Game 2 Part 04

The Martian infantry formations smash the ‘Thin Red Line’ with minimum of casualties and the Brits withdraw.

In my version of the Space 1889 rules, the Oenotrian shield guns are multi barrelled and at close range are fatal against unarmoured troops. A design they developed from their own technology after seeing human multi guns.

Though expensive they are cheaper than human rifles and most importantly (apart from the useful close quarters punch) they are not reliant on humans for supply.

These results bare out over half a dozen test games which we are happy with.It gives back some balance to the Martian forces against mass manufactured rifles, machine guns and more effective artillery from the armies of the ‘Great Powers’.

Game 2 Part 03

The Oenotrian Lancers defeat the allied native cavalry and press on the British lines.

On the right flank the Oenotrian Arrow formation engages the British infantry. They have crossed open ground with out any loss of men,the formation protecting them.

Game 2 Part 02

The cavalry engage one another ,while the heavy infantry advance towards the British positions.

Game 02 Part 01

The fleeing forces reach the area of the canal where Lord Hulmutex and his heavy infantry are waiting for his Cloud ship to be repaired. As soon as Hulmutex is told he orders his troops into battle formation.

The British Imperial forces arrive and quickly form up but the senior officers are concerned at the high number of heavy infantry.

Part 5 Game 01

Both sets of Gashant riders prepare to charge in this small area. But the scouts already have the initiative. The charge takes place but a rifle squad on the left flank fire into the Oenotrian Lancers and without the distance advantage their extra long lances are a disadvantage against the Hill Martian spears.

As the British infantry advance towards the canal the Martians begin to withdraw and the Shastapsh commander fails a bravery test. He flees leaving his and the Oenotrian troops only managing to bring the artillery with him and a hand full of men.

If he hadn’t failed he may have been able to stage a last minute counter action with a full unit of musketeers now on high ground and what is left of the other forces.









The second game we played will be posted over the week.

Part 4 Game 01

The attackers consider moving around the sides of the building but see a horror of snorting beasts heading in their direction. The Relief force enters the game lead by the Mounted Scouts Corps.

The raiders in the buildings begin to lose ground as a priest uses his staff and pistol waving scientist makes an impact on swordsmen.

As British Troops move in from the sides of station the musketeers retreat to prevent being out flanked. Cavalry and troops take up positions outside the station entrance.

Part 3 Game 01

As a Tossian Emerald Guard observer looks on the advance,the artillery is slowly moved into position. None of the buildings in the settlement can stand up to the freighting power of Rouge Guns. Fire from the station cuts down the advancing Martian troops at the station wall.

In the distance a lone rider can be seen on the horizon. The defenders fall back to the colonnades due to the volley fire. As this happens s two musketeers rush the narrow entrance but don’t count on fire from above and are cut down. The courtyard has become a killing ground.

Part 2 Game 01

Under the command of military officers the station staff man the walls.The Martian militia start to go house to house and the Hill Martian mercenaries attack the Tunstel warehouse. The militia muskets and the Oenotrian light infantry advance on the station building while Oenotrian Lancers form up at the end of the street. Some resistance is met by armed humans in the houses with some success.

Part 1 Game 01

In order to give balance to the game the defending player rolls to see if the main Martian force is delayed. He is lucky enough to get evens and Lord Hulmutex’s cloud ship suffers an engine problem and must stop 5miles away for repairs (Lucky Lee lol ).Must be the French steam engine or maybe the American propellers? His loyal heavy infantry refuse to go on without him and hold their position. Only his light infantry muskets go on with the Shastapsh Militia& Hill Martian mercenaries.

Martian forces disembark from rafts drawn by a canal barge and take up position.
Settlers and resident Martians run for cover. Colonial officers prepare to defend the station building. Martians begin to unload the artillery.

Cavalry enter from the North by the canal path.

At last!

It’s been along time in the waiting but finally a full game for those interested is taking place this weekend. So as a run up to the game a few pics and background.

Warning Fluff!

