So the these "campaigns" are primarily wrappers for combat as opposed to a role play campaign?

Waiting for the next article

Are you using a form of the planetary battles that I've seen in a couple of books (forget if they were BT books or not) that basically start with jumping in, then "Fight at Jump point" and then flowchart out from there depending on who wins?

Very little "pure" role playing is involved. About the closest we come to it is with our Strategic Reconnaissance System (SRS) and preliminary "intel" during force generation for the Invading Team.





It's similar. But we go a little more in-depth than Battleforce 2 and the Operational Game from the Tactical Handbook.

"Flowchart" is about as good a term as any. However, there is a lot of action outside of the traditional scope of CBT games. Activity crucial to the outcome of a campaign. So the flow of our campaigns can be very disjointed. Hell, the orderly flow can be tossed out the window at times.

 

Very nice write ups OF. 

Happy New Year! And without further ado, here's the next installment.................. ..

The Making of a Campaign

Stage One: Planning and Organizing(continued)

The are other types of "indig" forces that can cause headaches, other than planetary militia. If the Refs allow it, they can also be incorporated into the Defender's overall defensive strategy in a campaign.

Police- Don't laugh. The Cops can cause a heap of trouble, especially if they are well armed. On relatively peaceful worlds, the police will be a nusiance if they take on the role of "urban guerilla". On planets with a history of raids/conflict, the Five-O will have enough firepower at their disposal that they simply can't be ignored. And our philosophy is if it can shoot, it's a serious combat threat. Plus, the Fuzzballs will know their turf. Plenty of opportunities for them to set up nasty traps in a city or large town.

How police units will be equipped depends on their "beat". Large town TOand Es will consist primarily of light infantry equivalents. Rifle and Machine Guns platoons only. In smaller metro areas, light armored vehicles will be common. In major cities, especially on important planets (or planets heavily raided/attacked), some 'Mechs will be in the mix.

Restrictions on police units: "Infantry" will only be light. No anti-'Mech training (except setting up pitfalls/traps in general). Weapons are limited to Rifles,Machine Guns, and SRMs. However, unlike militia units, police are not equipped with Inferno missiles. Foot, Motorized, and Mechanized only. No Jump.

Vehicles are restricted to short armed light units. Wheeled Scouts, surplus Skulkers, and standard Wheeled/Tracked APCs will be commonplace. If the Referee Team allows it, police in major metro departments can have access to a few Level One Galleons. The only armed hovercraft allowed for police units are Skimmers. Typically, all other light combat vehicles are restricted from police access.

The only military 'Mech allowed for coppers is the UM-R60 Urbanmech. Any other 'Mechs will be custom designed 10 or 15 ton units (think Patlabor here  ), built under the old rules allowing such.

Naval units will be custom design light patrol boats. The exception will Customs or Coast Guard-type units, who will have military-grade hardware. But the tech base is restricted to Level One. No attack submarines are allowed.

Aircraft are limited to VTOLs (typically Ferrets) or light fixed wing aircraft (Boomerangs).

Obviously, the police won't have exotic equipment or Clantech. Also, mines and artillery isn't available to police.

There are no hard rules regarding police force size restrictions in our campaigns. This is decided by the Referee Team, based on need and reasonable size for a particular campaign venue.


Household Troops- This is another element in local force make-up. Most planets in Battletech have some sort of noble landholder. And that noble will have some degree of security on their land grant. Plus, it's comforting (and nice) to have a force to keep the lynch mobs at bay when the noble is a complete prick  . Especially on worlds where the local noble doesn't have control over the planetary militia, which is the case in all of our campaigns.

Force size will depend on how important the world is (and by extension, how important the noble in question is). But there are general restrictions that the Refs operate under when generating a Household unit.

Infantry is restricted to light only. Foot and Motorized are the only two allowed. The cap on force size is two reinforced companies. However, on rare occasions, this rule is allowed to be broken for higher ranked (and richer) nobles in the Duke and Duchess class. In that case, a standard battalion. But only on more prosperous planets.

