What Happened in Your T2kU?

[swaghauler]

1) The Soviet Union falls, Germany reunited.

2) First Gulf War occurs.

3) Clinton becomes President and begins to disband the US Military to provide a "peace dividend" to the American people.

4) The US becomes embroiled in a number of "peacekeeping missions" designed to promote democracy. Kosovo, Restore Hope, the interventions in Africa, East Timor, and Kurdish Iraq all happen... spreading out US military personnel all over the globe.

5) The Mexican elections in 96 go south and Mexico becomes a "Narco-Puppet" State. The US stages a series of "interventions" in Mexico which create chaos and a deep resentment of the US. US Mexican relations deteriorate further when a series of incidents at the border leaves both US residents and immigrants dead.

6) Russia, looking for "friends," brokers a tenuous peace between Iran and Iraq using the "enemy of my enemy is my friend" strategy.

7) The Serbian conflict begins to escalate in late 96, led by "Russian sympathizers," forcing NATO to step up operations there.

8) The First Chechen War sees Russia suffer a number of defeats. Boris Yeltsin is assassinated and after a bit of upheaval in the government, a new President takes Office. Vladimir Putin takes control of the Russian government in early '97.

9) Russia begins selling major military hardware to Mexico. The Mexicans want tanks, aircraft, and heavy weapons... the Russians NEED hard currency. This becomes a "match made in hell" for American interests in the region when Mexican drug gangs begin using AKs and RPGs to settle scores on American streets.

10) In early 97, Russia and the CCP begin to have a conflict over natural resources in the far East. As Fracking hasn't been used on a large scale yet, and the Middle East is in shambles from the 1st Gulf War, energy is in high demand everywhere, and Russia aims to supply it to get back on sound economic footing.

11) Russia rearms Iraq and enhances Iran's defenses with surplus weapons and armor in exchange for oil, which it sells illegally to both Europe and Asia, stabilizing its own economy in the process.

12) Russia sells nuclear secrets to NK as well as providing more modern aircraft to the regime. In addition, the Russians sell several Naval assets and aircraft to the Indian Army which is fighting Pakistan in the Kashmir. These sales help the Russians build up the more advanced weapon systems in their arsenal.

13) Russia begins a secret plan to "destabilize" Eastern Europe after the Visegrad agreement between The Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland threatens Russia's newly rising economic power in Europe. It places "revolutionary agents" in the various former Soviet States to "stir the pot." There is little movement outside of the Balkans which erupt into open conflict with NATO, mostly in Serbia. The Russians secretly arm these rebels and NATO finds itself fighting against well-armed insurgents in the region.

14) in late '97, Russian-backed communists in Poland (and supported by Belarus) begin clandestine attacks on government officials over what they view as a poor economic investment in the country. The Polish government begins a campaign to destroy this movement which is supposedly made up of disgruntled Poles but in reality, is a highly trained group of Russian Spetnaz, and the would-be revolutionaries take shelter in Belarus. The Polish government raids the revolutionary base in Belarus. Belarus protests and Russia moves troops to the Belarus and Polish borders.

15) In the spring of '98, Russia and CCP go to all-out war! The Russians make good initial gains until the People's Army surrounds the invaders. The Russians use Thermobaric munitions and gas attacks to slaughter the Chinese. The UN condemns Russia's actions. The US begins to send China aid.

16) The Polish government requests assistance from Germany and the NATO powers to stop the attacks on its soil, which have ramped up in the wake of the Polish incursion into Belarus. US, British, and German troops cross into Poland to help the Poles "keep the peace." The Poles decide to secure a region of Belarus that formerly belonged to Poland as a "buffer zone." Belarus counter-attacks and Russian troops follow behind. The war in Europe is now beginning in the summer of '98.

17) NATO is split with some members deciding to help and others abstaining.
The Czechs decide to help the Poles and Russia moves forces to the Czech border in retaliation.

