Solo Squad-Hammer: Space Orcs vs. Gothic Space Knights in a Cyberpunk Warzone!

What with the government doing weird things, I had a little time to play a game of Squad-Hammer.  This is a very robust and flexible system, and fun to play, though I didn't try anything crazy this time.  I just used the stat lines from the Space Orcs and Gothic Space Knights supplements, picked some figures from my Ion Age collection, and set them at it on my favorite terrain.

There are six objectives this game.  Most are Terrain objectives, worth points each turn.  The one in the center is a Table objective, which is worth 5, but only at the end of the game (which will last 4 rounds).

The Space Orcs have 99 points from a Big Boss, two Shooter Mobs and a Brawler Mob.

The Gothic Space Knights (104 points) have an Officer, a Combat Squad and a Support Squad.

Round 1:

The Orcs have the initiative and activate two.  The Shooter Mobs both REDEPLOY, charging as fast as they can for the nearest Terrain objectives.

The Knights activate everybody.  The Officer REDEPLOYS, and uses his special ability to give the Combat Squad a free move.  The Support Squad REDEPLOYS, but doesn't get very far.  The Combat Squad then ENGAGES, moving up to the Terrain objective and taking shots at the Orcs across the street, but they can't bring their full might to bear, and there's cover and other obstacles, so they miss.

Space Orcs: 2 (+2 Terrain) - Gothic Space Knights: 1 (+1 Terrain)

Round 2:

Not a very interesting turn.  The Big Boss and the Brawler Mob REDEPLOY, hoping to get into the fight.

The Officer REDEPLOYS to take up behind the nearby objective, giving the Combat squad a free move.  The Combat Squad ENGAGES the Big Boss in a Firefight, but despite the relatively clear line of sight, nobody gets hurt.  The Support Squad REDEPLOYS and runs around the back of the building to take up a position behind a barricade.

Space Orcs: 4 (+2 Terrain) - Gothic Space Knights: 2 (+1 Terrain)

Round 3:

The first damage in the game, and it's from the Big Boss' "Brutal Discipline" ability injuring his own troops (to buy a re-roll).

The Shooter Mob ENGAGES, charging forward hoping to overwhelm the Knights' Combat Squad, but fails to inflict any damage (even with the re-roll from the Big Boss), but at least they only take three points of damage from the counter-attack.  The Big Boss, on the other hand, ENGAGES and hits the Combat Squad for 2 points of damage, and only takes 1 in return!

Getting a third activation for the first time, the Brawler Mob REDEPLOYS and comes up from behind to secure the objective.

The Knights' Combat squad ENGAGES, unloading on the Big Boss, sending him to whatever passes for Orc hell, while sustaining no further injuries themselves.  The Support Squad ENGAGES and trades fire with the Shooter Mob to no effect, but the Officer (also ENGAGING) moves around into cover (but still near the objective) to get some shots off on the Shooter Mob's exposed flank, finally destroying the unit.

Space Orcs: 6 (+2 Terrain) - Gothic Space Knights: 5 (+1 Terrain, +2 Kills)

Round 4:

The juicy Table objective is ripe for taking now, and the Orcs' Brawler Mob is better up close anyway, so they ENGAGE, moving forward to capture the objective and face the Knights in an Assault.  Despite the close quarters, both sides only do 1 point of damage to the other.

Meanwhile, the Shooter Mob that had been holding the objective on the roof moves forward to ENGAGE, shooting at the exposed Officer, but only managing to do 1 point of damage there as well.

On the Knights' turn, it's now or never.  The Combat Squad ENGAGES and hops the wall to be close to the Table objective, unfortunately leaving themselves exposed.  Their assault on the Brawler Mob fails, and the Brawler Mob in turn eliminates the Knights in a bloody brawl.  The Officer ENGAGES to fire off a few shots from down the road, and does manage to inflict another point of damage, but it's not enough.  The Support Squad is too far away to capture the center Table objective, but they do ENGAGE to come around the corner and hit the Brawler Mob hard, killing them all.

Space Orcs: 8 (+1 Terrain, +1 Kill) - Gothic Space Knights: 7 (+1 Terrain, +1 Kill)

I decline to play another round, and a narrow victory goes to the Space Orcs!

With only 4 Rounds and kind of starting out of sight, I thought this would be less of a nail-biter.  I guess I was wrong!

Just goes to show that Squad-Hammer is a solid game.  I'm really looking forward to the pending update. :)


- Jason "Ludanto" Smith C;E