Encounter Groups

[Apache6]

Hello: Since finding this site, I went back and found and converted some old files, that have details of NPC groups. I believe this is approbriate to post, and hope others will find this interesting. Perhaps others could do the same and this could thread could become a reference set to allow access to 'fleshed out' groups, so it's easy to say more than you encounter a maraduer group...

I'm going to post each of the groups I have as seperate to allow them to be cut and pasted. I hope these are useful.

[Apache6]

Krasnova’s Crusaders: This unit ‘deserted’ from a Soviet Motor Rifle Regiment, constituting the majority of what remains of one of the Soviet Motor Rifle Bns. Krasnova was a veteran senior sergeant, a Ukranian, his father was an a Eastern Orthodox Christian Holy Man. After seeing too many of his men killed and having killed too many innocent civilians, he lead a mutiny against the “godless communists fanatics” in charge of the Bn. The unit now consists of 50 soldiers, a BMP-2, T-72 Tank, 1 10 ton URAL truck (with PK MMG mounted) and an ‘acquired’ Toyota SUV with an improvised pintel. Both the SUV and Truck have had a radio mounted. Each Sqd leader and Krasnova have a manpack radio. The SUV was red, but has had a hasty ‘camouflage’ paintjob.
-Tank Team: Driver, Gunner, Cmdr. Has 9 AT, 3 HE Rds for main gun, 600 rds for coax(7.62), 250 rds for 12.7. Their only set of Smoke Grenade Rds is loaded. Desant Squad: Sqd Ldr (Ak74), 2 fire Tms (each w 1 RPK, 1 RPG-16, 3 Ak-74). When unit is moving it will be hauling a 10 ton trailer, carrying their still and other supplies.
-BMP-2 Team: Driver, Gunner, Vehicle has 120 rds for 30mm, 300 rds for coax, 2 AT-5 missile. Sgd Ldr (Ak-74), 2 fire tms. (each w 1 RPK, 1 RPG-16, 3 Ak-74)
-Truck Team: Driver, Mechanic and Fuel Tech (runs the still) in front seat, a PK MMG w 200 rd is mounted on pintel, operated from bed of truck by soldier with no right leg. Carries 2 squads of nine in back. If displacing, the truck will be hauling a field kitchen trailer.
-Headquarters. Carried in Toyota SUV. Driver (MP-5 SMG), Krasnova himself (AKR-74, M9 pistol), his bodyguard (Ak74wB15 GL), His sniper (SVD), either an AT-5 ATGM (3 missiles) or the PK MG can be mounted on an improvised pintle over the moon roof. Tows a 1 ton trailer on the move. Krasnova is most likely to use the AT-5 ATGM against any armor threat, since he is the best trained on it, and it’s a prestige weapon.

Krasnova is a decent man. He will fight loyal Soviets and marauders, and try to make alliance with any NATO units or civilians. A challenge for them is that this unit mostly looks like many other Soviet regular units or worse, units that have turned marauder. They have been challenged to gain trust.

[Apache6]

