Epic: Let's Build Dropzone Commander Terrain

Now that I've played Adeptus Titanicus and built some terrain for it, it's time to come up with more. Preferably the destructible kind. In other words, we're adding buildings to the desert planet of Lautan Lama. They've already appeared in their unfinished state in several battles, but what with Legions and everything, it's high time to get them properly finished.

**

I was reading up on Titanicus at Goonhammer ages ago, and in their article on terrain, they suggested looking into TTCombat's Dropzone Commander for some cheap but quality more-or-less-epic-scale buildings and stuff. I got the Ruinscape terrain set, and while I was at it, I thought what the hell, why not, and splurged on the two-player starter set. And soon enough they were here!

Dropzone Commander is a 10mm wargame that centers around, well, dropships. There's infantry, tanks, flyers and everything, and a fairly slim rulebook to work it all out with. If If I have a complaint, it's that none of it is really very interesting. The somewhat sparse fluff tells us that Earth has been invaded by aliens known as the Scourge, whose models look something like a cross between Tyranids and Necrons, and several militaristic human factions are fighting them. Eh.

Another minus in my books is that there's no assembly instructions for the models. You can get slightly rudimentary instructions for the various starter armies at the TTCombat website, which I at least think are the same models, but still.

There are a couple of resin models and the rest are in hard plastic. The resin casting is good quality, although there's quite a bit of flash and such. I took a shot at building one of the UCM sprues, and I have to say that the hard plastic is very good! These were a breeze to put together. The one criticism I have is that the flying stands are a bit fiddly and don't always fit together as well as they should.

I tried painting them, and I quite enjoyed it. I picked German Camo Bright Green for the basic color, and I think it worked out okay. Here's the resin HQ vehicle and the APC. The command vehicle especially gives me strong Micro Machines vibes, so I guess that's what I was going for?

The infantry models are simple but functional; their uniforms are in Russian Uniform WWII.

The main problem with the models is really the same as with the fluff and the rules: they're really boring. The scuttly enemy crab commander vehicle is kinda cool, but with everything else, take your eyes off the models and you can't remember what they look like. So overall I have to say I don't find this a particularly evocative product.

**

What we're really here for is the terrain.

The Ruinscape set consists of two parts: some 30cm×30cm cardboard tiles that can be used to build a regulation 6'×4' playing surface, and twenty card buildings. The tiles are cute, and I'm sure they'd work quite decently for Dropzone Commander. I'm a bit leery of how thin the cardboard is, and I think they're unnecessarily crowded.

The buildings, however, are beautiful. There's five different kinds, so four each; they come folded flat and it's a very simple job to glue them together. You pretty much just unfold it and glue the roof in place. The end result looks great.

The big tower blocks are properly big. These are 10mm scale buildings, so technically they're too big for Titanicus. In practice, though, I think they look great, and when you remember that in Titanicus they're basically representing Imperial gothic architecture, I think they work just fine.

I mean of course an Imperial building would have unbelievably massive doors. The smaller buildings are really cute:

And again, there are twenty of them. If that's not an incentive to use the destructible terrain rules in Titanicus, then I don't know what is. I think this set is simply amazing value for money, even if you only end up using part of the card buildings. I built eight of them to start with, which I think will be plenty for Titanicus purposes.

In keeping with the Just Cause 2 theme of my previous terrain pieces, we will be using this set to portray the city of Bandar Setan. There's no reason you couldn't just use them as they are, but I think I'm going to go to the extra trouble of making them little bases. That way I can also make rubble markers the size of those bases for when we blow them up, like we used to have in Space Marine days. So I cut up appropriately sized cardboard bases, and used some spare paper to glue them together.

The result is quite neat!

So I made little bases for all the buildings I assembled, and it was worth it: they now stay standing up straight, and look cute.

Then it was a simple matter of gluing model railroad ballast to the base and painting it Iraqi Sand, and we have some finished buildings.

**

As Dropzone Commander was on its way to us, Goonhammer resurrected Warlord Wednesdays to tell us about TTCombat's MDF terrain, and to be honest, it looked great. I mean look at that Tyrell building! They also have some really cute accessories in the Dropzone Commander line. Now that I'm working on a Legions Imperialis collection, I'm also suddenly very interested in smaller terrain pieces.

But as our Titanicus games have demonstrated, these Dropzone Commander buildings are fantastic, and great value for money. Highly recommended!

