Otriad, n., Russian, отряд, Lit. meaning: To break from order/power
1943.
Poland.
The Jews are being persecuted. You know what happens next. Ghettos. Transportation. Labor. Toture. Death.
But not us.
Tens of thousands of Jews in eastern Poland run for the immense, seemingly endless Belarussian Forest. And so we start this story....
This game centers around the life of the Jews and military forces in the Belarussian forest during WWII. It will be very similar to my Industrial Japan game, if you have played it. Please note that I am not going for historical accuracy or extreme realism, but rather an exciting and rewarding narrative, with the potential of becoming alternate history.
Gameplay Style & Dice:I will use the standard D6 dice roller, but this game will be based on my own decision and subjectivity rather than numbers. What I mean is that there will be less focus on numeral systems, (No HP and Exp. Bars) but instead more based on characters, situation and plot. For example, in a regular RTD, Character X attacking Enemy Y with a (6 vs. 4) result would normally result in -2 HP. However, here I take into account things like weapon, attack/defense positions, experience, health, and etc. So a (6 vs. 4) in a combat could mean anything from a kick that breaks a knee, to a gunshot to the head.
Also, instead of classic dice result rules, (1 & 2 are bad, 3-5 are good, 6 is bad) I will have this formula: The higher a number, the better a result. So 6's or above are the best results, and the numbers get smaller the result becomes more negative.
As for combat, first I will post the aggressor's attack, versus the defender's defense (X vs. Y). If X is more than Y, the attack hits. If X and Y are the same, the attacks cancel out, and there is no counter-attack. However, if Y is more than X, X misses the attack, and Y gets a counterattack. I roll again, and if Y>X, than Y hits. But if Y< or = to X, it misses.
Lastly, each number represents a different outcome. The higher a number is in a result, it will have a more dramatic effect than the same difference but with a lower result; i.e. (6 vs. 5) will be a more powerful attack than (3 vs. 2), a (5 vs. 1) has more impact than a (5 vs. 3), etc.
Attributes:Attributes are permanent factors that modify rolls that pertain to their areas, i.e., Strength effects actions that utilize strength. Attributes can either be + or -. + Attributes have a 50% chance of adding +1 to rolls, while - Attributes add a 50% chance of -1 from effected rolls. It doesn't matter which Attributes you + or -.
The main rule is that you can only have as many + Attributes as -, and vice-versa. (i.e., if you have 2 + Attributes you MUST have 2 - Attributes.)Attributes can be learned and upgraded over time,
very gradually.The attributes are:
Strength: The amount of muscle that can be put into tasks. Effects actions like lifting heavy objects and melee combat.
Endurance: How long you can keep physically working. Effects things like traveling long distances and using heavy objects.
Agility: How quickly you can move. Effects things like sprinting, dodging and jumping.
Perception: How well you can see and aim. Effects things like looking around and using ranged weapons.
Toughness: How much physical pain you can take. Effects things like combat and disease.
Stealth: How sneaky you are. Effects being unnoticed, pickpocketing and lock picking.
Intelligence: How much raw brain power you have. Effects solving logical problems and using medicine.
Will: Mental toughness. How much mental strain you can take, and how you respond in peril.
Instinct: How fast your body can process new information. Effects counter-attacking and quick reactions.
Charisma: How well you can speak to people. Effects things like charm and intimidation.
Dexterity: How well you can work with your hands. Effects things like grappeling, reloading and tool-using.
Luck: How well Lady Luck treats you. Randomly effects roles.
Factions:There are three main forces residing in the Belarussian forest. Your character will be a member of one of them. Furthermore, your character will be split into a group either called an Otriad, (Jews and Russians) or Unit (Waffen-SS). These groups can be expanded or divided, created or broken, and join with others of their kind. Each faction has different goals and scenarios. Your character can belong to a:
Jewish Otriad: Hunders of Jewish resistance groups taking shelter the Belarussian forest. The forest is a large, sprawling, and cold place that seems maze-like to those not familiar with it. The Jewish Otriads are the 'survival' groups, as they will start out with minimal resources will need to find a way to survive. In addition, they must deal with unity issues, the weather, and violence from the SS, unsympathetic Russians, angry civilians of the countryside, and dangerous animals.
Because the Jewish resistance group members are mostly of non-military civilian background, this gives them a curse and a blessing. They will not all have fighting or survival experience. On the other hand, they may have occupations and skills that one would not normally find in soldiers. Plus, the Jewish Otriads are the most familliar with the forest.
While the main goal is to survive, the Jewish Otriads also have the biggest morality dilemmas. Is the goal to save Jews, or kill Nazis? Do we help or abandon the sick/elderly? Do we raid the civilians of the countryside to survive? What do we do about the Russians? These are just some of the issues the Jewish Otriads are faced with.
Waffen-SS: These Nazi soldiers have been deployed with the task of increasing the amount of territory the Third Reich has. While the Waffen-SS are the best equipped out of all the factions, they are the least familiar with the Belarussian forest and the area in general. The Waffen-SS is ordered to capture or kill any Jews they find, as well as driving the Russians out of the forest.