All standard Level Two infantry weapons are permitted, including Infernos. Support Weapons from TRO:3026 only. No Level Three/House Ruled gear or Field Guns. If the Refs decide on Anti-'Mech training, it's limited to leg attacks only. No Battle Armor.

Vehicles are light or medium units only in our Household units. Level One is the order of the day. But newer L1 units, such as the Myrmidon, are available. Force size max is a standard company.

Battlemechs will generally be Level One machines (from any era), or lower end Level Two (TRO:3050, Watchman, Sentry,etc). The force deployment is one standard company. The weight classes are typically Light and Medium, but Heavies are allowed (no more than one Lance of Heavy 'Mechs total). If a Household unit is in possession of an Assault weight machine, it's the noble's personal ride.

Household formations are not allowed naval, artillery, or Aerospace units. VTOLs are the only aircraft permitted (Level One only). No Coventionals or other fixed wing military aircraft. All types of mines, except EMP mines (from TRO:2750), are available to Household troops. EMP mines are considered front line equipment.   

There have been cases, in past campaigns, where there were a variety of minor noble landholdings in the target system. In that case, the Ref Team will adjust the size (within the general restrictions) of each one's Household units to fit their ranks.

Tomorrow, I will discuss the remaining types of local formations that are a factor in our campaigns: Corporate Security Forces, Irregulars, and "special" civilian units. So until then, have a good night! 

 







 

Pfft.  If it was easy, everybody'd be doing it.

BTW, nice campaign setup OF.

Thanks, DW. 

There will be more tonight if nothing comes up.

The Making of a Campaign

Stage One: Planning and Organizing (continued)

Now I'm going to touch on Corporate Security Forces.

They vary in size and strength, depending on the size of the company in question. Not to mention how vital an industry it is.

Typically, they'll range in size from a small force of contracted rent-a-cops and/or company security goons (treated as squads of light rifle infantry) to a mixed battalion of heavy duty hardware manned by trained professionals. And they WILL be very good at their job. And depending on the corporation, may be equipped with fairly up to date technology.

Vital industries on heavily defended worlds will have some sort elaborate defence network in our campaigns. Layered defenses from hell would be an apt description. The make up will vary according to terrain, but there are some universal constants that the Invading Team can always count on to be present (in order to make their lives hell during a session). To name a few:

1-Hardened gun emplacements with fixed and turrent mounted weapons. The CF is always maxed out and the turrent(s) as heavily armored as allowed. Fixed weapons cover all arcs, which makes jumping over them a risky proposition at best. Taking fire from both sides of your 'Mech is never fun. Gun emplacements will take up one or two hexes and are powered by a SF reactor. Weapons are usually standard ACs, unaugmented LRMs/SRMs, and machine guns.

2- Hidden pop-up weapons. Usually smaller scale stuff, like SLs, MGs, MLs, standard OS SRM-2s (not the improved version),etc.

3-Layered conventional minefields, with key points boobytrapped with Command Detonated explosives. If front line forces are present and aiding in defence, then EMP mines and vibrabombs will be in the mix.

4-Hidden hatches in random locations for infantry to pop up and ambush passing units from behind.

5- Vehicle bunkers for additional protection to FSVs laying down supporting fire. Infantry bunkers may be present the closer one gets to the actual industrial park perimeter.

5- Trench networks in the defensive perimeter for the military's frontline heavy infantry and Assault BA defending the site. Also, there will be earth berms for the infantry unit's FSVs to fight in a hull-down posistion. A safer proposition than the bunkers, which tend to draw massed artillery fire. Thus, the company security boys and girls get to use the vee bunkers. Who said grunt troopies weren't smart? 

Just name a few of the more obvious measures. The random suprises that can show up tend to vary, and in the nastiest of ways.

Defence networks are set up in a "sphere" around the main industrial complex, and are layered in "perimeters". The closer you go in, the worse it gets. Plus, front line troops (possibly backed by militia detachments) are responsible for the primary defensive duties outside of the main complex (including mobile defense). Corporate Security, in that area, only handles the automated defenses and the manning of some of the bunkers. Gun emplacement crews are almost always CorpSec. Artillery and air support is provided exclusively by militia or frontline forces.

