Patrol Angis AAR Arcticon 2019 plus free Portable Castle PDF downloads

My thanks to Aris Kolehmainen and the team at Arcticon 2019 over in the United States for putting on a first class 15mm science fiction convention and allowing The Ion Age to sponsor the event too.  It is my pleasure to present the After Action Report (AAR) for the Patrol Angis event on the day.  It is complete with images and all details.  Also as a special treat we have game statistics for and free downloads of the paper model huge Portable Castle vehicles used at the convention.  Enjoy!  GBS

This is an AAR of the Final Game of the Patrol: Angis 2nd Annual Tournament held at ArctiCon 2019. ArctiCon is a charity gaming event in Merriville, Indiana (USA). This year, proceeds from the event culminated in over $4000 to support military veterans.

Scenario:

Prydian Army – In spite of the best efforts of the Prydian forces, it appears that the Shia Khan have managed to access one of the once thought lost Damascus Portable Castle “Vigilance”. Inside it’s broken and overgrown hull are a score of artefacts recovered from the Dolos Cloud by the Starvaulters. Artefacts that could drastically aid the Prydians in their effort to repel the Khanate empire.

Khanate – Generally speaking, there is little the humans possess that the Khanate covet. Their armour is clunky, their weapons crude, their battlesuits inelegant. However, they do have a knack for discovering things long thought lost to time. In this case, a Proauctor Metaborg, long dormant and in near pristine order. Should it fall into the hands of humanity, it might cause a problem in the future.

Win Conditions:

Prydia (Dave) – Have a Troop Element inside the Portable Castle by the end of Turn 6. This will give reinforcements time to vector in on the location of the Vigilance.

Khanate (Aris) – Prevent the enemy from occupying the Portable Castle, doing so will allow for an extraction of the Proauctor before the humans can reach it.

Scenario Special:

Open the Hanger – A troop element inside the Portable Castle may use an action to open the hanger doors. This is the ONLY way for ISV’s to enter the Portable Castle

Fire Missiles, (hopefully…) – The Anda Missile pod appears to possibly be in working order. Any Troop Element within the castle may spend an action to attempt to fire the Anda pod. This pod may fire indirectly, as if it had a spotter on the target element within range.

When you spend your activation token to fire the missile roll 1D8:

1-4: There is a malfunction, the missiles fire straight up in the air before crashing down on the castle. All Elements in or on the castle take an Anda Missile attack (roll for hits and kills as normal). 

Note: No matter who one initiative, each player chooses their own casualties for this attack.

5-8: The pod fires normally, treat this as an Anda Missile Pod attack that has a Spotter for IF.

Turn 1: Aris questions his life choices.

Aris set up his troops in a gamble so that if he won initiative, he would be able to drop an overwatch on his Legionary Support troops sitting on the Battlement platform with their Atomic Destabilizers, allowing him to snipe at the large Prydian element that would be coming up though the woods on the western side of the board.

Aris did NOT win initiative.

Dave opened the game with a solid round of fire, quickly reaping the entire Support element. Aris opt to spend the two activation tokens he had given the squad to save two of them. Dave would follow this up on his next turn by firing an extremely well-placed shot from his Desteria just pasted the edge of one rocky hill, and inside the edge of Castle’s missile pod on the eastern flank, killing the Khanate force commander’s element. Worse still for Aris, his Psychoborgs were A.I. Slaved, which meant they were effectively dead for the rest of the game.

By the end of Turn 1, Dave had successfully taken out 6 Legionaries, 2 man Command Element, and 3 Psychoborgs.

Turn 2: The Pompous Doctrine

Lord Pompous once said “If you’re going to fist’em, fist’em GRATUITOUSLY!”

After much debate in the highest chambers if military thought, it was generally agreed he was speaking of his well known prowess in close combat. This would later be refined to “if you must enter close combat, strike without mercy”, this is also known as The Pompous Doctrine.

Dave showed a prime example of this at work.

