Boomer,
I'm not sure if the phalanx formation as described is a good idea in this situation.

If I've understood what you are suggesting with the phalanx, Taps is at the back, by himself and is exposed (see Phalanx diagram below). Being injured, he is the weakest and most at-risk member of the squad. He could easily be yanked out of our group and cut-off, possibly kept out of our reach. At the very least, placing Taps in the #5 position in the phalanx would be safer.

(Fitzgibbons might also be a weak link. If we use phalanx, put him in position 8; 3 if wedge; or 6-7 in the circle.)

The formations we have to choose from include:

 Phalanx       Wedge       Circle
 -------       -----       ------

  1 2 3          1            1
  4 5 6        2 3 4        2   3
  7 8 9        5 T 6       4  T  5
    T          7 8 9       6     7
	                     8 9

1-9   Any of the squad members	
T     Taps

In any of these formations, we should link arms and pack tightly together. That should make it harder for attackers to break us apart or stop us. Anyone with Strength or Size bonuses should probably be in the front of the formation (generally #1-4).

Anyone with thoughts or comments?

Taps has a possible +4, with the same -1 as the rest of you.  The back should not be his place.

+1 Melee, +1 Size, +2 Agility

Around or Over, someone attacking or impeding should let the melee work.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:04, Thu 23 Aug 2012.

There is a reason look at the man on the ground under Zim, a push through is now a fight and I need your character in a place to hit where needed and protect the puke with two others that will need to help him move.

You can flank left or right as needed.

Anyway bring this objection up in game if my character is still standing and squad leader after talking to Zim and the puke.

Language is always tricky espically at the start of a game. We are an internet group so we have players from all over the world. Various levels of English which we use in this game. I've authored books for Jovian Chronicles and I still find myself making errors or needing to reword things.

In a pen and paper game we have table talk of plans so Im okay with a bit of chatter in the OOC about clarifications or is it possible questions. We do want most of the idea type things in the IC so the characters do the talking.

Wanted to mention that we don't use exactly 6-second or 30-second rounds. We are using more TV style rounds where each person gets a chance to talk, talk back while doing one style of action.

Now that we are in broader combat I'm being more attentive of making sure each player gets a post of what their character is doing. Round updates every 1-2 days to give time for talking and clarifications. GM posting and check is still frequent but the rounds are 1-2 real life days to assemble.

I do use the "The Cast" list which shows the GM when people logged on to try and gauge who has read what. Every person has slightly different "habits" based on their jobs, life and other things. Starting to get the hang of whose on when and who reads first and posts later.

Remember you can have one condition in the post. So you can say "Billy waits to see. If X happens he does 1. Otherwise does 2"
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:48, Thu 23 Aug 2012.

GM edit for reply: Zim is correct. I didn't update as some of the c have gone past you. The 1 in the lower left is correct.

Of those shown in the maze a few more have moved up into gauntlet. The rest are squad 3 and 4.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:51, Thu 23 Aug 2012.

I would say the path of least resistance. Away from Zim and in a turtle. The hurt man behind the healthy ones. (save) Not fighting all the way with three out of it. One hurt with two carriers if needed (we) cannot afford fancy tactics. Think of it as Troy the shield turtle (sadly) without the shields.

I was going to plow down the middle but with ten healthy people and them distracted with three we lost that option unless there is a squad four.

GM grammar edit
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:47, Thu 23 Aug 2012.

Some edits to the above messages for replies and clarity.

GM partly to blame as Im not a Master of the Ascii Map. (MAM) ^_^

Currently giving Echo some time to post.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:58, Thu 23 Aug 2012.

Boomer,
I can understand that you don't want any fancy tactics considering we have injured (Taps and you) and a weak member (Fitzgibbons), which limits our fighting ability.

Anyway, you're the Squad Leader and you get to choose the path we take. I just wanted to better understand your intent. So tell me which way to go and I'll do my part.

Left? Middle? Right?

On another note trying to sort out what's up with Reaper.

I'm going right away from Zim along the walll there must be some kind of way to channel the cadets, focusing our defense to the left, more bang for the buck and away from Zim. Feel free to selectively kick ass and get a cane or two its at your discretion. This should give the best chance to get passed with our best defenders screening and others backing them up.

In the movie this course did not look this mean though. :/

The switching canes actually comes from the Boot Camp book of the d20. Its an obstacle course with an ass whoppin' at the end. I don't think they use it every day. The d20 used it as a shock for the cadets, finding fighting instincts and who needs more encouragement to fight.

Basic Training goes on for four months and we won't be playing every single day out.

Game play is setup to have flex-time in the barracks thread and the main story/adventures going on in other threads.

Cadet Squad leader status does float. Boomer was first but the only way for others to experience command is for someone else to get it. They look for excuses to swap it like someone with the squad did something minor. She almost lost it for Fitz but the team did so well Zim let her keep it a little longer.

Right now we are using Flex Time so you can be posting in several Boot Camp threads at the same time.

Like I said before Basic Training is 4 months and we aren't going to play out every day. These give you a way of doing things and interacting with the other PC/NPC.

There may be other events/storylines that pop up.

edit: and it must be time for me to get some sleep as I'm not far off writing two posts for the same thing.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:17, Fri 24 Aug 2012.

Okay who else is going to add to their enlistments, way to go Sony a doctor path is very cool. I went the whole serious engineer and combat specialist path the kind that she can go to papas company and say you want me first, make an offer and it better be a good one. And if she goes career she wants to be a bad ass like Zim using her technical and lethal fighting skills to defend the Federation so combat training is important.

Giving a people a chance for their characters to explore options and RP them out to some level. Can be point form or played out like Sony's was.

---

Welcome another new player who will be playing Shadow.

Merged the 2 posts of the Admin thread with "Read this first" to cut down on the # of sticky threads.

i look foward to rping with you all

Yep yep.

Right now the game is in a 'montage' mode to sweep through the mix of things that happen during four months of basic training.

Hello Shadow, nice to have a new squaddie joining the Mobile Infantry!

Breaker, these multiple post are confusing, so I'll let you know on here, there is a post for you in the barracks thread.

Yeah, I got kinda overbusy yesterday. :-P

Gonna be a little slower today.

This is also a good time for those with ideas of what scences they would like to have for their character to send me them in the PM threads. 2-3 ideas is good so I can pick and choose.

Echo,

Yes, I'm aware of it and will respond shortly. Unfortunately the timing of this event was poor for me; Friday was very busy. Anyway, I should respond shortly.

I'm in no hurry it's just that situation with many threads, post can get lost.

Good thing weekends are a catch as catch can. Ended up a picnic party for my housemate's college. Lots of food, ate too much, lots of goofy sports and a tummy ache (clearing up).

We won't normally montage like this but there is alot of different backstories for each PC to touch in on before getting on a Starship.

Administration:

A quick history of this game is that months ago a portion of us where players in a purely d20 Starship Troopers Game whose GMs stopped posting. Reaper813 took the lead and stuck his neck to make us a fresh game. He had several ideas espicially for the Boot Camp phase. I came over and setup the simpler rules system. Between Reaper's ideas and my faster play mechanic we hoped, and succeeded, in getting a vibrant game going.

Since that time Reaper's real life work situation changed for very much the better. Well better for his real life that is. He got into the teaching duties he was trying for. There has been a tremendous increase in his work load. He and I have been keeping in touch. Some of the things going on are based on still based his ideas.

Its been agreed though that the Game Ownership be transferred to myself, Brygun, at this time. It will show that name now in your game lists. We still hope that Reaper will be able to actively particpate in the future.