Using Sierra Leonne as the basis for the new Recon

Rabid Southern Cross Fan · Wed Jan 12, 2005 2:30 pm

Ok,

I had thought that one of the centerpieces of the new version of Recon was supposed to be its move away from the Vietnam era of play into something a bit more modern. Setting aside The War on Terror, I wonder if anyone considered using the Sierra Leonne incident with the Executive Outcomes Private Military Contractors as the model for the new paradigm?

Shin Kenshiro · Wed Jan 12, 2005 2:43 pm

Rabid Southern Cross Fan wrote:Ok,

I had thought that one of the centerpieces of the new version of Recon was supposed to be its move away from the Vietnam era of play into something a bit more modern. Setting aside The War on Terror, I wonder if anyone considered using the Sierra Leonne incident with the Executive Outcomes Private Military Contractors as the model for the new paradigm?

I'd like to see it used in the DEA's jungle wars with Columbian cartels...

lather · Unread post by **lather** » Wed Jan 12, 2005 3:31 pm

All of our stuff takes place in actual places but usually involves fictional things.

For example, in a Turtles campaign we just finished, the players were Russians putting down another revolution based in St. Petersburg.

Real life is just too depressing, especially in Africa.

lather · Unread post by **lather** » Wed Jan 12, 2005 5:52 pm

I did not intend to suggest Chechnia is not depressing. A friend was KIA there.

Many African forces are bolstered by mercenaries. There were several seen in the recent Ivory Coast conflict, for example. Others operate more as plotters, planners, officers, and advisers rather than get directly involved in the combat.

There is plenty of opportunity for (French and other European) mercs in Africa following the end of colonialism, however, the Cold War could be used to introduce American mercs into the mix.

Sometimes mercenaries operate as body guards for western journalists.

There are loads of opportunities to use mercs in Africa that reflect the sorts of things that happen in real life.

Jefffar · Unread post by **Jefffar** » Wed Jan 12, 2005 8:26 pm

The last RECON game I ran was set in the Former Yugoslavia while the Former Yugoslavia was still the daily headline.

Which should tell you how long it's been since I ran RECON.

lather · Unread post by **lather** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 10:50 am

We ran several campaigns in the fictional world included in the RECON book. We have also have used real life settings, but changed the facts to make it fictional.

Recon_Charlie · Fri Apr 28, 2006 8:51 am

Sierra Leone seems like a perfect choice for a Recon campaign. You clearly have the Good Guys Vs. Bad Guys and the modern urban warfare. I'm running it next Recon campaign.

Braden Campbell · Fri Apr 28, 2006 9:01 am

Yeah. I have to say that, with the success of games like Full Spectrum Warrior, and SOCOM, that to not release RECON was a bad call on Palladium's part.

(of course, it might have been pout on hold due to the "troubles", but if so, it should be slotted into the production sched again).

The War on Terror is here to stay. It should no longer be an excuse for not putting out a military-themed game.

Recon_Charlie · Fri Apr 28, 2006 9:03 am

Braden, GMPhD wrote:
The War on Terror is here to stay. It should no longer be an excuse for not putting out a military-themed game.

Amen to that my friend!

Anyhow, what's the best source of information on Sierra Leone? (other than WIkipedia).

Jefffar · Unread post by **Jefffar** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 11:14 am

Braden, GMPhD wrote:(of course, it might have been pout on hold due to the "troubles", but if so, it should be slotted into the production sched again).

It also doesn't help that the last 2 writers who attempted it are now no longer associated with the company.

jedi078 · Unread post by **jedi078** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 7:08 pm

Braden, GMPhD wrote:Yeah. I have to say that, with the success of games like Full Spectrum Warrior, and SOCOM, that to not release RECON was a bad call on Palladium's part.

(of course, it might have been pout on hold due to the "troubles", but if so, it should be slotted into the production sched again).

The War on Terror is here to stay. It should no longer be an excuse for not putting out a military-themed game.

I think Recon is going bye bye in favor or Warpath: Urban Jungle.

I'm sure players of Recon will pick it up.

Jefffar · Unread post by **Jefffar** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 2:02 pm

I think Recon will appear. Warpath sounds more like SWAT than Special Forces.

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jedi078 · Unread post by **jedi078** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 7:32 pm

Jefffar wrote:I think Recon will appear. Warpath sounds more like SWAT than Special Forces.

Special Forces (well the military for that matter) does a lot of CQB these days....

Besides there a lot of Police men and Federal Agents who used to be in the military.

