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Fly From Montgomery - 03.04.2024 - Early Access PDF
Fly From Montgomery - 03.04.2024 - Early Access PDF
Fly From Montgomery - 03.04.2024 - Early Access PDF
MONTGOMERY
A LL0 scenario for the Lancer Roleplaying Game
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FLY FROM MONTGOMERY
By
John Perich
Edited by
John Perich
Layout by
John Perich
Template via Lancer RPG Template by Michael Prijatelj, used under CC BY 4.0
Cover Art
brown and white mountains under white clouds and blue sky during daytime by omid roshan, used under
the Unsplash License
Interior Art by
Starlight Furnace (map backgrounds and assets); Delapouite, Ubed, and Lorc (game-icons.net) under
CC-BY-3.0; Michael Schiffer, Patrick Hendry, Aleksey Kashmar, Andreas Haubold, Siyuan, and NASA
(Unsplash) under the Unsplash License
Playtesting by
Dreamer, Matthaeus M, Fungus, Tank enthusiast, Seakeal, Ferrus Axel, Sophie, and others
Special Thanks to
Massif Press for the use of the Lancer setting and system; the welcoming and creative Lancer community
at PilotNET; the DOJ/HR auxiliaries of Arbitration; Bonnie Raitt and John Prine.
Fly From Montgomery is not an official Lancer product; it is a third party work, and is not affiliated with
Massif Press. Fly From Montgomery is published via the Lancer Third Party License.
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CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................ 4
CHAPTER 1: IF DREAMS WERE THUNDER ............................................ 6
COMBAT 1: IF LIGHTNING WAS DESIRE ......................................................... 8
CHAPTER 2: NO MATTER HOW I TRY .................................................. 10
COMBAT 2: LIKE A BROKEN-DOWN DAM ..................................................... 14
CHAPTER 3: FLIES IN THE KITCHEN .................................................... 17
COMBAT 3: I CAN HEAR THEM THERE BUZZING ........................................... 18
AFTERMATH ........................................................................................... 20
NEW CONTENT ....................................................................................... 21
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INTRODUCTION
12 years ago, Harrison Armory began shipping
OVERVIEW arms to partisan cells fighting the ruling clans of
Montgomery, a Diasporan world of volcanic
Fly From Montgomery is a 3-scene mission for islands and ashen steppes. A long-standing
Lancer. It is designed for LL0 mech pilots. It border skirmish turned hot overnight. The
provides a narrative hook that can jumpstart an Montgomery Royalists may have had the
entire campaign, or a one-off scenario that can numbers and the shells, but the partisans had
be worked into another storyline. fervor and state-of-the-art armor on their side.
And when the Royalists stepped up their
Only the Lancer Core Rulebook from Massif
counterattack, Harrison Armory's Colonial
Press is required for this scenario. Fly From
Legion responded in force.
Montgomery introduces two new rules options
suitable for use in other encounters: Metaurus followed close behind. They have
been poaching the arms and armor of both sides
● KNOCKOFF, an NPC template that gives
from their cutter, the Nerone, in low orbit.
enemy mechs surprising versatility at
Metaurus has made enough off this conflict to
the cost of a new vulnerability.
keep itself afloat another year—just long enough
● DELIVERY, a new sitrep that requires the to transit to the next battle.
PCs to pick one zone out of several to
It's a weary business. Every member of
defend and then hold it against sudden
Metaurus, especially the frontline pilots dodging
waves of reinforcements.
artillery, would like a chance at something
better. Just one big find, one perfect score, so
BACKGROUND: MAKE ME AN that Metaurus could pick its own battles rather
than scurrying after someone else's.
ANGEL
Metaurus Reclamation and Recovery has Yesterday, Executive Officer Madhuri McKellar
heard a rumor.
survived off the salvage of the conflict-prone
Altai Ring for over 120 years. They orbit the
The Petrovic clan of the Montgomery ruling
perimeter of a hot zone, then drop in after the
family recognized early on that the war was
fighting has waned but before the battle lines
going against them. They pulled most of their
can be redrawn. Spent reactor cores, discarded
reserves back to their mines, extracting as much
weapons, abandoned chassis: no scrap goes promethium as possible. Harrison Armory's 2nd
overlooked. Some of it gets resold to the
Montgomery Legion blitzed through the
combatants—either side—and some gets
Petrovics' weakened lines on their march to
pocketed for their own use. Rapid insertions into
Prine, the capital city. It was the penultimate
a war zone often mean taking pot shots from
advance in the Legion's victorious rout.
both sides.
