Softlove's Drift AAR:

A Dr Death production, starring Malamute as Captain Sebastian Softlove and Jimbibbly as Sergeant Rawley Ruffbrute

The game was played on a 4 x 4 board with the abandoned farm in the centre.  All three players played earthers, with the martians following a simple 'arrive and attack the nearest earthers' rule.

Martian arrivals: There were 8 entry points, two on each edge. At the start of each turn 4 cards were drawn from a standard deck of playing cards, with a heart indicating Martians 2-10 + 8 figures, A,J,Q,K = 16 figures. More of which later . . .  

Forces involved: 2 units of The Prince's Own (10 figures each), 1 unit of The Camel Corp (10 figures) A detachment of Imperial Japanese (5 figs), the medicals and commissariat (5 figures) and some civilians (5 figures)

There was no limit to the number of martians available, cards drawn from the deck were discarded to be reshuffled once the deck had been exhausted

Game length: A d10 was rolled at the end of each turn and a cumulative total kept.  When the total reached 35 or more the aeroneff arrived to rescue the survivors. Once in place over the farm 2d10 were rolled each turn and a total kept, a total of 30+ indicating all survivors were aboard and the game complete.

And now to the pictures:

Table layout from above with numbers showing the 8 entry points:

William Tickel tends to Private Partts

The troops stand to

Improvised defences: the medical wagon is used to block one of the openings

The Camel Corps troopers prepare to defend the animal pens

While Softlove commands the troops overlooking the crop field

The first of the Martian units attack, probing Softlove's defensive ring but are easily repulsed by the withering fire of the Prince's Own

A second unit attempts a similar attack but us also repulsed

A third Martian unit attacks from the South

However it transpires that these initial attacks are only to test for a weakness in the defence. Which they find and then launch a massed attack (or in real terms, the start of turn cards include the 5, 8 and Q of Hearts for a total of 32 Martians, and Bibbly manages to roll 4 sixes so they all arrive in the same place!!)

The assault begins

The main force charges the wagon barricade which is now defended by the Camel Corp troopers

While a smaller group attacks Ruffbrute's position

The fighting is bloody and desperate 

But help is in sight. As the assaulting wave of Martians hits the barricades the rescue party comes into view

The Martians start to break through

But the neff is now over the farm and loading passengers

With the ship full to capacity, the captain gives the order to return to New Victoria, leaving those unable to be carried to continue the fight with the Martians

The game finished at this point, with all the civilians and notable individuals aboard it was deemed a success for the Earthers.  Not sure the unfortunate souls left behind to continue the fight would agree though...

Will Softlove's return be hailed or renounced, stay tured to find out.