Battletech - When Politics and Power Collide - Looking for new players

[Annaamarth]

Interest.

The impression I am under after skimming this thread is that we are a military detachment loyal to a house, Great or otherwise, possibly Davion, in the 3025 era.  The emphasis the group has so far been drawn to is armoured cavalry warfare- in a word, tanks.

So, I have some roles I'd like to ask about and thoughts I'd like to proffer.

1) SIGINT.  Is anyone doing this in a politicking game?  Because I'd be happy to take over the role of the CIC and signals analysis.

2) HUMINT.  Is anyone doing this in a politicking game?  Because I'd be happy to take over the role of the JBs (James Jason Jack Bond Bourne Bauer).

3) Air support.  Do we have access to, perhaps, VTOLs in small numbers?  Not even straight combat choppers, but medevac units, heavy lifters, combat team insertion vehicles?

4) BlOps.  Do we have blackboots on the ground, loaded with demo and intent to sabotage?

5)  Aerospace support.  So far I've seen a tremendous amount of ordnance asked for by others.  Do we have Dropship support on station?  Can we relocate on the continental scale as required?  Do we have eyes-in-the-sky?

6) Logistics.  The fact that mass-production of standardized parts is no longer really a thing is recognized- do we have scrounger teams?  Mechanic support?  Off-world supply to any degree?  Local contracts?  Popular support with a local faction?

Because yes.  Interest.

[summoner2183]

Is this still open? And how about characters? How do we submit them?

[TheGlyphstone]

I think I'm the only person doing the armored-cav thing right now, mainly because it seems a more prominent part of the universe than canon Battletech. Presumably everyone else is playing Mech pilots.

[Captain Whitebread]

Interest.
Always a good thing.

The impression I am under after skimming this thread is that we are a military detachment loyal to a house, Great or otherwise, possibly Davion, in the 3025 era.  The emphasis the group has so far been drawn to is armoured cavalry warfare- in a word, tanks.

Not all the characters are loyal to Davion.  FS was the first loyalty declared but several have given an indication that they wanted to be from DC.  Given that the premise is a planet protected by forces from all teh houses, that works for me.

So, I have some roles I'd like to ask about and thoughts I'd like to proffer.

Ask away.

1) SIGINT.  Is anyone doing this in a politicking game?  Because I'd be happy to take over the role of the CIC and signals analysis.

So far no one has indicated any interest in playing the analyst card.

2) HUMINT.  Is anyone doing this in a politicking game?  Because I'd be happy to take over the role of the JBs (James Jason Jack Bond Bourne Bauer).

Nobody has tossed the spy card either.

3) Air support.  Do we have access to, perhaps, VTOLs in small numbers?  Not even straight combat choppers, but medevac units, heavy lifters, combat team insertion vehicles?

Currently air support comes from a small squardon of light aerospace fighters and two squadrons of conventional aircraft, with some VTOLs thrown in for good measure.  There are several med-evac choppers...

4) BlOps.  Do we have blackboots on the ground, loaded with demo and intent to sabotage?

There are some specialist infantry units, ranging from snipers to scouts to demolition experts.

5)  Aerospace support.  So far I've seen a tremendous amount of ordnance asked for by others.  Do we have Dropship support on station?  Can we relocate on the continental scale as required?  Do we have eyes-in-the-sky?

No dedicated drop ship assets.  Relocation will rely on local infrastructure 

6) Logistics.  The fact that mass-production of standardized parts is no longer really a thing is recognized- do we have scrounger teams?  Mechanic support?  Off-world supply to any degree?  Local contracts?  Popular support with a local faction?

Characters will have (and will need to detail) their own support staff.  Obviously there are some NPCs that could be relied on.

Because yes.  Interest.

Interest is always good.  Feel free to ask any questions you might have.

[Captain Whitebread]

Is this still open? And how about characters? How do we submit them?

Submit your character concept to me.  I'm not requiring a character sheet, just a basic bio.  Light and medium mechs (3025 tech) are available at no extra charge.

[Annaamarth]

Via PM, I have now submitted a... well.  To call it a character concept would be disingenuous.  Let's call it a unit concept.