If the assault reaches the perimeter of a major industrial complex itself, there may be a hardened 10-15 meter tall wall to bust through. Once again it depends on the military history of the planet and the importance of the industry in question. Sometimes that "wall" is one big long bunker complex, loaded down with support weapon emplacements, and a shitload of Laser/SRM infantry. The worse I've ever seen in a campaign had firing ports in each hex for 'Mechs to fire their arm mounted weapons from and lower ones for MBT main guns. In that series of scenarios, it took four major attempts to breach just one area of wall. Then we had to fight our way through the breach AND take on the defenders in the complex itself. It took two and a half weeks, real time, just to take the complex.

When the shit hits the fan inside, regardless of the defenses and size of corporation, that's when the CorpSec gloryboys get their turn at bat. In the case of smaller firms/less vital corporations, militia and frontline troops handle most of the action, with security forces playing a supporting role. In the case of valuable industry, CorpSec forces will be the main combatants on facility grounds proper. And also in this case, they will be well armed, well trained, and highly motivated. They are well paid professionals, after all. No need to cry like a little girl now; despite the fact that they are facing pissed off, battle-hardened, frontline troops with cutting edge technology. Nope. No need at all.

Fixed AAA is operated by CorpSec and Militia. Mobile AAA is the job of frontline forces. The exception is if CorpSec has Battlemech/vehicle designs that can function as such ( Rifleman, Jagermech,Partisan,etc.)

As I pointed out earlier, the size of the force will vary. But there are a few guidelines for the Referee Team to follow when generating Corporate Security Units. This will cover the maximum allowed regardless of the size (and wealth,importantance,etc).


Battlemech force deployment is limited to a standard battalion. Level Two machines can be picked from TRO:3050 and TRO:3055 (No units from TRO:2750 allowed for CorpSec). Inner Sphere only. Level One machines from any TRO are allowed, but only 3025 'Mechs are allowed SOME Level Two upgrades. Restrictions are not as strict as they are for planetary militia in this regard, however. The "dumbed down" Star League machines from TRO:3025(Revised) are not available to CorpSec units. All weight classes are permitted.

Vehicle units can be taken from TRO:3025,3026,and 3058. However, certain Level Two units from TRO:3058 are restricted from CorpSec use. The only 2750 vees allowed are the Magi, Rotunda, and Beagle. Level One designs from TRO:3060 are available. Size is restricted to a standard company. Inner Sphere units only.

Infantry is generally light only, but in some cases BA is allowed. All infantry weapons are allowed, including LRMs and house ruled MPPCs. Support weapons from TRO:3026 only. No field guns. Anti-mech training is restricted to leg attacks only for light infantry. All four classes of light infantry are permitted. Size is limited to a reinforced battalion.

In the case of Battlearmor, only the Sloth, Gray Death Scout, and Inner Sphere Standard is allowed for use. Maximum formation size is one company.

Air support is limited to VTOLs from TRO:3026 and 3058. Inner Sphere designs only. No Conventionals or ASFs. CorpSec  VTOLs can deploy up to a squadron (12 units) in total strength. Land-Air Mechs are forbidden to Corporate Security units. 

If a complex is near water (i.e. docks), the Level One naval units from TRO:3026 can be deployed. But no more than one squadron (12 boats) at one time.

Artillery is normally not part of a CorpSec's TO and E. If needed, then the "official" military will provide it if available.

Protomechs, and Clantech in general, are forbidden for these units. No exotic technology (DNI, VRPP, etc.)

Well, that's it for tonight. I hope you all enjoy reading this as much as I enjoy sharing it.

Stay tuned for the next installment, here on the amazing CBT Forums!

Sure thing. I'll add the next one tomorrow! 

I'm glad to be of service! 

Do the Research centers, government ones, that is, have a small number of SF types as part of the security detail?  In the canon fiction, it seems that this is usually the case.  Also, if they do, would they be "dragooned" into front line service, or stay with the research center?

The Making of a Campaign

Stage One: Planning and Organizing (continued)

Now I want to take the time to discuss "research facilities" in a little more detail.


