"Black Tree Design" Battle Report: Sharaz Jek's Androids Verses The Nimon

SEVERAL SHARAZ JEK ANDROIDS INVADE A PILLAGED WORLD BELONGING TO THE NIMON

This game was played using some homemade rules (M.I.S.S.) in order to allow us to begin a universe-sized campaign utilising many of my painted "Doctor Who" 28mm miniatures by "Black Tree Design", and took place upon a 2' x 3' "Deep Cut Studio" Urban Ruins Playmat. The battlefield was populated with a variety of scenery produced by "Gale Force Nine"; most notably several ruined walls from their Gothic "Battlefield in A Box" range.

“The story so far… The Cybermen, Voord, Great Intelligence, Sutekh, Nimon and Silurians have all 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..."

THE UNIVERSE - SHARAZ JEK RAIDS THE NIMON EMPIRE WITH A FORCE OF ANDROIDS

"The campaign so far... Having witnessed the Nimon Empire and the Silurians creep ever closer to a destructive confrontation, the mad terrorist Sharaz Jek has decided to launch a surprise raid against one of the Nimon's ruined conquests in an attempt to establish his own territory. Dispatching a small task force of his highly developed androids, the facially disfigured outlaw hopes to take the parasitic species completely by surprise but soon realises the large, black-skinned humanoids with bull-like heads won't give up the valuable resources of one of their worlds without a fight..."

THE TABLETOP - A RUINED PLANET WITHIN THE NIMON EMPIRE

The Nimon, which started along the western edge of the battlefield, consisted of five figures, all armed with Psionic mind beams. Whilst Sharaz Jek's android force began the fight along the eastern edge, and was composed of five sub-machine gun carrying robots. The dilapidated battlescape had five strategic locations, each worth an unknown number of victory points. These would only be revealed once they had been discovered during the confrontation and could only be claimed by an unopposed unit touching it at the end of Turn Six.

THE NIMON AND ANDROIDS RUTHLESSLY ADVANCE TOWARDS ONE ANOTHER 

Seizing the initiative, the two southernmost Nimon sauntered east towards the edge of the ruins overlooking the Space Antenna [Objective Three]. Whilst the lone Minotaur in the centre of their formation rushed towards the Chemical Sample [Objective One] hoping the small ruins surrounding it would protect him. Finally, the pair of Nimon to the north began moving around the walls blocking their route to the Broken Robot [Objective Two].

In response three of Sharaz Jek's androids took up a firing position alongside some ruins close to the Fuel Barrels [Objective Five]. The remaining two robots moved towards the Drinks Machine [Objective Four]. Utilising its sub-machine guns greater range than the Nimon's mind beams, one of the automatons managed to fire a burst of bullets at a Minotaur sheltering near the Space Antenna [Objective Three], and despite the difficulty of the shot due to the large alien being in cover, the android managed to cause a flesh wound. First blood to Sharaz Jek's forces.

THE NIMON QUICKLY APPROACH OBJECTIVE THREE USING SOME RUINS AS COVER

Determined to seize control of the battlefield early, and despite already being under-fire, the southernmost Nimon moved around the southwestern ruins and claimed the Space Antenna [Objective Three]. This was revealed to be worth 3 Victory Points. In addition, the northern Nimon took control of the Broken Robot [Objective Two], and an extra 4 Victory Points. Invigorated by this achievement, the Minotaur in the centre of their formation strode east up to the small ruins close by the Chemical Sample [Objective One]. Unfortunately however, due to the close proximity needed for their Psionic mind beams, the Nimon were unable to attack any of their opponents.

In response, Sharaz Jek's forces moved west and quickly took the Drinks Machine [Objective Four] and the Fuel Barrels [Objective Five]. These were worth 2 Victory Points and 5 Victory Points respectively. The rest of the androids formed a firing line along the length of the ruins near their deployment position, and discharged a withering hail of bullets at the closest Nimon within range. The Minotaur which had previously been injured bellowed in pain as it was struck twice more. Just one more wound would see the formidably-tall beast fall...

DESPITE THE ANDROIDS' FIREPOWER, THE NIMON CONTINUE TO ADVANCE

With the exception of their badly injured brethren, who wisely sought shelter behind some ruins just north of the Space Antenna [Objective Three], the Nimon boldly marched east, lowering their horns in anticipation of discharging their Psionic mind beams and relying upon their great bulk to absorb the hotly anticipated returning fire from Sharaz Jek's androids. With a huge explosion the robot holding the Fuel Barrels [Objective Five] was blown asunder by the Minotaurs' attack, granting the parasitic species another Victory Point and costing the mask villain's minions control of a highly valuable objective. Fortunately however, the automaton by the Drinks Machine [Objective Four] managed to weather the Psionic storm without any injury to its circuits.

Dum Da Dum, Diddly Dum, Oo-ee-oos…