Avastan Planning & OOC

[The Bindoner]

I'll add that then.

SEMC growed like Topsy, eh?

[BackworldTraveller]

BTW - My group don't seem to have names or any combat skills! Any chance someone has the ability to teach them how to hold a rifle safely, keep it clean, etc as we fly through jump-space?

I'll give them names and traits / skeleton personas. Has the list "crystalised" yet?

If someone can direct me to the finished article I'll set to!

Three:

• Comms guy: Comms 2/Electronics 1
• Drone Op 1: Robotics 2/Sensors 1 (ex Scientist?)
• Drone Op 2: Robot Ops 2/Comms 1 (ex Rogue?)

Interestingly, Remote Ops (Robot Ops) doesn't appear until Megatraveller where Computer counts as robot-ops one level lower, and Robotics(Science) counts as Robot Ops and Robot Ops is available to Hunter, Rogue, Pirate, Belter, Merchant, Scientist, Doctor, Diplomat and the armed services - mostly as an Advanced Edu skill (So EDU 8+)!

edited

[Tiglath]

Yes being martially minded the Techs will have Gun Cbt 0.

You could arm them with Snub Carbines (from the pirates) at no cost or shotguns if you want them to actually hit stuff but they really shouldn't be anywhere near the front.

I believe the pre Remote Ops "gap" was covered by Comms.

However, we know that these folk have the relevant skill in the field you hired them for!

In a fit of inspiration(?) I christen them:

Florence - a very keen and helpful Comms operator
Dougal - a shaggy maned adventurous soul of a Scientist keen to escape the lab
Dylan - a laid back dude and hotshot drone pilot

by all means amend with further additions/alterations or deletions as they take your fancy.

[BackworldTraveller]

How about these?
Drone Op 1 (Dougal)
Scientist: 1 term 585A94
Robotics+2, Sensor Ops+1, Grav Vehicle+0, Computer+0, Gun-Combat+0
From an average stellar world, learned to fly, to shoot and to use a computer but then got taken on as a lab technician at a robotics institute. Got bored and joined up because it looked exciting!
Mustering out: Low Passage Ticket

Drone Op 2 (Dylan)
Rogue: 1 term 7866C2
Robot Ops+1, Communications+1, Streetwise+1, Wheeled Vehicle+0, Computer+0, Gun-Combat+0
From an early stellar world, learned to drive(taking and driving away) and use a computer (school) and grew up pretty much on the street. Ran comms and drone support for a gang before having to leave the world and the SEMC looked the only option available.
Mustering out: Weapon (Shotgun)

Comms Guy (Florence)
Merc (Support): 2 term 9A77B3
Communications+2, Electronics+1, Grav Vehicle+0, Computer+0, Gun Combat+0
From an Average stellar world.
Term 1: College. Failed OTC.
Term 2: Merc (Support)
Year 1: Basic Training: Gun Combat+0, Communications+1
Year 2: Training: Electronics+1
Year 3: Internal Security: Lance Corporal
Year 4: Police Action: Communications+1, MCUF (Certain arm-twisting to get recognised)
Mustering out:+1 INT

[Tiglath]

Those are fine. If you want to boost Dylan to Robot Ops 2 go ahead. That's what he was "sold" as so he should perform as advertised.

Never mind Gun Combat - these folk would be baffled by when to use a spork never mind a fish knife!

Soc 2, 3 and 4 - it's Pot Noodle all round!

And TDA rather than TWOC shows your status as a legal veteran!

[The Bindoner]

I hadn't thought about sidearms for the non-combatant hires. Armour, yes (they all have Chameleon CES), but firearms?

Logistically, it makes sense to buy them a carbine version of the 9mm ACR, keeps the ammo simple.

However: 23x ACR/Ram GL @1400Cr +25 mags@375Cr = 40,825Cr

Take off the unused Grenade Launcher and the bill is 31,625. 10 mags instead of 25 and it's 26,450.

[The Bindoner]

There is a discussion about assignments of personnel and vehicles.

joertexas has done excellent work drawing up revised org charts and has some suggestions. In 4.1 Freya gets the disarmed Technical as a runabout with Freddie as a driver. 4.2 is a radical reorganisation in light of Leitz stepping back. It reduces the number of squads, but makes each stronger.

Thoughts?

[joertexas]

There is a discussion about assignments of personnel and vehicles.

joertexas has done excellent work drawing up revised org charts and has some suggestions. In 4.1 Freya gets the disarmed Technical as a runabout with Freddie as a driver. 4.2 is a radical reorganisation in light of Leitz stepping back. It reduces the number of squads, but makes each stronger.

Thoughts?