“Lawrence’s Company”: This is a gang led by Lawrence Toler, he styles himself as a Commando leading a resistance movement against the “Fascist MilGov.” They are mostly trained fighters. He is fairly unpredictable and has sometimes been generous and humane and also demonstrated extreme sadism, the latter in a calculated attempt to intimidate potential enemies. While they have raided Government positions and “collaborators,” this has most often been to secure supplies. In truth they are basically mostly marauders and bandits; though not all of them admit that even to themselves.
Lawrence is a pre-war Army Veteran, he was a Paratroop Sgt, and Ranger Tabbed, when he got out. He’s armed with a CAR-15, 10mm pistol, 2 grenades and a machete and is always accompanied by two poorly trained pit pulls. His XO, Don Thames, most often accompanies him everywhere, he’s carrying a pump shotgun, 2 pistols, and a machete. The mobile elements of his “Company” is organized into four squads:
- Support Squad: 2 ‘snipers’ with (scoped deer rifles) and a M-60E3 with about 600 rounds. MG is manned by two deserters from Army (used to be part of a helo crew) one effects a Rambo persona. Supported by his ex crew chief (still wears the kit). They have one LAW rocket. Lawrence’s brother Donn is one of the ‘snipers’ and leads this ‘squad.’
- “Grenadier Squad” this team of four is armed primarily with pistols, 5-6 grenades each, and knives and machetes. There ldr has a 12 ga pump with no stock. They make a strength out of their poor weapons and will try to sneak in close, often at night and engage by grenades. The squad ldr was a high school jock, and has a very good arm and is good at throwing grenades or knives. (Ldr is trained, others green)
- First rifle squad has four men (all trained) 1 M16, 2 semi auto AK-47s, 1 M-1 Garand, 2 pistols and 2 grenades. The leader of this squad (armed with the M16, .45) is growing increasingly disillusioned with this Resistance Movement, since he’s seeing them become more like bandits.
- Second rifle squad has four men (all green) 1 Ak-47, 2 x 12 PA shotgun, 1 LA 30-30 (w .357), One of the guys with shotgun is actually 17 years old, but looks 12. The leader of this ‘squad’ is sadistic, and will often get carried away and lose situational awareness.

Vehicles: They have several vehicles, but they primarily use them for their raids, most of the recon being done on foot or bicycles, due to limited fuel. When required, they can easily field a SUV or pickup truck for each of the “squads.” One pickup has a pintel mounted in pack for the M60, turning it into a technical.

Their base camp is a small apartment complex which they have taken over. Several of the garages are stuffed with lot, including 8 tons of canned/preserved food that Lawerence has been doling out to try and maintain local support. They are fairly careful to be low key/polite around their home base and to talk up themselves as resistance fighters. The daily distribution of food and perceived security makes some happy. The fact that they are holding women against their will and that they have beaten people
to "maintain order" make others silently hostile. If PCs encounter locals: 25% chance that the locals will support the gang and provide information and early warning, 50% they will not say anything either way, and just want to be left alone, and 25% will actively/willingly provide information.

Their base camp will always have a roving guard w a shotgun. Three other armed people (2 female) in building (1 scoped rifle, 1 AR-15, one bolt action Mauser). In addition to the above, there will be 8 willing and 2 unwilling women, and a dozen children. One of the gang members, is wounded and has a bullet wound in upper chest, unable to do anything. They have created a communal outdoor kitchen.

If the PCs could possibly be perceived as being MilGov Loyalists, or of threatening "his turf" they are very likely to be attacked.

[Apache6]

Apache Company:

Intro: This is a Marine Rifle Co that has seen a huge amount of heavy combat on three continents and remained a cohesive formation. This is attributable to the excellent leadership and tactical competence, traits that the current leadership exhibits very well. Majority of the unit are well trained veterans equipped with standard and remarkably well maintained weapons and equipment including body armor and helmets. Notably all the Marines are clean shaven. 60 combatants, plus 18 women and children, 8 of the woman and teenagers are armed and will fight in ‘self-defense.’ 42 personnel are assigned Marines or Sailors, they are reinforced by 3 Soldiers and 15 other men.