In ten days, the surviving clan leaders will sign
It's an ignoble business. It's not as cruel as the
terms of surrender in Prine. The Colonial Legion
causes some of these planets fight for. But that's
will take formal control of the planet. All eyes are
little consolation when you're surviving off a on the capital ... and not on the Petrovic stores
richer planet's leavings.
of promethium.
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The Royalists no longer have a claim to it. The of promethium could mean a fresh start
Legion wouldn't even miss it. But in the hands of elsewhere in the Diaspora. All it takes is a
a small mercenary salvage company, a stockpile cunning plan, plenty of daring, and a bit of luck.
CUSTOMIZATION
This scenario presumes the PCs are an advance mech team from Metaurus Reclamation and
Recovery. But this same mission could be adapted into an existing campaign with a few tweaks:
● The PCs could be former Montgomery partisans, trying to keep the promethium out of the
Royalists' hands. You may want to reskin the Legion opposition to be Royalist diehards.
● The PCs could be Union DOJ/HR auxiliaries, dispatched to rescue hostages from the
Montgomery conflict. In Chapter 2, the challenge is not to load promethium but to attend
to malnourished and injured prisoners, while finding a safe way to transport them
overland. Both the Royalists and the Legion want the hostages as leverage in the
upcoming surrender negotiations. DOJ/HR simply wants them safe and free.
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CHAPTER 1: IF DREAMS
WERE THUNDER
The PCs approach the depot. What should have been a milk run turns into a firefight.
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the coming encounter. Consult the list of options ● On a 10+, they will confirm what the
below. Any PC who takes an action similar to initial long-range scan suggested: the
one of the following should make a skill check, depot is in fact abandoned. Treadmarks
adding relevant skill triggers and accuracy for along the dirt road are crusted over,
their background. If more than one pilot engages suggesting no one's been here in the
in any of the following tasks, they can provide +1 last six days. All the tracks are for light
ACCURACY for teamwork. They'll also benefit vehicles: personnel carriers, not heavy
from any of the bonuses earned on a 20+. transports.
● On a 20+, they can do a quick inventory
SECURING THE PERIMETER of the vehicles and cargo available. Any
skill checks for loading promethium in
Any pilot who mentions circling around or
the next chapter (see CHAPTER 2) will
securing the perimeter has a chance to spot
get +1 ACCURACY.
the Royalist forces approaching the valley from
the other side.
● On a 10+, the pilot picks up signs of ROYALIST RETURN
inbound mechs on their scanners. The
PCs will know that a fight is coming. Once every PC has had a chance to investigate
● On a 20+, the pilot spots the inbound or engage with the depot in some way, read the
mechs early enough to take advantage following:
of them. They can apply LOCK-ON to
The rhythmic stomp of armored legs and the
one of the hostile mechs as a protocol in
hum of fusion reactors draws your attention.
Round 1.
From the southern end of the valley—opposite
SCANNING THE DEPOT from where you entered—a squadron of mechs
emerges from the wiry scrub. Their frames are
Any pilot who mentions scanning the depot or scuffed with dirt and faded from sun exposure,
deploying a drone to scout ahead could spot but you can still make out the yellow and
the turrets placed around the area. turquoise of the Montgomery Royalist faction.
● On a 10+, the pilot spots the turrets.
They are powered and active, set to By now, the Royalists have to know that they’ve
target and fire upon anything that comes lost. The Legion has won. They have no more
within their radius. claim to the promethium stacked in those
● On a 20+, the pilot identifies the turrets' warehouses than you do. Are they opportunists
network signature. Any tech attacks they like you? Survivors denying the obvious?
make against the turrets will have +1
A second later, your HUD notifies you their
ACCURACY.
weapons systems are coming online. That's one
PROCEED WITH CAUTION question answered, anyway
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COMBAT 1: IF LIGHTNING
WAS DESIRE
The PCs must secure control of the depot against the Royalist forces. They must contend not only with
enemy mechs but with the automated turrets the Petrovic clan left behind.
