Damocles, Project File 002

[dragoon500ly]

Overall, this is a fair module, it tries to follow the simplicity of Riverton but places the team against an intelligent computer. I've never been able to shake the impression that the writer may have watched "2001" before sitting down to write this one.

The only real beef that I have is with the Damocles Compound itself. H.N. Voss goes on to write about how important Damocles is, including the decision to have the machine control the U.S. nuclear arsenal. This makes Damocles a key asset of DOD. NORAD HQ was built under a mountain and has a nearby army base to provide protection. Damocles is built in the UP of Michigan and is defended by four .50-caliber turrets and four tank-sized Mobile Defense Units, as well as a thin minefield. Talk about a wonderful target for a Special Forces strike!!!

In every game that this module has been played, I have never seen a team take less than 30 minutes to destroy the outer defenses, breach the door, and starting entering the levels. The Internal Defense Units were a surprise, but rapidly fell prey to the team. Only the lasers on the power level stopped a team, and even then it was only for a few moments.

While being the first to admit that the DOD spends its money in some incredibly stupid ways, Damocles and above all its defenses, strike me as having been designed by the village idiot.

[ArmySGT.]

Hmmm anyone ever had the Team by pass the MDU?

That little bit with the big robot tank eating a snowmobile is supposed to intrigue the Team.

Secondly did anyones Team tell the Local "tough luck, sorry bout dat" and then follow the MDU back to Damocles?

More effort was placed in fleshing out the Village and the Encounters. The "Cons" could have been fleshed out more. Give the Team a second Mission effort there.

The Team Mission brief is weak. "Hey go look around, Remember the Directive".
Why is a small scale Team with a mission to scout so much Geographic area reporting this all the way back to Prime Base? Which is completely out of the Teams radio range to Transmit to. The Team should be wondering where their Combined Group Leader is, with strange activity on Isle Royale, the Teams first priority would be to link up with other Teams.

Damocles. Ok the cliched Sentient Computer. Nicely this one is grudgingly cooperative, once all his other options are taken away. No damn way would I as Team Leader rely on that thing, let alone hook it up to remnants of the US DoD infrastructure. Is it Hal 900, Skynet, or Robbie the Robot?

Why isn't there a Snake Eater Team or other "Frozen" asset in the area to do something about a "Compromised" Damocles, or a berzerk one?

The maps........ like the other Maps in the modules, damn near worthless.

The Vehicles.................. Some planner needs kicked in the nuts if the XR-311 was thought to be a good fit. Duh Team Members freezing to death is not a good idea. A V-150 APC or better a Bov 206 SUSV.


Snow shoes but not Snow skis or Sledge for dismounted look around?

If they are a non Standard Team not operating with other Teams why do they have a Standard radio? Why not in addition a long range AM Radio? Would not affect Canon much at all as there is no one else (friendly) to talk to.

No Soviets? This is a great modules to introduce some Soviets! Make the Team paranoid about what that facility with the gun mounts might be. Remnants of a Soviet Airborne, GRU (LR Recon), or Spetnaz unit that has married local and taken some of the cons to bolster their ranks. Maybe they have been resupplied after 150 years? Maybe they are in communication with Soviet Command structure remnants in the Urals.

The Damocles base. An elevator shaft? That is the sole entrance? Only one elevator shaft too. Really. Nothing must ever break, like say a elevator winch motor, or car cable breaks. Stairs. There should be stairs. Doesn't mean they door at the surface is weak, the DoD has lots of experience making missile silo crew doors.

The Damocles base were are the connections to the outside world? How did the phones connect to call the Pentagon? Satellite phone? Data cables?

Where is the supply and support section? The Motor Pool is the gound level, and the Fusion plant is in the basement. Where is water treatment? Sewerage? Power distribution to other areas?

The road that leads to the Main Gate. What former roads and highways does this join too?

[mikeo80]

ArmySgt:

These are good questions you have raised. Let me see if I can answer based on times I have played Damocles.

1) Damocles out by itself....to me, no brainer.

2) Communications: Could be low frequency, buried cable, heck, even satellite. IIRC, there is commo as part of environmental sensors.

