ScrapYard Armory

Opening Fiction

“Heaven’s Door” continues the Turning Point theme of desperation against all odds.  Death is knocking at the door and despite knowing that the end is very near you can’t help but root for them.  At least there is a little satisfaction in knowing some Blakist bastards kicked the bucket alongside the damned.

Sian

Sian is pictured as a lush jungle environment with carefully regulated industry, farming, and social castes to boot.  The tables and maps follow prior Turning Point releases and are fantastic.  I am currently having trouble with cramped text on the map using OSX but not on Windows XP.  Any Apple fans out there have a solution? [edit: see comments for solution]

Combatants

As I assume some would expect, the Liao combatants section is a frustrating two page read.  Exactly who is on what side?  There is friendly fire, betrayal, and suicidal headhunter missions galore.  Could there be any more fitting way to fight on Sian?

Death Commandos have an odd way of showing up unannounced to the horror of Word employed mercenaries.  The commandos have been given some absurd special abilities for tabletop play.  Very cool to see this mysterious unit fleshed out with abilities.

The Tracks

My favorite section in the series of a campaign system I love and support.  Will Sian uplift or disappoint?

There are five tracks included in Sian; on target with New Avalon but not up to the bar set by Luthien and Tharkad.  Each track is also very expensive.  Not a single track is under 600 Warchest points.  The majority push 1,000 points to enter, similar to Tharkad.  These tracks are decidedly for the more experienced commands out there.

While the objectives and most optional bonuses at first blush seem mundane, the tracks are saved by the unique and quirky special rules (as well as a few bonuses) that accompany each track.  Optional bonuses like Artillery strike Live Fire Training, and Command Posts breath life into the mission and make my mind wander thinking of ways for a force to take on the challenges.  I am impressed with the quality of the tracks, by far the best of the Turning Points so far.

Record Sheets

The Battlemech record sheets feature three new unique variants featured in the tracks and combatants fiction.  Cataphract Naomi is a utility heavy ‘Mech that reminds me of other Battlemechs that try to do too much and thus nothing well.  Jinggau Rush is a beast of a machine bristling with experimental tech including a Sniper Artillery Cannon.  Someone will be having fun with this design on the battlefield!  Finishing up the ‘Mechs is a Blakist Seraph that carries a massive Thunderbolt 20 and assorted energy weapons for backup.  A scary design considering the massive armor loadout and C3i.

Sian is another Aerospace lovers wet dream.  Updated record sheets for no less than five warships are included.

Planetary Assault Map

We are still waiting for assault rules but when they come, there will be invasion a plenty using these maps.  Very good work as we have come to expect in the Turning Points series.

For the excellent tracks this is a must buy.  Also a must buy if you are a Warship aficionado.  For others who may only be looking for the fiction and the nuggets of factual Jihad information in the sea of Jihad Hot Spot innuendo and propaganda you might as well.  It’s only $5 right?