It happened faster than anybody expected.

On November 21st 2004, the run-off round in Ukraine’s Presidential election took place between Viktor Yushchenko, who found his support in the western part of the country, and Viktor Yanukovych, whose base was in the East and South. University courses can be dedicated to the history behind this division, but the place for that is not here. This chapter in that history begins as Yanukovych is declared the winner of this election amidst allegations of fraud, intimidation, and worse. Protests that would become known as the ‘Orange Revolution’ start the day after, and Yushchenko legally challenges the results.

Our Point of Divergence is December 3rd. The Ukrainian Supreme Court assents to the results, causing the protests of hundreds of thousands to become riots. President Kuchma, Prime Minister Yanukovych, and their allies flee Kiev where Yushchenko is later confirmed as president. Hardliners in Yanukovych’s camp, led by Viktor Medvedchuk, convince him to set up a provisional government in Kharkov. A series of cities and oblasts, as well as army units in the South and East of the country, side with the Kharkov government. By January, both candidates have been inaugurated as presidents of rival governments. As talks to heal the rift break down, a civil war is imminent.



Neither government could count on the army to takes its side. As conflict loomed, the vast majority of its personnel took the first bus or train home and a decade and a half of neglect has left most of its vehicles out of working order. Instead, militias were organised from law enforcement, nationalist parties, and workers’ unions, sometimes led by a core of officer and soldiers that remained on their posts. In the bitter cold and sea of mud, it was these militias that traded blows in the Dnieper Basin. Halfway through April, The Kiev government stopped Kharkov-aligned militias from advancing beyond Kirovograd and took Mykolaiv, placing the city of Odessa under partial blockade. A stalemate ensued and a ceasefire signed, and both governments would continue negotiations.

By August, however frustration with the deadlock has built up on both sides. The ceasefire has given both sides the opportunity to repair a significant number of vehicles, replenish and reform their militias into a semi-regular army, and foreign volunteers and material support arrived to both sides. In order to strengthen its position at the table, the Kharkov government opts to make another play while the season still allows for it. Forces that have massed in the centre of the country launch a dual offensive. One towards Pervomaisk, and another ours towards Cherkasy.

The success of Operation Jupiter, as the offensive aimed at Cherkasy is named, would cut off the railroad from Kiev to Mykolaiv, significantly strengthen the position of pro-Kharkov forces in the centre of the country, and take them closer to Kiev. Phase I of the offensive calls for the capture of the railway town of Smila…

You can post from the perspective of any individual in your unit, regardless of position. It could be your battalion commander, a company commander or the driver in third squad, third platoon. As your subordinate units (Platoons) enter combat, you should roll dice (4d3-8) plus any Die Roll Modifiers (DRMs) that may apply. As your subordinate units come under fire, they should also roll a morale check to determine if the unit should desire to break and run from the enemy. Units with experience in combat will begin with a higher morale than less experienced units.

Refrain from posting character sketches and/or unit sketches in the characters tab until Dutchbag (RP Moderator) or Gunther (Wargame Moderator) approves of the unit and/or character.

Please use RPG’s Dice system for reporting rolls. You can link them into your In Character thread with an explanation of the outcome inside hiders.

We are going to use the FATE dice system to determine the outcome of combat actions or any situation that might require a random result. Please keep in mind if you are fighting against other Player Characters/Player Units (PC), the dice will help to determine the outcome so that your victory or defeat is not completely dependent upon writing skill.

Contests between two PCs are as follows. Both players roll 4d3-8 and add any applicable DRMs. Compare the difference between the two rolls. The difference will determine the result of the contest. As an example: Attacker has a +1 DRM and Defender has no DRM. Attacker rolls a 0 and Defender rolls a 2. The difference between the two rolls is a +2 in favor of the defender or -2 to the Attacker. The Attacker should consult Table A Below to determine which word best explains the outcome of their attack. In this case, the Defender (2) has a result that is Fair. It is positive, they won the contest, but it is not decisive. The defender takes some losses, but retains the ground regardless. The Attacker (-2) has a result that is terrible. The attacker did not take his objective and took terrible losses forcing him to either go to ground or retreat.

Table A: Die Roll Outcome
Legendary 8 (16)
Epic 7 (15)
Fantastic 6 (14)
Superb 5 (13)
Great 4 (12)
Good 3 (11)
Fair 2 (10)
Average 1 (9)
Mediocre 0 (8)
Poor -1 (7)
Terrible -2 (6)
Horrendous -3 (5)
Catastrophic -4 (4)



Table B: Individual Character Traits DRMs
Leadership *
Strength
Stamina
Toughness
Perception
Concentration
Intuition
Situational Awareness
Attention to Detail
Constitution
Charisma
Influence
Hand to Hand Combat / Martial Arts
Rifle shooting
Pistol shooting
SMG / Carbine shooting
Shotgun shooting
RPG shooting
Field craft
Hunting
Skinning
Cooking
Small Unit Tactics * (squad, platoon, company & battalion level tactics)
Regiment/Brigade/Division Operations
Indirect Fire (Call for Fire)
Navigation * (Map/Compass)
Vision
Hearing
Construction / Engineering
Sociopath
Paranoia
Asthma
Obesity
Religious fervor (Christian / Judaism / Eastern Orthodox / Islam / Hindu)
Terrain Analysis
Battlefield Intelligence Analysis
Armored Vehicle Recognition
Aircraft Recognition
Languages (other than native)
Field sanitation
Logistical Planning
Medical Evacuations

