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MotoPsycho

MotoPsycho

First Lieutenant
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Feb 25, 2018
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So I was just getting into the role playing side of Battletech, and wondered what a Merchant Guard would be....

...is like like a Walmart Security Guard?

... or more like the mech that escorts the prized convoy of <insert valuable cargo> to <important destination>??


Can one of you Lore gurus give me some examples of Merchant Guards in current Battletech lore?


Thanks in advance.
 
Think of big shipping/delivery companies, like FedEx, and imagine they had their own military to guard their depots, vehicles and convoys.
Pretty much that.
 
TaurianMerc said:
Think of big shipping/delivery companies, like FedEx, and imagine they had their own military to guard their depots, vehicles and convoys.
Pretty much that.
Click to expand...

So pretty much Com Guards then.....but for some commercial industry or something.....

Thanks.
 
Most of the 'Mech factories have a Security Force, technically could be that. Also get to do double duty at test pilots.
 
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Dmon said:
Most of the 'Mech factories have a Ssecurity Force, technically could be that. Also get to do double duty at test pilots.
Click to expand...
Like that mission in MW4:Mercs when you are guarding that lunar testing site and you get joined by the brand new Templars (i think?) piloted by the test pilots who enjoy having real targets to shoot.
 
Yes that is exactly what I was thinking of. And yes they where Templar prototypes that I seem to remember having a slightly different loadout.
 
The description says:

You signed on as a guard for a small trading guild, providing security as the guild's caravan made trading runs between the Inner Sphere and the Periphery. It was a largely uneventful life, but you were able to put your MechWarrior skills to good use in the occasional scuffle between pirates and uncooperative local governments.

So I guess you're the mech escort for some merchant ships while they're sitting on the ground trading.
 
Another good call.

I can't think of any examples from the TT or fiction, closest I can think of is tge already mentioned 'Mech factory guards and the Explorer Corps had 'Mech escorts. In the fiction I think it is simply a case of it being a bit boring when a story could be written from the much more exciting perspective of tbe raiders.
 
Dmon said:
I can't think of any examples from the TT or fiction, closest I can think of is tge already mentioned 'Mech factory guards and the Explorer Corps had 'Mech escorts. In the fiction I think it is simply a case of it being a bit boring when a story could be written from the much more exciting perspective of tbe raiders.
Click to expand...

I guess most of the game fiction is going to be about what is fun to play as, and constant escort missions won't appeal to many. But I think it has potential as a short story or something.
 
Dmon said:
Another good call.

I can't think of any examples from the TT or fiction, closest I can think of is tge already mentioned 'Mech factory guards and the Explorer Corps had 'Mech escorts. In the fiction I think it is simply a case of it being a bit boring when a story could be written from the much more exciting perspective of tbe raiders.
Click to expand...
Do the Hanseatic League not have something similar?
Of course there are Diamond Sharks Sea Foxes who are their own merchant guards.
 
I think there is a lot of potential fro a small merc company that does not have the rep of the big boys to work as site security for some of the larger corporations. Even to be hired on to take up the load on other planets during a major offensive. Space ports need guarding and other strategic sites like dams or nuclear power plants if the garrison is drawn away on a major offensive then a role for mercs as second tier garrison forces. they could easily end up being all that stands between a pirate raid and the local civilians, or be set up by the big all powerful corporation to take the fall for a corporate reallocation of resources as they need an excuse to close down one plant so as to open up a new plant on a different world. As small time mech mercenaries they would be underestimated and expected to fail. Could be a fun campaign ? storey
 
Sounds more like an armored money truck security guard, the guy in the back with the AR 15 and the body armor...mostly uneventful, but in the rare occasion you get jumped, your there to kick some ass.
 
KnightCole said:
Sounds more like an armored money truck security guard, the guy in the back with the AR 15 and the body armor...mostly uneventful, but in the rare occasion you get jumped, your there to kick some ass.
Click to expand...
Maybe if you're safe, deep in the realm of a great house. But out here in the dark? The Periphery is a nasty place, not a place for Steiner socialites playing soldiers ;)
 
Because of the overhead of running mechs, and their lack of utility in most trading situations, it's unlikely most merchant guards are mech units. Most likely infantry, with some vehicular support. Possibly some aerospace assets if they are responsible for protecting jumpship in transit. The infantry might be cross trained as marines for repelling pirates. It actually gives you a lot of opportunities for roleplay, more than you get from your run if the mill mercenaries.

For a real world analog, think of the private military contractors (actually called PCASP - Privately Contracted Armed Security Personnel) that you see on merchant ships operating in pirate waters like off Somalia.
 
WhiteChapel said:
Because of the overhead of running mechs, and their lack of utility in most trading situations, it's unlikely most merchant guards are mech units. Most likely infantry, with some vehicular support. Possibly some aerospace assets if they are responsible for protecting jumpship in transit. The infantry might be cross trained as marines for repelling pirates. It actually gives you a lot of opportunities for roleplay, more than you get from your run if the mill mercenaries.

For a real world analog, think of the private military contractors (actually called PCASP - Privately Contracted Armed Security Personnel) that you see on merchant ships operating in pirate waters like off Somalia.
Click to expand...
Except in this case, your character is there with the family Blackjack. It might sound rare, but it's the scenario presented
 
TaurianMerc said:
Maybe if you're safe, deep in the realm of a great house. But out here in the dark? The Periphery is a nasty place, not a place for Steiner socialites playing soldiers ;)
Click to expand...

I think a Steiner would be safe out here. I mean, they are the founders of the Atlas scout lance afterall.:cool:
 
ah, he was talking about the character backgrounds. When he said role play I thought he was referring to the RPG. Yeah, for the HBS game, the main for the merchant guard is your moving up in the world. Merchant guarding is something you do either at the beginning of your career or at the end.
 
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