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Miniatures Adventure => VSF Adventures => Topic started by: Sinewgrab on June 02, 2016, 03:41:37 AM

Title: Martian Alley - the Capture of the 'Golden Malagor'
Post by: Sinewgrab on June 02, 2016, 03:41:37 AM
Presented at Enfilade this year, by yours truly.  I apologize for the lack of pictures, and their quality - this convention game stuff is hard friggin' work.

5 leagues total:

The dauntless crew of the Gungnir, led by Admiral Heyerdahl (leader, sidekick, 2 gangs, 2 allies)

The vicious crew of the Viking, led by Kaptin Gabler (leader, sidekick, 4 allies)

The Princess' Bodyguard, led by Grog of Loc-Nar (leader, sidekick, ally, 2 gangs)

The Princess' Suitors, a league of legends led by Carter.

The random element, a league of 4 flying Highland Martians.

The goal were slightly different for each league:

Norwegian Privateer Goals:
Primary:  Find the Princess Voojwa D'Ey, and take her prisoner, to help in the conflict with the Martian state of Helium, and their resistance to the rightful expansion of Free Norway.  Damned natives.
Secondary: Sabotage the Hullcutter.
Tertiary: Grab anything else that might be worth something, and don't lose anything in the process.

Norwegian Crew of the Gungnir Goals:
Primary:  Do not lose control of the Gungnir.
Secondary: Grab the Princess Voojwa D'Ey, and take her prisoner, to help in the conflict with the Martian state of Helium, if the opportunity presents itself.

Martian Bodyguard Goals:
Primary:  Find Princess Voojwa D'Ey, and keep her safe from these thieving raiders from Earth.
Secondary: Cripple the Earth vessel if the opportunity presents itself.

Princess's Suitors' Goals:
Primary:  Show that you are the best choices for Princess Voojwa D'Ey by driving off these Earthling upstarts!
Secondary:  Destroy the Earthling airship.
Tertiary:  Gather honor and fame by getting anything of value.

Highland Martians' Goals:
Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary:  Gather up anything of value.  Be mercenary about the whole thing.  If it has value, grab it and fly off.

The plot points were:

The Princess Voojwa D'Ey,
Jewel of the House of Helium
While in possession of this plot point, you get the effects of the 'Extend the Scenario' Reward.

Cask of Aquavit
You get the reward card 'Discard 1 to force everyone else to discard 1' OR you may discard this reward to cause a fire on board the ship you are on.  This will count as 'crippling the ship' for this scenario.

Grappling Hook
Gain the reward for 'Discard 1 card for bonus to Dodge or Cunning', and gain Immunity to Perilous Areas.

Big F'''Off Bomb
This reward may be sacrificed to cripple the ship you are currently on. Everyone on board now has 2 turns to evacuate before they are lost with the ship as it falls from the sky.

The Heart of Helium
Big jewel gives the reward card '+1 fortune card', makes girls weak in the knees, makes men who like money unable to walk with any decency.

Princess Abra of Cadabra
Taken prisoner in recent conflict between Helium and Cadabra, she is worth her weight in gold and silver to any side for her use as a bargaining chip. Reward card '+1d to Might' as the men flex in front of her.

The beginning positions...I placed the leagues, to reduce time and difficulty.  I was already explaining a new ruleset to all but one of the players.

(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/25/1352_02_06_16_3_51_47_0.JPG)

(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/25/1352_02_06_16_3_51_48_1.JPG)

(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/25/1352_02_06_16_3_51_49_2.JPG)

The ships' decks were relatively safe to roam, but crossing from ship to ship as well as anytime you crossed within an inch of a gun emplacement were perilous areas...unless you had wings, which allowed you to ignore the perilous areas between ships.  I also ruled that failing a peril while crossing between ships meant you fell to your death, which came to figure in prominently.  I also told them no-one could activate a plot point on their own ship until turn 3 - I felt it was too easy to get to in the tight quarters.

