Droidworks Assault, Part 1

A Star Wars Minis Scenario

By Sterling Hershey

"Droidworks Assault" is a set of three linked scenarios that follows the attack on a droid manufacturing facility by Republic forces. This article presents Mission 1; stay tuned to this website in the coming weeks for Missions 2 and 3.

Background

After the surprising appearance of the Republic clone army at the Battle of Geonosis, it was apparent that the Separatists needed to increase their droid manufacturing capacity. They rapidly converted existing droid factories to produce the badly needed Battle Droid models. While these facilities quickly produced droids, they were often known factories and thus easily detected by Republic probes and spies.

The relatively unknown TransTech Droidworks has a modest capacity (by Galactic standards) but has nonetheless been pressed into service by their Trade Federation owners. At the time of the Republic attack, the factory has been fully converted and is readily producing droids. However, the facility's defenses are only partially complete. The Republic attack is designed to take advantage of that fact.

Mission 1: Not According to Plan

The Republic attack plan has two major phases: destroy outlying power stations to deprive the factory of energy and hamper droid production, and then attack the factory control center. Squads of ARC Troopers infiltrated some of the defenses prior to the attack in order to disrupt the Separatist defenses.

Unfortunately for the Republic forces, the ARC Troopers are less effective than hoped, and the attacker's approach vectors are more heavily defended than expected. Separatist anti-air batteries have shot down several transports and gunships, scattering the attackers at the outskirts of the manufacturing facility.

In this mission, things are not going as planned for either the Republic or the Separatists. The survivors of some of the transports have regrouped and are attempting to join the attack on Power Station TD-32 (to be detailed in the forthcoming Mission 2). Meanwhile, ARC Trooper attacks have destroyed many of the Battle Droid Officers, forcing the Separatists to race reserve command units into position to coordinate Power Station TD-32's defenses.

The two groups converge in a battle-scarred area near TD-32. At a shattered structure, ARC Troopers wait to aid the Republic stragglers through one exit to TD-32. Nearby, the Separatists have deployed a Destroyer Droid and Super Battle Droid to escort their approaching reserve units through another passageway to TD-32.

Both forces have a tactical decision to make: Concentrate on joining the battle at TD-32, engage the enemy here, or attempt some combination thereof. Their choices will impact the upcoming attack on TD-32.

Use the blank side of the Clone Strike Starter Set map, along with several terrain tiles placed as indicated below.

Republic Setup

The Republic force consists of Jedi and Clone Troopers totaling 113 points. If the Republic player chooses not to use the forces suggested below, he may build his own squad totaling 113 points. However, the squad must include only one unique Jedi of 36 points or less. If the selected unique Jedi character is 25 points or less, also include a Jedi Guardian. Clone Trooper types are restricted to one Commander, one Sergeant, one Grenadier and/or two ARC Troopers. The Aerial Clone Trooper Captain is not allowed. Any number of regular Clone Troopers (up to the point total) are allowed. Only Jedi and Clone Trooper variants are allowed (in other words, no Fringers or other Republic units).

The Republic forces set up in two areas:

Area A: Two ARC Troopers.
Area B: All other Republic forces.

Republic Victory Conditions

The Republic player gains Victory Points as described for the following goals:

Rejoin the Attack on Generator TD-32: One point is granted for each Republic character that exits the map at Area A. These characters are to be used in Mission 2. Once a character leaves the map, it cannot return.

Defeat the Battle Droid Officers: Two points are granted for each defeated Battle Droid Officer.

Separatist Setup

The Separatist forces consist of a Destroyer Droid and a variety of Battle Droids, totaling 112 points. If the Separatist player chooses not to use the forces suggested below, he may build his own force totaling up to 112 points. The force must include at least one Destroyer Droid and two Battle Droid Officers. The remainder may include Super Battle Droids and Battle Droids of any variation (except the Battle Droid on STAP). Fringers and other Separatists are not allowed.

The Separatists set up in two areas:

Area C: One Destroyer Droid, one Super Battle Droid.
Area D: All other Separatist forces.

Separatist Victory Conditions

The Separatist player gains Victory Points as described for the following goals:

Reinforce TD-32: One point is granted for each droid that exits the map at Area C (except Battle Droid Officers, see below). These characters are to be used in Mission 2. Once a character leaves the map, it cannot return.

Protect the Battle Droid Officers: The Officers are desperately needed at TD-32. Two points are granted for each Officer that exits the board at Area C.

Special Scenario Rules

ARC Trooper Escort: The ARC Troopers may not exit the map until all Republic units have exited the map or been defeated.

Officer Escort: The droids that set up in Area C may not exit the map until the Battle Droid Officers have exited the map. If all Officers are defeated, these droids may exit at any time.

Keep Out: The passages to TD-32 are well guarded by the forces controlling them. Therefore, any Separatist unit attempting to exit the edge of the board at Area A is automatically defeated, as are any Republic units that attempt to exit the edge of the board at Area D.

Ending the Mission: The mission is over when one side has no units remaining on the board, most likely through a combination of defeated and exited units. Any units remaining on the board are considered to exit through their passageway to TD-32 and are to be used in Mission 2.

Campaign Play

If you're playing this scenario as part of the Droidworks Assault campaign, keep track of all of the Victory Points gained in this scenario by each player. They will be added to the Victory Point totals in the upcoming Missions 2 and 3. Additionally, note damage and Force point usage for any character that exited the board, as they retain it for the next mission.

Strategies

For the Separatists, it's helpful to defeat as many Republic units as possible, but even more important to get at least one Battle Droid Officer through to Mission 2.

To give further protection to the Officers, try using the cover and target selection rules to your advantage. Use other units in the open and closer to the Republic forces to draw fire while the Officers take cover behind them or in low cover areas on the board. This tactic also works for the Republic by keeping their stronger units between the Droids and their weaker troopers.

Try using speedier units to get into positions that may grant future attacks of opportunity, especially when enemy units are trying to escape off the map.

If the Republic player is considering which unique Jedi to use, note that General Kenobi grants an additional two squares of movement to his followers, which will impact how quickly the Republic units cross the board (or engage the Droids).

Don't forget that once the Battle Droid Officers exit the board or are defeated, their bonuses to attack are also eliminated. All droid units will be less effective once the Officers are gone.

Plan ahead. Engaging the enemy here (or not) will impact the next mission as well as produce Victory Points for the campaign.

Missions 2 and 3

Check back on this website in the next few weeks for "Droidworks Assault" Missions 2 and 3. In Mission 2, the Republic assault continues on power station TD-32. In Mission 3, the Republic squads begin their attack on the control center and come up against Geonosians.

Thoughts or comments? Visit the message board thread for this article here.