Upgrade Cards: Data & Worf, and Ship Card: U.S.S. Constellation, Manoeuvre Card: Constitution Class, Captain Card: Matt Decker and Upgrade Cards: Damage Control Party & Dual Phaser Banks. In addition the Federation Faction spent 5 Squadron Points on the Structural Damage Check Resource.
COMMODORE MATT DECKER & CAPTAIN JEAN-LUC PICARD TEAM-UP AGAINST A PLANET KILLER
The ‘encounter’ was played using the recommended set up on a 3’ x 3’ space mat, and followed all of the OP rules with the exception of allowing the Doomsday Machine to repair two damage to its hull at each End Phase.
THE BATTLEFIELD - THE KANDARI SECTOR
“The story so far… While responding to a garbled automated distress beacon in the Kandari Sector of the Alpha Quadrant, the U.S.S. Enterprise-D passes by the long-dead debris of what was once all the planets in the L-370 and L-374 systems (See “Star Trek” TV Episode “The Doomsday Machine”). Suddenly, a wormhole appears before the Federation flagship and from within it emerges not just an old Constitution-class starship, but the vessel which destroyed the two systems decades earlier; an automated, self-sustaining doomsday machine. Immediately joining forces with the Commodore’s aged spacecraft in order to destroy the planet killer, Captain Jean-Luc Picard realises that history is strangely repeating itself…”
COMMODORE DECK TAKES CHARGE OF THE CONSTELLATION AND ENTERPRISE-D
Dwarfed by the ancient robotic weapon, Captain Jean-Luc Picard gave the order for his Galaxy-class starship to move further into the debris field at Warp Factor Three in an effort to join-up with his superior officer’s vessel. The Federation flagship was put on Battle Stations, and Data was told to employ Evasive Manoeuvres (reducing the U.S.S. Enterprise-D’s Arrack Dice by two this Round). Commodore Decker meanwhile, instructed for the U.S.S. Constellation to bank left at Warp Factor One, and initiated his own Evasive Manoeuvres.

Believed to have been created by the Preservers in order to be used against the Borg, the Doomsday Machine maintained its course through the system at Warp Factor Two.
THE FEDERATION STARSHIPS BACK AWAY FROM THE FEARSOME DOOMSDAY MACHINE
With a curse Picard realised that his course into the debris field was already in danger of putting his vessel within range of his foe’s anti-proton beams (eight Attack Dice) and therefore tapped into the Galaxy-class starship’s Auxiliary Power in order to reverse backwards away from the incredibly powerful planet killer. This stress upon the NCC-1701-D’s hull immediately prevented the Captain from using any actions (even free ones) during the turn. To the South Commodore Decker was equally aghast at the 50,000 year-old ship’s proximity, and, using his own vessel’s Auxiliary Power, ordered the U.S.S. Constellation into full reverse.
THE U.S.S. CONSTELLATION DRAWS FIRST BLOOD, BUT LOSES ALL HER SHIELDS
The Doomsday Machine moved towards Asteroid Four and in doing so entered Matt Decker’s attack range. With a cry of exhilaration the unkempt Commodore utilised his vessel’s Dual Phaser Banks (and subsequently rolled four Attack Dice). The Planet Killer’s neutronium hull was capable of resisting “many known types of weapon fire” and as a result treated “all Critical Damage inflicted on the Doomsday Machine as normal damage”, but was still reduced from ten hulls points down to seven. 

However, the NCC-1017 was now within range of the ancient machine’s own primary weapon, and immediately felt the effects of its devastating antiproton beam as all three of its Shields were destroyed and its aged hull was battered for two more points. Little wonder “even the Borg were incapable of resisting the Preservers machine.
COMMODORE MATT DECKER ATTEMPTS TO MAKE A RUN FOR IT
Desperate to eliminate its need for Auxiliary Power, the U.S.S. Enterprise-D effortlessly banked to port and entered orbit around Asteroid Two. Able to utilise Actions again, Captain Picard ordered his vessel to Battle Stations and Evasive Manoeuvres. Cursing, Commodore Decker realised his Constitution-class starship was effectively finished as it was badly outmatched in a head-on confrontation, and so ordered it to travel away from its opponent at Warp Factor Three.

Having now locked onto the U.S.S. Constellation as its primary target though, the Doomsday Machine passed Asteroid Four and turned towards the significantly smaller fleeing spacecraft.

Sensing his imminent demise, Matt Decker ordered a Structural Damage Check and repaired one damage to his starship’s hull. The NCC-1017 was still using Auxiliary Power though, so was unable to utilise its Damage Control Party. Outgunned and unable to return fire, the Constitution-class vessel’s bridge crew prepared for the impactive of the planet killer’s primary weapon. Four hits thudded into the U.S.S. Constellation, and it was lost with all hands…
THE PLANET KILLER DESTROYS THE CONSTITUTION-CLASS STARSHIP
Alone, Captain Jean-Luc Picard drove the U.S.S. Enterprise-D straight past Asteroid Two, remained at Battle Stations and obtained a Target Lock with its weapons upon the enemy vessel (allowing him to re-roll any number of his Attack Dice). The Doomsday Machine passed around Asteroid Four and began to head towards the Galaxy-class starship like a shark rising towards its prey. 

