Drachentrick
Sarna News
 | Apocryphal This article's subject is only mentioned in apocryphal sources, i.e. official BattleTech products which are not clearly Non-canon but do not meet the current Canon criteria either. For more information, check the Canonicity section. |
| 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
Drachentrick was a campaign scenario for BattleTech and the 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 combining it with boardgame BattleTech combat, and can be played with as much or as little roleplaying between combat scenarios as the players want.
An expansion pack with additional maps, force listings, units and BattleForce stats plus general tips and detailed written schedules for the operation couldy be ordered via FanPro for 10.00 DM plus postage, and was shipped on a 3.5" floppy disk for IBM-PC and the Commodore Amiga.
Story
Between 3031 and 3034, i.e. in the aftermath of the Fourth Succession War and prior to the formation of the Free Rasalhague Republic, 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 Camerons Legion—or alternatively the players' mercenary unit, which should be roughly company-sized—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 curbed House Kurita's 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 is sent to Suk II for a spoiling raid and to test the new mercenary defenders on Alshaya.
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. If they fail, Draconis Combine forces will invade Suk II, possibly crushing the player unit, but the scenario suggests that Hansen's Roughriders and the Lyran Commonwealth will save the day and recapture the planet.
Canonicity
Published exclusively in an apocryphal magazine, the Drachentrick scenario must be considered apocryphal as well.
Other Wunderwelten Scenarios
Other scenarios published through the Wunderwelten magazine include
- Cargo Queen
- Der erste Kontakt
- Inselhüpfen
- Operation Zitadelle & Operation Striker
- Réunion
- Schwarzer Tag
- Testfall
Bibliography
- Wunderwelten, issue #14 (October 1992), pp. 10-22