OBJECTIVE(S): Maintain control of the depot and drive off the Royalists.
ENEMY FORCES
FOR 2 PCS: 1x BARRICADE (Drag Down)
1x BASTION (Fearless Defender)
1x KNOCKOFF BERSERKER (Harpoon Cannon)
FOR 3 PCS: Add 1x KNOCKOFF BERSERKER (Harpoon Cannon)
FOR 4 PCS: Add 1x BARRICADE (Drag Down)
FOR 5 PCS: Add 1x BASTION (Fearless Defender)
REINFORCEMENTS
FOR 2–3 PCS: 1x KNOCKOFF BERSERKER (Harpoon Cannon), 1x BASTION (Fearless Defender), 1x
BARRICADE (Drag Down)
FOR 4-5 PCS: 2x KNOCKOFF BERSERKER (Harpoon Cannon), 2x BASTION (Fearless Defender), 2x
BARRICADE (Drag Down)
TURRETS There are 3 turrets distributed across the center of the map. These turrets can affect PCs
and NPCs alike.
At the end of each round, any character within RANGE 3 of a turret takes 2 kinetic damage.
A character who is HIDDEN or INVISIBLE is not affected.
Turrets have EVASION 8, E-DEFENSE 8, and 5 HP.
DETAILS TACTICS
Four control zones (CZ) are spaced around the The BERSERKERS will charge in as swiftly as
depot. At the end of each round, the PCs score possible, contesting any zones the PCs lay
a point for each zone they control (with only PCs claim to. They will use their HARPOON CANNON to
present). The NPCs score a point as well for close distance or drag PCs out, then use
each zone they control. If one side controls all LIMITLESS to pile on more and more attacks.
four CZs, they gain an additional +1 point. At the Savvy PCs will capitalize if a BERSERKER'S heat
end of Round 6, the PCs need more points than gets too high and put them in EXPOSED.
the NPCs to win.
The BARRICADE will pin PCs down via DRAG
The turrets are distributed to throttle free DOWN and their GRAVITON CANNON, preventing
movement between the control zones. The PCs them from threatening any zones the NPCs
will need to destroy the turrets, move in the control. If they can block off a lane with their
tricky space between turret threat zones, or risk MOBILE PRINTER, they'll try that too. The BASTION
being fired upon. PCs with the ability to force will look to block any open paths between the
movement can also trick the NPCs into a turret's PC zones and their own.
fire zone.
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OUTCOME
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CHAPTER 2: NO MATTER
HOW I TRY
With the depot all theirs, the PCs must now secure as much promethium as possible. But they won't have
the place to themselves for long.
Pilots whose mechs got badly shot up in the last ● On a 10+, the pilot picks up signs of
encounter may want to scavenge repairs and inbound mechs on their scanners. The
gear from their fallen foes. The depot itself may PCs will know that a fight is coming
also hold useful equipment, too. Make an once the scene's clock is full. Give them
appropriate skill check: a rough sense of numbers (how many
mechs, plus the number of squads
● On a 9 or less, the pilot finds
indicated).
standardized parts and lubricants worth
● On a 20+, the pilot gets a full readout of
1 REPAIR, but that's all.
the inbound forces. Give them the exact
● On a 10-19, the pilot finds one of the
number and type of mechs in the inital
following (their choice):
deployment. Let them know that there
○ 2 REPAIRS
are reinforcements behind that initial
○ Ammo to restore LIMITED 2 to
wave as well, but keep the numbers and
any LIMITED weapons or
details vague.
systems
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OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED BRIBERY
If a PC wants something specific, or wants to try Trying to bribe the platoon with some of the
something not covered in the above, resolve it salvaged promethium will result in an immediate
as POWER AT A COST or use your best judgment. order to open fire.
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SURRENDER
POWERING DOWN
Lieutenant van Breda will not hesitate to
open fire at the ten-second mark unless the
PCs have powered down their mechs. If a
fight breaks out after the PCs have powered
down, then they start Combat 2 with the SHUT
DOWN status. SHUT DOWN can be cleared with
a BOOT UP full action and nothing else. This
means the PCs will essentially waste most of
the first round.
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COMBAT 2: LIKE A
BROKEN-DOWN DAM
The PCs must defend the depot against a platoon of Harrison Armory's Colonial Legion. Failure here
means going home empty-handed.
