Star Wars Games at Enfilade 2016

A star-fighter "furball" during the First Day's Star Wars Armada game.

Shortly after my last post on this blog--four months ago--I've been busy with another project.

Our regional gaming group, NHMGS, hosts its annual convention, Enfilade!, every Memorial Day Weekend.  This year, I was asked to be the Event Photographer.  To prepare for this task, I bought a new camera, a XXX, and spent a few weeks getting familiar with it.

I spent the entire three days during the convention prowling the game room floor snapping pictures--
1,163 usable photos to be exact.  Of this grand total, I transferred 923 via Dropbox to our group's Event Coordinator and Website Administrator.

The NHMGS website will be updated shortly and will include the massive gallery of the pictures I took.

But as a "sneak peek" for you readers, here are some sample photos of the Star Wars games played during Enfilade 2016.

Scott hosts a Star Wars Armada game on Day 1 

A traffic jam--IN SPACE!

On Day 2, Chris hosts The Battle of Hoth (As It Should Have Been) game using Star Wars X-Wing.

Imperial fighters and shuttles approach the Rebel Ion Cannon and defensive positions.

The Rebel Ion Cannon is from an vintage Battle of Hoth Playset made by Kenner.

On the last day, Scott hosts a "youngling-friendly" Star Wars Armada game.

Scott instructing a couple of padawans.

The Rebel Fleet closes with their Imperial opponents.

After Action Review # 9: Meteor Battle Over Zenya

 

Stardate:  Fiday, 118-130 ABY

Subsector: Shannekam

Planet: Zenya

After Action Review:  Observation of Zenyan System Defense Forces vs. Meteor Storm

Region:  Planet-wide 

Early Morning, Prime Meridian Time

Yesterday (Forday, 117-130 ABY), the planet Zenya was bombarded by a meteor storm.  As reported, most of the meteors struck in remote areas, but several cities were hit. Damage and casualty reports are still coming in from these urban sites.

It could have been worse.  Thanks to the Zenyan Planetary Defense Force, it wasn't.

A few large asteroids were detected nearing Zenya-III's orbit.  Several starships were dispatched to intercept.

The following pictorial summary illustrates the course of action: 

A Zenyan task force consisting of two destroyers and six frigates, fire a salvo of concussion missiles at the approaching asteroids.

 

Every missile hits its target.  The ships' ready-racks are now depleted.

 

The multiple warhead detonations cause the asteroids to fragment.

 

The Zenyan starships engage the smaller asteroids with laser and blaster fire.

 

The asteroids shatter into meteors, still approaching Zenya-III.

 

The Zenyan ships fire another laser volley.

 

Three meteors are destroyed.  The Zenyan ships attempt to block the meteors' glide-path.

 

The frigate Umoja is struck by a meteor, while the remaining ships fire another volley.

 

The meteors are destroyed, but so is the frigate Umoja.

 

The destroyer Shupavu is struck by a meteor.

 

The Shupavu explodes, while two additional meteors are destroyed.

 

The remaining frigates form-up around the destroyer Shujaa and eliminate two more meteors.

 

Despite the defensive formation, the frigate, Galana is hit.

 

As the meteors pass the starships' defensive perimeter, incoming rocks are engaged by Zenyan fighters.

 

"Scratch four meteors!"

 

Another flight of Zenyan interceptors engage.

 

Three more meteors are destroyed and the interceptors break off.

 

As the meteors enter Zenya-III's upper atmosphere, they're engaged by planetary defense sites consisting of surface-to-space missile batteries and turbo-laser cannons.

 



Several more meteors are destroyed by the defense site salvos, before plummeting to the surface.



The Zenyan Planetary Defense Forces established a hasty, but reasonably affective layered defense against the meteor storm. 

 

The question remains, however:  How did several large asteroids approach Zenya-III without being detected in the first place?