Dave’s Duxis with Assaulter and Brawler entered into close combat with Aris’s Legionnaire troop element, resulting in 27 kills on an 8 man element. There were no survivors.

Things were getting dicey for Aris, so he opt to put his future in the hands of dice. Inside the portable castle was an element of Pioneers. The shock troops of the Khanate empire. With one activation token, they activated the Anda pod. Aris targeted the Retained knights that were threatening the western flank, and rolled his dice.

The dice came up as a 5, barely a success, but Aris was not going to complain about this long overdue luck. The pod fires, taking out half of the Retained knights, and locking them down on a failed moral check. Little victories for the Khanate, but this was far from over.

Turn 3: Here there be Giants

Dave had read about Warlords. He knew they were big, he knew they were a match for Duxis, but he had never experienced fighting one yet. Dave’s Desteria were about to experience these giants of the battlefield first hand.

Dave moved his Desteria though the woods into a forward position, he had a few things going for him. First, he was in cover, that +3 would be good to him. Second, They were Desteria, their armour was solid as one could hope for. However, he moved them into the range of warlords sitting in Overwatch, and Hell itself fell upon the brave Desteria.

Shots from Mars, Helios, and Juno cannons were nearly suppressed by their armour but it still took Ablative Armour, all the activation tokens, and the luck of having won initiative to save what little remained of the element.

Turn 4: The Siege Begins

Turn 4 saw the formation of the late game linchpins. The Warlords were single handedly holding the entire eastern flank, while the Duxis and the remnants of the Retained element moved to get closer to the castle.

Eventually the Prydian forces in the west made a hard move to press the Castle wall, not quite able to enter it, but preparing themselves for the fight. Aris opt at this time to pull his full, untouched, element of Pioneers to the battlements, and began raining down Maia rounds down upon the Retained. This would further thin the number of Retained to a mere two; and take out almost all of the Pioneers in the process.

The turn would end with the Prydian force commander deep in the woods, Warlords sitting in overwatch, and all that remained of both forces hugging the wall of the castle in a back and forth firefight.

Turn 5: Lords of War

Dave had to place all his bets one one big play: Get the Retained inside, open the hanger doors, and get the Duxis inside and clean house. It was a suicide mission for the two remaining Retained, however, it was his best shot to win the day. The slug fest had hit him hard, but his Duxis was unharmed, and as hard as he had been hit, Aris had been hit even harder.

With initiative won, Dave moved his Retained into the castle and activated the hanger door. Aris would reply by having the pioneers kill the intruders to little fanfare. With a grand total of 4 Khanate troops in/on the castle, Dave made his move. The Duxis charged towards the open hanger…

… and into the line of fire from the warlords waiting for him.

With inhuman roars the Warlords lived up to their name. The Duxis stood no chance against the onslaught of energies and ballistics being thrown at them, and like a tragic hero of old, it and its pilot died at the brink of it’s goal. The force commander of the Prydian forces then decided to make a strategic withdraw. There could be no victory here today, the Pryidan forces had fallen, and whatever treasures may have been within the ancient hold of the Vigilant, would fall to the hands of the Khanate Empire.

Khanate Victory!!!!

The Aftermath

This was one hell of a game. The combat was intense, the plays were thoughtful, and the line that separated Victory and Defeat has never been thinner. Just look at what was LEFT at the end of the game:

Dave would walk away from the event with a brand new, fresh off the factory floor, Laan type Magog, as well as a complementary line of his very own set of Happy Burger Bots from our wonderful sponsors at Happy Burger.

Remember: Happy Burger is the Fasted Food in the Universe! I look forward to another exciting event next year, and hope to see you guys there!

Want to field your own portable castle? Here are some game statistics to get you to the battlefield in early Prydian style:

As you have seen in the pictures the portable castle was on the table and so here are the links to download for free (just click and save to your device) the PORTABLE CASTLE and a DAMAGED PORTABLE CASTLE.

