I am still hoping to find local players who would be interested in Fallout universe skirmishing using the "This Is Not a Test" rule system, but I thought I'd teach myself the rules in the meantime. Rather than just a one off game, I felt it was best to try a mini campaign so I could learn how warband advancement also worked. This training campaign used the first three scenarios in the rulebook, and I fielded a 402pt Vault Dweller warband built off of the Preservers template. The members were:
LEADER
Overseer Parnell (Lorekeeper): Machine Pistol
ELITE
Security Captain Crews (Reclaimer): Laser Carbine, Tear Gas, Riot Armor
GRUNTS
Riot Trooper Emge (Seeker): Mace, Ballistic Shield, Riot Armor
Riot Trooper Reiniger (Seeker): Submachinegun, Tear Gas, Ballistic Shield, Riot Armor
Riot Trooper Foree (Seeker): Light Machinegun, Riot Armor
SPECIALIST
Science Officer Vellani (Tech-Bearer): Machine Pistol, Glow-B-Gone anti-radiation treatment
Of additional note, I modified the creatures and encounter tables to reflect the Fallout figures I had. To provide additional ambience, I also put together a Fallout New Vegas inspired playlist on Spotify's which can be found here.
SCENARIO 1: Cold Vengeance
Per the rulebook, "Two warband enter, only one leaves."
With their water purifying system suffering a failure, Overseer Parnell needed to lead a team to the surface in order to find replacement parts. With Science Officer Vellani and a security team as support, they used an auxiliary exit to get to the surface. Unfortunately for them, this put them right in the middle of the Great Khans' territory and they would need to fight their way out.
Two Yao Guai mutant bears were also roaming the wasteland, and were a threat to both parties.
Due to a large rock formation blocking their view of the Khans, Overseer Parnell scaled the boulders for a better view, while the security team focused on eliminating one of the Yao Gaui. The laser carbine and submachine made quick work of it.
The Khan raiders followed a similar tactic, first wounding a Yao Guai with a submachine before a power armor equipped grunt finished it off with a chainblade. The Great Khan himself sat up in the rocks with a sniper rifle. He spotted the Overseer watching them and injured Parnell with a well placed shot.
With the two bears out of the way, the warbands focused their attention on each other.
One raider scaled the rocks, forcing the wounded Overseer to retreat while Trooper Emge moved to intercept. Trooper Foree was able to machinegun down the Khan raider in power armor before he could close in for melee. A rifle equipped Khan missed his shot and Captain Crews dropped him before he had a chance to fire again.
Trooper Emge bashed a raider with his mace while Trooper Foree moved in position to line up a shot at the Great Khan.
Trooper Reiniger eliminated an elite Khan knife fighter.
The Great Khan was now alone, but he refused to flee.
The great Khan shot down Trooper Foree while Trooper Emge rushed his position.
Captain Crews managed to wound the Great Khan before he too fell victim to the sniper rifle.
The Great Khan picked off Trooper Emge before he was finally brought down by Trooper Reiniger.
With that, the Vault Dwellers ended their first encounter with the surface world. Sadly, they didn't survive unscathed. Trooper Foree died of his wounds, while Trooper Emge suffered hand and head injuries that permanently affected his aim and mettle. Captain Crews' injuries were only superficial and had no lasting effects. With the caps earned from this encounter, Overseer Parnell had replacement Riot Trooper Mulder join the warband and equipped him the same as the deceased Trooper Foree.
SCENARIO 2: Junk in the Trunk
Search the abandoned vehicles on the road for useful items before your enemies can get to them
In this scenario, the Vault Dwellers were up against a New California Republic patrol.
For some unknow reason, Zetan aliens also had an interest in the vehicles. In addition to the standard troopers, they had two in power armor and a hovering robot.
Captain Crews eliminated the Zetan robot while the NCR attacked one of the Zetans in power armor.
The Zetans returned fire, eliminating the power armored NCR trooper and wounding Overseer Parnell.
A Zetan charged Trooper Emge, but found itself falling just short to enter melee.
The NCR forces pressed their attack on the Zetans, with Marshall Pine and and their sniper eliminating another two.
Luckily for the terrified Trooper Emge, Trooper Mulder killed the attacking Zetan before it could use its force blade.
Trying to reach one of the trailers, an NCR trooper engaged in a gun battle with a Zetan, but found herself on the losing end.
Zetans also shot Trooper Emge as he approached the truck.
Overseer Parnell arrived at the second trailer and successfully searched it.
Science Officer Vellani and Captain Crews eliminated the last two Zetans guarding the truck.
