M Squad tries to steal . . . I mean, borrow a boat!

The quest for a boat

The four members of M Squad arrived at the harbor to find a series of buildings on both sides of the dock (I used an old Cities of Mystery map from Dungeons and Dragons), with a few troops guarding it (1 PEF between us and the dock and the other 2 in buildings).

Objective: Scout the area and return to the Commander with info.

Vyper: "Hey, isn't that the guy who shot Grin?"

Bugs looked and sure enough, the man who had shot Grin dead and escaped in the last encounter was not promoted and leaving in one of the boats.

New Objective: Steal a boat and go after the ****!

The group (starting in Section 9) scouted those guarding the docks (Section 2) and saw three Rep 5's and three Rep 3's.

We won In Sight and Bugs used the opportunity to drop one of the Rep 5's dead, missing the other. Doc covered for him though, dropping the other two. Vyper took out one of the Rep 3's but missed the others.

Although they stood over their fallen teammates with bullets flying by their heads, the remaining troops held their ground (Passing 2d6 on both the Man Down and Received Fire tests). Returning fire (They won Activation), they shot Doc in the leg (OOF) while a series of bullets narrowly missed Bugs (Star Power).

Vyper and Bugs returning fire and took out the rest. After helping Doc recover (Passed 2d6 on Recovery test), they continued.

They then heard shouting in German and spun around, preparing for reinforcements (2nd PEF passed 1d6 after exiting the building to the dock's left). To the dock's right, two Rep 4 troops appeared (doubles in Activation became PEF #4), but again Bugs' group won In Sight and opened fire, taking out the opponents. The remaining PEF stayed in the building to the dock's right.
The group raced over to the dock and the boat without resistance (Again, no movement by the other PEF) and Doc got to work on getting the boat started.

(I rolled randomly to see how long it would take for doc to get the boating working and got a result of 5 successful Savvy rolls). Depending on the size of the PEF's and the chance for more to appear, this could be rather challenging.)

The PEF finally emerged from the building and revealed to be three Rep 3 troops. They won In Sight but missed all of their shots. Doc, Nerd, and Vyper stood their ground (passed 2d6 on RF) and fired back, though Bugs scored the only hits. Winning Activation, Bugs dropped the last guy.

3 Savvy rolls down, 2 to go. (No Sweat!)

Doc failed his next few rolls. (I know, I need to shut up!)

PEF #5 then appeared and immediately exited the building. Four Rep 5's and two Rep 4's.

Again, we won In Sight, and Vyper(who was using Grin's grenade launcher-attached shotgun) took out two of the Rep 5's (scoring knockdowns on the rest but nothing lethal), while Bugs shot another, along with Rep 4. The remaining two slipped behind the building (Pass 1d6 on Man Down) and returned fire from behind cover. Unfortunately, Nerd took a direct hit to the chest and was dead before he hit the ground (rolled 1 on damage). Bugs took a hit to the shoulder but rolled enough that it only grazed him (Star Power again). Both Vyper and Doc passed 2d6 on MD and continued.

Vyper then dropped the shotgun, pulled out his SMG's (I allowed that on the fly since he only moved 2") and opened fire, dropping all but the last Rep 5. He turned and disappeared completely (Hunker Down result).

Finally, Doc got the boat working and everyone jumped in, just as another PEF appeared at Section 6. The last guy then reappeared (having passed the HD test) and won In Sight. He opened fire but missed. Bugs returned fire but missed as well. Doc fired as well but struck the trooper (OOF).

(Yes, we're done! All we have to do is drive the boat away from the dock and we're clear.)

Then the last PEF was rolled. A Tank. Rep 5. And it won In Sight.

(You'd think I'd learn by now!)

Luckily, it missed by a mile. Vyper returned fire with his grenade launcher but missed as well. However, he must've done something to scare the driver because the tank then backed behind the building again (Passed 0d6 on Received Fire). M Squad then bolted out of the harbor.

After giving Nerd a burial at sea, the checked the radio to see if they could contact Base (Replacements Test). (Pass 1d6 American).

Doc: "Sorry, boss, I got nothing."

Bugs: "Great, we're on our own then."

Vyper: "So our squad, which is now down to three, is going in to German-occupied France with no one in our group who speaks either German or France?"

Bugs: "Or we could return to base, once we got past that tank, of course."

Vyper: "France, it is!"

(Afterward, Bugs failed his roll to improve, but Vyper improved to Rep 5, a scary thought since it now means he hits with all weapons on a 4, 5, or 6!)

The Adventures of M Squad! An AAR for Nuts.

ADVENTURES OF M SQUAD - An AAR for Nuts

This was my first time playing a THW game besides FNF and ATZ, so it was a new experience. Also since, in ATZ I only encountered zeds, this was the first time I used the In Sights test. Hopefully I did it correctly.

