Back fighting the Empire!

Today, I was back at the club following a week doing 'Family' stuff!
Its good to be back pushing toy soldiers around, is all I can say!
David Stell was back with us, and we gave him a quick run through the new rules, as he hasn't seen them before.

For our first game we tried one of the simplest scenarios. David used Obi-Wan Kenobi, who is a rather forgiving character to use.
Lawrence used Chewbacca and I Gaarkhan - both Wookies.
Our mission was to cross the table and steal an Imperial shuttle to make our getaway.

Lawrence provided the interesting terrain!

I placed the Portal Markers in a dispersed pattern, covering all the possible routes to the objective (the shuttle). As per normal, I placed them with the largest field of view possible, just like a machine gun team! 

We started as a group (within 5" of each other) - in a wood. We gave ourselves a 'Move' order, which meant we had to move between half and full speed. 

Obi-Wan, our leader, had command and  moved, still hidden to the edge of the wood. 

 The system makes it dangerous to be visible to more than a couple of portal markers at a time, dependent on a D6 roll, the more markers in sight means more chance of meeting the enemy (and increases the chance of larger and nastier things turning up!)

We rapidly moved from the wood to a position across a branch of the stream. 

We started a new turn, giving yet another 'Move' order to our heroes. 

We then diced for Enemy force generation, on this chart. 

The roll was low, with only 3 Portals in sight, so nothing was generated, so we did our move, into another wood. 

We knew we would have to risk being seen by a lot of portals when we left this wood... 

...there were a lot of portals able to see us, potentially! 

I had Gaarkhan move on the hill, which putting him within 8" of 2 portals, dislodged them. 

The next valid portal position, (IE one with dead ground behind it, where enemy troops could move forward unseen by us)- put them on the far side of the hill. Its a good policy even when there are several good places to bounce portals to, to choose the one most directly in the likely line of our advance. 

As can be seen, the portals new position satisfies those conditions.

Nothing was generated from them that turn, so we ordered another move, behind the hill towards the shuttle, this move put us within 8" of the 2 portals again! 

The portals had to go quite far (11") to find a good position. The bush didn't have dead space behind it. 

 As can be seen, the new position covers our line of approach and has a route where enemy troops could approach us, behind the crates and the shuttle.

We ordered another move, and then diced for enemy force generation, and this time 4 Stormtroopers appeared, at the position of one of the observing portals. 

 Ah, the Joys of having a Jedi!, Obi-Wan Force jumped behind the Imperials!

Chewie and I had to advance through the Imperial fire! 

Obi-Wan diced poorly, but still won, causing a 'Wound' on each of his opponents! (This probably means he chopped the enemy blasters in two!) 

The Stormies remained in position... Chewie wanted to move to a shooting position, I had no choice, I had a big axe! CHHAAARRRGGE! 

 Before we got to move, the Imperials got reinforced!

 Gaarkhan found out how poorly Bucket heads shoot!

Chewie fired in support of my charge!

Obi-Wan Force pushed the reinforcements away, while fighting with his light sabre with his other hand!

 This time both stormies fell dead!

A new turn, after giving our characters orders, we diced for enemy reinforcements, and got another group from a different portal! 

Obi-Wan did another Force jump to engage the stunned Stormies he had batted away!  

 Gaarkhan made contact!

 Obi-Wan made short work of his opponents this time...

...as did I! 

 Chewie picked off a Stormie near Obi-Wan. 

 More Imperials were arriving each turn, fortunately, the next lot were far away.

 Gaarkhan entered the shuttle at the run!

 Chewie had only just reached the door.

 Obi-Wan Forced the last Stormy from the group he had been fighting into a crate, stunning him.

Another group of Stormies moved onto the shuttle from a different direction!

 Obi-Wan was getting surrounded!

I tried to help by firing the Shuttle's heavy lasers, but only managed to keep one of the enemy's heads down! 

Obi-Wan had jumped into the shuttle as Chewie piloted it away to safety! 

So, after lunch, we re-jigged the terrain and had a second game! 

This scenario would have us trying to get a droid to an enemy installation to download secrets, vital to the rebellion. I used Hera Syndulla and Chopper, Lawrence used Captain Rex, and Dave had Saw Gerrera.

 We would have Saw in charge this time.

 The Imperial installation was behind some rocks.

 Saw lead us round a flank of the table.

This kept us out of view of most of the portals. 

 Sadly, enough could see us to generate some Bucket heads!

As they advanced, Saw shot one, while the combined fire from Rex, Hera and him pinned the rest! 

All this activity triggered another group across the table from us. 

 Their fire helped cover their retreating comrades.

Saw and Rex pinned the heavy weapon trooper in the group across the table. 

Hera continued to engage the first group... 

...shooting one dead with her pistol!

 The Empire brought in an AT-ST to support their flank attack! 

 These advanced on us, shooting!

 Rex was pinned by a close laser blast, but Saw ran out and shot another Stormie!

 The survivor turned and ran!

 More Stormies came on, again on our flank behind the AT-ST.

Emboldened by the support, the whole group began to advance in support of the walker. 

 Hera had recommended we scrub the mission, considering the enemy forces we now faced, but Saw disagreed. Hera loyally dashed through the fire from the Imperials to support their move.

Saw and Rex moved forward quickly, trying to evade the advancing walker.

 Saw ruthlessly gunned down the retreating Stormtrooper. 

As they approached the installation, though, a larger group of Troopers moved to block their advance. 

Hera and Chop went round and behind the hill, out of sight of the portals...and the Empire! 

 Saw led Rex round the flank of the new group of Stormies.

 ...only to meet another!

 The AT-ST was closing on our rear!

Hera, from round the hill, tried to cover Rex and Saw... 

Even Saw realised the game was up, and signaled our forces to withdraw...before the Imperial forces closed the trap!

Ah well, you cannot win them all!