Difference between revisions of "Drachentrick"

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At an unspecified point after the [[Fourth Succession War]] and prior to the formation of the [[Free Rasalhague Republic]], i.e. between [[3031]] and [[3034]], rich platinum deposits are found on Alshaya, the smallest and hitherto rather unimportant continent of the [[Lyran Commonwealth]] mining world [[Suk II]]. While the famed [[Hansen's Roughriders]] are already stationed on Suk II on a long-term garrison contract, the find prompts the government to hire the players' [[mercenary unit]] (which is assumed to be roughly [[company]]-sized; the author's default unit was [[Camerons Legion]]) to garrison Alshaya specifically. In typical Lyran fashion, the newly-arrived mercenaries will meet local political and military leaders including Roughriders CO [[Gerhardt Hansen]], and can make friends and enemies in the local political landscape as they settle in.
 
At an unspecified point after the [[Fourth Succession War]] and prior to the formation of the [[Free Rasalhague Republic]], i.e. between [[3031]] and [[3034]], rich platinum deposits are found on Alshaya, the smallest and hitherto rather unimportant continent of the [[Lyran Commonwealth]] mining world [[Suk II]]. While the famed [[Hansen's Roughriders]] are already stationed on Suk II on a long-term garrison contract, the find prompts the government to hire the players' [[mercenary unit]] (which is assumed to be roughly [[company]]-sized; the author's default unit was [[Camerons Legion]]) to garrison Alshaya specifically. In typical Lyran fashion, the newly-arrived mercenaries will meet local political and military leaders including Roughriders CO [[Gerhardt Hansen]], and can make friends and enemies in the local political landscape as they settle in.
  
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Within days of the player unit's arrival on Suk II, [[Draconis Combine]] [[Warlord]] [[Ivan Sorenson]] enacts a plan to seize the planet with minimal forces. The losses from the recent [[Fourth Succession War]] have have stretched [[House Kurita]]'s troops thin and curbed their military adventurism for the time being, but Sorenson believes that if he can achieve success with his ploy,  high command will see the opportunity and send occupation troops anyways. Precipitating the clandestine operation, the [[Tooth of Ymir]] mercenary unit is sent to Suk II for (ostensibly) a spoiling raid and to test the new mercenary defenders on Alshaya. In truth, they remain hidden on-world and the [[DropShip]]s pretending to pick them up actually delivered additional troops who secretly prepare for a surprise attack to throw the defenders in disarray in preparation for a major invasion.
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Within days of the player unit's arrival on Suk II, [[Draconis Combine]] [[Warlord]] [[Ivan Sorenson]] enacts a plan to seize the planet with minimal forces. The losses from the recent [[Fourth Succession War]] have stretched [[House Kurita]]'s troops thin and curbed their military adventurism for the time being, but Sorenson believes that if he can achieve success with his ploy,  high command will see the opportunity and send occupation troops anyways. Precipitating the clandestine operation, the [[Tooth of Ymir]] mercenary unit is sent to Suk II for (ostensibly) a spoiling raid and to test the new mercenary defenders on Alshaya. In truth, they remain hidden on-world and the [[DropShip]]s pretending to pick them up actually delivered additional troops who secretly prepare for a surprise attack to throw the defenders in disarray in preparation for a major invasion.
  
 
It is up to the players to puzzle out what is happening from isolated encounters and (hopefully) proactive investigation. The players are supposed to uncover and thwart Sorenson's plan before its final stage can be carried out. Their ability to investigate the situation depends on their relationship with the government, the militia and other parties, who may or may not cooperate with the players' investigations and can provide help such as extra information or hovercraft that can navigate the jungle rivers. If the players fail, Draconis Combine troops will invade Suk II in force in a coordinated assault with the forces already hidden on the planet, possibly crushing the player unit.
 
