"Behind on scheduled maintenance" Topic

Something you can add to any scenario and probably fit into any rule set. A recognising that out there, in the scruffier and more disreputable parts of the galaxy, maintenance schedules are regarded as a form of fantasy fiction. Pleasing but not to be take seriously.

In the civilian world, things are even worse!

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That's a fun idea on two fronts:

1.) The civilians who aren't there for a battle, didn't even realize one was in the offing, and are too clueless to know to get out of the @*&$ way!

2,) The device that messes up what either side is trying to do, but isn't either an objective for capture or destruction, or at least not really desirably so. Even better is to tag it as a potential point loss if damaged (the two sides may want to be "in charge" of the local civilians, but neither want the civilians left unable to do the things which make them valuable in the first place). That'll mess things up even more!

After a while you could come to the conclusion that the Universe doesn't actually care about your plans :-)

We'll teach humility, one scenario at a time, next week we'll present the elderly lady with an umbrella who always has her tea at this outdoor table of the cafe every morning and be damned if she's going to move just because some loud young man wants to bring a mecha down the street and disturb everyone.

And she looks just like everybody's grandma and the military police you sent to shift her report that she cannot be moved, but they look guilty and one of them is brushing custard tart from around his mouth with the back of his hand :-)

How about a scenario where one side has a killer vehicle but it is broken and absolutely cannot be used until a part is delivered and installed. Make the die rolls for delivery per turn tough but not impossible. Do the same for repair. That should motivate whoever the attacking side is to get to that darn vehicle while is is just sitting around before the balance drastically shifts when it has been repaired.

Wonderful. I am stealing this idea.

Bashytubits
I did do one somewhat similar to that

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The scenario differs in that the 'vehicle crew' are frantically trying to work out what the vehicle does and how to operate it after it has just sat there being a temple for centuries :-)