About scenarios, adventures and campaigns

[Marc]

Ei! Bon dia!

When I discovered this forum by chance, I was lurking through the Internet in search of a quick disposable material regarding Twilight:2000. This is task I use to do, looking for materials not only about T2K, but about Traveller, GURPS or Star Wars. Sometimes I must prepare a new adventure in a short time and Im always looking for prepared scenarios, seeds for new adventures and possible plots for new campaigns. Developed NPCs, good maps, deckplans and schematics go in an important second place.

You can easily find a good number of house made, ready-to-play adventures, adventure seeds or short scenarios about other games, (Star Wars or Traveller would be a good example), but, always in my opinion, this kind of direct aids to the GM are scarce in Twilight, when compared to other games. And actually, in this forum, while discussing about a wide range of matters, Ive discovered some interested plots to exploit in a campaign or in a single adventure. So, please, put your developed or undeveloped adventure or campaigns ideas in this thread. From a little seed, to a ready-to-play scenario. Theres not need to detailed explanations, if you dont want it (though I think it would be great!). A little seed can create a great adventure.

[Marc]

Adventure/Campaign seed 1

Campaign Seed: This one is based on the French Orbat thread. As a good point, it could imply a wide variety of characters, some of them not in the military. As a background, a not much damaged France tries to exploit the imminent retreat of the US Forces in Europe (operation omega). Central Europe territories are devastated by the war, and the information gathered by the French intelligence service seems to point that certain border zones will fall easily under French control through diplomacy and with only a limited use of military force. The characters would be the members of one of the contact groups entrusted by the French high command to get the needed info, establish contact with the inhabitants of the designated zone and try to convince them, if possible, about the advantages to live under the French banner.

An idea for the GM would be to prepare accurately a map of the area assigned to the group and to decide things as the number as the inhabited communities and their relationship, the number of people, available resources, military forces and their alignment, important personalities, etc. The group would enter in the balance of power of the region, with the help provided by the resources assigned to them by the French army. These resources, their number and their quality could vary depending of the success achieved by the group through the time. Im thinking in some kind of table with the prize in oeresource points for each available type of help the group can ask for to the French High Command, from a power generation or a truck with medical supplies, to a Special Forces squad. The rest is up to the group. Diplomacy, local knowledge, the proper contacts, perhaps selective military actions, the supply of weapons and resources to friendly communities, the protection against marauding parties to convince the undecided, etc.

[Mohoender]

Nice one. I can imagine that it could extend further from the border, especially in Germany.

[headquarters]

yeah.

great .

Former colonies maybe All areas of interest where they speak French - could take the team further as they progress.

[Marc]

I was thinking more in the European theater and particularly in Germany, tough other setups are possible. Would France be able to annex a significant part of the territories at the other side of the Rhin without an uprising from Germany population or the opposition of the remnants of the German Army In the v2.2 timeline, German government oehas ceased to exist and the area 50Km east of the Rhin oeis either devastated or in anarchy. These territories could be the places where the campaign would start, still without the need to deal with the military cantonments of former NATO units. The way to seize these first areas would set the pace for the future. If word spreads that France is providing things like safety, medical care and resources, more territories would see a French intervention as a hope, instead of as a conquest. After all, the average German citizen in the 2000 would be struggling to survive in a completely devastated country. In the best of the cases her/she would live in an isolated or independent area near Switzerland.

And Ive just remembered the thread about propaganda. This would be one of the few cases where I think that propaganda would have any chance work in the Twilight:2000 setup. The GM must choose the way that the French government conceives all the operation and the group of characters must be well aware about the directives of the French government. If they are smart enough, they will present France as the only organized entity that can assume the lost functions of a central government. They will emphasize the terrible disorganization and helplessness of the rest of German territory and spread the word (for sure, true in some cases) about conflicts erupted between civilians and soldiers in the cantonment areas. Even the group can try to incite this kind of conflicts to gain some local advantage. And, above all, try to keep national differences between France and Germany at minimum. These special contact groups where the characters would be integrated must be ready answer some embarrassing questions from the German population. They can try to present the war as a terrible error where France has not been involved and that European reconstruction can be a common task done by Europeans, now that US is evacuating its units from Europe. I think that the France of Twilight would see a great opportunity to exclude the US from any immediate influence in Central Europe.

[headquarters]

I see

It sound slike a cool premise for a campaign .