By the end of the first turn, shots had been exchanged between the bodyguard and the crew of the Gungnir, reducing the gangs significantly, and players were spending more time trying to hurt each other than gain plot points.  The Highland player, however, read his goals, and went straight to the plot points.

(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/25/1352_02_06_16_3_51_49_3.JPG)

(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/25/1352_02_06_16_3_52_41_0.JPG)

Which prompted the rest of them to start throwing everything at the Highland Martians, whose player could roll no bad dice for the rest of the game.  I may as well just told him "you pass everything".

(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/25/1352_02_06_16_3_52_42_1.JPG)

And, of course, he finds not one, but BOTH princesses in one turn.

(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/25/1352_02_06_16_3_52_43_2.JPG)

(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/25/1352_02_06_16_3_52_44_3.JPG)

Here, you can see the position of the skimmer that the suitors used to get to the fight..  If you look closely above, you will see my John Carter model down on the mat forming my "planet".  That would be because he failed on his first peril to jump across, and plummeted to the planet below.

The Highland Martian player lost the fight for Princess Abra of Kadabra to the Norwegian troops on the Gungnir, but he flew away from the Viking with D'Ey.  The Suitor's player, wanting to rescue her, asked if he could run and jump from the Hullcutter to the skiff with two who had enough movement to get there.  I invoked the Rule of Cool to ignore the fact that you should stop running as soon as you hit a perilous area, and allowed it.

He quite promptly failed his peril checks with not one, but BOTH of the suitors, thus plunging 3 of his 4 characters to their deaths...

(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/25/1352_02_06_16_3_53_29_0.JPG)

The last of them tried to shoot the flying Martian, but rolled no successes, and the Martian responded by throwing a rock for 3, winning the fight clearly, seizing the initiative, and flying off the board with his prize.  I just hope she likes big men...

(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/25/1352_02_06_16_3_53_30_1.JPG)

I think I will be forced to run a rescue mission for the Princess next year...
Title: Re: Martian Alley - the Capture of the 'Golden Malagor'
Post by: PatG on June 02, 2016, 10:24:30 AM
Great looking game and those ships are excellent!
Title: Re: Martian Alley - the Capture of the 'Golden Malagor'
Post by: The_Beast on June 02, 2016, 06:01:21 PM
You apologize for THAT?

That's AWESOME!!!  :o

Sorry, have to catch my breath.

Doug
Title: Re: Martian Alley - the Capture of the 'Golden Malagor'
Post by: fergal on June 02, 2016, 06:03:18 PM
OK, that's awesome!  I'm so glad to see these pics, what a fun looking game!  First shots of the Omura in action on the internets....

Looks like it was a blast to play in as well.
Title: Re: Martian Alley - the Capture of the 'Golden Malagor'
Post by: Bullshott on June 02, 2016, 08:16:49 PM
Great looking game and a great idea for a scenario. Well done  :-* :-* :-*
Title: Re: Martian Alley - the Capture of the 'Golden Malagor'
Post by: Sinewgrab on June 03, 2016, 02:09:21 AM
Well, yeah, I am apologizing.  The photos are pretty shoddy...it was pretty darn fun to run though.  The poor guy running the suitors, though...I am so glad he was a good sport about his die rolls.  The first action he took failed and fell to his death...
Title: Re: Martian Alley - the Capture of the 'Golden Malagor'
Post by: d phipps on June 03, 2016, 03:05:20 AM
Fantastic!  :-* :-*

THANKS so much for playing and sharing Pulp Alley. That looked like tons of fun! And lots of hard work.

Well done, sir!  ;)

(http://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o665/pulpalley/Art%20of%20Pulp%20Alley/Phantom%20Agent%20WEB_zpsyunnoj0z.jpg)
Title: Re: Martian Alley - the Capture of the 'Golden Malagor'
Post by: Sinewgrab on June 03, 2016, 03:51:17 AM
And the Leagues...