I used a Game Mastery plain map with objects representing trees, since I had randomly rolled a forest. Unfortunately, I don't have pics this time as I'm not sure where my camera is. I'll try and get some pics in the future. This is actually 2 encounters, with 2 different objectives.

Now, on with the game!

The members of M Company were on a plane to be dropped over Toulon, France in an attempt to flank German forces in the coastal cities. However, artillery fire forced the plane way off course, and the group was forced to jump early. Enemy fire also destroyed the plane before the entire group could jump, and the 4 who landed just outside a forest were the only members they could see.

Bugs: (Star) Rep 5, Fit 5, Pep 3, Sav 3, Marksman, Steely-eyed, Fit. SA Rifle w/ scope, Pistol. (Bugs got the nickname from his excellent eyesight and sneaky nature on the battlefield.)

Nerd: Rep 4, Fit 2, Pep 4, Sav 3, Nerves of Steel, Fluent. SA Rifle. (Nerd got his name from his love of reading, which is how he picked up several languages rather quickly.)

Grin: Rep 4, Fit 4, Pep 2, Sav 3, Stone Cold, Fit. Shotgun/grenade launcher. (Grin got his name from his habit of smirking in the face of danger.)

Vyper: Rep: 3, Fit 3, Pep 1, Sav 2. Marksman, Dim. x2 SMG's. (Vyper is the FNG and resident oddball of the group and is sometimes too brave for his own good.)

Objective: Figure out where the **** we are!

The group entered the forest, which quickly opened to a clearing (Section 8). Suddenly, they walked right into a mine. Everyone dove for cover, with Bugs getting the worst of the blast. Luckily, his Star Power saved him.

(Really, what kind of psycho just leaves a mine in the middle of a clearing, where there's absolutely no cover to dive behind and protect . . . On second thought, I think I see their point.)

Stepping back into the wooded area, the group hears yelling up ahead (1st PEF passed 1d6). Slipping behind some trees, the group waited and saw 2 old men (civilians) running their way PEF 2). Suddenly, 3 German soldiers appeared, apparently chasing the men.
Although the 2 seemed well trained, leaping from tree to tree so they weren't in the open (At least I'm guessing this since they were both Rep 5), Bugs dropped both with his rifle. They searched the bodies, but found nothing but ammo.

The two men were grateful and shook hands with Bugs' group, but they also spoke in a language the group didn't understand.

Bugs: "Nerd, I thought you knew multiple languages."

Nerd: "I don't this one, but it sounds like Italian to me."

Grin: "Italian? Ya mean we landed all the way in Italy?"

Nerd: "I doubt it. When we were hit, the plane veered south, not east."

Vyper: "Bummer, I'd love some pasta right now. Jumping from a plane makes me hungry."

Grin: "Vyp, eating makes you hungry. It's a wonder you're barely a buck ten!"

Bugs: "Well if those soldiers were here, there should be more. Let's take one and question him."

(At this point I decided that, since the group had already encountered all 3 PEF's so early, all rolls of doubles on Activation would generate more PEF's.)

Continuing through the forest, the group encountered 3 more German troops (Rep 4, Rep 3, Rep 3). One of them was busy preparing an anti-tank weapon while the other 2 watched.

M Squad won the In Sights and opened fire, with Nerd and Grin dropping 2 of them in seconds. The third, who had been arming the tank-killer, dropped his toy and took off into the woods.

Vyper: "Let's get him!"

Unfortunately, they ran right into a group of 6 more soldiers (Four Rep 4, two Rep 3). Fortunately, even though the group had been running, they won In Sights again. Nerd tried to talk with them, covering his flag insignia and pretending to be a fellow German soldier (Pep test), but they weren't buying it (Failed 0d6). Bugs quickly pulled his pistol out and shot 2 of the soldiers dead before they could react. Grin shot 2 more with his shotgun before they could raise their weapons. Nerd decided he was too close to shot one, so he lunged forward and slammed the butt of his rifle into the man's head. With a crack, the man fell to the ground, bleeding. The final one took off running. Nerd fired at him but missed.

Vyper stood to chase him, but Bugs stopped him.

Bugs: "Not this time. We're not walking into another ambush."

Grin: (Leaning over soldier that Nerd had killed). "Jeez, Nerd, how the ****'d you crak this guy's skull open? He's twice your size!"

Nerd: "I have no clue." (He searched through the soldier's pockets.) (Sav Test) "I found a map! And according to this map, we landed near the southern beaches of Sardinia."

Bugs: "Sardinia"

Vyper: "So what do we do now?"

Bugs: "Find a boat, I guess. Any harbors on that map?"

Nerd: "Not that I see, but there's a German camp about a few miles north of here. Maybe we can go there to get some more information."

Bugs: "Works for me."

