This game was played using some homemade rules (M.I.S.S.) in order to allow us to play a quick space-fight utilising many of my long unused "Star Wars: X-Wing" miniatures by "Fantasy Flight Games", and took place upon a 3' x 3' "Hotz Mats" Deep Space Game mat. The battlefield was populated with a variety of asteroids which I bought from a seller on "Ebay" many, many moons ago.
“The story so far… Eager to test out the capabilities of his new TIE/vn space superiority fighter, Kylo Ren has rashly decided to launch a full scale attack against the Resistance fleet. However, Han Solo's son has underestimated the number of X-Wing's Nien Nunb's Blue Squadron can muster, and that the Millennium Falcon isn't just a hunk of junk..."
The five Resistance spacecraft started along the western edge of the battlefield, and consisted of Poe Dameron, Nien Nunb, Jessika Pava and Temmin “Snap” Wexley flying X-Wings, with Rey in the Millennium Falcon. Some of the pilots more notable special abilities were Poe's "Sharpshooter" expertise [+1 to hit] and "BB-8" [Repair]. In addition all the T-70 X-wing starfighters had "Armour" [a D6 Saving Throw].
Kylo Ren's force started along the eastern edge. It contained Epsilon Leader, Omega Ace and Zeta Ace in three TIE/fo Fighters, Backdraft and Quickdraw in a pair of TIE/sf Fighters, and the master of the Knights of Ren in his TIE Silencer. Some of the TIE Fighters special abilities were "Tight Turn" and "Jink" [a D6 Saving Throw], whilst Ren's "Leadership" skill would provide his fellow First Order pilots one re-roll per turn providing their respective ships were within 12" of him. Owing to advancements since the days of the Empire, all of the TIE Fighters were also equipped with a shield.
The game would last eight turns and was a straightforward head-to-head confrontation, with the victor being the side who had caused the most damage by the end of the skirmish.
Spotting his hated opponents directly in front of his forces, Kylo Ren flew his TIE Silencer directly west, straight at his foe's vessels. Backdraft turned southwest to join his Supreme Leader. In the middle of the First Order's line, Epsilon Leader leaned his starfighter in the direction of Alpha Cluster, as the other two TIE/fo Fighters and Quickdraw maintained their westerly headings.
In response, Blue Squadron peeled off to the southeast towards Beta Cluster, leaving both Poe Dameron and Rey to continue due east straight into the heart of the First Order's attack.
Kylo Ren and Backdraft flew just south of Beta Cluster, coming within (long) range of Jess Pava's X-Wing. Between them, they swiftly brought down the Resistance pilot's shield and damaged the starfighter. Poe Dameron's vessel also came under attack as Omega Ace and Zeta Ace fired at him with their SJFS L-s9.6 laser cannons for all they were worth. However, no laser blasts found their mark. To the north, Epsilon Leader and Quickdraw continued to approach Alpha Cluster.
Retaliating against the dastardly attack upon Pava, Blue Squadron turned east in unison, and almost met with disaster as Wexley came face-to-face with Beta Cluster. Nien Nunb too miscalculated his turn, wheeling his X-Wing directly behind Jessika's so the Sullustan had no viable targets to shoot at. Only Pava could fire, and brought down Backdraft's shield with a well-aimed blast from her heavy laser cannons. Poe Dameron and Rey flew straight at the oncoming TIE/fo fighters, bringing down both starfighter's shields.
Sensing an opportunity had arisen to break the back of the First Order line with one swift stroke, both Poe and Rey pressed their attack further. But the Millennium Falcon's pilot failed to connect with any of the Corellian YT-1300f light freighter 's attacks. Luckily, Dameron didn't miss and almost took down Omega Ace with a withering salvo. The First Order pilot's vessel was definitely on its last legs.
Meanwhile Jess and Nien Nunb disentangled their X-Wings from one another, and both poured their combined firepower into Kylo Ren and Backdraft's starfighters. Pava missed, despite being in almost touching distance of her opponent's TIE Silencer. However, she still cheered as her Resistance colleague gunned down Backdraft and blew his TIE/sf Fighter to smithereens. First blood to General Organa's forces.
Cursing, Kylo Ren turned northwest, flying directly under the incoming X-Wings. Omega Ace and Zeta Ace both managed to raise their respective shields, before curving southwards and bringing down Nien Nunb's shield in a deadly manoeuver. To the north, Quickdraw and Epsilon Leader negotiated Alpha Cluster, planning to outflank the Millennium Falcon just as soon as they had passed through the rocks around them. The battle was far from over.
To be continued...