The Suitors:

(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/25/1352_03_06_16_4_45_11_2.jpg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/25/1352_03_06_16_4_45_41_0.jpg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/25/1352_03_06_16_4_46_17_0.jpg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/25/1352_03_06_16_4_45_10_0.jpg)
Title: Re: Martian Alley - the Capture of the 'Golden Malagor'
Post by: Sinewgrab on June 03, 2016, 03:53:35 AM
The Bodyguard:

(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/25/1352_03_06_16_4_45_41_1.jpg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/25/1352_03_06_16_4_45_11_1.jpg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/25/1352_03_06_16_4_45_41_2.jpg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/25/1352_03_06_16_4_45_11_4.jpg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/25/1352_03_06_16_4_45_11_3.jpg)
Title: Re: Martian Alley - the Capture of the 'Golden Malagor'
Post by: Sinewgrab on June 03, 2016, 03:57:14 AM
The Crew of the Viking:

(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/25/1352_03_06_16_4_46_17_3.jpg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/25/1352_03_06_16_4_49_06_2.jpg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/25/1352_03_06_16_4_46_17_2.jpg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/25/1352_03_06_16_4_46_17_1.jpg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/25/1352_03_06_16_4_45_41_4.jpg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/25/1352_03_06_16_4_45_41_3.jpg)
Title: Re: Martian Alley - the Capture of the 'Golden Malagor'
Post by: Sinewgrab on June 03, 2016, 03:59:21 AM
The Crew of the Gungnir:

(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/25/1352_03_06_16_4_48_39_1.jpg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/25/1352_03_06_16_4_48_39_4.jpg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/25/1352_03_06_16_4_49_07_3.jpg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/25/1352_03_06_16_4_49_07_4.jpg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/25/1352_03_06_16_4_48_39_2.jpg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/25/1352_03_06_16_4_48_39_3.jpg)
Title: Re: Martian Alley - the Capture of the 'Golden Malagor'
Post by: Sinewgrab on June 03, 2016, 04:01:25 AM
And finally, the winning team, the Highland Martians!

(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/25/1352_03_06_16_4_49_06_1.jpg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/25/1352_03_06_16_4_49_06_0.jpg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/25/1352_03_06_16_4_48_39_0.jpg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/25/1352_03_06_16_4_46_17_4.jpg)
Title: Re: Martian Alley - the Capture of the 'Golden Malagor'
Post by: Pijlie on June 03, 2016, 05:44:26 AM
What a magnifcent game!  :o Hats off to you sir!

I'd love to have some more info, as I'm working on a similar project (if based on other rules). I see a wonderful eclectic mix of miniatures from all over the place and still perfectly fitting the theme!

I recognize a lot of them, but where did you get the winged Martians from (which I suspect are part conversion)? And how did you do their bases?

The big ships are scratchbuilt?

Wonderful, wonderful!
Title: Re: Martian Alley - the Capture of the 'Golden Malagor'
Post by: blacksoilbill on June 03, 2016, 01:39:33 PM
Wow! That is superb! The ships look spectacular, and it sounds as if they made for a really interesting game (poor guy who couldn't jump ship!) Love the diverse collection of miniatures too. Those Valkyries in particular are fantastic. Thanks for posting.
Title: Re: Martian Alley - the Capture of the 'Golden Malagor'
Post by: shadowking1957 on June 03, 2016, 02:05:02 PM
All of so inspiring superb, thank you fro the pics and info so much
Title: Re: Martian Alley - the Capture of the 'Golden Malagor'
Post by: fergal on June 03, 2016, 02:11:10 PM

The big ships are scratchbuilt?


