Red Dawn 2010

I recently heard they are remaking Red Dawn. The original is a guilty pleasure of mine. It came out when I was in grade 7 or 8 and totally captured my young teenage imagination. I was at the time terrified about a Third World War that I thought could start at any moment. Though a Russian invasion of North America, even then, seemed pretty improbable – it was a refreshing, relatively hopeful scenario next to the one I expected – TOTAL NUCLEAR HOLOCAUST!

I’m not sure about a remake though… It makes me wonder who’s behind all this neo-cold war paranoia hype….?

Anyway, I’ve also been watching Generation Kill, which has got me thinking about playing some modern skirmish games… so…

We had a pretty full house with five players; Darrin, Christian, Rick, Jackson and Amanda!


In the Woods North West of Calumet, Colorado, September 2010

SITUATION

Tensions between Russia and the United States have intensified over oil, their failing economies and what the Russians refer to as American imperialistic expansionism and meddling.

The United States and China aren’t getting on so well either.

Green parties have swept the governments of Western Europe. NATO has been dissolved.

Russia experiences it’s worst grain harvest in 65 years.

China and Russia jointly attack the United States!

A group of teenagers have fled into the wilderness and waged a guerilla war against the invaders since Russian paratroopers landed in their town and shot up their school and then rounded up and executed their parents.

They have been calling themselves the “Wolverines” after their beloved high school football team.

The Russians have been tipped off as to the location of one of the “Wolverines” weapons caches/hideouts and are moving to capture it and hopefully caputure or kill the “Wolverines” themselves!


SCENARIO

The Soviet Forces objective is to capture or kill the “Wolverines” and/or capture their weapons cache. The “Wolverines” objective is to deny the Soviets their objectives!


FORCES

The Wolverines

Jed (Darrin)
Ag d8, Sm d6, Sp d8, St d10, Vg d8,
Pace 6, Parry 7, Toughness 6
Skills: Fighting d10, Shooting d12, Notice d10, Stealth d10, Intimidate d10, Throwing d10
Edges: Command, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Natural Leader, Woodsman
Gear: Knife Str+d4
Weapon Machine-pistol Rng 12/24/48, ROF3, Dmg 2d6, 3RB
Grenade Rng 5/10/20, ROF 1, Dmg 2d8, Med Burst Template

Matt (Christian)
Ag d8, Sm d6, Sp d8, St d10, Vg d8,
Pace 6, Parry 7, Toughness 6
Skills: Fighting d8, Shooting d10, Notice d8, Stealth d8, Throwing d10
Edges: Marksman, Block, Woodsman
Gear:
Weapon
AK-74 Rng 24/48/96, ROF 3, Dmg 2d8 (AP2) 3RB
Grenade Rng 5/10/20, ROF 1, Dmg 2d8, Med Burst Template.

Robert (Rick)
Ag d6, Sm d6, Sp d10, St d6, Vg d6,
Pace 6, Parry 5, Toughness 5
Skills: Fighting d6, Shooting d8, Notice d8, Stealth d8, Throwing d6
Edges: Rock n Roll, Nerves of Steel
Gear:
Weapon
AK-74 Rng 24/48/96, ROF 3, Dmg 2d8 (AP2) 3RB
Grenade Rng 5/10/20, ROF 1, Dmg 2d8, Med Burst Template

Danny (Jackson)
Ag d6, Sm d8, Sp d6, St d6, Vg d6,
Pace 8, Parry 4, Toughness 5
Skills: Fighting d4, Shooting d8, Notice d6, Stealth d6, Throwing d6
Edges: Fleet-footed, Luck
Gear:
Weapon
AK-74SU Rng 12/24/48, ROF 3, Dmg 2d8 (AP2) 3RB
Grenade Rng 5/10/20, ROF 1, Dmg 2d8, Med Burst Template

Toni (Amanda)
Ag d8, Sm d6, Sp d10, St d6, Vg d6,
Pace 6, Parry 6, Toughness 5
Skills: Fighting d8, Shooting d8, Notice d8, Stealth d8, Throwing d6
Edges: Dodge
Gear:
Weapon
AK-74SU Rng 12/24/48, ROF 3, Dmg 2d8 (AP2) 3RB
Grenade Rng 5/10/20, ROF 1, Dmg 2d8, Med Burst Template.


The Russians

Russian Officer
Ag d8, Sm d8, Sp d10, St d8, Vg d6,
Pace 6, Parry 6, Toughness 5 (7/9 vs. Bullets)
Skills: Fighting d8, Shooting d8, Notice d8, Stealth d8, Intimidate d8, Throwing d6, Driving d6
Edges: Command, Dodge
Gear: Body Armour,
Weapon: Pistol Rng 12/24/48, ROF 1, Dmg 2d6, Grenade Rng 5/10/20, ROF 1, Dmg 2d8, Med Burst Template.

