Star Wars makes it to the tabletop

A few weeks ago I had a test Star Wars Legion game with my son using the miniatures from the Star Wars Legion Core Box set. Since then, I've been busy collecting and painting additional miniatures, and it was  time to get all these newly painted miniatures on to the tabletop for a solo game. The rules that come with the Box set use a unit activation system that is not ideal for solo play, and I was looking for something fast and simple. So, I decided to try Squad Hammer Core – An Introductory Miniatures Game by Nordic Weasel Games. I've had the PDF for quite some while but have never got around to playing them. Today was the perfect opportunity.

Stormtroopers guarding the deep-space communication array.

For the terrain, I used what I had on hand, as I have yet to make any building that would be suited to a Star Wars setting. The rocky areas were made from leftover cement, which I spread out, let dry, then broke into pieces and painted with a clear sealer. I added some smaller model rocks from the hobby store for extra detail. The towers were once old downlight fittings from before the LED era which I pulled apart, while the smaller conical structures are painted-up old LED lights.

Local Drebacks are used by the Empire.

An Officer makes his rounds.

Scenario Background

In the scenario, the Rebel Alliance are attempting to disrupt a deep space communications array guarded by Galactic Empire forces. To succeed, the Rebels must access at least two of the three communication towers and have the droid R2-D2 deploy a virus into the tower computer systems. The Rebel forces can enter the battlefield from any table edge at the start of turn one.

Tabletop setup.

Order of battle

Empire:

• 2 x Stormtroopers units
• 1 x Evil Empire Officer and drone (treated as a unit)
• 1 x Heavy Blaster
• 1 x Speeder
• 1 x Dewback Rider

Rebels:

• 1 x Luke Skywalker, R2-D2, C-3PO (treated as a unit)
• 1 x Han Solo and Chewbacca (treated as a unit)
• 1 x Swoop Bike unit
• 1 x Tauntaun Rider unit
• 1 x Fleet Trooper unit
• 1 x Rebel Trooper unit

Game Report

Amid the chaos of the opening turns, as speeders zipped across the battlefield, the Rebels exploited a gap in the Empire’s defenses. Luke, accompanied by R2-D2, advanced quickly and reached the first communications tower and begun the virus upload. In the confusion Rebel swoop bikes roared into action, catching a unit of Stormtroopers off guard and wiping them out. As they sped around for another pass, they found a retreating Dewback rider in their gun sights and eliminated that threat as well.

With their forces reeling, the Empire found themselves on the back-foot. Their heavy blaster unit providing some much-needed resistance, scoring critical hits that brought down the Rebel swoop bikes responsible for much of the early damage. But the situation remained dire. Luke and R2-D2 had already reached the second communications tower and were preparing to complete a second virus upload. In a last-ditch effort, the Imperial officer rushed to stop them but was cut down by covering fire from Han Solo and Chewbacca.

With two communication towers successfully infected with the virus, reaching the third would have been a tough challenge. It was well-defended by a heavy blaster team and a unit of Stormtroopers. Weighing the risks, the Rebels chose to withdraw, claiming a marginal victory.

Here are a few photos from the game.

The Rebels arrive quickly and in the confusion get Luke and the R2-D2 unit to the first communication tower.

Rebel swoop bikes swing around to fire upon some unsuspecting Stromtroopers.

The swoop bikes now successfully engage a Dewback.

Luck runs out for the Rebel swoop bikes as they come unstuck from the Heavy Blaster.

Luke and R2-D2 infect the second communication tower.

I really enjoyed playing the game with the Squad Hammer Core rules. They gave a free flowing type of game that I was looking for. For those familiar with them, I made a few modifications: speeders were given a free half-move action at the start or each player’s turn, and if activated during the turn, they could make an additional half move. This kept them moving around the tabletop in a very cinematic way. All heroes and villains were treated as veterans and were particularly resilient when determining hits taken, though they were not allowed to regroup to remove hits like other units. I have now set up the tabletop for second game using these rules with my modifications. This time Darth Vader will be making an entrance.