Ideas for small unit encounters

[kcdusk]

This feels a bit too simple and "military-istic". But what about a simple sniper encounter The PC group being fired on from a distance (perhaps a rookie rifleman shooting from distance).

Do they take cover Split into groups and try and flank the firing position Have they identified the firing position correctly Do the PCs make panicked decisions or sensible ones

This encounter might work better if the PCs are under time pressure also, instead of taking their time to deal with a deadly encounter, they might feel the need to rush through it.

I could see this being an encounter where no PCs are injured, or potentially a few being killed. In either case i see it being quite tense for the players.

[Brother in Arms]

How about this
The PC's enter a wide open valley with a winding river in the middle.

They spot 3-4 Warsaw pact soldiers wandering around on the other side of the river. But what the pc's don't know is that the rather bored crew members for totally concealed Shilka that is perhaps gaurding a fording point along the river.

But to the PC's they looks like lame ducks caught in the open but if they jump back in the Shilka and shoot level at the PC's they could be totally screwed. If they managed to pic the guys off they have there very own shilka...which might be a very useful trade item to the right village or group of Marauders.

What do you think

[Brother in Arms]

KCDUST

I was thinking about your sniper idea. You could as a twist to it by making the sniper be a very young person say a 11-12 year old. Or you could do a team an old grandpa and his grandson that way they aren't soldiers at all just some civilians with old hunting rifles or very outdated military stuff. It would be really cool depending on location/country if the grandpa had something really old like a rolling block rifle, martini Henry or some other old single shot rifle.

That way if the pc's ever discover the "snipers" they won't feel the same as if they are get picked off by some Spetznas SVDs

BIA

[.45cultist]

I've used civilians with scoped rifles and demolition gear to "buy time" for the militia and troops to mobilize. The"sapper/sniper" thing is fairly simple and can be effective. A humorous encounter would be a "Mad Max" type brigand group with no military experience versus heavy weapons. It may boost PC morale and the survivors could be recurring foes who made the learning curve.

[unkated]

Stopped Vehicle Again...

You come upon a small vehicle (Humvee, UAZ-469, light truck) parked in what appears to be a small farm of a few buildings, off the road. Alternatively, parked at the edge or within a small deserted looking village.

There are two men standing outside the vehicle; one seems bored, holding a weapon, the other taking a leak a few paces off.

1. The two may be alone, and pulled off the road for necessary reasons.

2. 2-4 others may be checking out the deserted buildings, looking for anything useful left around (as your group would do if these guys weren't already parked in front)

3. 2-4 others may be terrorizing a local or two they caught looking for stuff. (Queue screaming female if you want to use that cliche.)

Extra complication: Locals with some arms may have cleared out to a hidden bunker or hidey hole by the tree line, hoping to simply avoid the visitors. They will come to the aid of their own; They may object if you two groups start shooting up their home.

[kcdusk]

loving the ideas, hope people are using them!

[.45cultist]

Expanding V2's farm encounter "Stout Yeomanry", the farmer's were firearm collectors or a shelter like a kibutz or a stake, perhaps a prepper bug out point. Plenty of semiautorifles,add a Barrett and dynamite.