[SEMC] Forward Thoughts

[gurusql]

I am not ignoring this thread, just don't have a strong enough opinion or knowledge set to weigh in a constructive manner.

[Tiglath]

FWIW I can't help but agree with joertexas' last post as above.

Your "niche" in the "niche market" might be a small mobile unit that punches way above its "weight" due to its elite officer cadre.

I humbly suggest (for the optimum PC involvement at the sharp end) that you want to pick "capers" rather than "battles" - which is perhaps more of a sense of "style" rather than necessarily "scale".

[BackworldTraveller]

If we are acting as Insurgents, then APCs make us visible. Jess' team becomes a liability in it's current form.
If as Counter-Insurgents then they get to be the SWAT support.

The Recon Team becomes an LRRP style unit. Prerna seems up for that.

Then there needs to be a security platoon, an Intel team and an EW/Elint team. Admin, Languages, Psychology, Tactics, Computers, Electronics, Comms all critical. If counter insurgency, Forensics is key too. Both need inter-personal skills.

Are we to supply Training for our own guys or those we work for? If so, Instruction is needed.

(A recruiting expert would be useful too)

Insurgent logistics are a specialist task at least partially akin to smuggling! Finding them is a policing exercise.

Integral transport is way out of our current price range...a good ship is upwards of MCr50.

[Leitz]

I am not ignoring this thread, just don't have a strong enough opinion or knowledge set to weigh in a constructive manner.

Well, consider that you're in the game and now is a good time to say what sort of game you want to be in. For example, Jakob's main game is talking Liv into marrying him. The whole "guns and grenades" stuff is just story filler.

Kit is in an odd spot, but he knows Jakob was an Imperial Marine. Beau (NPC) and Skip (now NPC) were as well. So the lines of commo are open.

Uh, he may have heard a rumor ( totally unconfirmed, of course) that one of the Guard commanders was going to order a Blue on Blue ("Friendly Fire") event. A former Imperial Marine holding an active greanade in said commander's groin seemed to inspire rethinking that order.

[The Bindoner]

Re: Gaughan's squad. Would it be practical to make them an independent unit contracted to the SEMC? 'Cos Jess has a "no fraternisation" rule for herself and members of her unit.

I think mobile infantry is about what we can achieve for now, and Company seems about our playable max.

I haven't finished reading the new MgT Merc books, but they are very useful.

[shaidar]

FWIW I can't help but agree with joertexas' last post as above.

Your "niche" in the "niche market" might be a small mobile unit that punches way above its "weight" due to its elite officer cadre.

I humbly suggest (for the optimum PC involvement at the sharp end) that you want to pick "capers" rather than "battles" - which is perhaps more of a sense of "style" rather than necessarily "scale".

I think joe (and Tiglath) have hit the nail on the head as to size and opportunities.

As the sucker guy nominally in charge of things (and ultimately responsible when it hits the fan) I'd rather not be bogged down with too much admin, I do want to occasionally go and have some fun shooting things too.

I also think that The Bindoner is right about mobile infantry, we've got so many things to spend money on that's the realistic option.

[joertexas]

FWIW I can't help but agree with joertexas' last post as above.

Your "niche" in the "niche market" might be a small mobile unit that punches way above its "weight" due to its elite officer cadre.

I humbly suggest (for the optimum PC involvement at the sharp end) that you want to pick "capers" rather than "battles" - which is perhaps more of a sense of "style" rather than necessarily "scale".

I think joe (and Tiglath) have hit the nail on the head as to size and opportunities.

As the sucker guy nominally in charge of things (and ultimately responsible when it hits the fan) I'd rather not be bogged down with too much admin, I do want to occasionally go and have some fun shooting things too.

I also think that The Bindoner is right about mobile infantry, we've got so many things to spend money on that's the realistic option.

In this light, it seems that we would function better as an adjunct to local forces, or as a small special operations (not Special Forces in the strict sense) unit. Our current organization has proven to be too small, even for a security operation. If we doubled our troops compliment, and added a handful of vehicles, bringing us to about fifty people, that might prove to be a lot more playable (and portable).

[Tiglath]

I'll pitch this into the mix - flexibility is likely the key to the market. You don't want to be too "niche" because there's not enough jobs for the "vargr hunting, night fighting counter insurgency and cyber warfare guys". Also how long are you going to be "standing still" in need of defences? If you pick "raids" - then not at all.

The way the game works elite squads (or squads led by elites) is the way forwards.

All the prizes go for fighting "smart" not "hard" but, of course, you should plan to hit hard.

"Portable" is a very desirable quality in merc units - it goes hand in hand with "deniable"...

[Leitz]

One of the ideas I've been bouncing around is a training cadre back on Collace. Not as primary mission, but as a semi-stable cash flow that can provide troops and connections as needed. SEMC has the location, the reputation, and the training officers to make it happen.

Of course, if he does a great job as "wedding planner", Jakob might have a side hustle to bring in some extra cash.

[BackworldTraveller]

One of the ideas I've been bouncing around is a training cadre back on Collace. Not as primary mission, but as a semi-stable cash flow that can provide troops and connections as needed. SEMC has the location, the reputation, and the training officers to make it happen.

