Pulp Alley – The CSSS in Mad Pulp Max

We’re still playing our Perilous Island campaign for Pulp Alley. Next adventure in the campaign-book is the one set in Soerabaja harbour, but before that we wanted to test the vehicle rules found in the Pulp Gadgets, Guns & Vehicles supplement. We still wanted a scenario tied to our campaign, so I wrote Mad Pulp Max (I’ll do a more detailed write up of the scenario on the Pulp Alley Forum soon)

Our heroes of the CSSS have just gotten clues to the whereabouts of Professor Darrow so they are off to the Dutch East Indies. The best way is with aeroplane from Ankara and the best way from Istanbul to Ankara is by car or truck through the Turkish highlands.

Our heroes are travelling through the steep-sided valleys when they suddenly emerge on a wider plains and from that plains only one narrow valley remains before Ankara. Life is good. The sun is shining. No hurry. Relaxed small talk in the cars.

Until two dust clouds are spotted. A check through the binoculars and it is clear that two of the other leagues have had the same idea. And they have all spotted our heroes.

The quiet of the serene plains is scattered with the roar of engines.

The race to Ankara has begun and the gloves are off.
This time the Phrenologists had made a wrong turn and didn't show up, unfortunately.

The rules in short:

- The goal is to get as many league-members as possible through the valley.

- At the end of the game all members on the last 2'x2' board are deemed to be in Ankara and all leagues will be tasked with the same peril that they must pass. The league that passes with the most dice is deemed the winner.

- The terrain is rolling, that is, at the end of the turn when at least one car is fully on the farthest terrain-segment (the one farthest into the valley, closest to Ankara) the last segment (closest to Istanbul) is removed and placed in the front. Anything still on that board is emoved from play.

- Every league gets up to 6 points to buy cars/trucks from. No armour or armaments allowed.

The set-up. Some cars carelessly parked (oops, forgot to remove them before the photo)

Here we go. All three sides have one car and one truck. Belgians far left, Cult of Ra in the middle with a mummy ready for action and our heroes on the right. The car is driven by Suora Innocenza.

I swapped one ally. This one, Soldato Morto, got a machinegun and can  place a 3" burst. Nasty. Unfortunately the drivers of both the enemy cars passes their perils and can drive on.

The mummy activates and jumps to the Belgian car. It starts to grapple with one of the passengers...

...and looses the fight and falls off.

More cultists arrive in their truck. It is actually full of red-robed cultist, I think there are seven or so crammed in that truck. 

The Belgians arrive with their truck and starts to shoot. Two cultist fall and as they are followers they are removed from play immediately. The mummy, an ally, misses his recovery-roll at turn-end and is removed also. 

My truck, driven by Monsignore himself, had moved up behind my car the first turn. The new turn started with another machine-gun burst on the two enemy cars. Dakka-dakka-dakka.

Works better this time as the Cultists' car is damaged.

Next the cultists drove their truck into the Belgian car. Everyone manage to keep control over their cars, unfortunately.

Our heroes and the cultist step on it.

Another try at boarding the Belgian car...

... and another cultist bites the dust. Boarding wasn't such a good idea and the cultists started to shoot instead. Didn't do much difference, except no cultist fell off. 

The rest of the cars drives away and another turn has ended.

A rather uneventful turn. Driving, some shooting and not much of any effect.

Vroooom!

Stop! School ahead. Speed limit 30 kmph. Aaaargh.
Those dastardly Belgians runs over an innocent teacher. Ruthless they are and Jeppan laughted insanely. Now you start to understand the kind of people I have to game with...

The cultists drive their car side to side with the Belgians. They are rightfully horrified by the cold blooded murder. That teacher was, after all, a perfectly good sacrifice. What a waste!

Well, driving close to cold-blooded Belgians was a bad idea as a well aimed bulled penetrates the engine resulting in a spectacular crash. The leader of the Cult of Ra has the gods on his side and crawls out of the wreckage unharmed. His companion is knocked senseless and will take a long time to recover (got the Stay Down card played on him)

The cultists tries to get revenge by ramming the Belgian truck. A poor farmer looks on, "Foreigners" he mutters.

Our heroes drives on.

Another turn. The Belgians closes in on the last board. The Leader of the Cult of Ra runs after.

