starting a new campaign?

[cavtroop]

So, looks like I'll be able to line up 2-3 people for an infrequent campaign run.

Question is, what do I run My initial reaction is to run the base campaign from v1 - kalisz, krakow, vistula etc. Had LOTS of fun with that in the 80's, and I still have all the source material for it. Plus, it's alot less prep I have to do.

But part of me wants to create something from scratch - though the 'far from home, trying to get back' meme is one that pulls strongly.

FWIW, we're going with the 2013 rules set, but I don't want that to limit my choice of campaigns/backgrounds. I'm more than happy to run 2013 rules, but the v1 timeline, for instance. Or, something homebrew, who knows, it's early in the process

So basically, I'm just fishing for suggestions here - throw stuff against the wall and see what sticks. I welcome any ideas you have, past campaigns you've run/been in that were fun, etc.

[jester]

One I have contemplated is covering the Fighting involving the 10th Mtn, Marines and British Marine Commandos in Scandinavia against Russian Marines and Airborne.

We see in the vehicle guide we have forces in Yugoslavia, as far as I know, no one has played there.

Korea would be good as it is often overlooked.

Russian Drive into Alaska

Early before Kalisz and facing down the Mexicans and Division De Cuba would be interesting. Being one of the troops on the boarder when they do come across.

Here is one, and I admit I am stealing the idea from Dr. Strangelove and Ice Station Zebra,

The PCs are tasked with salvaging a downed B-52 and the nukes/data recorder with BDA data that went down somewhere over the Russian Far East. This could also be switched to a U2 or SR-71 and the film it has. This would be valuable information if the governments were going to negotiate a peace. Know how bad the enemy is, how effective you were so you know what they are bluffing and what they aren't.


A band of guys who are stuck somewhere in the Med trying to get home. Kinda of like the Odessy with a 2000 or 2013 flavor.

[guncrazy]

I wish I could play...Would love to play the game!

[mikeo80]

I wish I could play...Would love to play the game!

You and me both!

[Targan]

We see in the vehicle guide we have forces in Yugoslavia, as far as I know, no one has played there.

With the added bonus that the troops in Yugoslavia were under CivGov control, and most campaigns seem to be MilGov based. Could be an interesting change.

Here is one, and I admit I am stealing the idea from Dr. Strangelove and Ice Station Zebra,

The PCs are tasked with salvaging a downed B-52 and the nukes/data recorder with BDA data that went down somewhere over the Russian Far East. This could also be switched to a U2 or SR-71 and the film it has. This would be valuable information if the governments were going to negotiate a peace. Know how bad the enemy is, how effective you were so you know what they are bluffing and what they aren't.

The mini module Broken Arrow is one of my favourite Challenge Magazine mini modules and covers a similar scenario, albeit in the Dakotas.

[HorseSoldier]

Some good ideas thus far.

A completely from scratch one would be the POW-escape idea, only start it in a prisoner of war camp in Siberia. PCs might try to make a go of getting out to friendly forces in Iran, or trying to make for US cantonments in Korea, allied PRC forces in China, or getting across the Bering Straits to Alaska.

Another one I have thought might be interesting was an isolated town in the US, UK, or similar that hosted a POW camp for Warsaw Pact troops earlier in the war. Post-nuclear things locally are pretty much chaos, and the town government strikes some sort of deal with at least a portion of the POWs, with the upshot that the local militia ends up being composed of the local sheriff's department, some locals, and a whole slew of ex-pat Russians, Poles, and Czechs with no hope of getting home. Throw in a New America cell nearby, some roving Hells Angels, a group of POWs who decide to go marauder instead, and perhaps some potential recoverable facility like a hydroelectric dam or some such and you've got enough scenario ideas to keep a game going for years.

[jester]

Horse, the POW one has been done a few times. And even the POWs in the US was done. I was following a game with that very theme for a year about six years ago.

The POW theme, one of my favorite means is by following the Survival, Escape and Evasion/Resistance manual. The escape in transit. A POW Train, ala that one movie with Ol Blue Eyes.....what was it....Von Ryan's Express Then the POWs are now freshly escaped, in the middle of who knows where with just the clothes on their back. What is strange is, that has happened several times in real life.

[leonpoi]

I would personally do the v1 timeline, or that kind of era anyway. However, since you're using the t2013 rules there will be a lot of equipment (sights etc) that may not be appropriate.