It is up to the players to puzzle out what is happening from isolated encounters and (hopefully) proactive investigation. The players are supposed to uncover and thwart Sorenson's plan before its final stage can be carried out. Their ability to investigate the situation depends on their relationship with the government, the militia and other parties, who may or may not cooperate with the players' investigations and can provide help such as extra information or hovercraft that can navigate the jungle rivers. If the players fail, Draconis Combine troops will invade Suk II in force in a coordinated assault with the forces already hidden on the planet, possibly crushing the player unit.

Latest revision as of 03:11, 5 June 2022

Drachentrick
Product information
Type RPG scenario/campaign
Author Hartwig Nieder-Gassel
Pages 21
Illustrations Hartwig Nieder-Gassel
Publication information
Publisher FanPro (Wunderwelten magazine issue #14)
First published 1992
Content
Era Succession Wars era
Universe Date between 3031 and 3034

Overview[edit]

Drachentrick was a campaign scenario for BattleTech and MechWarrior (RPG) by Hartwig Nieder-Gassel, published in issue #14 of the FanPro house magazine Wunderwelten.

It was designed to showcase the potential of the RPG system and the possibility of combining it with boardgame BattleTech combat, and can be played with as much or as little roleplaying between combat scenarios as the players want. It includes a strategic hex map of the Alshaya continent on Suk II where each hex is 188 km across, for a strategic level gameplay similar to what was later refined with Schwarzer Tag.

An expansion pack with additional maps, force listings, units and BattleForce stats plus general tips and detailed written schedules for the operation could be ordered via FanPro for 10 DM plus postage, and was shipped on a 3.5" floppy disk for IBM-PC or alternatively the Commodore Amiga.

Story[edit]

At an unspecified point after the Fourth Succession War and prior to the formation of the Free Rasalhague Republic, i.e. between 3031 and 3034, rich platinum deposits are found on Alshaya, the smallest and hitherto rather unimportant continent of the Lyran Commonwealth mining world Suk II. While the famed Hansen's Roughriders are already stationed on Suk II on a long-term garrison contract, the find prompts the government to hire the players' mercenary unit (which is assumed to be roughly company-sized; the author's default unit was Camerons Legion) to garrison Alshaya specifically. In typical Lyran fashion, the newly-arrived mercenaries will meet local political and military leaders including Roughriders CO Gerhardt Hansen, and can make friends and enemies in the local political landscape as they settle in.

Within days of the player unit's arrival on Suk II, Draconis Combine Warlord Ivan Sorenson enacts a plan to seize the planet with minimal forces. The losses from the recent Fourth Succession War have stretched House Kurita's troops thin and curbed their military adventurism for the time being, but Sorenson believes that if he can achieve success with his ploy, high command will see the opportunity and send occupation troops anyways. Precipitating the clandestine operation, the Tooth of Ymir mercenary unit is sent to Suk II for (ostensibly) a spoiling raid and to test the new mercenary defenders on Alshaya. In truth, they remain hidden on-world and the DropShips pretending to pick them up actually delivered additional troops who secretly prepare for a surprise attack to throw the defenders in disarray in preparation for a major invasion.

It is up to the players to puzzle out what is happening from isolated encounters and (hopefully) proactive investigation. The players are supposed to uncover and thwart Sorenson's plan before its final stage can be carried out. Their ability to investigate the situation depends on their relationship with the government, the militia and other parties, who may or may not cooperate with the players' investigations and can provide help such as extra information or hovercraft that can navigate the jungle rivers. If the players fail, Draconis Combine troops will invade Suk II in force in a coordinated assault with the forces already hidden on the planet, possibly crushing the player unit.

Featured Units[edit]

Canonicity[edit]

Published exclusively in an apocryphal magazine, the Drachentrick scenario must be considered apocryphal as well.

Wunderwelten was the house magazine of FanPro, who were the German BattleTech licensee at the time of publication and later even held the complete BattleTech license. While Wunderwelten does not technically meet the current criteria for canon, its BattleTech-related content does therefore still have a claim to being an official publication under a valid license.

Other Wunderwelten Scenarios[edit]

Other BattleTech scenarios published through the Wunderwelten magazine include

Bibliography[edit]

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