Quick battle report from our first run through of the v2 IHMN rules. My 10 year old son loves playing this game, and he also likes making up rules so we added some additional rules to the Escort scenario.
Notes on the pictures - some of the pictures were taken before we added the fog, so the chronological order of the pics is not totally accurate.
Scenario - Escort the VIP, Fog rules, "activate the gates" special rules
A company has to get their escort from one end of the board to the other; other company gets to set up as an ambush. Also used the Fog Rules - basically while the fog is in place, roll a die to determine visibility in inches. On a double, the fog is lifted.
Background -
The Mad Scientist Dr. Horscher has lost control of one of his experimental "Stone Men", and has hired Lord Curr's company to escort the Stone Man (the VIP) back to his laboratory, The Horscher Institute.
The US Secret Service has found out about the loose experimental Rock Man, and has dispatched Special Agent Dempsey to extract the experiment and return it to the USA in the interests of "Global Security". Agent Dempsey, along with his second in command Agent Sigma, have commandeered a squadron of US Rocket Corps for the mission.
The main thoroughfare is Queen Street which leads to the Horscher Institute.
Additional Scenario Rules - The escort company (Lord Curr) has to enable the generator to activate the gates at the end of Queen Street, to open the pathway to the Institute. Model needs to make a successful Pluck roll while in base contact with the generator.
The foggy streets of England.
Curr split 2 Incorrigibles (Fitz-Curr and purple pants) over to the generator on the first turn.
Rocketmen spotted them, and Rocket Sgt Madison sent to men over to the back of the factory - they dropped a grenade, but with the fog and height, it missed. This alerted the constable guard.
2nd rocketman dropped down to help the fight for the generator, but the Incorrigble Purple Pants knocked him out of commission. Fitz-Curr joined in support as well.
After rolling doubles, the fog had officially lifted, giving Agent Dempsey a better view of the situation. With three out of five Rocket Men out of action, including Sgt Madison, Agent Dempsey at this point realizes things were quickly getting out of control and that his remaining Rocket Corps were outnumbered. He signaled Agent Sigma to begin advancing down the street - Dempsey took cover behind the building, with Sigma behind the crates. Mohan Singh saw Dempsey and unloaded a burst of fire with his machine gun, but hit the building. Dempsey fired back, missed while dodging the hail of bullets.
The view from The Institute down Queen Street
It was a really fun game. The scenario, background narrative (mostly invented by my 10 year old son who was playing the game with me), and fog rules really helped to create a good setting for the game. It's one of the things I love the most about IHMN - every game really feels like a story.
As for Version 2.0 - I tried hard to go slow and actually read the new rules. For the most part, it's the same game with minor improvements (group fights, shooting into fights, etc., all much simpler). Mohan Singh definitely feels like he's worth his points value now. Looking forward to seeing how the adjustments to the Mystical Powers works out. In Version 1.0, they were definitely unbalanced. I played a number of games against The Servant's of Ra and Ahkenaton was pretty powerful.
I'm definitely back into IHMN - I've decided to start upgrading my terrain: better pavements, better buildings, and convert my cobblestone MDF boards to insulation boards. The MDF is too heavy to carry around to conventions. I'm also going to paint up my additional companies and NPCs so we have more choice. Can't wait to get in some more games!