ENEMY FORCES
FOR 2 PCS: 1x HIVE COMMANDER (Grind Maniples; Press the Attack)
1x SENTINEL (Rapid Response)
1x SQUAD (Disciplined)
FOR 3 PCS: Add 1x SENTINEL (Rapid Response)
FOR 4-5 PCS: Add 1x SQUAD (Disciplined)
REINFORCEMENTS
FOR 2–3 PCS: 1x ELITE WITCH (Dark Cloud), 1x SQUAD (Disciplined), 1x SENTINEL (Rapid Response)
FOR 4-5 PCS: 2x ELITE WITCH (Dark Cloud), 2x SQUAD (Disciplined), 2x SENTINEL (Rapid Response)
BONUS Lieutenant van Breda (the HIVE COMMANDER) will leave her comms channel open the entire
OBJECTIVE combat, attempting to talk the PCs into surrendering. Technically-savvy pilots may be able
to exploit this and gain useful intel.
If a PC SCANS the HIVE COMMANDER, they earn one roll on the INTEL BONUSES table after the
combat, provided the HIVE COMMANDER is also destroyed by the end of Round 6.
Only one roll may be earned per round (maximum of 6 rolls).
The HIVE COMMANDER must be destroyed to complete the BONUS OBJECTIVE. Otherwise,
any and all earned rolls are lost.
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OUTCOME
INTEL BONUSES
If the PCs scanned the Hive Commander one or more times and destroyed her mech—both steps are
required—then they can roll on the table below to determine what intel they gathered from Legion comms.
Each Reserve below may only be acquired once; move up one entry if any duplicates are rolled.
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Though the PCs have options for how they approach each challenge, this scenario assumes the
PCs will face three fights back to back without much variation. For new players, or players looking
for a string of interesting battles, that might be enough. But GMs looking for greater complexity
might introduce one or more of the following options:
The depot is not in fact abandoned. A skeleton crew of miners and foremen were left
behind with orders to keep extracting and packing promethium for the Royalists’ “glorious
counterattack.” They stopped work two weeks ago but have stayed here, fearing the chaos
in the hills. They have no strong loyalty to either the Royalists or the Legion, and they
have no use for the promethium, but they don’t like off-worlders much either. Depending
on how the PCs treat them, the miners could be helpful, indifferent, or antagonistic.
A cell of anti-Royalist partisans show up as the PCs are robbing the depot. They have
heard rumors of the Legion’s plans for Montgomery following the surrender and they’re
not thrilled. Their plan is to salvage some saleable commodities, bury them in hidden
caches in the mountains, and wait for an opportunity to strike back. The PCs might want to
assist them in their revolutionary struggle, gently dissuade them from trying to fight the
Legion, or propose a trade.
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CHAPTER 3: FLIES IN THE
KITCHEN
The PCs have now made enemies of the two most powerful factions on the planet. Whether they have all
the promethium they wanted or not, it's time to make a break.
What should have been a milk run has turned into a brutal slog. You've pinged Messidor to relay your
status and confirm pickup. The pickup zone is 65 klicks south of the depot, where the sandy valleys of the
depot give way to densely forested mountain slopes. It looked like an easy march to an obvious landmark
when you were planning this from the comfort of the Nerone's command lounge three days ago.
The landmark finally comes into view: a massive rock formation towering over a dense stand of trees.
Your shoulders soften and your breathing eases for the first time since you left the depot.
Then, as if to punish you for optimism, your HUD pings with contact warnings. Hostile mechs are on the
horizon. And you recognize their frame signatures ...
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COMBAT 3: I CAN HEAR
THEM THERE BUZZING
SITREP: Delivery (see NEW CONTENT below)
OBJECTIVE(S): Designate a landing zone, then keep all enemies out of it.
