The Last Ditch

The Last Ditch is a table top role playing game show using the Warhammer 40K: Only War TTRPG system from Fantasy Flight Games. SheepDog worked as the Game Master while Apocalypco\_12, Bentham, Margaret Krohn, and omgVandi were the players. The first season ran from August 2, 2020 to November 23, 2020 and consisted of 16 episodes. Each episode premiered on Twitch; recordings were uploaded and released on YouTube a day later.

A special mini show "Last Ditch HQ" was completed concurrently with the main game, run by SheepDog and played by EnterElysium. The HQ served as a strategic overview of the greater war effort and determined many of the actions and missions that the players would face during the main game which focused more on a soldier's perspective. HQ videos were released on the Roll4It Patreon.

The show returned for a second season on March 7, 2021 where the "core" cast (Apocalypco\_12, Bentham, Margaret Krohn, and omgVandi) reprized their characters with SheepDog returning as GM. The new show blended the regular game and HQ, with the core cast acting as commanders directing the war effort and other cast members regularly rotated for games involving common soldiers fulfilling orders.

## The Regiments

Chyrian 9th Recon: Lt. Colonel Rhoy Drake's own regiment, an elite mobile recon regiment originating from the nuclear wasteland of Chyrios IV.

21st Alpha Grenadiers "The Hardhides": The 'Hardhides' are soldiers from birth, raised in a society where all life relates to being an Imperial Guardsman. They originate from the dangerous jungles of Jungle-256-Alpha.

The Iron Brigade Of Faith: The Iron Brigade is a pious regiment of shield-carrying close combat specialists originating from the miners of the frigid mining worlds of Anura and Yatune and the pilgrims that have headed to their worlds.

The 12th Lightfoot: The 12th Lightfoot are an adorable bunch of terrible cooks and exceptional snipers originating from the ratling pleasure world of The Shore.

1-4 Assault Pioneers: Combat engineering recaff-addicted specialists originating from the recaf-producing agri world of Flux.

## Player Characters

### The First Combined Company 'Sword of Damocles'

Captain Sassa Brauneg *Commander of The First Combined Company*

## The Rearguard

The Last Ditch Rearguard is a cast/supporter collaborative effort that allowed fans to directly affect certain events in the main campaign. Supporters of the show were counted as NPC's and given a link to a special game in Roll20 to make rolls as requested by SheepDog and EnterElysium each week. These rolls would not directly impact gameplay, but averages would alter the effectiveness of support coming for the players (for example, if calling in an air strike, the rolls from Aeronautica corps would determine if/when they could arrive). In rare instances, critical failures or successes (rolls of 1-5 Success; 95-100 Fail) would allow for the supporter's character to become directly involved. For example, Queltzaar Hicks played by Minks failed a roll and ended up sending the called upon support to the middle of the ocean rather than the front when the player's had requested. Alternatively, Stinger played by Clowd rolled a success and was the Valkyrie pilot who not only saved Raze from the scouting group in Episode 1 but later became Lt. Col. Drake's personal transport pilot.

The Rearguard is divided between several different corps. Originally there were 12 - Aeronautica, Artillery, Armour, Engineer, Heavy Weapons, Logistics, Medicae, Officers, Recon, Recovery, Signal, and Special Forces. As the war progressed (HQ Ep \_\_), Lt. Col. Drake authorized the creation of a 13th Rearguard Corps; the Unusual Weapons and Tactics (UWat), later renamed Special Operation and Practices (SOaP) after their only product was soap that tasted bad to Tyranids.

In addition to the mechanical side of the game, Roll4It opened up a special RP Room on their Discord channel. A large number of fans began writing up backstories and adventures for their characters about the day-to-day goings on in other parts of the Imperial Guard, sometimes based on official rolls made, other times simply stories they wanted to tell.

For more information, please see the Rearguard. Note that the expanded Rearguard information is fan fiction and thus should not be considered canon unless specified.

Rearguard RP Archive: The Last Ditch has led to two thousand pages of RP as of writing (11-March-2021). This written RP has been recorded within this archive.

