Idea for starting a campaign

[Olefin]

the part about counting shells was a big deal with us - we started with a full load for my tank and an NPC with a tank as well in my campaign (we were an armored unit during the breakout attempt) and we managed to hit a supply dump that had some captured shells in it - but eventually shells started to be an issue - when we got to Krakow we bought some but they werent cheap (sure we have shells no problem - and then you see what they want for them!).

You start getting to the point of seeing a ripe target for ambush and then having to decide if its worth the loss of shells to go for it. By the time we finally got back to a US unit we were basically down to the last few we had left.

By the way its the same with guys who love to shoot like crazy with their M-16's and SAW's - rock and roll is a great way to fight if you have ammo resupply and a pretty dumb way to fight if you are spending hours picking up every brass casing to get reloads.

[M-Type]

Originally Posted by Olefin

You start getting to the point of seeing a ripe target for ambush and then having to decide if its worth the loss of shells to go for it.

Yeah, that's pretty much what I'm going for. Start the players as "newbie" tankers (in RL), then slowly have them learn the harsh realities of the T2k'verse until they're expert tacticians in-game and RL.

I would definitely start them out with a full load, and plenty of chance for re-supply for the first 2-3 sessions, as they learn the ins and outs of the system and enjoy blowing up those pesky Pacts.

Then there's the big push into Poland. Throw in some urban fighting, tricky corners and pesky infantry, and the supply lines get cut/overrun/disappear...

[M-Type]

I managed to get the v2.2 East Europe Handbook, and it has a mini-campaign setting about the 8th ID (Mechanized) making a lightning run through Northern Poland and Lithuania, then getting stuck in the swamps of Latvia.

I think this is perfect, as it'll give the PCs the feel of 'awesome explosive action' as the 8th ID fly through Poland and Lithuania, since their job was for pursuit and deep-penetration of Pact forces, then they all suddenly get stuck with no idea where to go.

Their only map is an outdated CIA one (given in the book, bonus!), and their tank would be seriously compromised. They'd join the scout/recon forces trying to scavenge food and fuel, and trying to find their way back to friendly lines.

[Legbreaker]

For table top games I give the players the map from the V1 box, an old atlas I bought a few decades ago, and maybe, just maybe and only if I'm in a good mood, the maps (if any) from the applicable module. Other than that they're pretty much on their own for maps.

However, they can occasionally find information about their local area in the oddest of places. The national park map for example I've presented as a six foot high metal sign (which they loaded up on top of their vehicle and took with them).

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[Tegyrius]

Originally Posted by Legbreaker

However, they can occasionally find information about their local area in the oddest of places. The national park map for example I've presented as a six foot high metal sign (which they loaded up on top of their vehicle and took with them).

That's the most inspired bit of practical looting I've seen in years.

Originally Posted by M-Type

Have 'em part of an Armored Cavalry squadron, so the exceeding number of PCs can be in some fast(er) moving vehicles, the Recon boys (or girls).

Yep. And it gives them already-available alternate transport for the times they don't want to use the tank's fuel thrashing around the countryside in search of prey like a dyspeptic Tyrannosaurus. For that matter, with the right PC/NPC mix, the NPCs can stay with the base camp and tank to pull security and maintenance duty while the PCs go off looking for plot.

(Just don't use this as a way to kill off the NPCs and destroy the tank while they're off-screen. That's a major GM dickmove.)

- C.

[M-Type]

Originally Posted by Tegyrius

...like a dyspeptic Tyrannosaurus.

I don't know how to respond to this, but one of the tanks has to be named "T-Rex" or something now.

Originally Posted by Tegyrius

(Just don't use this as a way to kill off the NPCs and destroy the tank while they're off-screen. That's a major GM dickmove.)

The only time I would ever kill off NPCs off-screen was if I planned a big battle and dropped some hints, but they didn't listen and headed out to do recon or something. A lesson they'd unfortunately have to learn the hard way...

[Sanjuro]

some of the tanks get damaged and they then have to start sacrificing parts from one to keep another running and so on. Or they have to redistribute the ammo or fuel. Or worse, when one tank has to be abandoned and then suddenly you have one or two extra people to stick inside the working tanks.

Stop hitting me with those negative waves!
(Someone had to say it...)

[Cdnwolf]

Originally Posted by M-Type

I managed to get the v2.2 East Europe Handbook, and it has a mini-campaign setting about the 8th ID (Mechanized) making a lightning run through Northern Poland and Lithuania, then getting stuck in the swamps of Latvia.

I think this is perfect, as it'll give the PCs the feel of 'awesome explosive action' as the 8th ID fly through Poland and Lithuania, since their job was for pursuit and deep-penetration of Pact forces, then they all suddenly get stuck with no idea where to go.

Their only map is an outdated CIA one (given in the book, bonus!), and their tank would be seriously compromised. They'd join the scout/recon forces trying to scavenge food and fuel, and trying to find their way back to friendly lines.

This might actually be not to bad to do on RPOL...