Deep Dive: Russia 2028 - Part Five: 2028

    The time has come to bring the Deep Dive to its conclusion. When we last left off, the Contract Wars had reached their peak, and tensions were nearing a breaking point. By the year 202X, the situation had spiraled to a critical level, compelling the Russian Armed Forces to step in. As the conflict escalated further, the United Nations responded by deploying a peacekeeping force under a mission known as UNTAR. Among those sent to the region was a United Nations Supply Officer named Tadeusz Pilsudski, a man whose role would grow significantly in the events to follow.

    However, the situation quickly unraveled. The Russian Armed Forces, having made their presence known, began to withdraw, constructing walls around Tarkov and Norvinsk Cities in an attempt to isolate the area. Both PMC factions, once deeply entrenched, also pulled out of the region, but not before leaving behind over 80% of their forces. A handful of Russian troops remained, with some opting to stay behind of their own accord. UNTAR, too, was mostly pulled from the region, leaving only a few checkpoints manned by peacekeepers. The blue helmets quickly became targets, as civilians, growing desperate and distrustful, fired upon them, seeing the peacekeepers as outsiders nothing but stashes of fresh gear and barter goods.

    As time marched on a new breed of powerful figures began to emerge from the chaos. Traders, mercenaries, and crime lords alike capitalized on the lawlessness and disarray of the region, establishing sprawling networks of contacts, trading posts, and supply routes to further their wealth and influence. Men like the Dealmaker, Jaeger, the Kaban brothers, Kollontay, Ogryzok, Prapor, Sanitar, the Mechanic, and many others solidified their places as the dominant figures of the zone. These individuals, through cunning deals, brutal force, or sheer survival, carved out empires, transforming the region into the harsh world that they inherited, becoming filthy rich in the process.

    Inside the zone, a complex economy took shape, with four major currencies in circulation: the USD, Euro, Ruble, and GP. The first three are globally recognized currencies, while GP, once a token used by contractors during the Contract Wars, has evolved into a currency used almost exclusively within the Tarkov Gladiator Arena. This new form of currency has become central to the arena's bloodsport economy. Traders have adapted to the chaos of the region, accepting different forms of payment—some favoring one currency, others willing to accept Bitcoin.

    By 2026, many of the prominent figures in the zone, like traders and bandit leaders, had either perished or vanished, their fates unknown. Some went radio silent, leaving behind only rumors of their deaths, while others managed to escape the region, their stories making headlines across the world. Despite the losses, the region continued to be a magnet for those seeking fortune or power, with airdrops and black market trades continuing. The once-pristine infrastructure began to crumble, the roads cracked and walls covered in vines and moss. In this new world, food and water became more valuable than money to the scavengers who roamed the land, as the region became increasingly uninhabitable. Some traders remained in the zone, still only willing to exchange the three primary currencies.

    Meanwhile, the bandit groups that once roamed the zone in large, organized factions began to fragment. Infighting tore apart the larger groups, and in their wake, smaller bands of scavengers, usually no more than three to eight individuals, formed in an attempt to survive. These smaller groups, while weaker and more vulnerable, had the advantage of agility and stealth, allowing them to scavenge and barter with traders more easily, quickly becoming almost like family.

    While 2028 itself doesn't make for the best setting if you want to stick close to the game, 2021-2024 work good, as it is early in the zone's life. While PMCs are fun characters, personally, games starting as scavengers work a lot better. Some things to also consider while setting up your world is radiation in the TerraLabs locations as well as taking Food and Water into heavy account. When I compile and edit everything, I will post the full Deep Dive article as a setting primer for anyone interested in using this system or for potential players.