Martian invasion halted

 The first canisters had arrived two weeks ago. Wells had recorded their arrival, and those first battles on Horsell Common. The small scattering of British army forces had delayed the Martian invaders long enough for Carruthers to gather together a force strong enough to stand against the invaders. Small groups of men had stood, knowing that theirs was a suicide mission, their task to do and die, their task to delay the invaders, to give their lives in the service of their Queen and their nation. Today was that day when mankind would stand. Today the future of mankind would be decided.

This was a 48 point HotT game pitching Andy's expanding Martian army against  my British VSF army.

The armies face off, Martians on the left, British on the right

Martian shooters, flyers, human mercenary shooters, and tripod behemoth (from the Ares 'Tripods and Triplanes' game)

Lancers (knights), and members of the local Yeomanry cavalry (riders)

 

Lord Chelting of Cheam, the local aerial hero, supported by an airboat

Lieutenant Winstanly, the dashing young hero chappie, supported by a steam robot (behemoth) with Dr Morgenstein that amazing wizardly scientific chappie (magician).

Shooters take up position in the built up area (a scientific establishment)

Chelting and supporting airboat overfly the battle lines and attack the Martian flyers in the rear of the Martian line

Morgenstein ensorcels the enemy hero general, and the artillery eliminate a stand of Martian shooters, leaving the centre looking bare

In frantic aerial combat Chelting sends one Martian saucer spinning to the ground

The British mounted regiment struggles, one unit of Yeomanry eliminated as they battle to hold the left flank

The Martian hero general desorcels and reappears in contact with the destroyed village that is the British stronghold

Meanwhile the second of the Martian saucers is eliminated

The cavalry are still struggling, but hold the flank

The Martian hero is repulsed from the stronghold

The cavalry delaying action

Chelting turns his aerial force around and attacks Martian shooters, but the airboat is repelled

Caruthers advances against the Martian centre

The Martian centre under pressure

Martian shooters continue to drive the airboat back

The Lancers are eliminated.. that last rider unit looks lonely

Chelting charges into the rear of the Martian centre

The Martian centre crumbling under the combined pressure

The Martian hero turns and attacks Dr Morgenstein

Morgenstein is down... 

Caruthers marshalls his forces, including Winstanley, to tackle the Martian hero. At this stage the Martian left flank is demoralised

The Martian right beginning to advance on the British. In Andy's defence his right flank had been starved of PIPs for most of the game so far, consistently throwing 1s and 2s

Caruthers leading from the front, attacks the Martian hero general, with his steam robot behemoth, and WInstanley (hero), in support

Chelting keeps up the pressure

The last unit of Yeomanry falling back before the Martian advance

The Martian Hero General is eliminated

At this stage the Martian army has lost over 50% of its overall strength. Whew, what a battle, and a great evening of 'gaming. In fairness to Andy, he was starved of PIPs for much of the game, especially on his right flank, throwing far more than his fair share of 1s and 2s. The ability to win the aerial combat and to then be able to unleash the aerial hero on the rear of the Martian army was crucial. I'm not convinced players should rely on such a strategy though. In the past my attempts to do this have failed when I have been the player starved of movement PIPs.

The Martian invasion had been halted!!!