Of course, if he does a great job as "wedding planner", Jakob might have a side hustle to bring in some extra cash.

If Jacob is under the impression that any of the plans will be left to him, his is wrong.

[gurusql]

I am not ignoring this thread, just don't have a strong enough opinion or knowledge set to weigh in a constructive manner.

Well, consider that you're in the game and now is a good time to say what sort of game you want to be in.

Just looking at the skills that Kit can provide, I see him more as leading troops from the front (Tactics-2, Leader-2), perhaps something that we can put his Heavy Weapons [autoweapons (HMG, autocannon)] – 1 to use. In addition, Kit can be a semi-competent back-up to Freya on the Sensors (Computer-2, Electronics-1, no Sensor Ops but does have Forward Observer-1), but I would not want to move in on another PCs area.

[Leitz]

I am not ignoring this thread, just don't have a strong enough opinion or knowledge set to weigh in a constructive manner.

Well, consider that you're in the game and now is a good time to say what sort of game you want to be in.

Just looking at the skills that Kit can provide, I see him more as leading troops from the front (Tactics-2, Leader-2), perhaps something that we can put his Heavy Weapons [autoweapons (HMG, autocannon)] – 1 to use. In addition, Kit can be a semi-competent back-up to Freya on the Sensors (Computer-2, Electronics-1, no Sensor Ops but does have Forward Observer-1), but I would not want to move in on another PCs area.

Understood. I also try to steer clear of other PC's domains, but here I think it could be a little more difficult. We're pretty much all mercenaries, with a few different skills. Of course, an advantage is that we can look at where we want to go and grow our characters in those directions. For example, I don't really see Jakob as an AFV commander, nor as a computer wiz. He may try to add intelligence gathering skills, but he's pretty rough at it. His wife is the expert, he just poses as the bodyguard.

When the group first met Jakob, he was leading the team of paramedics to deal with the wounded from a military action. He applied Imperial Marine discipline to the rescue teams, and then joined as a lead trigger monkey. While he may have a lot of the same skills as Skip or Kit, hopefully he brings a little creative difference into the game.

Something else to consider is that if Kit is commanding an AFV unit, he can use his computer skills as a "far forward observer" and provide much better real time recon than a drone. That's something Jakob can't do.

What's Kit's creative difference? Think about it backwards; if Kit and Jakob had exactly the same skills, how would they be different? In a mercenary unit, discipline is a mandate. As is team work and bravery. What tells people that "Kit is here"?

[Tiglath]

Just as an addition to the above the main contribution all the PCs make is their status as leaders on the ground. Certainly those with military backgrounds will be able to guide your fire teams proactively in the fight and due to their "elite" status make your squads "high initiative". This means your soldiers do exactly what you want them to do without having to be given orders in game. This is huge - especially when you are fighting "mere mortals".

The SEMC "selling point" as a fighting force even now would be the number of high initiative leaders in its squads. This makes you really efficient and effective at soldiering.

It's also another reason to stay relatively "small".

I have been pondering "Forward Observer" and I've decided it must act as a cascade skill to give Recon 0 and Sensor Ops 0 from Fwd Obs 1 (which makes it a lot more useful).

[gurusql]

What's Kit's creative difference? Think about it backwards; if Kit and Jakob had exactly the same skills, how would they be different? In a mercenary unit, discipline is a mandate. As is team work and bravery. What tells people that "Kit is here"?

Kit grew up on Glisten (Basically planetesimals with atmospheric domes) and then drew more than his far share of years of Ship Troops. While he only picked up Vacc Suit - 1 and Zero-G Combat – 1 I have considered himself more of a spacer than a planetside lover. His blast shields have most been up by starting the game working for Baron, having worked for House Muktheswara and House Seville (both on Glisten) while in the service. But I do like the Fwd Obs idea mentioned.

[shaidar]

I think with the addition of kit/freya/Liv plus two of the tankies we'd boosting our electronics/mech!/computer skills hopefully enough to be able to handle the recruits and take the weight off frank/jess/prerna/dubbs

[The Bindoner]

The middle Tanker is the weakest candidate, I see no reason to take him. No recommendation, lowest morale.

The first is dumber than Beau, but better educated. Good morale rating. Worth a try.

The last one is OK. Got Mechanic at least.

That 4 End on the two prospects though... Well, either we toughen them up or they get a medical discharge I suppose.

I presume we're taking the techs?

[BackworldTraveller]

lets talk to them..."Tech: because you wouldn't want him near a gun" may not be a good choice unless he has other benefits.

[shaidar]

I didn't look at stats, just skills. Skills wise, #1 looks good, but those stats. Would you want someone that dumb using their medical skill on you. I tho k he's the best of the three and worth seriously considering. He has useful skills and a bunch of medals.

I think the techies are a useful investment. We could try and find some more skilled people to help train them and look after the technical side of things when we are back on Collace.

Would Freya be interested in being part of a technical department/school within the team? Liv might also have some input alongside her intelligence work.

[BackworldTraveller]

What is the proposed T.O & E?

[shaidar]

That's what we're discussing. This is your opportunity to influence things right at the start.

What type of position do you want Freya to have in the SEMC?