Primary offensive strength is 55 personnel, well armed with 2 MMGs, 1 60mm mortar, 2 RPG-16, 8 M203s, 1 M40 Sniper rifle, and a good number of SAWs and assault rifles. They will make excellent use of sniper and well aimed rifle fire. This Marines are well trained veterans, they are reinforced by a wide range of volunteers, who are fairly well integrated. The collective group is very well rehearsed in battle drills. They know they don’t have a huge amount of ammo, so they are conservative about the use of heavier weapons. Most Marines carry a frag grenade or maybe two. M203 gunners have 1-2 HEDP, 3-4 HE, and 4 – 7 buckshot rds each.
They use very good standard patrolling/small unit tactics SOPs and are well rehearsed in employment. Most likely to encounter a team or squad sized patrol, initially. They will conceal their strength and conduct good recon before engaging. When required, they most often attack at night, they have several NVGs remaining but there training and experience give them the biggest advantage. They have proven very capable of destroying enemy armor units from ambush. They have one PRC-168 (fictional replacement for PRC-68, small short range VHF) radios, powered by rechargeable batteries for each squad. They use them sparingly when moving or conducting operations. They make radio contact with Battalion, 3 times a day, in according to predetermined schedule. The Battalion is continuing marauder suppression missions throughout the area, the company is acting on mission orders to destroy marauder bands and enable local security.
Organization:
Headquarters Element: Lt Gard: (M16 w ACOG, 9mm, binos and PVS 14 NVG, Prior-Enlisted ‘Mustang,’ intelligent, duty bound and conscientious of his men’s worth), GySgt Conrad (M4/M203 w ACOG, 9mm, powerfully built, loyal, and charismatic), Doc Clark (M4, 9mm, Med Kit), Pvt Jared (Runner/RTO, M16, PRC-138 multifunction VHF/HF Radio, he’s a now 16 year old “kid” who was captured with a group of marauders a year ago an given option to ‘enlist’ or be hung, he wears full USMC kit, and is fiercely loyal to Apache Co). A local law enforcement officer has ‘attached himself,’ and acts as a guide. (12ga pump, .45, body armor, black ‘fatigues’, kevlar helmet and body armor’)
Sniper Tm: SSgt Six (M16 with ACOG and PVS14 NVG, 9mm, Ruger 10/22 for small game, PRC-168), Cpl Krunski has an M40 sniper rifle, suppressed 9mm “sten gun” which takes M9 mags, and a M9). They do double duty as scouts and hunters. Not above bringing back a dog to eat.

