Playtests – Captain Harlock The Arcadia of my Youth

I had the downstairs 8ft table setup for a 2v2 2000pt each 40k game not too long ago. While the table was cleared off and setup for gaming I thought it would be a great time to get in some test games with Captain Harlock’s ship, The Arcadia, on a grand table befitting such a grand ship. Below the great are photos from various tests.

This test series was against some common enemies from Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam including Hizacks, Galbady Betas as well as a Hizack Custom leading the team. The Hizack custom did very well for long range support while dodging behind LOS cover forcing the Arcadia to press forward to deal with it. The Hizacks with machine guns ended up being rather dangerous in close range. A steady stream of victories for the Arcadia.

The Arcadia model used for the Gundam 1/400 figures is the vintage SSX monocolor kit.

A test series with space pirates fighting space pirates. Cima was a deadly opponent easily able to avoid AA fire and get close, and the Gelgoog Marines with Skilled Pilots could dish out some heavy damage if they managed to get close. A steady stream of losses for the Arcadia.

Once more back to Zeta, this time with Marasai leaders using their superior speed as harriers attacking and retreating from the Arcadia. Fortunately the Arcadia’s strong [AA] batteries did good work here but if there was too much LOS blocking terrain the Arcadia would lose its greatest strength (superior range) and be defeated.

A test series using the Gundam 1/220 figures (Ultimate Operation / Standart) and the larger more recent Hasegawa kit for Arcadia. For the narrative on this one we reasoned that Scirocco had used his charisma and Newtype enchantment to bring Chris Mackenzie’s Alex as his lieutenant.

Unfortunately against a powerful and fast ace pilot the Arcadia rarely stood a chance.

Our final series of games had the Arcadia face off against some OYW expensive machines, with the Alex returning along with a Full Armor Gundam Type B and a GM Sniper II. Unfortunately for the Arcadia a heavy firepower unit with an Ace Pilot proved to be more than a match in most of the games.

While the pictures may seem like the Arcadia was outclassed, it actually performed very well and in several matches we had to readjust both the unit profile and the stellar warfare rules to avoid it being too powerful. We only managed to remember to take photos for the cool moments like bridge attack runs or close in barrages. No one ever remembers to take a photo when the Arcadia blasts the enemy from 60″ away.