Jefffar · Unread post by **Jefffar** » Mon May 01, 2006 10:29 am

Hmm, terrain modules could be fun. MOUT, Arctic & Mountain, Jungle & Swamp, Desert & Grassland . . . anything I'm missing?

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Jefffar · Unread post by **Jefffar** » Mon May 01, 2006 3:04 pm

I did say Arctic - I'd assume Tundra was a form of Arctic terrain.

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Jefffar · Unread post by **Jefffar** » Mon May 01, 2006 4:33 pm

Much of Canada's tundra, and beleive me, we have lots, exists up in the arctic. Very little of Canada's land mass is covered by Ice and Snow year round.

I suppose if you wanted to get technical, Arctic could be considered a climactic zone and Tundra the vegetation and terrain features that develop in the Arctic zone.

Oh, I did figure out some I missed. Lakes, Coasts and Waterways. I also missed Forest.

Perhaps lumping in the swamps with Lakes, Coasts and Waterways while putting Forest and Jungle together would make sense - thoguh the Jungles and Swamps book would also make sense.

Decisions.

Jefffar · Unread post by **Jefffar** » Tue May 02, 2006 9:42 am

I think it will focus on LEO's at all levels.

jgants · Unread post by **jgants** » Tue May 02, 2006 4:39 pm

I definately see Warpath as taking the "niche" that Recon had - modern day action games against bad guys. Plus, Warpath has the advantage of not being as sensitive of a topic as Recon might have been.

I'd like to see a main book about Law Enforcement agencies. And then a modernized Contemporary Arms book that shows the kind of weapons being used today.

After that, maybe we could see a "Mercenaries" or "Soldiers" expansion book to cover more military-like OCCs.

Then we could have sourcebooks on cities and/or rogue nations (I haven't read the Warpath books - do they use actual cities or fake "San Angeles" type cities?).

The potential here is really cool. I hope Palladium is able to get the core book produced and out to us by the end of the year (though recent events make that questionable).

Jefffar · Unread post by **Jefffar** » Tue May 02, 2006 4:44 pm

I always thought that Recon would have been out sooner as a suppliment for N&SS or HU. But this is thread jacking and we need to get back to what Braden is cooking up for us

jgants · Unread post by **jgants** » Tue May 02, 2006 5:38 pm

Jefffar wrote:I always thought that Recon would have been out sooner as a suppliment for N&SS or HU. But this is thread jacking and we need to get back to what Braden is cooking up for us

What I was trying to get at in my post is that I'd like to see World Books for Recon: Modern (or Warpath) for different conflict areas and Sierra Leone would be a cool one. So would Columbia, Somalia, Khazikstan, etc.

Just a little something that showed the areas unique people in power, how the various factions function, and maybe some local OCCs and weapons. For example, the Taurus line of revolvers showing up in a South America source book or the IDF Soldier OCC and PLO Partisan OCCs in a Gaza Strip sourcebook.

The only problems I could see is that, naturally, the topics would be a little sensitive. But maybe the Recon/Warpath line could be made a more "mature" type of line that could tackle these topics.

I love the potential for all of this. If nothing else, maybe we could get people (like the OP) to write up some cool articles for the Rifter for it. Boy, it's going to be a long wait for that book to come out.

Jefffar · Unread post by **Jefffar** » Tue May 02, 2006 6:01 pm

I don't think we should have IDF soldier or PLO Partisan OCCs.

I think the OCCs need to b as generic and non-specific as possible.

I suggest:

2 sets of base skills. 1 representing the industrialized world, oe representing the non-industrialized world. All other classes would get skills dependign on this orgin point.

Character classess using a combination of OCC and Skill Program Selection (sort of like Systems Failure).

Sample Character classes include:

Non-combatant: With sub skill sets to represent level of education and profession. There would be skill program chociees to allow a character who has served in a millitia, reserve force or similar. Not real combatants, but not a part of the heard either.

Combative Classes Would Include:
Soldier - Conscript
Soldier - Conscript, Specialist - ie technicians, pilots, etc
Soldier - Conscript, Special Operations

Soldier - Professional
Soldier - Professional, Specialist
Soldier - Professional, Special Operations

Intelelgence Agent
Intellegence Analyst
Intelelgence Tactical Operative

Law Enforcement Officer
Law Enforcement Officer - Detective
Law Enforcement Officer - Tactical Specialist

Criminal/Terrorist - Thug
Criminal/Terrorist - Chemist
Criminal/Terrorist - Hitman
Criminal/Terrorist - Administrator
Criminal/Terrorist - Specialist (ie Cat Burgler, deep cover)

Rebel/Freedom Fighter/Anarchist - civilian turned combatant.

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