The FRONT session 2A: Air Combat!!

In the sky over northern France Major Appleby & Lt. Cadbury spot a group of enemy planes on what is probably a bombing run.  The BF110C was loaded with 4 bombs and being escorted by the pair of BF109E's.

round 1

In round 1 the Allies won Initiative, and they made Maneuver rolls to swoop down to Altitude 3 and hit the 110 from the right hand side! The Major dropped a Die step on his Fuel this round.
They fired and did a little damage to the 110, its armor absorbing the bulk.
The 109's attempted to get behind the Spitfires and the LT. failed his DX check so they pulled it off, they fired but his armor check negated the dmg.

Round 2

Round 2 - init order: Major, enemy, Lt.
The Major went first and maneuvered himself between the the LT and the 109's.
The 109's were next and fired with two hits. Rolling with advantage because of 'wingman" the Major was able to come through with only a couple points of damage.
The 110 opened up with the rear gun to no effect.
The Lt. continued to pepper the 110 whittling down its HP.

Round 3 init order: Allies, Axis
The Major makes a maneuver roll to get sight on the 110, then both allied pilots open up combined damage is enough to severely damage the 110.
The 109's continued to attack the Lt. as their main target. A tiny bit of damage is taken.

Round 4 init order: Major, Axis, Lt.
The Major maneuvers into "wingman" position again to take the Heat off the LT.
The 109's fire on the Major, but no damage is sustained. The 110 does light damage to the LT. with the rear gun.
The Lt. continues to fire on the 110 hurting it more!

Round 5

Round 5 init order: Lt, Axis, Major
The Lt. finishes off the wounded 110 with a burst attack and rolls double sixes on his dice!
The 109's break and run
The major forms up with the Lt. and they give chase.

At this point I asked if they wanted to continue, and after taking stock of their current Ammo/ Fuel die situation ( both pilots were at D10's for both items) they agreed to give pursuit!

I started the Round counter off at 1 again and said that by end of round 6 any surviving 109 would make it back to Axis controlled airspace where they could not follow.

THE CHASE
In round 1 they played catch up to the 109's trying to outrun them!

Round 2 saw the Lt. score a double 6 on the damage dice to destroy the wounded 109!
while the remaining 109 tried to shoot down the LT. to no avail.

Round 3 saw some maneuvers and lots of shots, with damage absorbed on both sides.

Round 4 - I rolled a D6, on a 56 an enemy reinforcement would arrive at Distance 6. It did!
Fuel & ammo were getting low at this point, and they agreed to one more round of attacks and no matter the outcome they would peel off for base afterward.

The allies were able to down the last original enemy 109, and peel away back to base!

Aquabats? What the heck is that???

In case you don't know or are unfamiliar with the Stupendous Awesomeness that is the Aquabats!!

Here is a little something for you!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PL_RJ8Z7XLs

Please check out eh Aquabts Kickstarter to save the children and the World!!

Tales from the Loop Intro One-shot!

Got to run my first attempt at the Tales from the Loop RPG this past Saturday evening! We had a great time and even though we were a little sketchy on the rules it really didn't hinder anything. Game play was simple, intuitive and very fun.

I used a hacked version of a one-shot from Lowell Francis @ Age of Ravens Blog, titled: Bright Flash, I found on the TftL google group. I was also able to break my set of Radical Kids paper figures from Okumarts!!

The players each chose a character archetype, their age, applied points to their Abilities & Skills. Chose their respective Problems, Drives, & Prides (which sounds complicated but isn't) and their character's favorite song!

