Worse Than the Disease IC

[GnomesofZurich2]

Tariq asks, quietly, "Do you want me to tear gas 'em? A couple of rounds spread out across that campsite could do a real number on them."

[u-b]

"Tear gas would not prevent them from hiding behind the obstacles and crawling around. How about I start with those in front of the cabin, Richard starts with those around the campfire, Bart takes the others, one by one, and you scatter a quick series of three flashbangs around the whole camp, then stand ready with explosive grenades to target those who succeed diving for cover?"

Spoiler

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Basically, proposing Tariq to reload with 3 flashbangs and 3 frags, then, when everyone shoots, spend a second to launch the flashbangs at the center of the camp with some deliberately reduced skill to have all three shots scatter in different semi-random directions. They affect a radius of 10, thus a diameter of 20, thus with the campsite being 25 yards on the side, we should have good coverage.

[GnomesofZurich2]

"Tear gas would not prevent them from hiding behind the obstacles and crawling around. How about I start with those in front of the cabin, Richard starts with those around the campfire, Bart takes the others, one by one, and you scatter a quick series of three flashbangs around the whole camp, then stand ready with explosive grenades to target those who succeed diving for cover?"

"Um...we don't have any flashbangs for the grenade launcher. I've got frags, tear gas, and flares. We have some thrown flashbangs. I could try to convert them for use in the grenade launcher, it shouldn't take long!"

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Assuming flash-bang grenade launcher rounds would have a similar cost to the flash-bang thrown grenades, and using our existing flash-bang grenades as the parts, this should count as a simple modification. Working out of the car trunk as an improvised workspace, with better than 15x more parts value than needed, my base skill would be 29, so I could take -10 (as per ATE2 p.38) to have it done in 1d6*5 seconds.

[GnomesofZurich2]

"Um...we don't have any flashbangs for the grenade launcher. I've got frags, tear gas, and flares. We have some thrown flashbangs. I could try to convert them for use in the grenade launcher, it shouldn't take long!"

"Oh, wait, here they are! So much stuff in this trunk! I'll get 'em loaded and then we're good to go!"

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It'll take 18 seconds to unload three of the existing rounds and load stun grenades in their place.

[Shoot Da Moon]

(OC: When the exiles finish planning but before they actually act, roll a quick contest of Tactics skills.)

[Shoot Da Moon]

As Tariq moves up to fire his grenades, he and his fellow exiles fail to anticipate the raider's precautions.

For one thing, there is a tripwire set up before the furthest edges of the campsite. And Tariq might be about to run right into it...

(OC: Quick contest of Observation/Traps/Per (13) versus Traps-12. Tariq has to roll at -2 to spot the tripwire in time.)

Fortunately, Tariq catches the sight of the wire in time. He carefully steps over the trap.

Of course, that was not the only security the campers have. A raider with binoculars has taken up a position on a high place to scan the area regularly.

(OC: Tariq rolls Stealth-12 against a spotter's Observation-13.)

Tariq miscalculates his discretion, and gets spotted by the man on top of a rock. He shouts an alarm...

(OC: Combat time starts. Thanks to the Tactics roll, the enemy still has 3 more tricks up their sleeve (used two of their five on Tariq's approach). The turn order is Sean, Richard, Tariq, Enemies, Bart's 2 Dogs, Bart the Hunter.)

[u-b]

Sean, taking a crouched position behind some sufficiently large tree was aiming at first of his four intended targets while Tariq was preparing to shoot. Hearing the alarm raised, Sean curses under his breath and prodeeds with the plan, shooting a burst at four men in front of the cabin.

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Five shots at the men and please specify how much more is wasted.

[Shoot Da Moon]

(OC: wasted 1 bullet, the clustered men were fairly close.)

Sean's six rounds strike 3 men in the vitals, killing them all. The remainder by the cabin is shocked by the sudden carnage, but mostly rallies immediately.

[Volthawk]

Richard's gunfire joins Sean, sticking to his targets close to the campfire for now and firing a burst at four of them.

[GnomesofZurich2]

Tariq launches his burst of stun grenades into the centre of the campsite. His first round actually hits on target, the other two scatter one yard to the southeast and three yards to the northeast.

[Shoot Da Moon]

Richard's gunfire joins Sean, sticking to his targets close to the campfire for now and firing a burst at four of them.

Tariq launches his burst of stun grenades into the centre of the campsite. His first round actually hits on target, the other two scatter one yard to the southeast and three yards to the northeast.

Richard’s five bullet burst sweeps the men at the campfire, hitting and severely wounding three men. If they had not been wearing torso armour, the shots could have killed them. With strong bodies used to physical strain, they all but one weather the injuries. One falls down, stunned.

Tariq fires off three flashbangs, and only three of his targets manage to shield their eyes from the sheer white.

(OC: What was the specific effect of the flashbangs again?)

The three who avoided the painful glare of Tariq's stun grenades move out of the open and into cover behind stone - easy enough, as the outpost was designed to provide defenders with solid bastions.

(OC: the enemy spends another two benefits from their Tactics rolls, the players do not know what (but it is not the cover). One benefit remains. Players may decide what Bart's 2 Dogs do on their turn, as Bart would've planned with the exiles what he'd command.)

[GnomesofZurich2]

(OC: What was the specific effect of the flashbangs again?)