Epic: Payback at Bandar Setan

Previously in the ongoing battle between the loyalists and traitors over the desert world of Lautan Lama, the loyalists of Legio Crucius defeated a Legio Venefica ambush in the streets of Bandar Setan. And now the war continues, as the traitors are out for revenge.

My opponent brought a Precept Maniple that happened to be exactly the same points value as last time, consisting of a Warlord, Warbringer, Reaver and two Warhounds.

Legio Crucius Precept Maniple

Warlord Battle Titan - 385 pts

 Sunfury Plasma Annihilator - 45 pts

 Belicosa Volcano Cannon - 55 pts

 Carapace Apocalypse Missile Launchers - 15 pts

 Terminus Override - 30 pts = 530 points

Warbringer Nemesis Titan - 325 pts

 Gatling Blaster - 15 pts

 Laser Blaster - 25 pts

 Mori Quake Cannon - 20 pts = 385 points

Reaver Battle Titan - 250 pts

 Melta Cannon - 35 pts

 Gatling Blaster - 15 pts

 Turbo Laser Destructor - 20 pts = 320 points

Warhound Scout Titan - 180 pts

 Plasma Blastgun - 30 pts

 Vulcan Mega Bolter - 10 pts = 220 points

Warhound Scout Titan - 180 pts

 Turbo Laser Destructor - 20 pts

 Vulcan Mega Bolter - 10 pts = 210 points

I countered them with pretty much the same guys I had last time, except I armed both Reavers for close combat.

Legio LXIX Venefica Ferrox Maniple

Reaver Battle Titan Cum ergo videritis abominationem desolationis, quæ dicta est a Lorgar propheta, stantem in loco sancto, qui legit, intelligat; princeps seniores Modthryth - 250 pts

 Melta Cannon - 35 pts

 Power Fist - 20 pts

 Vulcan Mega Bolter - 10 pts

 Reinforced plating - 10 pts = 325 points 

Reaver Battle Titan Deos tuos non colimus, et thronum auream, quam erexisti, non adoramus - 250 pts

Chainfist - 20 pts

Gatling Blaster - 15 pts

Turbo Laser Destructor - 20 pts

Reinforced plating - 10 pts = 315 points [640] 

Warhound Scout Titan Et regnum erit velut ferrum - 180 pts

 Turbo Laser Destructor - 20 pts

 Vulcan Mega Bolter - 10 pts = 210 points [850] 

Warhound Scout Titan Regnum transiit a te - 180 pts

 Turbo Laser Destructor - 20 pts

 Vulcan Mega Bolter - 10 pts = 210 points [1060] 

Dire Wolf Scout Titan Ipse revelat profunda et abscondita, et novit in tenebris constituta - 210 points

 Ardex Defensor Mega-Bolter - 10 pts

 Neutron Laser - 45 pts 

Reinforced plating - 10 pts = 275 points [1335] 

Cerastus Knight Banner Hircine - 130 pts

 2 × shock lance and ion gauntlet shield - 40 pts = 170 points [1505] 

Questoris Knight Banner Azura - 120 pts

 4 × Questoris melee weapon - 20

 2 × thermal cannon - 20 = 160 points [1665]

**

We set up my Dropzone Commander buildings and scratchbuilt terrain on a 4'×4' surface, and decided we'd play a Meeting Engagement. 

We rolled for objectives, and I picked Glory and Honour, meaning I'd have to destroy his Warlord. Last time I played, I set myself a goal of learning to tackle my opponent's big Titans, so I figured this was my chance. Said opponent picked Vital Cargo, which meant that one of his Titans would, unbeknownst to me but beknownst to him, be carrying some important cargo that needs to be transported over my table edge. My secondary objective was that I'd score victory points for every table quarter that had my units in it but no enemies, and he'd score victory points for every Titan he had in my deployment zone.

The deployment zones were pretty shallow, and we weren't using Stratagems, so we both just more or less deployed our Titans in a row. I had the Questoris Knights of Banner Azura in the center and the Cerastuses of Hircine on the right flank. Finding the Warlord on my far left, set up my Dire Wolf Ipse revelat profunda et abscondita, et novit in tenebris constituta opposite it.

When I saw the Warlord camped out in the far left corner behind the tank farm and the rest of the loyalist forces massed in the center, I figured that my strategy would be to let them come to me and see if I could lure the Warlord out. So on the first turn, I advanced cautiously and took some pot shots at the Warlord with the In tenebris's neutron laser, to no real effect. The loyalists, winners of two past battles, strode forward with confidence.

