The year is 2002 and the month is January. The place, is the border between two extremely poor and run down countries in West Africa.Sierra Leone and LiberiaWho are you? You're some bloke from the area with a hint of ambition, some heart, and just enough charisma to get you where you need to go.The SituationSierra Leone and Liberia are some of the most broke as hell nations in the entire world. We're talking "the national export is rough cut diamonds and lumber" levels of poverty. For a very long time in both nations, one group of people got to have all the wealth, and then another group people got mad about it and did a revolution, but then that second group was totally psycho with cutting off limbs and having child soldiers, ect ect.One of the nations has mostly ended it's civil-war finally, but the dictator of the other one is selling lumber and rubber to The West to fund an army of child soldiers and mass murdering fuckheads. His name is Charles Taylor and he's basically this guy here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHn5nfW3pNwVillages are burned to the ground, refugees are starving in camps, and the local UN or African Union Forces are incompetent and corrupt.TLDR: The situation is shit.What does this mean for me?You are a local "big man" and you're here to do something about the crisis. You're not a saint. You're maybe something of a warrior, like all the other warriors, including the warriors that fought for Rome and who sacked Rome, so forth (Not that you know about Goths or European History).You want glory. You're eager to see a little more violence and fighting. You want ribbons and maybe a medal or two. You want a crisp uniform and a beret, and maybe a Jeep to be driven around in. We're talking mules, we're talking a big house, we're talking a wife or girlfriends. We're talking grandmas and grandpas clapping you on the back, saying you're the village hero.Priests saying you are blessed by god, white western reporters wanting to hear your story.If you're lucky.
(I'm going to write this with a very causal, youth-speak / hiphop kind of syntax, but just pretend like everything that is said in in local languages and metaphors and expressions or whatever. If someone is from another group, maybe I'll use like UK slang to give the feeling of that, like them saying "wanker" or what not)--Late one nightLate one night you and some of your homies are roasting up some game you managed to shoot or trap, along with some rice and oil. You got a pan and you got a fire going, you got some of the boys keeping watch, and so far, it's all good. One of your homies lights up a cigarette and says something. "I'm thinking of taking my bands and joining up with this new unit" He lets out a puff of a rollie and looks at you see what you think.You narrow your eyes. New unit? Huh? "What kind of new unit we talking?" you say.He looks off in the distance and paces a little, thinking, before he shrugs. "All I know is that you and me," he gestures to you. "We got some half decent fighters, and we're part of this whole anti-Taylor thing with LURD (Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy)...." He seems worried and tired. "But sometimes we go without food and Taylor has big overseas white people connections, he's got like tank and shit.... I'm honestly a bit worried for our lives.""Are you gonna tuck and run?" one of your friends asks, teasing."Fuck no, and fuck you," your close friend says, doing the local version of flipping that other homie off. "I'm just saying we might need to get closer to the rest of the LURD forces or try to avoid big ass battles.""I don't know about the other LURD people," another one of your homies says. "They burn shit and drink and fight. Sometimes they're as bad as the Taylor boys.""That's exactly it," your close friend say. "That's why I think we should go talk to like... This new org that is the area and work with them... I hear they go new shit, lots of old shit, and they can like teach us to do sniper shots.""Sniper shots?" you ask. "Yeah, like shooting someone in the head from a distance.""Damn," you say. "Okay then, I might want to check this group out, see if I want to rock with them."
You will have the option to ask some questions when you meet up with this faction, but I think you want to focus on building your army right away. Combat is exciting, yes?
You have 225 points to spend and you are making two groups. Your army and the groups need to fit all the above rules.25 of your points is on you and your body guards.
Okay so here is what you need to know. 1. Militia have the worst morale and fighting ability. 2. Regulars are in the middle3. Professionals are amazing4. Clan Militia are as brave as Regulars, but shoot as badly as Militia5. Armored vehicles are -1 to damage when shot at / HMGs are +1 when shooting6. Tank guns and anything like that has more damage. [You're not allowed any tanks]MilitiaThese troops are the backbone of the African armies. They are bareheaded and carry a limited amount of ammo and supplies. They expect to be supplied on a daily basis. They expect to fight in built up areas where they can seek cover and loot. Militia will usually withdraw when faced with regular soldiers. They will evaporate if faced with professional soldiers. Militia will often wear bright or inappropriate clothing.
Holy shit, what peak. Question, what is the capacity on the APCs?
>>6456779
>>6456775I meant to say two units. A unit is like a company or whatever. You got two units or companies.Each group you take is like a squad, so 8-12 guys. Each vehicle you take is really two vehicles.
Assault Coy. HQ-Bossman Gugu-Clan Militia Truck w/ Mounted AA (25)1st Assault Plt. "Kommandus"Armored Car (With Newer Tank Gun) (45)APC + HMG (Regular) (35)-Regular RPG Inf (10)-Regular RPG Inf (10)2nd Assault Plt. "Jambos"Armored Car (With Newer Tank Gun) (45)APC + HMG (Regular) (35)-Regular RPG Inf (10)-Regular RPG Inf (10)(ID changed because posting on desktop now)
AttentionAnyone else is free to vote for or against any of the names or either unit, or the whole army in general.Nothing is locked in, until we have three votes or 24 hours pass.