1st Sqd: Sqd Ldr (M16 and PRC-168 VHF Radio, 9mm)
- 1st Tm: Tm Ldr (M203), Auto Rifle (M249, US Army Tanker, recovered from POW Camp), 1 USMC Rifleman (M16 w ACOG). Ivan (Estonian deserter from Soviet Paras (Ak74, wears Soviet kit).
- 2d Tm: Tm Ldr (M203 w ACOG), Auto Rifle (M249), 1 USMC Rifleman (M16, AT-4 rocket), 19 yr old local volunteer (M16, .45, sawed off double barrel 12ga, wears woodland trousers, dark brown leather jacket).
2d Sqd: Sqd Ldr (M4, 9mm, PRC-168), Doc Cuter (USN, Ak-74, 9mm, med kit, started out assigned as a fire control man on a destroyer, retrained as Corpsman)
- 1st Tm: Tm Ldr (M4/M203 w ACOG, 9mm) Auto Rifleman (M249, Tokerav Pistol, gets drunk every chance he gets), 1 USMC Rifleman (M16 w ACOG, compound bow mostly used for hunting, but was used once in combat when they did not want to give away the direction of attack). Local volunteer (Ak74, blue jeans, hiking boots, ‘real tree’ brand cammo jacket, 25 yrs old, was college student).
- 2d Tm: Tm Ldr (M4/M203 w ACOG), Auto Rifle (M249), 1 USMC Rifleman (by MOS he’s an electronic repairman, M16). Mexican Deserter (M16, 9mm, wears Mexican OD green utility trousers and pack, US woodland top with no patches, black ‘dew rag’ and USMC Kevlar helmet)
- 3d Tm: Tm Ldr (Salty British Royal Marine LCpl, SA-80, suppressed “sten-gun.’), Rifleman (M16 w ACOG, binos, Soviet RPG-22). These two make great scouts.
3d Sqd: Sqd Ldr (M4, 9mm, PRC-168, This SSgt started out as a Maintenance Management Supervisor for Marine Air Wing, She has learned OJT, and is now salty) and “Designated Marksman” (USMC LCpl w Designated Marksman Rifle (M-14 rifle w scope, 9mm)
- 1st Tm: Tm Ldr (M203, 9mm,) Auto Rifleman (M249, .45), 1 USMC Rifleman (M16 w ACOG). Local volunteer (M16, surplus woodland cammo, USMC Kevlar helmet, hiking boots, 28 year old Information System Tech)
- 2d Tm: Tm Ldr (Volunteer Vet, 30 years old, did a tour w 82 Airborne, 87 – 91, M-203, .45 pistol, wears US Army uniform w SPC4 rank, USMC Kevlar helmet), Grenadier M203 w ACOG), Auto Rifle (M249), 1 USMC Rifleman (by MOS he’s an Motor Transport Driver, M16).
- 3d Tm: Tm Ldr (M203, he’s a CH-46 crew chief by MOS), Auto Rifle (M249 CH-46 mech by MOS), Volunteer rifleman (31 yr old, armed w .308 deer rifle w scope, .40 cal pistol, was a furniture mover, in mix of woodland and duck hunter cammo), volunteer rifleman (armed w Remington 870 12 ga shotgun, .357 revolver, 22 yrs old worked at a muffler shop, hunter cammo).
Weapons Sqd: Sqd Ldr (M4, PRC-168, by MOS he's an Armorer),
- Assault Engineer Team: Tm ldr (Sgt Torres is a CbtEngr, M4 w ACOG, 9mm), Cpl Lowe (Assault man w M4, RPG-16 (2rks)), a Engineer, (LCpl Torn is 6’4” and “built like a horse”, M16 w underslung M870 shotgun (mostly for door breaching)), 45 year old local volunteer (armed w RPG-16 (2 rockets), a ‘sten gun’, 9mm, he was Construction Contractor pre-war, very good at improvising ‘stuff.’ Wears ‘duck hunter’ cammo. This team has 3 high quality improvised claymores, a LAW rocket, a Soviet AT mine, 6 wooden AP mines, 1 20# satchel C-4, 30# of civilian TNT in .5KG blocks, in an MG cart (think stretcher on Mountain Bike tires).
- MG Team: Tm Ldr (M16 w ACOG, Binos), 1 Gunner (M60E3 w ACOG, 9mm) , Ammo bearer (M16, his left leg is a good quality prosthetic, it’s noticeable, but he functions). Gunner (M60E3, 9mm), local volunteer ammo bearer (Ak74, 2 grenades, 30yr old Ex Accountant, his wife and 2 kids are in the trains, he was a resistance leader, with a bounty on his head from a local gang). They have a MG cart loaded w 300 rds extra ammo, tripods and T&Es, 2 entrenching tools, hatchet, machete, and 2 water jugs). They have 1100 total 7.62 rds. Each gunner normally carries the gun and 100 rds, each ammo bearer carries a spare barrel and 300 rds. Leaving 300 extra in the ammo cart, which can, and has, doubled as a stretcher attested to by the bloodstains.
- Mortar Team: 1 USMC Cpl (M4, 9mm, PRC-68, M224 60mm mortar w assault plate, laser range finder, this Cpl is “freaky accurate” in handheld mode), One USMC ammo bearer (M16, mortar round vest, he suffers badly from PTSD, cool during a fight shakes heavily afterward), one “punitively assigned draftee” (M16, he’s not that bright, was caught stealing a cow, was given the option of enlistment or chain gang by a local sheriff, he’s wearing woodland cammo mechanics coveralls, a mortar rd vest, and a old fashioned steel helmet), Machine Gun cart with 12 pre-war HE rds (3,500 m range), 27 war time “reload HE rds” (1,000m rg, 5% chance of dud, 1% chance of misfire in tube), 3 illum rounds, 3 WP rounds, the mortar bipod, base plate, sights and aiming stakes) Mortar Round vests carries 10 Rds each

Support Team: Sgt Jennings (USMC, M16, wounded in Arty barrage (lost one eye, right arm is crippled, can still lead, and organize defense). SP4 Gangin (US Army Female, M16, was Admin clerk), SP4 Wokij (US Army Arty, M16, no body armor/helmet, was picked up hiding, proven to be ‘flighty’ in a fight, is terrified of Gunny and works hard), Petty Officer NGuin (Female Navy Seabee, M16, 9mm). Local volunteer (Semi Auto M-14, .45, kurka knife, 30 yr old ‘rambo wannabee,’ used to be obese, wears woodland uniform w boney cover that hang off him since he’s lost nearly 100#). They have a machine gun cart w bolt cutters, axe, machete, pick, sledge hammer, 2 x shovels, 2 x 200’ ropes, carabineers and a couple of pulleys, 4 x 5 gallon water jugs, water purifier, solar battery charger blanket.

