Games with Brad: Flames of Orion

Crimson Spectre advances through the blackened wasteland under the light of a full moon.

Brad and I recently played a game of Flames of Orion, a mech combat game designed by Steve (sovthofheaven) of Under the Dice/Hive Scum. For this particular game we decided to play a modified version of the scenario Hold the Line. The defining characteristic of this scenario is that each player only deploys one mech at a time. Once one is destroyed, the next mech is deployed until there is only mech standing, the winner of the scenario. Additionally, the scenario is set around one player defending a dropship, which we promptly ignored. For the game, I used a random collection of models to stand in as mechs and Dark Spirit. Brad used some 3d printed mech models designed by bigbossredskullz.

The tranquil night transforms into mechanized violence as Crimson Spectre’s machine rifle springs to life. Enemy contact.

We couldn’t play a Game of Flames of Orion without breaking out the Coke Zero! Also, the themed Flames of Orion dice add an additional flare to the game!

The first enemy combatant falls to a combination of machine gun fire and close-quarters combat.

Crimson Spectre is taken by surprise by another assailant emerging from the inky darkness. The enemy mech manages to land a mortal blow on Crimson Spectre, but not before receiving a fatal blow themselves. Both mechs crash to the ground, lifeless.

Awakened by the loss of Crimson Spectre, Bronze Revenant moves into battle to meet the advance of the third enemy mech. Bronze Revenant’s piston gauntlet roars to life, poised to enact a terrible vengeance.

The enemy mech parries Bronze Revenant’s attack and counters with a precision strike to the cockpit. Fire erupts and consumes the pilot of Bronze Revenant.

Silhouetted by the burning frame of Bronze Revenant, Crimson Spectre reawakens. The crippled engine of the skeletal mech has just enough power to destroy the third enemy mech before falling silent once again.

The fourth and final enemy combatant enters the combat zone, its targeting algorithms scanning the surroundings while its weapons switch to live. In the next moment, Dark Spirit materializes from the dark, its grinning skull visage illuminated by machine gun fire.

Caught by surprise, the enemy mech succumbs to Dark Spirit’s focused firepower. The glow of the battlefield wreckage is joined by the rising sun in the west.

It was great getting to play Flames of Orion again. The games are quick, yet still create compelling narratives that make you want to play another game!

-Adam Wier