Rearguard Roll Sheet: This is the roll call, which includes a list of any who have rolled in the rearguard, their corps, regiments, any rolls made, locations, medals, and more.

## Canon Non-Player Characters

### Chyrian 9th Recon

Major Raiggain Gravid

Captain Erika Hale: Cpt. Hale is a veteran medicae officer. She is Kompact Kitty's Rearguard character.

Captain Augustus Steele: Cpt. Steele was recently promoted after a number of Black Ops Operations, and has been placed in Command of the training of PDF Forces into Guardsmen. He is Joe Fu's Rearguard character.

Captain Lero

Captain Krastin

Lieutenant Charlise

Lieutenant Kelyn

Lieutenant Jaeke

Lieutenant Patrock

Lieutenant Malax

Corporal "Duct Tape" Kirby: Cpl. Kirby was, along with Cpl. Shepherd one of the two troopers involved in the capture of the Lictor codenamed "Victor" during the ambush at Outpost Kheiran. He has a pet Stalkkat named Ragnar. He is Kirby's Rearguard character.

### 1-4 Assault Pioneers

Major Steffan 'Nocaf' Griffiths: He is the officer-in-command of the Pacificus Primaris Line. He is Windchild's Rearguard character.

Major Cord

Captain Garn Yirrock

Captain Robert Sly

Captain Michael Curan

Lieutenant Helios Zephyr: He was very successful in training troops following the PDF induction into the guard. He is Oberon Naga's Rearguard character.

Lieutenant Moarland

Lieutenant Edward Ligarius

Lieutenant Danny Barron

Lieutenant Daniella Callanan

Lieutenant Brian Garnett

Lieutenant Margaret Kenneally

Staff-Sergeant Scriven

Staff-Sergeant Yox

Staff-Sergeant Walmsley

Sergeant Bargli

Sergeant Wilkerson

Sergeant Job Dunn

Sergeant Easton

Sergeant Traves

Corporal Hurrycaine

Corporal Howard

Corporal Mitchel

Corporal Owston

Corporal Godfrey

Corporal Hambleton

Corporal Abrams

Trooper Smith

Trooper Bruwn

Trooper Klark

Trooper Rite

Trooper Boone

### The 12th Lightfoot

Major Thea Aceron

Captain Benebatch Cumberdict

Captain Lonnie: This is Robin's Rearguard character, he once killed 2 lictors.

Captain Dax Harris

Lieutenant Sabrina Till

Lieutenant Scarlett Diamond

Lieutenant Kane Wilson

Lieutenant Hayden Brockhouse

Lieutenant Hendrix Dawson

2nd Lieutenant Queltzaar Hicks: This is Mink's Rearguard character who once got lost over the ocean.

Staff-Sergeant Leary

Staff-Sergeant Conn

Staff-Sergeant BBoyle

Sergeant Simon 'Stinger' Krikellin: This is Clowd's Rearguard character, the ace of Draco Mal who saved Stephon Raze form Victor and is the personal pilot of Lord Commander Rhoy Drake.

Sergeant Sylvat

Sergeant Freely

Sergeant Carly

Sergeant Lleven

Sergeant Hayes

Sergeant Kay: This is Windchild's Legend's character, and a Rearguard medic.

Corporal Dunnirk

Corporal Rowan

Corporal Hines

Corporal Sheridan

Corporal Hearn

Corporal Frighil

Corporal Kelly

Corporal Smythe

Trooper Leein

Trooper Garin

Trooper Zitt

Trooper Clairy

Trooper Flat Haggarty: Was created with a critical cooking roll in episode 12. "Haggarty's hero feast"

### The Iron Brigade Of Faith

Major Cynthia Briggs:

Major-Chaplain Dieter Hagan

Captain Grimwald Dreyerg

Captain Gerlach Berger

Captain Sassa Brauneg: Came in as Commander of The First Combined Company in episode 12

Lieutenant Robert Kallos

Lieutenant Ásbjörn Fiddlere

Lieutenant Bohn Egil

Lieutenant Freda Geisslerg

Lieutenant Kirsa De Veend

Staff-Sergeant Kerns

Staff-Sergeant Ott

Staff-Sergeant Grobe

Enginseer Paulonous: A tech priest in training assigned to Iron Brigade Recovery Corps; he is PaulToon's Rearguard character.

