Modern Adventurers in War Zones; war correspondents and mercenaries

fredtheobviouspseudonym · 09-22-2014, 06:03 PM

Other options:

Non-governmental organization (NGO) folks -- providers of medical, food, and relief supplies (blankets, tents, water filtration) for natural or man-made disasters. Lots of these types can & will operate in war zones -- IIRC at least two of the current ISIS hostages are such relief workers who came to Syria to aid the refugees. They would have to have high administrative ability; perhaps the 3rd Edition advantage "versatile" will work. I knew a guy who worked in Ethiopia during the early '80s famine. Had to be master of lots of stuff (admin, diplomacy, nutrition, some mechanical items) and jack of all trades.

Remember these people would have to have high Diplomacy and often Fast Talk skills -- they have to get the acquiescence of often-corrupt officials and local rebels to be there at all. They have no guns to maintain themselves. Some sort of Obsession or Higher Purpose disad would work too -- if you're not partially crazy why be there at all?

Very high emotional costs -- IIRC Catholic Relief Services assumes 12-18 months is the most you can realistically expect folks to endure the stress & disappointment of these kinds of situations. That fella I earlier mentioned -- he probably saved hundreds of lives a month, but had to watch more hundreds die because he just couldn't get enough aid for all of them. Messed him up quite a bit. Some kind of PTSD would be rational for a long service NGO veteran.

Foreign correspondents -- I actually met one of these guys many years ago. I was a formal party -- three-piece suits, evening gowns & tuxedos for some. This photographer, an Australian working for Agente France Presse, drifted in wearing a stained, torn field jacket, a three-day growth of beard, and a long-ashed cigarette dangling from his lips. Projected a great deal of "I don't give a [deleted]" attitude. He got away with it.

Of course, he had his camera.

So some guys do live up to the stereotype.

Some traits -- certainly Overconfidence, On the Edge or Glory Hound would be appropriate. Again, like NGO officials, they need lots of interpersonal skills to get into the high-hazard areas. Often you've got to charm people you loath, so Acting might be a good asset. You've also got to deal with many different types of folks, from your own nation's embassy employees to warlords to smugglers, etc.

On the flip side, often more "established" authorities will appreciate a journalist's or NGO person's knowledge of what happens outside the host nation's capital city, so you may find yourself being politely -- or not so politely -- questioned by various types.

Luck is always a useful advantage for the unarmed.

vicky_molokh · 09-23-2014, 04:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fredtheobviouspseudonym

Luck is always a useful advantage for the unarmed.

Luck is good for rerolling a single Dodge. Serendipity is better for some sort of turn of events that will prevent combat in the first place.

Icelander · 09-23-2014, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vicky_molokh

Luck is good for rerolling a single Dodge. Serendipity is better for some sort of turn of events that will prevent combat in the first place.

Yep, Serendipity have been very useful in earlier games set in the same unforgiving setting, for allowing non-combat characters to not only survive the adventures alongside more adventurous souls, but also contribute useful 'instant contacts', lucky breaks and such things.

Icelander · 09-25-2014, 04:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fredtheobviouspseudonym

Foreign correspondents -- I actually met one of these guys many years ago. I was a formal party -- three-piece suits, evening gowns & tuxedos for some. This photographer, an Australian working for Agente France Presse, drifted in wearing a stained, torn field jacket, a three-day growth of beard, and a long-ashed cigarette dangling from his lips. Projected a great deal of "I don't give a [deleted]" attitude. He got away with it.

Of course, he had his camera.

So some guys do live up to the stereotype.

Where does this stereotype come from? Why is every other war correspondent Australian? Is... is it maybe just true?

Australians all sit down and decide what to do in life and once you've accounted for all those who become bartenders, there's a certain quota who must become either war correspondents or wildlife-wranglers?

Quote:

Originally Posted by fredtheobviouspseudonym

Some traits -- certainly Overconfidence, On the Edge or Glory Hound would be appropriate. Again, like NGO officials, they need lots of interpersonal skills to get into the high-hazard areas. Often you've got to charm people you loath, so Acting might be a good asset. You've also got to deal with many different types of folks, from your own nation's embassy employees to warlords to smugglers, etc.

Interpersonal skills are a good point and largely why I started to wonder about this. Contacts among war correspondents seemed tailor-made to be sort of unofficial intelligence operatives...

Icelander · 12-14-2014, 11:00 PM

Alarm, alarm!

I find that, as usual, I've left it until much too late to actualise finalise my game preparations, as opposed to throwing out a lot of ideas and wasting days on specific details of NPC history and motivations, neglecting the dozens of less detailed NPCs that the PCs will probably find themselves fighting.