Grin: "So we'll just march into a German camp and ask for directions to the nearest harbor. Wonderful plan! No possible way it could go wrong!"

New Objective: Enter the camp and gain info.

The group headed over a hill and into another (randomly-generated) forest (Does Sardinia really have this many?) Apparently the one soldier who had run away two encounters ago had found help because, upon entering the second forest, the group ran into a 5-soldier patrol (Rep 5, two Rep 4's, two Rep 3's).

Once again though, M Squad won In Sight (I'm really glad I rolled Steely Eyed for Bugs!). At first, the group opened fire, with Bugs and Nerd dropping the first two while the other three hid behind bushes. That's when everything went downhill!

Two of the three opened fire on Grin while he was switching to his grenade launcher. He was stunned by the first shot, but the second pierced his chest, and he was dead before he hit the ground. Furious, Vyper (Man Down Test: Pass 3d6) leaped forward, spinning around, and opened fire. He killed one soldier, but the other shot him from behind. Luckily, it had only grazed his shoulder. Nerd and Bugs then shot the last 2 dead.

Searching the troops, they found cigarettes, beer, food, and a map of an outpost in France. Hearing noise in the distance (Pass1d6 for PEF after a roll of doubles on Activation), they said a few words to honor Grin and continued.

After nearly an hour of searching (and reaching Section 1, just short of their goal), they found the camp. However, two groups of German soldiers converged from both sides (2 PEF's, rolled one after another): Two Rep 5's, one Rep 4, and seven Rep 3's.

Outnumbered in the worst way, the group used the trees for cover and opened fire, with Bugs attempting to drop the two commanders first. He got one, and Nerd got the other, but the rest opened fire, and Bugs fell to the ground. Rolling into some bushes (Thank whatever god's out there for Star Power!), he slipped out of sight and used the advantage to shoot a couple more soldiers. Nerd shot two more but took a bullet across his leg. He shook off the pain (Pass 2d6 on Recovery test) but missed any other shots.

Vyper, meanwhile, leaped into view, screaming like a madman, and took out the startled remaining troops.
Entering the camp, they found some civilian prisoners (PEF) and freed them. Nerd started to question the only one who spoke English about the location of the closest harbor, but the man refused to cooperate (Failed People test). Bugs had Nerd try to bribe him with cigarettes, beer, cheese, chocolate, a date on Saturday, tickets to a Bing Crosby concert, etc., but nothing worked.

Bugs: "Vyp, sing that song you like from that movie."

Vyper: (Nervously) "Do I have to?"

Bugs: "Should I make it an order?"

Vyper began singing, "Over the rainbow," in his slightly off-key (Okay, off the whole damn piano!) voice to the soldier. (People test: Pass!) The guard began blabbering like an auction worker.

Nerd: "He said they were using a harbor about 5 miles north-west of here, and it should still have some boats."

Eventually, more troops from M Company arrived, taking the lone soldier prisoner (Hey, I needed to do something with the guy!), and helping to retrieve Grin's body for services. Afterwards, the company took over the camp, and the commanding officer decided that the group worked best as a small squad, so they would continue as one. He claimed to officially call them, 'M Squad,' with the M being short for, 'Mental.'

The commander did replace Grin, though with a seasoned, but no-less-sane trooper (Replacements Table):

Doc: Rep 5, Fit 3, Pep 4, Sav 5, Hard as nails, Fixer. SA Rifle.

(I then rolled to raise Reps. Bugs increased to 6, Nerd to 5, and Vyper to 4. Considering they took on nearly 20 soldiers in an hour of game time, I think they earned the boosts.)

PART 2:
BATTLE OF WALMART

For this encounter, I used a generic Walmart floor plan that I found online and converted into a game map. Although the group was exploring inside a building, I treated it as a map instead, as if it were outside. For movement, I continued with the '1 section per turn' rate since that fit the movement on my larger maps (as each section is 8" long, the basic movement rate).
The objective was to acquire certain items for each character and escape. In addition to 3 more months of food (Hey, lodging up in an Adult store makes you hungry.), the characters also wanted:

Greg: 2H Weapon
Erin: Gun
Niki, Tina, May, Suzy: 1 non-food item each.

I also handled zombie placing differently. With such a small map, placing lots of zeds at one time could crowd things considerably. Instead, I decided to start with 3 PEF's, but every time doubles of activation was rolled, 2 more PEF's would be placed. In addition, if the first did not generate zeds, the second got a +1 on the Contact table. I didn't see PEF's generating in the same section as humans being unrealistic, though since, with all the aisles and walls, they could leap out from anywhere.
In addition, everyone is still a citizen (well except for the zombies, of course), and since this is still the first month, everyone encountered is either a citizen for zed.

