RS Campaign The Land(s) of Oz

Why have campaigns? Well, it's a different reason for playing. I find pre arranged ones very handy when life gets in the way. I have something ready to go. They also generate tested teams that have the bumpth ready to rock n roll.

Back in the PC/PCLD world, I occasionally gamed with a great bunch of younger persons upon a Wednesday. Lackaday and rue. Some of them have started to see the light and play Rogue Stars. Ahah sayeth I, a way in, to move them from the bland end of the menu. So I suggested a Rogue Stars campaign. Here was my first suggestion that sort of fell on stony ground. This may be due to peoples priorities being somewhat focused. But, still my gossips, you need something to remove you from now and to think about a (hopefully) happier then.

Let me waltz you though the design process. I'm not going to suggest anything other than basic theme. You might find it a useful exercise to look at the stats and plot the forces. Particicuarly if you're used to a mindset where “my Kaptain Gnobcruncha is exactly the same stats (it's on the card) as everyone elses, and of course, painted as per rules.”

The background. The world(s) has to have a coherent background with internal logic. My Moon campaign worked because of this. The Expanse has sort of died a death, not only 'cos it got interrupted but its a bit too close to todays reality.

Let me take you to the mythic land of Oz. I'm playing with the concept of Oz as both the fictional fantasy world and a contraction for Australia.

The normal design process is quite adequate for scenario generation. Some extrapolation is needed. The idea that the players can take it and run without me – fantastic. Do you need a finale? Or can you just play? We found that the Moon campaign had some interesting results. Some sides melted under fire. One fled. One split into 2 factions.

We'd used the old HOTT/DBA system. Each side had a triangular slice of the map. Each with 2 frontier posts and a home base that you cannot get to without taking one of the other. One has the, 4^th, central hub as well. This is the capital, the main prize, the Emerald City. Easiest way to do it is to roll for the attacker and then for the defender.

The figures. One advantage of playing in 15mm is that one side costs what you might pay for one larger scale figure. So where you might look at one figure to use, I tend to look at a range. I'm looking for an excuse to buy them.

You need variety, obviously. One of each type of team is a good way to go. A good mix of weapon and concepts. The stronger and more recognisable the better. Different players will use a team differently. That's a strength, enjoy it and go with it!

You need extras. If you use a points loss and gain system then a bad loss can result in several green or lesser skilled replacements. Winners gain points! Good, but take care when applying as the winners might find themselves attacked. Picked up equipment – fantastic. But upgrade in skills needs care and sometimes upgrading a new replacement can be the best choice.

Here's the 7 sides:

Cops. The Feds. The Persons In Black. Big guns with a shoot now then ask questions mentality.

No armour, so emphasis on fast reactions, stealth & distance shooting. 3 mixed teams: M&S, K&J, R&D plus P. I could add the rebellious loner who wears leather a lot-. Possibly with a dog. https://thesceneuk.com/product-category/15mm-figures/the-authorities/

Psionics. Peoples Liberation of Oz (PLO) & Cultists. Oz Popular Liberationists (OPL) I was asked for these, and as usual Alternative Armies supplied the figures just after-. 5 figures in each set, so may add a few different to add variety. I have a few vampires, etc. A slightly different leader. I think the look gives them kevlar. Sort of a Big Trouble in Little China vibe.

https://www.alternative-armies.com/collections/new-releases/products/hof137-esper-team

Bounty Hunters. Dominar Rigel and the Foxy Force Five. Sort of Charlies Angels on speed-.

Farscape is still an excellent SF series. The Dominar has popped up everywhere from 1899 Venus to, well, everywhere. The Foxy Five – look it up! Mix of shoot 'em & Kung Fu action. https://www.alternative-armies.com/collections/new-releases/products/hof137-esper-team

Miners. Vegemite Mining Association. Civilian light power armour with no range weapons, but I want to explore throwing things with power armour. You don't want to get close to these guys. https://shop.groundzerogames.co.uk/15mm-stargrunt/infantry/civilians-colonists-cops-etc/sg15-v20.html

Pirates. The Wild Boys. Gaily attired people with guns and little sense-. Recycling the Belters from my Expanse project. A mix of GZG and Alternative Armies. They shoot therefore they are. Don't run.

Merchants. Baron Greenback and crew, his duster coated goblin halberdiers and flying monkeys.

Well it IS OZ! Turn up, surround people and look hard. Then hit them a lot. No subtlety, no shooting, big numbers. The Baron has no reason or tenuous link to being here. Not one. Nuffin. Sorry. It's my campaign so there) For you Americans – the Duster is an Australian design adapted from a British original via the South African wars.) Greenback, Stilleto and Nero are, like Rigel, from Alternative Armies.

When you want both unusual & superb, Khurasan be my first port of call.