Soviet Otriads: These are like the Jewish Otriads, except they are made up of soldiers and volunteer militia. Their equipment is not as good as the SS, but the Soviets make up for it in tactics and overall heart to fight for the motherland. The Soviet Otriads are ordered to drive the Germans out of the forest, and secure it as a strategical area. There are no official rules for dealing with the Jewish Otriads, and as such, every Soviet Otriad has a different viewpoint on the Jews. Some view them as helpful allies, and will trade and support them, possibly even recruiting from them. Others view them as obstacles, either because they think of them as useless refugees, or just out of antisemtic spite. And yet others are neutral and will not interact with the Jewish Otriads at all.
WeaponsAll characters will start out with and in these two weapons they will be proficient. There are two types of starting weapons/; Primary and Secondary. Primary is the default weapon, the one your character is most skilled with. Secondary weapons are side weapons, usually there to fill a purpose that the Primary can not. The Primary and Secondary weapons must be different.
Weapons are called by their general type here, so the specific kind your characters get will be based on Faction, Occupation and Biography. Note that these are only starting weapons: Characters can find and learn to use more.
Weapons are listed below, P means it can be only Primary, S means only secondary, PS can mean either.
Rifle (P) - A long-barreled gun that is mainly used for meduim or long-distance combat.
Submachine Gun (P) - A smaller, stockier automatic gun that is proficient at close, or possibly medium range.
Shotgun (P) - A rifle-like gun that destroys targets at close range.
Pistol (PS) - A smaller gun than the rifle. While not as accurate or powerful than the rifle, it is easier to draw and reload, making it very useful in close quarters.
Revolver (PS) - A barreled gun similar to the pistol. It has a lower fire rate and reload time than the pistol, but it is more powerful and accurate.
Knife (S) - A blade used for slicing or stabbing. Note these are combat knives, tool knives are not counted as weapons. (Though they can be improvised as one.)
Grenades (S) - Small, hand-held explosives that are tossed.
Machine Gun (P, SS and Soviet only) - A huge, deadly gun that fires at an incredible rate and kills at any distance. Even with all these advantages, one most take into account things like it's high weight, extremely long loading, and it's proneness to jam.
Flamethrower (P, SS only) - A fuel tank with a hose that spits out flames wherever it is pointed. It is a German machine of death, but it shares many negative traits with the machine gun like weight and reloading time. Plus, you do
not want someone to shoot you in the fuel tank.
Molotov Cocktail (S, Jews and Soviets only) - A hand-crafted thrown weapon. As opposed to the grenade, the Molotov starts a fire where it hits.
Traps (S, Jews only) - Indirect improvised traps designed by the Jewish Otriads. These vary widely, from falling rocks, to swining logs, to camoflouged pits.
Sword (S) - An ancient long blade, these weapons have become much rarer in use as firearms have become the staple weapon of the world. They have been replaced by a knives, which are easier to carry and to draw. However, at pure close range combat, improvised weapons, knives, and even the deadly bayonet can't outmatch the sword.
Name: Hannah Mackowitz
Gender: Female
Age: 21
Faction: Jewish Otriad
Appearance: A small, peach-skinned brunette girl. Looks average overall.
Biography: Worked as a school teacher in Poland until Germany invaded. Her fiance was taken to the concentration camps, but she, and some members of her family, escaped into the Belorussian forest.
Primary Weapon: Pistol
Secondary Weapon: Knife
Otriad Population: 4
Occupation: Teacher
Attributes: (Leave them blank except for + and - Attributes)
Strength -
Endurance
Agility +
Perception +
Toughness
Stealth -
Intelligence +
Will -
Instinct
Charisma +
Dexterity
Luck -
Character Sheet:Name:
Gender:
Age:
Faction: (Jewish/Russian Otriad or SS Unit)
Appearance: (Brief statement on what your character looks like.)
Biography: (A short or long statement on your character's past.)
Primary Weapon:
Secondary Weapon:
Otriad/Unit Name: (The name of your group.)
Otriad/Unit Population: (The starting number of people in your group, including yourself. Otriads can have 1-6, and units can start with 1-8.)
Occupation: (For Jewish Otriads, what their past job/trade was. For Russians and Germans, what role they play in their unit. (Sniper, Medic, Demolitionist, etc.)
Attributes: (Leave them blank except for + and - Attributes)
Strength
Endurance
Agility
Perception
Toughness
Stealth
Intelligence
Will
Instinct
Charisma
Dexterity
Luck
Playerlist:1. Caellath (Arseniy Sidorov; Soviet Otriad)
2. Spinal_Taper (Alexi Anismov; Soviet Otriad)
3. agentorangesoda (Dietrich Metzger; SS)
4. Tiruin (Isidore Farkas; Jewish Otriad)
5. Caerwym (Davion Bakst; Jewish Otriad)
6. Flintus10 (Adrian Maciejewski; Jewish Otriad)
7. mcclay (Nikolai Vondgas; Soviet Otriad)