SF:2KH "Liberation of Volturnus"

Shadow Shack's picture
Shadow Shack
June 16, 2009 - 5:39am
Refer to: SF:2KH "Liberation of Volturnus" .

I finished uploading this into jedion357's Volturnus Revisited project. It's a KH adventure to wrap up the Volturnus series in two stages: one where the players participate with their own characters attempting to knock out Sathar transports before they can collect retreating shuttles from Volturnus' surface, the second part is a boardgame illustrating the epic "Battle of Zebulon" between the allied forces from Truane's Star and the Sathar Warships.

Game #1 (the PC adventure) has been tested once since the current revision, Game #2 (Battle of Zebulon)might need editing as I have yet to try it myself (aka I'm definitely open to some feedback on both games).

Help yourself to the epic conclusion to the greatest AD game ever!


{EDIT} I forgot that was a member-only project...see next post for a "reprinting" of the game.
I'm not overly fond of Zeb's Guide...nor do I have any qualms stating why. Tongue out

My SF website
Comments:

Shadow Shack's picture
Shadow Shack
June 27, 2009 - 3:34am
SF:2KH "Liberation of Volturnus"
A Knight Hawks aftermath game for the Volturnus Adventure

The epic conclusion to the greatest SF game ever!



Following the Battle of Volturnus between the Sathar and the united native races of the new world (and perhaps after exhausting the additional adventures on page 32 of the SF:2 module), characters could be in a position to acquire starship skills (or pretty close to it). Either way, the KH game can still be conducted.

The Eorna have discovered a squadron of heavy fighters that they once used long ago, along with a secondary squadron of deactivated Mechanon fighters. Having deduced that these craft can be up and running with minimal effort, they have decided to take the fight to the worms with one final punch to the backs of their worm-skulls. Long range sensors report a massive exodus of shuttles returning ground troops and equipment to waiting transports. Even though the battle of Volturnus is over, both the Eorna and the adventurous heroes agree to pursue the worms a little further just to insure they never return to Volturnus again!

Of course if players lost the ground battle against the Sathar during the course of SF:2 Starspawn on Volturnus, this game can still serve as a turning point as the Truane's Star/Streel/UPF ships make their way to Volturnus to take charge...

If players with Technical or Military PSA characters have sufficient XP to advance toward LVL:1 starship skills, allow them to man a few of the Eorna craft as Pilots, Engineers, and/or Gunners (energy gunners may man the laser turret, rocket gunners may assist the pilot with the forward firing rockets). As such, the game can be conducted using the shaded columns of the KH attack table with skill bonuses. If the players lack the XP, any/all characters may still man the same systems (ultimately the better of the scenarios to maximize player participation), although as such an Eorna pilot will man the helm. In this case use the unshaded columns with no skill bonuses. In either situation, the Mechanon fighters are robotic and unmanned (and will attack as LVL:1 pilots if the shaded columns are used).


--- Part Two ---

While the Volturnus Squadrons were engaging the Sathar transports, the main bevy of Sathar warships ventured into deep space to engage allied craft comprising the Truane's Star government, Streel (who co-financed the Volturnus expeditions), and the UPF. While this board game has no direct impact on the player characters, it can be portrayed to determine the final outcome of the Sathar/Volturnus War.
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________

Game #1: the Volturnus Squadrons

The Eorna and Mechanon fighter craft take the battle to the worms this time, in a free for all in space! Sathar transports are positioned around Volturnus, collecting the retreating troops and their equipment. Several dozen shuttlecraft are making their way back to their host craft in order to retreat back to their homeworlds. The heroes of Volturnus have decided to land one final blow against these invading foes to ensure they never forget their humiliating defeat at Volturnus.





