From: DAWGFACE47@w...
Date: Tue, 13 Aug 2002 11:58:30 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: COLD STEEL!
THIS is a scenario idea that is definately unbalanced in firepower and numbers a as far as the escaping unit is concerned. but then actual combat situations are rarely balanced.... ------------------------------------------------------ COLD STEEL! ------------------------------------------------------ A. a platoon or section from somebodies armed forces is trapped behind enemy lines and trying to scape and rejoin their own forces. the soldiers are making their way home as invisibily as possible when they accidentally discover an enemy mobile TOC between them and the only known river crossing for 100 clicks and the platoon or section is on foot. B. the TOC is set up on one side of the roadway (GM choice) and the TOC is staffed by the typical REMF types of officers, NCOs, and other ranks who are feeling very safe and secure in their current location. there is a very noticeable "laidbackness" here; enemy troopers are observed going about their duties with or without weapons or body armor (apparently according to personal whim). there are some armored, armed guards and manned crew served weapons scattered about the area but these are not numerous and not very alert.... C. SWAGGING the strength of the troops at the TOC, indicates there are at least one or two platoons (or equivalent there of) of bad guys. this is determined by the size of the cutoff unit (platoon=2 enemy platoons, section=1 enemy platoon). the enemy has assorted vehicles parked nearby, light AFV/ACV or soft skinned vehicles only. D. GM places armored/armed guards at keypoints, as well as crew served weaponry. ONE (1) AFV may be manned as part of the TOC security detail. E. the GM places the remainder of the enemy troops RANDOMLY around the TOC site after manning the TOC itself with at least 6-10 bods. the GM now allows the player (s) to place their own PC(s) anywhere with the TOC area. 1. one PC maybe armed and armored as part of the security detail on duty, and maybe placed at any security post; he / she is assumed to be conducting a routine check of personnel. 2. all other PCs are not wearing armor and may only be armed with a pistol. 3. the troops on duty in the TOC may have armor and weapons at hand as determined below, but are not armed or armored at game start! F. enemy soldiers other than guards are randomly determined to be armed or armored by using 1D6 when they are encountered; 1-3, no armor/weapons on person, 4-6, armed and armored. G. unarmed/unarmored enemy soldiers must spend one turn putting on armor and collecting weapons/ammo AFTER THE ALARM IS SOUNDED OR ANY SHOOTING OCCURS. H. unarmed enemy soldiers will count, as, well, unarmed except with fists, feet, and bad language in close combat! I. QUIETLY killing enemy soldiers is accomplished by sneaking up on them, then stabbing/slicing/braining/etc as silently as possible. unless the attacker (s) are spotted by the would be victim he/she has no warning! the attacker attacks first, from behind, and IF the would be victim survive this attack, he/she can fight back, try to flee the attack, or sound the alarm! since the attacker is trying to be quiet, it is assumed that anyone in 6"max can hear a scream for help, unless the would be victim breaks free of the combat and runs screaming at the top of his/her lungs! J. spotting an attacker is before the attack is handled by what ever rules you are using, or can come up with. i just use comparative dice rolls for guards versus attackers during each turn of movement. guard rolls 2D6 for a score and must beat a 3D6 score rolled by the attacker to see, or hear the approach move. high score is winner. K. the type, location and availability of any nearby enemy rapid response forces is completely unknown to the unit making this discovery. it is up to the GM to decide if there are any nearby troops, and how long it will take them to arrive on scene after the RADIO ALARM is sounded or shooting breaks out. these troops may arrive ON the roadway from either direction or by air (if you have this ability in your games). (however, since there is a roadway running by the TOC site, the GM could make dice rolls while rolling the eyes, grimacing, cackling insanely, or muttering "THAT WAS DAMN CLOSE!" and generally screw with everyone's heads! they do not need to know there is no random traffic plotted to appear!) L. remember these are REMF at a TOC, so NO powered armor infantry can be used as part of the security detail! M. the soldiers that discovered this enemy TOC have many problems of their own, too. these include; 1.. NO COMMO with friendly forces, so there is no way to call in an airstrike, or artillery (or ortillery if available) down on the TOC. 2.. the unit has only ONE (1) man portable infantry support weapon and limited ammo for it ( 2 rounds!). 3. the unit as only ONE (1) LMG or SAW, and this has a limited amount of ammo ( 1D6+2 bursts). 4.. the unit has ZERO (0) hand grenade or launched grenade capability! 5. the soldiers in the unit have very little ammo for their own individual weapons or pistols ( roll 1D6 each time a soldier shoots; score a "1" and he/she is out of ammo!). but every one has a knife - bayonet and an entrenching tool for those up close and personal moments! 6. the unit has 1D6+1 wounded soldiers with it. roll 1D6; score 1 and these are seriously wounded and cannot move on their own! score 2-6 and these are walking wounded. 7. the unit has no military maps to use for navigation. all were lost when the enemy overran their positions. the leader does have a civvie roadmap, and that is what he/she is using to attempt to escape from behind enemy lines. the road map only shows this bridge crossing the river for 100 kilometers in either directions. this roadmap is 3 years old... 8. the unit is out of food for 3 days now, low on water, and medical supplies are almost gone. N. the weather is clear, hot, and dry. the troops have had the enemy TOC under observaion for a couple of hours, and it is now sunset, local time. Earth type atmosphere and pressure, no tainting. gravity is 0.99 standard gee. there are three moons in orbit-2 very small and one about the size of Luna. GM determines moon state. O. the river runs from table edge to table (wide or narrow ends, your choice) edge, is 12" wide, unfordable, and is rolling along at 6" current per turn from north to south. P. the roadway is paved, runs from table edge to table edge in a straight line though wooded, and hilly terrain in an sparsely developed region of the planet. rodway is 4" wide through out its length. Q. the bridge is 4" wide, 12 " long, and capable of supporting heavy tanks or cargo vehicles. R. the attackers deploy HIDDEN with 24" of the TOC in the woods. either GM determines the direction of their approach and set up, or it is determined randomly using dice. attackers move first S. the enemy deploys in the area designated as the TOC and in a perimeter around same with scattered security posts at key points. random movement of troops within the TOC site until the alarm is sounded or shooting starts. ------------------------------------------------------ GM THOUGHTS; ------------------------------------------------------ THE attacker player(s) must be as quiet as possible, for as long as possible, when eliminating enemy guards, and taking over weapons posts or vehicles so as to avoid alerting the troops at the TOC and any others nearby who might respond to the firefight. the TOC destruction is the main goal of the attackers, using whatever means they can lay hands on remember, the TOC commo equipment needs to be eliminated ASAP to prevent screams for help! killing as many enemy officers and personnel as possible would be a nice bonus. maybe an officer as a prisoner. maybe snatch a computer or two woud be good. it would be very wise disable any enemy vehicles NOT USED FOR ESCAPE to prevent pursuit would be nice too. hhhhhmmmmmmmm! maybe just slinking off the table on the other side of the river would be more prudent but less heroic! what would a REEL HERO OR HEROINE DO (get it- REEL?) ???? medals all around if the attacker pulls this off! DAWGIE