X Wing Large Player Game – Pilfering Lloyd’s Work

I needed to pay more attention to how the table was laid out. So here’re the steps I took.
First the rebels beginning position is the length of a range ruler.

From here I measured 3 x length 3 standard templates with ship base inbetween.

From here I used the range ruler to set up the distance to rebel targets. I staggered the Ion Cannon, Lambda Shuttle base and Shield Generator with a view to making the Ion Cannon the early target.

Next up I scattered some forest maps. They’re not as densely packed as before. They’re here to provide some cover for the AT STs and break up line of sight.

Next I placed turrets with a view to the front two having range to the rebels initially. This should allow the rebels a chance to get within their early range limits.

The second two are placed to cover the targets. If the rebels are in range to launch torpedoes the secondary turrets should be able to hit them.

The AT ATs and AT STs fill in between the turrets, layering shots.

The Imperial ships can be placed up to the line of the landing pad. I leave the players to decide how they want to set them up.

I’ll take a little diversion here to describe another scenario I tried – Dagobah Dave’s Trench Run. This was a take on the original trench run from the first movie. It seems Dagobah Dave inspired a few people with his original scenario. The version I used was a free download from Combat Zone scenery.

https://combatzone-scenery.co.uk/Trench-Run-scenario

I bought their trench run mat which was a much better idea than my original plan to print a 4×4 board. They also sell scenery if you can’t 3d print the bits you want.

Their scenario is good fun and had a lot more dog fighting than the Endor table. It uses a system where no more than 3 of the rebels can take runs at shooting the exhaust port. They need to roll a crit on two dice to make the shot. I guess the idea is the rebels will make 2-3 runs to make the shot. But there’s a chance they could fluke it in 1. The rest of the rebels can attempt to destroy power nodes around the map to push back the end of the game.

4×4 is a nicer size for a larger battle like this IMHO. This mission convinced me to open up the forest table. I went for Endor instead of this mainly because the trench run used more special characters and abilities. Endor was simpler. But this is still a very fun game and uses all the big characters from the original film.

I’d scheduled in another practise game but it got cancelled. So I had to settle on some changes now.

The plan was still to make it a game for up to 12 players. This time each side scores points. Not so strong narratively but it gives individual players small goals to aim at.

I’m adding in a couple more objectives for the rebels: an Ion Cannon and an Imperial Shuttle. Hopefully this will split them up a bit and add a bit more risk. I’ve also subbed in a second Tie Advanced for the Imperials.

The rebels now have 4 ways to score:

1, destroy the shield generator. 5pts

2, intercept and destroy an Imperial shuttle. Late rebel intel confirms a high ranking Imperial officer has taken refuge and is within his shuttle. 5pts

3, destroy the Ion Cannon. The Imperials have an Ion Cannon pumping shots into space. 2pts

4, destroy either Tie Advanced. 2pts each

The Imperials score like so:

1, destroy a rebel ship. 1pt

2, destroy a wave of rebel ships. 1pt (there are 4 waves of 3 ships each)

3, each round the Ion Cannon is active it fires a shot into space. Roll one attack dice. On any kind of hit they get a point.

On paper the Imperials can score more but frankly the Rebels dominated too much in the previous game. This is an incentive for the Rebels to take out the Ion Cannon quickly; dragging them away from the real targets. Also the Imperials struggled to kill much in my last practise session.

Some other tweaks included:

Rebels:

• Torpedoes fired on their initiative step, but didn’t hit until all primary weapons had been fired. This gave the turrets and ground units a chance to get their shots out.
• All the Rebels came in on turn 1. It was easier to manage.

Imperials

• One of the Tie Interceptors was switched to a Tie Advanced. Not the Lambda Shuttle guard.
• The Imperial reinforcements were just the two Tie Interceptors guarding the Lambda Shuttle.

The Table

• I made the woods less threatening. No line of sight through the trees. If your full base is in the woods, roll a red dice. On any kind of hit you take 1 damage.

This’ll be very swingy. Really wish I’d got another practise game in.

The first new objective for the Rebels. The Empire has an Ion Cannon that is pumping shots at the fleet in space and poitentially scoring them points. It’s not worth many points to the Rebels and is there to give them an awkward decision.

The Ion Cannon was another print, stl here:

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4912958

Another objective for the Rebels. I couldn’t source the Lambda shuttle so I printed something. It’s a bit rough so I’d recommend you source your own print.

The plan for the shuttle is that it contains an important dignitary whose death will greatly benefit the Rebels. The shuttle remains on the landing pad till turn 4 when it will take off and make a run for it. The two escorts it has will engage the Rebels if they get within firing distance. This gives the Rebels another choice. The shuttle scores a lot of points if destroyed but attacking it allows it’s escort to enter the fight.

The weather on the weekend was blisteringly hot and the bunkhouse we stayed in warmed up uncomfortably. So my idea for the game to be something people could drop in and out of worked well.

It turned into a 6 player session with cameos. The game ran pretty smoothly over 5 hours though we all stopped for heat breaks.

We split the forces like so:

• Imperials had two players and split ships and land forces depending on their board side.
• Rebels had 4 players with each taking a wave.

The two wings of Y Wings went for the Ion Cannon and the Shield Generator. The X Wings made a bee line for the shuttle. The A Wings patrolled looking trying to protect the other wings.

Early Imperial land ordnance took out an X Wing and a Y Wing heading to the Ion Cannon.

The Ion Cannon lasted 4 rounds, scoring 2 points.

The AT ATs had powerful shots but lacked wide firing arcs. After the Rebel ships passed the AT ATs turned inwards to catch dogfighters.

The shuttle was easy meat in the end. The X Wings targeted it with proton torpedoes followed up by the A Wings. It didn’t last long.

The Imperial fight back started here. Rebel ships had been taking blows and now the coup de gras was applied. Between their forces the Imperials finished off three waves leaving just two Y Wings heading for the shield generator.

But the final Rebel player exposed the flaw in my scenario. Being able to cover his base in the woods allowed him to hop his ships toward the generator taking small hits without facing the larger barrage.

Also, the Tie Advanced ships had been tailing this wave of Y Wings but hadn’t engaged to a significant degree. The Y Wings finally broke cover and burst towards the Shield Generator.

The first two torpedoes did a lot of damage but another round was needed. The Imperial response was furious. One Y Wing destroyed but both got their final shots away. Dice rolled and … the Shield Generator was destroyed!

I really enjoyed playing the game and the excitement of the final roll. Technically the Imperials won on points but the Rebels won the moral victory. That needs work. But I like the points side of things. I’ll have to restore the original rules for flying in the forest.

I’d like to say a big thanks to Lloyd and Killian for all the ideas. Their first table was the inspiration for this project. Now it’s time to think of the game for next year.