The NCC-1701-D fired at the ancient robotic weapon at maximum range and scored three hits, reducing the planet killer’s hull points down to four. Commodore Decker had clearly done enough damage to the ancient device before he died to give the Federation flagship at least a fighting chance.
THE U.S.S. ENTERPRISE-D BRAVELY ENGAGES THE DOOMSDAY MACHINE
However the U.S.S. Enterprise-D still needed to withstand the Doomsday Machine’s formidable firepower and was rocked as its anti-proton beams initially scored four hits and two critical damages. Admittedly Picard was able to utilise his Battle Stations command to evade part of the damage. But the Galaxy-class starship still had its Shields entirely collapse (courtesy of a Direct Hit) and suffered Power Disruption (which caused the Federation Flagship to tap into its Auxiliary Power).

The French Starfleet Officer realised it was ‘do or die’, so quietly ordered for his ship to move straight ahead at a comfortable Warp Factor One and disengage Auxiliary Power. The NCC-1701-D went to Battle Stations and Mister Data was told to once again employ Evasive Manoeuvres. To the starboard side Jean-Luc saw that the planet killer was fast-approaching the Galaxy-class starship as if to swallow it whole.
CAPTAIN PICARD RISKS ALL IN AN EFFORT TO DEFEAT THE ANCIENT WEAPON
Closing to short range (+1 Attack Dice) the U.S.S. Enterprise-D opened fire with all it had against the Doomsday Machine, hoping its Phaser Beam Arrays could fatally penetrate the ancient devices’s super-dense neutronium hull. The directed energy weapons poured into the Preserver’s planet killer, and due to Picard utilising his Battle Stations in order to convert two of the Galaxy-class starship’s dice into hits, blew the 50,000 year-old vessel up! It was over, and once again the Kandari Sector was safe.

28 comments:

  1. A hard fought fight for the Enterprise! Great report Simon.

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    1. Many thanks Michael. Most kind :-) It was nice to try out one of the Organised Play Events.

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  2. History repeats itself; the "guest star" vessel is lost, but the main cast's ship defeats the threat and saves the world :-) !

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    1. It certainly did play out like the TV episode, Hugh. Though shipwise, the Enterprise-D is a far more substantial vessel than the Constellation (as one would expect).

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  3. A thoroughly enjoyable read while I ate my toast and drank my tea.

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    1. Many thanks Phil. That's precisely why I post these BatReps :-)

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  4. Now that was very well done, great read!

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    1. Cheers Fran. Very much appreciated and I'm glad you enjoyed it.

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  5. Blimey...that was close! Great stuff!

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    1. Thanks Gordon. The Enterprise-D was rolling just four dice and every one had to hit to finish the Planet Killer off; thank goodness for Picard's Battle Stations Free Action!! :-)

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  6. Not being a fan of "Star Trek," (sorry!) most of this flew right over my head but it certainly looked good (those Federation ships do look good) and as long as you had fun playing it, nothing else matters.

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    1. No worries Bryan. This particular battle did re-imagine a classic Kirk-era confrontation, and was double the fun as a result. Sadly as a non-Trekker you're going to have to put up with a few more of these over the coming months ;-)

      As for the ships, well I think the new Galaxy-class repaint is much better than the old blue-grey version, and I also like the noticeable scale difference when compared to the older Constitution-class vessel; something "Wizkids" were actually panned for when the model was first released and subsequently addressed with the U.S.S. Enterprise (Kirk's Refit) which is disconcertingly the same size as Picard's starship.

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  7. No idea what to say. I've read it and enjoyed reading it. Would love to play the game myself. [well, that was succinctly put, if nothing else]

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    1. "well, that was succinctly put, if nothing else" - and very much appreciated Roy. If you're ever down South then please let me know and I'd be delighted to give you a game :-)

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    2. Cheers Simon. I only hope that if I do I have better luck than the last attempt to come down South, to see Clint and Ray on that occasion.

      The blooming gearbox of our van destroyed itself and we had to scrap the vehicle - Meant I had to miss three shows I was planning on going to. Most inconvenient. The family probably was put out due to the lack of transport, as well. But that pales in comparison when compared to me missing out of toy soldier purchasing opportunities :))

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    3. Ah, that does sound like an adventure, Roy, but clearly not a good one. Fingers crossed for your next trip 'down South'.

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  8. Good report Simon, and played out like an episode to boot!

    Cheers Roger.

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  9. Goodness! I was certain this would be yet another shameful retreat for the Federation forces. Shame about the Commodore, he owed me money.

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    1. This one was about as close as you can get, Dai, as the chances of the already battered U.S.S. Enterprise-D surviving another of the Doomsday Machine's attacks were pretty slim. I too was sorry to see the Commodore die (again) - though for different reasons to you ;-)

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  10. Lovely romp through the Kandari sector, close thing for the Enterprise

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    1. Thanks Andy, and as you say it was a very close thing for the Enterprise.

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  11. Very cool, Simon. I like that they've addressed the scale issue, as now the Federation ships look 'right'. Makes me want to replay the battle, but using my rules- just to see how it would pan out. Of course, i'd need a Doomsday Machine, but I reckon I could easily fashion one...

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    1. Most Kind, Jez. The different scales are undoubtedly an issue with "Star Trek Attack Wing", but I think the smaller constitution-class looks great alongside the U.S.S. Enterprise-E. I'm also hopeful that at some point "Wizkids" will produce a Doomsday Machine model for the game. For now though, I can send you the Organised Play PDF if you want, so you can see how it operates in STAW and 'convert' to your own rules? I'd certainly be interested in an article as to how you make one :-)

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  12. Oh WOW how did I miss this article. What can I say. I come to it late, but...

    erm.....

    WOW!!!!!! I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!

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    1. Thanks very much Steve, glad you found it :-)

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