Judge Dredd: Sector 1 Session #1

Training Day Part 1

Introduction

These session logs record gaming sessions using the EN Publishing's Judge Dredd: Tabletop Adventure Game. The four stars of the story (the Player Characters or PCs) are (left to right) Judges Weaver, Click, Brody and Simmons. Brody is a Med-Judge while the others are Street Judges. 

This opening storyline - Training Day - is an adventure I have put together which weaves together several of the missions from both the rulebook and first supplement, all under the overall storyline of the new Cadets undergoing their final assessment to, hopefully, earn their full full badges! Warning: spoilers follow if you intend playing any of the scenarios from the published material! Fellow GMs wishing a copy of the Training Day adventure can email me at thebissler@gmail.com and I will happily send over the PDF! You will, of course, require to own copies of those books to run the full adventure!

Dredd (2012) image copyright DNA Films/IM Global/Reliance Entertainment

Final Assessment

Date: Saturday, April 11 2099, 0557 hours.

Since the age of five they’d been brought up by the Justice Department. For fifteen long years they studied at the hardest school of all - the Academy of Law - training to become Judges, Mega-City One's finest. They lost a lot of classmates along the way. Most didn’t make it this far. But Cadets Weaver, Click, Brody and Simmons still hadn't yet earned their full badges. It all came down to this one day. Final assessment. 

Judge Dredd (1995) - Image Copyright Hollywood Pictures, Cinergi Pictures, Edward R.Pressman Film Corporation

Judge Griffin by Brian Bolland
Copyright Rebellion 2000AD Ltd

They'd been assigned to Sector One, the Sector built on top of what was once Manhattan. It was the most advanced of Mega-City One's Sectors, boasting the highest concentrations of city blocks. With up to 50,000 citizens living in a single Block, that meant it had more citizens than any other sector…and the most rampant crime! 

Most other Sectors didn’t have anything like the heavy infrastructure of Sector One, but the city was going through an era of massive and rapid expansion. Spiders-web networks of suspended plascrete roadways threaded through the Sector, providing routes between and into the many megastructures of Sector One, one of which was The Grand Hall of Justice itself. This gargantuan building was where Chief Judge Goodman oversaw the Judges' rule over the lives of Mega-City One’s 800 million inhabitants.

The Cadets gazed at the imposing structure of the Grand Hall - commonly referred to by rookies as ‘Justice H.Q.’ - as they flew in on an H-Wagon. As the H-Wagon touched down in the The Grand Hall of Justice, the Cadets filed out of the vehicle into a hall for further instructions.

Their old tutor - and principal of the Academy of Law - Judge Griffin was last to exit the vehicle. Twenty Cadets lined up, their white rookie uniforms reflecting the orange light of dawn. They all wore half-badges, none of which had their names inscribed upon them. Only Judges, not Cadets, receive the honour of the full badge. That was the prize if they could get through today without any mistakes. If…

“Well Cadets,” Griffin said as the Cadets saluted him. “I’ve brought you this far but now you’re on your own. Remember what you’ve been taught, stay disciplined and focussed, and you may succeed in this final test of your training. The failure rate is high - I’d be surprised if more than a third of you make it. Those of you who don’t - make sure you’re model citizens.You know what you face should you pursue the path of criminality!”

Several senior Judges entered the room and Griffin began shouting out names, assigning small squads of cadets to each. One of them was a huge Judge with a moustache and an intimidating stare, Judge Brennan. They hoped to be assigned to another Judge but as the numbers dwindled, it became obvious that he was going to be the one taking their assignment. Still, with rumours that Dredd himself was due to be breaking in a new rookie soon, things could have been worse. Much worse.

If Brennan had formed any immediate impressions of the Cadets, he did not share them. Instead he grunted and waved to them to follow him through the building, explaining what was expected of them during their final assessment.   

Judge Brennan

“A rookie Judge on assessment is likely to be involved in armed combat. You are almost certainly going to be required to carry out sentencing of convicted felons. Incorrect sentencing is an automatic failure. Not obeying a direct order from your assessment officer - if you're in any doubt, that’s me - is an automatic failure. Losing your primary weapon - the Lawgiver - or having it stolen from you is an automatic failure. Are you ready?”

"Sir, yes sir," the quartet replied in unison.

Brennan grunted non-commitedly in response, before leading the Cadets into the vehicle garage. He walked them to a group of parked Lawmasters, indicating to them to take a bike each.

Brennan put his helmet on, revved up his Lawmaster engine and roared out of the vehicle bay. Brody throttled the engine hard, her tyres screeching as she took off, leaving the other Cadets with the stench of burning rubber. Brennan did not turn around but shook his head. Exchanging glances between them at Brody's over-exuberance, the remaining Cadets cruised out from the garage on to a spiralling slipway hundreds of feet above city bottom. 