Table C: Unit Characteristic Trait DRMs
Firepower
Tactical Movement
Noise Discipline
Light Discipline
Defensive Operations
Offensive Operations
Combat Patrolling (Ambushes & Raids)
Reconnaissance Patrolling (Recon & Surveillance)
Marksmanship / Sniping
AT Weapons / ATGMs
Indirect Fire
Call for Fire
Communications (SPOT)
Air Defense
Engineering Operations (Mobility / Countermobility / Survivability Operations)
Vehicle Maintenance
Weapons Maintenance
Field Sanitation
Land Navigation
Night Fighting
Logistical Planning
Medical treatments
Casualty Evacuations

Table D: MORALE **:
Depending on their status, Conscripts, trained, veteran or elite units, they have a DRM which will increase their Morale level. Units that perform in combat, may have their morale adjusted as they experience combat. This will be left up to the discretion of the GMs.

Conscripts / Untrained volunteers 0
Trained units +1
Veteran Units +2
Elite units +3

Demoralization **: Units that fail a morale check, will want to run from a fight.

* Leadership, Tactics and Navigation are traits that can affect the performance of the character's unit(s). If a leader has a leadership rating of +2 and conducts an operation in the presence of that unit, the unit receives that +2 bonus when it comes to performing certain tasks and when it comes to morale checks. The presence of Leaders is very important on a battlefield to maintain cohesiveness of combat units.

NOTE on Unit Leaders: If a unit is fired upon and the unit sustains losses, roll a 1d10 to determine if the unit's leader either dies or sustains injuries. If you roll a 1, the leader is either WIA or KIA. If this happens, roll a 1d10 again. A roll of 1 - 3, is a KIA and a roll of 4 - 10 results in WIA. If a result is WIA, that leader must be evacuated from the battlefield and the unit needs to appoint a replacement leader. General it is a subordinate leader for at least a temporary promotion, if not longer.

** Morale / Demoralization. When a unit is fired upon, it must undergo a morale check. If it scores at least an Average (1) or above, it will pass. Rolling a mediocre (0) or below will result in that unit running away. More experienced units will benefit from a DRM just because they have been there and done that (BTDT). They will not run away. The presence of a leader with that unit, may prevent it from running by applying the leader's leadership DRM to the unit.

The result of a combat roll will provide you with a word. That word could be Good, Average, Poor or any of the other ten options in Table A above. Whatever that word is, that word should describe how you write the outcome of your unit’s actions in combat. Soldiers get killed in action, they become prisoners of war and they run from a fight at inopportune times. Your post should respect the word your dice roll reflects. So if you roll a Poor, then you know things did not go well for your unit.

Character Sketch
Name:
Rank/Position:
Description:
Personality:
Biography: (at least since the character has been in the military. This could be bullet
points if you desire.)
Vision/Outlook: what does your commander think of his unit? What is his vision for the unit
in the upcoming campaign?

DRMs: (bullet points)
Each Character and Unit is authorized to allocate a net 15 points. You can use any of the words in Tables B & C above. If you don't see the word you are looking for, please substitute your idea as long as you can define what it covers. You can allocate all 15 points in positive traits with a series of +1 or +2 DRMs. There should only be one +3 or +4 DRM. It must be something the character or unit is very good at or has a lot of experience with. If you decide to assign negative DRMs to your unit or character these can benefit your unit or character with additional positive DRMs. If you allocate a total of -4 DRMs to one or more traits, then you can allocate a total of 19 positive DRMs. The Positive traits can offset the negatives.

Unit Sketch
You should have a unit sketch for each platoon in your unit. The Platoon will be the basic maneuver unit we will use to show tactical movement and coverage in the combat zone. Below is the skeleton with an example of one unit.

Unit designation: (1st Platoon, No. 1 Company, 1st Bn, 34th MRB)
Type of unit: (Mech Infantry/BTR-70)
Unit Commander: (Lieutenant Hryhorij E. Korzh)
Morale: Trained (+1)
DRMs:
Firepower +1
Tactical Movement +2
Noise Discipline +1
Light Discipline +1
Defensive Operations +1
Offensive Operations +1
Combat Patrolling +2
Reconnaissance Patrolling +2
Marksmanship / Sniping +1
Weapons Maintenance +1
Field Sanitation +1
Land Navigation +1
total: 15

This looks interesting, like that 1980s wargame we did, Gunther. Can I take an armor battalion? I seem to recall I had a battalion of T80s in that game too. They didn't last very long, going up against those M1 Abrams.

The more, the merrier! An Armoured Battalion would work, but you could alternatively be shuffling around the orange forces if POOHEAD can't make it.

What sayeth Gunther?

