Adventure hooks/plot lines for the Rebellion era

[kaladorn]

Here's one I've played out.

Players each have secret loyalties (some to D, some to L, some to neither). They are senior officers aboard an AHL class ship, one of three in a fleet. This is shortly after news of the assassination. The BB, holding the Admiral, comes on fleet comms. He starts into a speech about the assassination. When he's about to announce who the fleet will declare for, the Fleet Carrier Meson Guns the BB. The BB, direly wounded, rotates around and blows out the CV.

No leadership is left. The players, not knowing loyalties of their crew (who all also have differing factions) must decide how to procede and how to see their own agenda pushed forwards....

Results seen include:

Ship gets out of system without incident after blowing up escort who declared for other faction.

Ship gets taken by one faction, but fighter leader is from other faction, takes off in Rampart, flies out 100 km, rotates 180, fires nukes back down the fighter launch tubes to nasty effects.

Riots on ship in favour of faction X result in sending in of Marines for faction Y. Grenades on the gunnery deck! And a great motivational speech for subsequent laggards like the engineer. "Oh, do you require assistance to get the Jump Drives back online? I can send Lt. Mansel...."

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Other plots for the S. Rim area:

The Sollies are coming. Ahead of them are coming their provocateurs and assassins and infiltrators. You are working for either INI or a local Domain intel service. Stop them. Or else.


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One of the characters has little memory of his past. But he is being chased by someone very nasty, likely some Imperial intel agency or the like, possibly also IRIS. He doesn't know why, but he knows some want him dead, others want him prisoner. The truth is, he knows something about the way the assassination went down. He just doesn't recall it, due to some trauma at the time. Give him time, let him unravel it. Sort of a Bourne Identity style plot.

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The Emperor was away from the throne when things went south. On his way back from Longbow, his ship is taken down (alternate history). He is the only survivor, and you are part of a local 'SRT' that saves him. What do you do? Do you get him to Gushmenge? To some Cold Start caches? or call the local IN - but wait, they might just have sympathies the other way.... who to trust? The fate of an Empire might hang in your hands....

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Another alternate scenario:

Play out the gunfight in the throne room. Let it work out differently. Draw your history from that point on.

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You are an Imperial who has some ties (maybe a Knight or two in your group?) to Duke Craig. The Solomani are coming. Help participate in the last ditch attempt to keep Craig safe and get him out. he may just be the only 'clean' choice for the next Emperor, if he survives, having clung to actual outdated values like trying to defend Imperial Citizens and not engaging in internecine genocide.

 

[jalberti]

I have found the Rebellion setting rich with opportunities for adventure hooks.

1. Starmerc for one of the faction
2. Piracy
3. Intelligence gathering missions
4. Investigation of something lost in an enemy faction: a ship, property, a person, etc.
5. Bring to light atrocities or violation of rules of war by other side.
6. Assist a MegaCorp in some action in another faction.
7. Hunt down a traitor

It goes on and on.

 

[jalberti]

I have found the Rebellion setting rich with opportunities for adventure hooks.

1. Starmerc for one of the faction
2. Piracy
3. Intelligence gathering missions
4. Investigation of something lost in an enemy faction: a ship, property, a person, etc.
5. Bring to light atrocities or violation of rules of war by other side.
6. Assist a MegaCorp in some action in another faction.
7. Hunt down a traitor

It goes on and on.

 

[jalberti]

I have found the Rebellion setting rich with opportunities for adventure hooks.

1. Starmerc for one of the faction
2. Piracy
3. Intelligence gathering missions
4. Investigation of something lost in an enemy faction: a ship, property, a person, etc.
5. Bring to light atrocities or violation of rules of war by other side.
6. Assist a MegaCorp in some action in another faction.
7. Hunt down a traitor

It goes on and on.

 

[Elliot]

What more? Please share

 

[Elliot]

What more? Please share

 

[Elliot]

What more? Please share

 

[kafka47]

There are many plot lines that you can play up in MT. I would go back to the Hinterworlds and begin to get some of the backstory to TNE.

Huge warships that bomb the hell out of the planet and then the local faction decides to stay. This leads to epic war of resistance that the players are the rebels, suddenly find the universe is more complicated than Norris Bad and Vargr Good.

Also, take the peace overtures between the Zhodani & Imperium on Eshar as a starting point for a wider diplomatic mission...

