Rogue Trooper

Last night Catherine I dragged out a game that I don't think I've played in over 20 years - Games Workshop's 'Rogue Trooper'.

Based on the 2000AD comic-strip, Rogue Trooper is set on a planet called Nu-Earth, a world devastated by years of nuclear, chemical and biological warfare between the Norths and the Southers. The players control Genetic Infantrymen (GIs), members of an elite force genetically engineered to survive in Nu-Earth's deadly environment and win the war for the Southers. Most of the GIs were killed when their mission was revealed to the Nort high-command by a a traitorous Souther general. As the only survivors of the massacre the players search Nu-Earth for clues as to the identity of the traitor, so that they can track him down and kill him. As they wander the planet they will encounter hostile Nort forces, possible allies and danger at every turn. They complete missions to draw clue cards; collect the right clues and you reveal the traitor, who you can then attempt to confront and kill. The winner is the GI who strikes the killing blow.

Wikipedia has you covered with a more in-depth look at the background to Rogue Trooper (the comic) and the game itself

There's a lot of bits and pieces - board showing the planet split up into hexes, plus a smaller one showing the Souther's Milli-Com satellite, five card decks (Supply, Encounter, Rogue, Mission and Clue), a player mat for each player to track lives and ammo plus six plastic miniatures for the actual troopers.

Gameplay is fairly straightforward. A plyer moves (usually one hex), then checks for any encounters in the hex their in. These are drawn from the Encounter deck, but the nature of the hex will filter which cards drawn actually apply. If there are any encounters the plyer works through them one by one. Enemies can be evaded (maybe) or fought, but there is always the option of surrender if your lives are getting low. Finally in the End phase you get to replenish your Rogue (event) cards, complete your Mission if you are at the designated destination and maybe resupply if you are in a friendly city. There's a chance to hinder other players by the careful use of event cards. GIs can encounter each other, and may fight (sometimes whether they want to or not) or trade supplies, information or companions.

Catherine had never played before, but picked up the sequence fairly quickly. I had an easy first and second mission and picked up two different clue cards of teh four required. Catherine had a bit of a plod for her first mission, but as the game progressed she got a lucky run of card draws leaving her short hops for each one. Meanwhile I ended up with some longer ones, made more difficult by a poor draw of Supply cards early on that meant I wasn't well equipped with ammunition.

One of my missions involved me having to attack Catherine's GI for a round of combat, so I lost a life to that.

Anyway, I cautiously wandered the board making use of places to rest and recover and mostly hiding from danger, whilst Catherine assembled an entourage and blazed her way across the planet. Unfortunately she struggled to complete the set of clus.

I got three of the four clues, which meant I could take advantage of a rule that allows you to find teh fourth clue by accessing the battle-computer on the Mill-Com command satellite. I travelled up there and had just discovered thh identity of the traitor general when Catherine arrived, also having discovered his identity by sheet legwork.

We attacked the traitor. I got in a hit nice and early, whilst he wounded Catherine's GI. She sneakily played a card on me that saw me take a hit and lose a turn ...

... then finished off the general on her own to win the game.

It took us just over two hours to play, which wasn't bad since one of us hadn't played in decades and the other had not played at all. The rules are mostly clear, but could possibly be better organised, and there are a few fuzzy areas with when some cards can be played, which can be resolved by a little common-sense. It does need a quick reference sheet though.

Anyway, it was fun to give this blast from the past a go, and I quite fancy another try in the near future.