CAMPAIGN INFO & SIGNUP

Introduction:
The Skjaldborg Campaign is a dynamic and ongoing campaign that follows the official Battletech timeline. This campaign began almost a year ago and we have a wide demographic of new and old characters/players involved. In regards to the timeline, we began just after the Ronin War and War of '39. Since then, we had a small time skip and are now in the year 3048 (at the time of this writing). In terms of available technology, this should be considered a "realistic" campaign that has a focus on "plausible availability"; enemies equipped with rare and experimental technology may be occasionally encountered, but WILL NOT be available to players (or at least SEVERELY limited). Salvage is, however, dynamic and at the GM's conservative discretion, captured rare hardware might fall into player hands. All players are welcome to join. However, please keep in mind that adding new players is time consuming for the GM and player space is limited; please only apply if you have serious intent to play.

SIGN UP HERE:
(answer these questions in a post below; failure to do so will lead to decades of suffering by unspeakable horrors)

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REQUIRED!: program that reads .rar files.
I recommend WinRar (unlike WinZip, WinRar is shareware). Installation is simple; right click the .rar file and "extract to" itself. This will put all files inside a new folder with the same name as the .rar file.
http://www.win-rar.com/download.html
Use 7.zip
http://www.7-zip.org/

REQUIRED!: download "REQUIRED" documents from the "DOWNLOAD LINKS" thread.
Everything you need and more. BOOKMARK THIS!
http://www.theskjaldborg.com/index.php?threads/download-links.2559/

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Character Creation
Spreadsheet and a guide to better explain how to read it (Don't worry, they are short).
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B9YEnZ4eRwpESXpOako1eDJuMm8
NOTE: Viewing these files requires Microsoft Excel or some other program that can read .xls files (it is a spreadsheet afterall). OpenOffice has a free alternative available (highly recommended)

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OPTIONAL: SKUNKWERKS (possibly outdated - use with caution)
This is the preferred mechlab program i like to use. I have used it for awhile and can fully vouch for it. It is also fully capable of converting your designs to megamek format. I prefer it over other programs becauce it has a prettier interface that is still easy to use. All the standard tech options are available as well as some (most?) of the Tech3 stuff (I prefer mostly Tech1 and 2 stuff anyway). There is also a nice fluff text option that lets you fully flesh it out with a history, picture, etc.

http://www.solarisskunkwerks.com/

The two files you want specifically under "Downloads":
Main files - "SSW_0.6.81.zip"
TRO files - "SSWMaster.zip" (Most/All TRO Record Sheets... HIGHLY RECOMMENDED)

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PS - AS A FINAL NOTE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU FIND ANY BUGS/TYPOS. I have checked everything thoroughly, but could sure use any input.

 

(outdated info below)
THE MAGNUSPACK BY MAGNUSEFFECT:

This compilation of my own creation includes a plethora of bug fixes, additions, and other content. Features include:

50+ Customized Mechs by Yours Truly using 3025 or 2750/3050 tech.
20 Custom Combat & Support Vehicles of various sizes and functions
5 Custom VTOLs (check out the specially made 2750 version of the Aeron!... it is way too cool for the Jihad era to have alone)
5 Custom Aerospace: CSR-V13 Corsair & STU-K6 "Kill-Six" Stuka and variants optimized with 3025 tech (All solid choices, but I may make more upon request)
2 Custom DropShips: The Union "Ironhorse" and Seeker "Vanguard"!
50+ Custom Maps!
50+ Custom Battlemech & Vehicle icons (Black Knight w/ Hatchet!)
70+ Custom Avatars (aka pilot pictures)
16+ Custom Camo Skins (also some canon merc units)
Various minor fixes to some pre-existing icons
MekHQ Character Creation Spreadsheet 2.0 and Guides (same as the previous link... you will need these for our Megamek campaign)


Work in progress:
-Revision of various Maps
-More custom Dropships
-More Camo Skins
-More Avatars
-More Unit and Interface Icons

 

I too am incredibly cautious about bringing too many people on board. So far it has only been respective leaders of groups previously mentioned and a few others. All are good people to be sure, but I haven't spoken with them in any detail (for obvious reasons) beyond "I'm working on a Megamek campaign" and they typically respond with some variation of "Oh yeah? That sounds like a lot of fun."

There is also a possibility that the other unit commanders may want to use the same (or similar) system we are using. If that is the case, they could run their campaigns parallel to ours. This would open up the possibility of occasional roleplay "encounters" with our respective units. It could be quite... interesting.

The more I think of it though, perhaps this is a concept best left till later before addressing. The idea originally stemmed from the concern that we might not get enough people. It looks like that is probably not going to be an issue. Perhaps for now it is best we focus on polishing the mechanics and get everyone familiar with the basic concepts. Still, it is good to know people are at least hypothetically open to the idea. Maybe when we get things moving along at decent pace, we can consider expanding the concept.

