W40k LAST DEFENCE CHILDREN PARTY @ BUKIT TUNKU 14/10/06
Event Report by jack208

Children: 6 Orcs and 5 Space Marines
Facilitator: Jeffrey Au (jack208)

Location: Bukit Tunku
Date/Time: 14 October 06 (Sat) 200 PM - 400 PM

INTRODUCTION
W40K Last Defence is a modified version of Warhammer40k played in two teams of players who each commandeered a squad instead of 1vs1 in the traditional Warhammer set-up. Not only are the rules easier to learn, the team play element also makes Last Defence a very good programme for us to run in a team-building environment or simply as an event in a children's party, the latter of which we were requested to do for Eric, who was celebrating his 11 year-old birthday.

What is Warhammer40k?

In the Last Defence setup, we have two teams of Space Marines and Orks. Each player in the team leads a squadron which can consists of foot soldiers, elite squads or armored vehicle.
 

Fig 1: A squadron of Space Marines

One player is designated as the commander of each side, and they'll then begin their fight on a 6' x 4' battleground complete with terrains and buildings, and a river that divides the board into two sides. The objective is to either 1) secure and control as many areas of the battleground, and 2) gain points from total annihilation of an enemy's squadron.

Fig 2: The Orks Boyz

FORMING THE TEAMS
On arrival, we quickly got acquainted with the boys.Before we can suggest how to group the boys into two teams; they have already written down their names on sheets of paper, put them into a hat and started their own draw! Wow... these boys have initiative!

Fig 3: Jeff (GM) of Boardgamecafe.net getting to know the boy's names

Initially there were 10 boys and we have two groups of five. Later, we have one more joining us and he was warmly welcomed into the Orks community where one of the Orks boys offered him to control one of the Warbikes.

Fig 4: Warbike of the Orks

Fig 5: The Orks Boys with Eric (boy in red tee) leading the group

Fig 6: The Space Marine cadets

The Space Marines won the starting die roll and gets to move first. The Last Defence programme lasts 6 turns and at the end of the 6th turn, Victory Points are counted to determine the winner.

There are 6 Zone-of-Controls (ZOC) on the map and control of each ZOC yields 1 VP. The other way to score VP is to eliminate an entire enemy squadron (1 VP).

Fig 7: A Space Marine armored vehicle showing agility in moving around the rocks

The Space Marines started cautiously by taking up positions behind the rocks and getting their marines to keep line of sight to the bridge (which is the key point) to prevent the Orks over-running into their territories.

Fig 8: Some Orks boys moving along the river bank

The Orks displayed greater bravery by moving some Orks Boyz along river bank, possibly trying to draw out the Space Marines from behind the rocks to take potshots at them. The Orks have some Boyz, a couple of Warbikes and their Killer Kan hiding behind the boulders ready to return fire.

Fig 9: The ruined building (to the bottom right of this photo) were quickly secured by the Orks

A small squad of Boyz were despatched quickly to secure and control the ruined building to the left of the river. First VP to the Orks!

The Space Marines sensing that they were losing the initiatives started their combat maneuvers. First to move was their Armor Vehicle which started firing at the "exposed" Orks on the river bank. It killed just one Orks. Hmm.. don't their cadets do target practice in college?

The Orks were quick to respond - two Warbikes zipped out from behind the boulders and started return fire. Then they sent their Killer Kan to support the Warbikes. Taken by surprise, the Marine Armored Vehicle suffered some heavy hits.....

The Marines sent one of their squadrons to provide covering fire while they try to retreat their Armored Vehicle. They did manage to move the Armored Vehicle out of the Orks' firing range but the covering Marine squad lost half his team.

Fig 10: The Marines retreating their armored vehicle while a marine squad provided covering fire

The Orks, after having did some "moral damage" slowly moved back to their bunkered position behind the boulders, awaiting their next orders.

Fig 11: The Marines advancing onto the bridge

The Marines sensing perhaps an opening, quickly moved two squadrons to take and secure the bridge - which is vital in this battle as that is the only route across both sides of the river.

Fig 12: Orks not happy with the two Marine squads camping on the bridge

The Orks response was hesitant. They wanted to send the Killer Kan to take out the marines on the bridge. Killer Kan commander debated that the Kan should be kept to engage the Marine Armored Vehicle which while wounded is still very much a dangerous player since it has tremendous range!

The two Warbikes have moved to the right side of the river as they saw some Marine movement on that side and not wanting to be ambushed, the Orks decided to have the Bikers check out that zone.

Fig 13: Fierce battle ensued between the Orks and the Marines for control of the bridge

After failing to persuade the Killer Kan that control of the bridge is important, the Orks commander finally sent out the Orks Boyz to drive the Marines back from the bridge. A fierce battle ensued, with the Marines firing into the advancing Orks.....

.... sigh, target practice at Marine Academy is indeed important. Despite having superior firepower, the Marines were not able to take out the advancing Orks...

Fig 14: Only one last brave Marine left standing to defend the bridge against the hordes of marauding Orks

Instead the Marines were cut down one by one.. until only one brave lone Marine stood on the bridge as the Last Defence.

Fig 15: The Marines finally sending out their injured Armored Vehicle and their reserve squad to support the lone marine

Left with no choice, the Marine Commander has to send out his injured Armored Vehicle and the reserve squad in an attempt to support his last Marine on the bridge. Will it be too late?

Fig 16: The Killer Kan now joined the Orks Boyz as they marched ruthlessly and relentlessly towards the single Marine

The Orks smelt blood.... and as the lone brave Marine fought valiantly as the last line of defence, the Killer Kan and Warbikers joined in the fight for the bridge.

Both sides suffer heavy casualties with the Marines losing their Armored Vehicle and the Orks both their Warbikes. The Orks Boyz have taken position at the foot of the bridge. All hopes seem to be drained from the Marines.....

Fig 17: Nikolai (leader of the single Marine) casted his final dice throw as the Orks overrun that position

The last marine gave one final valiant struggle... before he too succumbed to the hordes of advancing Orks. A brave marine but alas.....

Fig 18: With their last Marine wiped out defending the bridge, the Marines were severely weakened and on the backfoot

The Marines have paid dearly for the control of the bridge; two squads, one armored vehicle and another weakened reserve squad..... and yet they still lost the bridge to the Orks who have relatively taken a lighter hit with the loss of some Orks Boyz and two Warbikes only.

With the Marines backtracking from the bridge, the Orks can feel victory is closed. They quickly consolidated their positions; bunkered themselves down on the bridge knowing that without their Armored Vehicle, the Marines need to come into the open if they wish to retake the bridge. And the Killer Kan will be there waiting....

Fig 19: Sensing victory, the Orks quickly consolidated

The Marines made some not-so-convincing attempts to attack the Orks in the last turn of the game but being severely weakened, there's nothing much the Marines can do. The Orks on the other hand, seemed to have enough killing for the day and decided to simply improve their positions by securing the neutral zones and consolidating their hold on the bridge.

Fig 20: Victory was completed with the secure of the bridge

Final victory to the Orks!

But CHEERS to everyone for a very good and tense game of Last Defence, with the highlight being the last defence of the Marines on the bridge. Everyone enjoyed the game, and they moved on to the next programme in their Birthday Party Agenda - swimming!

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