18) Russia convinces NK that IF they attack South Korea, the Russians will not only assist the North Koreans but will tie up America in Europe and the Middle East. North Korea advances south using barrage techniques and Russian Thermobarics to scorch South Korea. The US and South Korean forces stop them COLD.

19) Russia convinces Iran and Iraq to launch joint operations against the US and Saudis. Syria decides to sit this out but does provide clandestine aid to both Russia and Shite Militias fighting with the Iranians.

20) The Russians offer to help the Mexicans retake the US West Coast and send a large force deceptively called the Cuba Division to help with an invasion of the US. The US is forced to use Reserves and National Guard units to repel Mexican T55Ms and Russian T72Ms rolling into the Southwest. The Russian offensive bogs down.

21) In late '99 (November) a desperate Russia, being thrown back on all fronts, begins using NUCLEAR WEAPONS. Mostly tactical weapons (150kt or less), which are used to hit specific Strategic targets but a few larger sub-launched weapons are used. In China, the Russians OBLITERATE the Chinese Army with nuclear weapons, leaving the country in total chaos. The large Strategic Missiles sit in their bunkers awaiting commands which never come. They are STILL sitting there when the game begins. The US then retaliates and for a little while, it looks like there could be peace... IF only there were someone who could broker it. Sadly, that doesn't happen. The war begins to pick up again in the spring of 2000. The military has now begun to "live off the land," planting crops, moving livestock in supply trains, and making biodiesel to fuel their machines of war.

22) Fall of 2000. "You're on your own!"

I basically spread the US "paper-thin" across the globe to give Russia a chance of winning. My idea for Poland has been laughed at a lot, right up until Russia took the Crimea and the fighting started in the Donetsk region. People told me, "there are NO WAY commandos could invade a country without that country wiping them out." Today I'd say: "go watch the fall of the Crimea."

The reason for shortening the timeline was to make sure no country was able to mobilize its economy to a war-time footing. This war escalated so quickly that it became a "come as you are war" with the combatants taking equipment out of mothballs to fill a dire need.

My nuclear war (referred to as The Exchange) occurs in '99 so the PCs have less than a year to develop the survival skills that they will need. The PCs will be learning how to survive JUST AS THE PLAYERS WILL BE, during play.

This is an abbreviated history, and I do keep a lot of the tactical actions in the initial RAW history. Do what you will with it.

[pmulcahy11b]

The Star Wars program yielded near-mature technology by 1988, and only improved from there. It intercepted about 30% of incoming warheads. Due to Soviet technology being subpar in many ways, many of their warheads missed their targets, were lost to fratricide, or simply never detonated. Some warheads only generated subyield explosions. Subpar Soviet tech led to another 8% of warheads being ineffective or only partially effective.

San Antonio, for example, was totally spared nuclear attack, despite having one primary target, two secondary targets, and one tertiary target. The warheads destined for Cape Canaveral were mostly intercepted, with one detonating in the Atlantic Ocean, generating a small tsunami which caused a wave of one meter to roll over the Cape. The warheads destined for the bases in Colorado Springs were largely intercepted, except for one sub-yield blast which detonated on top of Cheyenne Mountain and only generated 5 kt. Another dropped into downtown Colorado Springs, but only the conventional trigger explosives detonated, yielding the effects of a dirty bomb.

[Raellus]

In a long running PbP (almost 14 years old, IRL!) that a couple of us here play in, Gdansk survived a couple of low-yield nuclear strikes earlier in the war and is currently endeavoring to maintain it's recently-declared, and hard-pressed, free city status. The PCs are doing what they can to help, taking on threats external (Soviet besiegers, marauders of various stripes) and internal (rogue militia, saboteurs, etc.). It's been great fun.

The game roughly follows the v1 timeline, and uses the v2.2 rules. That one change from canon (minor, significant?) of Gdansk's survival has opened up a lot of interesting world-building from the Ref, and engaging gameplay opportunities for the PCs.

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[Drgonzo2011]

I use the V1 as a base, but modify a few things, due to the tone I want for my game (a bit more hopeful and focused on rebuilding).

