PMCs in Recon

[Dominique]

So, any of you guys use Private Military Companies (PMCs) in your Recon games? I used to work for an American subsidiary of a British firm (Good money and for a while better gear than I had in the military). I've got a few ideas for some companies that could be used in a modern game, and I'll be posting them here. First up is Sterling Security Consulting, LLC.

Sterling Security Consulting, LLC.

SSC Is a British firm hiring former US, UK, Canadian, Australian, NZ military personnel. They primarily recruit from Special Operations or combat arms specialties, but specialist positions such as medical and EOD personnel are hired on an as needed basis. The company currently maintains recruiting offices in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, UAE, and Kuwait.

The companies personnel perform various functions for their clients, such as providing protective service details, convoy escort/security, counter-sniper, EOD, specialized medical support, or site security. Their major contracts are in in Iraq, Afghanistan, East Timor, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Haiti, Jordan

Brig. Sir John Sterling (DSO, OBE) - President, and CEO. Brigadier Sterling is the company’s founder, and chief financial backer, he’s a former commander of both the 1 Para, and the 16 Airmobile Brigade, and 4 Armor Brigade (the famed “Desert Rats”). While he normally has little to do with the company’s daily operations, he is their public face, and the person most closely associated with it.

Col. Winfred Lovejoy (VC) - VP for operations. Col. Lovejoy is a former SAS trooper, and the company’s current VP for operations. He basically handles the companies day to day operations, and ensures that things are running smoothly.

I'll be fleshing this out later with info on pay, equipment, typical assignments, team make up, and a few ideas for scenarios.

[Peacebringer]

PMCs are standard in Cyberpunk 2020 games.

I'm working on one right now that mixes in a lot of real events into fiction.

Basically, a central asian dictator nationalizes PetroChem's oil assets in their county. PetroChem, being a Texas based company, isn't going to let them get away with that. They're basically going to take out the dictator, using a direct special ops operation right in the middle of his capital city. However, the dictator has suspected something like that and keeps a military unit in hiding around him at all times. He's also avoiding living in his palaces, but sending on his help as if he's there.

That's probably going to fail, but PetroChem isn't given up. They are going to fight on. Their motives are more revenge based than military strategy based. They just want payback. So, they're going to gas the dictator's home town, conduct several more assassination attempts, incite a revolution with an ethnic minority living within the boundaries, move elite units in to cause as much damage to the country as possible, and finally move an entire conventional military force into the oil rich region to take it back.

Here's an image of the capital city. I don't like it so I'm going to redo it.

http://www.turboimagehost.com/p/327191/ ... T.jpg.html

[bradshaw]

I have used limited ones in games

[slade the sniper]

I have used them in CP2020 and in HU, but having worked with and around them recently, I am much more inclined to have them be bad guys these days (a la CP2020) as opposed to having PC's work for them (as in the old BTRC Blackeagle/Blackeagle supplement).

-STS

[Mercalocalypse]

I have used them in N&SS, but never in Recon.

[Aramanthus]

I think it makes a lot of sense to use them. Hopefully they'll be part of Warpath RPG when it comes out.

[Natasha]

We ran the merc campaign in RECON and a couple of other ones. I designed a merc company and a possible campaign for them but never got to run it.

[Mercalocalypse]

I think it makes a lot of sense to use them. Hopefully they'll be part of Warpath RPG when it comes out.

Ive been out of the loop for awhile. I did some research but found very little, so what is Warpath?

[Dominique]

I am much more inclined to have them be bad guys these days (a la CP2020) as opposed to having PC's work for them (as in the old BTRC Blackeagle/Blackeagle supplement).

Why's that? Over than some EXTREMELY annoying guys from CSA I've never had a problem with the guys I've worked with (that excludes the management of my former employer, as they were CHEAP as hell )

[Shawn Merrow]

I think it makes a lot of sense to use them. Hopefully they'll be part of Warpath RPG when it comes out.

Ive been out of the loop for awhile. I did some research but found very little, so what is Warpath?

An upcoming RPG based on the novel of the same name.

Rampant Speculation: Warpath: Urban Jungle

Warpath - A Novel by Jeffry Scott Hansen

I thought the novel was a good read and should make a fun RPG.

[Aramanthus]

I hoping it is where Recon was suppose to go before they droped that deluxe version.

[Mercalocalypse]

Has anyone ever tried to convert Recon over to N&SS?
I use N&SS for a 1 SFOD-D game. I wish there were more people locally playing Palladium games.

[Natasha]

I've seen no need to convert.

For me it's like converting Chutes and Ladders to Sorry.
Well maybe not that severe but hey...

[Jefffar]

I've been saying for years that RMC would have been faster and more easily done as a N&SS spin off instead of as a seperate RPG.

[Dominique]

Has anyone ever tried to convert Recon over to N&SS?
I use N&SS for a 1 SFOD-D game. I wish there were more people locally playing Palladium games.

I don't see a need to convert it either. Revised Recon can quite easily upgraded to a modern campaign with very little work on your part. Also, dig around through the old threads. There's a couple with ideas on news (including several that I posted), and suggestions on modern day settings.

[slade the sniper]

I am much more inclined to have them be bad guys these days (a la CP2020) as opposed to having PC's work for them (as in the old BTRC Blackeagle/Blackeagle supplement).

Why's that? Over than some EXTREMELY annoying guys from CSA I've never had a problem with the guys I've worked with (that excludes the management of my former employer, as they were CHEAP as hell )

I have a bad habit of not making friends. Granted, I have met a few exceptionally professional IC's who understood their role, my role and the different rules which governed us.

Unfortunately, I have also run afoul of a few IC's that had difficulty understanding that I am in charge of my people, my equipment, my battlespace, my mission...not their mission...mine.

It is exceptionally common amongst two types of IC's...Type 1 are retired guys that still think they are Majors or LTC's....which they are not. Type 2 are guys that did a tour in Iraq, didn't like the military (usually have problems with authority), but still got out with an Honorable, got the hook up and came back as an IC with a big case of "Look at me, I make more money than you and you can't tell me to do anything"...usually, they get dropped after 90 days, but those are a painful 90 days for all involved.

I am willing to admit that I may have just had a string of bad luck. Nothing personal. Hell, I've had two DynCorps guys that were absolutely outstanding men, police trainers and Americans....the other four were wastes of skin, but so it goes

Just my experience.

-STS

[Mercalocalypse]

I worked with some EODT guys that were great. Some of them played up the fact that they werent in the military anymore, but mostly good guys.

[Aramanthus]

I agree with you Jefffar! That would have been a very easy way to bring it into the megaverse! I wonder if they planned to do that with the deluxe Recon. Hopefully they plan on doing that with WarPath.