The game is based at British station that still operates after the Shastapsh rebellion. For two years they have struggled by with loss of income due to the loss of trade on the Moeris Lacus- Shastapsh Canal.

Station 476 (Tunstel Station) East of Moeris Lacus-South of the South Shistomik tribal area off the Moeris Lacus- Shastapsh Canal

The site was once a small Canal Priest temple complex but was long abandoned. In 1875 a pioneer from earth call Robert Tunstel started a sheep farm here with his wife. Over time this homestead grew while surviving Hill Martian attacks. As the Crown Territory influence grew it was decided that a station was to be built at the site. Tunstel heard of this from government surveyors and wrote to the Governors office offering a plot of his land.

This already established settlement and good survey reports lead to the reoccupation of one of the old temple buildings by the British authorities. Soon new buildings were going up as the station attracted trade giving a boost for the Tunstels. But tragedy hit the family when Robert was killed by a Steppe Tiger in 1883. But his plucky wife Lilly remained on Mars and continued the farm and bring up their two daughters.

The station soon became known unofficially as Tunstel Station.

Oenotrian Empire

Lord Hulmutex is a competent Royal officer in the Oenotrian Imperial Army. Though of the Royal House he only holds the military title of Marchmaster. He has won every engagement he and his men have encountered with the earth men,when he has commanded them. He hates all earthers and while he follows the Canal Priest religion also secretly adheres to the Earth/Ground Cleaners doctrine and supports them with money, arms and sometimes with his own men. He is not alone in the Royal families in the Oenotrian Empire that share these sentiments. Being Oentrian by blood he looks down on non-Oenotrian Imperial officers which can sometimes lead to conflict on the duelling field.

In Shastapsh near the German Legation are buildings owned by the Oenotrian’s. One of these is a three storey house owed by Lord Hulmutex. From here he runs a covert war against the British. He has secretly brought into the city and region a force of Oenotrian volunteers. A band of well equipped and experienced legionaries now sits behind British lines waiting for the call to action. To harass the British supply lines, attack stations and homesteads. Most of all draw off front line troops from actions against the Oenotrian Imperial troops.

He has organised a number of raiding camps south of the Crown Territory in the Shistomik Mountains. He provides intelligence back to Oenotria about the area and those in the city and maintains a small but potent force around the Oenotrian enclave within Shastapsh.

When not in the city one of his junior officers and the official Oenotrian representative take over in his absence. The German Intelligence Service’s aren’t very happy with the Oenotrian presence in the city as see them as a rival for influence over Shastapsh. But the Oenotrian are well placed with their links in the city’s Canal Priests and underground Ground Cleaner movement. Some of whom took leading parts in the rebellion.

Forces
Human-British & Native Allies

Settlers (10- 5 armed)and armed Colonial Civil Service officers (9-all armed)-on the table-1st Objective-Survive and hold. Martians (12-2 armed)

British Engineers on survey mission (2). 2nd Objective-Secret Mission

Royal Martian Constabulary Captain (1). 2nd Objective-Secret Mission

British Forces& Native Cavalry(36)-enter from the West after 3 turns-3rd Objective-Relieve Station on part of 2nd Objective-Secret Mission but have not been fully informed of the plan.
Total=55 armed ,15 unarmed

Martians-Shastapsh Militia& Hill Martian mercenaries +Oenotrian regulars

Sun Flag Militia-enter from the Canal in the East-1st Objective-Kill or enslave all humans and take away anything of value. 2nd Objective-Destroy the settlement.

Mercenaries-enter from the Canal in the East-1st Objective-Kill or enslave all humans/Martians and take away anything of value. 2nd Objective-Destroy the settlement.

Lord Hulmutex's troops-enter from the Canal in the East-1st Objective-Kill or enslave all humans and take away anything of value. 2nd Objective-Destroy the settlement.3rd Objective to obtain intact British papers and senior civil servants for interrogation.
Total=120 armed+2 Rogue guns artillery pieces.