Campaign Locations

[WallShadow]

Originally Posted by Slappy

I ran a reasonably long campaign in the Caribbean. PCs started in one of the Dutch ABC islands having gotten back from Europe somehow (not really important). Premise was that the Dutch had enough organization to be a relative point of stability in a largely collapsed region and needed additional manpower to try to get control of and get back on line some Venezuelan oil resources. It was good fun.

"Gateway to the Caribbean" is a trove of adventure seeds and paths to success in the Post-Whoops world, if one uses the little clues and opportunities provided. Well-equipped, poorly-trained opponents holding local shipbuilders with vital skills (and a potential merchant/patrol fleet) hostage, a half-sunk cargo ship with lots of salvageable munitions in it, its prior passengers being a bunch of unloved Cuban troops shipwrecked here and wanting desperately to get the hell home, lots of young nearly-trained doctors, a possible "in" with two of MilGov's big hitters, scads of retired-but-still-deadly US Rangers/SF ex-troopers (can you say "local commando cadre'-training", boys and girls?), a fully-functional super-frigate run by a skilled and capable crew with an elite skipper, a local mamaloi/organic chemist whose knowledge of the local flora and fauna can have interesting side-effects on unwary enemies....so much to play with, so many opportunities!
All the players have to do is figure out how to make the most of what they have on hand. Did I mention the APC...?

[WallShadow]

"Armies of the Night", a mystery wrapped around a puzzle, tied up with several enigmas.
The hours I have spent brainstorming this adventure are racked up in the hundreds if not thousands. How do the survivors manage? How do they make up for a lack of topsoil when the land is covered with concrete or macadam? How does one efficiently harvest the upper floors of high-rise buildings? What things were unknown even to the scenario-writers that might have had an impact--Civil Defense caches in the Brooklyn Bridge supports, the NSA (CIA?) headquarters office hidden in plain sight in a downtown Manhattan skyscraper--the best ways of using the big power players' traits against them or against each other, who to back to the US gov't (either one) as the "true king" of NYC. Plus a few other sideshows and special projects to give players or their allies a better chance against the predatory groups, large and small, that threaten their everyday survival.

[Olefin]

Originally Posted by WallShadow

"Gateway to the Caribbean" is a trove of adventure seeds and paths to success in the Post-Whoops world, if one uses the little clues and opportunities provided. Well-equipped, poorly-trained opponents holding local shipbuilders with vital skills (and a potential merchant/patrol fleet) hostage, a half-sunk cargo ship with lots of salvageable munitions in it, its prior passengers being a bunch of unloved Cuban troops shipwrecked here and wanting desperately to get the hell home, lots of young nearly-trained doctors, a possible "in" with two of MilGov's big hitters, scads of retired-but-still-deadly US Rangers/SF ex-troopers (can you say "local commando cadre'-training", boys and girls?), a fully-functional super-frigate run by a skilled and capable crew with an elite skipper, a local mamaloi/organic chemist whose knowledge of the local flora and fauna can have interesting side-effects on unwary enemies....so much to play with, so many opportunities!
All the players have to do is figure out how to make the most of what they have on hand. Did I mention the APC...?

Oh you mean the one that just needs a battery and a 50 cal and she is ready to rock? Not a bad little find

[.45cultist]

Originally Posted by Olefin

Oh you mean the one that just needs a battery and a 50 cal and she is ready to rock? Not a bad little find

Luckily all the RPG's went down with the ship....

[Legbreaker]

Originally Posted by Olefin

Oh you mean the one that just needs a battery and a 50 cal and she is ready to rock? Not a bad little find

Doesn't even need that. ANY sort of weapon (even a rifle) does the job, and they can be jump started - been there, done that, pain in the arse.

[swaghauler]

My modern "Merc" campaign set in Africa has been quite successful. Admittedly, that's because it's not really a Twilight2000 campaign and I can introduce modern headlines that my players KNOW are real. YOU COULDN'T MAKE UP some of the things happening in The Congo, Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe, and South Africa today.

[ChalkLine]

Originally Posted by swaghauler

My modern "Merc" campaign set in Africa has been quite successful. Admittedly, that's because it's not really a Twilight2000 campaign and I can introduce modern headlines that my players KNOW are real. YOU COULDN'T MAKE UP some of the things happening in The Congo, Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe, and South Africa today.

