A more comprehensive scout is conducted, it is determined that you are in an excellent area with a plethora of large venues that would take only a moderate effort to make serviceable faux-Shatterdome in time with appropriate outlay of resources. Philips Arena with its multi-tiered stadium seating could be converted to multi-tiered service areas designed to maintain Jaegers, Fortifying it and designing Jaeger friendly entrances will be the main obstacles. Mr. Gulf scoffs confidently that it'd even be a 'real' challenge...
Clearing a large enough area will be the real challenge in designing an effective defensive perimeter. Too many pre existing tall buildings spread across too much landscape... sufficient sight lines will be obstructed without considerable demolition. After a quick conference it is agreed you'll need to raze about a kilometer out from the DP, displacing numerous small camps of survivors. Islands of expansion friendly buildings can be left -if- they are used as forward observation posts and have the KM beyond them razed. By staggering the islands you can retain some expansion real estate without compromising security.
First off, apologies an unforeseen thunderstorm knocked me off line the last 2 hours...
I suppose if @KnightDisciple who made the excellent and as yet uncontested Black Marketeer write in is amiable, I -could- offer an as yet undocumented set of blueprints for a completely unarmed light observation helo the MH-6 'Little Bird' it has a one way flight window of 280 miles (enough to hot leg it straight to Savannah, and pray for an undestroyed airfield to refuel for a return trip ) as his 'Loyalty Reward' for his contribution... This could be constructed as of of your 2 actions and sent all the way to Savannah if you can convince a particularly brave set of pilots to risk their ass on a maybe.
----Edit
This seemed like a worthwhile solution to the logistical problems suffered with Knights desire to scout the entire route in one go... the Little Bird has an operational range of approx 280 miles (Savannah is 240) and operational speed of 155 mph. Meaning if it can find fuel, and the pilot isn't eaten enroute, in 4-4 1/2 hours it can be back with a high speed scout of the route... it is a hard to gain detailed info at those speeds but obvious shit like a 200-300 foot tall kaiju would be obvious.
This is all dependant If @KnightDisciple is okay with that as his reward for participation on Buffalo Bill Bones... if not I'll provide something more acceptable.
[X] Send Scout Copter Squadron to Savannah to check the status.
[X] Scout around Atlanta for military personnel or other "useful" people-groups; technicians, construction workers, etc. We've got some folk, let's get some more.
Also, what about the Atlanta Airport? It'd need a lot of buildup but it should give more empty space...
Elite Units gain the Perk "Combat Veteran" if successfully targeted by K-Scale attack, roll a d10, on a 'natural' 9 or 10, unit miraculously is merely disabled. You are considered mission Dead and require 1/2 your unit cost (no reductions) to bring you back into fighting shape [Free Action], when you survive such an attack add an asterisk (*) beside your unit name. More *'s = more plot driven love that unit gets...
To gain the benefit of their newly recognized status as an Elite the unit must be visually distinct, and possess a memorable unit name. Feel free to steal borrow liberally from history/fiction for these, remember the design is to be unique and appealing enough to gain consensus.
I would love to see 'Hammer's Slammers', 'Rasczak's Roughnecks', 'The Angry Marines', 'Phule's Company', etc. running amok in Mammoth Apostates thread.
If you make them good enuff (QM's ruling) you may unlock a special trait or perk that only that unit will ever possess. Research may be inspired by an elite bonus gained but you'll never duplicate an elite bonus through studying/researching the elite.
Elite Units gain the Perk "Combat Veteran" if successfully targeted by K-Scale attack, roll a d10, on a 'natural' 9 or 10, unit miraculously is merely disabled. You are considered mission Dead and require 1/2 your unit cost (no reductions) to bring you back into fighting shape [Free Action], when you survive such an attack add an asterisk (*) beside your unit name. More *'s = more plot driven love that unit gets...
To gain the benefit of their newly recognized status as an Elite the unit must be visually distinct, and possess a memorable unit name. Feel free to steal borrow liberally from history/fiction for these, remember the design is to be unique and appealing enough to gain consensus.
I would love to see 'Hammer's Slammers', 'Rasczak's Roughnecks', 'The Angry Marines', 'Phule's Company', etc. running amok in Mammoth Apostates thread.
If you make them good enuff (QM's ruling) you may unlock a special trait or perk that only that unit will ever possess. Research may be inspired by an elite bonus gained but you'll never duplicate an elite bonus through studying/researching the elite.
Comrade Bear unit flag? I'm sold... you need a consensus though.
If it is approved I rate this as worthy of a unique perk.
Unique Perk: "Comrade Bear is spotter..." For some inexplicable reason this unit suffer -zero- penalty to indirect fire mode. (remove the innate -2 all indirect fire suffers)
As for plan.... QM modified for accuracy
[X] Send Scout Copter'Little Bird' Observation Squadron to Savannah to check the status.
[X] Scout around Atlanta for military personnel or other "useful" people-groups; technicians, construction workers, etc. We've got some folk, let's get some more.
