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Vampire
Free Worlds League
Lieutenant Colonel
Joined: 05-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 912
Location: Spain
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 Posted: 11-Jun-2002 16:15 Post subject: RPG Question about Marik battlefield awards |
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I'm creating a 'Mechwarrior character for 3025 using 3rd Ed, and he has participated in two epic battles. I'm going to make it the protagonist of a story, and I want him to be as rich in detail as possible. I'm unsure of what medals he should be awarded by his conduct, so I'm requesting your opinions. As a result of the lifepath rolls, he earned the traits Brave, Good Reputation , and a field commision.
Now, the first one is the battle of Skada Ravine on Megrez on 3018, with the 1st Marik Militia. It's mentioned that the regiment were made into "heroes of the League", so I believe that this means the 1st would be awarded the Allison Chain as a collective award, as the battle was truly an heroic one and I think the Chain is a higher award than the Crest of the Eagle, the other League collective award.
The Militia commander earned the "Order of the Silver Hand" wich I take it to be a knighthood, since there's no other references to it, and Shanna del Rey most likely earned an Order of the Saber award.
Do you think then it would be a reasonable award for this character a field commision to Lieutenant JG? Considering the Lifepath roll, it's indeed a high honor for a green enlisted warrior to be commisioned. Taking over command of the lance after the officer is killed shows initiative and guts. But then again, I have misgivings about a green soldier taking a post intended for a seasoned career officer, so I think the best solution would be a promotion and a transfer to another regiment with the rest of his lance.
Also, it seems a bit unfair that a unit that wins the Allison Chain holds it for a year and then it's passed to other unit, leaving the soldiers of a unit with such an award nothing to show for their efforts but a mention in their service records,whereas other lesser acts of collective valor deserve the Crest of the Eagle, and the soldiers can wear the badge.
It looks to me that it would make sense that individual soldiers of a unit that has been awarded with the Allison Chain could wear a replica of it in their dress uniforms for the rest of their career. Of course, it would be a lightweight jewelry chain, made of cheap metal with just a coating of the real stuff instead of being solid gold, silver and platinum as it's the chain that hangs from the unit standard.
A real world comparison would be the Spanish army collective awards, that are a "necktie" that is hanged from the unit flag, and unit members can wear a embroidered version of the award in their uniforms or civilian clothes.
Now, as how should be the chain worn any ideas? Possibilities are, dangled around the neck, (original, but it wouldn't be confused with a small strand of chain pinned dangling at the left breast, a bit like the clock chain of pocket watches, or perhaps worn in a shoulder loop like the FWL service braid?
(mmm, it wouldn't be visible in that position, and the right shoulder is already taken for placing service braids, so perhaps the best idea is having it around the neck)
Now, continuining with our hero's career, we match the Life path rolls with a suitable campaign on the same period. Easily enough, we have him transferred to the 2nd Marik Militia, and he takes part into the ill-fated raid against the Algorab refineries in 3020, where the regiment suffered more than 50% casualties.
Now, this leaves the character with a war injury (disability) that causes him to be unfit for service and getting discharged out of the army. He came of it lightly, though.
So, my question is: would he be entitled to an award for this mission? After all, he earns a lot of experience and makes it back , he at least salvaged something from disaster. Yes I know, the Marik decorations are focused on rewarding success, not heroism, but it seems unfair that after coming back from hell, and being disabled fighting for the League, all he gets is a tap on the back and the cursory retirement pension and disability benefits.
Now, this makes for good plot, that the character is embittered by having given its best and getting nothing for his effort.
After all, if the 5th Marik Militia were awarded medals just by surviving in Loric, he too deserves something, dammit!
Mmmm, granted, for a disaster like Algorab was, it's the type of thing that asks for a cover-up not awarding of medals. I like the "forgotten hero" theme, but there's something missing, this guy should have at least one medal that makes people notice him and justify that "Good Reputation" trait.
I don't want to make up a Marik Militia award similar to the Oriente Legion of Merit. Mmmm, I think I have got it.: A Distinguished Service Award-Ruby (500 tons of enemy 'Mechs destroyed)
So that accounts for an average of 10 medium 'Mechs, cool, being an "ace" 'Mechwarrior is something that makes you well known, by your score if anything. It's a bit of a stretch, but still believable, having fought in two bloodbaths and in the two years between both battles he could have steadily increased his score in raiding missions. The 2nd was "a mainstay of border defenses" along the Lyran front, so it would have seen a lot of action.
As I want the character to ride a Centurion, an Hermes would be more likely, but it's hard to score victories with one, so I'm envisioning him as the fire support specialist, the guy that hauls around the machinegun in the platoon so to speak (the 1st and 2nd Marik Militia are light, raiding units, a Centurion would look like a boxer among ballet dancers )
So the character is turning out like the concept I had, based on the personalities of some fighter pilots of the 1st World War, a good shot with a killer instinct and a bit of a glory hound that ends up in a command position based on his score and guts alone despite his youth an lack of formal education.
And afterwards, at the beginning of the story, we have another typical and compelling image, that of the former ace, a prematurely aged young man, unable to cope with civilian life and looking to prove his worth despite his injuries and ride a 'Mech again, looking for a mercenary unit that will give him an opportunity, living on the credit of his fading wartime reputation, suffering from battle fatigue, with a budding alcoholism problem due to the need to cope with it, and having to live up with the reputation of bravery that is expected of him while secretly being shaken by too many close brushes with death.
Mmm, I like this a lot, it's realistic and has plenty of potential for drama and character development.
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Memento audare semper
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Nightmare
Lyran Alliance
Kommandant-General
Joined: 03-May-2002 00:00
Posts: 2214
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| Posted: 11-Jun-2002 17:01 Post subject: RPG Question about Marik battlefield awards |
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As for the mech: Marik commonly uses a Fire Support Lance consisting of an Archer, two Trebuchets and a Centurion. Even the light raiding units should have a heavy company
or two, with this type of stuff.
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A tree fall in the forest, and no one is around, and it hits a mime. Does anyone care?
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Vampire
Free Worlds League
Lieutenant Colonel
Joined: 05-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 912
Location: Spain
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| Posted: 11-Jun-2002 18:12 Post subject: RPG Question about Marik battlefield awards |
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thanks, where did you get this info from? I knew from TRO3025 that the Regulan Hussars used these lances for siege operations, and I thought that it would be a good idea to export this tactic to other League units, it also helps me to introduce Indian (from India) characters into the story as his comrades.
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Memento audare semper
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Nightmare
Lyran Alliance
Kommandant-General
Joined: 03-May-2002 00:00
Posts: 2214
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| Posted: 12-Jun-2002 03:04 Post subject: RPG Question about Marik battlefield awards |
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TRO3025 of course.
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A tree fall in the forest, and no one is around, and it hits a mime. Does anyone care?
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