After Action Review (AAR) #8: The Battle of Vianda--Final Phase

Stardate: Fiday, 104-130 ABY/TAg Market Island Security Forces

Subsector: Shannekam

Planet: Zenya

Region: The Tau-Tau Autonomous District

Situation Report:  Opening Phase of the Battle of Vianda

Late-Morning, Local Time 

The two Constabulary squads remaining in Vianda come under heavy fire.  

Outnumbered 8-to-1, the Constabulary squad holding-out in City Hall was soon overwhelmed in an assault.

As the three Maniples of the 7th Cohort converged on the southern edge of Vianda, the entrenched Constabulary squads on Ooverton Ridge open fire.  Two battledroid squads were cut down in the crossfire. 

As the constables were being pushed out of Vianda, the 3rd Maniple/8th Cohort attempted a rapid flanking march along the Vianda Jungle Road. Instead of turning the constables' east flank, the lead battledroid squads blunder into an ambush laid by elements of Bravo Company/Ooverton Constabulary.  

Battledroids and constables exchange fire along the north face of Ooverton Ridge.  

Two battledroid squads are cut down by constables' defensive fire, while another two squads were pinned down in the buildings they recently cleared and occupied. 

Apparently, the battledroid commander of the 3rd Maniple/8th Cohort underestimated the size and disposition of the Constabulary flank guard.  Another battledroid squad was shot up as it advanced along the Vianda Jungle Road. 

Sergeant Duroy attempted to save the remains of his squad before it came under a mass assault by battledroids.  His constables left their shattered strongpoint and attempted to slip through the droid lines individually, or in pairs.  

Despite the high casualties, the battledroids continued to advance.  Unlike sentient beings, battledroids don't retreat.  Three battledroid squads assaulted the west flank of the Constabulary position on Ooverton Ridge.  

One battledroid squad was cut down, but the remain two drove the constables from their entrenchments. 

Seeing his flank turned, the Constabulary Task Force Commander, Colonel Suller, ordered a general retreat.  

Having detailed knowledge of the terrain, the constables were able to conduct an effective fighting withdrawal all the way to the evacuation site on the south side of  Vandalla Island. Grave Patrol Vessels (GPVs) 253 & 254 were also on hand to provide covering-fire with their heavy blasters.  (Neither vessel had any concussion missiles after the preemptive strike against the 599 DIL's air defense sites). 

The 599th DIL Task Force Commander had little choice but to consolidate his gains at Vianda and Ooverton. 

After Action Review (AAR) # 7: Battle for Vianda Part 3

Stardate: Fiday, 104-130 ABY/TAg Market Island Security Forces

Subsector: Shannekam

Planet: Zenya

Region: The Tau-Tau Autonomous District

Situation Report:  Opening Phase of the Battle of Vianda

Mid-Morning, Local Time 

The first squad of battledroids that advanced to the southern outskirts of Vianda came under fire from elements of Bravo Company/Ooverton Constabulary, which was dug in along Ooverton Ridge.

Meanwhile, Charlie Company/Ooverton Constabulary alerted their comrades of a new threat--a maniple (the 3rd) from the 8th Cohort/599th DIL was attempting to outflank their entire position.

Once the debris, dust and smoke cleared, the 2nd Maniple/8th Cohort resumed it's march.

The few remaining Constabulary squads holding Vianda come under intense small arms fire.

The firefight on top of Vianda Peak reached a crescendo.  One battledroid squad sustained some casualties, but the remaining elements of 1st Maniple/7th Cohort charged the roadblock.

2nd Maniple/7th Cohort also launched a charge and managed to drive all but two Constabulary squads out of Vianda. 

Only one squad remained standing at the Vianda Ridge roadblock.  Rather than be overwhelmed by another battledroid charge, Sgt Vertrone ordered the squad to retreat along Vianda Pass Road.

The dug-in elements of Bravo Company/Ooverton Constabulary attempt to provide cover fire to keep the battledroids from overrunning the two Constabulary squads conducting a fighting withdrawal from Vianda.

By late morning, only one Constabulary squad remained on the outskirts of Vianda while another was trapped in City Hall.