0077 - Map of Dobrodzień

No narrative this time, as it is a purely functional entry. For my map, I started with the Google map of the city, which I printed out on A3 paper.

Using tracing paper, I marked all major features, roads and larger buildings. I added the wall that the town needed into the drawing.

This left me with an approximate map of the city. I then copy the tracing paper to a sheet of A3 paper for coloring.

I then colored in the features using my wife's Copic markers. I like them because the colors do no run together. My wife is a landscape architect and they use the markers to color plans.

Following that, I printed a hex map on the drawing an cut it to show the main part of the city.

The map is usable for my purposes. I have also scanned all the images and can easily add them to an OpenOffice drawing as the background. Total time needed was approximately two hours, start to finish.

I thank my wife for showing me this technique. They often use this technique to produce renderings of how something will look when it is finished using pictures or maps as a basis.

Learn from others and adapt it to your hobby. 'nuff said.

0076 - Approaching Dobrodzien - The Framework

0930 30 JUL 2000
==============

"The team was really excited to think we may be approaching friendlies. Finally we had a chance of meeting someone who wouldn't open fire at the drop of a hat. Maybe they still would, you never know these days, but still it was a chance."

After a week of running, hiding and killing, the group is approaching Dobrodzien. From the Module "The Black Madonna" (GDW 0505, 1985), we know that Dobrodzien is the home of B Troop, 1/116th ACR (Idaho National Guard), led by Captain Molly Warren. Please keep in mind, however, that is something that we know and the characters do not,

What this effectively means is that the characters will not necessarily ride into town and begin a round of greetings and hugs. The world is just a little bit too dangerous for that.

In addition, we should probably generate a little bit more information about the town, as the description in the module is a not very specific on the conditions within the town. Thankfully there are ways and means to get more information, Wikipedia, for example (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dobrodzie%C5%84). Google maps will also help us get a rough idea of the layout.

In 2006, the town had a population of approximately 4,200 people. The town is bilingual with approximately 25% of the population having a knowledge of German. The town is relatively intact but has suffered from marauder attacks and I will assume that with drafts and such, the current population is approximately 3,200. Assuming 10% of the population is armed, this would leave a militia of approximately 320. Not bad for a town of this size.

Seeing the reception that B troop has gotten, we can assume that the town is open to contact. The settlement crisis is clear, as there are threats of bandit attacks, one of which B Troop defeated when the returned to the town. Since the town seems to have a certain autonomy, we can assume that there is an independent council leading the town and that Captain Warren also has a seat on that council.

Now there is the matter of the wall. According to the description in the module, the town has a wall. Unfortunately there are no signs of a medieval wall, meaning the town must have improvised something in the mean time. As the town population has shrunk a bit, they would probably concentrate in the town center, around the church and town market. Luckily there is a lot of flat ground around the town, so they would have good fields of fire. We will have to draw up a map, based on the google maps data.

Then there is the issue of Captain Warren. We know that something traumatic happened to here when she was a prisoner. We do not need to elaborate and I personally, do not condone anything of that nature and do not allow such actions in my games. That being said, it is part of the back story and we know that Captain Warren has an aversion to Russians. To add the roleplay element, 2D6 must be rolled each time Captain Warren has contact with Russian soldiers. On a 10+ there is a bad reaction. A DM of +2 is added if Captain Warren or her unit was actively engaged in combat with the Russians. The DM is +3 if the Russians in question are prisoners.

This may be interesting for Potato, being the only Russian in the group. We will see.

So, the framework is finished and now we need a map.

0075 - Moving South

        
0930 30 JUL 2000
==============

"We buried Mitchell on a small mound overlooking the village. It was a nice place really, with a wild rose growing nearby. The others we left to rot where we left 'em. They deserved no better and I was beyond sympathy for them. Would shoot 'em again if I could."

The group heads south, making for Kluczbork, Poland. We are beyond the main area where the fighting occured and there are garrisons of the 129th MRD in the area, so it will be classified as organized for the purposes of encounters but the group encounters no one on the road.

Stopping outside the town, they can see OPs of the 129th and the town ORMO and decide to skirt the town. They will lose some travel time but the group is in no condition for a fight. The Soviets also seem to be reluctant to fight and let the group pass. Maybe the OT-64 convinced them that they are not hostile.