Combat Trains: In addition to the support team, the Companies “combat train” includes 18 additional souls: 10 women, 4 teenagers (Girl, 16, Boy 15, Girl, 14, Boy 13), 3 kids (boy 9, girls 7 & 6), 1 baby. Not all of the women are just camp followers, 8 of the women and three of the teens are included in the ‘watch rotation.’ One M249 (one drum of ammo), a 30-30 lever action rifle, and a 12 ga SA shotgun are handed off by ‘watch standers.’ Everyone who stands watch is trained to use the weapons. Renee Holland was a competent office manager, she was captured by marauders, since being rescued she has effectively lead and organized the ‘non-combatants.’ Clara Cromwell is a superb scrounger/cook/trader (has been given an a M16, wears North Face camping trousers and shirt, civilian backpack, hiking boots and a T-shirt), “Doctor” Gonzales (Pretty 35 yr old nurse, lots of prewar ER experience, has learned a lot by OJT, rescued from same group of marauders that Pvt Jared was drafted from, .357 revolver, med kit, blue jeans and dark blue ‘scrub top.’), Carrie Longer has an Ak74 (which she took from a would be rapist, khaki cargo pants and shirt), Joshua, a 15 year old boy (has .308 deer rifle w scope; he aspires to be a member of the sniper team; he wears a mix of civilian and woodland cammo), 13 yr old boy (10/22 rifle w scope, he’s good at taking rabbits/squirrels/birds). Tanya Jenkins was an avid gardener and understands edible plants, she now helps organize food gathering, and the preservation and packing of donated food. She has a ‘basically’ trained German shepherd, who augment the guard and will alert against intruders. She also has horse, called “Mr. Ed.” Either her, or the 16-year-old girl ride Mr Ed, they have been used to carry messages. If the unit is moving, he is normally used to pull supplies in an improvised horse cart with rubber truck tires. 2 machine gun carts are also available and used to carry tents, food, camp gear….
If the unit is conducting major operations, this will leave 11 personnel armed with long arms at the camp (8 have their own, plus the 3 weapons that rotate among the watch standers). The people in the trains are not as well trained as the offensive element, but Sgt Jennings has organized and ran basic defensive training for everyone, and he closely supervises the ‘guard force’ and runs periodic drills. They will normally maintain an observation post/listening post, 500m (+/-) from the camp along the high speed avenue of approach (normally has 3 people (one military member, one of the women (w .30-30) and one teenager may or not be armed). The OP/LP has a claymore mine, AT-4 rocket and field phone.

One family group is the wife of one of the volunteers plus their 7 and 6 yr old girls, they have to move due to threats since he ‘joined up.’ One women, 20yr old has a 5 mo old who is ‘war wife’ of SSgt Six, the 14 yr old girl is “distractingly pretty” (also rescued, she is ‘man-crazy’ and wants to be Lt Gard’s girlfriend badly, Gunny & Renee have made her ‘off-limits, blue jeans and t-shirt). Currently they are taking care of 2 ladies (26, 24, who were recently freed from a gang and suffering from PTSD, they will likely be ‘settled’ when they can find a suitable situation. Their families were burned out by the gang), the 9 year old boy is an orphan who attached himself to Apache Co nearly a year ago, he’s become the unit “mascot.”
A short term (2 – 3 days or less) camp will always be organized for security. A long term camp will have well positioned fighting positions, and hide positions for non-combatants.
Long term, they don’t have any vehicles, since that restricts their mobility to roads/trails and forces them to scrounge for fuel.
The Bn HQ does have trucks which can be called on if required, it takes 2 - 3 days to organize, plan and execute a requested convoy. They are routinely visited once a month by the Bn Cmdr and SgtMaj, in a convoy of 5 HMMWVs (4hardbacks, mounting 2 x .50 cal, 1 AGS-17, 1 AT-5 ATGM with M249 'co-axial' and one cargo with trailer). They have all been uparmored to some extent with gunshields and hillbilly armor added.
Higher Headquarters is still providing some additional ammo (from a munitions factory run by the Marine Logistics Group), they reload small arms ammo and can churn out grenades, mines and home made explosive fairly rapidly. Rockets and more complex rounds (like 40mm HEDP) are beyond their ability to make in any quantity. Bn also delivers some packaged food, but never enough for day to day use. Most of their daily food consumption is 'bought' with MILGOV Government Script from locals. Almost always this is acceptable to the locals.

