Some Evo Games/Impressions

[Gauntlet-]

So me and my buddy Chris were able to play 2 games of SST Evo this past weekend, we played one game of MI vs Skinnies, and one of Arachnids vs Skinnies.

First and foremost we entirely ignored the shattered rule…

Game 1

For our first game we had a small facility and various rocky outcrops, with a landing pad, the Skinnies were retreating, upon round 4 a shuttle lands and the Skinnies must simply get their leader (General) to get to the door and they win.

The Skinnies lost, to a model, with a Chas Bot willingly exploding in front of the door for 2 reasons. 1. To kill the general, or failing that 2. to give him a chance, as the robot completely blocked the door. The General did survive but was struck down by triple thuds.

Impressions:

We liked the new leadership and suppression rules, especially for such a shoot vs shoot match that this was. We generally thought the inability to carry a ready action from one turn to the next was a really big hindrance, but perhaps its best as movement became a harder priority to fulfill.



Game 2

The second game used the same terrain scattered out a bit, the arachnids (me) using a brain a plasma and 15 tigers on top, while leaving 15 tigers and a tanker tunneled. This was a much closer game, and much relied upon the Brain Bug barely surviving a Skinny war chief and retinue. The Tiger Bugs did Well… I’m surprised to say, but their ability to just mow down any unit in the way was pretty nice. The Brain notably only survived because I was lucky enough to get the 15 warriors to emerge, notably the game was over before the tanker ever emerged.

Impressions:

The new tunneling system is less than perfect; something which boosts the chances of emergence would be nice, such as a brain bug action letting you re-roll or something. The Plasma Bug might not be all that worth it now, especially with the new system for drift. The Brain Bug is far more balanced and I think it was the right call, it felt right to me.

All in all I thought it was a good time, and a good system, it still needs fleshing, such as a better victory system, and tunneling. But all in all its good.

 

[Rabidchild]

The Plasma Bug might not be all that worth it now, especially with the new system for drift. The Brain Bug is far more balanced and I think it was the right call, it felt right to me.

That's interesting. I completely agree about the brain bug, it just feels right.

As for the plasma, it seems much more deadly than it was before. It took me a bit to realize, but the new drift rules drift the firezone rather than the point of impact. After the firezone drifts, you allocate to the closest model in that firezone and then put dice on everyone within 3" of that model. I have yet to miss completely with it. Is that how you were using it?

I'm curious what your impression of the various skinnie units was and how they interacted with each other as an army. I've only played one game of SST:Evo with them as I have a very small force.

 

[Iain McGhee]

I've been trying out the EVO rules too, MI vs Bugs and MI vs Skinnies, and agree with most of what you said. The bugs are really hampered with the shatter point rule, and I suspect that the main rules will have many scenarios where they ignore that rule, especially since they don't (seem to) have Endless Tide for their Warriors anymore and can't have as many tunnelling units. Unless they want to lose the game on the first turn. I don't mind the new Tunnelling rules that much. In fact, it works really well in solo play as you can semi-randomize the exit points.

Skinnies play a little better now, their Constrictor Rifles don't have a size limitation on what they can target in EVO (so watch out Marauders and Tankers). Venerables aren't quite the juggernaughts they were since you can't give them Traits or upgrade them all to Champions anymore. But they're still lethal and are one of the few Skinnie types that can engage Air targets. The ability to react against weapons fire is pretty useful.

The MI (PAMI in my case, plus Marauders and Support altered for EVO play) work pretty much as before, although the reaction rules mean you have to be much more careful with them. Some of their weapons seem less lethal than before and you seem to be losing their specialist grenades and Shock Sticks (might get such options in the advanced rules ?) but the single reaction rule seems to balance this out.

All in all, I like the EVO system. Definitely faster to play, and any niggles I have are likely going to be addressed with the main rulebook. Just hope they'll release unit cards for all the current models in some form, so that those of us with SST:TMG armies can use all of our forces from the get-go. I'd be happy to buy them as a supplement or something.

 

[dyssnowman]

I was checking out the Brain Bug card yesterday and I noticed that there is no longer a restriction on using the id sending against units above ground when you are below. Seems like a nasty strategy; attach a couple of guard bugs to a brain to let it start the game underground and then take pot shots with the id sending with no fear of reprisal.

As for the plasma bug, I had missed that but that does seem to make it that make it pretty nasty and for a reduced price even!

As for the Skinnies, I would have liked to see the soldiers still have access to the constrictor cannon but since the constrictor rifle does not have the same limitations anymore (either target size or fire zone size) I am okay with it.

All this said, I must admit that I have only had one chance to play SST with the Evo rules but overall I am happy with it. I really like the Evo system (I have quite a bit of BF:Evo so I do have some experience with it), and I am really looking forward to getting some more games in soon!

 

[Iain McGhee]

I'd be pretty surprised if the Brain Bug could get away with that !

Probably just something that was left off the card or will be part of an expanded psychic talents section in the rulebook.

 

[Gauntlet-]

I don't see how the brain could do that, him being underground now is essentially in reserves and off the board with the new tunneling rules, its not like you have a tunnel marker to denote his physical presence.

The skinnie units feel a little less nebulous, IE less options overall, but with a good effect, generally I would say they got a boost overall.

I did not play that way with the plasma, we were positioning the point of impact not the fire zone, or whathaveyou; I'll have to check that out, definately would increase effectiveness.

Over all what I DO miss from the old system is the possibillity of triggering a 'readied' squad and having them jump, it was cool.

 

[dyssnowman]

I don't see how the brain could do that, him being underground now is essentially in reserves and off the board with the new tunneling rules, its not like you have a tunnel marker to denote his physical presence.

I can see how it can go either way actually, which means that Mongoose needs to clarify it. Technically, it does not say that the tunneling units are kept in reserve just that they are underground and the brain bug says that it does not need los to use id sending. Then again, the brain bug card also does not tell you if id sending is a shooting action, ready action, once per turn, etc. Looks like they might have left some text off on that one.

The skinnie units feel a little less nebulous, IE less options overall, but with a good effect, generally I would say they got a boost overall.

Just from looking at them it seems that way, options are good but it can make things overly fiddly.

Over all what I DO miss from the old system is the possibillity of triggering a 'readied' squad and having them jump, it was cool.

That was a cool aspect. Well, expect that I usually planned the bugs and it was a pain in my carapace when it happened, but it was still a cool part of the game.