Continuing south, the group approaches and bypasses Olesno, Poland. Again a strong contingent of Soviets occupy the town, Much too strong for the group at the moment, I am afraid.

Travelling farther south, the group begins to approach Dobrodzien, Poland. Harris, monitoring the radio in Bud, picks up transmissions in English several kilometers from the town. These days it is hard to say if they are friendly or not, but at least it is worth a try. Maybe the group can rest for a bit.

0074 - Prisoners and Record Keeping

        
0630 30 JUL 2000
==============

The sniper that killed Mitchell actually got away. Three others have been killed and three captured, two with slight wounds and one with serious wounds.

First, let's start with the record keeping.

The characters have expended:

• Fragmentation Grenades: 2
• 5.56mm N: 14
• 5.45mm B: 29
• 9mm P: 4
• 40mm HEDP: 1
• Units + oral antibiotic: 3

The stored ammunition and medical supplies are adjusted accordingly.

Harris and Macron process the prisoners and use their individual first aid kits to patch them up. The capture the following material:

• 3 PPSh-41 with 6 magazines
• 1 RPK with 3 magazines
• 1 FN-FAL with 6 magazine
• 1 Irritant Gas Grenade
• 1 Thermite Grenade
• 1 1km Manpack Radio
• 1 Kevlar Helmet
• 3kg of Domestic Food
• 2kg of Soviet Field Rations
• 1kg of Wild Food
• 15kg of MREs

In addition, there is the personal equipment from Mitchell that the characters have access to.

The UAZ-469 and the other radio disappear into the sunset with the sniper. No doubt he is on his way back to Kepno to report on the ambush gone wrong.

So, we have three prisoners. What to do with them. Generally I believe that the characters would not necessarily shoot them out of hand. Anyone still around knows the score and just shooting every prisoner you have out of hand is a good way to ensure you will be shot if you are captured. There are extenuating circumstances however.

First you have Logan. Based on the character relationship, Logan and Mitchell were married and he probably would be understandably upset. In addition, we have Marshall. She and Mitchell were good friends before Mitchell married Logan. We have two potential sources of conflict here.

Logan has a critical wound so he is probably not going to jump up and machinegun the prisoners. Marshall is unscathed but the relationship has cooled off somewhat. To determine if anything happens, we can ask the GME. Let's start with Marshall

[GME: Will Marshall attempt to harm the prisoners? - Chaos Rank 6 (the characters definitely lost control of the last scene) - Somewhat Likely (80%) - 78% - Yes]
So Marshall has her blood up. Will she just shoot them?

[GME: Will Marshall shoot the prisoners? - Chaos Rank 6 - Somewhat Likely (80%) - 11% - Exceptional Yes]

Now that is not good. Marshall is determine to do away with them and she is not going to let anyone stop her. Maybe a bit of narrative would help.

"Things went a bit dark after Mitchell was killed. I was pretty sure that whatever happened to them, they deserved it for killin' my friend and probably twice over on top of it.

I don't know what happened exactly. I remember comin't to my senses and Macron. He had tackled me for some reason and I had the L7 in my hand. The barrel was hot and the prisoners were dead. Macron told me I did that, I don't remember it but the bastards killed Caitlyn. That I do remember."

So, we cross off another 20 rounds of 7.62mm N.

Now back to other problems. As we established in Post 0063 - Post-Battle Recovery and Record-Keeping, the OT-64 had been repaired by the mechanic prior to the group arriving but has no ammunition. The vehicle has a wear value of 10, so it is pretty much a junker. Despite that fact, the vehicle may prove useful and no one else knows that it does not have ammunition. After losing Mitchell, the group is probably not disposed to leave the vehicle to the government of Kepno. The characters top off the vehicle and prepare to move out.

The OT-64 is christened "Can-Can" and the 1km Radio is added to allow communications with the team. The team then prepare to move out.

