Weird Wars 2: Falke Platoon

Long time no post, ya?

Anyway, a friend is running a Wehrmacht Heer (German Army) game on a PbP forum. As of now we only have 3 players, but expect a GM PC that serves to fill in some major skill gaps.

I should note that I expect that there will be no intentionally sensitive topics at play here. That is to say we won't be concentration camp guards or executioners for the Waffen SS. All of us are history nerds and we realize that the tale of the German soldier in World War II is a touchy thing. It is debated in the academic world of whether or not many of the common troops and citizens knew of the Holocaust. I'm not going to get into that here, but I am of the opinion that some did, sure -- but not all. This was a time before the Nuremberg Trials, and the mandate about unlawful orders. We, as in the group, are of the opinion that we are out to explore how soldiers experienced the war from the Axis side. Our three characters are very different and I expect it to be very interesting.

 

Things I Want: XCOM 1944!

So lately I have been thinking of alternate WWII thanks to a friend of mine, who is actually running the Legends of the Oni-Kaji Jewels setting. I helped him give another friend some XCOM conversions and I started watching Beaglerush's XCOM Longwar play through videos again on YouTube. And I wonder what it would be like to combine them.

Not Like the Bureau... better than that...

Legend of the Oni-Kaji Jewels (Iron Dynasty Adaptation)

The rules I'm going with and a number of the names of people and locations (Konoyo, the Bright Empire, and Oni-Kaji for example) are from Iron Dynasty and are their IP. I've just re-adapted them because I couldn't come up with any better names. Some others I came up with but it's not important at this time.

Players will usually begin between the ages of 10-16, but do not automatically take the Young hindrance. Iron Dynasty is the setting sourcebook, without their story, as previously stated. They begin with 500 units of currency (Bu in this setting). Some ideas are taken from history and culture while others are pop culture tropes (and a few anime ones here and there).

Sci-fi Setting I'm Starting on

The players will be mercenaries, as I decided against pure bounty hunters, as they will mostly be doing things other than bounty hunting. I decided to give them a transport ship and $10,000 for party gear (in addition to their standard $500 for personal use). So they'd have anything they'd need, short of power armor and advanced heavy weapons. Its supposed have action between the levels of a spy movie and a war movie, with missions running the gambit.

So the setting? It's set in 2495 on Ganymede (Jupiter's largest moon) where their investor gives them some money for gear and has them do a mission, their reward will be their ship and money. The mission is to rob a corrupt official of his ill-gotten goods, which were stolen from their investor. Only problem is that the official is a member or the local Corporate Security [CSec] office that reinforces the government's Judicial Enforcement Force [JEF], i.e. the police's armed forces. CSec has heavier gear than the local JEF, and several suits of power armor with medium tier weapons. This is what leads a smaller force to reinforce the police, who have advance body armor and assault weapons, lack the power armor and heavy hitting gear. From there they will get their ship and if they leave anything they can can get it back with them (any salvaged gear). I'm trying to make it to where it's a snatch and go, as the suit(s) of power armor will have high caliber weapons if they're too slow.

[By the way, the Sci-fi Companion will be heavily used.]

Brothers Isurus and Tomasu

Up next we have members newer to the game, not the newest. In the middle between the groups labeled "veterans" and "initiates" they fill roles between the two as more versatile in their mission roles, where the "veterans" deal with the brunt of the enemy and the "initiates" often  are used to take ground and fill in gaps. Brother Isurus a Carcharodons Assault Marine and Brother Tomasu a Librarian from the White Scars.

Brutal Doom Update (for v20)

On June 5th 2015, a new version of Brutal Doom was released (Link to Brutal Doom v20's ModDB) and I've played it a few times and I think there's some cool ways to update the gear and enemies.

CIS Battle Droids and Forces

For my Star Wars Clone Trooper campaign.

Another Airsoft Gun Update

So it's a bit after I actually got these things for it. But here's a picture, then I'll explain.

On the rails I have a Magpul RVG vertical foregrip in black. On the top rail I have a replica L3 Warrior Systems AN/PEQ-15. This one has a very bright green laser (possible an IR laser as well) and a wide weapon light, approximately 270 lumens, for room clearing. It's fairly bright as it is. If you're wondering what the shiny parts of the vertical grip is, its electrical tape to secure a tape switch for the laser/light for quick use. I also put it in a Seahorse SE1530 hard case for safe keeping.

I have new red dot sight coming from Hong Kong, should be to me by July. I want to stick a new muzzle device on as well, maybe some flip up iron sights. I'm also planning on getting a couple Contour cameras, one rail mounted one helmet mounted

Star Wars Clone Troopers Game

 I wanted to do a Clone Troopers game using Savage Worlds and the Weird Wars II sourcebook.

Halo Covenant Races

So I have recently wanted to do a game based from the Covenant's point of view. Player races could of course be Elites, Brutes, Jackals, and Grunts (Hunters, Drones, and Engineers aren't well suited in cannon to be good races).

Here I'm basically just taking a whack at it. They're all balanced out, as they are stand-out specimens of their races.