[Apache6]

“Contractor Convoy” This group has a 4x4 pickup truck, a 4x4 SUV, a BUS, a 8 ton stake bed truck with trailer with a tank trailer, and a semi-truck with enclosed trailer. They deliver cargos and people, and are very well paid for it.

Their standard procedure is for the pickup truck to move 2 – 3 km in front of the convoy, trying to look like good old buys out hunting, They have a chainsaw and winch to clear roads.
The SUV is the security vehicle and carries 4 men all armed with assault rifles. The bus has a driver and one security man and carries passengers for a fee. The semi tractor is ‘up-armored’ and has plating around the engine and doors. There is M-60 MG mounted on an improvised ring mount with a gun shield, also has a powerful spotlight. The convoy leader is in this vehicle. The stake bed is the trail vehicle, and has a driver, A-driver with shotgun and a security man in the bed with a Semi-Auto Ak-47. Each vehicle has a CB radio, they use decent comms procedures. 5 vehicles, 13 armed men.
Cargo, the semi is loaded with food, 40 tons of unground wheat in 50# bags, 10 tons of vegetables.
The stake bed is carrying crates of electronics and three Honda generators. the trailer is carrying fuel.
The Bus is capable of carrying 38 people seated and is moving refugees.

[Michael Lewis]

Wonderful! Thanks so much! I'm starting my 1st 2013 campaign in Poland and the 1st entry will be very helpful.

[HorseSoldier]

One of my favorite groups to drive players crazy with was another group of 5th ID survivors who headed out of Kalisz in the same general direction as the PCs (toward Krakow). This group, a much attrited combat engineer company with a couple 113s and some soft skins, rapidly went marauder and endlessly complicated life for PCs -- making locals very hostile to US personnel, keeping Soviet and Polish units patrolling hard along their general line of march.

It took my players a little while to figure out what was going on and a while longer to figure out a plan to resolve the issue. The fact that the bad guys were American complicated things for the PCs and really reinforced the "good luck, you're on your own" premise of the game.

[Michael Lewis]

Something else to borrow. Thanks!

[stg58fal]

Originally Posted by HorseSoldier

One of my favorite groups to drive players crazy with was another group of 5th ID survivors who headed out of Kalisz in the same general direction as the PCs (toward Krakow). This group, a much attrited combat engineer company with a couple 113s and some soft skins, rapidly went marauder and endlessly complicated life for PCs -- making locals very hostile to US personnel, keeping Soviet and Polish units patrolling hard along their general line of march.

It took my players a little while to figure out what was going on and a while longer to figure out a plan to resolve the issue. The fact that the bad guys were American complicated things for the PCs and really reinforced the "good luck, you're on your own" premise of the game.

Consider it stolen.

[WallShadow]

To make it even more difficult, one or so of the marauders are former drinkin' buddies of one of the party. Or a distant cousin.

[Targan]

Originally Posted by WallShadow

To make it even more difficult, one or so of the marauders are former drinkin' buddies of one of the party. Or a distant cousin.

Or a former lover

[HorseSoldier]

When I ran it, I had the bad guy Americans as strangers to the PCs, but if I did it again I'd probably have some sort of connection. In units as chewed up and small as T2K divisions, I think that while everyone might not know everyone, they'd probably be at about one degree of separation from everyone else in the division, and most leaders at company level or higher would be known at least by reputation to everyone else (maybe not always by name, but at least as "that good/bad/whatever CO/1SG over in B/4-12 Cav or similar). I'd think officers and senior NCOs, especially would know almost all their counterparts, at least well enough to put a name and unit with a face.