The cultists ram the Belgian truck. 

This time it works. The Belgin driver loses controll and the truck spins away, damaged. 

Soura makes a heroic attempt at driving down the Cult Leader but unfortunately she doesn't reach him this round.

A firefight sees two more cultists go down. How many are there?

End of turn. Just one turn left. Two trucks are hopelessly after.

The Beligans drives away as fast as possible to secure a place among the victors and of course a safe spot far from everyone else. Cowards! The Cult Leader also runs into the final board, hoping to survive Soura's driving. 

A final ramming attack!

And both trucks loose control and spins away. Far back and not scoring.

Suora tries to ram the Cult Leader but he deftly steps aside.
The truck driven by Monignore cannot reach the final board, they are shy a couple of millimeters! Instead Monsignore once again plays his secret weapon - Double Cross!

Double Cross only works on Allies or Followers, and there is only one to choose.
Last match this Belgian guy had turned traitor and joined the CSSS in the last round and giving us a plot point. He had begged his master for forgiveness and was given another chance, under the stern eyes of the Belgian Leader.
Now he couldn't resist the religious sirens' call. He knew he was a sinner and was promised salvation. How could he not help his God? How could he possibly turn his back to his faith? The true faith!
And a fat wad of money...

That ended the adventure. The Good Side, that is the CSSS, had Souroa, Soldato Morto and one Belgian on the last board whiles both the Belgians and the Cult of Ra only had their leaders there.

We rolled for victory and the CSSS got their well-deserved victory!

Our heroes celebrated their stunning triumph in Ankara. In their midst was a very frightened Belgian who didn’t understand a word of Italian.

Sic gloria transit mundi.

A big welcome to Frank O’Donnell with If it wasn’t for ones covering Pulp Alley and other fun stuff. Check it out.

More piers for Soerabaja Harbour

I wanted the harbour to be a bit more crowded and also to be more flexible, i.e., give more re-playability. So I cut, scribed, ‘stoned’ and painted two more pier-pieces - the long and thin piece and also the short pier. 

The short piece is really useful as I can place in different places. 

Now I’m really pleased with the ground-work. The only thing I wan't to do long term is a couple of shorter half-height piers and maybe a rickety wooden jetty.

Just two more boats to go and then we will see action.

If you want to see more on the Soerabaja progress and how these piers are done then follow this thread. 

Italian OM36 Light Truck from Perry Miniatures

I bought this little Italian WWII truck from Perry Miniatures for my pulp games. I was drawn to it because of its looks. It is just so ugly it’s cute J

I think it will fit superbly in all these out of the ordinary settings we find in our Pulp Alley games. In the middle of nowhere they have this truck nobody wanted…

It’s missing its steering wheel at the moment, but I’ll mount that shortly. It disappeared and I just found it in a box.

Welcome Tilioch from the Club, with Late Night Painting, where you will find everything between ancients and the far (grim) future. Well worth a look. 

Female thief from Otherworld Miniatures

Finished this Human Female Thief, sculpted by Patrick Keith, from Otherworld Miniatures. 

An excellent sculpt from their Adventurers range, and I especially like the fact that she is dressed for the job and well equipped with suitable adventuring gear. 

Another great mini from Otherworld.

The Great Nordic Wars – a club campaign

We had a club meeting the other day and with the formalities quickly done the fun began. There’s a new campaign in the club, The Great Northern War and specifically the Swedish campaign in Russia 1708-1709.

This was the first battle of the campaign – the Battle of Holowczyn where the Swedish forces surprised the Russian army in camp.

The participants of the campaign have their own unit and seek the most glory for them (and I guess all will be for nothing when they reach Poltava…).

The rules are Black Powder and The Last Argument of Kings supplement.

I was happy to just sit and watch the match. I have no units and don’t intend to be part of the campaign. Just enjoy the beautiful figures. I relaxed.

And then someone said “Hey, Joakim, you don’t have a unit, do you? You’re the General!”

What! I don’t know the rules. I don’t know the units. I’m not very good on what tactics were used. I simply know nothing.

“Excellent”, they said. “You probably inherited your post, anyway.” “And you’re nobility, and they are all inbred.” 

I was defeated even before the game began.

