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Got a little Quandary here as a GM.
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AWAD
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PostPosted: 15-Oct-2005 20:54    Post subject: Got a little Quandary here as a GM. Reply to topic Reply with quote

Got a little Quandary here as a GM.

SO looking for some feedback on the final question but I am going to give some background, it will be a little vague since I do not want to get bogged down in massive details.

PCs are a Merc unit that is on a Cadre/Garrison mission split between two planets. Invaders show up at the planet that was multiple jump points behind the line with 2 Battalions and a Merc reinforced Company. PCs are caught off guard and so is the local government. PCs have great relations with the head government but piss poor with local government. Local government says you are on your own to the PCs while the troops they are training at new head government facility are told the same. PCs decide time to cut and run to save their skin. They break up all forces and run in all directions. Hard to pin any down and hope some filter to safety. Staying still is a big target and the base is a primary target. So break and run.

Invaders had 3 Primary Goals and 3 Secondary goals. Primary were destroying new training base, destroy all Mechs and Mechwarrior training there, and capture the head leader training there. First two have been accomplished, third was impossible, head leader left a few days before. 3 Secondary are destroying local defenders, damage the primary city, and hammer the PCs unit hard. None of the three have been accomplished. Invaders are not pirates and the PCs CO use to be a loyalist to their cause but things have changed.

So the Invaders sent 2 companies of the 2nd Battalion to smash the PCs one company, lets say it went poorly for the invaders, they have only a wounded company left after a series of firefights. But I have one more company of the 2nd Battalion left to throw at them. PCs have not lost a Mech but 3 are close to crippled and 3 more have serious damage. 3 are all but pristine and 3 are slightly damaged. The PCs outclass the last company if they were undamaged. The PCs have been honorable to the Invaders but the kills, not of Mechs, but warriors has been very high, and they have captured some warriors.

So as the Invader, do I throw my last company at the PCs? Or worry about the other two goals? For the invaders they have a decent chance with both goals if the last company remains committed. If they split after the PCs then all of them are in jeopardy unless they really hurt the PCs. As a GM I am not looking to wipe them out. If that company attacks 10% wipe out PCs. 30% decimate the PCs, 30% PCs will be have only 1-2 lances left, 30% the PCs wipe the butt of the Invaders. Invaders have only 2 days left before overwhelming relief forces show up.

I think you can read between some of the background lines, but I want some of your ideas and thoughts. To attack or let them go?

Thanks,

AWAD- Challenges not Death Traps
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Karagin
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PostPosted: 15-Oct-2005 21:14    Post subject: RE: Got a little Quandary here as a GM. Reply to topic Reply with quote

I say let them go. You have done a lot of damage to them and they will be spending time and money in the repair/rebuild stage and looking at ways to improve their lot and maybe get a better handle on working with the locals better for their next contract.

As for the invader side, go for the other objectives, this might have the PCs try to stop you but on the other side, it might cause they to see that they can't. If you don't want to wipe out the PCs then you need to stress to them that they will lose more if they keep going as they are.

Beyond that what kind of skills on both sides are we talking about here?

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PostPosted: 15-Oct-2005 22:20    Post subject: RE: Got a little Quandary here as a GM. Reply to topic Reply with quote

The party is in position to engage in a guerilla campaign, especially if they can salvage parts from the mechs they downed and use those parts to effect repairs. Not only that, but if I read you right then the PCs have custody of some of the OPFOR pilots.

Because of those two considerations, the OPFOR will have to eventually chase down the PCs if they are to complete their secondary missions.

The OPFOR holds the planet, so if the commander was smart then he would pick and choose where to fight the battles. As the party is more or less superior to the surviving OPFOR, then it would be in the commander's best interest to lure the PCs into a trap of some type. Feel free to use mines, pit traps, and other such nasties in your efforts.

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PostPosted: 16-Oct-2005 04:33    Post subject: RE: Got a little Quandary here as a GM. Reply to topic Reply with quote

What happened to 1st Battalion and that merc company?

If nothing else, let the mercs go guerilla-hunting while 1st and what's left of 2nd Battalions go thrash the city (unless that's there the PCs are hiding, which case, the OPFOR would send everybody), and take down the local defenders.

You can trash the city, scrag the militia, bloody up the PC's unit, and still be offworld within that 2-day window if you deploy your forces right.


[ This Message was edited by: Warhammer: 3025 on 2005-10-16 04:34 ]
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Nightmare
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PostPosted: 16-Oct-2005 12:53    Post subject: RE: Got a little Quandary here as a GM. Reply to topic Reply with quote

Are the attackers going to run when the relief force shows up? If so they will concentrate on the objectives and possibly try to stall the PCs a bit. The PCs have several mechs that require repairs so they won't be at full strength for a good while anyway. Issue a call for negotiations so you can set up a prisoner exchange and haggle about salvage. That will consume lots of time.

If you're going to stick around then clobber the PCs with all you can spare. They can't be allowed to go guerilla on you! If they meet up with the new forces they have some info on you as well. In this case I would have my forces try to secure the latest battlefield in order to deny the players any salvage before killing them.

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PostPosted: 16-Oct-2005 20:07    Post subject: RE: Got a little Quandary here as a GM. Reply to topic Reply with quote

AWAD, two questions:
1) What happened to/where is the Merc Reinforced company and the 1st Battalion? how hurt ar they? I'm thinking that they are not too bad off at this point.

2) Who is incharge of this little invasion? What is his/her relationship to te PC's CO? does he hate him/her? Is it personnal? Basically what is the invader's CO's motivation? Does he let things get personnal or is he strictly business?

If he has it in for the PC's CO, will he sacrifice the mission for his own goals? If so then smash the PCs. If not then go for the other Secondary Objectives.

I think the answer to question two will/would be the decisive factor in ddeterming how the invaders act.

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PostPosted: 18-Oct-2005 20:38    Post subject: RE: Got a little Quandary here as a GM. Reply to topic Reply with quote

Keep the other company focused on the other 2 goals. All the company currently dogging the PC's has to do is continue to harass them. It keeps them from bothering the main invader force and keeps them from being able to get much rest or repairs done. It also, from a GM standpoint, allows you to give the PC's new challenges besides fighting a pitched battle then a long refit cycle.

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