Unfortunately for the Vault Dwellers, the NCR reached the truck first.
The NCR sniper took down the Vault Dweller Science Officer.
Trooper Reiniger also went down at the hands of the NCR.
A wounded NCR Marshall Pine successfully searched the car.
The Vault Dwellers eliminated Marshall Pine and another NCR trooper, but the NCR sniper continued to dominate the battlefield and shot Captain Crews.
Overseer Parnell managed to dodge the sniper fire and searched the last trailer. The NCR sniper, last of his patrol, retreated into the wasteland. The battle was over.
At the end of Scenario 2, the Vault Dwellers were in pretty good shape, considering the carnage of the battle. Captain Crews and Trooper Mulder now both had shaky nerves and suffered from cowardice, but there were no significant physical injuries amongst all the team members. Captain Crews was also able to go up a level and increased his melee skills. The group earned a significant number of caps from the encounter and would be able to expand their warband for the next encounter.
SCENARIO 3: Just 'Cause
Control Freak option, where each warband wanted to control an objective on the opposite side of table for the longest possible duration.
The Vault Dwellers had two new members for this mission:
GRUNT
Riot Trooper Scully (Seeker): Machine Pistol, Riot Armor
WASTELAND WEIRDO
Protectron Robot (Depend-O-Bot): Club
Additionally, Overseer Parnell now had Riot Armor and gained the "Sawbones Favor" benefit for the warband.
The Vault Dwellers' adversaries for this game were a Caesar's Legion Centurion and his soldiers.
The battlefield was the ruins of a prewar suburban neighborhood.
The Vault Dwellers were in pursuit of a comfortable recliner and a dresser full of prewar clothes that would impress the folks back home.
The Legion were after the last working washing machine in the area. Keeping togas clean was a lot of work!
In the middle of the area were some piles of radioactive waste that had fallen off a truck. Anyone who got too close risked exposure and nasty side effects.
Both warbands split their teams, with half the members going after the objectives and the others staying behind to deny the enemy their desired loot. The Legion was faster of foot and quickly approached their objective. The Protectron robot and closes raider engaged in a melee, but both failed to injure one another. Trooper Emge joined the fray and put the raider down. Science Officer Vellani took at shot at the approaching Centurion through a break in the house wall, but failed to hit him.
At the other end of the battlefield, a Legion Decanus, along with a legionnaire and elite explorer, took up defensive positions against the advancing Vault Dwellers.
The Centurion unleashed his flamethrower on Trooper Emge and the Protectron robot. Emge managed to escape with a grazing hit, but the Protectron went up in flames and was out of commission.
However, Emge's luck didn't hold and a Legionnaire took him out.
Spotting movement in the neighboring house, a Legionnaire tried to fire his shotgun, but the weapon jammed on him.
The Vault dwellers returned fire, but the Legionnaire dodged the shots.
Science Officer Vellani crawled out a window to avoid the approaching Centurion and his flamethrower, while Trooper Reiniger swung around the corner and successfully wounded him.
Captain Crews killed the defending Legionnaire before he could unjam his shotgun.
Another Legionnaire also started running.
The Legion explorer charged Overseer Parnell and stabbed him with a spear.
The Centurion immolated Trooper Reiniger in revenge for the earlier wound while Science Officer Vellani did her best to hide.
This caused Trooper Scully to panic and run from the battlefield.
The Overseer killed the explorer and the Vault Dwellers began to enter the house.
Science Officer Vellani became the latest flamethrower victim as the Centurion reaches his objective.
At this stage, both warbands held their objectives, but there were more surviving Vault Dwellers, so they took the victory. Stylish leisurewear and a comfy chair were now the property of the Vault.
With that, I called an end to my learner's campaign. I made lots of mistakes through all three games, but I feel I got a little more proficient each time. I probably need more solo practice before I'm ready to unleash this on other players, but I think the rules are decent and will be fun beer and pretzels game for a group. However, there are a few items that weren't clear that I'll need to run by the Facebook group:
1. When someone fails a morale test and starts to run, is there a rally function, and if so, how and when does it take place? And if they make it off the table, are there any implications for the warband in future campaign games?
2. Everything within the flame template is automatically hit, but should you still roll an aim dice to see if there is a fumble and the weapon jams?
I also wish the "Quick Reference" section had a weapons and armor table, as I spent a lot of time flipping through the book to check ranges and strengths. I'll likely make make own to speed things up for future games and help other players.
But overall these are minor quibbles and I'm satisfied with "This Is not a Test."