After all, if I am the scion of a noble house I'd not have been sent alone.  We have a tank company here in force, so why not a lance of light mechs (with a single fast medium thrown in for weight)?  I detailed to some degree support elements ranging from spotting planes to foot infantry, with the assumption that Whitebread or the Gal will tell me which bits they like and which they think I'm going overboard on.

Glyphstone, assuming that we are not opposing each other I think I will be able to provide outrider support- even if only my light 'mech platoon is approved.  After all, 'mechs can handle terrain more effectively than tanks, and even that medium can hit nearly 90 kph without sprinting.

If any or all of those additional units are provided then it just gives me more tools in the toolbox, but they're really tools.  If you want tools that look like guns, then you're looking to the wrong person!

[summoner2183]

What units or positions are still available... or needed?

[TheGlyphstone]

The multiple Mechs will probably be shot down, IMO - the paradigm we're going here is that individual Mechs are near-priceless relics, to the point where only nobility can even afford even a light or Medium 'Mech, only Great Houses can afford to fund and deploy Heavies, and entire wars are fought over who owns an Assault.

Even my tank 'company' is actually just a slightly oversized lance of 4, in large part because we are also on a backwater nowhere planet as well.

[Annaamarth]

What units or positions are still available... or needed?

Do what interests you.  We could use more fast movers or brawlers - I kinda aimed to fill the harrasser role, and Glyphstones armour has the linebreaker role.

I also aimed to fill the SIGINT role.  We could use someone aiming for the spymaster, HUMINT role.

Alternatively, aim to do what interests you! This might be more of a rule zero game in a lot of ways. Remember that combat is secondary to the political arena.

[Captain Whitebread]

What units or positions are still available... or needed?

Any and all concepts will be considered.  Light and medium mechs.

[Captain Whitebread]

Via PM, I have now submitted a... well.  To call it a character concept would be disingenuous.  Let's call it a unit concept.

After all, if I am the scion of a noble house I'd not have been sent alone.  We have a tank company here in force, so why not a lance of light mechs (with a single fast medium thrown in for weight)?  I detailed to some degree support elements ranging from spotting planes to foot infantry, with the assumption that Whitebread or the Gal will tell me which bits they like and which they think I'm going overboard on.

Glyphstone, assuming that we are not opposing each other I think I will be able to provide outrider support- even if only my light 'mech platoon is approved.  After all, 'mechs can handle terrain more effectively than tanks, and even that medium can hit nearly 90 kph without sprinting.

If any or all of those additional units are provided then it just gives me more tools in the toolbox, but they're really tools.  If you want tools that look like guns, then you're looking to the wrong person!

You are not a scion.  You are one step up from being the red headed step child.  Anything beyond your primary character that you hand me goes into my NPC stable.  Any mechs 'accompanying you' will be drawn from the existing NPC roster (subject to a little adjustment)

[summoner2183]

Any and all concepts will be considered.  Light and medium mechs.

I see... well, so do we create a single character that is a Mech pilot or the leader of a small lance?

[Annaamarth]

You are not a scion.  You are one step up from being the red headed step child.  Anything beyond your primary character that you hand me goes into my NPC stable.  Any mechs 'accompanying you' will be drawn from the existing NPC roster (subject to a little adjustment)

Redheaded stepchild? Well, yeah! That's why I said second son, and naturally I expect the GM to use whatever I provide, or discard it, at whim.

However, a lot of my inspiration for what I'm putting together comes from reading scifi involving future nobility. March Upcountry and the Falkenberg chronicle especially. I would expect tho have some number of retainers of varying degrees of loyalty, based on how important this investment of force is to my parent nobility.

I'm also drawing inspirayion from Crusader Kings 2. As a second son, if I want to inherit anything I'll have to carve it out for myself.

I'm thinking my pilot is skilled but unproven, undisciplined,  and something of a dilettante.

[Captain Whitebread]

I see... well, so do we create a single character that is a Mech pilot or the leader of a small lance?

Your character is a noble who pilots a mech based on their position and wealth.  All mech pilots are nobles.  We're playing a little loose with the history.    Okay, a lot loose.  Any secondary characters you create become mine to control...

[Captain Whitebread]

I'm thinking my pilot is skilled but unproven, undisciplined,  and something of a dilettante.

