Balboa vs. Creed; Friday Night Fights Match

With the movie Creed only weeks away, I decided to run a FNF match with my Renegade Boxing League Champion Rocky Balboa defending against Apollo Creed.  This is actually the third time these two faced off in my game.  In the first (using 1st. Edition FNF rules), Rocky won the RBL Title by KO.  In the second (played under 2nd. ED rules), Rocky also won by KO.  This match was once again played using the most-recent rules, but with a couple of house rules as well, including fighting styles, which influenced when they use Bonus Dice.

And now the match:

Rocky wore his signature black and gold trunks, while Apollo wore his red,white, and blue trunks.  Both had trained hard and were treating this match very seriously.

Round 1:

 Balboa started by lunging right into Creed's face, but Creed backed off, circled Balboa, and started unloading with punches,  After 2 minutes of jabs and crosses, Creed sent Balboa to the mat with a powerful cross at 2:29.  Balboa made it to his feet at 6 and the two circled each other in the closing moments of the match.

Winner:  Creed 10-8 U

Round 2:

Both men took things slower in this match, with Creed attempting to frustrate Balboa with jabs and dodges.

Winner:  Creed 10-9 S

Round 3: 

Here's where things got interesting!  Creed unleashed an assault that sent Balboa crashing to the mat at 1:05.  Balboa stood at the count of 4, and Creed continued with his attack.  He drove Balboa into the ropes and started throwing jab after jab.  But when he swung a hook, Balboa ducked and counted with an uppercut that stumbled the challenger.  Balboa then rushed forward with a hook that sent Creed to the mat at 2:10.  Creed barely made it to his feet by 9, and even then, he had trouble standing!

Winner:  Balboa 10-9 U (I decided both KD's cancelled each other out and scored the match by everything else.)

Round 4:

Creed, who was still shaken from the previous round, spent the next few minutes doing his best to avoid Balboa, while the champ managed to land only a few weak shots.

Winner:  Balboa 10-9 S

Round 5:

Getting his second wind, Creed went ballistic and quickly dropped Balboa to the mat (0:43).  Once the champ got to his feet at 8, Creed drove him again into the ropes, but he walked right to a cross-hook combo that caught him off guard.  The champ unloaded and drove Creed to the mat at 2:47.  The challenger managed to stand at 8, but he was still shaken.

Winner:  Creed 10-9 U (Creed got ahead on points with his opening salvo.)

Round 6:

Creed lunged forward and rocked (no pun intended) the champ with multiple strikes, eventually opening a cut above Balboa's eye.  Balboa managed to shrug off the assault though and fight back.  He then drove Creed into the corner and unloaded a series of punches to the ribs that caused the challenger to fold like an accordion at 2:46.  While he made it to his feet, Creed was in bad shape.

Winner:  Balboa 10-7 U

Round 7:

While the two exchanged punches, no one could gain an advantage.  Creed was visibly favoring his ribs though.

Winner:  Creed 10-9 S

Round 8:

Creed tried to gain an early advantage, but he got overconfident and drove Balboa again into the ropes, only for the champ to fight back and send Creed tumbling again at 1:26.

Winner:  Balboa 10-8 U

Round 9:

The round started at a slow pace, with the two exchanging weak punches.  Calling up some reserve strength, Balboa overpowered Creed, and sent him again to the mat at 2:18.  But to everyone's astonishment, Creed leaped to his feet at 3!  Unfortunately, he didn't have enough to fight back the rest of the round.

Winner:  Balboa 10-8 U

Round 10:

Exhaustion set in big time as the two spent the entire round circling each other and throwing weak punches.  Some stupid fans began yelling, "Boring!"  Disgusted, Paulie shouted back, "Let's see you jerk-off's get in here and face these guys!"  Even Creed's corner applauded Paulie for that one.  

Scoring:  10-10 E

Round 11:

Both fighters were still tired, but Creed managed to land some punches while Balboa managed to avoid some.

Winner:  Creed 10-9 S

Round 12:

Trying for a KO, Creed unloaded with everything he had left.  Balboa shook the damage off, dug deep, and blasted the challenger with everything he had left.  With only seconds left on the clock, Creed clinched Balboa to avoid another knockdown.

Scoring:  10-10 E

Final Judges' Decision:  

Winner and Still RBL Champion:  Rocky Balboa (114-111 Split Decision).

Overall, another brutal match between the two.  Creed has definitely become more aggressive since his death at the hands of Ivan Drago, while Balboa continues to take on and defeat all comers.

