X-Wing Galactic Civil War Episode IV: Hoth

Welcome to the fourth instalment of our X-Wing Campaign!

Current Renown:
Imperials 3
Rebels 2

If you want to catch up on previous instalments, please click on the text:

Episode I

Episode II

Episode III

And for the Campaign Rules, click here!

On Turn 4 of the Campaign, looking to establish another base on the opposite side of the galaxy, the Rebels close in on Hoth. The frozen planet seems perfect for a hidden base of operations...except that an Imperial fleet stands in their way! As all wings move to attack position, a brutal encounter unfolds...

Located in Anoat Sector of the galaxy, the most notable aspect of this desolate icy wasteland is that there isn't enough life on it to fill a space cruiser.

Hoth

The Imperials can field Pilots with Pilot Skill of 3 or less while the Rebels have access to Pilots of Pilot Skill 1 or 2.

The Rebels are fielding YT-2400 with Tactical Jammer and 3 Cavern Angels Zealot X-Wings!

YT-2400 + X-Wing Build (x3)

The Empire seeks to capitalise on their advantage over the Rebels and sends a squadron of the finest pilots they currently have available to dominate the encounter against the relatively inexperienced Rebels. Once again they call upon the TIE Defender - an Onyx Squadron Pilot this time - and three Obsidian Squadron Pilots who will pack in to a tight formation. Completing their force is the latest addition to the Imperial war machine - the deadly TIE Phantom...will the Rebels be able to take down this elusive fighter?

Turn 1: Both sides cautiously approach one another but are out of range of one another.

End of Turn 1

Turn 2: The YT-2400 cuts across the Imperial line, resulting in two TIEs including the Defender losing actions as they bump into one another. Of greater concern is that their fire is split between the YT-2400 and one of the X-Wings, with each only losing a few shields. The Rebels meanwhile hit the cloaked Phantom with everything they have! Note: I didn't place the counter but did use the additional 2 defence dice.

The YT-2400 disrupts the TIE formation!

The X-Wings strip the Phantom's shields and inflict a point of damage! But the YT-2400 has yet to fire...

The YT-2400 fires at the TIE Phantom at point blank range!

...and its cannon obliterate the fighter!

End of Turn 2

Turn 3: The Imperial formation is in a mess and they can't land any shots on the elusive enemy fighters! Meanwhile, the Defender's shields are stripped and it suffers damage!
As both an X-Wing and TIE perform K-Turns in close proximity to one another, the X-Wing takes a TIE out with a single shot!

Just like shooting womp rats back home!

End of Turn 3

Turn 4: Their line diminished and one of their fighters unable to fire, the Imperials succeed only in destroying an astromech! The X-Wing returns fire upon the crippled Defender...

An X-Wing has the TIE Defender in its sights!

...and it too is vaporised! With only two TIEs left, the Imperials are on the ropes!

End of Turn 4

Turn 5: Another X-Wing and TIE go head to head...

Head to Head!

And another clean kill for the Rebels!

Whoa! That got him!

The X-Wing presses on!

Only one TIE remains! Apologies for the lack of image for end of Turn 5. I may have been too despairing at this stage to remember to take the overview shot!

Turn 6: The last remaining TIE fighter hobbles on, perhaps hoping for mercy but as the Rebel ships circle, it is clear they have none!

Defiant to the end!

And, despite destroying another astromech, it too is annihilated!

End of Turn 6

A thumping victory for the Rebels! They never lost a single ship! The Empire's failure is complete!

Rebel Victory!

Hearing of their success, Mon Mothma orders the secret construction of Echo Base on Hoth! Word is sent out across the galaxy of the Imperial humiliation and pilots flock to the Rebel cause. There is hope!

The Rebel flag flies over Hoth!

Current Renown: Imperial 3, Rebels 3
Systems Held: Imperial 3, Rebels 3

The Galaxy Map at the end of Episode IV

Note: The current Renown means both factions can field Pilots of PS3 or lower next encounter.

The next 2 battles will be highly significant as both sides have a chance to unlock a Pilot and win a Faction Major Victory - Empire will be first though!

Watch out for Episode V - coming soon!

X-Wing Galactic Civil War Episode III: Dathomir

Welcome to the third instalment of our X-Wing Campaign! If you want to read the campaign rules, please go here! And to read Episode I, click here - and Episode II can be found here!

On Turn 3 of the Campaign, the Empire, perhaps drawn to the strong presence of the dark side of the force, attempt to take Dathomir. They send forces to take the world, seeking avoid another failure such as they suffered on Dantooine.