KWA LM4C Update

While sitting in a tech's room for 8 weeks (only negative thing) my LM4C GBBR went through a bit of a transformation. Its a little heavier and kicks like a .22 LR or so now. Everyone at the store where I had it worked on kept saying how much they loved it and how badass it was.

It was kind of like having someone rave about your kid, I guess? (I don't have any kids, so what do I know?)

SOF Game Update and Mission Generator Tables (Rough)

I have decided to go with the Army (I had been strongly considering using the SEALs instead), and am very excited to get things written down. So I have altered the Weird Wars Tour of Darkness.

Spacehammer 40-Kay!

So as I have said I am working on more Savage Space Marines stuff and I thought I would add this NPC to pique some interest!

Custode (WC)
Agility d10, Smarts d10, Spirit d12, Strength d10, Vigor d8
Pace 9, Parry 9 (1); Toughness: 22 (14)
Hindrances: Vow (M; Protect Emperor), Vow (M, Protect Imperial Palace)
Skills: Athletics d10, Fighting d10, Guts d12, Intimidate d8, Notice d10, Shooting d10, Throwing d10
Edges: Alertness, Counterattack, Fearless, First Strike, Fleet-footed, Improved Block, Improved Dodge, Improved Frenzy, Improved Level Headed, Improved Nerves of Steel, Tough as Nails, Trademark Weapon (Custodian Halberd), Sweep,
Gear: Custodian Power Armor (+14 All; Strength goes up by 1 step; Mastercrafted), Custodian Halberd (Blade: Str+d10+1; AP3, Mastercrafted, Parry +1, Powerfield, Reach, Two-hands. Boltgun: 24/48/96; 2d10+1; ROF2; 20 shots; AP5, Auto, Mastercrafted), Bolt Pistol (12/24/48; 2d10+1; ROF1; 14 shots; AP5, Mastercrafted), Fragmentation Grenades (8/16/32; 2d10; MBT, Thrown), Anti-Armor Grenades (8/16/32; 3d8; AP8, HW, Thrown)

So there you have it. A combat monster, but wouldn't fight as well as a squad of Space Marines at squad level.

Military Plot Point Campaign: Plot outline and Some Character Creation

So I alluded to this, and I have decided to build up the group from earlier in their careers. This is of course unlikely, but for the sake of story I'd work it in. Alternatively I could change Rangers to SEALs and move to DEVGRU later.

1) Plot overview:

Phase 1: Beginning, new in the Rangers. Their second deployments. Perhaps a training session during RASP (or the beginning of their deployment) for roleplay reasons.
Phase 2: Deployed to Afghanistan, then maybe another in Iraq. A few sessions of each. Perhaps get them through to Veteran rank.
Phase 3: Try out for CAG. Some training or roleplaying sessions.
Phase 4+: Missions in CAG.

2) Characters:
As the game begins around 2005, the character would have seen combat in their first deployment (in either Afghanistan or Iraq). They will receive an advance for Basic Training and their first deployment. Will draw from the Dramatic Intermission table to see how their first deployments went before they met.

At first most of them will be standard riflemen in a squad, one or two may be given special weapons (AT or an LMG), but for a while they can't become a Team Leader and the Rank (NCO) edge will just get them to Corporal, with some command but not much. They can be an officer however. As time progresses they'll move up and do their thing. Will use Sanity for particularly stressful or traumatic and perhaps get PTSD or suffer from Combat Stress.

They'll work with Navy SEALs, Army SOF, and on occasion CAG and DEVGRU teams. The aim is to make them value their and the other characters. Want to live but deal with having to go into danger and risk that life. Will use the Gritty Damage rules, and try to scare them during fire fights or tense moments.

The plot will eventually move to the current state of things and possible operations against OPFOR threats.

I want to make a "road map" and mission generator for this as well.

Running Savage Doom (Sessions 1 and 2)

So I ran it off of the Martian Incident (in fact, it takes place between DOOM 1 and 2), insted on a UAC Mining and Research Facility in the Asteroid Belt. I assumed the Marines weren't employed by he UAC (there was CSEC [Corporate Security] for that) but there to monitor and respond to the facility. The Marines' Company went in in three waves, the players' platoon in last and they were left to guard the hangar as a Company of Space marines [approximately 250 men] go in.

Over the radio they hear contact and combat with UAC CSEC, which while rare has happened before. After a number of hours they hear the radio go silent and the sergeant goes in with the corporal, and a Private Garcia. Leaving Captain Dutch and Private Johnson to guard the dropships.

They go in and find bodies, move in and in the next few rooms find around 120 of the Company line up on the wall, some in body bags, others stacked up by the wall. But silence. And a lot of CSEC bodies as well. Spirit rolls. None of them have seen heavy combat. Or mass casualties.

In the third room they find their Platoon leader propped up in a corner with a pistol and a radio, but dead with a shotgun wound to the chest. The sergeant checks him and finding the radio was dead tosses it away. The Corporal (Chaingunner) sees the "Lt." stir and lift his pistol, he then fires and hits Garcia in the face (I rolled a 19), and three other shambling undead stand up. Still stiff and uneven their shots miss mostly in the gunfight but the pair of Marines overcome the dead. Spirit roll(s) throughout the encounter.

