T2K Adventure Module: Rook's Gambit

[Raellus]

This adventure module grew out of a rough mental outline of plans I had for my own long-running T2K PbP (we started with Pirates of the Vistula back in 2007 and it's still- kind of- going). Once I started putting ideas down on paper, this thing took on a life of its own. The attached 15-page module was produced over the last three days.

The adventure is set in northern Poland in the late autumn of 2000, and it roughly coincides with the strategic situation and unit locations described in the official GDW Going Home adventure module. In Rook's Gambit, the PCs are tasked with stopping a rogue Soviet general from nuking the American evacuation fleet anchorage at Bremerhaven, Germany. That's the hook, anyways. There's lots of different options for completing the mission so it's not as linear as it might appear to be at first glance. I'm really quite proud of it.

If any of you use Rook's Gambit with your own gaming group, I'd love to hear how it goes. As always, I'm open to constructive criticism (but I prefer kudos).

SPOILER: If you are a player in my Twilight Cruise PbP campaign, this module is serious metagaming bait. Unless you want to ruin the surprise for yourself, I advise you to wait until the current episode has unfolded to its conclusion before perusing this adventure module.

[LT. Ox]

Woot! I would play this in a heartbeat.
The only thing that might make it a bit more attractive (and that is a stretch) would be a group of pregenerated PC and NPC sheets.
Laugh, no I am not lazy ( wife peeks over his shoulder and snickers), this could be a great secondary start point for a small group of gamers. Having the escape behind them and making their way this far, now with a much paired down equipment list and perhaps a much more multinational group ( or not).
I love it and thanks for posting it

[Raellus]

No problem, Lt. Ox. I'm glad that you liked it.

[rcaf_777]

Why not add Major J.M. Sikorski and the Leader of the A-Team, if they are assets in the area the PC might sent to contact them?

[Raellus]

Originally Posted by rcaf_777

Why not add Major J.M. Sikorski and the Leader of the A-Team, if they are assets in the area the PC might sent to contact them?

I considered it. It's not a bad suggestion and I may end up following it. There's a bit of an issue regarding coherence with canon, though. Going Home has 1st Polish Free Legion in two spots. The entry on 2nd PFL says Sikorski went south to find the 1st PFL near Poznan. There's a separate entry on the 1st PFL that puts it north of 2nd PFL in Lezno. It's probably a clerical error because the 1st PFL entry mentions Poznan as well.

EDIT: Well, rcaf 777, it looks like I made a mistake with my map, and you helped me spot it. I mistook Lezno (near Gdansk) for Leszno, which is about 200m SSW of the former.

That places the 1st PFL quite a ways outside the region in which my module takes place. That said, there's no reason that the PCs couldn't run into Sikorski and his American SF advisor making their way towards Leszno. I'll see what I can put together.

EDIT: Here's the entry on Sikorski's partisans.

Major M. K. Sikorski, former Commander 2nd Polish Free Legion (50 irregular guerillas)

NPC Motivation:

Sikorski is the former commander of the 2nd Polish PFL and an ardent supporter of the pro-western Polish Free Congress government currently based out of Pila, Poland. About a year prior to the events of Rook's Gambit, Sikorski was ousted by his second in command, Major W. Anders (formerly, Captain Anders), barely escaping the palace coup usurping his command with his hide intact. He and about 50 loyal partisans are living off the land as they slowly make their way south to join up with 1st Polish Free Legion in Leszno, Poland. Sikorski is accompanied by the last surviving member of an American Special Forces A-Team sent to advise and support the 2nd PFL, Communications Sergeant Donald Farmer. Due to technical difficulties, Sikorski and his men are no longer in regular communications with NATO or the PFL. Sikorski's partisans are lightly equipped with small arms (assault rifles, light machineguns, and RPGs). Their heaviest support weapon is a 60mm mortar.

Referee's Notes: Major Sikorski isn't particularly interested in helping the PCs take the MADM from Chilikov. He is, however, very interested in taking back command of the 2nd PFL, and will assist the PCs in any attempt to remove Major Anders from power. If Anders has somehow obtained the MADM, Sikorski can be a valuable ally. He will not attempt to seize control of the MADM for himself, but will insist that it be turned over to the Polish Free Congress in Pila. If the PCs refuse to do so, Sikorski will deny them his support.

[Ancestor]

I love this! However, my only thought (and actually I've been thinking alot about this in case my sons/PCs go NE from Kalisz) is where are the 2nd MarDiv ships? I'm almost of the point in my campaign that the 2nd MarDiv controls the Baltic coast, 8ID has ensured the security of the Baltic States from the Red Menace, and, there may in fact be an LPD in the Baltic that will take all those who want to go home back to the US. For those who want to stay ( and their vehicles, weapons, and equipment) there will be a new Hanseatic League to oppose the Red Menace. Given an SU24 and "the bomb", they are a new superpower.