 

[kafka47]

There are many plot lines that you can play up in MT. I would go back to the Hinterworlds and begin to get some of the backstory to TNE.

Huge warships that bomb the hell out of the planet and then the local faction decides to stay. This leads to epic war of resistance that the players are the rebels, suddenly find the universe is more complicated than Norris Bad and Vargr Good.

Also, take the peace overtures between the Zhodani & Imperium on Eshar as a starting point for a wider diplomatic mission...

 

[kafka47]

There are many plot lines that you can play up in MT. I would go back to the Hinterworlds and begin to get some of the backstory to TNE.

Huge warships that bomb the hell out of the planet and then the local faction decides to stay. This leads to epic war of resistance that the players are the rebels, suddenly find the universe is more complicated than Norris Bad and Vargr Good.

Also, take the peace overtures between the Zhodani & Imperium on Eshar as a starting point for a wider diplomatic mission...

 

[kafka47]

There also is the whole thrust dealing with the incursions of the Aslan into the Trojan Reaches. Trying to deal with the Aslan with military means would lead to unity of Aslan against a particular faction. However, Imperial Aslan (aka Barbarians) could serve to visit the Hirate (sp) and begin to discover the ways of the true Aslan, in doing so, strive to find a way to peacefully resolve the Rebellion from an Aslan perspective. This would be an excellent lead into a Feudal Japanese style of play in which players would called upon to role play something entirely different.

MT also openned up the Extents and the Consulate, a mission to investigate something witnessed by Stephon at Longbow would serve a mission only to come face to face with the Horror of one's future.

The Rebellion also was about many disenchanted people forming the Brothers of Varian. Exploring the chaotic worlds of Lucan's Imperium, one could take a page from Robert Graves, I Claudius and explore the decadency of the late 3rd Imperium and at the same time what MJD hints at...Lucan the Great...

Hard Times, also see the emergence of planetary failure, can the players save the planet's ecosystem in time when the terraformers fail?

Similarly, Hard Times, witness the emergence of independent Stellar Polities (pocket empires) how can build a viable interstellar state without falling prey to becoming a pirate haven (books on d20 Freeport) might help. At the same time, there are forces that are trying to keep the flame alive but in remote corner of Verge. This runs into conflict with the desires of President/Emperor Dulinor...

 

[kafka47]

There also is the whole thrust dealing with the incursions of the Aslan into the Trojan Reaches. Trying to deal with the Aslan with military means would lead to unity of Aslan against a particular faction. However, Imperial Aslan (aka Barbarians) could serve to visit the Hirate (sp) and begin to discover the ways of the true Aslan, in doing so, strive to find a way to peacefully resolve the Rebellion from an Aslan perspective. This would be an excellent lead into a Feudal Japanese style of play in which players would called upon to role play something entirely different.

MT also openned up the Extents and the Consulate, a mission to investigate something witnessed by Stephon at Longbow would serve a mission only to come face to face with the Horror of one's future.

The Rebellion also was about many disenchanted people forming the Brothers of Varian. Exploring the chaotic worlds of Lucan's Imperium, one could take a page from Robert Graves, I Claudius and explore the decadency of the late 3rd Imperium and at the same time what MJD hints at...Lucan the Great...

Hard Times, also see the emergence of planetary failure, can the players save the planet's ecosystem in time when the terraformers fail?

Similarly, Hard Times, witness the emergence of independent Stellar Polities (pocket empires) how can build a viable interstellar state without falling prey to becoming a pirate haven (books on d20 Freeport) might help. At the same time, there are forces that are trying to keep the flame alive but in remote corner of Verge. This runs into conflict with the desires of President/Emperor Dulinor...

 

[kafka47]

There also is the whole thrust dealing with the incursions of the Aslan into the Trojan Reaches. Trying to deal with the Aslan with military means would lead to unity of Aslan against a particular faction. However, Imperial Aslan (aka Barbarians) could serve to visit the Hirate (sp) and begin to discover the ways of the true Aslan, in doing so, strive to find a way to peacefully resolve the Rebellion from an Aslan perspective. This would be an excellent lead into a Feudal Japanese style of play in which players would called upon to role play something entirely different.

MT also openned up the Extents and the Consulate, a mission to investigate something witnessed by Stephon at Longbow would serve a mission only to come face to face with the Horror of one's future.

