GZG ECC XIII AAR #1

After driving up to Owego, NY through the remains of the completely overrated snowstorm, I relaxed for a few hours had dinner and played in Aaron's "Return of the Dark Terror" FMA Pirate game. Just as much fun as last year's "Dark Terror" game. After the game broke up I started setting up for my "Defense of Steelport" Traveller game the following morning. I confided in my buddy Stuart that I really didn't have much of a plan. He proceeded to lay out a few suggestions for the specific scenario and how to run a character driven game in general. Basically you have to plan for it like a movie or play with acts and a suitable conclusion. The motivation for the players is very important to plan out. Many of the questions I received during the game were "how do I feel about player x ?"

Here's the layout of the starport on the planet Steel formerly of the Sword World's Confederation. It was seized by the Imperium at the end of the 5th Frontier War. There's a shantytown in the bottom left. The players portray raider's, a corrupt colonial governor, naval security, police, settlers, player characters (falsely accused of a crime and looking for redemption),and captured Sword World's settlers (squatters). The player character's are played by a single person and have a choice of being altruistic or getting out while the getting is good. The raider's need some star drive parts they previously cached on the planet to escape before the Imperial Navy returns. The corrupt governor seized the the cache and plans to sell it, he's bitter about how he was treated upon mustering out of the Navy at the end of the war.

The player characters make a move to seize the phony evidence from the red admin building in the background while the Sword Worlds squatters are released and rearmed.

The raiders move up through the Shanty Town. This is supposed to be a feint, but is so effective I have to limit their reinforcements.

The police look ready to defend the Starport, but in a moment the liberated Sword Worlds warband will take them by surprise from behind. Treachery!

There's a bit of a brouhaha over at the shuttle as three factions try to seize it, but that's nothing compared to the drama brewing over at the warehouse. Some retreating settlers seize some of the goods and try to make off in a truck. As the governor arrives to find some of his goods missing, the player characters leap from their survey vehicle and shoot him in cold blood. He's wounded and a scuffle breaks out, one of the player characters (Zoe) is wounded. The fact that neither side in this point blank battle has any deaths becomes rather key.

The settlers truck is brought up short by the Sword Worlders warband. As the shuttle (controlled by the Naval security) crashes down intentionally on a raiders ATV, negotiations break out. The Sword Worlders and Naval troops formed an alliance early on. They broker a deal with the Player Characters to have them hand over the wounded Governor so they can stage a show trial. In exchange they install lead character (Mal) as the new puppet Governor and get medical care for Zoe. They make an arrangement with the raiders that they can use Steel as a base for continued raids on the Imperium. The Sword Worlders come out on top (much as they do the the scenario Range War upon which this game is based), but everyone is happy. At least for now...

I learned a lot from running this game and I'd like to again thank Stuart for his help. I think I now have a mental blueprint to work from in generating scenarios like this. It's really about mapping out the motivations of the various players and then trying to find a way to drive the scenario to a dramatic conclusion.