They sound less like mercenaries and more like just a group of good guys with guns. 'Mercenary' implies work for pay, and not necessarily for a good cause. If they are going into Arizona just to free slaves, I don't think the term 'mercenary' really fits them, unless they are only doing so because someone is paying them to free the slaves, in which case you should probably elaborate on who and why.
They seem more like a Rilley's Rangers kind of group - a group of people who have taken it upon themselves to help the people of the wastes out of mostly the kindness of their heart. But, to be honest, it's not really likely anyone would do this kind of work purely out of the kindness of their heart. There has to be something more. Something that makes risking their lives for strangers worth it. They could either be getting paid by wastelanders that appreciate and support their work, with things like food and supplies, maybe shelter, and other necessities besides money (which they may not ask for, but keeps them able to continue operating without being hired).
Or there has to be a strong reason for their willingness to risk their lives. Maybe a lot of them are former slaves that know how much slaves suffer, can relate, and feel an obligation to free slaves they come across. It could be how they gain new members, too -- by freeing slaves, who then join the group looking for a purpose in life again. The group could also be made up of people with personal grudges against those it targets. People who have lost everything to groups like the Legion, and have no qualms with risking their lives if it means payback.
Whatever the case, it should be more than just "these guys are super nice and have no problem dying to help people" because, let's face it; that's not how most people work. There may be a few people in their ranks like that, but most would need a reason to do what they do.
Pepperm1nts
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STATUS: Remember to disrupt any and all instances of peeing and pooing by members of the exploiter class. #resist 3 yrs ago
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Remember to disrupt any and all instances of peeing and pooing by members of the exploiter class. #resist
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Legion territory would likely be split into different states led by former legates that fought each other for control after Caesar died, so it's possible that your nation came to be that way. Maybe it was a nation started by former slaves that looked to guidance in a sun god. Or a Legion commander that had converted to the cult at some point and established a state with the religion at its head. There are a lot of possibilities, and it fits more with the former Legion territories. We could use someone not-NCR in the west, anyway.
I'd love to write more however knowledge of the enclave after the oil rig and at raven rock not much is known
Make it up as long as it makes sense. Or go with something other than Enclave, since it should be all but wiped out in the west anyway.
as for the police in the Hub NCR is very corrupt and with the secret backings of the enclave I'm sure the people could take them on
Wut.
The Hub police at this point is not nearly as corrupt. And even if it were as corrupt as it used to be back in the early days, it wouldn't matter. Corrupt or not, Enclave sympathizers would not be tolerated. A corrupt Hub cop is just as likely to take your head off for aiding the Enclave.
The Enclave doesn't even have a backing. They looked out entirely for their own, slaughtering everyone else and treating them like subhuman trash. Needless to say, no-one thought they were good guys, not even the most patriotic people. It's not like the common wastelander would have any real understanding of Old America, anyway, so there wouldn't be many people trying to "bring the old America back".
Literally everyone hated them and with good reason. The Enclave threatened them with genocide and went to war with everyone from the NCR, to the Brotherhood of Steel. Anyone claiming to support them would either be considered crazy, or be subject to serious punishment. Or both.
As for being able to take them on.. uh.. no. No, they wouldn't. The Hub is not the tiny settlement it used to be. It's a rich settlement of hundreds tens of thousands with its own professional police force. And corruption has decreased since its annexation by the NCR. This is without bringing into account the whole of the NCR, and it's huge military. This isn't just me saying it. This is what is written down in canon. Shady Sands is described as a city of hundreds tens of thousands -- The Hub is described as bigger than Shady Sands and Junktown put together.
as for support there were at least 6 old enclave in New Vegas what's to say there aren't more in NCR core territories some may have had families and kept the ideal alive if only in secret.
The NCR and Brotherhood of Steel, among others, hunted down Enclave members to the point where they had to go into hiding. Those that survived the wars live new lives, with their old life being a very closely-guarded secret. Revealing their true identities would guarantee their execution.
Given former members would be in hiding and would probably refuse to tell anyone of their past for fear of being reported to the authorities, it is almost unthinkable for a sizable group of former Enclave soldiers to come out of the woodwork and form an alliance. It'd be hard just finding each other. And even if they somehow did come across each other, they'd have to reveal their pasts to each other, which makes it even less likely to happen.
Now, this series of unlikelihood needs to happen several dozen times, maybe hundreds of times, for any sizable group to be formed. That makes the chances almost impossible. On top of that, these people would have to form their group in absolute secret, and if at any point they are even suspected to be Enclave, their whole world comes crashing down when the NCR comes to hunt them all down.
