Germany to Rome Italy
 

I took over a campaign from the GM because he has to get his group ready for Origins & GenCon. We left off with the group still doing the mission from the Urban Ops box set with delivering the Spear of Desteny to Rome. SO, the problem is this: what ideas/encounters can I throw at the group considering they are now in NATO countries. I do have Italy withdrawing from NATO like I believe happened in the 2nd edition book. But encounters I'm drawing a blank.

If you are comfortable with the idea, you could throw a militant Catholic splinter faction at them- a group that wants to recover the artifact for their own nefarious purposes.

The Pope's Swiss Guard could be an interesting antagonist or ally. Rainbow Six did a brilliant write up of the Swiss Guard for T2k some years ago.

https://forum.juhlin.com/showthread....ht=swiss+guard

I include a mostly-Italian marauder group, the Figli di Iniquità (Sons of Iniquity) Condottieri, and a cult-like Hungarian marauder faction in my Austria Sourcebook, both of whom would probably be interested in getting their hands on the Spear of Destiny.

https://forum.juhlin.com/showthread.php?t=4178

I don't know if your players have reached Italy yet but, if not, it might be fun passing through Austria first.

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The group is still in Germany. I have "ran" (really the group pulled a wild hair and managed to avoid the conflict) The poisoned chalice. I decided to go ahead and have it be the holy grail so what you've suggested wouldn't be a problem.