I played in an online game set in Congo/Zaire that centred around a PBY5A Catalina flying boat. Awesome fun

[swaghauler]

My guys are constantly being shuffled between the UN and the African Union Command. They are often used as "pawns" in the ongoing political "tug of war" between these "would-be saviors" of Africa.

[Enfield]

Originally Posted by swaghauler

My guys are constantly being shuffled between the UN and the African Union Command. They are often used as "pawns" in the ongoing political "tug of war" between these "would-be saviors" of Africa.

Where in Africa does it take place?

[Adm.Lee]

Originally Posted by ChalkLine

I played in an online game set in Congo/Zaire that centred around a PBY5A Catalina flying boat. Awesome fun

I also ran a Merc campaign with a Grumman Albatross, it was based in the Caribbean, but some of the missions were in the 2nd Biafran War from the Merc book.

Why, yes, Jimmy Buffett was popular in our circles in the mid-90s, why do you ask?

[Olefin]

Originally Posted by Adm.Lee

I also ran a Merc campaign with a Grumman Albatross, it was based in the Caribbean, but some of the missions were in the 2nd Biafran War from the Merc book.

Why, yes, Jimmy Buffett was popular in our circles in the mid-90s, why do you ask?

The USN has one in East Africa FYI that a private owner had - and still has - he basically joined the USN so he could keep flying it (especially since the Navy didnt have anyone there who was qualified to fly it)

"East African Naval Air Patrol Group – Provisional - Mombasa Airport, Pemba Airport
• Manpower: 80 men
• Aircraft: three P-3C Orion, one Grumman Albatross, two S-3 Vikings

This provisional group is a scratch team of aircraft from various squadrons to provide patrol and early warning. A small supply of sonar buoys is still available for them as well as four Harpoon missiles and twelve ASW torpedoes.

The Albatross was a private aircraft sold to the USN by its US expat owner/operator in exchange for a commission in the USN as an officer (he remains its pilot). "

[Enfield]

Originally Posted by WallShadow

"Gateway to the Caribbean" is a trove of adventure seeds and paths to success in the Post-Whoops world, if one uses the little clues and opportunities provided. Well-equipped, poorly-trained opponents holding local shipbuilders with vital skills (and a potential merchant/patrol fleet) hostage, a half-sunk cargo ship with lots of salvageable munitions in it, its prior passengers being a bunch of unloved Cuban troops shipwrecked here and wanting desperately to get the hell home, lots of young nearly-trained doctors, a possible "in" with two of MilGov's big hitters, scads of retired-but-still-deadly US Rangers/SF ex-troopers (can you say "local commando cadre'-training", boys and girls?), a fully-functional super-frigate run by a skilled and capable crew with an elite skipper, a local mamaloi/organic chemist whose knowledge of the local flora and fauna can have interesting side-effects on unwary enemies....so much to play with, so many opportunities!
All the players have to do is figure out how to make the most of what they have on hand. Did I mention the APC...?

Would you focus on the USS Constitution as well or focus mostly on the players as pretty independent.

[WallShadow]

Originally Posted by Enfield

Would you focus on the USS Constitution as well or focus mostly on the players as pretty independent.

The Constitution would be there as a goad or an occasional resource or supply point or Deus ex machina, but not on the PC's schedule--they wouldn't have it handy to wield as their personal battleship, but if things got tight, they might be seen sailing over the horizon or calling the group for a social visit, just in time.... I see the ship as the provider for occasional adventure seeds, or trading potential. ("You found how many of these? We can sell every one for a major profit over on Barbados. Can you go back and find more?")
The real drama(s) are with the folks on the ground and their potential to uplift or destroy the islands' precarious hold on existence. And making friends and enemies in higher circles; both of which may come back to revisit the PCs at some unexpected point in their adventures.

[Enfield]

Originally Posted by WallShadow

The Constitution would be there as a goad or an occasional resource or supply point or Deus ex machina, but not on the PC's schedule--they wouldn't have it handy to wield as their personal battleship, but if things got tight, they might be seen sailing over the horizon or calling the group for a social visit, just in time.... I see the ship as the provider for occasional adventure seeds, or trading potential. ("You found how many of these? We can sell every one for a major profit over on Barbados. Can you go back and find more?")
The real drama(s) are with the folks on the ground and their potential to uplift or destroy the islands' precarious hold on existence. And making friends and enemies in higher circles; both of which may come back to revisit the PCs at some unexpected point in their adventures.