>>645677540 2 regular infantry with HMGs20 2 regular infantry with RPG32 1 AA mounted on truck10 1 Regular infantry10230 1 regular infantry with mortar35 1 regular APC with HMG30 3 Regular infantry95Command unitHMG mounted on jeep for 25 points3 points left over.My idea is to abuse the HMGs and RPGs with a mortar to support our infantry and mobility. With regulars and all the backup should keep them in the fight and allow them to hit way harder than they're expected to. The downside is no real meat shields except for our regular infantry but the good news is they're professional enough not to piss off the locals, unlike militia troops. Which should make it much easier for us to rally support and gain foreign sponsors. Also keep our commander mobile to stay alive. Tempted to do another APC instead tho. Also the AA is key for screening air and mobile enough to rapidly reposition as needed. Which is vital against air mobility.We don't have snipers or tanks but in theory we have enough reliable troops and high explosives to not instantly get rolled over by tanks or APCs and aren't fucked if they send a chopper after us thanks to AA. Those machine guns are gonna be vital for mowing down hostile african militia troops and RPGs/mortars for blowing up enemy defenses too. We should get a shit ton of value out of HMGs alone.
>>6456840>>6456793Oh forgot to name them units...um...United Pan African People's Revolutionary Army aka UPAPRA, inspired by our Jamaican homeboy Marcus Garvey. We fight for all Africans to free them from international interference and unite them for shared prosperity. First Unit HotshotsSecond Unit Breaka BoyzProvisional Peoples' Voluntary Mobile HQ
>>6456840use the remaining 3pts on unarmed militia?
Well considering both options are staffed by Regulars, which are former army soldiers, I guess I need someone to roll 1d6.I also guess that this changes who we are and I need to load up some lore for you.
Rolled 5 (1d6)>>6457035We can be mostly the same kind of guy, but just say we watched a couple YouTube videos on a satellite phone one time and think Garvey sounds super cool. White people money is the reason our boys are scared, after all. Rich foreign whites are terrorists to us, and the vague notion of being liberated from the long arm of their oppression must be nice.
Regulars"These are full time soldiers. They supplement their erratic pay by setting up road blocks. These troops will fight well if circumstances are favourable. They will obey their officers and will use proper tactics. regulars might well have coloured hats or armbands for identification. Camouflage combat uniforms are common."Your BackstoryYou were once a soldier, an officer even, in the Armed Forces of Liberia. You and your men were dressed and equipped like Americans stuck 30 or 40 years into the past. You served a corrupt elite, against the forces of Charles Taylor. Sometime in the 90s, the United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy (ULMLD), was formed. It was made up of refugees from your country and some of your fellow soldiers. They fought in Sierra Leonea against the vicious rebels of that country, and eventually came home, home to push back and strike a blow against the forces of Taylor. They held important diamond areas and committed their crimes, but they were better than Taylor. Plenty of people deserted to them and you thought about it yourself.But then they split along ethnic lines and that allowed Taylor to use his brutality to take the capitol. He was elected by the people out of the belief it would calm him, prevent more fighting, and allow him to possibly, just maybe, be better than the elite on some level or way.He wasn't, he's fucking crazy. A madman, a prophet of the devil.
>>6457052Backstory Pt 2But then Charles fucked up, he fucked up royally badly. He's a fucking idiot, so it was only a matter of time.Charles wanted to be a "big man" and had been supporting rebels as brutal as he was, in the nations of his neighbors. The neighbors pushed out those rebels or, in the case of Sierra Leonea, got their shit together and formed an alliance to push out those rebels.And then they were mad. People like yourself had been sheltering in these nations with your families, and some of you had been fighting in their civil-wars too. That was when Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) was formed, from the broken ULMLD, with backing and money from Guinea.And then it got worse, for Taylor, because the local Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG), with all the money and military power of Nigeria, the second dominant military power in black Africa, brokered a deal between various tribal factions. The Kamajors, a mystical group of Sierra Leonean hunters, the blood and soul of the forces that defeated Taylors puppets in Sierra Leonea, they met up with LURD.Of course, Charles still had his allies and his western backers. He still had a lot of diamonds, rubber, and resources.
>>6457039Bossman Gugu is the first bigman, who is the second?Only one of you can be CO, but the other has plenty of forces to bring and glory to win.
>>6457057Stephen Freeman, half Americo-Liberian and very moderately educated?
The best friend and homie of the CO will be one of these men, he will be the logistics officer. Plz vote.Musa “Pipeline” KamaraSekou “Shadow” KonnehPrince “Bush Dog” WylieMohammed “Nasty Duke” DukulySeeya “Cobra” Sheriff
Bossman Gugu and Stephen Freeman plan to break up to lead their bands carefully to where they are told this new faction is. The plan they have, is to present themselves as leaders in LURD and former officers of the AFL. Based on their maps and best guesses, they will be meeting up around a handful of villages that are in the rear of the front lines, but not near the heart of LURD's command structure. It takes a few days to gather up some papers and try to find some women, civilians, and old friends to serve as some kind of character witness. Maybe some people who are or used to be big shots. They will have to stress that their forces need to stick together as they share a logistics officer.