The Rebellion also was about many disenchanted people forming the Brothers of Varian. Exploring the chaotic worlds of Lucan's Imperium, one could take a page from Robert Graves, I Claudius and explore the decadency of the late 3rd Imperium and at the same time what MJD hints at...Lucan the Great...

Hard Times, also see the emergence of planetary failure, can the players save the planet's ecosystem in time when the terraformers fail?

Similarly, Hard Times, witness the emergence of independent Stellar Polities (pocket empires) how can build a viable interstellar state without falling prey to becoming a pirate haven (books on d20 Freeport) might help. At the same time, there are forces that are trying to keep the flame alive but in remote corner of Verge. This runs into conflict with the desires of President/Emperor Dulinor...

 

[Elliot]

This is great - keep it coming - (I might even make a positive post myself at some point)


The bit about Aslan coming to the TR is a controversial one - they came to take land and crush the Glorious Empire (slaving militaristic dishonouring scum that they were) - but decided to take on the Imperium as well! That's alot of stray cats for a war!

 

[Elliot]

This is great - keep it coming - (I might even make a positive post myself at some point)


The bit about Aslan coming to the TR is a controversial one - they came to take land and crush the Glorious Empire (slaving militaristic dishonouring scum that they were) - but decided to take on the Imperium as well! That's alot of stray cats for a war!

 

[Elliot]

This is great - keep it coming - (I might even make a positive post myself at some point)


The bit about Aslan coming to the TR is a controversial one - they came to take land and crush the Glorious Empire (slaving militaristic dishonouring scum that they were) - but decided to take on the Imperium as well! That's alot of stray cats for a war!

 

[jalberti]

I found there is so much that can done in the area of the mercenary. All varieties of missions can be used and actions from small scale to large scale.

 

[jalberti]

I found there is so much that can done in the area of the mercenary. All varieties of missions can be used and actions from small scale to large scale.

 

[jalberti]

I found there is so much that can done in the area of the mercenary. All varieties of missions can be used and actions from small scale to large scale.

 

[Whipsnade]

Mr. Elliot,

Great thread! And great posts from everyone!

As hard to swallow as the Rebellion may be from an "I play with Traveller" standpoint; many of the events simply cannot be reconciled with what little we know about the Imperium, the Rebellion is a superb setting from an "I play Traveller" standpoint. Keeping that distinction in mind, MegaTraveller can and should be viewed as a rousing success for DGP and GDW. It really did open up the OTU setting to more adventure possibilities.

As a campaign 'skeleton' of sorts to hang different adventures from, Nail Missions may fit you bill. IIRC, they are mentioned in the Rebellion Sourcebook and an example involving a bleeding edge, TL-16 spinal mount is provided. The PCs must travel from the Marches to a IN Depot on the other side of Vland in order to procure the documentation the new weapon requires.

In a Nail Campaign, the PCs have a long term goal that keeps them on the move. The goal could really be anything; an item, a person, a treaty, a drug, and so forth. Thanks to this, the GM has a ready hook with which to insert the PCs in any number of adventures. (US television is particularily enamored of this plot device, you'll see it used in everything from Rawhide to Route 66 to The Fugitive to The Incredible Hulk.) Adventure ideas for this campaign format as easy to come up with:

- The PCs could involve themselves in speculative trade as a way of paying the bills during their quest.
- A party who has the repair parts the PCs require asks them to do him a service by way of payment.
- The PCs must settle a factional conflict on some backwater world before they can safely access whatever items/materials they need.
- Another group attempts to hijack the PCs vessel for use in their own Nail Mission.
- The PCs lose their vessel and are forced to hijack a replacement.
- A long term nemesis; i.e. the reporter in Hulk, dogs the PCs footsteps and stirs up trouble for them.

As you can see, the list is endless.

Now which Nail Mission Campaign would I have enjoyed running in the Rebellion Era? Hold onto to ya' vacc suit helmets...

Saving Lieutenant Windhook

Imagine trying to find the poor chump who actually knows what happened in the Princes' apartment? Did Lucan really scrag Varian in cold blood? Or was it the unhappy accident he claims it was? Lots of people, and not just the Big Factions, will want to know the answer to those questions.

Have fun.


Sincerely,
Larsen