This Saturday I am hosting my old pals from Warhammer 3rd Edition days. I'm going to run a game of Across the Dead Earth for them. With another week until part 4 of the War for Northfield campaign, hopefully this'll scratch my AtDE itch.
The Background (None of which will be known by the players):
When the collapse came, governments and corporations disappeared in the chaos. However, just because you can't see something, doesn't mean it's not there.
One corporation, Z-Tech, once intimately linked to the US government and military through various contractor fronts and the suspected origin of the Sollus Mutation is now forgotten. It has, nonetheless, been hard at work. Through network of hidden laboratories, bunkers and bases, three generations of passing time has not blunted this corporation's desire for domination.
Twin track research into the Sollus Mutation and cloning technology has brought them to the point where they are almost ready for 'the Rebirth'. A pathogen will annilate the Sollus 'zombies' and the cloning programme will quickly reclaim and rebuild civilisation in Z-Tech's image..
All that remains is a live field test, before the plan is put into action in the Sollus infested North American continent. First release the Sollus virus into a population, then test their pathogen. As an added bonus the psychopathic scum that pass for human life outside the corporation test base in Coventry, England, will be cleansed, allowing the smooth introduction of the clone civilisation in this future outpost of Z-Tech.
The Scenario (known by all players)
The area around the Science Institution on the edge of Coventry has always been a ghost town. The gangs avoided it, as too many stories of people disappearing circulated for there to be no foundation. People avoided the area and it slipped out of the collective consciousness,except as a setting for ghost stories.
Last night, however, had put the area back on everyone's radar. First a string of black helicopters flying low over the ruined city had zeroed in on the Institution. Nobody alive has even seen a helicopter except a a rusting ruin. Soon after the helicopters flew northward and away to god knows where. What sort of gang worth their salt would not have a least a poke around the Science Institute?
The Gangs
The Maroons (hired by the State) - comms from London have given you clear instructions - head to the facility at helicopters last known landing site and find out everything you can about what is going on. Your men are tech specialists - check computers and find the truth.
Points - a successful skill test at a computer terminal will give you one paragraph of the background. Each paragraph is worth 10 points from your superiors. If you gather the full story you gain a bonus 40 points.
The Meat Eaters - lots of meat heading in one direction - best tag along and see what you can pick up.
Points - each prone figure dragged off via your deployment zone is worth 10 points. Women are worth a bonus 10. Nothing wrong with playing with your food.
The Hunt - establish control Of the area. Each opponent finished off worth 7 points. Worker's Militiamen are worth 9.
The Worker's Militia - your people need food and arms to continue their struggle. Loot the facility.
Points: 10 points for each loot counter recovered from the facility.
Special Rules - whilst the players won't know until they open the doors to the facility, Z-Tech has released specimens infested with the Sollus Virus inside the Institute. They will move (5 inch movement, 2 actions, toughness 9) toward the nearest blood bag. When knocked down they will have 'heal thy self' special rule of a skill of 6 (-1 skill for each time they've been ('finished off'). Any gang member they knock out will have a 50% chance of becoming one of them, anyone finished off a 80% chance. My aim is to have a veritable horde pursuing the player gangs off the board in panic..
Whilst I'm sure the Sollus Rules due to be released in the AtDE supplement will be awesome - these simple rules will suffice for my idiot mates.
Battle Report to follow..