>>6456846I was thinking maybe downgrading something else and replace them with clan militia. I'm open to suggestions but it seems like both votes want a good spread of regular troops with proper heavy weapons and vehicles to support them. There really isn't too big of a difference between both votes besides vehicles, whose options are contested.>>6457064I like that idea.>>6457068Musa “Pipeline” KamaraPipeline sounds like he knows how to get stuff. Which makes sense given our our gear is in remarkably good condition for a place like Africa. The quartermaster knows his shit.>>6457073Well sounds like our unit has been active for quite some time but in much more professional conduct and ability. I wouldn't be surprised if we had multigenerational soldiers fighting in the same troop. Sounds like our officer cadre and many troops are disillusioned soldiers who despise corruption, infighting, and foreign interference. All legitimate concerns and problems. A lot of them are no doubt wanted for desertion and treason but oh well. It's not like they are a bunch of militia lunatics burning, raping, and killing at will.Our reputation should be stellar compared to what people are used to dealing with. Sounds like pay is a problem but the men don't want to resort pillaging and looting. Really quite the honorable and upright bunch, all things considered. Running roadblocks at worst? Practically saints, especially if they do actually provide protection and guidance.
>>6457068>Seeya “Cobra” SheriffWith a name like that, bro doesn't even need a nickname. Seeya, Sheriff! I'm outtie!
>>6457068Mohammed “Nasty Duke” Dukuly
>>6457081Changing my vote to "Pipeline," good argument has been made
It is late and you, along with your men are weary. You arrive under the moonlight at a village, knowing you will have to stop and rest. There is a man with a bulb lantern and a strange, new uniform. It's seen some use, and you don't know how or when he cleans it, but it's new. It has this camo pattern that is three colors, which goes side to side. He's got this belt on over his clothing, with suspenders, and he's got pouches on it. You've seen soldiers with American uniforms, American belts, and American pouches; all used or leftover from America. This is something different. His cap is kinda different, his backpack is like a sack with backpack straps. He's got a canteen cup and a mess kit."I am a messengah," he says, his English accent different from yours. "I come as the voice of Maior Moses, commanding off-isah of te Men Who Keep Their Word. At last count, we are 231 men, all dressed like myself."Between the men of Bossman Gugu and Stephen Freeman, you are less than that. You certainly don't have nice uniforms and equipment for each soldier to carry all he needs into battle. This man is wearing rubber boots, and some of your men wear sandals or old sneakers. "Moses," the messanger says. "Has 3 questions for you." He holds up his fingers one at at time."1. How many men and rifles do you actually have?"2. Where is this logistics officer? Is he a real person?3. Are these women and unarmed men with you hostages, or can they leave if they wish?"Musa “Pipeline” Kamara comes out and greets the man. He shows some records and notes, along with pointing in the direction of some mules, some mules with wagons, and even an old pickup truck.He says that he has some dollars for you and some soap. He says you can maybe get what you need to say put a few days or less, while he delivers the message and brings the others.
Rolled 9, 6, 11, 20 = 46 (4d20)Bossman Gugu is the first bigman, who is the second?Stephen Freeman, half Americo-Liberian and very moderately educated?Maior КaпiтaнKapitanAn older man in glasses steps out, wearing the same strange uniform, escorted by some strange men. These bodyguards have skulls painted into their faces, entirely black uniforms, and very new rifles. They speak to each other in a language you've never heard, one spoken from the back of the throat, heavy, and full of consonant."I am Moses," he says, shaking hands. "I heard you want to meet us and maybe join up."One of the escorts whispers to Moses and he whispers back. Moses then says this. "Our backers don't want to deal with the dirty hands of most of the LURD. They also don't want drug users and idiots.""I got character witnesses," one of you says. "And so does my pal.""Bring them," Moses says. Moses speaks to a lot of people and is very very skeptical looking the whole time.
>>6457131Moses says he will need to speak to your logistics officer alone with a Bockarie, who seems to be in charge. He clearly doesn't trust you and wants to question the witnesses again in the morning, along with counting your men on his own.One of the strange bodyguards says something out loud. "The men and their platoons are to receive hardtack, along with salt, spices, clean water, and heated rice. In the morning, regardless of what happens, mud will need to be fired to make bricks. Bricks to make ovens. Ovens to make bread and charcoal."The strange bodyguard clears his voice and speaks again. "If everything is clean enough in the morning, then my people are willing to back you as well. I don't think Moses and Bockarie want to take responsibility, if you're fuck ups. But, perhaps you can take the right and this force." He gestures to the men behind him. "Can take the left...." He gestures to himself.
Are we supposed to say something?