**

On the second turn, some heavy exchanges of fire developed in the middle of the battlefield, with my Princeps Seniores in the Cum ergo videritis abominationem desolationis, quæ dicta est a Lorgar propheta, stantem in loco sancto, qui legit, intelligat and the Regnum transiit a te facing the Crucius Reaver and a Warhound, supported by the Questoris Knights. We knocked down the Reaver's shields, and the Knights charged forward and opened up on it, missing completely with their thermal cannons.

Further to my right, the Deos tuos non colimus, et thronum auream, quam erexisti, non adoramus and Et regnum erit velut ferrum took on the enemy Warbringer and another Warhound, while Knight Banner Hircine raced around Dataran Tinggi Komunis to outflank them. The Regnum ferrum lost its shields, but together my Titans managed to strip the Warbringer of its void shields as well.

Meanwhile, the duel between the Crucius Warlord and the In tenebris continued, with a salvo from the Warlord's Apocalypse Missile Launchers collapsing the Dire Wolf's shields, but the In tenebris scored a hit with its neutron laser and shut down the Warlord!

Sadly, very few of my Titans were in a position to make use of this opportunity: the Regnum transiit's turbo-laser destructor managed to knock out the Warlord's Sunfury. And so Turn 2 ended with the battle well underway.

**

As Turn 3 started, the enemy Warhound in the center used a First Fire order to strip the last shields off the Abominatio desolationis, while the other Warhound made a dash for my table edge. The In tenebris withdrew behind a building to relight its void shields and vent a badly overheating reactor. A volcano cannon blast from the Warlord damaged the Abominatio desolationis and wiped out two of the Questoris Knights, but they came on nonetheless.

The last survivor of Banner Azura attacked the Reaver, knocking out both of its arm weapons. The Abominatio desolationis was grievously damaged by the enemy Warlord's fire, and its own shooting at the Crucius Reaver was ineffective. When the enemy Warhound scored a direct hit with its plasma blastgun, it was all over for my Reaver.

At the beginning of the battle, we had both rolled for Princeps Traits from our respective Legio tables. I got Beyond Death, which meant that as the Abominatio received its deathblow, Princeps Seniores Modthryth coolly steered the Reaver right at the enemy, where it exploded with a massive magazine detonation. The explosion damaged the enemy Reaver and Warbringer, brought the adjacent building crashing down, and destroyed the last remaining Questoris Knight.

Meanwhile, the Non adoramus took heavy fire from the Crucius Warbringer, but managed to get close enough that it couldn't use its Quake Cannon. The Regnum ferrum, still reeling from a hit from the same Quake Cannon, peeled off in pursuit of the enemy Warhound. Cerastus Banner Hircine got close to the Warbringer, but their fire was ineffective.

**

On Turn 4, I declared charges. The Non adoramus, its shields shot to pieces and legs damaged, hauled itself at the Crucius Warbringer with its locomotors screaming and the Traitor allegiance ability Unbridled Hatred activated. Its chain fist carved up the Warbringer, sending it spinning around and firing wildly, damaging one of the Cerastus Knights, until it fell over onto the Non adoramus, doing even more damage!

As the enemy Warlord crashed through the tank farm, the Cerastus Knights charged past it to avenge the Abominatio. Their shock lances speared through the Crucius Reaver's armor and sent it sprawling over the remains of the traitor Reaver.

The final act of the drama was played out at the traitor table edge, where the Warhound carrying the vital cargo was making a mad dash for safety. The pursuing Regnum ferrum couldn't do enough damage to stop it, so the In tenebris sprang into action.

With its neutron laser and Ardex mega-bolters not doing enough to bring down the Warhound and the battle on the line, the Princeps of the In tenebris steered her Titan right into the enemy in a desperate smash attack. The Crucius Warhound exploded!

And with that, the fourth turn and the game came to an end. With Legio Crucius's valuable cargo lost to the enemy and none of their Titans in the traitor deployment zone, the loyalists scored no victory points. Legio Venefica failed to destroy the enemy Warlord, but they controlled two table quarters at the end of the game, so the Second Battle of Bandar Setan went to the traitors 6-0 on victory points.

**

That was a great and tremendously entertaining game. I do want to say that it was ridiculous that I won every single roll-off for the Opus Titanica. My opponent played well and it was a hell of a fight.