The order of march will be:

• HMMWV (Jerry) – TOW II
• Driver: Michael Macron (Ground Vehicle: Wheeled 7, Observation 12)
• Commander:
• Gunner: Jade Marshall (Observation 6) - Narrator
• Passenger:

• OT-65 (CanCan) – 1000l tank trailer
• Driver: Eduard Potapenko (Ground Vehicle: Wheeled 5, Autogun 15)
• Commander: Klasha Kirillovna (Observation 15)
• Gunner:
• Passenger: Jack Robinson
• Passenger: Wayne Logan

• 3/4-ton truck (Bud) – 1 L7A2s - 1-ton cargo trailer
• Driver: Michael Griffin (Ground Vehicle: Wheeled 8)
• Commander/RTO:
• L7A2 Gunner #1: Edward Harris (Autogun 9, Observation 8)
• L7A2 Gunner #2:
• Passenger:

The group then moves off south towards Kluczbork, Poland.

0073 - Post Battle Medical Treatment

"Logan and Mitchell were really shot up. That was bad, as Logan was the medic and Mitchell his assistant. We got to Mitchell and she was non-responsive and passed away after just a few minutes. Logan was bleedin' real bad from his leg. Maybe we could save him but having a medic would have been a great thing at that moment."

We have our first casualty. Mitchell has a critical wound to the head, which will cause her immediate death. Mitchell was the primary mechanic and backup medic.

As combat is ending, Logan makes the percentile roll against his constitution and regains conciousness. He has a slight wound to his abdomen, a scratch wound to his right leg and a critical wound his left leg. He can perform first aid on himself, assisted by someone else (Griffin). We already have one dead, so we will be generous.

[Sabilize Logan's critical wound – Asset Level 17 – Difficult (x1) – Target Number 17 + 1 (Doctor's medical kit) = 18 – Roll(s): 16] - Success.

Although Logan can stabilize his wound, he will not be able to perform surgery on himself. That will slow the healing process. At least he is out of danger.
We also need to check for infection but none of the wounds become infected.

Potato and Klasha both have fresh wounds and Logan can perform first aid on them without difficulty. The wounds do not become infected.

0072 - Shootout on the Village Square - Turn 4

"The guys were down outside the church. It looked bad but they were still movin' a bit. Thank god for small favors. Bullets were still zippin' around but not really hittin' anyone. I am not complaining, believe me. We had had enough so. Time to take the fight to them and get some payback."

Initiative Step 4

Actions:
• SSG Michael Griffin will toss a grenade down the alley
• MSG Eduard Potapenko will throw a grenade behind the barrier
• SSG Micheal Macron will fire three rounds at Experienced Polish soldier #6
• Elite Polish soldier #1 will dash to the corner of the church
• Veteran Polish soldier #3 will fire two rounds at Mitchell
• Veteran Polish soldier #4 will fire two bursts at Potato

Order of Actions
• Elite Polish soldier #1 (AGL 8)
• SSG Michael Griffin (AGL 6)
• MSG Eduard Potapenko (AGL 4)
• Veteran Polish soldier #4 (AGL 7 - Bulk 4 = 3)
• Veteran Polish soldier #3 (AGL 7 - Bulk 6 = 1)
• SSG Micheal Macron (AGL 4 - Bulk 5 = -1)

Play:
Elite Polish soldier #1 runs for the corner of the church. His movement is interrupted by Robinson, who was on overwatch with his AKR. The range is 30m (Short).

[Fire four rounds at  Elite Polish soldier #1 – Asset Level 5, STR reduced due to serious wound – Difficult (x1) – Target Number 5, four on the last round due to recoil – Roll(s): 17, 8, 3, 6] - One hit. The trooper is hit in the arm for 14 and is knocked down. He is now seriously wounded.

Griffin attempts to throw the grenade down the alley before backing around the corner into cover. The range is 24m (Effective).

[Hit a target with a grenade at effective range – Asset Level 7 – Difficult (x1) – Target Number 7 – Roll(s): 14] - Miss, The grenade deviates.

Note: the grenade deviates short and to the right (5) by one meter. That would move the impact point inside the wall, so the grenade instead moves north along the wall. We will consider it a bank shot.

Experienced Polish soldier #6 takes 12 points of damage from concussion and is knocked down. He is in the primary blast radius and takes one fragment to the abdomen for 5 + 1 (Blunt Trauma) = 6 points of damage. He his knocked down and slightly wounded. Griffin is in cover and protected from the concussion and fragments.

