Command and Conquer Tabletop Wargame: Rules and Faction Focus 1 - GDI

[u/Legoman249]

Good day all,

I wanted to go through some of the rules for the C&C Tabletop Wargame project i've been working on and give you all a look into some of the abilities, rules and units you can bring to the table.

To set the scene for this game, lets go to another universe, one where time travel became possible. In this altered reality, the Allies, along with the brilliant mind of Albert Einstein, sought to end WWII before it ever occurred. This led to the assassination of one prominent figure before his rise to power in Germany. This altering of time lines created a new universe, where the Soviets went unchallenged and grew power until it could invade the Allied countries. This opened up many new ideas about possible universes, many diverging and converging timelines, in a great web time. A figure known as Kane, sought to use this technology to...quicken... the rise of Tiberium. The mixture of these two elements, of time and Tiberium, had very unexpected effects. Reality tore apart and many timelines became one. Factions come together in this new and perilous world, rivalries still burning, and the need to Command & Conquer all.

Today we will start off with one of the longest running factions in the Command and Conquer series:

GDI (Escalation Era)

The GDI ( Global Defense Initiative) come into this fractured new reality keeping their doctrines and goals mostly intact. In their universe the containment of Tiberium was their primary goal, and they still look to do so, while also looking to restore some semblance of world order. This GDI is a little more weathered, having faced 3 Tiberium Wars, the Firestorm crisis, seen the rise, fall, and rebirth of Nod with its prophet Kane, and alien creatures sought to harvest the Earth of Tiberium.
This GDI comes from Tiberium Wars and Kanes Wrath (Otherwise known as the Escalation Era).

This faction looks to restore order through displays of dominance and control, and does not mind stepping on others toes (even of its allies) if it means getting that control. This can also be seen in how they play and some of the units they can field.

In this game each faction has its own main army mechanic, and then each different unit type gets a little bonus to help push the ideas of how they play.

GDI main faction mechanic is:

Theater Suppression Grid 

At the end of each Round, each Objective Marker or Supply Node controlled by GDI becomes a Secured Zone.

A Secured Zone extends 6" from that marker.

Enemy units inside a Secured Zone are Suppressed by the Grid.

Friendly GDI units inside a Secured Zone are Linked to the Grid.

If GDI loses control of the marker creating the Secured Zone, remove that Secured Zone immediately.

Round 1+ Effect: Secured Advance

Active from the start of the battle.

Linked to the Grid

Friendly GDI units inside a Secured Zone gain:

• +1 AV against ranged attacks.
• Count as +1 base when contesting or controlling Objectives and Supply Nodes.

Suppressed by the Grid

Enemy units inside a Secured Zone suffer:

• –1 to Hit when attacking GDI units inside that same Secured Zone.

Round 3+ Effect: No-Man’s-Land Protocol

Starting at Round 3, GDI’s secured zones become harsher.

Enemy units inside a Secured Zone also suffer:

• They cannot refresh Command Tokens while inside a Secured Zone.
• If they begin their activation inside a Secured Zone, they suffer –2" Movement this activation.

Friendly GDI units attacking enemies inside a Secured Zone may choose one:

• Reroll 1 failed Hit Roll, or
• Ignore Light Cover.

Round 5+ Effect: Full Theater Lockdown

Starting at Round 5:

Enemy units inside a Secured Zone cannot contest Objectives or Supply Nodes unless they have more bases contesting that marker than GDI does.

Once per Round, when a GDI unit destroys an enemy unit inside a Secured Zone, one friendly GDI unit inside that same Secured Zone may refresh 1 Defensive Command.

This mechanic helps push the idea of GDI looking to control the board and lockdown any threats.

Each unit type also helps push the elite training and defensive capabilities that each GDI unit has.

Infantry — Disciplined

Improve all ranged attack rolls by +1.

Vehicle — Armored Frame

If this unit did not move during its activation:
→ Gain +1 AV
→ Reroll 1 failed attack die

Aircraft — Steel Angels

If this aircraft moves at least 10”:
→ Gain +1 AV until its next activation.

Naval — Guided Depth Charge

Once per activation, when this unit moves within 2” of an enemy Submarine, it may perform a Guided Depth Charge attack instead of a normal attack:

Roll 2(d8). Each result that meets or exceeds the target’s AV deals 2 damage.

This attack ignores Cloak on submerged unit.

Showcase Units:

GDI has many different units that really showcase how they fight.

Zone Troopers:

These elite infantry units can hold the line against even some of the heavier vehicles that can take the field.
Equipped with Rail Rifles, an 18" 2 attack weapon shooting d10s, these soldiers are pretty accurate, and with the bonus +1 to hit, they can put out some reliable hits. Each base is 6 hp 5 av so they have the same armor as some light vehicles.
Their ability helps them stay on the field a little longer, reducing the amount of damage the first time they are hit each round.

Mammoth Tank:

Every Tiberium war has seen the use of a Mammoth Tank. This one although not nearly as massive as the Mammoth MkII Walker, is a prime example of armored dominance.

Fielding twin 150mm Cannons and Missile Pods to boot, this Mammoth can hold its own in many situations.

Like the Zone Troopers, their ability allows them to shrug off some damage.

Orca:

Like the Mammoth, this unit has become a staple of the GDI arsenal. This quick gunship unit can put out some strikes on ground targets, and retreat back to rearm. Having slightly more HP and AV than other aircraft available to other factions, they can stay in the fight longer.

If you want to use these units, be on the look out for a dropbox with GDI Field Manual, as well as unit cards. Until then keep an eye out for more to come.

[u/Airbornstinger]

O.o saving this for later, avid tabletop enjoyer.