Ideas sought for random encounters.

[gimzod]

Hello ladies and gentlemen.

I'm planning a large game to put on later in the year and I was wanting to think of some small random encounters to spice up the game. Does anyone have any interesting ideas?

The basic idea of the game will be a days operations for a small international task force having to get several objects done. ( The four objectives would be to deliver a food shipment to a village, disable a very large IED, escort a UN convoy carrying doctors back to base and retrieve a member of the " The company." )

Appreciate any ideas you guys could think off to spice up the game.

Cheers. G

[commissarmoody]

I am guessing the game will be in a developing nation so these are some ideas.

Suicide Donkey.
 A Donkey that has enough of its miserable existence and just stands in the middle of the road waiting to get hit by a car. (And blocking the convoy) It has to be moved because if you kill the donkey you will have to get information from the locals. So that they can get reimbursed for the lose of labor from the Donkeys death.

Mr! Mr! Candy!
 Kids swarm around you slowing you down if on foot, begging for food, candy, pens, toys. They will run for cover if you take contact, but mostly just slow you down if you don't give them some sweets. Roll to see if they are satisfied.

Sargent! Sargent! You like Bling?
 Annoying pushie merchant is trying to sale you any thing and every thing under the sun. Role to see if your able to brush him off. If not you are stock in place while you try to sort it out. If you get contact the he will run to cover.

I got the poo on me!
One of your solders isn't looking where he is going and slips into a slip trench on the side of the road. No ill effect other then smelling like a latrine and a good ribbing from his squad mates.

Drink Water!
Hydrate or die, one of your troops forgot one of the basic tenants of work in a desert and goes down to the heat. Get him to the shade, and a Medic.
Wont die, but will be useless for the rest of the op.

Let me know if any of those help.

[Elk101]

Some ideas:

Appearance of 'doubtfuls' on the table. 1d10 civilians who's loyalties are unknown. Get players to roll some dice at the start of each turn and see if they are just innocent civilians or armed insurgents.

A goatherder and some goats wander on to the table. Perhaps one or more are rigged with explosives? The goats might wander randomly with the 'suicide goats' triggered by dice rolls?

Hungry locals attacking the food shipment.

A badly injured civilian appears requiring urgent medical attention.

[Arlequín]

Nice ones there guys!  

I'm not sure if they sent the wrong ammo, or we've got the wrong weapons. Either way we can't use this.

A logistics SNAFU has left the unit with only its ready ammo for either;

a) Its main small arm.
b) Its main Squad Automatic Weapon.
c) Its main support weapon type.

Some form of 'ammo shortage' rule is required for this, allowing for the unit to conserve ammo by reducing its fire-power effect, or allowing the unit to 'run out' on a random dice roll... or something like that.

Clumsy ****!

One of the men suffers a non-life threatening injury, limiting his and his fire-team's mobility. Alternatively the fire-team can deploy 'one man down' from their vehicle, with the casualty being able to fire from the vehicle. Work out who the casualty is at random, but don't allow weapons to be transferred across figures.

Is That Our Guy?

The rather poor quality photo of the operative you are to collect is no real use at all. You'll need to check out every road-side pedestrian to make sure you don't miss your guy.

[Elk101]

I love these sort of encounters. Mine are all Communist Offensive cards from my Vietnam rules where such encounters keep players on their toes.

[gimzod]

Looking good guys.

Ukuechana is a country along the northern mediterranean sea and while some parts are developed to western levels most is still developing.

[commissarmoody]

Doh! I think the over heating rule could still work. Just dehydrated, you sweat alot in body armor and carting all that kit around. Even in the winter.

[juergen c. olk]

Rules of engagement ,do not fire unless fired upon.  Mechanical breakdowns.  Taking the wrong turn,or road.   Using a guide,who leads you or brings you into an ambush.

[S_P]

If in doubt introduce a Dog: roll a D6 on a 1-3 it is friendly and will follow the soldiers everywhere, 4-6 it isn't. Bites nearest figures. Works especially well if they are trying to be stealthy at any point.

[Hobbit]

A TV crew has been assigned to your group.

A helicopter suddenly appears and deposits the Minister for International Foul-ups (and a whole host of flunkies) into the middle of the field.

A dispute flares up between two villagers (or villages) and the CO of the task force is called upon to arbitrate.

The task force is asked to help repair (bridge/tractor/water pump/TV satellite dish/generator).

A fire has broken out in a village building.

The bridge is narrower than expected/your new vehicles are wider than expected. Each vehicle must be carefully marshalled across the bridge or risk slipping off the side. Can that vehicle negotiate that narrow road that accesses XYZ vital point or does it need t take a long detour.

Why is there no sign of life in the observation tower that is supposed to be occupied by locally recruited friendlies?

Angry (formerly friendly) locals demand recompense after allied SoFs took two local men from their beds last night.

There are rumours that the tomb of the old wizard is filled with treasure but no one who goes to investigate ever returns.

[Myrmidont]

"You know you can shoot people here. You don't have to throw wrenches."
The main transport vehicle, either one the troops are using to get around the board, or perhaps one that is being used as an 'exit' objective, breaks down.
Troops qualified to repair the vehicle (engineers, element leaders or heavy weapons troopers in a pinch) will need to retrieve a replacement part from either another military or civilian vehicle (randomly determine which vehicle via face-down counters). Of course, this is when some insurgents/tangos/etc. decide to strike.

[NurgleHH]

Animals are very good encounters. Cows can stop a convoi (players think it is a trap), sheeps also. Dogs can be angry . Even playing childs can be a trap or only civilians. Mines on the streets (convoi), burning cars.

Hidden Sharpshooters are also great.