--- Set Up ---



Counters:

15 Sathar Destroyers
7 Sathar Light Cruisers
25 Sathar Fighters
6 UPF Fighters
6 UPF Assault Scouts
1 Planet counter


Place a planet counter at the center of the fold out hex map. The 15 Sathar Destroyer counters represent Sathar troop transports recovering Sathar warriors, the 7 light cruiser counters represent freighters recovering equipment and cyber-beasts. The 25 Sathar fighters represent shuttles. All transports start at a speed of zero, shuttles are moving at a speed of three hexes per turn. Troop transports can be placed anywhere but no closer than 6 hexes to the planet, freighters can be placed anywhere no closer than ten hexes to the planet. Shuttles can be placed anywhere, no closer than four hexes away from any transports or three hexes to the planet.

The UPF fighters represent Mechanon fighters, the assault scouts are the Eorna heavy fighters. They may begin in any hex orbiting the planet and facing any direction away from the planet (as facing the planet would result in a crash landing), with a speed of 1 hex/turn.

Replacements: none, although every three turns (during the repair turn) two sathar shuttles can leave Volturnus' surface (as PC craft, starting with a speed of 1 hex/turn in any orbit hex around the planet) for every three that were destroyed or recovered. This represents the sheer number of shuttle craft that landed versus the limited number of transports that remained to collect them (as there were heavy troop and equipment losses during the ground battle).




--- Special Rules ---


> Eorna fighters must land on the surface in order to resupply their rockets. They must end their turn in orbit with a speed of zero, the next turn they may enter the atmosphere. The third turn is spent on the ground, by the fourth turn they may exit the atmosphere and rejoin the battle (craft leaving the atmosphere begin with a speed of 1 and may face any direction away fromthe planet in one of the six orbit hexes around the planet). Care must be taken during these maneuvers...as the Eorna fighters can become sitting ducks to any nearby Sathar transports. No repairs can be made during the re-entry or take off turns (although if the repair turn comes up during the rearming turn, repairs can be effected).

> Sathar craft must have matching velocities and direction in order for the shuttles to dock. Both ships must be in the same hex to enable this. A freighter can recieve four shuttles, a troop transport can recieve eight, but once a freighter takes on three shuttles or a troop transport recieves six they will attempt to leave the board (although more shuttles may dock if they can match speed and direction). Craft that make it off the board with a minimum compliment of shuttles are out of play and can be considered as safely retreated from the skirmish.




--- New Equipment ---


Forward Firing Rockets (FFR): Simply put, the FFR is a set of fixed launchers similar to those found on a Rocket Battery, but instead of having a 360º field of fire they are forward firing weapons. Damage Table Modifiers are as a RB system, 2d10 with a range of 40,000km (four hexes), treat as an assault rocket for the resolution with no head on bonuses. Restrictions are FF, MPO, LTD

Laser Turret (LT): A smaller scale version of a Laser Battery. Treat as a LB for all regards with a range of 40,000km (four hexes).

Pod Laser (PL): As described in Dragon Magazine, the Pod Laser is a set of laser cannons (down scaled laser battery guns) fixed to a fighter's hull. Treat as a Laser Cannon for combat resolution, 1d10 damage and a range of 50,000km (five hexes).




--- Victory Conditions ---


The Volturnus Squadrons must destroy at least 8 troop transports and four freighters

Sathar must evacuate at least 8 troop transports each having recovered at least six shuttles, and 4 freighters each having recovered at least three shuttles.

If fewer than 8 transports/4 freighters escape or 8/4 escape without the minimum compliment of shuttles and all Volturnus forces are destroyed in the process, it is a draw (note that characters may bail out of destroyed craft, to be picked up later by a reserve Eorna craft).



--- Experience Rewards ---


Award 2-6XP per player based on participation (2 for low participaiton, 4 for medium, 6 for highly active). Double XP rewards if the Volturnus Squadrons achieve their goals.