In the end our group of 4 kids looked like this:

From left to right we have -
Katherine "Kat" Ross - Popular Kid, age: 13
Brock - Jock, age:11
Kerensa Parker - Trouble maker, age:11
Simon Trent - Bookworm, age:12

Our NPC's for the evening:

From left to right:
Mr. Semmelmyer - Science Teacher @ school
Weird Creepy Guy


Scene 1: The Park - Halloween night just as curfew goes into effect!
The kids were on their way home when a cool light show emanating from the park draws them in to see if they can get some last minute candy. What they find is a strange metal box, with multi-colored lights and making soft purring & clicking sounds! The kids determine this item was placed here by someone or something very recently as it had not been seen earlier in the evening. Simon remarks that he is uneasy because he is sure he has been shadowed all night by a "Creepy Guy". Kat wonders if Brock's brother Keith is around, while both Parker and Brock look to cause some physical mischief on the Box itself, while someone watches from the shadows!!

Investigating the metal box, now dubbed the "Disco Box" because of the flashing lights, the kids don't know what to make of it! Kat notices a "Creepy Guy" watching them and tells the others. Brock hits the Disco box with his bat and "POP!" there is a bright flash of intense white-light like a flash-bulb going off!

The kids wake up and realize they have been out for several hours! It's almost dawn and they need to get home before they are missed, it is a school day today!! As they scramble to go home it is noticed that the Disco-box is missing!! The kids start to leave the park when a black car zooms up the street narrowly missing everyone except Simon who gets clipped and thrown to the ground! Brock & Kat aren't sure but think the car was driving itself!?!?!

Scene 2: Sneaking in!
Each kid was spotlighted and described how they were able to sneak back into their houses before anyone noticed they were missing. Also each character discovered at the same moment that they couldn't see their own reflections in mirrors/windows etc. Each was bewildered and distressed, not sure if they were still dreaming or what! By the time they had to get ready for school and the sun was up each realized that other people were seeing them just fine and put this off as a "weird " occurrence.

Scene 2a: Simon freaks out!
Simon takes this hard and freaks out getting Scared and decides he needs to see his "Anchor" before school. He rides a few blocks away over to the house of a local author named Sutter Kane and speaks with him about what happened. Mr. Kane is able to calm Simon and tells him to use this dream-like episode as inspiration to write! Simon feels better and heads to school.

Scene 3: The Lunchroom
Parker and Brock are in line for lunch when they see Kat enter. She seems unsure of whether to approach them or go over to the "Popular" table. Simon however cuts in line directly behind Brock and starts inquiring about how the others felt when getting home this morning.

Lunch trays in hand Simon, Parker, and Brock sit down and begin talking about things. Kat comes over within earshot but is trying to make it look like she isn't "with" them. Upon hearing Simon relate the issue of being essentially "Invisible"  she moves closer and reveals she had the same thing happen too! It must be something to do with the Disco-box!

Just then Kat see's that Jessica has seen her with the younger kids and is about to say something to Keith! She overreacts and tries to push Simon while making a big show of saying "Ugh, Nerd!" and pushing him before quickly walking away. Simon almost loses his tray but reacts quickly enough to save his lunch. He then turns to hurl a spoonful of pudding at Kat's back when Coach Jones looms up and says "Simon, what are you doing with that pudding?"
As Simon and Coach ones interact Parker seizes the moment to "bump" Simon's arm causing him to catapult the pudding across the Coach's face and into Kat's hair!!! Simon is ordered to the Office by Coach Jones and Kat runs to wash out her hair in the Girl's room.

Scene 4: After School
Brock and Kat are unlocking their bikes as Parker zooms up on her skateboard.Simon comes stomping up and gives Parker a stare! As they get into a little tussle over what happened at lunch, Simon tells Brock that any homework he does for Keith from now on will cost double! Brock declares this wasn't his fault, and Simon can tell Keith himself!

Keith & Steve walk up at just that moment overhearing the exchange. Kat "poses" for Keith who seems not to notice as he starts in on Brock! Simon backs away and realizes that the black car that almost ran him down is in the parking lot!!
Simon: "Mother-F*@ker! it's the car!"
This outburst stops everyone dead, as they watch a red-faced Simon stalk off across the lot. Kat realizes what is happening and attempts to dissuade Simon from approaching the car. Meanwhile Keith & Steve have lost interest and walk away.
Keith: "See you at home later dick!" to Brock.
Brock: gives his brother the finger...

