Doctor Who: Exterminate! Report: The Daleks Verses The Fisher King

THE FISHER KING WITH TWO GHOSTS ATTEMPTS TO DESTROY THE DALEKS

This game was played using the "Doctor Who: Exterminate!" rules by “Warlord Games” and in essence, followed the parameters established for the "Guide To The Time Vortex" skirmish scenario "A Meeting Of Metal". However, in order to allow both sides to get to grips with the Fisher King faction's unique Special Traits, a couple of minor 'House Rules' were also followed concerning Fate Tokens and Adventure Cards. Whilst Battle Cards were not used at all. Lastly, a few 'tweaks' regarding General Deployment and Winning The Game' were necessary so the battle could be accommodated upon a 2' x 2' gaming mat instead of the recommended 3' x 3' table...

“The story so far… The Daleks, Cybermen and Zygons have decided to try and establish their dominance over the Universe once and for all, by conquering numerous planets, moons, stars, and galaxies in an effort to be declared the undisputed master of all space and time. Determined to thwart their plans however, is the Shadow Proclamation; whose mercenary police force, the Judoon, have begun retaking space-time in the name of galactic justice..."

THE UNIVERSE - THE FISHER KING LAUNCHES AN ATTACK DEEP WITHIN THE DALEK EMPIRE

"The campaign so far... Having witnessed the Daleks and Shadow Proclamation creep ever closer to a destructive confrontation, the Fisher King has decided to launch a surprise attack against Skaro's mutants in an attempt to expand his own territory. Landing upon one of the Dalek Empire's occupied worlds, the alien warlord has dispatched his (Judoon) Ghosts to collect a number of rare crystals imbued with Vortex Energy, which will allow him to harness the very power of the Time Vortex and dominate the planet. But the Dalek Emperor isn't about to give up the planet's valuable resources without a fight, and orders Dalek Sec to intercept the ruler of Tivoli and his incorporeal minions..."

The Dalek Faction consisted of three Recruitment Cards, thus started with a Patrol Leader (Dalek Sec), a Dalek Patrol which generated three Daleks, and another Dalek Patrol which generated two Daleks and a Fate Token. In addition, the Patrol Leader, a special character, also created two Fate tokens to be added to his faction's Fate Pool. Finally, the Daleks received five Adventure Cards "to use during their game." These were "Escape Plan", "Upgrade: No Mercy!", "Upgrade: Destroy The Deviant!", "Upgrade: Maximum Extermination" and "Strategist".

THE TABLETOP - A DALEK OCCUPIED PLANET

The Fisher King began with just himself on account of the "One Man Army" trait, which means he "can be the only Recruitment Card you take." However, in addition to generating two Fate Tokens, the conqueror of Tivoli was also allowed to field two Ghosts within 6" of him because of the "Ghosts" Adventure Card. As with the Daleks, the Fisher King received five Adventure Cards, the rest of which were "Lucky Hit!", "Additional Sensory Input", "To Arms!" and "Spatial Distortion."

Having deployed on opposing table corners, and placed six Vortex Node markers on the battlefield, the Fisher King immediately played his Adventure Card "Spatial Distortion", which when discarded "just after deployment", allowed him to "move any two Vortex Nodes up to 4" from their original position." As a result, Vortex Nodes (3) and (5) suddenly tumbled north-east towards the alien tyrant's starting position.

DALEK SEC LEADS A PARTY OF KALED MARK THREE TRAVEL MACHINES

Realising that his towering opponent had already gained a distinct advantage over him, Dalek Sec immediately glided north towards Vortex Node (4) along with three drones. The remaining Kaled travel machines moved west, past the grey container, and captured Vortex Node (6). Davros' creations discovered that the "great resource" would not only provide the Daleks with three Victory Points, but because the node was a temporal anomaly, it would also grant them an opportunity to "immediately resolve a free Shooting action." Unfortunately for Skaro's mutants however, no target was within sight.

Waving his incorporeal minions forwards, one of the Fisher King's Ghosts moved straight through the blue container by Vortex Node (1), whilst its spectral companion and the alien tyrant travelled south.

THE DALEKS MOVE FORWARD AS ONE OF THE FISHER KING'S GHOSTS REACHES ITS GOAL

As there was to be no Shooting on this occasion, the Daleks started to fan out even more, with two drones heading north towards the piping and sight of Vortex Node (2), Dalek Sec and a drone moving west towards Vortex Node (4), and the remaining two Kaled travelling machines gliding west along the southern edge of Vat Omega.

In response, the Ghost which had phased through the blue container collected Vortex Node (1) and gained a single Victory Point. Whereas its counterpart reached the previously displaced Vortex Node (3) and attained three Victory Points. In addition this particular node was a Spatial Disruption, which permitted the axe-carrying spectre to travel further south towards Pylon Beta and ever closer to Vortex Node (5).

THE DALEKS PREPARE TO HOVER OVER SOME HEAVY PIPING

With their battle computer calculating that the Kaleds were slowly losing the 'race' for the Vortex Nodes, the two Daleks south of Vat Omega moved further west towards Vortex Node (5) and obtained a good view of the fast approaching Ghost. To the north-east, the two golden-armoured drones attempted to hover over the heavy piping before them, but only one of them succeeded. Dalek Sec attempted a similar manoeuvre in order to capture Vortex Node (4). He also failed. The final drone glided up alongside the leader of the Cult of Skaro, and trained his blaster upon one of the Fisher King's incorporeal minions.

The Ghost by the blue container moved further east towards Vat Alpha, whilst the Fisher King clomped south and stood in front of a 'wall' of radioactive barrels. The alien tyrant's other Ghost reached Vortex Node (5) and was awarded with one Victory Point. It was also given the opportunity to have a free shot at one of the nearby Daleks, but could not as "Ghosts cannot used Ranged Weapons".

THE FISHER KING CONTINUES TO CAPTURE VORTEX NODES AS THE DALEKS STRUGGLE

Eager to finally put the invading spectres in their place, the Dalek in the south-west corner which was closest to the apparition that had just taken Vortex node (5) fired his energy weapon, and as a result of three hits, exterminated his prey. The drone beside him then targeted the more distant Fisher King, resulting in the weapon receiving a -1 penalty due to the ruler of Tivoli being twice its effective range. The Dalek was unable to penetrate the towering alien's six defensive dice.

To the east, Dalek Sec and the drone alongside him also fired at the alien tyrant. But the Fisher King benefited from some additional cover, courtesy of the heavy piping near him, and none of the shots struck home. Ordinarily though, the "One Man Army" would still have been 'weakened' by some Under Fire Tokens. However, because he was also "Fearless", the Fisher King ignored "the effects of [any] Under Fire markers" as well.    

Dum Da Dum, Diddly Dum, Oo-ee-oos…