Sinew built the grey human ship and the Martian one is a Crossover Minis Omura Martian Airship (http://crossoverminiatures.com/product/omura-martian-airship/)

Title: Re: Martian Alley - the Capture of the 'Golden Malagor'
Post by: Marine0846 on June 03, 2016, 04:17:23 PM
Great looking game.
I was lucky to see the game, played last weekend.
The ships look much better in person.
Very well done, Neil.
Title: Re: Martian Alley - the Capture of the 'Golden Malagor'
Post by: Teld on June 03, 2016, 04:41:52 PM
Superb looking game, thanks for the write up
Title: Re: Martian Alley - the Capture of the 'Golden Malagor'
Post by: marianas_gamer on June 03, 2016, 08:41:30 PM
Excellent, wish I could have played!
LB
Title: Re: Martian Alley - the Capture of the 'Golden Malagor'
Post by: warrenpeace on June 03, 2016, 08:54:15 PM
In defense of the players who were initially engaged, most of our figures were set up within range and on the open decks. I think the Norwegians from both of their ships were looking for a way to board my Martian galley (I played the bodyguards), and I know I was looking for a way to board the two Norwegian ships.

Trouble is that characters had to jump across, a peril, and from most of the closest points had to jump from or into the 1 inch perilous zone around deck cannon. Then the characters would be jumping straight into a probable brawl with enemy characters. It made sense to first try and reduce the risk by shooting away some of the enemy, if possible. Even then, gangs, allies, and followers aren't great at passing perils. Only the leaders and sidekicks have good skills for that.

So the Suitors and Highland Martians had more of a free hand at the start to engage where they wanted. And I needed to see if what those two factions did would give me an opening against the two Norwegian ships that had me sandwiched between them.

This is not a complaint. That was one of the most fun miniatures games I have ever played in. But I have no regrets about not jumping for the Norwegian ships immediately with the characters I had. What I regret is forgetting to use Grok's "savage" ability in his first brawl with the flying Norwegian robot that had gotten onto the crow's nest of my galley. Grok was getting the better of that brawl, but didn't have the dodge ability to break off the engagement. So he needed to win that fight against the metal monster, and needed that "savage" ability.
Title: Re: Martian Alley - the Capture of the 'Golden Malagor'
Post by: Sinewgrab on June 04, 2016, 01:04:33 AM
What a magnifcent game!  :o Hats off to you sir!

I'd love to have some more info, as I'm working on a similar project (if based on other rules). I see a wonderful eclectic mix of miniatures from all over the place and still perfectly fitting the theme!

I recognize a lot of them, but where did you get the winged Martians from (which I suspect are part conversion)? And how did you do their bases?

The big ships are scratchbuilt?

Wonderful, wonderful!

The big ships in blue are scratchbuilt, the Malagor itself is Crossover Minis' Martian Hullcutter.  The winged Martians are Oni no Sanru from the old Clan War miniatures line.  The bases are clear acrylic disks with magnets glued in the center.
Title: Re: Martian Alley - the Capture of the 'Golden Malagor'
Post by: Sinewgrab on June 04, 2016, 01:07:25 AM
I was more commenting on the Norwegian forces, who played very conservatively, and only once actually crossed the gulf, and then only with a flying robot.  Was fun to run, though.
Title: Re: Martian Alley - the Capture of the 'Golden Malagor'
Post by: warrenpeace on June 04, 2016, 02:08:53 AM
I was more commenting on the Norwegian forces, who played very conservatively, and only once actually crossed the gulf, and then only with a flying robot.  Was fun to run, though.

Yeah, perhaps those two gyro-copters could have flown off to try for some plot points on the Martian or the other Norwegian ship. They didn't have great skills for solving plot points though.

The really scary thing that I see now is the stats for the two Norwegian captains. Those numbers are stunning. Those two characters would have cut through my bodyguard faction like knives through butter.
Title: Re: Martian Alley - the Capture of the 'Golden Malagor'
Post by: Sinewgrab on June 04, 2016, 05:20:32 AM
I know - that's why I kept telling the players that the leaders needed to lead from the front...but both of them I think are too used to the historicals idea of hiding your general...
Title: Re: Martian Alley - the Capture of the 'Golden Malagor'
Post by: Sinewgrab on June 04, 2016, 05:22:47 AM
OK, that's awesome!  I'm so glad to see these pics, what a fun looking game!  First shots of the Omura in action on the internets....

Looks like it was a blast to play in as well.