And here he is: General Joakim af Nincompoop.
"I say, what a wonderful morning. Carry on boys! Gå på! and all that."

The set-up. Heroic Swedes led by the Lion-pup of the North on the right. Evil Russians on the left.

I have a very vague recollection of which unit was which. ("Well, they are peasants, all of them, so who cares! Pretty flags, though.") 

We better let the General lead us through the battle. I think he can guide us through his strategic and tactical considerations.

Over to you, Sir.

That's me. I look splendid!
It's hot. Wave that flag more, peasant!
Now, that's better.

Those chaps in red... who are they? Danes?
Russians, you say. Really? What on earth are they doing here?
What do you mean, we're in Russia?
Seriously?
Why?
A, glory!
Can't they just run away so we can get this over with?

This is just what my father spoke of. Banners. Charging horses. Lines of soldiers marching through smoke and fire. Splendid.
If only they could stop shouting and screaming.
You there. On the ground. Shut up! 

Cowardly Russians! When the going gets tough the Russians run away! Afraid, are you?
I hear the commander of this rabble is a Dane. A hereditary foe. Can I kill him?
(Hi, Sören! He is commander of the Russian force and our resident Dane.)

I wonder what my cavalry is doing behind the infantry? They just loiter. That's not very brave and glorious, is it?

Ha, the Hand of God in action. He is on our side and removes those red infantrymen.
About time. You're late...

Ah, this is more like it. Eat Swedish steel you infidels. 

At last that incompetent cavalry officer is starting to rally those cowards on horses. What's there to be afraid of in the front line. It's there they can get glory.
For me.

Hey! Flag man. Yes, you.
Is that Robin Hood and his Merry Men?
No? Russians? But they're dressed in green.
Really? But green is soooo out of fashion. Why would anyone wear a green uniform? 

Yes, this is looking really good. we should make a painting of this. With me leading the charge of course.
But I have to make these donkeys on horses to start charging.
You there! Why don't you charge away?

I'm sure there was a blue and yellow unit there just before.
What do you mean grapeshot? They shoot grapes with those guns?
Why not make wine of it, instead?

Now, that was more like it. Another Russian unit anihilated.
Good job!
I did really splendid there.

What. Are they allowed to do that. Attacking my brave soldiers in the flank. They might take one of the flags.
How would that look? 

Phey. They sure didn't reckon with Swedish steel and the Hand of God.
He is starting to behave, after all. About time.

This looks more like it.
Tally ho! 

Russians. They really are chicken. And their pathetic excuse for a General.
Lost your voice, have you?

That's me. There, on the left. I do look splendid in uniform.
That's my cavalry. Riding for glory.
Hmm, but then they should be in the front line.
Wonder what they are doing there?

Ah, that's what I was thinking. Good planning.
But they really should have jumped those obstacles. How hard is it?
Incompetents. When I had made such a good plan.

Rallied another unit. I'm really good at this.
Don't be afraid of the wine-guns! Death is nothing to be afraid of! Charge, peasants!
Oops. They should let the grapes ripen a bit before using that gun.

We have to interupt while the General sorties the field. The troops before him died and splattered him with blood and gore. His uniform looked a mess and he really had to get a change. 

He will make the rest of the comments from the tailors tent.

Now, this looks better.
Really good planning on my part.
I'm just born for this. 
Camping in the wild. The cameraderie. Singing around campfires. Swordplay. Excuting prisoners.
Ah, what a life!

Now, this is a text-book example of a flank attack.
Notice how I planned long in advance and had those troops in just the right place in the right time.
Joakim Sun Tzu af Nincompoop, if you please.

They fled. Forward... Cowards.

Right. A good Russian is a dead Russian.
That's what Father always said.

A text-book example on how to anihillate a gun.
God, I'm really good at this.

Fyr!

Tada! Nothing there. 

Now, there's a charge. Glory for the cavalry! 

Glory for me!
No more Russians left, you say. Excellent.
Yes, that is a very nice uniform. Could I get more gold.
Yes, everywhere.

I think we leave the general now. He has some very pressing decisions before him.

More on this battle by another member of the club:

http://wargameinsvergie.blogspot.se/2015/09/gnw-campaign-game.html

He actually had a unit and did rather well, the sneaky…