Last Friday saw myself and a group of friends meet up at the Stourbridge Wargames club for a large multi player game of Across the Dead Earth organised by Neil Jones.
Here is a link to the game setup.
A huge horde of Sollus are advancing across the land. Several gangs have taken casualties and are fileeing the hordes relentless advance. The gangers are tired and need to find somewhere to rest up and escape the horde. Spying some buildings on the horizon the gangs head cautiously across the ruins searching for food or other items that might prove useful and praying they don't find more Sollus.
All we had been told prior was to create two characters each (up to 120pts total so roughly 60pts and no leader skill) and that it was going to be all of us vs the Sollus (zombies). Leader skill would be handle differently and would change from round to round. In the end 2 people couldn't make it so we increased the number of characters of the 3 Scavenger players to 3.
Fortunately me not being able to decide what models to use I had had created an extra crew and brought all my Copplestone Biker minis so was able to re skin a character and use one of my bikers.
Some Rules were added and or changed.
When arriving within 6 inches of a building or ruin a D6 was rolled and this determined how many Sollus were lurking. At the end of each round the Sollus got there turn and each gang player rolled a D6 and these Sollus arrived on from the table edges.
Event cards were dealt to the 3 gang players as normal but instead of a normal hand of 3 we had 2 in play at once.
Leadership was dealt with by firstly rolling off on 2xD6 with the highest score electing one of his gangers as leader for the round gaining the order, extra action and +2 toughness. In the following rounds a vote was done. This was based on how many models you within 12 inches of the previous rounds leader. Each of your models gave you 1 vote. You then picked a model yours or your allies to be leader for the round. (in case of a draw between votes you dice off on 2D6 until one person wins)
We also had secret missions which were a random choice out of 6. I forget what the others had but mine was Napoleon Complex. In the final turn of the game one of my gangers had to be elected as leader and one of my gang had to survive.
The table set up. The Northern Edge is over on the far side with the farm and out houses. We deployed our gang members along an 18 inch zone along the Southern table edge.. My 3 bikers entered on the road. Jon's 3 in the ruins to the right of the stream. The other guy (apologies I have forget his name :( ) Deployed to the left of the road.
Numerous crates where spread around and a random loot counter was drawn from a mug.
Dice were rolled and Adam is leader for round one. Advancing forward a number of Sollus are disturbed in the large ruin. Rage quickly torches them with his flame thrower. Skylar sweeps her way up the steps search for lott on the first floor.
The rest of the gangers advance up the road towards the central ruin.
A few Sollus groan and stumble out of the building and are put down by Chas's Smg and Dave's Shotgun.
A number of Sollus drawn by the gunfire follow their way up the road and begin to separate and surround the gangs
Adam is brought down by a Sollus and Rage kicks down a Sollus and burns the rest with his flame thrower.
Unable to break free and help Adam. The Sollus begins to feast and Adam joins the ranks of the undead.
Searching the ruins Jon's scout finds a message 'Salvation to the North' The gangers take out the Sollus and form a retreating firing line. Rage and Skylar weave there way through the ruin and head North torching and smashing and burning Sollus left and right in their path.
A fusillade of grenades and nail bombs. Disables enough of the trailing Sollus to give the gangers some breathing space
Jon's broadsword wielding maniac gets pinned down by the Sollus and cuts them down left right and centre in a desperate fight to let the others escape.
Skylar reaches the Barn and a sister appears brandishing a hand cannon. Blue boy rushes over and the surprised sister guns him down thinking his intentions are not the best (Failed Skill check). However seeing Skylar fighting of a Sollus joins forces. The nun advises of a old pre war bunker hidden in the ruins of an old truck to the East.
My Bikers fight a retreat heading towards the Barn. Finding out about the bunker they begin to whittle down the Sollus in their path.
Jons Scout is cornered and pulled down by a group of Sollus but not wanting to turn in to one of them he pulls a pin on a grenade blasting them and his foes to smithereens. (Got beaten in combat and when they went for the kill used his Sacrifice card).
Jon's Broadsword wilder gets completely surrounded and is eventually pulled down by sheer weight of numbers.
We were running out of time by this point. Taking pictures was forgotten to get the game finished before we need to pack up.
I managed to gain leadership in the final round and despite being charged by several Sollus near the truck wreck I managed to disengage from them and escape!
I managed to escape with my gang leader achieving both my Secret objectives and taking 15pts of loot with me.
The game was a good laugh and there was some really cinematic moments. However I think Neil (controlling the zombies) was hoping we would play less co-op between and more back stabbing went on. Perhaps next time with more players it will go that way.
Highlights for me was the Rage (named that because he had the Rage skill) who managed to burn everything that got in his way and when caught in combat used his Rage to kick the crap out of everything.
Jon's broadsword wielder was awesome and hacked down loads of Sollus only the lack of spare actions and passing of skill tests in order to kill off the Sollus being the reason she went down in the end.
The Scout using the Sacrifice card was well timed taking out good chunk of sollus near the Barn preventing them from getting back up like the others.
All my gang survived despite a few hairy moments. They fought really well shooting and scrapping there way across the table.
Neil is planning another meet up next month in February so fingers cross we can all make it again as it was thoroughly enjoyable.
I am hoping in the meant time to strip and rebase my bikers for next time as they are the first figures I painted when returning to the hobby and are a bit rough shall we say!
