Spectre Operations: Frontlines preview
Spectre Operations: Frontlines introduces a whole host of new actions, scenario special rules, improved vehicle mechanics, new drone rules, mounted Elements (from bicycles to elephants!) and helicopters.
We’ve primarily designed this book to enable players to represent the threats faced by those on the frontlines of modern combat, both overseas and at home.
All of these integrate seamlessly with those presented in Spectre Operations and will add a new level of tactical depth to your games.
Here’s a little preview of what to expect.
Vehicles
Vehicles now have different armour values on each facing, including the tops and turrets where applicable. The book includes over 50 vehicle profiles, each with their own unique stat lines and armaments. You’ll find unique weapons profiles for 85mm/115mm/125mm tank guns etc - so each vehicle really feels unique.
Vehicles also have access points, when they are able to transport troops. These will dictate where Elements can embark and disembark. Also included are several brand new vehicle systems, such as advanced fire control systems, target finders and reactive fire systems. These will enable you to represent the cutting edge of modern vehicles.
Helicopters
We’ve been asked a lot to include helicopter rules and we have listened! These rules are intended to represent helicopters that would be present in the immediate battlespace - particularly those that would be interacting with ground Elements. We’ve included rules for Little Birds, Black Hawks, Mil Mi-17s, Mil Mi-24s and Civilian (including covert) Helicopters, to name a few.
Helicopters behave in a very similar manner to vehicles, so you won’t have lots of new rules to get used to.
New Actions and Scenario Rules
There are a number of new Actions, such as Momentum Surge, which allows you to use Momentum from your next turn. Blind Fire enables an Element to apply suppressing effects at the expense of accuracy.
There are rules for non-lethal combat, when facing aggressive non combatants. Warning Shots allow an Element to stall or scatter groups of civilians or non-threatening Elements. You can really effectively combine this with Rules of Engagement, which can restrict valid Target Elements.
Other rules that combine well with these rules are the rules for Mobs and Gathering Crowds. Mobs will make large Elements harder to Pin and Suppress, while Gathering Crowds will make Elements slowly increase in size over the duration of a game - representing civilians or fighters flocking to an area.
Rules for Breaking Down an Element into smaller Elements are also included, as are rules for Trained Element Advisors, allowing Militia Elements to use the benefits of being Trained.
Mounting Elements on a variety of personal vehicles and animals are also included. Criminals can now zip around a table on bicycles, while horses, camels and even elephants are now available to Elements - allowing for some really characterful games!
Trenches
There’s a section presented that details rules on fighting in and around trenches. We’ve taken a lot of inspiration from talking with a friend who has recently engaged in this kind of action in real life…
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Drones
Drones now have a lot more rules. Full FPV drone rules are included, as are rules for Drones dropping munitions. Additional profiles and rules for Unmanned Ground Vehicles of all sizes are also expanded.
Frontlines goes on pre-order, along with our new reference card decks (and a limited Task Force Nomad Drone Operator) tomorrow evening (Thursday 26th, GMT).