We hope you enjoyed reading this as much as we did playing Patrol Angis. I’ve been playing competitively one war game or another since I was sixteen and this was the most brutal, bloody, nail biting, and most importantly: fun game I have played to date.

Aris

Mortis ex Machina the Metaborg Proauctor by Aris Kolehmainen

From the era of the Ban of Prejudice and before that the long vanished Resource Wars it is my delight to present a historical document for use with Patrol Angis.  A Khanate terror machine used in ancient times which has appeared once more in the Second Khanate War in 4330 IC.  Written by Aris Kolehmainen this article gives introduction and rules for the Metaborg which you can get HERE on the website and stands 60mm tall (HOF16 and HOF17).  Pictured with the 15mm scale Psycoborg to the left and a Warlord to the right and in front 15mm scale Legionary and Pioneer (16mm tall) from the author's own Medusa Legion.  Enjoy!  GBS

Mortis ex Machina

the Metaborg Proauctor

With the honor and glory of the spearhead of the invasion having been granted to the Styx Legion, other legions were charged with establishing a forward base in the ruins of Camarthen IV. It would be the Medusa Legion that first discovered the long hibernating Metaborg Proauctors, having been charged to seek out any resources that might still be useful to the Shia Khan. Pertinax crews got to work, quickly waking the ancient AIs form their millennial slumber to reestablish themselves to their role as lords of death and terror on the battlefield. While many of these AI had become corrupted or had simply ceased to function, many were able to be awoken and distributed among the Legions by the time of the Prydian counter attack. 

The Proauctors proved to be more fragile than their current counterparts, however, they made up for that fragility with long forgotten experimental technology known as “Drivers”. Drivers are, at their most base level, AI enhancers. They allow the Metaborg to make tactical decisions much faster and more efficiently than even the current Metaborg variants, however, these come with frustrating drawbacks. On the battlefield, Perfects often complain that the Proactors will move out of position or overload their weapons when they are not instructed to do so, sometimes resulting in the loss of battlefield assets. Off the field, many whisper about what the enhancements to the AI might have done, especially over such a long period of time. 

Rumors have begun amongst the Maligs, that some of their ilk have gone missing when hanging around the repair cradles of the Proauctors. Though laughed at by Legionnaires and Pioneers as the deranged thoughts of weaker minds, they were also apt to notice that the Beotan make a warding gesture in the presence of a Proauctor, and that Pertinax crews never seem to work on one in groups less than three. They, themselves, often find they are walking a little quicker around a resting Proauctor, and the feeling of being watched by its gigantic, eyeless visage isn’t spoken of, but felt by all…

Metaborg Proauctor - Dysforia Variant

Weapons:  Triple Jupiter Plasma 46mm Mount (U), Banshee 120Kw Atomic Destabiliser (U)

Movement Rate:  22cm

Armour Type (Rating): Ganus Segmentum Plating (4)

Properties: No Crew Robot, Walker, Chameleon circuit, Ablative Shell, Humascare, Krakos Mk.I

DMR: 10

Points:  923

Metaborg Proauctor - Nekros Variant

Weapons:   Hydra 14mw Laser Swarm Cannon (U), Metaborg Impact Gauntlet

Movement Rate: 22cm

Armour Type (Rating): Ganus Segmentum Plating (4)

Properties: No Crew Robot, Walker, Chameleon circuit, Ablative Shell, Humascare, Telos Mk.I (a)

DMR: 10

Points: 764

Special Rules:

Krakos Mk.I Energy Overkill Driver

The weapons of the Proauctor Dysforia are enhanced by a complex and once experimental power boosting system. When the Dysforia AI finds it appropriate, it can over charge its energy weapons, enabling it to utilize a much more powerful attack. However, these systems were not designed to handle such raw power, and the weapons must spend time in a period of “cool down” to prevent the weapon itself from melting.

When you attack, any roll of 8 grants that hit +4 strength. However, this forces the system to go into “cool down” mode at the end of combat. One activation must be spent to bring the weapon back online before it can fire again.