3) No support team: I see what you are saying, but there is the other side of the coin:

(Picture if you will, a KGB officer and his control)

"Yes, sir, a platoon of US Army SF in the middle of Michigan. Yes, sir. No visible base. Yes, sir, the USSF are stationed Around the structures you see pictured here....."

Now a FROZEN SF force....that could be NASTY!!!! Wakes up upon first alert from Damocles. Soon as team crosses mine field, or starts shooting support towers, or other wise makes a nuisance of self. By the time team penetrates entrance bunker, there is a 12 man A-Team ready, willing and ABLE to stop you.

REALLY,REALLY NASTY: SF wakes when MRU destroyed....Damocles has instant link to MRU, Damocles KNOWS this is built on M60, knows (probably to last decimal place) how much force needed to destroy MRU, so that IF MRU stops transmitting that abrupt, like a TOW or Armbrust into the guts of MRU, even if team can pull this off without observation....SF Team wakes up.

4) Sewer, water, etc. The base was not designed for permanent occupancy. Programers, techs, etc in and out as needed. This can be glossed over, I think.

My $0.02

Mike

[dragoon500ly]

Originally Posted by mikeo80

ArmySgt:

These are good questions you have raised. Let me see if I can answer based on times I have played Damocles.

1) Damocles out by itself....to me, no brainer.

Arguments can be made both ways, but sooner or later Damocles is going to be connected to the defense network, it would simply be better, from a security point of view, if he is placed somewhere other than UP.

2) Communications: Could be low frequency, buried cable, heck, even satellite. IIRC, there is commo as part of environmental sensors.

Its actually a simple fix, just add a commo package to the Damocles tower.

3) No support team: I see what you are saying, but there is the other side of the coin:

(Picture if you will, a KGB officer and his control)

"Yes, sir, a platoon of US Army SF in the middle of Michigan. Yes, sir. No visible base. Yes, sir, the USSF are stationed Around the structures you see pictured here....."

Now a FROZEN SF force....that could be NASTY!!!! Wakes up upon first alert from Damocles. Soon as team crosses mine field, or starts shooting support towers, or other wise makes a nuisance of self. By the time team penetrates entrance bunker, there is a 12 man A-Team ready, willing and ABLE to stop you.

REALLY,REALLY NASTY: SF wakes when MRU destroyed....Damocles has instant link to MRU, Damocles KNOWS this is built on M60, knows (probably to last decimal place) how much force needed to destroy MRU, so that IF MRU stops transmitting that abrupt, like a TOW or Armbrust into the guts of MRU, even if team can pull this off without observation....SF Team wakes up.

The players of my next game are already cursing your name!!!!

4) Sewer, water, etc. The base was not designed for permanent occupancy. Programers, techs, etc in and out as needed. This can be glossed over, I think.

Another simple fix, simply add an additional room on the power level for the pump and air equipment

[mikeo80]

Originally Posted by dragoon500ly

The players of my next game are already cursing your name!!!!

Thank you, dragoon500!! What better way to be a Gm then to have another GM your little idea!!!

My $0.02

Mike

[mikeo80]

Originally Posted by dragoon500ly

Arguments can be made both ways, but sooner or later Damocles is going to be connected to the defense network, it would simply be better, from a security point of view, if he is placed somewhere other than UP.

IMHO, not really. You have Cheyene Mountain, Col. Instant communications to ALL missle command bases and ALL SAC bases and through low freq, communications to Posidon and Trident Missle Boats. IF you play BIG BANG is in 1987, there is communications to and from Cheyene to Looking Glass air craft.

You also have instant communications from POTUS to Cheyene, you have instant communications from DEW line and other sensor arrays in northern Alaska and Northern Canada. There is instant access to whatever satellites were available in 1987.

I just do not see Damocles being in UP as that big a problem.

My $0.02

Mike

[ArmySGT.]

He he he

Did anyone have their Team come outside to a 1/2 canabalized vehicle crawling with Maintenance Units?

"Uh oh, Damocles ate our Auto Nav!"

[ArmySGT.]

Originally Posted by mikeo80

ArmySgt:

These are good questions you have raised. Let me see if I can answer based on times I have played Damocles.

1) Damocles out by itself....to me, no brainer.