This match was played using Friday Night Fights 2nd. Round from Two Hour Wargames.  If you like boxing, and you're looking for a tabletop version of the game, I highly recommend this over pretty much everything else out there.  If you order it now, you can hopefully get it just in time for Creed!

Note:  Rocky characters are not included with the game, but you can find unofficial stats for them here:

http://site.twohourwargames.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=2343

CR 2015: Star Wars: First Battle of Kashyyk

(Note:  This adventure includes some minor spoilers from the book; Aftermath.)

"All right, listen up," Hathis said to her team, "We've been ordered by Command to join the fleet at Akiva for a major engagement against the Empire."

"We can handle it," Morano said.  "The rest of our squad is already en route."

Hathis nodded.  "That's true, but we may have another mission instead."  She looked to Roork, who brought up a hologram of another planet.  "This is Kashyyk, home of the Wookiees.  Now, the Empire had a blockade around the planet and numerous troops on the surface.  But since they've pulled most of their forces away to fight us at Akiva, the planet is lightly-defended at the moment.  Our contact has requested assistance in helping to free the wookiees and fight off the Imperials. "

She looked sternly at the others.  "This would not be an official mission.  In fact, if we took it, we'd be basically ignoring direct orders from Command.  Therefore, you're all free to say no."

"I've seen what the Imperials do to slaves," Morano said, "and I'm not good at following orders to begin with . . well, except for yours."

Rorrk thought for a moment.  "It would bring me one step closer to romancing a wookie."

All eyes turned to Rorrk, but Hathis merely shrugged.  "Whatever floats your freighter, my friend."  She then looked to the newcomer.  "Azra, while you're on loan from Fist Squadron, you're still under orders from them, I believe."

Azra nodded.  "Correct.  However, Azra prefers to follow greater order, which is to help those in need.  Azra believes that would be the natives of the planet Kashyyk."

"Then, we're in."  Hathis turned to her pilot.  "Morano, set course for Kashyyk."

"I'm not it."  Morano started for the door, then paused.  "One question; who's our contact and do you trust him?  Okay, technically two questions."

"I trust our contact," Hathis answered, "but at the moment, I'm not permitted to reveal any information on the person, at least for now."

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Hours later, the group landed in a forest and assembled inside the remains of one of the huts.

The team:

Hathis:  Rep 6 Rebel Leader; Sniper Pistol.

Rorrk:  Rep 5 Duro Tech Specialist; Pistol.

Morano:  Rep 4 Human Pilot; Heavy Pistol.

Azra:  Rep 4 Gand Findsman; Shotgun.

  "Here is a video of the Imperial base," Rorrk said, show them his computer pad.

"This stations serves to relay communications from the various bases.  If we were to assume control, we would deprive them of contact with each other."

"Sounds good," Morano said.  "But you didn't noticed we're slightly outnumbered, did you?"

Rorrk nodded.  "Actually I did notice, but our contact according to Commander Hathis has revealed possible allies for us."  He pressed a button, and the image changed.

Hathis stepped in.  "Our contact said these four were captured and are set to be executed as an example.  If we set them free and arm' em, we'll have a little help."

"But it's just four more," Morano said in disbelief.

"These four have a rep as trouble-makers," Hathis answered.  "They should be able to do enough damage to help us."

"According to this," Azra observed, "the wookies may express their anger in random directions.  Will you be safe?"

"Fortunately, I speak their language," Rorrk said.  "I'll let them know what we plan to do."

"Sounds good," Hathis said.  "You and Azra free the wookiees.  Morano and I'll try and distract the others."

(For this encounter, both teams must reach different locations and perform skill challenges to succeed.  For the first team, it will be a Mental Challenge to free the wookies.  For the second, it will simply be to keep the rest of the Imperials busy.)

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Azra and Rorrk approached the entrance of the base.  Finding a door, the paused and peeked through a window.

"They turned the operations pit into a detention center," Rorrk said.  "However, the moment we open the door, they will notice us."

"Understood," Azra said.  Lifting his shotgun, he aimed it at the window.

"Be careful," Rorrk said, "Between the tint and glare, firing through the window may prove more difficult than simply peering through it,"

Azra nodded.  "Agreed, but one moment."  He took a deep breath, then fired his weapon twice.  "Please proceed."

Rorrk entered to find two dead stormtroopers, along with four astonished wookiees behind a force field.