For me, personally, I like the 90s timeline because there still are a basket case of weapons and equipment and armed forces are in transition. If you set it in the 21st century, well equipment can be more advanced, but I think less varied (at least for regulars).

Otherwise I'd do some modern small-scale thing militia vs occupying force in a post apoc takeover of a small town.

[Mahatatain]

Horse, the POW one has been done a few times. And even the POWs in the US was done. I was following a game with that very theme for a year about six years ago.

Just because its been done before doesn't mean that its not worth doing again! How many campaigns are completely original

For example I'm setting up a campaign at present, which will start in the Ukraine, where the PCs will be NATO soldiers who were POWs but have been released as long as they join the "Ukraine Independence" forces. The campaign will eventually move into getting out of the Ukraine and getting home. I'm therefore using ideas from at least two published modules without actually running anything as printed!

I would personally do the v1 timeline, or that kind of era anyway. However, since you're using the t2013 rules there will be a lot of equipment (sights etc) that may not be appropriate.

For me, personally, I like the 90s timeline because there still are a basket case of weapons and equipment and armed forces are in transition. If you set it in the 21st century, well equipment can be more advanced, but I think less varied (at least for regulars).

I considered doing the same thing myself at one point and asked a question specifically about Reflex sights on the T2013 forum, which might be of use to you:

http://www.93gamesstudio.com/forum/viewtopic.phpf=52&t=2509

Question is, what do I run My initial reaction is to run the base campaign from v1 - kalisz, krakow, vistula etc. Had LOTS of fun with that in the 80's, and I still have all the source material for it. Plus, it's alot less prep I have to do.

But part of me wants to create something from scratch - though the 'far from home, trying to get back' meme is one that pulls strongly.

Returning to the original question another interesting option would be to set the campaign in Iran and focus on some characters who have become separated from their parent unit and are either trying to get back to it or back to "home", wherever home is.

[atiff]

What about something kind of based on elements of the series "Jericho" The characters set up shop in a town and try to build it up from effectively nothing to a functioning town It might be a lot more about survivalism, trading, politics and negotiation than a combat campaign.

[Rainbow Six]

An idea that was suggested on one of the old boards was that of staff from an Embassy overseas trying to get back to their home country. Could include Military personnel (e.g. US Marine Security Guards), Intelligence agents, and civilian workers / dependents (as well as nationals from allied nations).

Perhaps an evacuation was planned, the Embassy staff travelled to the airport in convoy and the PC's vehicles got separated from the convoy and missed the last plane home

[Mahatatain]

An idea that was suggested on one of the old boards was that of staff from an Embassy overseas trying to get back to their home country. Could include Military personnel (e.g. US Marine Security Guards), Intelligence agents, and civilian workers / dependents (as well as nationals from allied nations).

Perhaps an evacuation was planned, the Embassy staff travelled to the airport in convoy and the PC's vehicles got separated from the convoy and missed the last plane home

That's a very interesting idea!

[cavtroop]

That's a very interesting idea!

Oooh, I like this one. great thing about it, is that you can start it almost anywhere - Africa, South America, etc.

Some great ideas in this thread. I love the embassy one, but the Korean idea, along with prisoners from Siberia and the Mediterranean one have my creative juices starting to flow

[Adm.Lee]

Hit the beach!

How about the Caribbean There's plenty of pirates, cities to restart, ships and boats to recover. There are 3 mods to draw names and faces from, with New America in Tampa, the Seminoles in the rest of Florida, Mexicans and Texicans. Plus the Soviets want out, the Cubans might want to try dominating things, and lots of little island countries might just want to be left alone.

- Venzuela has oil to covet, lots of places grow food.
- The drug cartels may still have lots of weapons, gunmen and boats.
- The various Communist guerrilla armies, supported by the remnants of Nicaragua and Cuba could still be factors.
- Plus, you could put your PCs on a sailing ship (not necessarily the Constitution replica), and zoom them all around for a "mission of the week" television-episode-style campaign.

I forget, has SouthCom moved from Panama to Miami in the T2k timeline Might it be trying to evacuate now, or hold on to the Canal Is that even worth anything

[HorseSoldier]

I forget, has SouthCom moved from Panama to Miami in the T2k timeline Might it be trying to evacuate now, or hold on to the Canal Is that even worth anything

Still there in the Twilight timeline, I would think. Transfer of the canal would have occurred after the nuclear exchange, and I don't think the US would be in the same hurry we were IRL to pull troops out of the region with the Soviets and Cubans still going concerns.