We both felt that we had played our earlier games somewhat cautiously, and wanted to do something different this time. I wanted to have a go at his Warlord, but when it hid behind the tank farm and I found that they had picked the Vital Cargo objective, it was clear that my job was to stop the loyalists. We got into some excellent brawls, and enjoyed ourselves.

I'm very excited that my miniature-buying hiatus is coming to an end, because this game has really underlined how much I want a Warlord. I'm also stupidly excited about Legions Imperialis, as we've provisionally agreed that some time next year, Legio Crucius will face an entire traitor army. I can't wait.

Epic: Battle of Bandar Setan

The rumors from Raseir are that Laws have become more important than men, and that it has become a crime to think. Few go to that city now, and even fewer return.

 - dialogue, Quest for Glory II: Trial by Fire

Never in a state

Can laws be well administered when dread

Has ceased to act, nor can an armèd host

Be rightly ruled, if no defence of fear

And awe be present.

 - Menelaos, in Sophocles's Ajax, trans. Edward Hayes Plumptre (1878)

The battle for the desert world of Lautan Lama rages on. The Legio Venefica force under Princeps Seniores Modthryth got the better of the loyalists in the initial skirmish at Bitter Tower, but Legio Crucius rallied and seized the vital fuel supplies at Depoh Minyak. As the Titans of Legio Crucius advance deeper into the streets of Bandar Setan, the traitors are waiting for them in ambush.

**

This battle will be the debut of the first new Titan I bought: a Dire Wolf Heavy Scout Titan, the Ipse revelat profunda et abscondita, et novit in tenebris constituta, or In Tenebris. This was the single resin model, not the new box of two with all kinds of fancy weapon options. I picked the one with the neutron laser; I like volcano cannons, but you can get them on anything these days, and the neutron laser promises to be weird and disproportionately useful against bigger Titans. The small size of the Dire Wolf also works perfectly with Legio Venefica's Envious trait.

The carapace weapon was easy enough to magnetize: I drilled out the hole in the hull and cut off the tab in the weapon and drilled a corresponding hole there, fit the magnets and left the piston rods supporting the weapon unglued.

The Ardex bolters fit snugly enough that they stay in place without glue, although if I'm honest, I hardly anticipate an alternative weapon option there.

This was actually a very easy assembly job for a Forge World resin model! I pretty much did the whole thing in one sitting, and then applied model railway ballast to the base.

**

My esteemed opponent showed up with a Legio Crucius Mandatum maniple and attached psi-titan, worth 1665 points:

Warlord Battle Titan Filia Gehennae; princeps seniores - 385 pts

 2 × Sunfury Plasma Annihilator - 90 pts

Paired Gatling Blasters - 30 points

Terminus Override Mechanism - 30 pts = 535 points

Warhound Scout Titan Moritelcontar - 180 pts

 Plasma Blastgun - 30 pts

 Vulcan Mega Bolter - 10 pts = 220 points [755]

Warhound Scout Titan Caput Lupi- 180 pts

 Inferno Gun - 20 pts

 Vulcan Mega Bolter - 10 pts = 210 points [965]

Warlord-Sinister Psi Titan Pater Formidinis (ʼAbu Al-hōl) - 385 pts

 Psi-titan - 300 pts

 Paired Apocalypse Missile Launchers - 15 pts = 600 points [1665]

I assembled a force to meet them. I quite like the Heavy Scout Titan rule that lets you bring a Dire Wolf as a replacement for an optional Warhound in a maniple. It means I can bring pretty much exactly the same Ferrox maniple as last time, but with the Dire Wolf as an additional Titan. For Knight support, I'm bringing three Questoris Knights and the two Cerastus lancers from the core set. Here they are:

Reaver Battle Titan Cum ergo videritis abominationem desolationis, quæ dicta est a Lorgar propheta, stantem in loco sancto, qui legit, intelligat; princeps seniores Modthryth - 250 pts

 Melta Cannon - 35 pts

 Power Fist - 20 pts

 Vulcan Mega Bolter - 10 pts

 Reinforced plating - 10 pts = 325 points

Reaver Battle Titan Deos tuos non colimus, et thronum auream, quam erexisti, non adoramus - 250 pts

 Volcano Cannon - 25 pts

 Laser Blaster - 25 pts

 Apoptygma Missile Launcher - 10 pts = 310 points [635]

