OOC and MIA

[Leitz]

Thanks Leitz, that makes sense.

PS: Frank wasn't ignoring Jakob, he would have waived him on to do his thing, but I didn't see the point in posting as things had moved on.

No worries, happy to help! I put the extra bit in with Jakob in case people's schedules were busy. It left doors open for multiple options, but Jakob would be professionally respectful to Frank.

I enjoy talking about this stuff, and some time back wrote some PHP to generate a Mercenary unit. It morphed into some Go (I think), and now I'm playing with Ruby and the like.

Something else to consider about rank; size (of the unit) matters. If there are a dozen in the entire thing, then rank becomes a bit superfluous. If there are a dozen platoons, rank becomes critical. It's a hiring and retention tool, as well as an instrument to get things done better. Most who have served will tell you the NCOs really run the show; the officers are just there to clear out all the red tape and paperwork.

Eh...uh...yeah. I was an NCO.

[Tiglath]

I'd add to the above that the mercenary chain of command follows a rank structure for obvious reasons of military efficiency but mercs are also all shareholding partners in their own firm - where Senior NCOs earn as many shares as junior officers (see Leitz's post above ).

It may have been by passed in the modern age of military contractors but the highest field rank a merc was traditionally allowed was Colonel.

[Leitz]

On the OOC unit organization stuff, just a couple thoughts from the new guy. Recruiting will influenced by how the concept of training is in this instance of the game. In CT you can pick 2 skills every four years, and have to roll dedication. CT breaks it's own rules, so I never really bothered with them. If you can train people up in a reasonable time then you can pick less skilled but known loyal people and build your unit. If you can't train well (if you use CT rules), then you'll have to recruit experienced military who may have their own baggage.

If you're looking at commando type actions, or building a cadre with expansion capability, your training will affect your recruiting choices. Perhaps the info broker has ideas on what sorts of contracts are currently open, and what the trends tend to be.

Note that Jakob is not there, I specifically removed him so you could talk freely.

[joertexas]

Note that Jakob is not there, I specifically removed him so you could talk freely.

I think Jakob will be Frank's right hand man - the unit sergeant-major.

[The Bindoner]

I think Jakob will be Frank's right hand man - the unit sergeant-major.

That's Jess's promotion gone then

[Leitz]

Note that Jakob is not there, I specifically removed him so you could talk freely.

I think Jakob will be Frank's right hand man - the unit sergeant-major.

There's some humor in there, he only made it to junior NCO before hitting OCS. Since we're talking OOC, take a look in my "private" folder. I posted a synopsis of Jakob for review. My assumption is that between requesting an official "jacket", talking to people at Gunny's bar, and O'Malley, you'd get a fairly clear view of Jakob.

He might be better as a junior officer. He's been in that role, he leads well, and he's respectful enough to know when it's time to discuss and when it's time to mount up.

You need sections (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staff_(military) -- Look at "Continental staff system"). Some of them can be non-operational, but your PCs might be both S? when not deployed and Unit leaders when things get lively. Build your teams around the PCs strengths.

Again, it goes back to training. How common are ex-commandos? For higher risk and reward, that's what you need. How many of those sorts of job are there? Or are you better off building a cadre of 15-30 decent officers and NCOs and getting a "train up a new army" ticket?

One of the best things about Traveller is that it is so many different game systems rolled into one.

[The Bindoner]

Aha! I just read:

I bring a solution and an admission

I've given you the Imperial standard super duper armour price of 60K per suit.

Alas and alack (as per the correct text - I got that bit right ) Collace at TL13 can only supply the "mid tech" combat armour (AV 10).....

The good news is that this saves you 30K per suit and you have two looted suits already in hand (refurbishing costs waived for the one with a hole in).

TL 13 (AV 10) Combat armour (unskilled) 60,000 Cr 30,000 Cr

Which nearly doubles our budget for troopers

It pays to re-read, apparently.

So:

125,000 Cat's Cut

2,375,000 budget

PC Suit:
TL 13 (AV 10) Combat armour 30,000 Cr
Thermal Imaging 20,000 Cr
Image Enhancement 30,000 Cr 1kg
Chameleon Surface 1,000 Cr
Psionic Shielding 4000 Cr
Laser Comms Range 5km 1,200 Cr
TL 14 Radio Range 100km- included
Blaupunkt stereo - gratis

86,200

x4 = 344,800

4x Medkit = 400k

5x Grav Belt = 500k

Computer = 200k

Basic Trooper

TL 13 (AV 10) Combat armour 30,000 Cr
Chameleon Surface 1,000 Cr
Psionic Shielding 4000 Cr
TL 14 Radio Range 100km- included

35,000Cr each

9mm ACR w. GL = 1600

Gauss Rifle w. GL = 2100

25x Basic ChamCA + 2k firearm = 925,000

5000 left - which would be 25 LAW and plenty of grenades before we touch the 40k left from the first job.

[Tiglath]

Thanks very much for your work above.