Here's the latest chart:

Merc Company Org Chart v4.2.pptx

(47.53 KiB) Downloaded 19 times

[shaidar]

I thought that Leitz was going to return and in the meantime Tiglath would look after Jakob. Is this not the case?

[BackworldTraveller]

The main issue I can see is that Prerna's squad will need the g-carrier forward while Freya's will want it back. One will be without it at all times.

[The Bindoner]

I thought that Leitz was going to return and in the meantime Tiglath would look after Jakob. Is this not the case?

I gathered from our last exchange he will be stepping aside for a while ("Not really looking to get back into things" for now), but I don't think that necessarily means we have to reorder the squads. Having two rifle squads and a small "cavalry" reserve feels better than just two larger rifle squads, especially as Jess is commanding the IFV and would have to hand off to someone else less capable to command the rifles. BTW, that "someone else" is either one of the Inchin tankers or, god help us Sugar

The Technical is a bit redundant now. Sling the .50 on one of the G-Carriers, put Caxton and Oscar on either a G-Carrier, the Gun-Launch or the HQ Bus to operate the weapon there. Then the ex-Technical becomes Freya's Techie Raft. Everything stays the same. Now Prerna can really stretch out in that roomy G-Carrier.

[BackworldTraveller]

n.b. In Freya's squad
Drone Op 1 is Dougal
Drone Op 2 is Dylan
Driver/Comms op is Florence
Drone Tech is an open slot

[Tiglath]

I thought that Leitz was going to return and in the meantime Tiglath would look after Jakob. Is this not the case?

Well, that was my last understanding too but as per his last, which said little more than The Bindoner recounted, he now looks unlikely to return.

We can retcon Jakob taking up a rear echelon role at the Bartizan or keep him in the field - whichever suits.

[shaidar]

Having Jakob and Kit look after the rifle squad seems best to me.

Other options: Have Jakob assigned to look after the Bartizan and our training plans there and have someone like Voss take over the squad (Vos was a captain in the Mercator PDF) or even Beau who was a LT, or Caxton has the leader skill.

[Tiglath]

The Technical is a bit redundant now. Sling the .50 on one of the G-Carriers, put Caxton and Oscar on either a G-Carrier, the Gun-Launch or the HQ Bus to operate the weapon there. Then the ex-Technical becomes Freya's Techie Raft. Everything stays the same. Now Prerna can really stretch out in that roomy G-Carrier.

I'd say that the above is an elegant solution. The Technical slides under HQ control as the Techie Raft and/or General Purpose runabout. In more static deployments (with the Techs established somewhere defensible) you'll need liaison and re-supply vehicles which either it or the G Carrier it can perform ably.

I believe you also have a small number of grav belts that could possibly lift the recon/snipers or part thereof?

Caxton and Oscar give you an auto weapons capable crew for the back of the Gun Ship (Launch) or a higher initiative vehicle crew replacing "basic" driver/gunners. They can also double as an HQ Defence Team.

[Tiglath]

Having Jakob and Kit look after the rifle squad seems best to me.

Other options: Have Jakob assigned to look after the Bartizan and our training plans there and have someone like Voss take over the squad (Vos was a captain in the Mercator PDF) or even Beau who was a LT, or Caxton has the leader skill.

Beau probably has the profile for a junior leader (with someone else doing the planning for him):

Captain Voss (Mertactor PDF) 82675A Age 22 1 Term ATV 1 Gambling 1 Tactics 2 Rifle 1 SMG 1 Pistol 1 He only has one arm. So "half" of him has no Dex penalty at all.

Lt. Beauregard Dawson (Imperial Marines) A78487 Age 26 2 Terms Leader 2 Rifle 1 Cutlass 1 Handgun 1 "Beau" is handsome with a winning smile.

[Tiglath]

Thank you all so much for your input to the Admin stage of the game.

Those producing charts, keeping the books straight, fleshing out NPCs and contributing to these same processes make my burden as GM so much more manageable and allow us to progress and maintain momentum.

It is very much appreciated.

[BackworldTraveller]

Your work, our fun.

[joertexas]

Next iteration:

Merc Company Org Chart v4.3.pptx

(47.72 KiB) Downloaded 15 times

[The Bindoner]

Two notes:

"Grav Tech" on LAD sled is now "Sapper".

There is no "mook" Gunner on Jess' IFV, that's Sugar now - she's rated on the RP-A and isn't suited to infantry work anyway. Dirty job, and the uniform is so unflattering

A query:

Would Freya like Camp Freddie as her driver? They got on fine and he'd be her escort.

And a question:

One of the G-Carriers or Kit's IFV can have the second Tac system, who wants it? Otherwise there are .50's going spare too.