The Galaxy Map at the start of Turn 3

Located in the Quelli Sector of the Outer Rim, Dathomir is an uninviting world which is perpetually bathed in a red mist. The world's most famous natural inhabitants are the Rancor; huge vicious creatures to some, most valued of pets to others.

Dathomir

With both forces on Renown of 2, they can both field ships with Pilot Skill 1 or 2.

Both opt to use the same forces as matched each other over Dantooine, with the Rebels bringing 3 X-Wings and a U-Wing to the fight...

X-Wing Build x3

U-Wing Build

...while the Empire sends a TIE Defender, 2 TIE Interceptors, a TIE Bomber and a TIE Fighter to deal with enemy Rebel ships.

Can the Empire strike back?

Set Up. The Imperials once again pack their TIEs in a tight formation. The Rebels seek to negotiate the asteroids in an attempt to flank the TIE line.

Set Up

Turn 1: Rejecting the hesitant opening of the previous battle, the Imperials move their ships to attack speed and launch a vicious assault upon the closest X-Wing! Caught off-guard and out of position, the X-Wing loses all of its shields and its astromech!

TIEs swarm forward to engage the closest X-Wing!

Turn 2: The Rebels swoop around and a hail of deadly fire is exchanged between both formations! One TIE Interceptor bumps the U-Wing and is fortunate not to suffer damage or ionisation from the U-Wing! The other TIE Interceptor suffers 2 damage including a critical hit which states that if the ship lands on an asteroid or bumps another ship, it will suffer 1 damage and be destroyed!

Turn 2 post-movement

The TIE Bomber unleashes Cluster Missiles at the U-Wing but somehow the ship manages to sail through the deadly barrage! It cannot escape an attack from the TIE Defender though as it strips 3 shields! Interceptors concentrate their fire to destroy the lead X-Wing!

There's...too many of them!

End of Turn 2

Turn 3: Struggling to get back into attack position, the Rebels are in disarray with no ships able to fire this turn! The Empire press their advantage and strip another X-Wing of all shields and destroy its astromech! The Bomber once again contrives to fail to land a single hit with the backup cluster missiles! Only its primary weapon is left now...

End of Turn 3

Turn 4: The TIE Defender and TIE Bomber close in on the X-Wing while the Rebels are reduced to shooting at range...

Turn 4 Post-Movement

...but they make it count, somehow destroying both TIE Interceptors! Already on the brink, the X-Wing cannot evade such heavy fire from the Defender and Bomber and it too is destroyed in the exchange!

Turn 4 is deadly for both sides!

End of Turn 4

Turn 5: The TIE Bomber suffers an incredible four damage from the X-Wing!

End of Turn 5

Turn 6: Both forces try to regroup but the TIE Fighter is ionised after it bumps the U-Wing...

End of Turn 6

Turn 7: More repositioning. The TIE Fighter bumps the U-Wing but suffers no damage (the ion token should not be there). The TIE Defender and Bomber manage to inflict more damage upon the U-Wing from afar. It only has 3 damage left!

End of Turn 7

Turn 8: Both sides are able to attack but do little to the other...

Turn 8 Post-Movement

...except for the lone TIE fighter which inflicts 2 critical hits on the U-Wing!

The U-Wing takes 2 crits! Can it survive?

One of the crits on the U-Wing is a Minor Explosion! The damage dice is rolled and it suffers another hit, destroying it in a spectacular explosion!

Critical Roll!

End of Turn 8

Turn 9: The TIE Fighter comes under fire but hangs on in there!

End of Turn 9

The Imperial Fighters swarm around the last X-Wing, looking to deliver the killing blow - but all three are on the brink with only one damage left! The X-Wing attacks, targeting the deadly TIE Defender...

Turn 10 Post-Movement

...and obliterates it! An instant before destruction however, the TIE Defender looses a final volley - and eliminates the last X-Wing!

End of Turn 10

The Rebels are defeated! Glory to the Empire!

The Imperial flag flies over Dathomir on the galaxy map!

Current Renown: Imperials 3, Rebels 2.
Note: This means Imperials can field ships with PS3 or lower next battle, Rebels PS2 or lower.
It will be the Rebels' turn to attack next but on the next Imperial turn they can attempt to unlock one of their pilots!

The Galaxy Map at the end of Episode III

Watch this space for Episode IV - coming soon!

X-Wing Galactic Civil War Episode II: Dantooine

Welcome to the second instalment of our X-Wing Campaign! If you want to read the campaign rules, please go here! And to read part one, click here.

On Turn 2 of the Campaign, Rebel intelligence identify that Dantooine would make an excellent regional base of operations and move to secure the system. The Empire send forces to engage the Rebel fleet and stymie any sense of hope that a Rebel victory may inspire across the galaxy.