Some ideas :

motivation for the PCs:

one or more of them could be of mixed descent and thus get into a mixed feelings situations regarding loyalties

one or more of the PCs could be career officers and the successrate will impact directly on the career with medals,promotions and demotions etc -a factor the GM cant use much in a typical devestation scenario .

[FMDeCorba]

If they are smart enough, they will present France as the only organized entity that can assume the lost functions of a central government. They will emphasize the terrible disorganization and helplessness of the rest of German territory and spread the word (for sure, true in some cases) about conflicts erupted between civilians and soldiers in the cantonment areas. Even the group can try to incite this kind of conflicts to gain some local advantage. And, above all, try to keep national differences between France and Germany at minimum.

The powers that be would probably want to play the EU card, claiming to have the reconstruction of the whole of Europe as a goal. Of course, nationalist sentiments will be a strong factor, the idea of belonging to a "nation" based on a common language is after all a European invention. But before that became prevalent, local cultural identity was as, if not more, important. See a pattern The sphere with which we supposedly identify expands. First it was the family/group, then village/clan/tribe, all the way up to the idea of UN. If were attacked from outer space, most people will probably start thinking of themselves as earthlings rather than whatever else.

[Mohoender]

The powers that be would probably want to play the EU card, claiming to have the reconstruction of the whole of Europe as a goal. Of course, nationalist sentiments will be a strong factor, the idea of belonging to a "nation" based on a common language is after all a European invention. But before that became prevalent, local cultural identity was as, if not more, important. See a pattern The sphere with which we supposedly identify expands. First it was the family/group, then village/clan/tribe, all the way up to the idea of UN. If were attacked from outer space, most people will probably start thinking of themselves as earthlings rather than whatever else.

The EU card is one but I don't think that it might be the best.

However, France can emphasize the idea that it wants to rebuild the prewar collaboration that existed between France and Germany. Moreover, we often forget it but (except for the 19th and 20th century) France often went to war in support of the German population.

When talking about Propaganda, it could be the time to remember the fact that France and Germany were once one single country. Carlus Magnus remain an important figure to these days. Could even be interesting to see the french relocate their capital at Aachen.

Collaboration would probably come from several German populations inlcuding those of Sarre, Bavaria, Schelswig-Holstein...

However, people in tyhe Rurh could draw some bad memories from the inter war french occupation. Moreover, Hannover, would certainly be an oppising force. Finally, Most opposition would probably come from what was eastern Germany: Prussia and Saxony are not that supportive of the french.

Outside of Germany, a french intervention for peace could appeal to many people in Poland and Cezcoslovakia.

[FMDeCorba]

The EU card is one but I don't think that it might be the best.

I agree that playing only the EU card would not be the idea most captivating for people, but propaganda tend to say different things to different target groups, so some places, the PSYOPS-units would perhaps emphasize some historical connections, other places they would perhaps portray the French Government as helping the German populace until they can manage themselves, whatever is suitable. But what would be the overall goal of a post-apocalyptic French govt. Are they fiercely nationalistic, then the focus would probably be physical expansion based on various historical claims, otherwise, perhaps a return to pre-war borders and peaceful relations would be the goal

[Marc]

It sound slike a cool premise for a campaign .

one or more of them could be of mixed descent and thus get into a mixed feelings situations regarding loyalties

one or more of the PCs could be career officers and the successrate will impact directly on the career with medals,promotions and demotions etc -a factor the GM cant use much in a typical devestation scenario .

Cool! I like that.

[Mohoender]

About a post-apocalyptic french government (especially one which would have escaped almost intact), I would mostly say nationalistic and looking back to some kind of old time "Grandeur".

Historical claims would be plenty and probably drawn from a kind of fantasy mix combining Carlus Magnus, Louis XIV and Napoleon I. I would also expect the French to drive to Rome and try to control the Pope again. May be by garrisoning Rome or may be by bringing him back to Avignon as in the Middle Ages.

As the navy would be the most powerful one left, you can expect the French to close the Mediterranean to most shipping.

They also would be very active at the diplomatic level, being involved in Quebec, probably supporting an independent scotland, helping Serbia, being involved in Poland and czecoslovakia, present in Africa and in the Middle East. It would probably avoid Russia, however. One Berezina in a country's history is enough. Iberia might be left alone also except may be for Catalonia, Navarra and the Basque country.

Don't forget also that they might be the only country to retain some kind of space capability.

