Our local, annual wargaming convention 'Call to Arms' was this weekend, and I decided to run a Dystopian Wars demo game. I wanted to showcase as many ships as possible - particularly the new Dreadnoughts - so I designed a simple (if ambitious) scenario to involve each of the four starting nations and try and arrange the game in a way that we'd have lots of action in a one day of gaming.
Part 1 - Scenario Background and Setup
(the next part will contain the battle sport an pictures)
Flashpoint: Northern Mariana Islands
The Northern Mariana Islands consist of 15 islands about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines. The islands form a vital link in the coal fuelling stations, upon which the great Imperial navies depend for their Pacific Fleets, and the sugar cane which the islands produce is a much sought after commodity. The Northern Mariana Islands were ceded to the Prussian Empire by the Spanish in 1798, while Guam – to the South – was sold to the Federated States of America.
Now the Northern Mariana Islands are the flashpoint for a new conflict. The Prussian Imperial Navy has dispatched a Fleet to its protectorate in order to deter the Federated States of America who have recently built up forces in Guam. The Empire of the Blazing Sun has dispatched a large fleet of its own – supposedly to reinforce the Prussians – but the Pacific ambitions of the Blazing Sun are well known, and feared in Westminster – and Queen Victoria has ordered the British Pacific Fleet to reinforce the Americans.
Objectives
As the game begins each of the 4 great empires has dispatched a large fleet to the Northern Mariana Islands seeking to capture the key installations which will grant them control of this vital resource. While the British and Americans are formally allied against the Japanese and Prussians, each nation also seeks to use its own rocket-marines to secure the 3 key objectives, despite their alliances.
Possession of each objective grants 200 victory points to the nation controlling it. To gain control, a nation must have at least 1 AP worth of Rocket Marines in sole control of an objective by the end of turn 6. Any nation wishing to challenge the control of the objective must land their own marines, and fight a boarding action – as they would on a ship. Once a nation has control of an objective, they are able to use the AA of each objective to aid in their defence against any challenges. The objectives are:
Objective 1: The Port of Saipan (2AA)
Objective 2: The Airfield on Tinian Island (2AA)
Objective 3: The Fort of Santa Lucia (4AA)
Round 1 & 2
During round one and two, the advance elements of each fleet arrive and may be deployed within the deployment zone of each nation. These comprise a mobile, lightly armoured, battlegroup.
ADVANCE BATTLEGROUP
Empire of the Burning Sun (350 Points)
4 Uwatsu Class Frigates
4 Uwatsu Class Frigates
2 Inari Class Scout Gyros
10 Land Based Tiny Flyers
Prussian Empire (330 Points)
4 Arimus Class Frigates
4 Arimus Class Frigates
2 Pflicht Class Scout Ships
10 Land Based Tiny Flyers
Kingdom of Britannia (350 points)
4 Attacker Class Frigates
4 Attacker Class Frigates
2 Hawk Class Scout Rotors
10 Land Based Tiny Flyers
Federated States of America (320 Points)
4 Augusta Class Frigates
4 Guilford Class Destroyers
2 Lee Class Scout Ships
10 Land Based Tiny Flyers
Round 3 & 4
From round 3 the Assault Battlegroup arrive and may be deployed within the deployment zone of each nation. This contains the powerful heavy guns of the fleet, and the fleet carriers.
ASSAULT BATTLEGROUP
Empire of the Burning Sun (625 Points)
4 Uwatsu Class Frigates
4 Yurgi Class Destroyers
1 Hachiman Class Dreadnought
1 Tenkai Sky Fortress
2 Kitsune Class Escorts
Prussian Empire (665 Points)
4 Arimus Class Frigates
4 Stolz Class Destroyers
1 Bulcher Class Dreadnought
(2 generators)
1 Imperium Sky Fortress
2 Wachter Class Escorts
Kingdom of Britannia (625 points)
4 Attacker Class Frigates
3 Orion Class Destroyers
1 Majesty Class Dreadnought
1 Avenger Class Fleet Carrier
2 Bastion Class Escorts
Federated States of America (665 Points)
4 Augusta Class Frigates
2 Lexington Class Cruisers
1 Enterprise Class Dreadnought
(2 generators)
1 Saratoga Fleet Carrier
4 Springfield Class Escorts
Round 5 & 6
From round 5 the Rear Battlegroup arrive and may be deployed within the deployment zone of each nation. This force is the remainder of each fleet.
REAR BATTLEGROUP
Empire of the Burning Sun (510 Points)
1 Sokotsu Class Battleship
3 Nakatsue Class Cruisers
2 DFA-170 Bombers
1 Kitsune Class Escort
Prussian Empire (500 Points)
1 Emperor Class Battleship
3 Riever Class Cruisers
2 Grier Bombers
1 Wachter Class Escorts
Kingdom of Britannia (520 points)
1 Ruler Class Battleship
3 Tribal Class Cruisers
2 Doncaster Bombers
2 Bastion Class Escorts
Federated States of America (500 Points)
1 Independence Class Battleship
3 Lexington Class Cruisers
2 AF-17 Bombers
2 Springfield Class Escorts
Victory Points
For objectives are determined at the conclusion of the final turn of the game. Each sunk ship yields it’s full points cost in victory points, ships on half HP or worse yield half victory points, and captured ships yield double their points cost in victory points. Each nation will accrues victory points individually.
