Hello!

I run a Force and Destiny campaign but the players recently joined the Alliance. I'm building a session that will include ATATs for a Empire Strikes Back Hoth base assault. It won't be on Hoth but rather Yavin 4.

Ive seen their stats except their weapons. Before i get to too caught up in them, I wanted to know how others players experiences with ground assaults went and what I can do to make it interesting.

They'll have plenty of backup NPCs to throw at the front lines and have vehicles if need be. How can I make the assault dramatic and not just ATATs shooting vehicle scale weapons at the players?

Check onslaught at Arda for some examples.

I probably would not have the ATATs targeting the PCs. They would view that as a waste of time. They will shoot at clusters of troops, defense installations, bunkers, other vehicles. Individuals are the last target. You should have infantry and light vehicle support which will mix it up with the PCs. The PC's need to disable the ATAT's to protect the base defenses, but not get killed doing so. Maybe the PCs cause a landslide to block or trap the ATAT. Set up tripwire or concealed pit traps that they have to stop the support troops from finding or disabling.

Agreed, the ATAT will be shooting at their base.

I plan to have stormtroopers and Jetpack troopers helping ATAT and causing real problems.

As their on Yavin 4, the ATAT can shoot out trees that were used for cover and blow up the bases (wooden) walls. Anything else that would be interesting for them?

When the players get close to the legs, have troopers deploy out via ropes as a surprise.

Maybe have the assault happen just as a storm front moves in. Empire wants the kill fast, since the rebels could escape under cover of the storm. Not sure what would happen if the PC's could arrange a lightning strike on an ATAT. Maybe mudslides or quicksand.

21 minutes ago, Edgookin said:

When the players get close to the legs, have troopers deploy out via ropes as a surprise.

Maybe have the assault happen just as a storm front moves in. Empire wants the kill fast, since the rebels could escape under cover of the storm. Not sure what would happen if the PC's could arrange a lightning strike on an ATAT. Maybe mudslides or quicksand.

Don't want it to rain, but it's a good idea. I plan to light the forest on fire to add to the chaos.

But I like the trooper surprise though, that be interesting.

@Edgookin has the right idea. I love the trooper ambush. I've been considering something similar for a one-shot of the Battle of Scarif. One of the main thrusts will be a squad who needs to take down an AT-ACT to clear a landing zone. The AT will be part of the Mass Combat in the area, but at personal scale, will be more of a set piece than an individual combatant.

Failures and Threats on Mass Combat rolls get narrated as the AT blasting other squads, blowing up foliage, shooting down a U-Wing, etc. to give the PCs Setbacks on their personal scale checks. Stuff like that. They have to figure out how to bring down the beast from the ground.

Can they plant enough detonite on one ankle to throw it off balance? Can they scale it and blow their way inside, a la Luke on Hoth? Can they make use of their one heavy gunner's missile tube to breach the hull? Can they plant a targeting device and call in a guided missile strike from Blue Squadron?

2 hours ago, killerbeardhawk said:

Don't want it to rain, but it's a good idea. I plan to light the forest on fire to add to the chaos.

But I like the trooper surprise though, that be interesting.

The frightening part about forest fires is that they happen in the rain, too. It just dampens the effect, not eliminate.

Also, you might want to check out the mass combat rules. That'll let you set the much more massive stage.

I see it as the AT-AT is mainly a threat to the environment rather than a group of force wielding PCs on the ground. When one of those monsters shoot, what happens?

- Trees get obliterated raining small shards of wood down on the battlefield

- large concrete rocks from a ruin's wall will fly out toward the defending rebel infantry in the area

- vehicles could explode

- moving vehicles become an erratic missile hazard to the PC's allies (infantry, fixed emplacements, and other vehicles)

- large craters are blasted from the battle space in front of them making the ground uneven and difficult to cross

- an ammo, chemical or fuel depot could be threatened (very large explosion or just releasing toxic gasses into battle space)

- I also just thought an underground bunker or Massassi Ruin could collapse from the withering firepower, trapping a bunch of rebels inside (dispatch the PC rescue team)..

Basically, an AT-AT can be used to change the environment and create obstacles, threats, and hazards on the fly that the PCs need to deal with to save their comrades more than just gun on gun engagement. Of course, these impacts will also be felt by the invading Imperials. This may also appeal to the force sensitives, as they have something heroic to do besides killing.

The AT-AT would target the PC directly in one of two ways during the Battle of Hoth.

1) A lightsaber bearing PC is stand in a proponent position, communicating on an open come link, insulting the AT-AT commander and uses Influence on the commander to target them.

2) Like any good first person shooter it is the end boss for them to kill before escaping the planet.

The AT-AT is sil 4. Shooting Sil 1 Characters is 4x<P> to begin with. AT-AT crews should be Imp. Vehicle Corps troops. 2x<Y> & 1x<G>... usually a miss.

Sure, a hit obliterates a PC - unless he's got a squad, in which case squadmember goes away in a splatter of blood & smoke. On the battlefield, the squad rules from the GM screen are a great way to survive.