STALKER7

Space Marines v. Orks.

Or the official title: Battle on Dolos V

It’s a streamlined, simplified, very modified, distant cousin to Games Workshop’s Shadow War Armageddon where small combat teams battle over supply caches on an industrial world.

SMORKS/BoDV is an intro war game for my two eldest grandsons. Power armored heroes, hulking adversaries, cool terrain, definite objectives, low model count with simple D6 mechanics make it a good way to spend a rainy afternoon.

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Nothing fancy: alternating activation, set move rates and weapons ranges, a few special rules for faction flavor and commanders. Space Marines have better armor and shooting skills. Ork Kommandos are sneaky in cover and can brawl if they get to you.

Four clear objectives. Team that claims the majority wins but the even number means there’s always the possibility of a Draw. A 3 x 3 gridded mat for easy measuring and movement. Plenty of cover and some elevated positions. Short quick games with clear win conditions.

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The two eldest came over Saturday afternoon, raided the game group’s snack shelves and fridge, and started right in trash talking how they were going to beat my Ork Kommandos to a pulp because they always win and I’m so terrible at this game stuff.

Oh really? OK then.

It’s on.

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Instead of blundering into their firing lanes and dying dramatically with appropriate sound effects, I decided to up my game a notch – I’ll use cover this time. “Let’s Rock!” my Warboss shouted, a film reference that was lost on a 9 and 11 year old. Oh well.

Space Marines claimed two caches early on the Ork right, but the fire team on the left fell to my Kommando Boss – Sneakshank – allowing the greenskins to take that one.

More shots traded. An round or two of Ork melee, and the Chaplain’s team is in heavy contact on the right. With them suffering casualties and engaged, one of my Nobz scrambled up the ramp to grab the last cache. A Draw.

I’ll expand on the game a bit for next time. Add grenades, make sure I show my grandsons how and when to use special abilities. I’m also on the look out for reinforcements: a single Aggressor and a Killa Kan. That way I can introduce Heavy Support options. Guess it’s time to stalk eBay for a seller parting out the larger box sets. (or if anyone has one of each they’re willing to sell, let me know)

That’s all for now. Have an excellent day.