Sathar Transport & Shuttle specifications


Sathar Assault Transport
HS:9 HP:45 Powerplant: 3 Ion B
ADF:1 MR:3 DCR:60 Crew: 32 + 800 troops
Armament: LB, RB(x4)
Defenses: RH
Comm/Detection: SSRadio, Radar
Misc: armory/repair lab

Cargo Accomodation: 0
Crew Accomodations: 16 double dreamsleep berths
Passenger Accomodations: 200 quad dreamsleep cabins plus armory
Ship's Vehicles: 8 shuttles


Sathar Freighter
HS:12 HP:60 Powerplant: 4 Ion B
ADF:1 MR:2 DCR:56 Crew: 12-24
Armament: LB
Defenses: RH, MS(x2)
Comm/Detection: SSRadio, Radar
Misc: 2 cargo arms

Cargo Accomodation: 12
Crew Accomodations: 12 double dreamsleep berths
Passenger Accomodations: 15 quad dreamsleep cabins
Ship's Vehicles: 4 shuttles


Sathar Drop Shuttle
HS:2 HP:10 Powerplant: 2 chemical A
ADF:1 MR:4 DCR:25 Crew: 1-2
Armament: none
Defenses: RH
Comm/Detection: SSRadio, Radar
Misc: streamlined

Cargo Accomodation: 1 (freighter) or 0 (assault transport)
Crew Accomodations: 2 seat cockpit
Passenger Accomodations: 4 acceleration couches* (freighter) or 50 acceleration couches* (assault transport)
Ship's Vehicles: n/a

* acceleration couches seat two each



Volturnus Fighter Craft specifications


E-1A Eorna Heavy Fighter
<!-- m --><!-- m -->
HS: 2 HP: 12 Powerplant: 2 sub-atomic A (jump governor installed)
ADF: 5 MR: 4 DCR: 40 Crew: 3-4
Armament: FFR(x4), LT
Defenses: RH
Comm/Detection: SubSpace Radio, Radar, Intercom
Misc Equipment: Streamlined, Light Armor

COMPUTER
Alarm (2)
Analysis (2)
Astrogation (2)
Computer LockOut (3)
Computer Security (3)
Damage Control (2)
Drive, Atomic A (4)
Forward Firing Rocket (2)
Industry (1)
Information Storage (1)
Installation Security (3)
Laser Battery (1)
Life Support (1)
Maintenance (2)

Cargo Capacity: 0
Crew Accomodations: 0
Passenger Accomodations: 3 command chairs (optional fourth chair for a rocket gunnery assistant on the bridge)
Ship's Vehicles: none

Deck Plans:

Deck 1: Bridge - The helm is inverted 90º, a secondary command chair can be added to the starboard side (opposite of the hatch) for a rocket gunner to assist with the forward firing rockets

Deck 2: Gunnery - controls for the fighter's laser turret are here, along with a small galley for crew dining as well as afresher on the starboard side.

Deck 3: Maintenance - an engineer may coordinate repairs from this station, as well as monitoring the drives. The hatch leads to an airlock below, where the outer hull hatch is located. Space suits can be stowed near the shielded port drive bulkhead when not in use.



NME-16 Neo-Mechanon Enhanced Fighter

HS: 1 HP: 6 Powerplant: 1 sub-atomic A (jump governor installed)
ADF: 6 MR: 6 DCR: 30 Crew: 0 (automated)
Armament: PL
Defenses:RH
Comm/Detection: SubSpace Transmitter, Radar, Camera System
Misc Equipment: Streamlined, Light Armor

COMPUTER
Alarm (1)
Analysis (4)
Astrogation (2)
Computer Security (4)
Damage Control (1)
Drive, Atomic A (4)
Guidance/Analysis (3) = LVL:1 pilot
Information Storage (1)
Installation Security (2)
Laser Cannon (1)
Maintenance (1)

Cargo Capacity: 0
Crew Accomodations: 0
Passenger Accomodations:0
Ship's Vehicles: none

_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________

Game #2: The Battle of Zebulon

The Sathar artifact on Volturnus sent out a subspace transmission the moment it detected approaching spacecraft. By the time anyone had discovered it, things were already set into motion. The Sathar battle fleet arrived in Zebulon, bent on destroying any life on Volturnus' surface. Nonetheless, a call was sent out to Truane's Star, who responded with confirmation of dispatching warships of their own. Sadly the worms were already en route long before the Truane's Star government could muster up an offensive, hence the large scale ground battle between the natives of Volturnus and the worms.