[Rainbow Six]

Some really good, detailed work and great ideas here - well done.

[Apache6]

The Willow Family are refugees seeking a new home. They are basically decent hardworking people who are fleeing again from incessant fighting. They had a pretty decent little garden in their old home and would very much like to settle in a secure cantonment, where Susan would be very useful in raising the garden.

Robert Willow: Is an average looking 35 year old sporting a weeks beard. He was an electronics installer prewar. He is wearing hiking boots, blue jeans, an Army Woodland cammo jacket and a floppy wide brim hat and an old (1970) external frame back. He’s pushing a wheelbarrel and armed with a .357 revolver in hip holster, a hatchet and a hunting knife.

His wife Susan is a pretty woman, and trying to hide it. She’s wearing blue jeans, hiking boots, a black leather jacket, over a dark blue long sleeve mettaliica concert shirt and a beige sun hat. She is wearing a blue day pack with a blanket roll tied beneath. She’s carrying a shovel which she sometimes uses as a walking stick, and which shehas used to ‘spear a wild dog’ and a knife. She was an accountant and a hobbyist gardener prewar, but has become quite the green thumb.

They have two children Laurel is 16, and takes after her mother. Her hair is cut like a boys. She’s wearing tennis shoes, loose parachute pants, and a baggy sweatshirt. She’s carrying a hoe, and has a sling shot (which she has just recently learned to hunt birds and squirrels with) and a lockback buck knife, a large duffle bag/pack and a one gallon juice jug/canteen. Kimberly is 6 and has a small hello kitty backpack. They have two mid sized mutts with them. They are not particularly well trained, but stay close to the family and will give alarm by barking. They will attack (fairly ineffectively) anyone who threatens the family.

They are carrying their most valuable possessions and a days worth of food on their backs, with more food, and heavier stuff in the wheelbarrel. They have a 4 person dome tent, a waterpurifier pitcher, a hobo stove, a medium sized cast iron skillet, they have a cloth sack with 15# of apples, a gallon thermos jug with hot stew, 30# of potatoes, 3 jars of canned corn. Each person basically has one extra shirt/pants, a sweater or jacket and a couple extra pairs of socks...

[Apache6]

Brandon Micks is a 14 year old boy dressed in mixed civilian cammo clothes and carrying a Ruger 10/22 semi auto .22 LR with a scope. When encountered he’ll have two squirrels in a day pack (he caught them on snares). He’s the man of the house now, since his father was killed by whatever “enemy” group is in the area. He’s very familiar with the local area, and will be a willing and effective guide. His family is living in a suburban house, both the yards have been turned into a garden, they have five chickens, and the pool is stocked with catfish. His mother is 38 and quite haggard looking and will be adamant against his being involved in anything, though he will sneak out. He’s got a 12 year old sister and they have adopted a 11 year old boy. Their father and a 7 year old brother are buried in backyard.

[Apache6]

The Blackman – Cooper Homestead: This group is a combination of two families who owned adjacent farms at the end of a farm road. In both cases when the war got serious the extended family came to visit and stayed. Prewar friends, they work together pretty well and are thankful for what they have. They are making do fairly well. They have dogs tied up at the end of the road, which has a strong chain across it. If there is any sign of a threat they will have armed guards posted.

The Blackman farm was a 49 acre family farm prewar that had been bought as a retirement home. The farm had lain fallow for more than 40 years, although it was leased on and off for hay for cattle. There are two houses, one a modest 1930 farm house and the other a nicer 1980 ranch house. There is now a 20’ RV parked and used as a living space and one of tool sheds is basically been turned into a ‘bunk house’ for teenagers. Other buildings include a pump house, a chicken house, the smoke house (this is recently built with salvaged lumber) and the barn. They have several dozen pear, apple, and pecan trees. They have an ancient tractor that they keep running, barely, with a very limited supply of diesel.