They then check the side rooms, finding a CSEC Sergeant with  shotgun waiting for them but put him down easily. They enter the tram station and clear it, with a dynamic firefight, and head to the next station. Spirit roll since now they have time to reflect on their dead friends and zombies. The Sergeant orders the dropship to go and get reinforcements with their dropship. They are moving from "Reception" to "Maintenance and Housing." on Level 1. They move into one of the housing halls and begin to clear rooms, they split to clear opposite rooms on the hallway. The Sergeant smelling brimstone and encountering "flaming teleportation" and an imp who takes a moment to shotgun to death. The Corporal finds a buff zombie and one wielding an assault rifle. The fight attracts a Spectre and the other enemies in he hallway as they search, leading to the Sergeant catching fire and the Corporal getting badly clawed. They find some medical supplies and ammunition (which thus far have been scarce). Moving into Maintenance Storage, the Sergent nearly gets killed in the Computer Room by a sergeant, only surviving because it had to reload its shotgun (I rolled on this) and left the Sergeant without effective armor. They heal up and the session ends.

Easy thingsalmost kill them, hard things (demons and imps) die like chumps mostly.

Glorious Return... well sorta.

So I got a new PC today and figured I should post something up. There have been updates, and here are some of the major ones:

1) The Magic the Gathering conversion is on the back burned until it isn't.
2) 40K stuff will show up from time to time to supplement what I'm working on for the .pdf (which will come back on dropbox)
3) In the near future I may very well be looking for a play test group (or two) on a forum to test and tweak the Savage Space Marines rules. The groups will probably be set up for 4-6 person missions. (Savage Worlds sources will be required however). It will be a sign-up sort of deal and it will be first come first serve strictly. Must have a proper mindset of course as its a play test adventure.

Savage Space Marines Work continues!

Yes, you read that right.

I'm working on getting all sorts of new things added, mostly gear, edges (Chapter Professional Edges like Sternguard or Ravenwing Veterans), and finishing up the vehicles. I've been at work for it but it may be some time before it gets uploaded (still no PC). A lot of it will be used with the Sci-fi Companion so awesome stuff is on the way.

Savage Magic the Gathering (WIP, Last Update: 30 Nov 2014)

Its M:tG right?

HALO Gear (as a request)

A friend is doing a basic HALO game based around ODSTs set a couple years after the war's end in 2554.

Armor
ODST Armor: +6 toughness, all. Sealed 15 minutes. +2 Vigor versus environmental conditions (i.e. heat/cold), built in communications, night vision, and HUD.
UNSCMC Armor: +5 toughness, all (50% head), built in communications.

Weapons
BR55HB SR: 24/48/96; 2d8; ROF1; 36 shots; AP3, 3RB, Low Power Scope

M6C: 12/24/48; 2d8; ROF1; 12 shots; AP1
M6C/SOCOM: 12/24/48; 2d8; ROF1; 12 shots; AP1, Illuminator, Laser sight, Low Power Scope, Suppressed

M7: 12/24/48; 2d6; ROF4; 60 shots; AP1, Vertical Fore Grip
M7S: 12/24/48; 2d6; ROF4; 48 shots; AP1, Illuminator, Laser Sight, Reflex Sight, Suppressed, Vertical Fore Grip

M41 MAV/AW SSR: 50/100/200; 4d10; ROF1-2; 2 shots; Min Strength d6; AP20 (AP3 for blast), Heavy Weapon, Low Power Scope

M45D: 15/30/60; 1-3d10; ROF1; 6 shots; Min Strength d8; Shotgun
M45E: 12/24/48; 1-3d10; ROF1; 12 shots; Min Strength d8; Shotgun

M247 MMG: 36/72/144; 2d8+1; ROF3; 200 shots; Min Strength d8; AP3, Auto, Bipod, Snapfire

M319 IGL: 18/36/72; 3d6; ROF1; 1 shot; AP8 (contact only)

M392 DMR: 36/72/144; 2d8+1; ROF1; 15 shots; AP3, Illuminator, Medium Power Scope

M739 SAW: 24/48/96; 2d8+1; ROF4; 72 shots; Min Strength d6; AP3

MA5C: 24/48/96; 2d8+1; ROF3; 32 shots; AP3, Illuminator
MA5K: 20/40/80; 2d8+1; ROF2; 30 shots; AP3

SRS99D-S2 AM: 60/120/240; 2d10+3; ROF1; 4 shots; Min Strength d6; AP8, Bipod, High Power Scope, Snapfire

M9 HE-DP Fragmentation Grenade: 5/10/20; 3d8; AP9 (contact only), Thrown

Surprise Hiatus

Granted this one was a "oh, I'm gonna die now" from my PC, so I'm still working up to get another one again as my phone is too dumb to make good posts. I'm still here and I'm still gaming. I'll be back with more converted characters from my 40k play-by-post, and a game story from Halloween where I killed 2.1 million people in a space fleet after my commando was going to get framed by out CO.

I've been reading a lot recently as well. Tom Clancy, Mark Owen,  Marcus Luttrell, HALO, 40k novels, etc etc etc.