Warhound Et regnum erit velut ferrum - 180 pts

 Turbo Laser Destructor - 20 pts

 Vulcan Mega Bolter - 10 pts = 210 points [845]

Warhound Regnum transiit a te - 180 pts

 Plasma Blastgun - 30 pts

 Vulcan Mega Bolter - 10 pts = 220 points [1065]

Dire Wolf Scout Titan Ipse revelat profunda et abscondita, et novit in tenebris constituta - 210 points

 Ardex Defensor Mega-Bolter - 10 pts

 Neutron Laser - 45 pts = 265 points [1330]

Cerastus Knight Banner Hircine - 130 pts

 2 × shock lance and ion gauntlet shield - 40 pts = 170 points [1500]

Questoris Knight Banner Azura - 120 pts

 3 × Questoris melee weapon - 15

 rapid fire battle cannon - 10

 2 × thermal cannon [20] = 165 points [1665]

**

We set up the terrain centered on a tall tower block.

I was quite timid in my deployment (I had slept very poorly the previous night), and concentrated on hiding from my opponent's scary Warlords. The Filia Gehennae deployed straight down the middle, and 'Abu Al-hōl on the Crucius left.

I mostly just hid behind buildings, and spent my stratagem points on sending Knight Banner Azura to Outflank. The In Tenebris deployed last due to its special rule, and I lined it up for a shot on the Filia Gehennae.

However, I failed my order rolls, and of course the neutron laser shot missed. And to make things worse, I had my shot lined up properly, but failed to realize that my Dire Wolf was wide open to 'Abu al-Hōl.

The Sinistramanus Tenebrae sang out for the first time, scoring a direct hit on the In Tenebris and nearly destroying it with one shot. The Dire Wolf quickly scuttled into cover behind a building as its servitor clades struggled to control the damage. Meanwhile, the Venefica Reavers engaged the Crucius Warlord on the left. The Cerastus Knights moved up the middle, their ion shields shunting aside enemy fire, and the outflanking Questoris Knights arrived on the left table edge.

As the Cerastus Knights got in range, the Caput Lupi opened up on them, knocking one Knight down with its Inferno Gun.

Alarmed by the Psi-Titan, the whole Venefica force shifted left, hoping to overwhelm the Crucius Warlord Filia Gehennae.

However, despite Knight Banner Azura's best efforts in getting round the Warlord, the battle was a stalemate. The Abominationem Desolationis strode forward to break the deadlock - right into the sights of 'Abu al-Hōl.

Once more, the Sinistramanus Tenebrae struck, leaving the traitor Reaver a smoking wreck. In the last moments of the battle, the In Tenebris scored a hit on a loyalist Warhound, shutting it down temporarily, but the writing was on the wall for Legio Venefica.

With one enemy Reaver knocked out, the Cerastus Knights destroyed and a Dire Wolf heavily damaged with no losses of their own, the battle of Bandar Setan is a clear victory for Legio Crucius.

**

So yeah, I lost that one. Here's the undisputed MVP of the battle, the Warlord-Sinister Psi-Titan Pater Formidinis, better known as ʼAbu Al-hōl. That left hand of darkness really is murderous, and I'm afraid I will definitely be seeing more of it.

My esteemed opponent played a very solid defensive game, and made good use of the Psi-Titan. I don't want to take anything away from that when I say that at the same time, I'm quite disappointed in myself for playing timidly and indecisively. In retrospect, I recognize that having slept very poorly the previous night played a large part in this; I felt like I was operating at the limits of my cognitive capability, like toward the end of our last Game of Thrones session. I didn't have a coherent plan and made poor decisions.

However, I learned a lot. I was quite impressed by the durability of the Cerastus Knights, and I need to use them more. I feel like I could have gotten more out of the Questoris flankers, but also that I need more thermal cannons. The Dire Wolf barely got to participate, but hey, it survived the Psi-Titan and actually managed to shut down a Titan! I like that I'm learning more all the time.

I have two principal tactical notes for myself. The first and most important of these is that if I'm going to do the small Titans and Knights things, which does appeal to me for several reasons, I need to be more consistently aggressive and plan better for taking down the Warlords and such. The other one is that this would be easier if I could ever remember the Ferox maniple bonus. But I'm also pretty sure I want a Warlord.

**

The most important takeaway from all this, though, is that Titanicus is such a fucking great game. I had a good time playing, I got a whole bunch of new ideas I want to try for next time, and I'm quite simply looking forward to more.