The Cooper Farm was a 100 acre farm that had four generations living on it. The grandparents no longer farmed but maintained large scale gardens and kept some chickens. Since the war they have acquired three dairy cows. Like the Blackmans, extended family came home, first the children, then others. The Coopers have also ‘adopted’ several orphans and widows. They have a 1940 farmhouse with numerous additions, two mobile homes, a 1940s barn, which is falling down, a modern steel barn, a wash house, a tool shed, and a steel garage. They have acquired 6 40’ ISO containers which they use for storage and living space.

George Blackman is a retired 52 year old machinist, who had been a volunteer police officer. He’s armed with a scoped bolt action 30-06, and a .357 revolver. One son is a 28 yr old Army veteran who lost his left arm at the elbow in Warsaw, he only received a hook replacement, he will fight effectively with a Semi Auto shotgun and a .45. His youngest son, 17, has a Remington 870 PA shotgun. His 26 yr old son in law is armed with a Semi-Auto Mini-14 and a 9mm pistol. There are five ladies, (50, 28, 24, 24, 21, 16, between them they have 2 pump shotguns, a .357 lever action rifle and a .357 revolver) and eight children between 13 and 2.

Theo Cooper is 80 years old, he’s sharp as a tack and very good at making do. He was a preacher and is compassionate and will do the right thing. He’s not going to go patrolling, but will defend his property with a 12 ga pump shotgun, with which he has bagged hundreds of birds over the year. He has two surviving sons. John is 55 has spent his entire life hunting this area and has a scoped bolt action 30-06. His son Jacob, 58 is a retired Air Force MSgt, who was recalled to active duty serving for 2 years, M-1 Garand, 9mm. Neither of them are fast but both of them can shoot. Jimmy is 35, he has a lever action 30-30, but prefer his compound bow which he’s very good with. A lineman for the power company, he is an expert with a chainsaw. Braden, 27 was a mechanic at the John Dear Dealer, he has a 12 ga pump and a .357. Jason 33, are unrelated, he and his family were refugees taken in and given a home in exchange for work (he’s armed with a PA 12 ga), They adopted a boy who is now 15 and armed with a scoped SA .22LR. They have seven ladies (55, 50, 35, 32, 28, 27, 27, including 2 widows they’ve ‘adopted.’ Three teenage girls (17, 16, 15, who are distractingly pretty) and six children 13 – 2. They care for a blinded veteran, 25. They have six dogs and four mature horses, that they ride effectively and plow with, less effectively, as well as two yearlings.

If alerted, their defenses will include a dozen 12 GA buckshot booby-traps, and 10 blackpowder filled primer initiated ‘mines’ activated by trip wires.

They have built a compressed gas powered 'mortarr,' which can throw either a one gallon ‘Molotov cocktail’ or a 9 pound blackpowder bomb (5% chance of a dud, explosive effects are equal to a defensive grenade) 250 meters with decent accuracy or 500m with poor accuracy. It’s got a laser range finder (intended for bow hunting). This is moved like a ‘two wheel wheelbarrel’ that forms a tripod, when set down. They have twelve bombs of each type, being packed 6 to a case. It will be set up behind a wood pile next to barn, with a good field of fire toward any approaching vehicles, and will look like farm stuff to most opponents.

They have built a hidden bunker in the woods, which doubles as a root cellar. If things are looking bad, the women, children will flee here. The entrance is intentionally designed to be defendable by one person and Theo and the older ladies will defend it to the death, protecting the women and children. It’s is stocked with plenty of food and water and has a concealed escape hatch.

They communicate and are friendly with most of the other farms around here. If they catch wind of a threat they can, and have, formed a posse to carry the fight to the enemy or come to the aid of other locals. If their homestead is attacked the posse will come to their assistance though it will take some time (3d6+4) hours to muster and show up. The group that will come to their aid will consist of about 26 men, all armed basically as above. They are semi organized into 3 x 8 man squads (each with 2 x 4 man fireteams, a Squad ldr and his battle buddy), if they are choosing the time of attack, this homestead will add an additional squad, led by Jacob to the posse.

[Canadian Army]

Originally Posted by Apache6

They have built a compressed gas powered version of a Norton Projector,

It is a Northover Projector; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northover_Projector

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