In reply to Peter Firecrow (msg #39):

That's the way it goes in the Wasted West!

Posse:

I don't have a lot of time to post, so basically finish up eating and get ready to get on the road. Decide who's riding where and what order the 3 vehicles are in (the technical, the rig and the broken-down pickup from town).

I've decided NPC text will be Orange. Pay attention if it's a private message or not!  =)

If I had more time I'd go into religion and music in RPGs. I think both are important and can be overlooked.

Tony
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:39, Sun 27 June 2010.

Can we decide that OOC?  It's really a strategic decision and doesn't have a lot to do with interpersonal schtick.

I'd nominate Roadkill and Jane take the lead since that thing has the Ma Deuce on it, so if they see something that needs to be wasted, it can be.

I'd nominate the clunker in the middle.  I would suggest Nix as driver, or at least on board, since he can probably jury rig it fix it if it breaks down.

Firecrow should bring up the rear.

As for anyone else, I'd suggest just spreading them out.  Pretty much all the rest of us might be good for is riding shotgun as far as I can tell.  I'd nominate someone with a rifle in the back of Firecrow's pickup, maybe the Colonel since he has the best reach out and touch someone capability plus I bet he's probably better at spotting someone sneaking up on us from further away but that's just speculation on my part.  That'd be a pretty nasty surprise for someone trying to come up on our rear to find their engine block's just been cracked or their front tire is gone.

Also that way if we get flanked, whoever's riding shotgun in the middle can fire back, and I assume the mount on that Ma Deuce swings 360, and the the Colonel could use the cab of the pickup as concealment, so although they're attacking our weakest point, pretty much everyone can shoot back at them.

Dakota Jack's sort of wasted space at the moment, shooting back at another road gang with his little peashooters won't help so much unless we get roadside ambushers.

Or if you prefer I can try to explain that all IC, it just seems like that'd be sort tedious to me.

Posse,

I introed Rowan, the medic/story-teller. She's an NPC for now. I've decided she traveled with Brother Edgar from Tucson, although she's not a visible mutie. (About half the muties don't seem to have a visible mutation.)

Tony

In reply to Dakota Jack Cardinal (msg #41):

Sounds a perfectly decent plan to me.  But where oh where would you like the Nuclear Missile Launcher.  He's a nice guy and I like playing the peacemaker.  But he is still a Doomsayer at the end of the day.  Should he be in a fighting position atop the trailer perhaps?  Great view of the plain and capable of knocking most anything out of the way of the lead rig.

Just a suggestion.

Works for me.  I have no idea what everyone's capable of, so if you feel like you're better in one position or another, go for it says I.

Jack, maybe I'm missing something, but as far as I'm aware of Pete's pick up is the one with the .50 cal.

I'd suggest the technical as the tail-end vehicle. It's got the range to defend the back and it can back-up the first vehicle as well.

From my point of view, Roadkill#s rig should be in the middle. If we need to tow the lead vehicle out of something, the rig will be able to move it; if the rig is the lead and it gets stuck, we're in trouble.

That leaves the clunker as lead. It may sound a bit harsh, but if we loose a vehicle, the clunker is the obvious choice.

Personally, I can do both short and long range fire support, so I'm prety flexible as for which vehicle to ride on.

Is the confusion, perhaps, that the Ma-Deuce is on Firecrow's technical (read: armored pickup for us non mils)?  Thus you are both recommending the Heavy machinegun armed truck at the rear.

Thus that leaves us with letting the rig lead or the clunker truck.  Safer to let the clunker scout ahead or the rig just bully the way through anything?

As an alternative, Firecrow and his truck is meant to be the scout for the rig.  Why not allow the armored, reliable, heavily armed technical lead.  Put the rig in the middle.  That leaves the unreliable clunker bringing up the rear, but between a Doomsayer and the Col, it can become heavily armed and ranged enough to hold off anyone jumping the rear.

Granted, not a military sort, but darn it I like it.

As for Doomsayer capabilities, those wasters who have been out and about would know enough that Priests of the Atom can fire blasts of green radiation at good ranges.  They are also famous for being able to generate small (relatively) atomic explosions at good range.  Some healing radiation is put under their name sometimes too.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:11, Sun 27 June 2010.

Unconventional, but it makes sense. Brother, you got my vote on this ;)

I'm down for whatever.  Just tell me where to point my sword. ;)

In reply to Arthur Dayne (msg #48):

I'm reminded of that wonderful internet pic, which I believe is sourced from Warhammer 40,000.  Anyway, its a wide shot of a huge futuristic tank with a mothering big cannon.  In the top hatch is a gaudily dressed captain waving a sword.

The caption reads:  Drive me closer!  I want to hit them with my sword!

My vote also goes for scout vehicle in front, followed by the big rig and with the beatup pickup in the rear.

I'll be driving the rig of course. I've got a two man sandbagged fighting position on the trailer. Offers pretty nice 360 degree level 5 armor up to waist level on a standing combatant. Nice elevated position as well. Seems like it would be a pretty good position for our sniper since that way my rig won't be blocking his field of fire like it would if he was in the rear. Alternately, it might be a good spot for our artillery piece/doomsayer. Just a thought.

Works for me.

Posse:

Quick post.

A technical is an armed pickup truck, it's a term from Somalia. The bigger the truck, the bigger the gun. You could see anything from MGs to ATGMs, recoiless rifles (very rare) and autocannon, depending on the size. Some will have armour plate bolted on, like Peter's truck.