Potato will attempt the same feat with a grenade. The range is 32m (Effective).

[Hit a target with a grenade at effective range – Asset Level 9 – Difficult (x1) – Target Number 9 – Roll(s): 8] - Hit. Potato drops the grenade on target. Veteran Polish soldier #4 takes 9 points of damage from concussion. Experienced Polish soldier #7 takes 6 points of damage from concussion. Both troopers are within the primary blast zone. Veteran Polish soldier # takes no fragments. Experienced Polish soldier #7 takes three fragments to left arm (11), abdomen (7) and right leg (7) for a total of 25. Both are knocked down and Experienced Polish soldier #7 is seriously wounded.

Logan is in the secondary blast radius and takes no hits.

Veteran Polish soldier #4 loses his turn, as he is knocked down.

Veteran Polish soldier #3 fires two rounds at Mitchell. The range is 75m (Close).

[Fire at Mitchell – Asset Level 13 – Difficult (x1) – Target Number 13 – Roll(s): 2,11] - Two hits. Mitchell is prone and facing the shooter. Mitchell is hit in the head (11 + 2 (blunt trauma) = 13 x 2 (head shot) =26) and right arm (19). Mitchell has a critical wound to the head and a serious wound to the right arm. She is also knocked unconscious by the impact.

Macron misses his turn, as his target was knocked down by the grenade blast.

Initiative Step 3

Actions:
• 2LT Jade Marshall will continue to run toward the front of the church
• MAJ Edward Harris will move to the doorway and will fire three rounds at Elite Polish soldier #1
• AGT Sukhikh Klara (Klasha) Kirillovna will bound forward and take cover at the corner of the building
• Experienced Polish soldier #6 misses his turn as he is knocked down
• Experienced Polish soldier #7 misses his turn as he is knocked down

Order of Actions
• 2LT Jade Marshall (AGL 5)
• AGT Sukhikh Klara (Klasha) Kirillovna (AGL 4 - 2 = 2)
• MAJ Edward Harris (AGL 5 - Bulk 5 = 1)

Play:
Marshall continues toward the front of the church.

Klasha runs through the doorway and takes cover at the corner of the building.

Harris fires three times at Elite Polish soldier #1. The range is 30m (Short).

[Fire three rounds at Elite Polish soldier #1 – Asset Level 13 – Difficult (x1) – Target Number 13, 12 on the last round due to recoil – Roll(s): 2,14,11] - Two hits. The trooper is hit in the head for 11 x 2 = 22 and the arm for 6 for a total of 17. The hit to the head results in a quick kill.

The patrol has now suffered 86% casualties (3 WIA, 3 KIA). The remaining sniper slinks off as the rest surrender. The encounter is over with the team suffering currently with two critically wounded (Mitchell and Logan), one seriously wounded (Robinson, but to be fair, he was wounded before) and four slight wounded (Griffin, Potato. Harris and Klasha). The difficulty is going to be that the main medic (Logan) is currently bleeding out.

0071 - Shootout on the Village Square - Turn 3

0600 30 JUL 2000
============

"They couldn't go on much longer. The guys out in front of the church were getting shot to pieces. We were dealin' with an attack on the flank but then everyone was up and movin'. Griff had charged past me and Klasha and Macron were puttin' rounds down range. Time to show these yahoos they picked a fight with the wrong people."

Note: due to the slight wounds taken by most of the high init characters and NPCs, we no longer have an initiative step  5.

Initiative Step 4

Actions:
• SSG Michael Griffin will run to the corner of the alley and take cover
• MSG Caitlyn Mitchell will fire two rounds from her sniper with the SVD
• MSG Eduard Potapenko will attempt to regain consciousness
• SSG Micheal Macron will fire three rounds at Veteran Polish soldier #5
• Elite Polish soldier #1 will order the others to keep those in the village square pinned down as he attempts to flank the enemy in the church
• Veteran Polish soldier #3 will fire two rounds at Mitchell
• Veteran Polish soldier #4 talks with Elite Polish soldier #1

Order of Actions
• Elite Polish soldier #1 (AGL 8)
• Veteran Polish soldier #4 (AGL 7)
• SSG Michael Griffin (AGL 6)
• MSG Eduard Potapenko (AGL 4)
• Veteran Polish soldier #3 (AGL 7 - Bulk 6 = 1)
• MSG Caitlyn Mitchell (AGL 5 - Bulk 5 = 0)
• SSG Micheal Macron (AGL 4 - Bulk 5 = -1)

Play:
Elite Polish soldier #1 relays his plan to Veteran Polish soldier #4 and Experienced Polish soldier #7, both of whom listen intently.