(Mental Challenge:  Rorrk passed 2d6).

Reaching the computer, Rorrk pressed some buttons and the force field dropped.  The four wookies lunged forward, but Rorrk managed to communicate to them that they were there to help.

He turned to Azra.  "They need their weapons, and they said they thought the Imperions placed them nearby."

Azra closed his eyes.  (Mental Challenge with the Force:  Pass 2d6).  Opening them, he pointed to a large cylinder.  "Their weapons are hidden beneath that."

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(Technically, the first few rounds of this scene happened at the same time as the above one.)

"Good job," Hathis said over her comlink.  "Are they still able to fight?"

"Correct," Rorrk answered.  "However, I believe on their leader, Arrilanna is a soldier.  She just recruited the rest because of their personal hatred for the Empire."

"You're kidding."

"I am not."  Rorrk continued.  "Gooron crafts quilts and blankets, Kalova likes to explore, and Geyynik apparently passes for what you humans call Comedians.  However, Arrilanna vouches for them, insisting she trained them to fight."

"Good enough," Hathis said.  "We're about to enter the base here.  Try to slip in a flank them"

"It appears our new allies will be joining you soon.  They thought it was the quicker path."

The wookiees:

Arrilanna:  Rep 4 Wookiee Warrior; Meteor Hammer, Rifle.
(The meteor hammer is a melee weapon that can strike opponents at short range.)
Geeynik:  Rep 4 Wookiee Scoundrel;  Rifle.
Gooron:  Rep 3 Wookiee Tech Specialist; Bowcaster.
Kalova:  Rep 3 Wookiee Scout; Bowcaster.

"Great," Hathis said, "we've got company, whether we want them or not."

Morano nodded.  "Until they get here, we'll need to distract the Imps."

"You're right."  Pulling out a thermal detonator, Hathis tossed it at the wall.  It exploded, and when the smoke cleared, the noticed several storm troopers and Imperial soldiers looking at them in shock, and one trooper on the ground, covered in debris.

"Well that worked!"

The two slipped back behind the wall as about a dozen troopers appeared from a side door, entering the grass.  The two groups exchanged fire until Hathis and Morano heard roaring behind them.  turning, they spotted the wookies rushing in, weapons blazing.  Arrilanna even swung her weapon out, decapitating one trooper.

The fight is on!

The rebels managed to down several troopers, and the wookiees pushed forward.  Suddenly, a second squad appeared from a hidden bunker and opened fire.  Geeynik got caught in the back and fell (OOF) while the remaining warriors continued on.  Hathis spun around and caught the shooter while Morano took out the others.

Meanwhile, they heard blaster fire inside and saw another trooper drop as Azra fired from inside.

The remaining troopers started to fall back as Azra appeared from the hallway.

A moment later, Rorrk joined them.  "I have blocked all communications into and out of this station so they cannot request assistance."

"Good," Hathis said, "let's finish this."

The wookiees meanwhile, rushed right and, continuing to drop troopers left and right.  They took out the remaining troopers, reducing them to piles of broken, bloody armor.

Racing in, Morano froze as he surveyed the damage.  "I hope you got all that out of your systems!"

Hathis, Azra, and Rorrk joined the group, and Arrilanna growled an inquiry to Rorrk.

"Those were the remaining forces located at this station," he answered.

Immediately, they turned and rushed outside to their fallen comrade.  Hathis and the rest joined them, with Rorrk doing his best to tend to Geyynik's wounds.

(Recovery Table:  Pass 2d6.)

"He will feel discomfort for some time," Rorrk said, "but he will recover."

Arrilanna growled a comment and Rorrk turned to Hathis.

"She thanks us for rescuing them and asks how they can help."

Hathis looked to the wookiee leader.  "Well, our contact asked us to take over this base and wait for orders..  No doubt, more troops will arrive to find out why they lost contact here, which is probably the plan.  Will you help us when they arrive?"

The tall leader nodded and rumbled a response.

"She says they'll be happy to mutilate more Imperials," Rorrk translated.

"Then let's scour this place and prepare for the next fight."

Arrilanna roared and raised her weapon in the air, indicating they were ready for anything.

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Elsewhere,

The Imperials, indeed knowing the rebels had taken control of their base, began assembling a squad to regain it.  And they stood tall and ready as their leader arrived.

(After Battle improvements:  Hathis advanced to Rep 7; Rorrk advanced to Rep 6; Azra advanced to Rep 5.)