Note: If both of the weapons are in cool down mode, you need to use one activation for EACH weapon to use it again. You CAN choose to only reactivate one weapon and leave the other shut down if you wish, but you MUST spend an activation to bring it back online.

Telos Mk.I (a) Reaper Collateral Driver

The Proauctor Nekros are enhanced with a special AI driver that reviews target data from three independent drivers before cycling though to the decision cortex of the Nekros AI. The result of this is that the Nekros tends to spread it’s damage much more efficiently, at the cost of sometimes moving itself out of position to ensure the kill.

The Telos Mk.I (a) adds +1 to the Nekros AOE and Impact Gauntlet hits, however sometimes the driver compels the Metaborg out of position to attain a better shot, or to move into close combat. After you declare your intent to fire a weapon, roll a D8. On an 8, the Nekros moves 11cm in a direct line towards the closest enemy unit, (taking into account difficult and impassible terrain as if it had made a regular movement action). If this brings it into base contact with that unit, it is considered to have changed and may initiate close combat as per normal.

Relic of the Past

Metaborg Proauctors are ancient in the extreme, and while expressly deadly, are also prone to failure due to their age and rushed repair.  If a Proauctor takes 6 damage or more in a single round of combat (ranged or close combat), roll a D8. On an 8, there is a critical system failure and the Metaborg goes completely offline. Treat this unit as destroyed. 

Celesta Lament an umpire driven Patrol Angis scenario by Vic Dobson

It is my delight to present a Patrol Angis scenario for free download written by Vic Dobson.  It is called Celesta Lament and it is rather unusual as it is our first published umpire driven scenario featuring a Prydian Player and a Khanate Player alongside a third to oversee.  The free PDF is hosted on our website and in its pages it is split into three parts and each of the players should only look at their own relevant part to keep the adventure fresh.  

Celesta Lament

In this Ion Age scenario, a Prydian Noble, newly arrived on Camarthen Prime, is assigned to command a powerful force of Prydian Precinct troops who are preparing to conduct a rearguard action against the overwhelming might of the invading Khanate Empire. But such is the state of chaos and dislocation in the Prydian headquarters that things are not as they seem, and so even as the our heroic Noble travels to his new command, at the front line the situation has already begun to disintegrate…

You will need all three of the Patrol Angis books in order to play this tense scenario.  Click HERE to download the five page PDF.  Well done Vic!

Get yourself some Mullo Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFV) or Mullo Armoured Personnel Carriers (AFV) the medium vehicle between the Adder and the mighty Taranis.  Designed by Sam Croes these vehicles come in wheeled or tracked or repulsar (anti-gravity) variants with the choice of single or buy three save 10% plus an Early Supporter on until the 23rd March.  See them HERE.  Read the full article about the Mullo on our blog HERE.

All this month we have a 25% off normal price offer for you.  It is a mecha good offer on the IAF128 Afara Strider on all three variants of this light class war walker.  Easy to assemble with a degree of pose of its resin parts the Afara stands 55mm tall when built.  See it HERE.  Rules for the Afara are in Callsign Taranis the expansion to Patrol Angis. Offer ends 1st April 2018.

Lastly our stock of printed copies of IAB01 Patrol Angis are sold out!  We thank you and we have ordered up a new print run which we hope to have in next week so until that time the game pack and book and bundle are not online.  Go to our 15mm Publications page to see all of the Patrol Angis series books in print and as digital downloads as well as free resources.

Thanks for Reading,

GBS

IAF134 Psycoborgs of the Shia Khan Empire released!

“The Shia Khan Empire is, despite its ancient age and mighty power, not a sophisticated enemy on most battlefields.  It is surmised that this and their apparent lack of interest in the value of life is down simply to having such endless resources at their disposal.  Able to throw the lives of their soldiers away without care they can just send more to the flesh grinder of war. So the presence of robots in the ranks of the Legions was a surprise to Prydian commanders.  A most unwelcome surprise as it became clear that the purpose of the robots was to inspire terror in and then exterminate Humans.  

