Desert Sun (Interest/Brainstorm Thread)

Inspired (mostly) by watching Area 88 (At least the anime adaptation), I do want to run a RP where mercenaries are recruited into an army unit to help the government of a Fictional Country fight off rebels/invading military forces.

The same thing can be applied for a mercenary air force unit. I\'d be influenced by Ace Combat Infinity if I get this running.

We\'ll just need to talk about which kind of mercenary force you guys want to play as. Although I\'m also free to listen to any suggestions.

"Exit muna si Polgas. Ang kailangan dito ay si Dobermaxx!"

Hell yes, interest expressed.

Almost any time period works; post-WWII through modern day preferred though, although reenacting Beau Geste is also a possibility. Anything from light infantry, a la The Wild Geese, through larger-scale PMCs with light helis and armored cars on a government contract, I am game for.

Charlie Stross's cheerful, optimistic predictions for 2017, part one of three.

Decided to put this in the mid 2000s to gain access to some interesting military hardware.

Theatre is either in the Middle East (North Africa) or somewhere in Eastern Europe.

"Exit muna si Polgas. Ang kailangan dito ay si Dobermaxx!"

Definite interest. I'm still confused; the reference to Area 88 suggests air combat but you're also brainstorming ideas on what kind of unit so are we doing a more modern day private security firm, an on-the-down-low Soldier of Fortune Magazine type deal, or something more fantastical (like Area 88)?

Yes, I get a tiny bit nerdy when it comes to the private sector military type stuff

edited 28th Jan '15 7:28:30 AM by HouraiRabbit

Wise Papa Smurf, corrupted by his own power. CAN NO LEADER GO UNTAINTED?!

We can do a combo of ground and air units if one wants to give more choices. I was thinking like Area 88 (TV) and SOF (suddenly remembering Zanzibar Land) in terms of in-universe recruitment, but with some influence from the Rhodesians, especially their Seleous Scouts and Light Infantry.

They'll have a base somewhere in country and stuff.

PS - Good to see you.

edited 28th Jan '15 12:50:08 PM by Ominae

"Exit muna si Polgas. Ang kailangan dito ay si Dobermaxx!"

So more an Executive Outcomes type of deal?

Wise Papa Smurf, corrupted by his own power. CAN NO LEADER GO UNTAINTED?!

Nah. Just guys recruited and treated as foreign volunteers with a contract.

"Exit muna si Polgas. Ang kailangan dito ay si Dobermaxx!"

Hmmm. Are we playing as regime mercenaries fending off a rebellion, or an insurgency mercenary probably with the backing of the neighbors against a regime, I wonder? Either could work...

Charlie Stross's cheerful, optimistic predictions for 2017, part one of three.

Either way, I'm interested.

Let God do His work, we will see to ours. Bring in the candles.

That is a good question. It honestly depends on your preference in the theater.

When I watched Area 88, it depicted the Asranian military using volunteers against (perceived) communist fighters. I do plan to use some of that for the RP in getting the characters together.

I probably need to start a command structure written up on paper.

"Exit muna si Polgas. Ang kailangan dito ay si Dobermaxx!"

I'd be interested, sure, and have several different characters in mind depending on what the story and setting would be.

Currently reading up My Rule Fu Is Stronger than Yours

If we're going modern-day, there are a lot of small-wars possibilities that spring to mind. I've still got a bunch of research notes for Central Asia, although much of that's out of date. Also, how far north you go depends on how much you want to face a possible Russian intervention. *shudder*

Africa's the perennial favorite, of course—gonna The Wild Geese/The Dogs of War this shit up. Could have anything from jungle fighting to the veldt for the Selous Scouts Mark 2 stuff. (In which case, I'm calling either a heavy armored car or a K-car heli.)

The scale would matter, too, and on that I'm open to anything from platoon-sized all the way to "here's our airbase, here's our air contingent, here's the regiment of regulars that will need our help through the campaign".

Charlie Stross's cheerful, optimistic predictions for 2017, part one of three.

Modern day or near future would be good for the characters I would use. If we wanted to go back earlier I can adapt with younger versions (several of the ones I have planned are in their forties) or rewrite a character for an earlier time.

As for current conflicts well The War On Terror would be a perennial fave. Iraq, Afghanistan, ISIS, we could look at North Korea as a potential theater of operations, Russia, China, or even something like Australia and Indonesia between tensions mainly political (maybe the Prime Minister of either country, depending on your views, turns the situation hot) or look at the desire and need of the Joint Strike Fighter against next gen fighters from potential adversaries. The question is, do we want to look at these as options? Might that be cutting a little close to the bone?

Currently reading up My Rule Fu Is Stronger than Yours

ISIS could work if the theatre is in the Middle East. That say, I don't think the other suggestions may work. May be too close to comfort if I do those.

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That said, I can put the theatre to a vote:

• Middle East (-cough-Asran-cough-)
• Africa (North or Central as I'm assuming)
• Central Asia (We need a fictional country name that can end with a -tan)

edited 29th Jan '15 12:57:02 AM by Ominae

"Exit muna si Polgas. Ang kailangan dito ay si Dobermaxx!"

