Mordel's Bar & Grill
Reservist Lifepath
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Kraken
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PostPosted: 06-Oct-2004 14:36    Post subject: Reservist Lifepath Reply to topic Reply with quote

I got to thinking:

The Paramilitary lifepath as presented in the FM: Prehiphery really only covers what we in the US would consider to be militia groups.

In the US (and in other nations) there's not only an active element of the military but also a reserve element of the military. In the novels, I seem to recall reading that some of the planets had built up what basically we would know as reservist units - thing is, with the limits of the Paramilitary lifepath, it really doesn't cover that.


As such, I make a simple proposal - an alteration of the Paramilitary path.

Proposed alterations:
1. In addition to receiving Basic Training at 2 points instead of 3, the character receives any MOS package from the Military Enlistment life path in the MW3 manual, but at 1 point instead of 3.
2. The very first time a person takes the path, they recieve the trait rank [2].
3. An event roll of 16, 17, or 18 nets the player a promotion; rolls 2-5 would net a demotion (2 means ejection unless the character's nation requires the service).
4. As a part of the skills that the player may select from, the option "Any MOS skill +2" would appear.

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Nightmare
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PostPosted: 07-Oct-2004 00:10    Post subject: RE: Reservist Lifepath Reply to topic Reply with quote

This really depends on what you consider to be reserves. In the US they're people who have left active service (Army? Marines?), sometimes after seeing a good deal of action. In small peaceful nations it's just the guys who have served their time as conscripts.

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Kraken
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PostPosted: 07-Oct-2004 17:00    Post subject: RE: Reservist Lifepath Reply to topic Reply with quote

Quote:

On 2004-10-07 00:10, Nightmare wrote:
This really depends on what you consider to be reserves. In the US they're people who have left active service (Army? Marines?), sometimes after seeing a good deal of action. In small peaceful nations it's just the guys who have served their time as conscripts.



The main thing is that, realistically, in some areas there would be at least a citizen-militia if the government can not or will not provide defense for an area. I mean, think about Switzerland - it's assumed that everyone over there over a certain age is a member of the reserves.

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Nightmare
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PostPosted: 08-Oct-2004 02:14    Post subject: RE: Reservist Lifepath Reply to topic Reply with quote

http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Military_of_Switzerland

Exactly the sort I meant. We have a like system, even if people don't get to keep their weapons at home.

In the Battletech universe this kind of system is too expensive and clumsy to be of much use.

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Kraken
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PostPosted: 08-Oct-2004 08:53    Post subject: RE: Reservist Lifepath Reply to topic Reply with quote

Quote:

On 2004-10-08 02:14, Nightmare wrote:
http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Military_of_Switzerland

Exactly the sort I meant. We have a like system, even if people don't get to keep their weapons at home.

In the Battletech universe this kind of system is too expensive and clumsy to be of much use.



For the campaign I'm doing, here's what I'm looking at-

All citizens above a certain age are considered to be a part of the reserve elements; yes, they do keep their rifles at home. Most of these people, however, have only the required token training in how to use it.

A large number of the citizens, however, are a part of a more formal reserve. They must report to the local armory every so often and recieve training on actual tanks and aircraft. Many of these reservists are also required to spend a certain amount of time on patrol and garrison.

There's a handful of full-timers assigned to the region; the Barron is one of them, as are three of the four mechwarriors he has with him. There's also three teams of battle armor and some tankers/infantry that are full-timers, but that's about it.

Every so often, they'll do combat drills to keep in shape. And once in a blue moon, they'll hire a merc unit so that the reservists can have someone different to fight against.


Keep in mind that this is on a planet within the Chaos March. As such, although they're reservists they're also experts at hidden unit combat and infighting. Only once did someone ever try to come at them in force, and the mauled survivors had to limp back home. Since then, about the only combat these guys see short of training is when the occasional recon unit violates the perimeter and has to be taken down; and even then, the biggest kill to date was an Ostscout.

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Nightmare
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PostPosted: 08-Oct-2004 21:00    Post subject: RE: Reservist Lifepath Reply to topic Reply with quote

Perfectly reasonable. Almost every man around here can use an assault rifle. Few have actually trained even once a year since completing their time of service. Only the special requirement guys.

So which are going to take the Reservist lifepath? The grunts or those who train more often? What do the others get?




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Kraken
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PostPosted: 09-Oct-2004 07:59    Post subject: RE: Reservist Lifepath Reply to topic Reply with quote

Regular Enlisted - ToD: IS (or my homebrew ToD: CM)

"Reservists" - ToD: Reservist (these are the guys that have to show up once or twice a month)

Everyone else - as per regular civilians, but they'd have to take Paramilitary at least once

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bladewind
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PostPosted: 10-Oct-2004 09:21    Post subject: RE: Reservist Lifepath Reply to topic Reply with quote

Quote:

On 2004-10-09 07:59, Kraken wrote:
Regular Enlisted - ToD: IS (or my homebrew ToD: CM)

"Reservists" - ToD: Reservist (these are the guys that have to show up once or twice a month)

Everyone else - as per regular civilians, but they'd have to take Paramilitary at least once



in my country where there is compulsory conscription for all men of 18 - 21 years old. After 2 years of military training, they will be free to do whatever they want, but when the military needs em (for training, military exercise or war etc), the brass just calls em up. And they better comply.

those guys are called reservists, they can range from 25 yr olds to 45 yr old fogeys.