If you want, I'll try to send you some better photos to drop on your webpage.
Title: Re: Martian Alley - the Capture of the 'Golden Malagor'
Post by: fergal on June 04, 2016, 06:21:50 AM
You are on.  PM me your real name and address and I'll get an Aberdeen Class ship in the mail for you as well!
Title: Re: Martian Alley - the Capture of the 'Golden Malagor'
Post by: The_Beast on June 05, 2016, 01:40:03 AM
By the way, Grab, ol bean, Sir Randall mentioned how impressed he was with your game, and I pointed out I replied to your mention of supposedly bad piccies.

'What bad photos?!?'

We REALLY love it all. Even if on the short end of the stick in the game, Master Bruhn's a lucky guy.  ;)

Doug
Title: Re: Martian Alley - the Capture of the 'Golden Malagor'
Post by: Chairface on June 07, 2016, 04:59:02 AM
First rate!
Title: Re: Martian Alley - the Capture of the 'Golden Malagor'
Post by: Sinewgrab on June 07, 2016, 07:46:59 AM
More photos!  I ruthlessly stole these from some of the other participants at Enfilade, who posted them on their blogs, etc.

(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/25/1352_07_06_16_8_44_23_0.jpg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/25/1352_07_06_16_8_44_23_1.jpg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/25/1352_07_06_16_8_44_23_2.jpg)
Title: Re: Martian Alley - the Capture of the 'Golden Malagor'
Post by: d phipps on June 09, 2016, 10:04:52 PM
Wow, excellent work on those Pulp Alley character cards!  :-*
Title: Re: Martian Alley - the Capture of the 'Golden Malagor'
Post by: Sinewgrab on June 10, 2016, 01:33:30 AM
Thanks!  I have always found that having a photo of the models being represented alongside the stats makes life soooo much easier at a convention.
Title: Re: Martian Alley - the Capture of the 'Golden Malagor'
Post by: dinohunterpoa on November 11, 2016, 10:09:41 PM
 :-* :-* :-* :-* :-*
Title: Re: Martian Alley - the Capture of the 'Golden Malagor'
Post by: The_Beast on November 14, 2016, 01:56:48 PM
:-* :-* :-* :-* :-*

You DO know, this counts at thread-o-mancy!  >:(

And few are more deserving of same; as winter sets in, shouldn't we be challenged to start creating our own visions?  ;D

Doug
Title: Re: Martian Alley - the Capture of the 'Golden Malagor'
Post by: Sinewgrab on November 15, 2016, 01:43:26 AM
You're just grumpy because you haven't finished your Aphids yet.
Title: Re: Martian Alley - the Capture of the 'Golden Malagor'
Post by: The_Beast on November 20, 2016, 06:55:33 PM
 :'(

Doug
Title: Re: Martian Alley - the Capture of the 'Golden Malagor'
Post by: warrenpeace on November 20, 2016, 08:24:20 PM
Who minds bringing back good memories?
Title: Re: Martian Alley - the Capture of the 'Golden Malagor'
Post by: dinohunterpoa on November 21, 2016, 10:53:00 PM
...; as winter sets in, shouldn't we be challenged to start creating our own visions?  ;D
Doug

You're absolutely right! Lots of ideas to be shamelessly stolen to inspire lots of projects!  ;)

Talking about Barsoom and inspiring ideas, I also just  :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* those:

http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=93518.0 (http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=93518.0)

http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=92847.0 (http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=92847.0)

 
Title: Re: Martian Alley - the Capture of the 'Golden Malagor'
Post by: The_Beast on November 23, 2016, 05:53:31 PM
And, thanks to you, Dino ol' bean, for understanding I was only teasing.  ;)

Doug
Title: Re: Martian Alley - the Capture of the 'Golden Malagor'
Post by: dinohunterpoa on November 23, 2016, 09:36:50 PM
And, thanks to you, Dino ol' bean, for understanding I was only teasing.  ;)

Doug

Doug, you're always welcome! lol lol lol lol lol