ENEMY FORCES
FOR 2 PCS: 1x ASSAULT (Auto-Targeting)
1x SEEDER (Grav Spike)
1x RAINMAKER (Endless Rain)
FOR 3 PCS: Add 1x SEEDER (Grav Spike)
FOR 4 PCS: Add 1x BASTION (Fearless Defender)
FOR 5 PCS: Promote SEEDER to ELITE
REINFORCEMENTS
FOR 2–3 PCS: 1x ELITE SCOUT (Expose Weakness, Dataveil), 1x ASSAULT (Auto-Targeting)
FOR 4-5 PCS: 1x ELITE COMMANDER SCOUT (Expose Weakness, Dataveil), 1x ASSAULT (Auto-Targeting),
1x RAINMAKER (Endless Rain)
DETAILS DELIVERY
The enemy mechs in this combat can be from This encounter introduces the Delivery sitrep. A
either the Montgomery Royalists or the Harrison Delivery encounter requires the PCs to secure a
Armory Colonial Legion. site in advance of a particular deadline. The PCs
have some freedom of choice in sites, but must
● Do not choose a faction which defeated withstand a heavy wave of hostiles once the
the PCs in either of the first two delivery is inbound.
combats. Neither the Royalists nor the
Legion are likely to pursue someone There are four CZs spread across the map. At
they think they've whipped. the end of the second round, the PCs must
designate one of these CZs as the Objective
● The PCs are more likely to encounter Delivery Zone (ODZ). If there are only PCs
members of the Legion on other planets within the ODZ, they control it. If there are
or in other systems. GMs with an eye characters from two or more sides within the
toward a longer campaign may want to ODZ, it is contested.
set up Lieutenant van Breda, or another
tenacious NPC, as a recurring rival. After the ODZ has been selected, NPC
reinforcements may deploy from the CZ
● When in doubt, pick whichever faction diagonally opposite of the ODZ. For instance, if
the players seemed to hate more. the CZ in the northwest corner has been
Players find few things more satisfying designated as the ODZ, hostile mechs may
than trouncing a hated foe. deploy in either the southwest CZ or the enemy
deployment zone.
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At the end of Round 6, if the PCs have
uncontested control of the ODZ, they win. If not,
they are defeated.
TACTICS
OUTCOME
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AFTERMATH: MAKE ME A
POSTER
The mission ends with the PCs hustling into orbit ahead of their pursuers. They will have earned the
emnity of two powerful local factions. Though the Royalists are about to lose control of Montgomery, they
will still have whatever wealth they can abscond with and sympathetic allies on other worlds. And while
the 2nd Montgomery Legion will have its hands full on-planet for a while, officers cycle between postings
and share war stories all the time.
● If the PCs escaped with fewer units of promethium than their number (e.g., 3 units for 4 PCs), the
mission was not a success. Metaurus can fence the promethium to recoup their costs, but
they're not free of the grind yet.
● If the PCs escaped with more units of promethium than their number (e.g., 5 units for 3 PCs), the
mission was a success. Metaurus has a windfall that will enable it to jump from the Altai Ring to
more lucrative systems.
● If the PCs escaped with twice as many units of promethium as their number (e.g., 6 units for 3
PCs), the mission was a smashing success. Make some EXOTIC GEAR available—perhaps from
other Lancer supplements, or as a one-off weapon or system from another mech license—for
their acquisition.
Regardless, the players will need to get out of system quickly and find a new client. With a healthy
amount of experience under their treads, they will hopefully be ready for more complex and open-ended
missions in the future.
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NEW CONTENT
Fly From Montgomery introduces one new NPC template—the Knockoff—and one new sitrep—
Delivery.
KNOCKOFF
Knockoffs merge parts and processes from
several mech manufacturers to cobble together
an unconventional frame. They are more
vulnerable to significant structural damage than
traditional builds, but are capable of surprising
feats.
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DELIVERY
A Delivery mission requires the PCs to secure a zone in advance of a particular deadline. The PCs have
some freedom of choice in zones to control, but must withstand a heavy wave of hostiles once the
delivery is inbound.
CONTROL ZONES
Four CZs (at least 4 spaces on each side) in
different quadrants of the map, each placed
anywhere in their quadrant. A similar layout to
the Control Sitrep from the Lancer Core
Rulebook may be used. At the end of the
second round, the PCs must designate one of
these CZs as the Objective Delivery Zone
(ODZ). If there are only PCs within the ODZ,
they control it. If there are characters from two or
more sides within the ODZ, it is contested.
ENEMY FORCES
The GM should prepare enemy forces of a
normal encounter. Half of these deploy at the
start of the encounter.
DEPLOYMENT
The PCs deploy first, choosing positions for their
characters within the ADZ; next, the GM deploys
enemy forces in the EDZ.
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