Despite the importance of such targets, we intentionally keep the number of on-site defending forces low. This is partly due to the fact that front-line forces will be assisting in it's defense. Also, there will be some degree of static defenses (it is valuable real-estate, after all). But not on the level of military installations or uber-vital industries. We GMs decided a long time ago, that while such might not be completely covert in nature (people know that R and D takes place there, just not what exactly), too much would not fit "fluff"-wise. Heavy Defenses=Very, Very Important. Something that the owners would not want to broadcast to potentially hostile eyes that may be watching.

Thus, to enhance the "suprise factor", the defenses will pretty universal (with some degree of variation to keep the other side guessing, of course). If something major is going on, the Bad Guys won't be able to tell the difference until those "science projects" start shooting at them.

This is also a reason why militia is rarely the sole military contribution to defense of these vital areas. Such would be a dead giveaway that something not particularly spectacular is being worked on there.

As I hinted at before, in the last installment, the new stuff tinkered with at these facilities won't be in use by the security forces. These toys will not come into play unless direly needed. They will be an "ace in the hole", so to speak. However, the on-site security units will have top-of-the-line Level Two/Three and House Ruled hardware (including Clantech) . And will have a relatively high experience level (mostly Veteran, with Elite infantry/VTOL forces).


Artillery and air power for defense will be provided by frontline troops. This is another case where ORBITAL fire support, if available, may come into play. Even if "danger close" to defending forces on the outer perimeters (don't want to destroy the facility unless necessary, however). But because of the constant dance taking place between space-based assets, such is rarely available. If a team's Warship(s) starts doing too much damage, and are too much of a decisive factor on ground ops, then out come the atomics. And attempted nuclear strikes (on Warship assets) are some of the bloodiest aerospace operations in our campaigns.

And Capital weapons support is another dead giveaway on the nature of what projects are being cooked up in a facility like this.

Nightstalker bought up a very good point regarding Special Forces personnel. As I pointed out, we have done this in the past, as it fits the nature of these facilities. And I also mentioned the methods in using them (and dealing with them). We try not to go too crazy with deploying "commandos" in these situations, even if the possibility of them being present is expected. But if the Refs want to add an additional complication, it's one good way of doing so. But on average, the security forces, test units, and frontline troops provide enough headaches for the Invading Team, that SpecOps would just be "icing on the cake". If used, their job will be simply to counter the Invader's own commandos (if deployed in the op) and/or making life miserable in general. They are a major pain in the ass to flush out and kill, and force the attacker to spend more time and manpower to do so. Which helps out the Defending Team. For, it buys time for possible (available) reinforcements to arrive and gives the Invading Team less time to secure the area and dig in for such a counterattack.

As for the projects themselves, if any reader wants to incorporate such scenarios in their campaigns, using their imaginations works out just fine. Just don't go too hog wild. Having Battlemechs with Steiner Stadium type force fields, or Renegade Legion Grav Tanks, will make your players hate you/curse your ancestors back ten generations.     

If you have chronic "munchkins" in your group, this is a golden oppurtunity for them to break out their custom "cheese machines" and not get cussed at. Just keep a very low cap on their numbers and that should keep things from getting too out of hand.

As for our group, we use the various experimental systems listed in past FASA products. Also, the Gundam/Southern Cross equipment conversions, on the Colony World Myops website, make for good fodder in these scenarios (although I'm seriously considering making regular use of the Spartas as a frontline asset in future campaigns. It's not too cheesy). They also have rules for creating custom transforming hovertanks and some non-anime experimental stuff.

It should be noted that while many L3 items are now regular "line" equipment (both in canon and our own campaigns), there is still  plenty that's not. There are plenty of neat items for use in research facility scenarios.

In the next installment, I will discuss how the Defending Team generates their front line forces for the campaign. See you then! 

I'm sorry for the delay. Spring semester CJ classes started this week, so the spare time has been lacking. But with this extended weekend (MLK holiday is on Monday), I'll have the time for a couple (or three) articles.

Next up is frontline force generation for the Defending Team.

This is probably jumping ahead a bit, but, do you use map sheets, or 3-D terrain for battles?

We use mapsheets. Both official and homemade.

I can't believe I've been missing this...

This is great material Citizen -- I'm making copies.