Mega-City One by Ron Smith
Copyright Rebellion 2000AD Ltd

Below, they could see the relocated Statue of Liberty outside the Grand Hall of Justice. Lady Liberty now stood in shadow, dwarfed by her neighbour, a gargantuan mega-sculpture hidden under scaffolding and aeroball pitch-sized swathes of tarpaulin. Concealed beneath was the Statue of Judgement. Built by the citizens, it was rumoured to be a monumental tribute to the men and women of the Justice Department. 

South On Sinatra

Their attention returned to the road as they merged with the early morning traffic on the Frank Sinatra Mega-Way. The morning sun had risen above the block rooftops, revealing the huge Mega-Way and its contents, its light glinting off the rooftops of hundreds of vehicles rumbling to countless destinations. With rush hour beginning in thirty minutes, the Judges knew that the smooth traffic flow may not continue for long. The Frank Sinatra Mega-Way encircled the whole of the sector and was Mega-City One’s busiest sector-based artery. They activated their bike radios and immediately the airways crackled with a constant and apparently endless litany of criminality and information.

“Incident: Tap gang on rampage in Beyonce Knowles.”

“Item: Inter-gang scrawl war reported in Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper Blocks. Derogatory scrawls increasing already simmering tensions between Juve gangs in both blocks.” 

Judges Brody and Simmons spotted a hover-car driving 2 MPH under the minimum speed limit. The Cadets switched on their sirens and used their Lawmasters to intimidate the Crocks (old people) in the car to speed up. Brennan noted down that this was the correct course of action as slowing the Crocks could cause a pile up. Simmons contacted Public Surveillance Unit (PSU) to report the Crocks' violation and to have them picked up once they exited the Mega-Way and sent to the Iso-Cubes. As the Crocks sped up to comply with the law, another message came in on the radio.

“Incident: Armed biker gangs engaged in illegal racing, headed southbound on Frank Sinatra Mega-Way.”

"Control," Judge Click radioed in response, "Cadets Click, Weaver, Brody and Simmons responding."

"Roger that, Cadet Click" the voice crackled through the handset. "Happy hunting rookies."

Full-Throttle On Frank:

Judges Weaver and Simmons roared forward, clearing the way for Click and Brody to follow in their wake. Brennan dropped back behind the squad to observe the rookies in action. Weaver and Simmons led the charge, sirens blaring as they cut through traffic, catching up with the bikers in a matter of minutes. They found that two Juve gangs were racing each other; Brody recognised them as the Clowns Gang from the Dennis Hopper Block and the Capsules from Peter Fonda.

Akira (1988) Copyright Tokyo Movie Shinsha

Weaver put his expertise in crowd control to good use by issuing a challenge - three of the six bikers surrendered immediately! Brody and Click escorted these bikers off the Mega-Way and handcuffed them to a Holding Post, calling in Central with sentencing and requesting a Pat-Wagon to pick up the miscreants. Meanwhile, some slick riding saw Weaver and Simmons close in on two of the three remaining bikers and force them to surrender - but one escaped! 

Simmons questioned his suspect, the leader of the Clowns gang from the Dennis Hopper Block. When the Juve biker refused to "snitch" on the rival gang member, Simmons increased the perp's sentence for withholding information. The Juve folded and gave up the information, explaining that the race was to arranged as tensions between the two blocks were high and both gangs decided a race was the way to determine who was the better Block! 

"Control, this is Cadet Simmons. Perp by the name of Shotaro Kaneda, resident of Peter Fonda Block wanted for his part in illegal street race on the Frank Sinatra Mega-Way. Put out an APB on the perp and ask PSU to see if they can pick him up after he exited the Mega-Way at Junction 17. The creep was last seen driving a distinctive high-powered red motorbike."

"Will do Cadet Simmons. Will update in due course."

As Simmons ended the call, more calls came in.

“Item: Joe Levine still at large, believed to be in Sector 1. Wanted for multiple murders. Image I.D., voice prints and other identification transmitted to on-board Lawmaster computers. Levine is believed to be armed and highly dangerous.”

“Incident: Break-in at Flavulike Corporation research facility. Squad of Judges required to investigate.” 

With PSU trying to locate Kaneda, the Cadets responded to the Flavulike call.

Flavulike Warehouse

The Cadets were met by Sally Salon, a public relations employee of Flavulike who cheerfully showed them into the warehouse. She explained that Flavulike were working on a new flavour of munce - a foul but highly nutritious foodstuff which is a staple of Mega-City meals - which they expect to be a big seller. 