1. The strategic nuclear exchange happens but is less extensive (for example, no strikes around LA). Its still enough to cripple the US, USSR and Europe (and cause China to collapse), but there is more a foundation left to rebuild on.
2. The Soviet incursion in Alaska happens, but is carried out by much smaller units, mostly Spetsnaz and small airborne units sent in to (successfully) disrupt oil production and tie up some Allied forces.
3. The Mexican invasion is more "Red Dawn" in that it is a coalition of Latin American Soviet clients, backed up by some Soviet units. The end result - parts of the southwest occupied and still an active warzone - is similar, but this seems more reasonable than Mexico deciding to take on a nuclear armed country on its own.
4. The 2000 offensive in Europe is partially successful, in that it leads to a coup in the USSR and a ceasefire in-place. NATO forces are still burned out, but the Soviets are not an active threat. Of course, Europe is still heavily damaged and there are enough marauders, warlords and rouge military units to keep player busy.
5. No US government split. There is still NA - as well as other, smaller extremists and separatist movements - but the main tension is between a crippled Federal government and various regional groupings. It's a little more like the situation in the novel War Day.
6. Italy and Greece declare neutrality, but do not go to war with NATO. There are some border skirmishes. In this case, the "fast convoy" battle happens (starving allied forces in the Balkan for resources) but is carried out by Soviet subs in the Med. The practical changes are in Africa, where the Greece-Italian Alliance is active, moving into resources rich areas. In some ways, they are another France, countries that managed to avoid the worst of the war and are major players in the immediate post-war world.

Overall, the idea is to focus more on trying to rebuild a devastated world and not just the depressing survival mode that the base game can easily drift into.

[swaghauler]

Originally Posted by Drgonzo2011

I use the V1 as a base, but modify a few things, due to the tone I want for my game (a bit more hopeful and focused on rebuilding).

1. The strategic nuclear exchange happens but is less extensive (for example, no strikes around LA). Its still enough to cripple the US, USSR and Europe (and cause China to collapse), but there is more a foundation left to rebuild on.
2. The Soviet incursion in Alaska happens, but is carried out by much smaller units, mostly Spetsnaz and small airborne units sent in to (successfully) disrupt oil production and tie up some Allied forces.
3. The Mexican invasion is more "Red Dawn" in that it is a coalition of Latin American Soviet clients, backed up by some Soviet units. The end result - parts of the southwest occupied and still an active warzone - is similar, but this seems more reasonable than Mexico deciding to take on a nuclear armed country on its own.
4. The 2000 offensive in Europe is partially successful, in that it leads to a coup in the USSR and a ceasefire in-place. NATO forces are still burned out, but the Soviets are not an active threat. Of course, Europe is still heavily damaged and there are enough marauders, warlords and rouge military units to keep player busy.
5. No US government split. There is still NA - as well as other, smaller extremists and separatist movements - but the main tension is between a crippled Federal government and various regional groupings. It's a little more like the situation in the novel War Day.
6. Italy and Greece declare neutrality, but do not go to war with NATO. There are some border skirmishes. In this case, the "fast convoy" battle happens (starving allied forces in the Balkan for resources) but is carried out by Soviet subs in the Med. The practical changes are in Africa, where the Greece-Italian Alliance is active, moving into resources rich areas. In some ways, they are another France, countries that managed to avoid the worst of the war and are major players in the immediate post-war world.

Overall, the idea is to focus more on trying to rebuild a devastated world and not just the depressing survival mode that the base game can easily drift into.

You think along the same lines that I do.

[stilleto69]

Wow, so many of you guys think the same way as I do.

Well, here's some of my tangents.

1) Prewar history includes Desert Storm, Operation Restore Hope, which is what caused the US Army to re-evaluate "Light" forces.