This looks like Peter's truck, although it has a Ma-Deuce on a 360 degree post instead of a MAG with night sight.

The townies are not excited about taking point and they will decline the honour, although professional ambushers will usually let the first vehicle through. If the junker is rear, and they have a problem, then it'll be up to anyone ahead to realise. Also, if they are tail end charlie and someone comes up from behind, they will have to fend for themselves unless someone else can drop back.

Strategically, unless someone is coming from a side road, both ends of your route (Pantano Station and Las Cruces) are secure, so it's not all that likely you're going to get "bounced".

Tony

Tony
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:53, Mon 28 June 2010.

Ah, I've been confused.  I'm used to "technical" being another slang term for an 18 wheeler, along with "combine", "technical combine" etc.

I call that a Redneck Assault Vehicle.

Hey now, don't be hatin' on my R.A.V., now heah? =D

QFT

In reply to Dakota Jack Cardinal (msg #53):

"Technical" came about because before the UN intervention, that's how the Red Cross paid off factions for protection. These were listed as "technical expenses". These factions used pickup trucks mounting machineguns and recoilless rifles.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T...al_(fighting_vehicle)

Another view:




Some vehicle definitions:

Peter's truck is a "technical", "pickup" or "SUV".
Roadkill's truck is a "rig", "semi", "semi-tractor trailer rig" or some combination.

Any ways, in between beers tonight I was able to get some information on convoy security from a friend. (The bartender and bouncers play Warhammer 40K, so I was drinkin' for free on a slow Sunday.)

Generally speaking, you would put the least experienced and expendable guys up front, and the most experienced and highest firepower in the rear as the "anchor". The cargo (in this case the semi with the muties) is in the middle. The idea is the front is going to get hit, so the rear needs to be free to counter-attack. Of course, in military thinking the attack will always be ambush from the front, not stern-chaser battles from an enemy closing from the rear.

So, in this hypothetical case the townie pickup is in front with the semi in the middle and the technical in behind. However, as mentioned, the townies aren't going to go for this for obvious reasons. Also, the crucial element is to always keep moving. As well, this is the "military" answer, and not always appropriate.

In this case, I'd put someone with a radio in the last vehicle, if it's going to be the townie truck in case it breaks down or bad guys come from the rear.

Tony
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:24, Mon 28 June 2010.

It kind of feels like putting the townies in front would be a death sentence though, inexperienced or not.

As you said, that typical military plan denotes ambush from the front.  Which can happen in the Wasted West sure.  But the greater chance is of the sudden wild chase from the rear.  IE, road gang scout spots the group, runs back to the hive to swarm up the gang.  Not that they couldn't plan the frontal ambush mind you, but that's why convoy rigs have scout vehicles out front.

With a spotter in the fighting position, the rig crew could keep an eye on the clunker and the scout pretty well without the fritzy radios.  THis is New Mexico after all.  You can see for miles upon miles.

I still say scout truck, rig, then clunker with firepower is the most sensible with this group.  The scout truck does its usual job with the rig, the rig and its cargo are the most protected, and the clunker is, to the townie civilians' minds, in the "safest" spot.

Edgar will still rid with the townies.  Providing the necessary short-term firepower to defend the truck and boosting the "guts" of the townies.  Not to mention continuing to promote friendship 'tween Chosen and Doomed.

Most everyone seems amenable to the idea.  Let's kick this pig!  *engines roar*

That's sensible. So we've got Jane and Firecrow up front in the 'technical', myself in the cab of the rig and Brother Edgar in the rear pickup mending fences with the locals. I've presumably got a trailer full of brother Edgar's mutant refugees. What about the rest of you?

A couple of other variables to chuck into the mix.

Firstly Nix is trying to "fix" the townie's pickup so that it runs properly - hopefully he will make the engine more reliable and capable of faster speeds.

Secondly if we have a skilled driver not driving a vehicle yet then they could drive the townie's pickup (with the townie's driver riding shotgun) to ensure that it is well driven.

Lastly we should put at least one person besides Brother Edgar (I think Kurt has been mentioned at some point) on the townie's pickup so that we have ranged weapons at both the front and back of the convoy.



This sounds good to me.  Presumably Nix is in the cab of the rig with Roadkill?

Or does Roadkill have some Mad Max style firing positions on his truck that Nix can occupy?

I guess it's the rig for me, as it provides the most stable firing platform. And in case the rig should be "boarded" I can provide close-in support as well.

Kind of, there is a two man sandbagged fighting position on top of the cab. It provides level 5 armour which is nice.

Nix will be in there I suspect, with Kurt from the sounds of it!

Overkill,

I'd assumed this was at the top back of the van trailer. On top of the cab, they can't see very well to the rear because of the trailer. In fact, no one can see to the immediate rear aside from mirrors!

If there is no rear position, I'd stick Schaeffer up there as he's got a radio and is armed to the teeth! He's pretty stable there with a tie-down or bungee cord to secure him.

I don't think anyone else has a decent driving skill. It was all I could do to get people to take it at all!

Rowan has actual drive skill at a low level, and Jane is quite good (she's a backup driver).

Tactical Radios:

Col Schaeffer (IB Helment: secure channel)
Peter Firecrow (IB Helmet: secure channel)
Smoker (No encryption: open channel)
Rig (CB: open channel)
Technical (CB: open channel)

Tony
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:42, Mon 28 June 2010.