Sally Salon

Weaver was instantly suspicious of Salon's cheerful disposition and questioned her using his Birdie Lie Detector. His suspicions were unwarranted however as it turned out that Sally was simply happy to be in work! With Sally removed from their inquiries, Click and Brody searched the warehouse for clues. Simmons demanded a list of people who knew about '"Numunce" (as the company are calling it) and access to the warehouse security cameras. The list was extensive as it included both employees at the warehouse and thirty citizens who had volunteered as testers to try out the new food. 

The security cameras revealed footage of a van which was used in the raid. Brody processed the footage through their bike computers and cleared up the chatter on the images to get a clean read on the vehicle registration plate. Another call to Control revealed that the vehicle was a hire van. The Cadets left the crime scene and headed to Dan's Van Hire Company to follow up their lead...

Dan's Van Hire

The Cadets made the short trip to the van-hire company where Dan himself was on hand to answer their questions. He confirmed the vehicle was his but that it hadn't been logged as being hired out. Joe, his nightshift man was about to leave so he called him in. Faced with a squad of five Judges, Joe folded quickly, explaining that he rented the van to a Mick Bricklington for cash and to keep the hire off the books. In an attempt to make amends, Joe handed back the money but Brody confiscated it, passing it on to the Pat-Wagon as it showed up to take Joe to the 'cubes.

Dan Murphy, Proprietor of Dan's Van Hire

"And you're fired," Dan shouted as Joe was led into the Pat-Wagon! "Stealing from your own employer when so many in this city are desperate for work! You make me sick!"

"Maybe try to hire more reliable staff, citizen," Brody advised.

Simmons checked his list of testers from Flavulike and saw that Mick Bricklington was indeed on the list. Once again, he contacted Control for Brickington's address.

"Mick Bricklington, resident at apartment 157/45, Mike Pence Block. One previous conviction for theft, released from the Iso-Cubes six months ago. Also, update on perp Shotaro Kaneda: PSU lost perp on cameras, last seen headed towards Peter Fonda Block."

"Roger, Control. Cadets following up on Bricklington, heading over to Mike Pence," Simmons replied.

Mob Tactics

As they approached the Mike Pence Block, they received another update from Control.

“Incident: Shots fired at Bricklington residence, apartment 157/45 Mike Pence Block.”

Leaving their Lawmasters in the vehicle park, the Cadets used the service elevators to take them to floor 157 and made their way to Bricklington's apartment.

When they arrived, they found two henchmen out in the hallway, one of whom was remonstrating with a woman, Bricklington's neighbour. Screams filled the hallway, the howling coming from Bricklington's apartment.

"What's all this noise? I'm tryna watch my holo-vids here," the woman shouted.

"Shuddup and get back inside or I'll plug ya," the thug threatened, drawing a spit gun and placing it under the woman's nose.

"Drop it creeps," Weaver interrupted.  

"Judges," the henchman shouted, grabbing the woman and putting the gun to her head. "Don't even think about it! I'll make her head even emptier than it already is!"

Click responded instinctively, firing a shot through the woman's shoulder to wound the perp holding her captive! Suddenly all hell broke loose and a blazing gun battle ensued! Simmons and Brody took several hits before the group subdued the henchmen and gained access to Bricklington's apartment - inside was another thug who was torturing a man in the bath, having shot out the man's kneecaps! Close quarters gunplay ensued before the henchman too was apprehended!

Dredd (2012) image copyright DNA Films/IM Global/Reliance Entertainment

To be continued...

NEXT PROG: KRONG LIVES!

Session Supplementary

We had a lot of fun playing the first session and the players seemed to enjoy investigation aspect of the adventure in particular. As is usual for a first session, we were finding our feet with the combat rules but we seemed to get there with it. We did find it was difficult for the Judges to despatch enemies quickly but they are rookies just starting out in their careers so they have plenty of scope to become far more powerful. The gun-battle with the henchmen was fought in tight corridors using Games Workshop's Citi-Block floor plans which are still serving me well some 30 years after I first picked them up! The tight corridors of the Block meant that it was difficult for the rookies to gain tactical advantages which are very important in the system - resulting in a lot of bullets being exchanged with the perps! Looking forward to the next session already!

Oh, and here is the map of Sector One with locations from the adventure. Just because the numbers are out of sequence doesn't mean that the players missed anything, just that the missing numbers are places they have not visited. Expect far more locations to be added to this map over the coming months!

Map Key:

1) Grand Hall of Justice
2) Statue Of Judgement
6) Flavulike Research Facility
8) Dan's Vans Hire
9) Mike Pence Block