2) Communications: Could be low frequency, buried cable, heck, even satellite. IIRC, there is commo as part of environmental sensors.

3) No support team: I see what you are saying, but there is the other side of the coin:

(Picture if you will, a KGB officer and his control)

"Yes, sir, a platoon of US Army SF in the middle of Michigan. Yes, sir. No visible base. Yes, sir, the USSF are stationed Around the structures you see pictured here....."

Now a FROZEN SF force....that could be NASTY!!!! Wakes up upon first alert from Damocles. Soon as team crosses mine field, or starts shooting support towers, or other wise makes a nuisance of self. By the time team penetrates entrance bunker, there is a 12 man A-Team ready, willing and ABLE to stop you.

REALLY,REALLY NASTY: SF wakes when MRU destroyed....Damocles has instant link to MRU, Damocles KNOWS this is built on M60, knows (probably to last decimal place) how much force needed to destroy MRU, so that IF MRU stops transmitting that abrupt, like a TOW or Armbrust into the guts of MRU, even if team can pull this off without observation....SF Team wakes up.

4) Sewer, water, etc. The base was not designed for permanent occupancy. Programers, techs, etc in and out as needed. This can be glossed over, I think.

My $0.02

Mike

There is a Base or was a Base in the Vicinity.
K.I. Sawyer AFB.



I personally Group the Army SF Units under a broad Project title "Project Philippines" . Project Philippines personnel were to form Militia and Insurgent groups to counter any incursions by Warsaw Pact units.

The one I am blue skying for the Air Force is "Project Aftershock". A mixed unit of Air Commandos and Services personnel meant to restart DoD, Air Force, and National Command Authority communications through secondary and tertiary sites. As well as "Black" or off the books, not officially funded sites.

Like MP and Snake Eaters, they don't know the locations of all their assets or personnel. The computer spits out an automated Contingency plan and other materials on a as needed / need to know basis.

There is a Recon / Security element that looks over a site and makes an assessment, then brings in the Technicians and support personnel. The Security element then guards them.



Philippines was chosen as that was the U.S. Military's first Insurgency of the 20th Century.

[ArmySGT.]

Originally Posted by mikeo80

3) No support team: I see what you are saying, but there is the other side of the coin:

(Picture if you will, a KGB officer and his control)

"Yes, sir, a platoon of US Army SF in the middle of Michigan. Yes, sir. No visible base. Yes, sir, the USSF are stationed Around the structures you see pictured here....."

Now a FROZEN SF force....that could be NASTY!!!! Wakes up upon first alert from Damocles. Soon as team crosses mine field, or starts shooting support towers, or other wise makes a nuisance of self. By the time team penetrates entrance bunker, there is a 12 man A-Team ready, willing and ABLE to stop you.

REALLY,REALLY NASTY: SF wakes when MRU destroyed....Damocles has instant link to MRU, Damocles KNOWS this is built on M60, knows (probably to last decimal place) how much force needed to destroy MRU, so that IF MRU stops transmitting that abrupt, like a TOW or Armbrust into the guts of MRU, even if team can pull this off without observation....SF Team wakes up.


Mike

That can be explained. Damocles is in the state he is in because of the wargames software. Presumably the "Frozen SF Team" which is "Out of Play" for the test scenario and it would be unlikely the Scientists would be made aware of the Teams existence. The scientists would be lead to believe the Bots are the only security. So "Asset A" has remained frozen for 150 years, until Damocles is reset and damage alarms signal the "Asset A" cryotubes to awaken their sleepers.

Want to be even more vicious? It is not an SF Team at all. Dun dun DUN. It is civilian cryosleep researchers who have volunteered to test the long endurance cryosleep system for Damocles support staff and guardians. Yep, no weapon skills, no survival skills, and certainly unprepared to wake up 150 years after Ragnarok.

[ArmySGT.]

So what can Damocles do with a network?

In "Ruins of Chicago" there is the possibility of Damocles interfacing with the University through the former computer sciences lab. If the Uni factions can be brought under control.

In "Operation Lucifer" one option is that Damocles gives the Team, or awakens another Team by brute force extensive broadcasting of Morrow Project wakeup signals. The Team or the awoken team is given the coordinates for a the one that came down but was a dud.