Griffin runs to the corner, taking a small peek before taking cover again.

Potato attempts to regain consciousness. Potato has a constitution of 8.

[Regain consciousness – Attribute Level 8 x 2 = 16 – Difficult (x1) – Target Number 16 – Roll(s): 8] - Potato opens his eyes again, stares up at the sky and considers his career choices. This may not be the right job for him after all.

Veteran Polish soldier #3 fires two rounds at Mitchell. The range is 75m (Close).

[Fire at Mitchell – Asset Level 13 – Difficult (x1) – Target Number 13 – Roll(s): 16, 8] - One hit. Mitchell is prone and facing the shooter. Mitchell is hit in the chest but she has a vest on. The damage is 2 (blunt trauma) + 6 x 2 = 12 (chest hit) for a total of 14. We roll for a "quick kill" (3), resulting in the damage being doubled again for a total of 28. Mitchell is knocked down again and now has a serious chest wound.

Mitchell loses her turn, as she is knocked down.

Macron fires three times at at Veteran Polish soldier #5. The range is 35m (Close).

[Fire at Veteran Polish soldier #5 – Asset Level 13 – Difficult (x1) – Target Number 13, 12 on the last round due to recoil – Roll(s): 17, 7, 1] - two hits, one with an outstanding success. The target is prone and facing the Macron. The first hit goes to the head and the target does not have a helmet resulting in 11 x 2 = 22 points of damage. The second hit goes to the right arm for 3 x 2 (outstanding success) = 6. The roll for a quick kill is 7, resulting in the untimely death of the NPC.

Note: yes, I rolled three ones for the second shot. It has been one of those days.

Initiative Step 3

Actions:
• 2LT Jade Marshall will run toward the front of the church
• MAJ Edward Harris will move to the doorway and will fire three rounds at Experienced Polish soldier #7
• AGT Sukhikh Klara (Klasha) Kirillovna will fire two rounds from her UZI at Experienced Polish soldier #6
• Experienced Polish soldier #6 will fire two rounds from his AKM at Macron
• Experienced Polish soldier #7 will listen to the plan of Elite Polish soldier #1

Order of Actions
• Experienced Polish soldier #7 (AGL 6)
• 2LT Jade Marshall (AGL 5)
• AGT Sukhikh Klara (Klasha) Kirillovna (AGL 4 - 2 = 2)
• Experienced Polish soldier #6 (AGL 6 - Bulk 5 = 1)
• MAJ Edward Harris (AGL 5 - Bulk 5 = 1)

Play:
Experienced Polish soldier #7 listens to the plan. At this point, only the top of his head is exposed.

Marshall runs through the door, attempting to find a firing position at the front of the church.

Klasha fires twice at Experienced Polish soldier #6. The range is 30m (Short).

[Fire two rounds at Experienced Polish soldier #6 – Asset Level 6 – Difficult (x1) – Target Number 6 – Roll(s): 15,19] - Both miss.

Experienced Polish soldier #6 fires two single rounds at Macron. The range is 35m (Short).

[Fire five rounds at Macron  – Asset Level 11 – Difficult (x1) – Target Number 11 – Roll(s): 16, 15] -  Both miss.

Harris runs to the door and fires three times at Experienced Polish soldier #7. The range is 45m (Short).

[Fire two rounds at Experienced Polish soldier #7 – Asset Level 13 – Difficult (x1) – Target Number 13, 12 on the last round due to recoil – Roll(s): 16, 20, 9] - One possible hit but he round is stopped by the cover.

Initiative Step 2

Actions:
• SFC Jack Robinson elects to remain where he is, covering the main entrance with his pistol.

Order of Actions
• SFC Jack Robinson (Agl 7)

Play:
Robinson goes into overwatch, watching the main entrance.