But the Truane's Star government did make it to Zebulon while the Sathar were present, despite the immense ground warfare going on. This is the tale of that epic deep space battle, where allied forces comprised of Palean militia vessels, Streel Corporation ships, and detached duty UPF warships acted together in an attempt to cleanse the newly discovered system of the Sathar threat once and for all.



--- Set Up ---



Counters:

1 Sathar Heavy Cruiser
1 Sathar Assault Carrier
5 Sathar Destroyers
1 Sathar Frigate
10 Sathar Fighters
3 Pirate Corvettes
1 Pirate Frigate

1 UPF Light Cruiser
1 UPF Destroyer
2 UPF Frigates
1 white on orange Frigate
2 white on orange Assault Scouts
1 black on gray Frigate
3 black on gray Assault Scouts
1 freighter
6 UPF fighters
black on lt green Frigate
white on dk blue Frigate
white on dk blue Assault Scout
black on yellow Frigate
white on brown Frigate


All Sathar counters represent their respective craft. The three pirate Corvette counters represent the Gunned Scout Ships and the pirate frigate counter represents the supply ship.

The UPF Cruiser and destroyer counters represent their respective craft, the two UPF frigates represent the assault transports. The white on orange counters represent the Pale militia craft (frigate = frigate and assault scouts = gunned escorts), the black on gray counters represent the Streel ships (frigate = corproate frigate and assault scouts = merchant scouts). The freighter counter represents Streel's carrier conversion, and the 6 UPF fighters represent the Streel fighters.

The four colored frigates each represent a government subsidized craft: black on lt green Frigate = Anchor, black on yellow Frigate
= Fathom, white on dk blue Frigate = Steelwagon, white on dk blue Assault Scout = Solar Flare, and white on brown Frigate = Trudger.

Allied forces may begin the game on the left side of the fold out hex map, no more than ten hexes inside the left border. Sathar forces begin at the right side of the map, no more than ten hexes inside the right border. All craft have a start speed of 10 hexes/turn.

Replacements: none


--- Special Rules ---


The Sathar Supply Ship will not engage in the battle, rather it will hover near the right edge of the map. At least one gunned scout ship will remain behind to escort the supply ship. Any Sathar craft that dock with the supply ship (matching speed and direction in the same hex) can rearm itself. In addition, any sathar ship docked to the supply ship during the repair round may utilize up to half of the supply ship's DCR in addition to the docked vessel's own DCR for repair attempts. Naturally the Sathar should place a priority on defending this vital craft if any enemy craft venture toward its proximity.



--- New Equipment ---


Same as Game #1




--- Victory Conditions ---


The Allied Forces must destroy at least half of the Sathar capital ships (cruiser, carrier, destroyers, and frigate), including the heavy cruiser. In addition, the supply ship must be destroyed as well. Once this requirement is met, remaining Sathar craft will attempt to retreat from the battle and escape (possibly taking out any pursuing craft with them, up to and including ramming). Fighters without a carrier to return to will continue fighting to cover the retreat, once this is effected they will attempt to ram any allied craft.

The Sathar Fleet must destroy at minimum all of the Pale militia craft, the Streel corporate frigate, UPF light cruiser, and the destroyer. Once this requirement is met, remaining Allied Craft must retreat and escape.

Any other outcome is a draw.