----------------------------------------------------

In BT terms, it makes perfect sense. Infantry are far easier to train and dont even need to be maintained. After giving em formal military training for a year or 2, u can basically ignore em until u decide to give em a re-fresher course. So its far from costly.
And its far cheaper to equip 10,000 men with Sunbeam laser pistols and flechette guns then to service a crippled Battlemaster.


[ This Message was edited by: bladewind on 2004-10-10 09:35 ]
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Alexander
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PostPosted: 10-Oct-2004 09:57    Post subject: RE: Reservist Lifepath Reply to topic Reply with quote

Here in Canuckland, a Reservist (like me), is someone who joins as a volunteer, can quit whenever they want, and does only the training they want to show up for (albeit they get fired - released - if they don't show up often enough.)

Some members are ex-regulars with twenty years of experience, or even just a few years. Some members arer full time reservists who work full-time in the Armouries either in support of the Regular forces or the Reserve unit the work for.

Some reservists have alot of overseas experience (I have two tours to Bosnia, some have tours to Cyprus, Croatia, Afghanistan, and more). Some members show up for Wednesday evening training and no more.

It's not the best system around, but, it has produced some fine soldiers, and some crap soldiers as well.

Alexander

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bladewind
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PostPosted: 10-Oct-2004 12:48    Post subject: RE: Reservist Lifepath Reply to topic Reply with quote

For us its like a Rite of Passage. In my country, able bodied males who have not being through military service are seen as boys or wussies. U are only considered a real man, after conscription. Also our conscription is kinda unique, after 3 - 6 months of physical conditioning and basic military training. We go for even more training for specialists. So it arent surprising for some exceptional recruits being taken in for Commando or sniper recruitment. Most men will make the bulk of rifle infantry, medics, support company, engineers blah blah. then after another 3 months (might be longer for some vocations), we will be attached with regular units for the rest of the duration.


Ah well, i guess it cant be helped, our country is so small and tiny, if aint the civillian army (we have a population of 4 million, now who wants to wade through a near million worth of military trained civilians ?? even if they got us, there will be far too many trained rebels.), we would be overrunned a long time ago.

[ This Message was edited by: bladewind on 2004-10-10 12:56 ]
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Kraken
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PostPosted: 10-Oct-2004 13:30    Post subject: RE: Reservist Lifepath Reply to topic Reply with quote

Quote:

On 2004-10-09 07:59, Kraken wrote:
Regular Enlisted - ToD: IS (or my homebrew ToD: CM)

"Reservists" - ToD: Reservist (these are the guys that have to show up once or twice a month)

Everyone else - as per regular civilians, but they'd have to take Paramilitary at least once



I just had another thought -

If the character takes Stigma / Juvenile Delinquent [1] they can start off in the Paramilitary at the character age of 14, allowing them to have one pass through the Paramilitary path before they start into stage 3. This is to reflect the fact that in some areas, the judges might have the authority to order delinquents into a form of paramilitary conscription in place of serving time in juvenile hall or elsewhere.

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Erenon
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PostPosted: 10-Oct-2004 18:50    Post subject: RE: Reservist Lifepath Reply to topic Reply with quote

Quote:

On 2004-10-10 12:48, bladewind wrote:
For us its like a Rite of Passage. In my country, able bodied males who have not being through military service are seen as boys or wussies. U are only considered a real man, after conscription.

Ah well, i guess it cant be helped, our country is so small and tiny, if aint the civillian army (we have a population of 4 million, now who wants to wade through a near million worth of military trained civilians ?? even if they got us, there will be far too many trained rebels.), we would be overrunned a long time ago.



You overrate us Bladewind
I've gone through all you have as well and as far as i can tell, it's a paper tiger.

Still no one will be stupid enough to try invading us. One mistake by any soldier and that's another civilian who knows how to snipe at you with his stolen rifle.

*on the point but close to straying of track...
http://www.spug.net/showthread.php?t=60572

what some of our soldier civilians think of the army :-p


[ This Message was edited by: Erenon on 2004-10-10 19:00 ]
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bladewind
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PostPosted: 10-Oct-2004 22:30    Post subject: RE: Reservist Lifepath Reply to topic Reply with quote

must show good side to outside people what

but true who want to invade us also ? No oil, no resources, no food, not enough drinking water. All we have is people.
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Nightmare
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PostPosted: 11-Oct-2004 01:39    Post subject: RE: Reservist Lifepath Reply to topic Reply with quote

Quote:

On 2004-10-10 13:30, Kraken wrote:
I just had another thought -

If the character takes Stigma / Juvenile Delinquent [1] they can start off in the Paramilitary at the character age of 14, allowing them to have one pass through the Paramilitary path before they start into stage 3. This is to reflect the fact that in some areas, the judges might have the authority to order delinquents into a form of paramilitary conscription in place of serving time in juvenile hall or elsewhere.



Warhammer 40,000!

On many Imperial worlds you can get sent to join the Imperial Guard instead of facing a sentence for light crimes. Life in the army instead of facing the just punishment for loitering, public disorder on account of alcohol or late library loans!

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Erenon
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PostPosted: 11-Oct-2004 03:07    Post subject: RE: Reservist Lifepath Reply to topic Reply with quote

Or just press gang all the hive gangs at one go (while your Arbitrators take losses that have ot be replaced..) and mold a regiment outta them


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