2) The 5th ID (M) was not totally destroyed at Kalisz, "4th Bde" (basically what was left of the Avn Bde, Artillery Bde & Discom) were on the other side one of the "bridges" near Popowek, when the radio call is made. They quickly destroyed the bridge and their rear supply area and began withdrawing back toward the US 2nd MARDIV's lines.

3) The Soviet forces hitting the US 5th ID (M) were reduced by an airstrike on their force several days earlier. (One of the last major airstrikes of the war) as well as Poletsi being hit & hit hard during the nuclear exchanges, most from the Soviet's fear that they would lose Romania completely.

4) Going Home - the 7th US Army stayed in Germany, the 4th US Army units are split on obeying. Also, a covert deal is made between GEN Cummings & his German counterpart where the Americans leaving are allowed to withdraw with some heavy vehicles, due to the invasion of the US. The Germans are "given" several replacement Pershing I missiles to compensate for the loss.

5) More surviving naval forces, USN, Russian, UK, etc.

6) Nuclear strikes on the US are less severe, due to a combination of Soviet sub-par technology, a more robust Star Wars system, and sheer luck. I.e. the strike on Cape Canaveral was not precise, in fact, a couple of the warheads hit some of the old unused launch pads that were last used in the 60's.

7) The invasion of Alaska still takes place. Initial Soviet forces are successful, but alert US forces completely devastate reinforcements. Major Soviet command sets up HQ @ Elmendorf AFB - only to be destroyed during TDM in the ultimate act of "friendly fire".

8) VP Pemberton was not killed, but in a severe coma. Currently held by GEN Cummings in a secret location. Which is why he refuses to recognize Pres. Broward.

9) Invasion of the Southwest still occurs, but like Matt's was ended by opening cans of "instant sunshine" on Mexican support units and supply depots.

10) France is not "left alone". Once the nukes started flying, they get hit again mostly from Soviet weapons as the surviving Soviet High Command did not want a "fully functional" nuclear power left on Europe.

11) Several Italian, Greek and Belgium units "defecting" to NATO to protest their countries' "cowardice" and backstabbing of NATO.

12) More "fantasy" vehicles i.e. F-16Fs, F-19s, F-20s, etc. than in real life.

There's more, but those are most of the major ones I have.

[Rainbow Six]

Scotland beat England 3-0 in the final of Euro ’96 at Wembley.

Oh, wait, that’s not what you’re looking for is it?

I’ve never really gone in for major deviations. As I think I’ve mentioned before, when I first started playing many years ago we ignored New America because it seemed too…outlandish / cartoonish…for a group of late teenagers in Scotland in the 1980’s. That’s kind of stuck with me throughout my T2K ‘career’ so if / when I was to do anything set in the USA I wouldn’t use New America, I’d use some sort of home brew replacement.

Most of my alternate UK timeline follows the standard V1 one with some minor and non game critical changes - the Queen does NOT abdicate (whoever thought that was a good idea in the canon SGUK really didn’t do their homework) but is killed when a ‘lucky’ nuclear strike hits the UK command bunker. Same strike conveniently takes out Prince Charles and most of the Government making William King, although i do leave some wiggle room for Charles to have potentially survived but be incapacitated using the ‘if you don’t see the body’ trope…

I have the French covertly meddling in UK domestic affairs, primarily by arming the Scottish Separatists - the Welsh were offered the same deal but are more isolationist so declined (in my game world the French want to keep the UK destabilised to give France a greater chance of emerging as the undisputed European power after the War).

I did at one point disregard the Irish invasion of Northern Ireland but I eventually came round to the viewpoint that it was a key part of the timeline so instead of ignoring it I tried to find ways to make it work and retconned it back into my alternate UK timeline.

I gave the RAF a couple of squadrons of F16's - the ones that were originally meant to go to Pakistan but were embargoed and ended up (I think) sitting at Davis Monthan for a while.

There’s been a couple of times where I’ve done the same as the Gdansk game and decided that it didn’t suit the game for a certain location to be nuked so I ignored the nuke strike.

Nothing particularly major though. And no Gulf War 1.