Yes, Landain. Your armor battalion would actually be a Tank Battalion. You can look at what Dutchbag and I have posted for some ideas on what to write up for your unit. Use T-80 Main Battle tanks and BMPs for your unit. We expect @CaptainBritton to join us with a mechanized infantry battalion (BMP-2s). Then we will have four units in our Brigade. Dutchbag and I, each have a battalion of motorized infantry.

Or use whatever tanks you can scrape together. I might actually diversify the few I have for a laugh and logistical nightmares.

Or use whatever tanks you can scrape together. I might actually diversify the few I have for a laugh and logistical nightmares.

Thank you. that is a good idea. I did a little work on this yesterday, exclusively with T-80s.

Name: Ivan T. Kozak
Rank/Position: Lieutenant Colonel / Battalion Commander (I./37th TR)
Description: Ivan Kozak, aged 38 is of Czech (father) and Russian (mother) descent. He grew up in the Soviet Union, just over the border from Luhansk, Ukraine. At 193cm (6’ 4”), Ivan is an imposing blonde haired, blue eyed slav. He has a scar on his right cheek, a souvenir from combat actions in Afghanistan.
Personality:
Biography: After secondary education, Ivan joined the Soviet Army as a paratrooper in the 345th Guards Paratrooper Regiment of the 104th Guards Airborne Division. During his time in Afghanistan, he made one combat jump and suffered only a slight wound to the face. An unknown round from a Mujahideen fighter struck his right cheek, grazing the flesh leaving a 3” scar. He remained in Afghanistan until the end of the conflict for the Soviets. His unit pulled out of Afghanistan in 1989 and returned to the Soviet Union.
When his Airborne unit redeployed from the combat zone he went home to western Rostov Oblast near the Ukrainian border. He attended a university program on Civil Engineering at Don State Technical University in Rostov-on-Don. After four years, he finished the program with a degree and moved to Ukraine. Based on his education and military experience, the Ukrainian Army offered him a commission in their army. He chose to enter the tank corps in the Ukrainian army.
From 1993 until present he served in various tank units and positions within the Ukrainian Army. His service helped grant him a citizenship. By 2003, he was commanding the first battalion, 37th Tank Regiment composed primarily of T-80 Main Battle Tanks.
When combat operations opened up in early 2005, the Regiment was decimated from desertions and non-mission capable vehicles. He was able to cobble together a unit composed of a mix of T-80 and T-72 tanks. The battalion became the sole tank battalion in the 53rd Infantry Brigade, 3rd Division.
Vision/Outlook: LTC Kozar believes his unit is capable of doing anything. He trained them and they operate according to the tough standard he set for them.
DRMs:
Leadership: +2
Land Navigation: +2
Small Unit tactics: +3
Strength: +1
Hand to Hand Combat / Martial Arts: +2
Rifle shooting: +1
Pistol shooting: +1
Field craft: +1
Indirect Fire (Call for Fire): +1
Aircraft Recognition: +1


TACCP Tactical Command Post (BC and Ops)
FLD TRNS - Field Trains: Mess Section (mess) & Maintenance Section (vehicle Repair & radio repair)
CBT TNS - Combat Trains: Medical Section (emergency medical services), Support Platoon (ammunition resupply) & Vehicle Recovery
Recon Platoon
1st AT Platoon
2nd AT Platoon
Engineer Platoon (Mobility, Countermobility & Survivability Operations)
Mortar Platoon


First Company (Tank)


Second Company (Tank)


Third Company (Tank)


Fourth Company (Mechanized Infantry which can double as a Commando unit; Russian Mercenaries)

The Units look good. The DRMs are right on. @Dutchbag Do you see anything? The names possibly? Character Sketch?

@Landain Dutchbag says your unit looks good. The 1st Battalion, 37th Tank Regiment is now part of the 53rd Brigade.

The Brigade now consists of:

I./34th Motorized Infantry
II./34th Motorized Infantry
I./37th Tank
TBD Mechanized Infantry
TBD FA Battalion (152mm SP Howitzers)
Mi-24D & Mi-8 Gunships will be operating in our area on both sides of the operation.

Looking for one more willing to take command of a Ukrainian Mechanized Infantry Battalion (BMP-2, BMP-1 or BMD). This is a mix of a war game and a Roleplay.

Or we can be a downsized regiment, or that battalion is in reserve.

@HeySeuss Check this one out.

I say we leave one battalion in reserve and start this off. If someone wants to join in after we've started, they're welcome to

I really don't want to do that.
I wanted to leave my battalion in reserve because I know I will have to monitor the wargaming aspect and RP the enemy too.

Fair enough, I'm not in a hurry either way. But I'm not opposed to downsizing slightly

There are plenty of folks who enjoy military simulations. I believe they just haven't seen this thread yet.
I'm thinking of implementing movement rules, so we know how far our units can move. Make it turn-based with five minute increments. THe down side to this is, I don't want to update a map on unit movement until they establish contact.

@Andreyich Are you with us? A BMP Battalion commander?

@Andreyich Are you with us? A BMP Battalion commander?

I was thinking ex-Berkut infantry or some mechanized troops from Galicia yes