Little Bird squadron now on your conv. forces roster and build list.
-----Edit
Official Lack of support voiced for "Buffalo Bill Bones" now being viewed as lack of active opposition... Invoking rule of cool because Bill is cool IMHO. Bill is locked by QM caveat your 'official' Black Marketeer.
Okay, it looks like you all are headed in a direction and force me to do an early reveal on a few unique mechanisms for a Vs. the world game.
(good on you breaking QMs preconceptions)
Outposts - a meaningful way of expanding and utilizing smaller settlement in your sphere of influence (everything inside comms and sensor range)
Allied City states - beyond your sphere of influence you can form diplomatic ties with other like minded independent communities.
As of yet you have -no- sphere of influence, so you fall into an unanticipated gray area... Hopefully the info gained this upcoming writeup can shift that but I need to open these features to handle an Improved Atlanta if you choose to migrate to Savannah.
Okay, it looks like you all are headed in a direction and force me to do an early reveal on a few unique mechanisms for a Vs. the world game.
(good on you breaking QMs preconceptions)
Outposts - a meaningful way of expanding and utilizing smaller settlement in your sphere of influence (everything inside comms and sensor range)
Allied City states - beyond your sphere of influence you can form diplomatic ties with other like minded independent communities.
As of yet you have -no- sphere of influence, so you fall into an unanticipated gray area... Hopefully the info gained this upcoming writeup can shift that but I need to open these features to handle an Improved Atlanta if you choose to migrate to Savannah.
Yeah, I'm basically wanting to "look before I leap". I'm good either going back to Savannah or staying in Atlanta, but I want to know what I'm getting into. And personally, if we go back to Savannah, support for Atlanta is going to be a top priority.
Yeah, I'm basically wanting to "look before I leap". I'm good either going back to Savannah or staying in Atlanta, but I want to know what I'm getting into. And personally, if we go back to Savannah, support for Atlanta is going to be a top priority.
A reasonable attitude this system is designed to encourage... Outpost link is now up on post #3
-----Edit
Your 'Little Birds' have the range to act as 'pony express' comms in the interim; and a 4-5 hour delay round trip over 240 miles is not bad in a world w/o long range comms.
QM modified for accuracy
[X] Send Scout Copter'Little Bird' Observation Squadron to Savannah to check the status.
[X] Scout around Atlanta for military personnel or other "useful" people-groups; technicians, construction workers, etc. We've got some folk, let's get some more.
@KnightDisciple does this modded plan have your endorsement? if the general flow shows this plan is favored I'll jump to a write up...
QM modified for accuracy
[X] Send Scout Copter'Little Bird' Observation Squadron to Savannah to check the status.
[X] Scout around Atlanta for military personnel or other "useful" people-groups; technicians, construction workers, etc. We've got some folk, let's get some more.
@KnightDisciple does this modded plan have your endorsement? if the general flow shows this plan is favored I'll jump to a write up...
(OOC)
I never envisioned your current situation, where you have developed a way point in a quest to a point of being a nearly viable alternative to the home I've designed for you. It shows massive initiative which I applaud!
This world needs saving on levels yet to be revealed, a standard VtW pales with the variety and scope of noisome things that await unhinted at in the wings...
(OOC) Another point as yet unraised due to people loving their shinies. Inexperience dm/qm whatever tend to two extremes Lethal or Monty Haul.
For those unfamiliar with the parlayance, Monty used to be a game show host continually giving away extraordinary prizes. The 'have stuff so you like me' gms are nicknamed in his honor.
I am not 'that' QM; we are firmly in the tutorial phase, shit will get real shortly... You will need to squeeze every drop of utility made available from every goody given, even those you have yet to find...
Creative thinking and independent research pay dividends , so get involved and get rewarded.
Well it's past my original 6 pm downtime deadline... thread is ominously quiet. To keep shit rolling we had a consensus of two on Wojtek's Winners... its locked and a done deal. (Huzzah for Comrade Bear!)
I would like more people to sign off on @KnightDisciple 's modded plan or forward a plan that can get enough votes to allow us to move forward. Awaiting more votes...
Comrade Bear unit flag? I'm sold... you need a consensus though.
If it is approved I rate this as worthy of a unique perk.
Unique Perk: "Comrade Bear is spotter..." For some inexplicable reason this unit suffer -zero- penalty to indirect fire mode. (remove the innate -2 all indirect fire suffers)
(OOC)
I never envisioned your current situation, where you have developed a way point in a quest to a point of being a nearly viable alternative to the home I've designed for you. It shows massive initiative which I applaud!
We basically just united/took in the survivors of the city. Doesn't really feel like we've actually built much. This still feels very improvised. We're in a position to improve things here a lot, though. But it seems like we could also just ask these guys about following us to Savannah, as well. Not sure. I'd honestly be up for either option.
[X] Send Scout Copter 'Little Bird' Observation Squadron to Savannah to check the status.