And, naturally, my game is in 36 hours or so and I do actually have a court appearance and several meetings with clients and opposing counsel during the one and a half workday that are between now and the game. Also, sleep.

So, the situation is this:

A villainous group with deep pockets need to have a secure location within Nasiryah (along the Euphrates in south-west Iraq), as well as 2-3 desert locations out of it, protected from potential rivals. They are planning to use a Private Military Company / Private Security Company with extremely flexible morals for a lot of it, though some of the most sensitive work will have to be done using less skilled, but more ideologically reliably recruits.

In line with prior discussion in this thread, I would love if forumites would submit some potential mercenaries, with a few sentence bios, nationalities, looks, personalities and favoured weapons.

Thoughs on equipment, vehicles, communications, tactics and relationships with other power factions as well as the authorities are also welcome.

09-22-2014, 06:03 PM	#1
fredtheobviouspseudonym Join Date: May 2007	Other options: Non-governmental organization (NGO) folks -- providers of medical, food, and relief supplies (blankets, tents, water filtration) for natural or man-made disasters. Lots of these types can & will operate in war zones -- IIRC at least two of the current ISIS hostages are such relief workers who came to Syria to aid the refugees. They would have to have high administrative ability; perhaps the 3rd Edition advantage "versatile" will work. I knew a guy who worked in Ethiopia during the early '80s famine. Had to be master of lots of stuff (admin, diplomacy, nutrition, some mechanical items) and jack of all trades. Remember these people would have to have high Diplomacy and often Fast Talk skills -- they have to get the acquiescence of often-corrupt officials and local rebels to be there at all. They have no guns to maintain themselves. Some sort of Obsession or Higher Purpose disad would work too -- if you're not partially crazy why be there at all? Very high emotional costs -- IIRC Catholic Relief Services assumes 12-18 months is the most you can realistically expect folks to endure the stress & disappointment of these kinds of situations. That fella I earlier mentioned -- he probably saved hundreds of lives a month, but had to watch more hundreds die because he just couldn't get enough aid for all of them. Messed him up quite a bit. Some kind of PTSD would be rational for a long service NGO veteran. Foreign correspondents -- I actually met one of these guys many years ago. I was a formal party -- three-piece suits, evening gowns & tuxedos for some. This photographer, an Australian working for Agente France Presse, drifted in wearing a stained, torn field jacket, a three-day growth of beard, and a long-ashed cigarette dangling from his lips. Projected a great deal of "I don't give a [deleted]" attitude. He got away with it. Of course, he had his camera. So some guys do live up to the stereotype. Some traits -- certainly Overconfidence, On the Edge or Glory Hound would be appropriate. Again, like NGO officials, they need lots of interpersonal skills to get into the high-hazard areas. Often you've got to charm people you loath, so Acting might be a good asset. You've also got to deal with many different types of folks, from your own nation's embassy employees to warlords to smugglers, etc. On the flip side, often more "established" authorities will appreciate a journalist's or NGO person's knowledge of what happens outside the host nation's capital city, so you may find yourself being politely -- or not so politely -- questioned by various types. Luck is always a useful advantage for the unarmed. Last edited by fredtheobviouspseudonym; 09-23-2014 at 03:01 PM.

12-14-2014, 11:00 PM	#5
Icelander Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Iceland*	I need some 20-30 mercenaries Alarm, alarm! I find that, as usual, I've left it until much too late to actualise finalise my game preparations, as opposed to throwing out a lot of ideas and wasting days on specific details of NPC history and motivations, neglecting the dozens of less detailed NPCs that the PCs will probably find themselves fighting. And, naturally, my game is in 36 hours or so and I do actually have a court appearance and several meetings with clients and opposing counsel during the one and a half workday that are between now and the game. Also, sleep. So, the situation is this: A villainous group with deep pockets need to have a secure location within Nasiryah (along the Euphrates in south-west Iraq), as well as 2-3 desert locations out of it, protected from potential rivals. They are planning to use a Private Military Company / Private Security Company with extremely flexible morals for a lot of it, though some of the most sensitive work will have to be done using less skilled, but more ideologically reliably recruits. In line with prior discussion in this thread, I would love if forumites would submit some potential mercenaries, with a few sentence bios, nationalities, looks, personalities and favoured weapons. Thoughs on equipment, vehicles, communications, tactics and relationships with other power factions as well as the authorities are also welcome. __________________ Za uspiekh nashevo beznadiozhnovo diela!