Battle Report - SSU versus AXIS

[Thel]

Hey everyone,

As much as I am down about the future of Dust Warfare, I still love playing the game. Thought I would give a battle review between the match I had with Anthony on Tuesday evening and share my Dust Warfare ramblings, in light of, well, no particular reason.

Met Anthony for a 300 point battle using the Icarus Battle Builder. Normal set up and conditions.

Lists:

AXIS

Schwer Command

Laser Jagdgrenadier

Laser Jagdgrenadier

Sniper

Fledermaus

Sturm Kommand

Recon Grenadier

Sturm Affe /w Marcus

Lothar

9 Activations

Versus SSU

Not certain of the squad names. 6 various Red Platoons, with UGLs and everything else.

3 Canon Pickup Trucks

2 SSU Sulfur Jet Walkers

1 Double Gatling gun Walker

For twelve activations.

Battle Builder resulted in King of the Hill, Furious Advance and Battle Fatigue.

The tactics Anthony uses around the Canon Trucks is real scarey. Those things can engage Air Craft or Vehicles at range. Though they are not throwing gobs of dice, they are a threat and have to be dealt with. Also, two Sulfur jet throwers is impressive.

It was a pretty bloody battle. Anthony eliminated my Aircraft and one of my Laser Jagdgrenadiers almost right away. In return I scorched two trucks and damaged a Sulfur Jet Walker. At this point, I was worried about the battle conditions. King of the Hill was the only way two win, and he had a lot more firepower and ground troops than I did. I switched from using all my resources trying to kill his infantry. The Lothar moved into position where it could just direct fire every turn, vice using indirect fire. MArcus and company focused on attacking infantry squads. In the end of turn 5 Anthony had his two Sulfur Jet Walkers, a truck, the double barreled gatling walker and 2 units with 3 or less soldiers. I had 4 units all damaged, but was on the Hill and so eeked out a victory. It was pyrrhic at best. I spent turns 4 and 5 basically hitting the dirt and using the Schwer Regroup order to give my units a chance of moving onto the hill and being able to hit the dirt or similar. Anthony's list is scarey. I was lucky the objective was king of the hill. If it had been attrition or VK recovery, it may not have gone well.

The only Achilles units I used was the Sturm Affe. It is sad as the only reason they are 40 points is they can be paired with Marcus. Marcus makes them very survivable. But still, they are a melee anti tank unit. Which is difficult as a tank can react to their movement. The only way to really get them into melee attack is if a unit like a tank has a reaction marker or if the infantry unit has does. They do have a ranged weapon, but its range is 12 and has reload. So good and bad. However, as marcus does, They did really distract a good part of Anthony's forces during turns 3 and 4. Which really helped keep the rest of my force alive and move into position.

Also, I have become a big fan of the Axis Heavy Weapon teams. They are in the sweet spot of able to threaten vehicles for a low 20 point cost. They are type 3 infantry with damage resilient, can be given upgrades, not easy to suppress and in order to wipe limit there firepower, you have to wipe the entire unit out.

Anyway, I am preparing to go to another tournament out in MD in May. So, if anyone ever wants a pick up game in, let me know.

Thel