Shrike will be joining the game soonest so his PC will also need some gear.

You also have the two looted suits (spec as per the "PC suits" but without the Thermal (Im) Enhancement vision aids).

Please cost grenades @ 25Cr for any type you specify (HE/HEAP/Smoke/Incendiary) but weigh 0.5kg.

Striker says 1kg per grenade but this seems excessive (a WW2 "pineapple" was 0.5kg) so allowing for higher tech materials the weight reduction seems reasonable.

[shaidar]

Thanks for the numbers

I was just about to say about the 2 suits in loot, plus there was a grav-belt too for another 100k saving.

[The Bindoner]

So we need a fifth PC suit?

Buy 22 Basic, saving 111k. Use the two loot-suits, spend 4k on weapons, we have 24 troopers.

( I was planning on using the 2 looted CA for drivers and gunners, so 22 fighting suits. 4 grav-troops with a PC leader, three 5-person teams with a PC leader, and a 3-person/1 PC support unit? )

107 buys another PC Suit with 20.8k left to buy some proper missiles for Jess to fire. Whizz-bang!

TAC Missile: CR 1000 per missile and 10000 CR per launcher system at tech level 12.

I thought 6 was a good number for grav belts. Five person team and a mobile medic.

Of course, we can buy fewer fancy medkits and grav-belts . Each one we don't buy equips two CA troopers with 24k spare.

I had been trying for the most CA equipped troops and nice toys possible for our budget. We could have fewer troops and more toys. Or fewer CA equipped troops and be able to equip more people. Chameleon CES is 1500Cr. We can get 23 suits for the cost of one CA. Add an ACR each and we can have 11 or 12 CES/ACR troopers for the cost of one CA/ACR trooper.

[shaidar]

I'm happy with your suggestions, I didn't realise your idea for a 6th gav-belted medic, which is a very good idea.

I think that is a reasonably sized group for now, unless you guys think we need to go bigger, or just save more money for later?

I was wondering though, is it worth getting some CES anyway, for when we need to be a little more subtle than CA?

[joertexas]

I had been trying for the most CA equipped troops and nice toys possible for our budget. We could have fewer troops and more toys. Or fewer CA equipped troops and be able to equip more people. Chameleon CES is 1500Cr. We can get 23 suits for the cost of one CA. Add an ACR each and we can have 11 or 12 CES/ACR troopers for the cost of one CA/ACR trooper.

We have 4 7mm ACRs with mags in stock, too. If we're going with the 9mm, we should sell those.

Prerna will keep the Crunch Gun, though, along with her gauss rifle.

[The Bindoner]

Perhaps we should see how many people we can recruit, then equip them? I was going to say equip the people we have, then equip whoever we recruit, but perhaps we can get a discount if we buy enough items in one order ).

If we explore available missions while recruiting at the same time we'll get a better idea of A) what equipment we need and B) what size unit we need to form.

It might be worth weighing in the sub-calibre ACR stock... How many are there?

I think we have 40k in the unit account - is that right?

[joertexas]

It might be worth weighing in the sub-calibre ACR stock... How many are there? I think we have 40k in the unit account - is that right?

4 rifles plus ammo = 12,840 Cr.

We have 40,750 Cr in cash, before the Bartizan battle.

[Tiglath]

I'll post up a few mission options.

I'll assume you are pitching as a mid tech Lift/Grav Infantry platoon.

[The Bindoner]

Can we pitch as that with only 5 strong grav-belt team, a G-Carrier and an air-raft? Suppose so....

Especially as we can borrow some vehicles from the garage Forgot that.


Now we just have to recruit up to platoon strength......

[Tiglath]

Perhaps we should see how many people we can recruit, then equip them?

You were able to recruit three guys over few days last time around.

Seeing as your stock's pretty high right now after the Bartizan raid you reckon a week with Jess in the front window of Ridgeway's bar would net you another 10 or 12 recruits with basic training (Collace PDF has a staff retention issue).

That would fill your three squads/fire teams with "riflemen" @ Rifle 1 Grenade Launcher 0.

You may get some bigger fish too!

[Tiglath]

Can we pitch as that with only 5 strong grav-belt team, a G-Carrier and an air-raft? Suppose so....

Especially as we can borrow some vehicles from the garage Forgot that.


Now we just have to recruit up to platoon strength......

As long as your "face" has got more front than Brighton you could pitch for company sized work! Your mobility gives you an effective "force multiplier" because you are "air mobile". Your three reinforced squads will do the work of a "leg" infantry platoon.

4DC Merc vehicles start at about 2MCr! Now, if only you could convince someone wealthy who owes you one to underwrite the costs of an accidental write off or the odd "ding" in the car park?

[The Bindoner]

We could take out insurance....

[The Bindoner]

So, is this the correct mercenaries book:

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/m/product/80172

If you have the cash spare it's worth getting the full collection:

https://www.farfuture.net/Contents%20CD ... veller.pdf

https://www.farfuture.net/