Sergeant Diefenbaker

Sergeant Gabor

Sergeant Alscher

Sergeant Schults

Sergeant Bognar

Corporal-Chaplain Noelan

Corporal Sommer

Corporal Tangeman

Corporal Heroicus Shepherd: Cpl. Shepherd was, along with Cpl. Kirby, one of the two troopers involved in the capture of the Lictor codenamed "Victor" during the ambush at Outpost Kheiran. He is Herosheep's Rearguard character.

Corporal Sarkozi

Corporal Jung

Corporal Adnreas

Corporal Sachs

Trooper Karlaisle

Trooper Vice

Trooper Halmok

Trooper Schmitt

Trooper Gabor

### 21st Alpha Grenadiers "The Hardhides"

Major 5-5 "Loud and Clear"

Captain 9 'Shifter':

Captain 2-3 "Impact"

Captain 4-1 "D'Artagnan"

Captain 4-0-4 "Garrison": 4-0-4 does not exist, but was listed as an active Captain on Draco Mal.

Lieutenant 1-2-3 "Volley"

Lieutenant 8-1 "Glut"

Lieutenant 7-8 "Bubbles"

Lieutenant 5-4-1-1-4 "Sally"

Lieutenant "Citadel"

Staff-Sergeant 5-3-7 "Turnout"

Staff-Sergeant 5-9 "DMZ"

Staff-Sergeant 6-8 "Bulwark"

Sergeant 1-1-2-2 "Doubletime"

Sergeant 2-7-0 "Battery"

Sergeant 7-6-2 "Ambush"

Sergeant 6-8-2 "Blockade"

Sergeant 8-2-4 " Bridgehead"

Corporal 2-8-6 "Sneak"

Corporal 4-8-2-1 "Click"

Corporal "Defilade"

Corporal "Extract"

Corporal "Flanker"

Corporal "Interdict"

Corporal "No Quarter"

Trooper 9-6-1 "Lobotimiser"

Trooper 2-2-2-2 "Repeater"

Trooper 4-1-7-4 "Smithy"

Trooper "Raid"

Trooper "Sapper"

## Antagonists

### Tyranids

Victor the Lictor

Zoe the Zoanthrope

## Rearguard Characters

### 1-4 Assault Pioneers

SSG. Reeve: Medicae NCO played by combat\_zerg.

Cpl. Darron "Trench" Worick: Engineer played by Tman4710.

### The Iron Brigade Of Faith

SSG. Emmer Vallis: Recovery NCO played by Emmer Vallis.

### 21st Alpha Grenadiers "The Hardhides"

SSG..John "Bronco: Elway: Armor commander played by Daniel662.

## Draco Mal

### Defensive Lines

Obscurus Primaris Line

Obscurus Secundus Line

Pacificus Primaris Line

Tempestus Primaris Line

### Outposts

Fortress Emperor's Talon

Fortress Oceanstar

Sevem-Not'Em

Kheiran

Lion Toil

Tombe Zero

Kaldi

### Geographic Features

Dead Taus: Western dense jungle area

Jofusco: Central dense jungle area; flooded by Imperial Guard

The Wall-In-Stein: Eastern dense jungle area; flooded by Imperial Guard

The Finn Lay-Shards: Mountain range to the north of the Wall-In-Stein

The Fire Eye: A massive volcano in the northeastern area of the Imperial Occupied Zone

### Lost Cities

Kay'lee-Ville

Echoate

P-W-N\U7

Wulfka: First sighting of Tyranid forces

Culn'aur

## Imperial Guard Ranks

Lord-Commander

Colonel (Col.)

Lieutenant Colonel (Lt. Col.)

Major (Maj.): This is the highest rank for Rearguard officers.

Captain (Cpt.)

Lieutenant (Lt.)

Staff Sergeant (SSG.): The is the lowest rank for Rearguard officers.

Sergeant (Sgt.): This is the highest standard Rearguard starting rank.

Corporal (Cpl.)

Trooper (Trp.)