The kids wrangle Simon trying to calm him down, when they see Mr. Semmelmyer the Science Teacher walk up to the black car and open the door to get in.

Confontation!

"Hey!" yells Simon.
The Teachers eyes go wide at the sight of the kids approaching him with determined looks on their faces!

Convincing the kids he is "Really Sorry" about what happened and that he can "explain" everything just "Not here!" they agree to meet him in hour at an address that he gives the kids.They agree only after Semmelmyer promises to fix Simon's bike that got damaged in the near miss this morning.

Scene 4: The Warehouse
The kids arrive at the location which turns out to be at a warehouse behind the K-Mart. They head towards Unit 5 and see the teacher's car parked out front. A side door is propped open with an old paint bucket. As they are about to enter they hear two male voices talking inside, and stop to listen and peek in. They see Mr. Semmelmyer and the "Creepy Guy" standing over the Disco-box. The room is filled with all manner technical gizmos & such.
Creepy Guy: "I'll take this one for now until you can create a better one."
Semmelmyer: "I'm not sure how well this one will work, or for how long!"

The kids frantically begin discussing a plan to get the Disco-box away from here before the Creepy Guy can leave with it. Brock thinks there might be something they can use in the teachers car and checks it. Turns out it is unlocked and Brock looks inside. Finding nothing of note in the car he pops the trunk. Lifting the trunk-lid Brock catches sight of something "alive" in the trunk moving! He reacts quickly and cracks it with his bat!!

"Ouch! good heavens!!" cries a loosely bound Mr. Semmelmyer, with a lightly bleeding bump on his forehead.

the kids:"Mr. Semmelmyer!?!? But you're in the warehouse!"

Semmelmyer: "Oh no, they want my device. I need your help! I will distract them while you get the Box. I will meet you back at the park."

Simon: "But who, what are they?"

Semmelmyer: "Aliens my boy, from another dimension!"

Brock: "bullshit!"
Simon: "Of course!!"

Semmelmyer then jumps in his car and Brock leaps into the backseat. The other kids watch as the Teacher crashes through the warehouse garage door into the secret lab catching the "aliens" by surprise!! Brock leaps out f the car and kneecaps the Aliens allowing Simon to grab the Disco-Box. The kids race out of the warehouse and race away!

Scene 5: The Chase

Creepy Guy gives chase!

The kids race along the streets heading to the park where this all began! But soon they see Creepy Guy barreling after them in an old pickup truck! Dodging down one way lanes and cutting across vacant lots while passing the Disco-box back and forth in a game of Monkey-in-the-middle the kids eventually split up to lose Creepy Guy!

Kat catches sight of Semmelmyer's car but can't be sure who is driving so she cuts back between houses to avoid detection and runs into Parker. Unfortunately the girls find themselves in a mexican stand-off with Creepy Guy in an alley between Houses. Parker makes a stand giving Kat time to get away with the Box. Using a length of bike chain Brock gave her, Parker pulls a David Vs, Goliath and smashes the windshield of the oncoming truck causing it to crash into a backyard!

Finally the kids all meet up at the Park and devise a plan to hide the box in one of the large garbage cans. They substitute a T.V. box that Brock found along the way by draping a coat over it as a decoy just in case!
The kids are taken by surprise as the Creepy Guy drops from the sky landing in the street just outside the park! He begins stalking towards the kids with a mean look in his eyes.

Brock rushes to meet Creepy Guy and grand slams him in the chest causing him to stumble back into the middle of the street! The kids watch in horror as his crumpled ribs seem to crack back into place and the man stands to face them!!

Creepy Guy: "Give me that Bo..." Screech!! WHAM!

