Xenos Rampant: Mars VSF - Ambush Scenario

[Sturmpioneer]

Last Sunday, I returned to my failed previous attempt at gaming on Mars during the time of Steampunk.  My previous attempt was many years ago with Trumpeter Table Top Gaming Club using G.A.S.L.I.G.H.T. rules.  It was so-so and I didn't return to Mars until now.  Dale and I tried the new rules Xenos Rampant by Osprey.
The setting.  The mad uncle of Willy Wonka, Charlly Wonka, has set up an illegal grey coal mining operation on the surface of Mars (grey coal was some thread I stumbled across on LAF many moons ago, it always stuck with me).  As we all know, grey coal is a superior form of coal that far surpasses Earth's black coal in BTU.  As such this has raised the ire of the president of the Union of Northern States (or envy, if you will). And despite its current struggles in the war with the Confederate Nations of the Southern Hemisphere, they have raised an expeditionary force to tackle Uncle Wonka and his illegal operation backed by the Prussian Experimental Troops and their wonder weapons.
Uncle Wonka has determined that mining equipment  must be moved from Mine site X1 to Mine site YU.  Playing the ambush scenario from the book, three vehicles must travel from one side of the board to the other and exit.  Billy WereJack leads the Union forces along with the landship "Pit Boss".
Uncle Wonka trounces the Union forces and deals a mortifying blow against the Bluecoats.  Of particular note were the half-savage Oopa Loompas enslaved by Wonka.  The PET brought along their "Red Baron" minus a wheel due to a faulty axle breaking in transport between Earth and Mars.  A mercenary unit of Dark Elder decided hanging out in the tavern in Barsoom was a better than trudging along some dusty Martian roadside (they rolled AWOL on their variable stat).

[DivisMal]

Oh my wacky goodness!  Just reading through the set up made me laugh.

Most excellent, good sir! Rather spectacular, I might even say!

[Grumpy Gnome]

Oh my wacky goodness!  Just reading through the set up made me laugh.

Most excellent, good sir! Rather spectacular, I might even say!

I would echo the words of DivisMal! Such wacky brilliance! 👍

[Easy E]

Welcome back to Mars!

[Mr. White]

Fantastic setting.
I love the skimmers on wires. genius!

How'd the XR rules work out for you?

[Sturmpioneer]

Thank-you for the supportive comments!

Yes, I bought the flyers at a garage sale with no stands.  I didn't feel like mortgaging the house for some, so spare floral wire seems to work well enough for now.

XR seems to work.  Just had the one game but the values assigned to the troop types were easy enough to grasp and follow.  We had very few special things going on mind you as it was a first game.  My gaming partner is going to spruce up the QRS as they are too skimpy/light to be helpful.  The scenario worked extremely well.  I'm looking forward to playing some more games.

All in all I bought them as an excuse to play with some toys and not break my brain.  I will try Grimdark OPR at some point to contrast the two but am in no rush at this time.

[sir_shvantselot]

Genius.

[fastolfrus]

looks pretty good, might nick the idea of Charlie Wonka and the savage OompaLumpas

[Red Orc]

As a 'red' orc myself I heartily approve of your savage Oompa-Loompas. The whole setup is a perfect blend of lunatic invention with some more lunatic invention!

[Sturmpioneer]

All the lunacy found here was due to LAF's ability to inspire it!

[snitcythedog]

Very nice work all around on the troops.  Chomping at the bit to play Xenos Rampant. 

Yes, I bought the flyers at a garage sale with no stands.  I didn't feel like mortgaging the house for some, so spare floral wire seems to work well enough for now.

Nice solution to the flying base problem.  Mine are similar but incorporated into bases that I had on hand with a wound spring in the wire so they had a little play and would not bend so easy.   I hate the plastic flying bases as they break and fretted with the loose wire on the table since this whole army are skimmers. 
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jXa3-xV89jc/V16yY-e--uI/AAAAAAAABMI/ifFedW1JXTUX66yUxnnzMO9rWzQlzXo7QCLcB/s1600/DSCF1236.jpg
For heavier flyers I did the same with a coat hanger and weights in the base.
https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-68HdZKhZ2iY/V16yTpNNcuI/AAAAAAAABMA/zy48ds1rJDo7jsSovOKjHcMeGfAJTwMEwCLcB/s1600/DSCF1238.jpg

[Sturmpioneer]

That's a lot flyers!

[jetengine]

I love the idea of a GW faction just casually chilling on VSF mars.

"Should we loot and do horribly awful things to the worlds inhabitants Sh'tkal?"

"Nah, thats penned in on Tuesday for the Mon'keigh. Plus these Mojitos are to *die* for!"

[Metternich]

Your Union landship is just wonderful.

[Sturmpioneer]

Thankyou!