All acceptable but I'd think more 3rd son.  The heir, the spare and then you...

[summoner2183]

Your character is a noble who pilots a mech based on their position and wealth.  All mech pilots are nobles.  We're playing a little loose with the history.    Okay, a lot loose.  Any secondary characters you create become mine to control...

I see... is there a character sheet for me to PM to you to?

[TheGlyphstone]

I'm just going to go with an outright acknowledged bastard of a mid-sized noble family. Not disliked by his family, but the cushy jobs and the Mechs go to the legitimate nobles, this is the best they can pull strings to get him - a decent-sized command on a backwater world where he can accrue time-in-rank and experience without much risk. And he's totally okay with that.

[Captain Whitebread]

I'm just going to go with an outright acknowledged bastard of a mid-sized noble family. Not disliked by his family, but the cushy jobs and the Mechs go to the legitimate nobles, this is the best they can pull strings to get him - a decent-sized command on a backwater world where he can accrue time-in-rank and experience without much risk. And he's totally okay with that.

You know nothing, John Snow... lol

[Captain Whitebread]

I see... is there a character sheet for me to PM to you to?

No character sheet.  Just a character bio and concept.  Not everyone is a crack shot and a stellar pilot.  I'm grateful that so far everyone's concept has been reasonable.

[Annaamarth]

I'm just going to go with an outright acknowledged bastard of a mid-sized noble family. Not disliked by his family, but the cushy jobs and the Mechs go to the legitimate nobles, this is the best they can pull strings to get him - a decent-sized command on a backwater world where he can accrue time-in-rank and experience without much risk. And he's totally okay with that.

So are we FedSuns military proper? The unit I submitted was based on the idea of bannermen in service to another dynasty, vassalized to Davion, a minor house.

Because if we're bannermen, time in rank or service means precisely nothing.  This is why more of the profiles I put together had Sirs or Dames than actual ranks.

[TheGlyphstone]

So are we FedSuns military proper? The unit I submitted was based on the idea of bannermen in service to another dynasty, vassalized to Davion, a minor house.

Because if we're bannermen, time in rank or service means precisely nothing.  This is why more of the profiles I put together had Sirs or Dames than actual ranks.

I'm in the FedSun military, you can be a Davion bannerman if you'd like. The core concept is that the five houses are each sending a contingent (read, the dregs they can do without) to collectively defend this one planet and its 'Mech facilities.

[Annaamarth]

Collectively defend seems... odd.  Perhaps collectively compete for control over would be more likely, unless there is some premise I'm missing.  There are a few pirate groups who operate in the core, but if this is Game of Thrones with 'mechs, there will be competition.  There may be an uneasy detente, but... that may change.  Battle lines will be drawn.

As FedSuns, I expect us to be automatically aligned against the Combine and the Confederacy.  The League contingent, being Leaguers, will be up to who knows what, because they're so bloody factionalized it's mad.  The Commonwealth, the traditional ally to the Suns, will probably be our closest ally, but we'll see how that pans out.

Those would be the obvious, however, so I'm keeping my awareness open.  The Lyran social generals occasionally get up to stupid things with their reliance on weight of metal, and they have their own factions.  If I see a bunch of Skye natives, I'm polishing my rifle.  Those guys never settle down.

[TheGlyphstone]

Honestly, who knows by this point. This is really more 'loosely inspired by Battletech' than anything taking a strong adherence to the canon universe as we'd otherwise know it, so who's friends/allies with who is up in the air.

But at last mention, the houses are cooperatively protecting this planet from bandits of some kind.

[summoner2183]

No character sheet.  Just a character bio and concept.  Not everyone is a crack shot and a stellar pilot.  I'm grateful that so far everyone's concept has been reasonable.

Is there an example I can use as a reference?

[Captain Whitebread]

An bare bones example.  Be as detailed as you like.




Captain  Lord Wilhelm Hasek
Second son of the Duke of Kathil
Born on Kathil
Attended the Warrior's Hall
Attended the War College of Goshen
1st Kathil Uhlans  "Lions of Davion"

Just a summary. I'll probably chose a commonly available 55 ton mech like a Griffin.