A black car smashes into the creepy man sending him rolling across the pavement in a crumpled heap!
Semmelmyer: "Quick get in! Where's the box?"
Simon: "It's over here in the .. wait a minute!"
Parker: "Which Semmelmyer is it?"
Brock: "Look at his forehead!"
Kat: "He has the bump where you clocked him, Brock!"

The Science teacher takes the kids to wooded field where he sets up the machine. He explains that while tinkering in his lab he had accidentally created a device that could reveal the presence of extra-dimensional beings. A side-effect was that anyone under influence of the device would become invisible at night! Which is what happened to the kids! He was now going to reverse the process and get the kids back to normal!

A bit of an argument ensues as the kids think maybe being invisible at night could be really COOL! Brock lashes out at the Box with his bat and sets it off! POP!

Scene 6: Closure
The kids wake up back in the park, sitting at a picnic table. Their bikes and skateboard nearby. The Science teacher and disco-box nowhere to be seen.

Brock: " Did we just dream all that?'
Simon: " Look my bike tire fixed!"
Parker: "We need to find Mr. Semmelmyer!"
Kat: "I hope the aliens are gone!"

The kids race back to the school hoping to find a clue as to where the Science teacher lives. When they get there they see men loading the contents of the science class onto a truck. The men wear uniforms of workers from the Loop Facility.

Kat makes a distraction in the front office, and Simon is able to look at a rolodex and get Mr. Semmelmyer's address.

The kids arrive at the teachers home time to see another Loop facility truck pulling away. The teacher however is in his front yard talking with two men in blue military looking uniforms. He sees the kids and walks over to greet them. He lets the kids know that everything is fine and that men from the Government have taken care of the "aliens". He is sad to let them know however that he won't be teaching at school anymore as his work will now be officially moved to the Loop Facility.

The kids say goodbye to Mr. Semmelmyer and return to the normalcy of life.

THE END

Pick up a copy of Radical kids for use in your own adventure!!

http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/230118/Radical-Kids-Set-One

The FRONT session 2: Liberate Saint Hommlet!

As session 2 begins the Squad is comprised of the following members: (pictured below from left to right)

Prvt. Dawkins (Intelligence), Prvt. Honeycut (Combat), Prvt. Sterling (Recon), Prvt. Stone (Combat), Corp. Murphy (Leadership), Prvt. Fynn (Recon).

The Squad!

It is D-Day plus 15, and the Allies are making headway into France. The boys are called up and ordered to fill out the squad for their next mission.

Mission parameters are to link up with a French Resistance cell, scout out the village of St. Hommlet and locate/destroy enemy ammo dumps & fuel supplies. Secondary - rescue any P.O.W's and confiscate any documents. Then hold the village until full reinforcements can arrive.

Corporal Murphy and the gang are immediately joined by Private Honeycut who is the sole survivor of his squad that was recently wiped out. He REALLY likes killin' Nazis and looks forward to gettin' into action!

With four slots remaining in the Squad, the group votes to bring a three man mortar team and a lone rifleman named Prvt. Pointe.

The squad links up with French

The Squad heads off into the wooded countryside to locate the French resistance. After a few hours they meet up with Marcel De Villiers and his band of resistance fighters. They are all former residents of St. Hommlet who fled to the woods when the Germans took over the village as a base of operations.
With the map that Corp. Murphy has Marcel is able to point out the Ammo/Fuel dumps and patrol circuits of the enemy troops as well as the most likely location of any POW's.

The Squad decides to split up into teams of two and scout out the village. Privates Fynn & Honeycut circle up to the northeast near the Winery, Privates Dawkins & Sterling scout out the southwest side, Corp. Murphy & Prvt. Stone scout the southeast, while Prvt. Pointe and the Mortar team set up in the woods to the east of the village. Marcel and his band wait in reserve.

During the night Fynn and Honeycut have a close call with a random soldier. Honeycut uses his trench-knife to make short work of the man. While this is happening Fynn sabotages a half-track parked outside the winery while the crew gets loaded. There is a moment when Fynn is almost detected, but the wiley soldiers are able to make it back to the rest of the Squad before dawn.