 

Sounds good although I'm currently still out of town and dealing with family stuff. I had intended to finish the last few key things on my laptop, but have been too wrapped up with me mum's b-day and finalizing my move. Off the top of my head, I've been working on tweaking the merc contract payscale for the unit as well as developing a general mission structure for campaigns. I would certainly welcome some input on these as well as other related items.

I would like really like to meet Sat at some time (2pm perhaps?), but I'm worried I will still be out of town. I suppose i could get TS working on my laptop. I figure 2pm Sat is best because it won't be too early or too late for most of us. We could use that time to address any issues and questions. Does that sound reasonable?

 

Sardonic, if you can make 2pm CST, we can go over the main points then and save the individual player specific stuff for after

Skoll are you EST? If so, no worries. Chances are good some of us will still be on and can fill you in.

In regards to what we will cover, pretty much what OOdlez said. As mentioned before, I would also like a second opinion from someone on the contract payment system as well as spend some time helping anyone who needs help with Character Creation. Hopefully, we can also get Megamek working for everyone who is still having trouble (just Barbie and Killbox I *think*)

@David: I read your message. Will try to check over it later tonight when I have more time.

 

Unfortunately, most of my time has been preoccupied with this move but I have been able to polish off the contact formulas. Also, despite my best efforts, I will not be able to make the meeting tomorrow. This girl I've been trying to connect with all week just happens to want to see me at the same time we had planned our meeting (you know how it is... priorities). Anyway, here are the formulas and the links to associated programs. Please keep in mind that these formulas do NOT take into account for operational/repair costs, salvage rights, and contract reimbursement (which are easily handled in the Megamek HQ program). Take a look, discuss, and let me know what you think:

Successful Completion of Contract Formula:
1 million Cbills x # of Lances x Payment Modifier (see below)

Individual Mission Bonuses:
Key target neutralized = 5% estimated value of target
Key target protected = 2.5% estimated value of target

Individual Mission Bounty:
mech/aerospace neutralized = 250k Cbills
conventional vehicle neutralized = 75k Cbills

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Payment Modifier Formula:
Dragoon Rating + Negotiation Skill + Mission Modifier*
(DR = 0~3) + (NS = [0~5] / 2 and then rounding up) + (MM = [.5~2] x 2)

*Mission Modifier based on table in Mercenary Handbook 3055, p.107
Minimum Payment Modifier = .5
Maximum Payment Modifier = 10

Example:
Dragoon Rating of C = +1
Negotiation Skill of 3 = +2
Mission Modifier of 1.6 (Objective Raid) = +3.2
Payment Modifier Total = 6.2
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Dragoon Rating Formula (using DRC10.exe):

+Average Skill Level (Green, Regular, etc)
+Command Value = (Leadership + Admin** + Tactics Skill Levels)
+Combat Record (Mission History)
+Transportation Value (% capability/capacity of unit's transportation)
+Technology Value (% of upgraded mechs with advanced tech)
+Support Value (% capacity of technical and logistical support)

Dragoon Ratings:
D - Poor = +0 (for Payment Modifier Formula)
C - Average = +1
B - Good = +2
A - Excellent = +3

**Admin/Logistics Skill is used in place of Strategy Skill

Dragoon Rating Calculator:
http://www.ggsoftwerks.com/DRC.html

Mercenary Contract Generator:
http://www.ggsoftwerks.com/MCG.html

PS - Again, apologies to everyone for not being there on Saturday. Will try to make up for it after I finish moving.

 

Salvage rights and support/transport compensation should probably be tied to the negotiation skill. When appropriate, I recommend allowing a certain amount of random generation (via the MCG.exe previously mentioned), but allow the Negotiation Skill to provide a bonus to that number.

Alternatively, you could use any combination of these simple formulas:

% of salvage rights and support compensation*:
Payment Modifier x 10 = base %
-25% salvage rights for Advanced IS tech
-50% salvage rights for Clan tech
-25% support compensation for "assault" contracts
-50% support compensation for "raid" contracts
+25% support compensation for "defensive" contracts

*Minimum/Maximum percentage should not exceed 0%/100%

Ultimately, though, the above formulas should only be used as a general guide. Discretion must be used when determining appropriate percentages.

 

In regards to our starting point in the timeline, I recommend we don't start with the War of 3039. That will take quite a bit of effort to do right. Rather, I suggest we start just prior to it (~3038). Our first few contracts and missions should be low intensity/minor skirmishes just to get things going. This will give us some time to get familiar with and establish ourselves a bit before jumping into a more protracted mission campaign. The War of 3039 could serve as a good final test before jumping into our "real" campaign in ~3049.

Expect to start with ONLY ~3025 tech, but be able to upgrade based on salvage and general market availability. Keep in mind that just because double heat sinks were "available" in ~3030, that does not mean they were readily available for purchase on the general merc market at that time. There should be roughly a 5-10 year delay depending on circumstances and the item in question (or whatever sounds reasonable).