[Panther Al]

The last real long term game I played in was very much along these lines: based in the mountains of Austria granted, the PC's (which I was the IC/OOC commander for all intents) was given a tasking by higher to go forth in the hills, find a defensible town on a secondary portion of the Road Network (Mainly as an excuse to accept a lower level of supply and equipment), and make of it as you will.

Of course, in addition to finding and fortifying, we had to beat of marauders, and later organised Czech, Soviet, and Italian Forces, find and organise the locals to support said community, and establish trade down stream towards more organised zones.

We started out with an respectable amount of kit: Honestly more than we really could use ourselves. But that was half the point- we had to establish ourselves deep in indian country, so the kit was needed.

Basically, our GM winged things. We was on a road, in a old smallish village. Deserted, but not abandoned. By showing up and setting up camp, a few locals came back, and as we showed the ability to hold and secure, more and more. The better we did - in essence, show that we was serious about making things right - the more and better quality civilians showed up.

And, so on and so forth. Worked out OK.