Epic: Battle of Depoh Minyak

The Battle of Bitter Tower has opened the hostilities between Legio Venefica, sworn to the Warmaster, and loyalist Legio Crucius, on the desert world of Lautan Lama. Now it's high time to put the terrain I built and my lovely Dropzone Commander buildings to the test, in a battle over the fuel tanks at Depoh Minyak.

**

My opponent brought a Precept Battleline Maniple, consisting of:

Warlord Titan - 385 pts, princeps seniores

 Paired Turbo-laser Destructors - 35 pts

 Mori Quake Cannon - 20 pts

 Sunfury Plasma Annihilator - 45 pts

 Bi-folded Power Containment - 20 pts = 505 points

Warbringer Nemesis Titan - 325 pts

 Belicosa Volcano Cannon - 55 pts

 Gatling Blaster - 15 pts

 Melta Cannon - 35 pts

 Bi-folded Power Containment - 20 pts = 450 points [955]

Warhound Titan - 180 pts

 Vulcan Mega-bolter - 10 pts

 Inferno Gun - 20 pts = 210 points [1165]

Reaver Titan - 250 pts

 Volcano Cannon - 25 pts

 Laser Blaster - 25 pts

 Apocalypse Missile Launcher - 10 pts

 Bi-folded Power Containment - 20 pts = 330 points [1495] 

To match that points value, I'll definitely be bringing all my Titans! Here to defend the honor of Forge World Icterida is my Legio Venefica force: a Ferrox Light Maniple, and in a Titanicus first for me, Knight support from Auxilia Daedra.

Reaver Battle Titan Deos tuos non colimus, et thronum auream, quam erexisti, non adoramus - 250 pts, princeps seniores Modthryth

 Melta Cannon - 35 pts

 Power Fist - 20 pts

 Vulcan Mega Bolter - 10 pts

 Reinforced plating - 10 pts = 325 points

Reaver Battle Titan Cum ergo videritis abominationem desolationis, quæ dicta est a Lorgar propheta, stantem in loco sancto, qui legit, intelligat - 250 pts

 Volcano Cannon - 25 pts

 Laser Blaster - 25 pts

 Apocalypse Missile Launcher - 10 pts = 310 points [635]

Warhound Et regnum erit velut ferrum - 180 pts

 Turbo Laser - 20 pts

 Vulcan Mega Bolter - 10 pts = 210 points [845]

Warhound Regnum transiit a te - 180 pts

 Plasma Blastgun - 30 pts

 Vulcan Mega Bolter - 10 pts = 220 points [1065]

Acastus Knight Banner Molag Bal - 150 pts

 + Acastus Knight [130], 2 × twin magna lascannon & ironstorm missile pod [70] = 350 points [1415]

Knight Armiger Banner Meridia - 85 points [1500]

**

With our battlegroups ready, we set up the terrain. I apologize for the poor picture quality, but the fact is that we played this game during the Finnish winter, so while some light would be nice, there simply wasn't any. As we were still learning the rules, we chose the Titanic Clash scenario.

We put the little tank farm in the center of the table, and scattered the Dropzone buildings around it. Legio Crucius started deployment by setting up their Reaver to cover the tank farm. I placed one of my Warhounds on my right to go harass it, and was mildly surprised to find the Warlord on the Crucius extreme left. I set up my Reavers and Acastus Knights in the center, and the Armigers on the left flank, where they could go bother the Crucius Warbringer.

While our forces advanced on the right, the action opened in the center, where my tiny little Armigers dashed forward, and my shooty Reaver, the Abominatio Desolationis, exchanged fire with its opposite number to little effect.

The Acastus Knights opened up on the Warbringer, and I have to say that the magna lascannon is absolutely hilarious. Four blast templates per Knight is ridiculous, scattering all over the place and managing to hit the Warbringer, the enemy Warhound sheltering behind a building - the shot must have somehow bounced off the Warbringer's shields - and bringing down the other building.

In retaliation, the Warbringer gunned down one of the Armigers, and the Warhound took off to the Crucius left. I wanted to send the Regnum transiit to flank the enemy Warlord, but Legio Crucius had other ideas!

The Warhound managed to survive the Warlord's fire, and actually knocked down a couple of void shields in return.

Turn 2 rolled around, and the Armigers tried to put a building between themselves and the enemy Warbringer - only for the wildly firing Acastus Knights to bring it crashing down!