Dubbed Psycoborgs due to their appearance, some two to three times the height of a Human and man-like in construction. Their heads being like a skull and one arm mounting a support grade weapon they also could quite literally inspire terror.  An unknown technology radiates from each robot and makes concentration and bravery exceptionally hard for regular troops and challenging even for Retained Knights. Psycoborgs operate either as single hunters in low intensity combat zones also aiding the conversion of Human Betrayers or as small groups typically of three robots within a platoon.  Betrayers never act alongside these robots and Maligs rarely to do so.  Legionaries and others seem unconcerned by their terror inspiring abilities.  They are incapable of command and are given their programme by their commander in the field.  These are the Psycoborg Robots and they are a fearsome foe!”

Taken from – IAB03 The Khanate Return Army Book

The Ion Age makes its last release for the month of May 2017 with the arrival of six variants of the long awaited robotic terror machine of the Shia Khan Empire; the Psycoborg!  You can go straight to the new pack HERE or read on for more information about these robots as well as how they fit into the new Khanate Army Book as well as some lovely pictures including a line of of all Khanate figure types and our monthly deal and free figure for May...all Khanate!

IAF134 Psycoborgs

This pack contains the parts to make up six variants of the terror robots in the service of the Shia Khan Empire the loathed Psycoborgs.  Each white metal kit is composed of a body, a head (which can be posed) plus a fist arm (which can be posed) and a gun arm (which can be posed).  Assembled the 15mm scale robot stands approx 30mm tall putting it into the same region as a Khanate Warlord.  As well as the pack option plus an option for three packs saving ten percent you can also choose to purchase a single random Psycoborg kit (contact us with your order number if you would like a specific weapon arm included).  Supplied unpainted and unassembled and without bases (shown on 30mm round bases as per Patrol Angis rules).  

For further reference refer to the image of all six variants labelled A to F each weapon is featured in IAB03 The Khanate Return as follows:  Juno 18kw Laser Cannon (A), Mars 20mm Chain Cannon (B), Hydra 14Mw Laser Swarm Cannon (C), Helios 80kw Atomic Destabliser (D), Triple Jupiter Plasma 46mm (E) and Maia 12.7mm Scatter Cannon (F).  Go HERE.  Pack Price 21.00GBP. 

Psycoborgs typically act alone or in threes in larger battles.  Behind the lines and in urban areas they stalk the darkness seeking out weakness.  Small strike teams are sent out to find and destroy the robots before they can do more damage.

We thought it would be nice to show you a scaling line up of all the 15mm troop types currently in the Khanate army.  From left to right they are:  Malig, Legionary, Pioneer, Nox, Warlord and Psycoborg.

We have a month long special offer...to go with your super heavy lads for the Shia Khan we have 25% off IAF039 Khanate Warlords both the pack and the single miniatures from it.  The discount is online and all you need do is add to cart, reward points are as normal and can be used on this offer too.  Offer ends 1st June.  

You can assemble a whole Legion's worth of infantry for the Shia Khan Empire using the 15mm range now from Legionaries to Pioneers as well as Nox and Maligs as well as portable weapons and Warlords; now Psycoborgs.  While almost all Legionaries have their helmets on there are both male and female aliens in the Legion so this month we give you a useful miniature to add to any Tesseran or Ordos.  IMP45 Female Khanate Legionary.   Free in every order every time all month before being retired. This miniature is automatically put into every order at the rate of one per order regardless of order value. It can also be bought in any amount on the monthly IMP page of the website for this month only too before being withdrawn on the first of next month. Standing 17mm to the eye line our female Legionary is tall like all elvish Legionaries.  Bare headed, helmet under her arm and sporting a Maia Mpi she is useful in any Khanate force. This miniature is worth 0.60GBP.

Thanks for Reading!

GBS