In "Operation Lonestar" there is some hints that with the Morrowsat made active that Damocles can become the commo link for the Morrow assets that have been awakened.

That last part is interesting, because it can be Damocles that is now awakening Teams. The downside is Damocles has to spam the airwaves or ELF with hundreds of messages. All of which can be triangulated back.

• Hostile assets such as the KFS could be moving on Damocles
• Soviet cryosleep cells awakened and moving on Damocles
• Snake eater teams awakened and moving on Damocles
• Other U.S. assets in place against a rogue Damocles shoot a missile at Damocles
• Soviet systems like "Dead Hand" could activate and fire on the now active "U.S. C2 cell"
• A "New Presidency" could be moving on Damocles to further cement their "legitimacy".

[.45cultist]

Originally Posted by ArmySGT.

Hmmm anyone ever had the Team by pass the MDU?

That little bit with the big robot tank eating a snowmobile is supposed to intrigue the Team.

Secondly did anyones Team tell the Local "tough luck, sorry bout dat" and then follow the MDU back to Damocles?

More effort was placed in fleshing out the Village and the Encounters. The "Cons" could have been fleshed out more. Give the Team a second Mission effort there.

The Team Mission brief is weak. "Hey go look around, Remember the Directive".
Why is a small scale Team with a mission to scout so much Geographic area reporting this all the way back to Prime Base? Which is completely out of the Teams radio range to Transmit to. The Team should be wondering where their Combined Group Leader is, with strange activity on Isle Royale, the Teams first priority would be to link up with other Teams.

Damocles. Ok the cliched Sentient Computer. Nicely this one is grudgingly cooperative, once all his other options are taken away. No damn way would I as Team Leader rely on that thing, let alone hook it up to remnants of the US DoD infrastructure. Is it Hal 900, Skynet, or Robbie the Robot?

Why isn't there a Snake Eater Team or other "Frozen" asset in the area to do something about a "Compromised" Damocles, or a berzerk one?

The maps........ like the other Maps in the modules, damn near worthless.

The Vehicles.................. Some planner needs kicked in the nuts if the XR-311 was thought to be a good fit. Duh Team Members freezing to death is not a good idea. A V-150 APC or better a Bov 206 SUSV.


Snow shoes but not Snow skis or Sledge for dismounted look around?

If they are a non Standard Team not operating with other Teams why do they have a Standard radio? Why not in addition a long range AM Radio? Would not affect Canon much at all as there is no one else (friendly) to talk to.

No Soviets? This is a great modules to introduce some Soviets! Make the Team paranoid about what that facility with the gun mounts might be. Remnants of a Soviet Airborne, GRU (LR Recon), or Spetnaz unit that has married local and taken some of the cons to bolster their ranks. Maybe they have been resupplied after 150 years? Maybe they are in communication with Soviet Command structure remnants in the Urals.

The Damocles base. An elevator shaft? That is the sole entrance? Only one elevator shaft too. Really. Nothing must ever break, like say a elevator winch motor, or car cable breaks. Stairs. There should be stairs. Doesn't mean they door at the surface is weak, the DoD has lots of experience making missile silo crew doors.

The Damocles base were are the connections to the outside world? How did the phones connect to call the Pentagon? Satellite phone? Data cables?

Where is the supply and support section? The Motor Pool is the gound level, and the Fusion plant is in the basement. Where is water treatment? Sewerage? Power distribution to other areas?

The road that leads to the Main Gate. What former roads and highways does this join too?

The army's experimental M116 would have been another nice fit.

[ArmySGT.]

Originally Posted by .45cultist

The army's experimental M116 would have been another nice fit.

M116 Husky

M116 Husky Prototype video

BV 206 video

[.45cultist]

A nice special vehicle from certain depots for the teams.

[ArmySGT.]

Originally Posted by .45cultist

A nice special vehicle from certain depots for the teams.

I am going to stick with the BV 206. It was adopted by many armed forces including the U.S. Army and Marine Corps. That means stats are available and pictures!

Also it would be recognized by U.S. and Canadian forces as a NATO vehicle. This reduces the chances of being fired upon.

The M116 is a valid possibility. The MP does use vehicles that were not adopted or made in limited quantities.