Dropzone Commander Battle Report #36 – PHR vs UCM

Settle in for a roller coaster folks! This was one of the most ridiculous games we’ve ever played in terms of how the dice fell. We both went through the frustrated stage, only to end up laughing at the sheer insanity of it all. Have fun!

UCM Fleet Marine Security Force TF-109

United Colonies of Mankind – 2,500

UCM Field Command

COMMAND – Kodiak ACV w/Colonial Captain (CV4)

SUPPORT – Ferrum Drone Base

Colonial Armored Formation

STANDARD – 6x Sabre MBT

SUPPORT – 3x Fireblade Light Tank

            -Sharing Albatross Heavy Dropship

SUPPORT – 2x Longbow Howitzer

            -2x Raven-B Light Dropship with Missile Pods

Colonial Armored Formation

STANDARD – 6x Sabre MBT

SUPPORT – 3x Rapier AA Tank

            -Sharing Albatross Heavy Dropship

SUPPORT – 2x Longbow Howitzer

            -2x Raven-B Light Dropship with Missile Pods

Colonial Legionnaire Corps

TROOPS – 2x Legionnaire Mortar Team

            -Bear APC

TROOPS – 2x Legionnaire Mortar Team

            -Bear APC

            -Sharing Condor Medium Dropship

SUPPORT – 3x Rapier AA Tank

            -Condor Medium Dropship

Colonial Legionnaire Corps

TROOPS – 2x Colonial Legionnaires

            -Raven-A Light Dropship

TROOPS – 2x Colonial Legionnaires

            -Raven-A Light Dropship

TROOPS – 2x Colonial Legionnaires

            -Raven-A Light Dropship

SUPPORT – 2x Falcon Gunship

UCM Special Ordnance Section

HEAVY – 2x Gladius HBT

            -Condor Medium Dropship with Missile Pods

HEAVY – 2x Scimitar Tank Destroyer

SUPPORT – 2x Falcon Gunship

UXM Expeditionary Group

SCOUT – 6x Wolverine LAV Type-A

Gladius Arengtii

Post-Human Republic – 2,500

Hand of the Sphere

COMMAND – Nemesis Command Walker w/ Supreme Vizier (CV6)

SCOUT – Mercury Drones

            -2x Triton A2 with Twin Stealth Missile Batteries and Skyhammer Missiles

Battle Pantheon

STANDARD – 2x Ares Type-1 Walker

            -Neptune Medium Dropship

STANDARD – 2x Phobos Type-1 Walker

Battle Pantheon

STANDARD – 2x Ares Type-1 Walker

            -Neptune Medium Dropship

STANDARD – 2x Phobos Type-1 Walker

Immortals Phalanx

TROOPS – Immortals

            -Triton A1 Light Dropship

TROOPS – Immortal AM Sniper Team

            -Triton A1 Light Dropship

SUPPORT – 2x Helios Jetskimmer

            -Neptune Medium Dropship

Immortals Phalanx

TROOPS – Immortals

            -Triton A1 Light Dropship

TROOPS – Immortal AM Sniper Team

            -Triton A1 Light Dropship

SUPPORT – 2x Apollo Strike Walker

            -Neptune Medium Dropship

Heavy Pantheon

HEAVY – Hades Type 4 Walker

            -Poseidon Heavy Dropship

HEAVY – 2x Odin Type-2 Walker

            -Neptune Medium Dropship

Pegasus Group

SCOUT – 4x Mercury Scout Drone

            -2x Triton A2 with Skyhammer Missiles

SCOUT – 2x Valkyries

            -Triton A1

EXOTIC – Medusa

            -Triton X

After Action Review

The UCM has clearly been practicing its anti-PHR targeting protocols. I’ve never felt so hopelessly outgunned with the PHR, especially against the UCM. His Scimitars in particular were on their game, opening the flank for the killing of the Nemesis in his debut game. Overall though, the Intel searching just went too far again him.

As frustrating as it was to watch so many of my models getting killed, I at least had the Objectives coming steadily off the table. I rolled a ridiculous amount of sixes, and it led to a lead he couldn’t overcome by ratcheting up the body count. He positioned well, and quite frankly outplayed me throughout the game. His Infantry just let him down big time, and it made the ground war he had waged so successfully meaningless.

It is refreshing to see his UCM style continually evolving to meet the challenges he has faced in the past. I’m going to have to start thinking a lot harder about where I deploy my AA assets. In the past I’ve been able to use them offensively, simply waiting for the dropships and aircraft to come within my web of slaughter. With the Scimitars in play I’m going to have to be more careful, as they can deny a street section as well as anything the PHR have. Part of me wonders if I would have similar luck deploying a small group of Hyperions on foot, but their limited speed always gives me pause. Added to this is the fact that Odins are nearly as good at killing armor, while only requiring a dropship in addition.

I’m trying to figure out the best way for the PHR to combat enemy units that strike from beyond their line of sight. A significant buff to the Taranis to bring it in line with other IF weapons would be nice, or at least access to some form of gunship that every other race has. These two things couple to make certain units in the UCM force feel unassailable. I’m wondering if I shouldn’t add another pair of Odins to my list and become more aggressive with them, holding their guns for a turn three drop deep in the enemy backfield. Perhaps in coming games I will give this a try; Stealth Missiles and the pair of Apollos just can’t seem to get it done!