The Warbringer shot down another Armiger. On the right, the combined fire of the Non Adoramus and the Regnum Ferrum managed to drop the Crucius Reaver's shields, and I got a shot in with the Non Adoramus's melta cannon. Meanwhile the Regnum Transiit's void shields nearly miraculously held under a second turn of fire from the Warlord.

On Turn 3, I took two gambles. I gave the Non Adoramus first fire orders, to try to finish off the enemy Reaver with the melta cannon, and left the Regnum Transiit facing the Warlord to keep it occupied. Neither was exactly successful: the melta shot failed to damage the Reaver, and it relit its void shields in the repair phase. The Warlord finally stripped the Regnum Transiit's shields and severely damaged its body, knocking out one of the weapons as well.

The Regnum Ferrum moved up to engage the enemy at close range, and the Abominatio Desolationis as well as the Acastus Knights advanced. The lone shaken Armiger tried to move around to the rear of the Warbringer, which was also lumbering toward the fight on the Crucius left.

Then it was time for the fourth and last turn. With the Regnum Transiit structurally compromised, there was very little choice except to run away from the Warlord. That also meant I was down on victory points, so we needed a result to swing the battle. So the Regnum Ferrum moved left to gang up on the Warbringer, and the Non Adoramus got a charge order and barreled at the enemy Warhound with the traitor allegiance ability activated.

When the time came for the Non Adoramus's boosted power fist attack, I managed to roll triple ones, so not so much as a dent appeared on the enemy Warhound.

We were more successful with the Warbringer. The Regnum Ferrum knocked down its shields and hit its already damaged legs, and the Abominatio Desolationis delivered the final blow with its volcano cannon. The dying Warbringer lurched forward, crashing into the Regnum Ferrum and destroying it!

The collision sent the Warbringer reeling backward, until it almost unbelievably, but perfectly, fell over backward onto the last surviving Armiger.

And with that, the battle was over. Legio Crucius lost their Warbringer, but the combined loss of one Warhound destroyed, another structurally compromised, and the Armigers wiped out, was enough to make the final score a Crucius victory.

That finale could hardly have been more Titanicus.

**

So, we lost on points, but at least we took out that Warbringer. That means a kill marking for the Abominatio desolationis:

And for the volcano cannon, which landed the mortal blow.

Here's some better-quality pics my opponent took.

I was quite happy with my tactics; I didn't expect the enemy to concentrate so heavily on one flank, but it gave me the opportunity to gang up on the Warbringer and destroy it. The Acastus knights were hilarious, and even the Armigers did good work distracting the enemy Warbringer.

The MVP of my battlegroup, though, was clearly the Regnum transiit a te, for tying up an enemy Warlord for almost the entire battle and actually living to tell the tale.

We used the full rules, except for Princeps traits and Stratagems, so next time I expect we'll go the whole hog. Those Crucius guys certainly got their orders off, and at first it felt like they were putting void shields up as quickly as I knocked them down. I also mostly forgot about my maniple bonus for armor rolls, not that I think it would have made a huge difference. Like last time, I rolled pretty well on my void shield saves, and bizarrely won every roll for the Opus Titanica except the last one; and then rolled a spectacular triple 1 on the allegiance ability attack. You win some, you lose some. Had some rolls gone differently, maybe we'd have smashed the enemy Warhound; on the other hand, maybe the Crucius Warlord would have reduced the Regnum Transiit into molten slag latest on turn 3.

After two games, I have to say that I unironically love my Reavers and Warhounds. I definitely want to get some bigger Titans at some point, but these guys keep coming through for me, and the Envious legio ability means I almost always get the command check bonus for orders. I'm also quite seriously thinking about building a corrupted Reaver. Or two.

**

The most important thing is that we had a great time playing. I admit that this was only my second game, but Titanicus is slowly but surely creeping up my list of favorite wargames ever. It's in a similar place as old Necromunda was, where I kind of hope GW would release more content, but on the other hand, I've got my rulebook and my Traitor Legios, and I'm going to get years of enjoyment out of this.

Having a great Titanicus experience also deepens my ambivalence about Legions Imperialis. On the one hand, yes, it would be awesome to add infantry, tanks, flyers and everything to this; on the other hand, we're having an excellent time without them. I was really excited for Legions Imperialis when it came out, but the months-long delay and total lack of explanation made me feel a bit silly, and I'm still on the fence.

Anyway, Titanicus is a wonderful game and I for one really hope I get to play more of it.