Operation Twilit Hammer

Welcome to Operation Twilit Hammer, an introductory three-part mission series for Lancer: Battlegroup. In these missions, players will take on the role of Union Navy commanders tasked with intercepting a highly illegal convoy of paracausal weaponry through the Dawnline Shore blockade; however, it is soon discovered that not all is as it seems, and splinter factions of warring polities have united to attempt a restoration of peace by any means necessary. Players will have to quickly adapt and learn on the fly, cut off from higher command and pushed to apply their own assessments of right and wrong in place of following their initial orders.

Operation Twilit Hammer is designed to allow you and your players to start out with Lancer: Battlegroup with minimal experience; for that purpose, the missions in this book contain pre-determined NPC fleets, though more experienced GMs are welcome to substitute as they wish depending on the needs of their table. Operation Twilit Hammer is not designed to be played with tables of fewer than two or greater than four PCs.

Using this book, PCs will have access to eight new ship hulls: from Harrison Armory, the Augustus-class dreadnought (an aggressive, close-range brawler with a unique Heat mechanic), the Harris-class orbital denial vessel (a controller that can deny reinforcements and punish movement), the Maria Theresa-class starfield carrier (an interception carrier designed to eliminate hostile wings), and the Fleming-class frigate (a refitted Turenne hull designed for greywash decontamination and soft power projection). From the Baronies, there come the Petrocallis-class fleet carrier (a Wing-based carrier the size of a battleship), the Aconitum-class battlecruiser (a sleek, exceptionally fast warship that wins by outmaneuvering its enemies), the Mentha-class outrider carrier (a far-ranging support vessel that spots for long-spool weapons), and the Dioscorea-class frigate (a missile ship that saturates interdiction with extra damage). As well, HORUS has spread plans for the Banshee Pattern Group destroyer conglomeration (a basilisk-projecting controller frigate). In addition to these capital ships, rules for Wings of Sunzi and Orchis mechs are included, as are rules for Early Warning And Control System (EWACS) Wings, the Spinal Displacement Cannon Superheavy Weapon, and the Tactical Nuclear Ordnance System, as well as the Interception Package Ace Upgrade and the SPIKE Skip Torpedo Primary Weapon. Finally, a new Advancement is included in order to commemorate the end of the campaign and service in the Dawnline Shore.