That makes sense. Obviously since Christiansen is the captain, and even a player character of similar rank would not be able to just order her around, it would be possible support subject to DM desires or to party persuasion.

[WallShadow]

Originally Posted by Enfield

That makes sense. Obviously since Christiansen is the captain, and even a player character of similar rank would not be able to just order her around, it would be possible support subject to DM desires or to party persuasion.

I can easily see the PCs showing their skill and smarts while being transported on Old Ironsides, lending a hand when the ship encounters boarders or an assault from small craft. Earning the Skipper's respect will also earn the PCs an unofficial "Friends of the Ship" status, and perhaps a chance to accompany her on a cruise or get an occasional free working passage as crew or ship's troops to her next port. This is assuming the players don't trip over themselves by trying to commandeer or capture the ship. BAD NEWS--the Captain has lots of very sneaky ways to permanently "correct" such behavior.

[ChalkLine]

'Gateway to the Spanish Main' was, in my view, one of those books that needed too many changes to make right.

- Using the USS Constitution with M2HBs instead of cannon? Nah. Too silly

- A colony of US war veterans on Grenada? Someone doesn't understand how poor most war vets are.

- The Reagan-Era 'Grenada Story'? Long ago debunked.

Still, the idea of an island hopping campaign isn't a bad one.

A better ship is needed. The 'ships thread' here has plenty to choose from (I recommend the NOAA 'Rude'). Give it some 20mm autocannon and 12.7mm M2HB in gun tubs. Perhaps a 2B9 vasilek for fire support. (I'd allow the 82mm vasilek to fire NATO 81mm mortar bombs with shims. THey'd have odd fire characteristics compared to the normal 82mm) The boat has a Rigid Inflatable Boat for inshore missions and plenty of bunks for PCs. It also has a medical bay to allow for rapid healing of wounded PCs.

The people's of the area are widely varied and now with the internet data on them is easy to find. Sit back a bit and reimagine the place without hegemony from various powers.

[Enfield]

Originally Posted by ChalkLine

'Gateway to the Spanish Main' was, in my view, one of those books that needed too many changes to make right.

- Using the USS Constitution with M2HBs instead of cannon? Nah. Too silly

- A colony of US war veterans on Grenada? Someone doesn't understand how poor most war vets are.

- The Reagan-Era 'Grenada Story'? Long ago debunked.

Still, the idea of an island hopping campaign isn't a bad one.

A better ship is needed. The 'ships thread' here has plenty to choose from (I recommend the NOAA 'Rude'). Give it some 20mm autocannon and 12.7mm M2HB in gun tubs. Perhaps a 2B9 vasilek for fire support. (I'd allow the 82mm vasilek to fire NATO 81mm mortar bombs with shims. THey'd have odd fire characteristics compared to the normal 82mm) The boat has a Rigid Inflatable Boat for inshore missions and plenty of bunks for PCs. It also has a medical bay to allow for rapid healing of wounded PCs.

The people's of the area are widely varied and now with the internet data on them is easy to find. Sit back a bit and reimagine the place without hegemony from various powers.

I like the USS Constitution. It's an interesting ship with an interesting history, and provides a fun way for the party to travel across the Atlantic. If you have a group that has some tall ship afficionadoes then it will bring joy to them.

Of course one does not have to. A submarine adventure could be done with the trilogy in game or it could be shifted to another location.

Your NOAA reference is funny to me, though, because I used that very NOAA ship in an adventure.

I suspect part of why the retired vets were used in the module was because it was an easy way to offer allies to PCs. On the other hand, simply having to retrieve NPCs does make sense. I have a cousin in law who studied in Grenada only 4 years ago. I would simply make it more like "Fist Full of Dollars" and have it mostly be islanders vs. islanders with perhaps a few foreigners acting as mercs thrown in. The party have two factions at war, and have to retrieve a small group of VIPs and avoid being shot at. They may be tempted by either side or they may simply dodge both sides or play them off against one another.