Army of the Savage Forest Witch

The Savage Forest Witch is a powerful creature, protecting and expanding her domain at the expense of others in the woodland realms. In her thrall are all manners of creatures, but typically when she sends her forces to war, their hard core is made up of the halberd armed Gremlin Guard, smaller than humans but fierce and bound to her from infancy, like Ghulams or Janissaries. These uniformed warriors draw up in close order in the center, whilst on the flanks the Witch's Wolf Broods surge forward, seeking out vulnerabilities. Most terrifying of all are the Winged Apes, strong and fierce enough to fight in the front ranks but preferring to fly into position behind engaged troops, tearing them to pieces from the rear with long fangs and mighty arms.

Playing. Either plug for A) taking one side and sticking with it. B) Generated games that you can dip into, playing any side as and when convenient. I mentioned the map - Roll 2 dice. First one is (usually) the attacker and second is the defender. Look at results of past games to rationalise.

My aim is to generate interesting games. You can have a set end point, but I prefer to run until we have played it out or there is a natural winner.

Heavy model basing on CD

Here are a couple on Animechs from Rebel Miniatures.  http://www.rebelminis.com/animechs.html  Unlike plastic kits, these are solid lumps of lead to be affixed via very small feet. 

Excuse my poor pics, these are from my Kindle which boasts a very basic camera.

My "go-to" for medium sized scenery & bigger models is old CD's.  Here's a quick menu:

Marking out the base then cutting it out by using decent scissors and dipping them in water.

Here is generic no-more nails from Poundland.  It's my source of ALL basing and modelling.

It works very well on CD's, even a very thin layer is rosust enough to withstand years of use.

Todays cardboard of choice a packet of commemorative humbugs from the Battle of Bannockburn.  I hadn't realised until doing this that they were a good year out of date when purchased.

Top hole covered.

To help with handling I add an under layer.

This is just visible in the finished product - even less so when the model is added.

Now a decent layer is added.  In the back you can see a batch of (Rebel) undead pirates also based using no more nails.

Left to dry overnight, a base coat of Wilko's tester-pot On Deck.  A good coating of (Poundland) PVA fixes Geek Games rubble mixed with red earth.  I took care to blend in the grey dust from the rubble.  

I needed something to "interact" with the legs, so a couple of bits from this Alternative Armies bits pack added, then everything sealed by a good soaking with extra hold hairspray.  https://www.alternative-armies.com/collections/15mm-ion-age-terrain-range/products/iaf065-15mm-vehicle-conversion-pack

First tests.

Of course as soon as I pick the Skorpoin up the tail stinger comes off!  Both of these are undercoated in gesso.  i don't do spray paint as I've nowhere to use it.

I found the undercoat too light, so I stippled a dark ink to break it up.

 First one finished!

To mount the model I slice the base down to the CD so the let sits inside the base then use liberal amounts of superglue & baking soda to fix.

Paleo Diet First from Fireside Tales.

First times we did the basics.  Now we move forward.  There's 2 ways of doing  characters - either just the leader and survivors or all-at-once.

Here's our team:
 B  Bigfoot, not so good in shrubbery.
C  Calm.
D  Stalker
F  Shaman (Fakier!)
H Alert
J Gatherer.

I decided to adapt one of the games from Fireside Tales.  Bonanza.  2 giant Hominids - Big Yins, are looking after their parcel of pigs in the centre of the table.  I diced for placement of the scenery.

The pen denotes wind direction, thus our initial deployment.  Object is to separate 4 of the pigs and a Yin hand as a trophy.

The hunters stealthily move up.  A few reactions cause a general stir and a shuffling forward.  Except for one Yin who goes looking for trouble.

D, who's supposed to be good at this sort of thing, has 3 fails.  The Yin gets agitated, lashes out and brains J.  He then thinks "problem solved and lunch!".

Time to get the flankers moving in.  The Yin gets spooked again and goes back.

Tightening the noose and checking the dead.

These 2 fail to do what's expected, but the reactions have the desired effect.

Moving up and pig pelting.

First dead pig, rest move away.

The Yin comes in swinging, H goes down, then slain.

The first Yin goes down, no.2 moves in.

Bundle!

Shamen proves adept at calming the pigs, but not hitting them.

Bigfoot 2 pigs!

Back to the bundle.

Pigs wander.

Perhaps this might work-.

Another dead pig!  Shamen!  Hit it!

Assistance.

One wounded pig gets away.  But there's 2 dead and 1 wounded hunter.

This really is a well thought out game.  Ideal for solo play or getting kids into gaming.
Downside - no playsheet.

Next time we'll get into Paleo Pulp Proppaloadwalla.

In the meanstwhile, what happened to our team?

C  is still Calm, but cannot use positive traits.

J is Shamenised.  Loses his Gatherer ability and is lame for the next game.

H is dead,  replaced by another Stalker.