(OC: Those who fail the HT-5 roll are stunned, and can roll HT-5 again each turn to recover. It also creates smoke in the area of effect).

[Shoot Da Moon]

The stun grenades emit smoke over their area, making it harder for everyone on both sides to see each other. It's outside, so nobody is getting choked by the smoke.

Bart keeps his dogs close as he fires his shotgun into the smoky and stunned enemy forces. He hits, and kills his target.

TURN 2

Sean sees a lot of smoke in the outpost.

(OC: smoke gives an -4 penalty to attack rolls.)

[u-b]

Sean aims at his next target, which is the same target he's missed with the previous burst.

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Bart will aim at his next target, which is whoever seems to be closest.

[Volthawk]

Richard aims at one of the people he hit but didn't drop, intending to finish the job.

[GnomesofZurich2]

Without pausing to aim, Tariq unloads his grenade launcher into the camp!

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The first grenade lands three yards off from the target hex to the southwest, the second grenade lands five yards off from the target hex to the southeast, and the third grenade lands seven yards off to the southeast.

[Shoot Da Moon]

The bad guys have no chance to avoid Tariq's barrage, even if he is off base with his targeting.

His first grenade strikes 2 men in cover, killing them both. The third man in cover went to another piece of cover, to the north, away from the explosion.

The second and third grenades both only catch 6 men spread out on the southeast side of camp. All six men are either killed or significantly harmed by the twin blasts.

One man in cover gets out his flare gun and fires it into the air. The red noisy rocket whistles brutally above the campsite!

Five men in the smoke try to recover from the flashbang...but only one manages to regain his bearings...He moves into cover immediately.

The dogs stay by their masters, growling.
Bart aims his gun into the fray.

TURN 3

Sean finds the smoke still covers the bad guy side of the battlefield.

[u-b]

Sean shoots at his target and then proceeds to choose another one.

[Shoot Da Moon]

Sean's merciless shooting slays another raider who was stumbling around in the smoke - that's half the guards seen now dead.

[Volthawk]

Richard takes the shot at his target, swearing under his breath as it goes wide.

[GnomesofZurich2]

Tariq crouches down and begins to reload.

Spoiler

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Change Posture and Fast-Draw (Ammo)

[Shoot Da Moon]

A bad guy recovers from the stun grenade and moves into cover.
The dogs stay by the exiles.
Bart misses his shot.

TURN 4

Sean can see two men still in the open, stunned.

[u-b]

If Sean does not notice anything interesting, like people peeking from inside the cabin, maybe, or from behind the obstacles, he just takes aim at Bart's target. While at it, he shouts out: "Surrender now and we will let you live!" He does not have particularly high hopes, but this is not going to hurt.

Spoiler

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Bart will aim at the same target again.

[Volthawk]

Richard starts aiming at the same target as last time, wanting to get it done properly this time.

[GnomesofZurich2]

Tariq begins loading a grenade.

[Shoot Da Moon]

The opposing force does not seem to react effectively to the exiles’ attack, at first. Two men are still dazed by the stun grenades, standing out in the open. Two more are cowering behind stone.

The enemy camp, however, has two camouflaged snipers hiding in the trees, who take shots at Tariq and Sean. One hits Tariq and the other barely misses Sean, and surprise their targets without a hope of avoiding the gunfire.

(OC: Tariq is hit in the torso for 29 piercing damage, respectively. Hope you have good torso DR…)

Bart the Hunter aims his long arm as the dogs go wild barking.

TURN 5

The snipers are still in their trees...

[u-b]

Having Tariq shot in the chest (both in general and especially while following Sean's plan) is a traumatic experience for Sean, but he is able to carry on for the moment, shooting the target he was aiming at straight in the heart before shifting the attention to the snipers. "Now, gentlemen, you will die! Bart, yours is right!"

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Bart will aim at the right one of the snipers. Any cover, posture or other apparent penalties?

Also, do the dogs seem to react only to events in front of the party? Pleas tell us if/when this is not so.

[Shoot Da Moon]

Having Tariq shot in the chest (both in general and especially while following Sean's plan) is a traumatic experience for Sean, but he is able to carry on for the moment, shooting the target he was aiming at straight in the heart before shifting the attention to the snipers. "Now, gentlemen, you will die! Bart, yours is right!"

Spoiler

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Bart will aim at the right one of the snipers. Any cover, posture or other apparent penalties?

Also, do the dogs seem to react only to events in front of the party? Pleas tell us if/when this is not so.

Sean's target dies standing up.

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The snipers are crouched, 8 yards off the ground, about 15 yards from your position not counting the elevation. They do not have cover, except for the smoke(?). Their camouflage is technically still equipped, but you spotted them when they fired so the camo does not interfere with your shot at them.

The dogs are right near your position. They are smelling for close threats, don't worry.

[Volthawk]

Swearing under his breath, annoyed that he didn't anticipate the snipers coming and concerned about Tariq, Richard takes the shot he was lining up as he thinks about what to do next.

[GnomesofZurich2]

Tariq was already kneeling, but collapses to the ground after being shot. His grenade launcher falls from his hands (but is somewhat restrained by the rifle sling), as does the grenade he was loading. Although stunned by the impact, he clings to consciousness.

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DR 17 from the concealed vest plus steel plate means he takes 12 damage - he was already at 7 HP from the last fight, so that brings him to -5 HP.