Dawkins & Sterling have discovered an MG nest guarding the SE road into town near a farmhouse used as a barracks. This road goes straight to the Inn at the center of town and it is there that Marcel says is the HQ and prisoner holding area.

Murphy & Stone have spotted what looks to be members of a Waffen SS squad milling about town. Marcel relates that they were not here before, but a lone Gestapo member has been visiting the village now and again in the last few weeks. The squad thinks maybe the Waffen squad are support for the Gestapo.

As the sun rises the Squad moves in from the SE to attack the enemy. Prvt. Fynn snipes the men manning the MG nest and this position is taken over by Stone & Honeycut. The soldiers don the helmets and coats of the dead germans to keep up appearances. Meanwhile Murphy, Dawkins, Sterling & the French move into the farmhouse and set about wiping out ten sleeping enemy soldiers!

About this time the 2nd Halftrack with a five man patrol comes down the street on its first circuit of the morning. Prvt. Fynn has moved into a new position in town and the group prepare to hit the halftrack patrol as it passes the MG emplacement.

Catching our boys off guard the halftrack comes to a stop, and one of the crew jumps out and approaches the MG nest talking to get their attention! Stone and Honeycut know the ruse won't hold up if this guy gets any closer so Honeycut goes for a knife attack! It fails and the SH*T! hits the fan!!!

Stone hoses the halftrack with mg32 fire taking out the gunner! Fynn begins picking off partrol members from the rear of the line and Murphy, Dawkins, Sterling & Pointe emerge from the barracks, while the French make a beeline for the Inn! Murphy lobs a grenade into the halftrack turning it into a smoldering hulk!

As Marcel and his men run towards the Inn they are caught in the open as an unknown factor rears its head! A camoflaged Panther tank emerges from a copse of trees where it had lain hidden from view!!! Four of the resistance men are cut down leaving only one survivor who takes cover behind a house.

Prvt. Sterling calls in coordinates to the mortar hoping to catch the tank with a lucky hit! Fynn uses a satchel charge and attempts to disable the tank, but it's no use and he almost gets taken out by a sniper shot from the Inn!

Assault the Inn

Stone & Honeycut have moved up the street and are using the mg32 to lay suppressive fire on the Inn and the soldiers there!

Murphy, Dawkins & Pointe get into cover near a well where they trade fire with the soldiers at the Inn. Prvt. Pointe makes a maneuver to throw his satchel charge at the Tank but is cut down by the Panther's mg!! The well is struck by a shell from the tank and Murphy and Dawkins are almost taken out!! The two soldiers make a run for cover nearer to the Inn and are followed by mg fire!!

Sterling is feverishly trying to narrow down the range for the Mortar team as the Panther draws a bead on our men! BOOM!! The area where Murphy and Dawkins went for cover explodes nearly taking both men Out of Action! They crawl deeper into the rubble attempting to hide from the armored vehicle!

Stone burns through all the mg32 ammo then switches to his BAR peppering the Inn and keeping the soldiers there ducking their heads. Honeycut has used this time to circle around and storm the entry of the Inn by lobbing a grenade through the door. He moves inside and finishes off the last defenders with his shotgun!

Finally after agonizing minutes a mortar shell drops from the sky and causes irreparable damage to the Panther knocking it out of the fight!

The Panther dies!

With the village secured, the Squad scours the Inn and finds a lone wounded British soldier. He relates that all the unhurt prisoners were rounded up and shuttled out of town just a bit before the attack. He knows that the Gestapo officer and the SS troopers were taking them to a place called "The Moathouse"!!

The remaining Frenchman relates that the moathouse is an old castle a few kilometers north northwest of St. Hommlet at the edge of a marsh. If they hurry they can probably get there and stop whatever the SS are planning to do with the POW's.

Tune in for Session 3: Assault the Moathouse!!