Galaxy Map at the start of Turn 2 Dantooine is on the extreme left of the board

Located in the Raioballo sector on the outer rim, Dantooine is a pleasant world of grasslands, rivers and lakes. It has a small population, mostly living in small communities. The world has no industry or advanced technology.

A Rebel Vessel approaches Dantooine

After victory went to the Empire in the first battle, the Imperials' Renown is 2, meaning they can field Pilots with Pilot Skill of 1 or 2 while the Rebels are still restricted to Pilots of Pilot Skill 1.

The Rebels are fielding 3 X-Wings and a U-Wing. In the opening skirmish neither the Rebel and Imperial player were aware of the improvements made to the X-Wings as a result of the Saw's Renegades set. Today's Rebel player is hoping to make the most of those changes!

X-Wing Build x 3

U-Wing Completes Rebel List

After their success in the opening battle, the Imperials are once again bringing a TIE Defender and two TIE Interceptors along with a lone TIE fighter, although this time they will call upon a TIE Bomber armed with missiles to complete their force.

Imperial List

First of all - apologies, we were so eager to get on with the game that we neglected to take pics of the set up and first two turns! We did realise in time to at least note down what happened...

Set Up. The Imperials set up in a row of five on the edge of their baseline (board edge) while the Rebels set up their three X-Wings and U-Wing in a row opposite, although in their case, at the edge of the range one set up space.

Turn 1: Both sides moved cautiously forward with no ships coming into firing range.

Turn 2: The U-Wing pushed forward and the TIEs hit it with everything they could, stripping it of shields! The Rebels targeted the TIE Defender, stripping its shields and inflicting 1 point of damage!

Photos capture the acton from Turn 3 onwards...

Turn 3: With the Rebels holding initiative and moving first, concern about X-Wings making Speed 1 manoeuvres to block resulted in the Imperials opting not to make K-Turns. The Rebel player quite brilliantly anticipated this and put 2 of his X-Wings on K-Turns to get behind the bulk of the Imperial line! The 2 Interceptors are out of arc this turn as is the Rebels' U-Wing...

Turn 3 Post-Movement: X-Wings get the jump on the Imperials!

The TIE Bomber launches a devastating attack as Cluster Missiles hammer the nearest X-Wing, stripping it of shields and inflicting heavy damage - the sacrifice of the integrated astromech is all that saves it from destruction! The Defender and TIE Fighter strip the shields of the X-Wing before them...

...but the Rebels destroy the TIE Defender! It's a huge setback for the Empire early on in proceedings!

The TIE Defender is obliterated!

End of Turn 3

Turn 4: The Empire strikes back! The Interceptors and TIE fighter perform K-Turns and, backed up by the TIE Bomber strip all shields from enemy fighters as well as destroying their astromechs! More importantly, an X-Wing is destroyed!

An X-Wing Rookie is Roasted!

The Rebels by comparison have a poor turn as an X-Wing and the U-Wing cannot fire. The X-Wings are unable to land any blows on their enemies.

End of Turn 4

Turn 5: The Rebels adjust their flight patterns to reposition.  The U-Wing inflicts damage on the TIE fighter.

End of Turn 5

Turn 6: A series of bumps work out in the Rebels' favour. The Empire inflicts no damage this turn - but the TIE bomber suffers a massive 5 hits while one X-Wing finishes off the TIE fighter from range!

Whoa! That got him!

End of Turn 6

Turn 7: The Imperials come around again. They desperately need to mete out some punishment this turn to get back into the game!

Imperials have good position - but so too do the Rebels!

But they can't land a single hit! The Rebels have no such problems however as one Interceptor takes two hits and the other is destoryed!

Scratch a TIE Interceptor!

Turn 8: The last TIE Interceptor bumps the U-Wing, triggering the anti-pursuit lasers! A hit is rolled and the Interceptor is vaporised! The TIE Bomber gets into range but fails again to land any damage! It, in turn suffers heavy returning fire and is destroyed!

Turn 8 Post Movement

"Outstanding Red Team, outstanding. I'll getcha a crate of beer for that one." 

The Rebels are victorious!

The Rebel flag flies over Dantooine on the galaxy map! Having scored their first success against the Empire, Mon Mothma issues an impassioned call for people across the galaxy to rise up against their Imperial oppressors! Various Rebel cells soon after rendezvous over the regional base of operations on Dantooine and for the first time the entire Rebel fleet is assembled!

The Galaxy Map at the end of Episode II

Can the Rebels build upon their success? Find out in Episode III - coming soon!