Any of them could work, potentially. The question is who the local political players will be; for that reason alone I lean towards Africa, with its multiplicity of bit players. Middle East would likely see a lot of involvement from Iran and Saudi Arabia; Central Asiastan may see Russian involvement.

Charlie Stross's cheerful, optimistic predictions for 2017, part one of three.

That's being worked on. Though the ME theater could have those two countries involved since they're the powerhouse countries. And also, having a Fictional Country that has lots of oil could work to the advantage of hiring mercs... Maybe.

I may have a fictional name for an African country. Need some help for one in the Middle East and/or Central Asia.

"Exit muna si Polgas. Ang kailangan dito ay si Dobermaxx!"

Some twenty years ago the British handed Hong Kong back to the Chinese. This would be of great interest not just to the two countries, but European NATO and American allies, Russia and potential adversaries as well. I think at the time the Russians and Chinese were either considered allies or could potentially be.

We could have an analog of that story where something goes wrong and it draws the countries into conflict. Guerrilla fighters opposed to the hand back, some type of false flag operation, something that could escalate into air conflict or at least involve air strikes on ground targets, meaning that we won't necessarily be looking at the superfighters for such a story and those more suited to the mission would get a look in.

Currently reading up My Rule Fu Is Stronger than Yours

I remember reading up on what ifs if Hong Kong and Macau had declared independence as a thought exercise in the net.

Both places are heavily urbanized... So that is also interesting.

"Exit muna si Polgas. Ang kailangan dito ay si Dobermaxx!"

Already created the volunteer force structure for us to RP in. It's scheduled to change and update, some depending on feedback. Do note that it's different than most existing military formations since this is a combined force of ground and air assets. It's a mix of stuff I got from Canada, Ireland, Japan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and the United States.

Ground Force: (Brigade)

- Headquarters

• Infantry Regiment (at least 2)
• Combat Engineer Regiment (x1)
• Armored Regiment (x1)
• Combat Service (?)
• Artillery Regiment (?)
• Signals (x1)
• Recon (?)
• Anti-Aircraft (?)

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Air Force: (Wing)

- Headquarters

• Operations Group
• Fighter Squadron
• Attack Helicopter Squadron
• Rescue Squadron
• Recon Squadron

edited 30th Jan '15 6:37:20 AM by Ominae

"Exit muna si Polgas. Ang kailangan dito ay si Dobermaxx!"

Typically recon is about a platoon-size element; it's a pretty elite job.

Wise Papa Smurf, corrupted by his own power. CAN NO LEADER GO UNTAINTED?!

Sounds a lot like a Brigade Combat Team type deal. I'm not sure about how Western-built countries did things, but traditionally Sov-aligned countries used to go with Soviet force structures. For a dictator, the lessened flexibility was an asset: low-level officers need not to be as well-trained, high-level officers had their own fiefdoms to run (as opposed to a modular force structure, which requires a more professional and hence less politically tractable military).

Also, outside of a BCT structure, only the So vs would give a brigade its own organic artillery regiment.

Charlie Stross's cheerful, optimistic predictions for 2017, part one of three.

Thanks for the input. They'll be updated later on. Depending on what theater we are, we may need a small naval force.

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Potential Theaters of Operations: (Let me know if they're okay)

Africa: (1 Vote)

• Republic of Linari
• esh'Umury Demukratyaa Harraay

Central Asia: (0 Vote)

• Kyrzbekistan (Need to work on "appropriate location")
• Republic of Sharqistan

Western Asia: (0 Vote)

• Aranbu Ular

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Some trivia countries to throw out:

• Jupon-minggukku
• Repopyika Ranggiyåu Dugyimou
• Dangu Remmin Mingu

edited 2nd Feb '15 12:37:25 AM by Ominae

"Exit muna si Polgas. Ang kailangan dito ay si Dobermaxx!"

Linari or Hawarri both would be okay, although I am very tempted to also throw in a vote for Kyrzbekistan, where puzzled NYT journalists roam.

Charlie Stross's cheerful, optimistic predictions for 2017, part one of three.

Glad you see that reference!

Updates again on the structure, with some adjustments and stuff. Note that they aren't formal yet (e.g. No "official name" like 1st Infantry Regiment). Will have a navy structure (albeit small one) depending on theater.

Will get a working signup later once things are settled. I want to see if others are okay in the Africa theater.

Ground Force: (Brigade)

- Headquarters

• Infantry Regiment (at least 2)
• Combat Engineer Regiment (x1)
• Armored Regiment (x1)
• Recon Company (x2) (or 3, depending on RP needs)
• Anti-Aircraft Platoon (x1)
• Combat Service Platoon (x1)
• Signals Platoon (x1)

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Air Force: (Wing)

- Headquarters

• Operations Group
• Fighter Squadron (x2)
• Attack Helicopter Squadron (x2)
• Rescue Squadron (x2)
• Recon Squadron (x2)
• Transport Squadron (x2)

"Exit muna si Polgas. Ang kailangan dito ay si Dobermaxx!"

I cast my vote for Africa. Perennial favorite of mercs everywhere.

Let God do His work, we will see to ours. Bring in the candles.