Russian Motor Rifle Teams
Ag d6, Sm d6, Sp d4, St d6, Vg d6,
Pace 6, Parry 6, Toughness 5 (7/9 vs. Bullets)
Skills: Fighting d8, Shooting d6, Notice d6, Stealth d6, Throwing d6, Driving d6
Gear: Body Armour,
Weapons:
AK-74 Rng 24/48/96, ROF 3, Dmg 2d8 (AP2) 3RB
RPK-74 Rng 30/60/120, ROF 4, Dmg 2d8 (AP2) BIPOD
Dragunov SVD 50/100/150, ROF 1, DMG 2d8+1, Scope
Grenade Rng 5/10/20, ROF 1, Dmg 2d8, Med Burst Template

Vehicle Crew
Russian Motor Rifle Teams
Ag d6, Sm d6, Sp d4, St d6, Vg d6,
Pace 6, Parry 6, Toughness 5 (7/9 vs. Bullets)
Skills: Fighting d6, Shooting d8, Notice d6, Stealth d6, Throwing d6, Driving d6
Edges: Command, Dodge
Gear: Body Armour,
Weapon:
Pistol Rng 12/24/48, ROF 1, Dmg 2d6
AK-74SU Rng 12/24/48, ROF 3, Dmg 2d8 (AP2) 3RB
Grenade Rng 5/10/20, ROF 1, Dmg 2d8, Med Burst Template.


BTR-80
ACC/Top Speed 7/24, Toughness 16/15/15 (3/3/2)
Notes: Night Vision, Eight-Wheel Drive
Weapons:
14.5mm Rng 50/100/200, ROF 3, Dmg 3d6 (AP5) HW
7.62mm Rng 30/60/120, ROF 3, Dmg 2d8+1 (AP2)


THE GAME

We said Danny had been on lookout and came running into the cabin to tell the others that a whole Russian platoon was heading straight up the road towards the cabin! So everybody hastily deployed their figures within 12” of the cabin.

(Remember: click on the pictures for a bigger version)


From left to right: Robert, Toni, Jed, Matt, Danny


The Russians sweeping the woods on their approach to the alleged hideout of the terrorist group known as the Wolverines!


The Wolverines deploy a hasty ambush for the approaching Ruskies.


The Russians start taking fire! The Second Squad loses their team leader to sniping fire from Matt, prone in the woods far off behind the cabin. Then Jed rushes in and throws a grenade. Two are shaken, one of which is finished off by small arms fire from… somewhere else… Robert? Matt…?


Robert and Danny move up firing on the Russians Second Squad – hoping a little “shock and awe” Colorado-style will send them back the way they came!


Toni moves up and starts shooting up Ruskies from the cover of the woods


The Russians Third Squad starts making some headway through the woods and threatens to flank Danny and Robert. Jed feeling the heat from both the First and Second Squads falls back to the Woods where Toni is still firing from.


Danny takes down one of the Ruskies from the Third Squad!


The BTR-80 crew finally spots a muzzle flash in the woods and pounds the area with their 14.5mm Autocannon – Jed is tagged!


Someone took down the Russians platoon commander ending all hope of rallying any Russians that fail morale!


…until the BTR-80 crew pulls a Joker and rolls “Rally” for it’s fortune and calamity – rallying the sole surviving member of the Second Squad – in a mad frenzy he charges Jed after Jed, but is cut down in a hail of fire from the other Wolverines!


Robert was wounded somewhere along the way, but fought on through with his “Nerves of Steel”. Danny tossed a grenade into the woods near the Third Squad – leaving one of them shaken.


The Russian Third Squad pressed on through the woods, however and the RPK gunner took down Danny – his luck finally ran out… he was only able to soak one of the EIGHT wounds taken from a stray bullet sprayed wildly through he woods!


The Russians pressed on and shot Robert point blank, causing two more wounds.


Fighting through his three wounds Jed managed to wound the RPK gunner of the Russian’s First Squad, then Toni finished him off while dashing from one bit of cover to another – to get out of the line of fire of the BTR-80’s autocannon! The Russians morale failed and they started to pull back.


Despite his three wounds Robert also blasted another Russian while falling back to the stand of trees where Matt had moved up to. The Russian Third Squad also gave up the fight and the Russians began to route! The BTR-80 realizing it no longer had infantry supporting it hatily rolled back down the hill out of the woods…

The wolverines were victorious, but at a great cost. Jed and Robert were severely wounded and Danny was dead! Though they sold themselves dearly, taking out about 15 Russians, their foes would surely be back in greater numbers. Their hideout is compromised, and their cache lost. How could they move it with two of their number so severely wounded? How would they even get the wounded to relative safety in some new shelter? And where the heck was Daryl during all of this!?

A fun game was had by all – it was definitely Fast, Furious and Fun!

Afterwards I thought should have had a “Wolverines” special ability that gave any of the wolverines a +1 to their shooting die if they yelled “WOLVERINES!!!” while rolling the dice…. If I ever do it again I’ll be sure to add that in!