The four and a half hours since the 'Little Birds' departure midmorning; creep with a slowness that turns patience into a punishment.
All eyes privy to the missions nature turn skyward with each errant machine noise that -might- be a helicopter returning.
Finally the radios carry the first hint of news to a crowd of eavesdropper 'busy' within listening distance of the Comms.
"Loccent Command, this is Bob White leader. Savannah Shatterdome stands, we say again Savannah Shatterdome stands!"
A cheer goes up before a senior comms officer waves everyone back to near silence.
"ETA until landing less than two minutes... And command be aware we've brought an unwelcome guest, or at least its corpse. Might want some of K-science lab rats at touchdown."
A minute later, the landing pad is cordoned off to keep the improvised landing pad clear of an overeager crowd. Only a pair of senior officers and a handful of scientists are allowed within.
The first five copters make quick precise landings engines sputtering fouled by particulates , but it is the sixth straggler lagging behind that draws every eye.
The plexiglass windshield cracked and broken and pressed into that break a waking nightmare, a ...?hornet-like?... vespiform the size of a large man, the black and yellow rings around its abdomen lose all semblance to a terrestrial insect as the dual stingers that penetrate the plexiglass a full eighteen inches attest.The head pushed in through another hole over a foot into the cockpit was riddled with bullet holes destroying much of the profile, the spotter had emptied a full clip, reloaded and pumped in another half a clip before the gribbly had the decency to die.
"We had hit around the 193 mile marker of the return route about 40 something miles from Savannah when we spotted nest sign that had engulfed an overpass.
Sir, you've never seen a thing like that... it was beautiful but in an eerie, unearthly way. Plants colors no plant has a right to be. Fluorescent 10 meters high stalks orange as a day-glo traffic cone with purple fringe fronds that moved against the breeze, when our prop wash hit 'em they lit up with internal lights that reminded me of a christmas tree!?!
That's when this fucker hit our canopy, and we went evasive. There was about a dozen more of his buddies we outran; as we were discouraging him with my 9mm from coming into the canopy. They came from beneath the overpass and I'll bet a month's pay they have a hive under it.
Sir, that nest was small, but they're the most aggressive things you've ever seen and they are right on SR-16 the alien vegetation expands to both the north and south bound on and off ramps thick enough traffic can't pass. A local detour is impossible but the nest doesn't extend much past the highway.
I think however with some liberal application of napalm to singe wings and some M-60s to clean up should do the trick. They were good enough for Vietnam, I say we go 'Apocalypse Now' on their asses and make for home."
[ X ] Scout around Atlanta for military personnel or other "useful" people-groups; technicians, construction workers, etc. We've got some folk, let's get some more.
Asking around you find there is a plethora of opportunities; so many in fact you will need to assign who is checking out which possibility. # of Troops/type - Destination
(example: 1 unit AK infantry to Ruins of Grady hospital)
⦁ Dobbins -Naval Air Station Atlanta (Marietta) might find: ?military personnel?
⦁ Fort McPherson army base (East Point) might find: ?military personnel?
⦁ Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (between Hapeville and College Park) might find: ?aircraft mechanics, pilots, air traffic comptrollers?
⦁ The ruins of Grady Hospital (Thanks Hakuja!) ?might find: Doctors, nurses, & medical specialists ?
⦁ Various College campuses might find: ?Professors/ TA's from a wide range of degree programs?
⦁ Center for Disease Control (between Druid hills, N. Druid hills, & N. Decatur) ?might find: Virologists, Epidemiologists, Geneticists?
All of these and many more exist and fall under Scout around Atlanta for useful people. If you avail yourself of all of the above listed, any remaining troops can : "assign troop type - Destination general search" and I'll fill in any might find blanks.
Devote as many or few of your conventionals as seems appropriate... It is still considered the 1 action.
------------
'Little Bird' Observation Squadrons are 2 hours past 'safe' flight time... They risk catastrophic failure if used w/o maintenance action. Each hour of flight time adds to the cumulative penalty.(+check for failure at each take-off/landing)
At 2 hours roll 1d10 , on a 'natural' 10 unit destroyed, 3rd hour a natural 9 or 10 destroys, etc.,
We basically just united/took in the survivors of the city. Doesn't really feel like we've actually built much. This still feels very improvised. We're in a position to improve things here a lot, though. But it seems like we could also just ask these guys about following us to Savannah, as well. Not sure. I'd honestly be up for either option.
@Nixeu Atm it -is- very improvised, but it is a quality improvisation beyond what the locals had done on their own. Investing in city stat upgrades would be required to make long reaching, durable improvements. Your current generic camp followers have increased by 9x what you left Savannah with and that is without any recruiting efforts on your part.
If the general impressions of your scouts are to be trusted there may be as many as a quarter million people in/around Atlanta. Far more than you can feed or protect with your current resources...
Scavenging to support 9,000+ these past 3 weeks has been a strain and local caches are nearing exhaustion.