Not to mention these people would be lacking the resources to really get anything going.
As Klamath you could, yeah. Klamath doesn't have as much political power and leverage as, say, The Hub, so it'll be more at the mercy of the federal government than The Hub would be, but being one of the states in the northern frontiers would probably help it remain somewhat semi-independent, and so it would probably have the ability to act on its own to some extent. Klamath would still be better off seeking approval from Shady Sands, maybe through its representatives (which you could control), though. So yeah, they could try for approval in expanding northward, but I imagine it'd have to carry the weight itself. This means fielding its own workers and guards, since the Republic is out-stretched and probably still hurting from the Mojave. You could try to get help from other states, though, who may or may not agree to help, for a price.
@Bee: I guess they are do-able, but your biggest challenge will be getting any support to do it. You are a military unit. Military units don't really have a say in foreign policy; they are there to be the instrument of such policies, not the decision-makers. You could find some ways to influence the decision-making of the higher echelon once you are deployed somewhere, but that ability is going to very limited. Only generals would have some say on what gets done, but again, it's not really up to the military so a general's word is not always more important than that of the people in the capital. You could have some friends in high places, but that would only get you so far, and it depends on how important they are. Not to mention you'd need the support of many to change the course of major actions, not just a few high-ranking friends.
Being the Rangers, you are kind of at the mercy of higher powers. Sure, the Rangers are respected, and the word of their leader might mean something, but it's not nearly as important as that of the people calling the shots back in Shady Sands, or even that of generals.
If you want to make big changes, you're going to have to be something with more weight. A special forces group doesn't really have much political power. You'd have to be a well-known, respected general to influence the actions of those truly in charge, but that would only go a certain distance.
You can definitively make a new sheet, though, if you want to give your Rangers more connections, or if you want to play as a larger, more influential group, like a politically-savvy general in charge of an army group. That way, you have control of soldiers, but also get to talk to politicians who may follow your advice. Being a general, you may even be able to influence Ranger chiefs, but given the rivalry between Rangers and army regulars, that would be hard.
Being the Rangers, you are kind of at the mercy of higher powers. Sure, the Rangers are respected, and the word of their leader might mean something, but it's not nearly as important as that of the people calling the shots back in Shady Sands, or even that of generals.
If you want to make big changes, you're going to have to be something with more weight. A special forces group doesn't really have much political power. You'd have to be a well-known, respected general to influence the actions of those truly in charge, but that would only go a certain distance.
You can definitively make a new sheet, though, if you want to give your Rangers more connections, or if you want to play as a larger, more influential group, like a politically-savvy general in charge of an army group. That way, you have control of soldiers, but also get to talk to politicians who may follow your advice. Being a general, you may even be able to influence Ranger chiefs, but given the rivalry between Rangers and army regulars, that would be hard.
Note: Byrd will join up shortly, and his character will be closely associated with The Hub. The Hub will be controlled by me primarily, but his character will have a lot of influence too. This is so I can share the burden that comes with controlling The Hub.
Nation: The Hub, New California Republic
Location: Core Region, southern California
Icon: I 'unno
History: By 2281, The Hub had become one of the most important states in the NCR. Home to the Republic's most successful caravan companies, The Hub became the Republic's primary trading center. An economic powerhouse, The Hub was home to the largest community of traders and thriving businesses, making it an important place for trade and a vital stopping point for all major roads in the Republic. This brought immense wealth to the state, transforming The Hub into an economic giant able to exert its power to shift the politics of the Republic at a moment's notice.
A founding state of the New California Republic, The Hub played a major role in its politics. Where it could not assert its will politically, it did economically, often forcing its competitors into submission through economic warfare. A vital supply line to a rival state could be cut with the snap of a finger, and reinstated again once The Hub's wishes were met. Everything from chems to guns, food and material came from The Hub, and was supplied to all corners of the Republic through the use of its major caravan companies. The Hub could at times be a lifesaver, bringing settlements from the brink of starvation and cashing in favors down road from those whose life it saved. Other times, it was a killer. Sanctions and the re-routing of major trade routes to avoid passing through rival settlements, among other things, could break its enemies without a shot fired.
Though once home to a thriving criminal underground, The Hub has since been cleaned up to an extent. Criminal groups that threatened its existence and scared away business were swiftly dealt with and corruption on all levels saw a sharp decrease. A black market still exists, however, and goes undisturbed by the state's authority, The Hub Central Council, made up of representatives from the major caravan companies.