Now, on with the fun:

The group entered at Section 9, and the PEF's were placed at 1, 3, and 4. All three moved toward the group. The group crossed the registers at 8, with Niki and Suzy collecting $ from the registers (treated as 1 luxury item each.
They encountered PEF 4, which turned out to be nothing. Exploring Section 4, they all found a bunch of food. PEF 3 then approached and generated as Citizens. They turned out to be a family (2 mature adults and 1 young kid). Greg offered some DVD's from the adult store (counting as 2 lux items total) for any weapons they had. The father and son declined, but the mother surprisingly accepted and handed over a sword.

Leaving the grocery area, they entered Section 1 and encountered a couple of zeds (PEF 1), which Tina and Suzy dispatched with little effort.

Leaving the back hall, the entered electronics, where May found some batteries, DVD's, and other items to trade. Thus far, this encounter seemed fairly easy.

Spoke too soon. I rolled doubles, and 2 PEF's appeared; one at 3 and one at 5. For 3, everyone thought they heard growls and faint screams, raising the encounter rating from 4 to 5. The other were 3 more zeds. Greg got to test his new toy, decapitating one zed in a single swing. Tina and Suzy shot the other two. I rolled for zeds generated by gunfire. Negative.
The group finally entered the hardware area (Section 6), where Greg found some backpacks, Erin found a pistol (BAP, to be exact), May found a second pistol, and Tina found some lube (For her SHOTGUN! Get your heads out of the gutter!) Niki and Suzy searched for more backpacks but found nothing.

Then 2 more PEF's appeared, both at 2. We waited, and they approached us at the same time. They generated as citizens, three mature males and two young males. Rolling at randomly determined they were actually one group and all bikers. The Meet and Greet roll ended up in their favor, but since their Reps were lower (the younger ones were 3 while the mature ones were 4), they just grunted out way and turned to leave.

Two more PEF's, one at 2 and one at 5. The Contact table generated zeds at both, and lots of them: 4 at Sect. 2 and 8 at Sect. 5.
The bikers fought the ones at 2, while our group took on the ones at 5. Erin got to test her gun out, dropping two of them fairly easily. May and Suzy got attacked, though, and both went Out of the fight. I rolled on the Man/Woman Down Table for Tina and Suzy, and both passed 2d6.

Meanwhile, the bikers had their own problems as one of their own (a Rep 4 mature) also went OOF. I rolled on the MD chart, but the remaining bikers passed 0d6, even with their leader's Leader Die. They took off through back doors, and luckily, the zeds fighting them followed.

(Let me get this straight. Two strippers go down . . . I mean, get hurt, and the remaining two only get angrier and continue fighting. But one bikers hits the ground, and his buddies split?)

Niki, Tina, and Erin drop all but one zed, who charges Niki. She rolls higher on the Charge into Melee table but runs out of ammo. The two engage in melee and she crushes its skull with the butt of her pistol.
After the battle, Tina tends to May and Suzy. She checks them for cuts or bite marks ("Are You Okay?" table) and finds none (5 and 10 rolled). Both are safe, so she helps them (pass 2d6 for both on the Recovery table).
Tina then checks on the lone OOF biker but finds bite marks on his arm (rolled a 6). Not wanting to take chances, she blows his head off. Better to be safe than sorry.

Taking a quick inventory the group members see they have just what they needed and wanted. All they need to do is reach Section 9 and escape.

PEF's form on Section 6. They hear growls (ER raised from 5 to 6) and three zeds leaps out from behind a display.
The group rolls successfully, but zeds are merely knocked down, getting right back up to continue fighting.
However, Niki, Erin, and Tina attracted 3 more zombies with their gunfire. At least now, it's and even fight.

Two more PEF's appear at Section 6. 1 zed and 4 more zeds.

(I'm paying that 'easy' comment, aren't I?)

The group opens fire, dropping several zeds pretty fast. Greg then charges in and drops one with his sword. Their turn comes up, with 4 attacking Greg at the same time. He wins all 4 melee attacks and strikes down all 4.

This leaves 1 more,

plus 2 more generated by gunfire.

Greg takes down the two, while Suzy shoots the last one. It stands up, so Niki shoots it. It stands up again, so Tina blows a hole in its chest. It fails to get back up.

Two more PEF's form at Sections 1 and 2, but the group has cleared Section 6. They Fast Move to 9 (Greg fails, I guess because of his sword), but the PEF don't follow. The group then says **** it and bolts out the door, to their truck and back to their "safehouse."

Rolling for Keeping it together reveals everyone stays, though I have to check again next time for the strippers. We completed our objective, and I rolled to improve everyone but May and Suzy, since they went OOF in the game.
Greg and Erin increased to Rep 6. Niki and Tina improved to Rep 5. I also remembered at about that time that May had 2 pistols, and she might've done better if she used them.

Also, since everyone got plenty of kills, I upgraded everyone to Survivors and moved the date forward one month.