Allied Craft specifications

UPF Detached Duty craft

UPFS Steadfast (Light Cruiser)
HP:70 ADF:3 MR:2 DCR:100
Weapons: DC T(x4) LB(x2) PB EB RB(x6)
Defenses: RH ES SS ICM(x8)

UPFS Arcturon (Destroyer)
HP:50 ADF:3 MR:3 DCR:75
Weapons: LC T(x2) LB EB RB(x4)
Defenses: RH MS(x2) ICM(x5)

UPFS ST-51 & SM-99 (Assault Transports)
HP:50 ADF:1 MR:2 DCR:
Weapons: LB RB(x4)
Defenses: RH MS(X2) ICM(x4)
____________________________________

Palean Militia Vessels

PMV Cygnus (Frigate)
HP:40 ADF:4 MR:3 DCR:70
Weapons: LC T(x2) LB RB(x4)
Defenses: RH MS(x2) ICM(x5)

PMV Barbarian & Skinner (Gunned Escorts)
HP:25 ADF:4 MR:3 DCR:50
Weapons: LB(x2)
Defenses: RH MS(x1)
____________________________________

Streel Corporate Ships

SCS Mercenary (Corporate Frigate)
HP:30 ADF:3 MR:3 DCR:50
Weapons: LC LB RB(x4)
Defenses: RH MS(x1) ICM(x3)
Cargo:2.5

SCS Rat, Sai, & Telluria (Merchant Scouts)
HP:15 ADF:4 MR:4 DCR:30
Weapons: LB
Defenses: RH
Cargo:2

SCS Pike (Freighter-Carrier conversion)
HP:40 ADF:3 MR:3 DCR:75
Weapons: LB RB(x4) fighters (x6)
Defenses: RH MS(x2) ICM(x4)

SM-21 (Streel model:21 prototype fighter)
HP:6 ADF:6 MR:4 DCR:30
Weapons: FFR(x3)
Defenses: RH
_____________________________________

Government Subsidized Craft

SS Anchor (para-military freighter)
HP:30 ADF:4 MR:3 DCR:40
Weapons: LT(x3)
Defenses: RH
Cargo:6

SS Fathom (para-military freighter)
HP:90 ADF:2 MR:2 DCR:75
Weapons: LB EB RB(x4)
Defenses: RH MS(x1) ICM(x4)
Cargo:18

SS Steelwagon (privateer)
HP:30 ADF:3 MR:3 DCR:40
Weapons: LC LB heavy fighter (x1)
Defenses: RH ICM(x3)
Cargo:2
Solar Flare (heavy fighter)
HP:15 ADF:4 MR:4 DCR:40
Weapons: PL FFR(x2)
Defenses: RH

SS Trudger (para-military freighter)
HP:60 ADF:3 MR:2 DCR:60
Weapons: LB(x2)
Defenses: RH
Cargo:12

___________________________________________

Sathar Warship specifications

SAS Annihalator (Heavy Cruiser)
HP:80 ADF:2 MR:1 DCR:120
Weapons: DC T(x6) LB(x2) PB EB RB(x8)
Defenses: RH ES PS SS ICM(x8)

SAS Razer (Assault Carrier)
HP:75 ADF:2 MR:1 DCR:150
Weapons: LB PB RB(x8) 10 fighters
Defenses: RH MS(x4) ICM(x10)

SIG-25 (Fighters)
HP:8 ADF:5 MR:5 DCR:30
Weapons: AR(x3)
Defenses: RH

SAS Assassin, Dissuader, Eradicator, Saboteur, & Suppressor (Destroyers)
HP:50 ADF:3 MR:3 DCR:75
Weapons: LC T(x2) LB EB RB(x4)
Defenses: RH MS(x2) ICM(x5)

SAS Quash (Frigate)
HP:40 ADF:4 MR:3 DCR:70
Weapons: LC T(x2) LB RB(x4)
Defenses: RH MS(x2) ICM(x4)

SAS Incitor, Swindler, & Trespasser (Gunned Scout Ships)
HP:20 ADF:4 MR:4 DCR:50
Weapons: LB
Defenses: RH

SAS Provisioner (supply ship)
HP:50 ADF:1 MR:3 DCR:150
Weapons: EB, RB(x6)
Defenses: RH MS(x2) ICM(x6)
I'm not overly fond of Zeb's Guide...nor do I have any qualms stating why. Tongue out

My SF website