Firefights I want in on

[Paul B]

Since the Grav Bike Punks vs. The Man (http://www.burningwheel.org/forum/showthread.php?t=3796)fight went down so well, I've been brainstorming a bunch of other wacky matchups. Mostly I'm interested in pushing the system in surprising directions, rather than lining up Iron v Iron and bashing it out. If anyone has any interest in any of these, please let me know!

* Sub-index battle between modified ground cars (somewhere between Mad Max and Market Forces). Two objectives on each side, just for laffs.

* Vaylen pirates attack an escorted Mercator with the intent to board (two separate firefights? Is the interior of the Mercator a "location"?)

* Zillions of peasants siege an understaffed but well-armed fortress.

p.

[Countercheck]

Well, you know I'm always up for a good firefight. My personal preference would be for the pirate attack. Depending on the stakes, the fight could end a number of ways. Vaylen are pushing to make the ship surrender. Humans are trying to escape. A compromise might be that the Vaylen board and trigger a second firefight..

[Paul B]

Mike, you Arena whore. ;-) Let's get it on!

Here's my proposal. Please come back with a counteroffer!

* Low index
* 75 Resource Points for each side for our fleet
* 7LP CO, 5LP 2iC + pilots/soldiers/whatever
* You lay out the battle space this time.
* The pirates' goal is to accomplish a boarding action, so let's call that their stakes. If they get it, we can start a second firefight (probably about 20RP on a side for our gear)

What do you think?

p.

[Countercheck]

Right. Do we need to buy anvil or iron for all our grunts with those 20 points, or just for the PCs?

Suggestion, the Mercantor is the objective, not a location or a unit. If the pirates clear off all of the excorts, that's a win. If it loses all of it's escorts, it is assumed that the ship heaves to and prepares to be boarded. It is unarmed, and too valuable to shoot at.

And yes, yes I am one. I enjoy the fifght mechanics, and am trying to work out optimum strategies =)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v365/Chardonay/Firefight3Pirates.jpg

The pirates base is at 5, a derelict Hammer Dreadnought. The Mercantor and company approached the gas giant to refuel, and got jumped. Positions available are in low orbit around the gas giant, in either of the two rings, behind the moon, or hiding in the wreckage of the dreadnought. Perhaps we could add Position 6, tailing, where you take cover in the enemy's engine wash. We'd need to come up with special rules for forcing people out of that position... a successful advance on your 'Tailing Position' puts both you and the ship tailing you in no man's land?

[Countercheck]

Question, do you want pirates or hammer?

[Paul B]

Hm...

I've been thinking about the best way to dole out RPs ... maybe we should treat ships like soldiers, and specify the "equipment" for one of them and extrapolate from there? Maybe 20RPs for mookmobiles, and 25RPs for the leader's vessel?

Agreed re the Mercator. Good call.

Nice map! The "tailing" idea is interesting. Is in-space positioning already handled with helm/pilot rolls? I'd probably leave it a P1 position and force me to elect to boost it if I win Contact.

And I'll play the worm-loving Pirates.

p.

[Countercheck]

You always get the fun ones =(

Glad you like map. 20 and 25 sound fine to me. We want a flotilla of 6? Flagship and several escorts? Or are you mobbing me with little ships?

[Paul B]

Nah, fuck it, you're right -- I got to be the crooks last time. This time I'll be the fat merchant.

Me: Hammer burns all around (my first!). I'll burn a command craft but I won't bother burning the Mercator -- it's an objective, not a defense craft unto itself. You: Vaylen/Human caste burns all around? Knock yourself out -- they can be any legit Vaylen burn.

Let's start a "Vaylen Pirates vs. Hammer Escort" discussion thread for burns, and a poll/narrative thread for the actual fight. Or did you like having it all in one thread? It was sort of more educational, I thought, to keep it together. Your call -- you're the GM!

p.

[Paul B]

Sheee-it. Burning up a 2iC for a Hammer commander in 5LP or less is hard.

Advance, Flank, Take Cover and Withdraw require help from a pilot/helm/driver since we're flying around in ships. But getting pilot/helm/driver out of the lifepaths means building a Lord-Pilot Hammer. But I also want to get Tactics help for my Direct Fire and Supressive Fire, Signals or Sensors for Observe, etc.

So here's what I'm thinking.

My Hammer big boss can buy hisself Hammer Lord and a 3D affiliation, which gives him blanket access to 5D crew. So instead of busting my brain trying to come up with 2iC guy who can provide all the help, I'm thinking "the crew" can accommodate any +2D help I may need along the way. The only skills utterly missing from Hammer LPs are Infiltration and Recon, and the weapon/close combat skills required to repel a boarding action.

Do Hammer Lords haul around Anvil troops for shipboard security?

Argh.

p.

[Countercheck]

Forge him, and get around the trouble =)

[Paul B]

Bah, not enough spare trait points. And not really reflective of how I was hoping the fight would go. A Hammer Lord I can see; system security is probably in his job description. I'm sure a Forged Lord has bigger fish to fry than a few pirates.

p.

[Countercheck]

Unless it's his family on the mercantor. Oh-hoh!