Northern Guard for Heavy Gear

My first exposure to the works of Dream Pod 9 was back in 1997 when I worked part time in a small game store and found a new roleplay game on the shelf: Jovian Chronicles (first edition, not Mekton). At first I was simply intrigued by the mech on the cover but after taking the plunge and buying it I discovered that it's so much more!

So thanks to Jovian Chronicles I got interested in other products from DP9 and I bought some Heavy Gear stuff. At this point I wasn't into the miniature game, but was approaching it from a roleplaying angle and it's just a huge goldmine for a game master! The characters, the story lines, the detailed technology! So even though Jovian Chronicles is my first love (and I'm still waiting for JC Blitz!) Heavy Gear is a very close second.

Then when I lived in Japan I got around to finally watching VOTOMS and that was what made me pull the trigger and actually order a bunch of minis! I didn't know anyone nearby who played and none of my Swedish friends do eithers, but that wasn't really the important bit. This was more about the miniatures and making a force that I liked than actual game play. Of course I'd like to actually get to play it someday, but I'm not holding my breath. Hehe!

Initially I was considering a Peace River force but in the end the chunky, boxy gears of the North won me over. I think it was the Grizzly in particular, but I really love the basic Hunter and Jaguar too. Using Gear Garage I put together a small 750 TV list that I thought seemed like fun. Ironically it's missing my beloved Grizzly, but I plan to remedy that in the future. At the moment it looks something like this (however, details may and will vary):

Northern Guard Army roster, 750 TV, PL 1

Infantry Platoon (Core) 80TV

• Infantry Squad Leader CGL 20TV
  • Anti-Gear Rifle +5 TV
• Infantry Squad 20TV
  • Anti-Gear Rifle +5 TV
• Infantry Squad 20TV
  • Anti-Gear Rifle +5 TV
• Infantry Squad 20TV
  • Anti-Gear Rifle +5 TV

Recon Squad (Auxiliary) 285TV

• Jaguar CGL 65TV
  • Swap MAC for HRF +0 TV
• Ferret MkII 45TV (Cheetah->Ferret -30 TV->Ferret MkII +5 TV)
  • Swap LAC for MRF +0 TV
• Wild Ferret 35TV (Cheetah->Ferret -30 TV->Wild Ferret -5 TV)
  • Swap DPG for LRF +0 TV
• Cheetah 70TV
  • Swap DPG for LRF +0 TV
• Cheetah 70TV
  • Swap DPG for LRF +0 TV

Veteran Dragoon Squad (Auxiliary) [Army Command Group] 385TV

• Jaguar CGL, ArmyCmdr 85TV (Rabid Grizzly->Jaguar -30 TV)
  • Increase Ld to 3 +10 TV
  • +1 Ld for ArmyCmdr +10 TV
• Cheetah 70TV
  • Swap DPG for LAC +5 TV
• Cheetah 70TV
  • Swap DPG for LAC +5 TV
• Jaguar 80TV (Hunter->Jaguar +20 TV)
  • Swap LRP for AGM +10 TV
  • Att and Def to 3 +10 TV
• Jaguar 80TV (Hunter->Jaguar +20 TV)
• Swap LRP for AGM +10 TV
• Att and Def to 3 +10 TV

At the moment I'm done with the Recon Squad and all but the two Cheetah's for the Dragoon Squad. The infantry is so far untouched.

As you might have noticed if you follow my blog there hasn't been much Heavy Gear activity lately. I've been busy with Firestorm: Armada, roleplaying and... work. But I intend to finish up my little force when I'm done with my Relthozans. Although Dystopian Wars beckon I think I'll be able to hold off long enough. :)