Following the disaster in the Mojave Wasteland, The Hub saw further liberties reestablished, and although still a part of the New California Republic, acts on a semi-independent basis with a powerful say in the Republic's policies, but with an increased freedom to act independently. This has lead to The Hub asserting its power over the rest of the states through political and economic means, getting what it wants through threats of economic destruction, or a halt to the delivery of vital supplies. It stands as the turbulent republic's largest settlement, its authority and power second to only Shady Sands itself -- though it's no secret The Hub pulls strings even in the capital.
The Hub has entered a period of cautiousness in the wake of the disaster in the Mojave. It has, as of recently, focused on dealing with the effects brought on by the bombs that saw its eastern interests destroyed and the NCR presence relied on to continue business withdrawn. It has put its energies towards strengthening its position in California even further and minimizing the damage caused by the Republic's recent failures.
Nation: The Hub, New California Republic
Location: Core Region, southern California
Icon: I 'unno
History: By 2281, The Hub had become one of the most important states in the NCR. Home to the Republic's most successful caravan companies, The Hub became the Republic's primary trading center. An economic powerhouse, The Hub was home to the largest community of traders and thriving businesses, making it an important place for trade and a vital stopping point for all major roads in the Republic. This brought immense wealth to the state, transforming The Hub into an economic giant able to exert its power to shift the politics of the Republic at a moment's notice.
A founding state of the New California Republic, The Hub played a major role in its politics. Where it could not assert its will politically, it did economically, often forcing its competitors into submission through economic warfare. A vital supply line to a rival state could be cut with the snap of a finger, and reinstated again once The Hub's wishes were met. Everything from chems to guns, food and material came from The Hub, and was supplied to all corners of the Republic through the use of its major caravan companies. The Hub could at times be a lifesaver, bringing settlements from the brink of starvation and cashing in favors down road from those whose life it saved. Other times, it was a killer. Sanctions and the re-routing of major trade routes to avoid passing through rival settlements, among other things, could break its enemies without a shot fired.
Though once home to a thriving criminal underground, The Hub has since been cleaned up to an extent. Criminal groups that threatened its existence and scared away business were swiftly dealt with and corruption on all levels saw a sharp decrease. A black market still exists, however, and goes undisturbed by the state's authority, The Hub Central Council, made up of representatives from the major caravan companies.
Following the disaster in the Mojave Wasteland, The Hub saw further liberties reestablished, and although still a part of the New California Republic, acts on a semi-independent basis with a powerful say in the Republic's policies, but with an increased freedom to act independently. This has lead to The Hub asserting its power over the rest of the states through political and economic means, getting what it wants through threats of economic destruction, or a halt to the delivery of vital supplies. It stands as the turbulent republic's largest settlement, its authority and power second to only Shady Sands itself -- though it's no secret The Hub pulls strings even in the capital.
The Hub has entered a period of cautiousness in the wake of the disaster in the Mojave. It has, as of recently, focused on dealing with the effects brought on by the bombs that saw its eastern interests destroyed and the NCR presence relied on to continue business withdrawn. It has put its energies towards strengthening its position in California even further and minimizing the damage caused by the Republic's recent failures.
We've never minded that, and we (Aaron and I's group) are pretty strongly about telling good stories over trying to win like it's a video game, so it wouldn't really change the way we play if you made your intentions known in OOC. It would if you did in IC, though.
I don't know if a military unit would have a say in that, though.
EDIT: I imagine the only way you'd have a say in that without being Klamath would be to play as someone high in the government, or as another state lending assistance for a role in how the annexed territories are handled. At this point, the NCR is made up of loosely unified states that compete, so nothing would be for free. Help would cost something. There is no good will among the states based on patriotism.
EDIT: I imagine the only way you'd have a say in that without being Klamath would be to play as someone high in the government, or as another state lending assistance for a role in how the annexed territories are handled. At this point, the NCR is made up of loosely unified states that compete, so nothing would be for free. Help would cost something. There is no good will among the states based on patriotism.
Jacobstown comes to mind.
EDIT:
Nothing interesting about them.
EDIT:
Letter Bee said
What about Klamath, or Shady Sands itself?
Nothing interesting about them.
I am considering picking up The Hub, but I am wary about finding myself overwhelmed since at this point The Hub is pretty much the most powerful state in the Republic.
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