On the bright side, I would expect the French to be sincere in their will to help the German population but with little consideration for their own culture and free will. After all we are the country of Freedom and Liberty . We also all know (the French I mean) that if we don't have oil, at least we have ideas (right but what about the quality of these ideas ). I would also expect the French government to put heavy taxes everywhere whenever possible (I still don't know why but taxes seem to be our main solution to solve problems ).

[FMDeCorba]

Sounds look a cool campaign to me

[Marc]

Well, my intital thought was that the goal of the entire operation was the expansion of the territory under French control, not returning to the pre-war frontiers. Gaining as territory as France could keeps safe, without the eruption of a major confrontation. And if conflict erupts with military cantonments or more organized areas, take it one by one, trying to avoid the formation of an anti-French coalition.

In my opinion the use of certain kind of propaganda will be useless with a hungry population, hardened by war, disease and the fight for the available resources. I can visualize the characters of this hypothetical French special contact group standing before the inhabitants of a semi-destroyed German village. People are waiting to listen the words of the soldiers of what remain of the civilized Europe, with a mixed feeling of hope and disbelief. Then one of the Frenchs turns to the other and whispers: "Must we begin with all the stuff about Carlus Magnus, sir"

As Mo said, the idea of rebuilt the prewar collaboration between Germany and France will be the strong point, emphasized by the relatively untouched capacity of France to provide the needed resources, if we compare it with the rest of the European countries. Anyway, for the interest of the campaign, the initial French plan can have major problems that the units must solve on terrain. Perhaps the French High Command has given to this special units a kind of "Red book about how to treat the citizens of the beleaguered nations". This booklet could be plenty of trivial information, a few good advises and some major weak points written by someone who is very far away from the place where the men and women in charge the operation use his or her book. Each unit would adapt the directives to reality to maximize the chances of success.

Anyway it can be funny to imagine the contents of such a book an include some misjudgment about the real situation to complicate the things to the characters.

BTW Any idea about the composition of the group of characters and the equipment they would have at the beginning

[Marc]

Historical claims would be plenty and probably drawn from a kind of fantasy mix combining Carlus Magnus, Louis XIV and Napoleon I. I would also expect the French to drive to Rome and try to control the Pope again. May be by garrisoning Rome or may be by bringing him back to Avignon as in the Middle Ages.

LOL
These things are will be in the final chapter of the Red book!!! Written by some major ideologist in the French government and, hopefully, ignored by our heroic operatives. It reminds me here when I was in Spanish Army. The continuous references about glorious past can be really boring... One would thing that we were in the "Tercios", ready to go to Flandes to defend the Catholicism against the evil, heretic Calvinist! Pikes Up! Muskets to front ranks!

[headquarters]

populace

whoever turns teh lights back on and puts grub on the table will have the consent to hoist their colors up the town square pole

imho ...

Well, my intital thought was that the goal of the entire operation was the expansion of the territory under French control, not returning to the pre-war frontiers. Gaining as territory as France could keeps safe, without the eruption of a major confrontation. And if conflict erupts with military cantonments or more organized areas, take it one by one, trying to avoid the formation of an anti-French coalition.

In my opinion the use of certain kind of propaganda will be useless with a hungry population, hardened by war, disease and the fight for the available resources. I can visualize the characters of this hypothetical French special contact group standing before the inhabitants of a semi-destroyed German village. People are waiting to listen the words of the soldiers of what remain of the civilized Europe, with a mixed feeling of hope and disbelief. Then one of the Frenchs turns to the other and whispers: "Must we begin with all the stuff about Carlus Magnus, sir"

As Mo said, the idea of rebuilt the prewar collaboration between Germany and France will be the strong point, emphasized by the relatively untouched capacity of France to provide the needed resources, if we compare it with the rest of the European countries. Anyway, for the interest of the campaign, the initial French plan can have major problems that the units must solve on terrain. Perhaps the French High Command has given to this special units a kind of "Red book about how to treat the citizens of the beleaguered nations". This booklet could be plenty of trivial information, a few good advises and some major weak points written by someone who is very far away from the place where the men and women in charge the operation use his or her book. Each unit would adapt the directives to reality to maximize the chances of success.

Anyway it can be funny to imagine the contents of such a book an include some misjudgment about the real situation to complicate the things to the characters.

BTW Any idea about the composition of the group of characters and the equipment they would have at the beginning