Looking to play...or GM... Options

[Penta]

Most of the mother ships used (say by Somali pirates) are captured freighters.

You, as of yet, don't have that option.

[MusicMan]

I've been thinking about the ship, and I realized that most of the current real world pirates have a mother boat will hosts a variety of smaller raider vessels to board and pillage. While that is one possible alternative, the other is get a general use boat that will be big enough to live on and fast enough to intercept the common cargo ship.

I'm personally leaning toward the mother ship idea, simply because we get can a smaller craft that can catch up to smuggler craft if needed.

I think the mothership idea is going to be the way to go. I had an idea for a mothership, and I'll post it up and let everyone tear it apart...

[MusicMan]

Our most magnanimous GM has given us a budget of 500K to buy our base ship with.

I think we should start with a Classique III (Arsenal pg. 111), that's 235K. Then we should buy a Sylph (same reference) for an additional 40K. The Classique will be a good base of operations and the Sylph is frakking fast. Now, our epic GM of awesomeness says we can take a downgrade on the Classique to Middle Class amenities and recover 10k.

So, that leaves us at 235K.

1100 a month for weather service... so, we should go ahead and prepay 6 months, that's 6600.
Then 6 months of middle-class food (for 10 people), 15k.
500 liters of fuel (a full tank) then another 200 for reserves, 3500
This leaves 209,900Y.


The Classique has 24 mod slots, I suggest (as a start),
ECM 5 (1 slot, 5k)
Rigger Adaption (1 slot, 2.5K)
Smuggling Compartment, Normal (1 slot, 1.5k)
Valkyrie Module (2 slots, 2k)
Grapple (1 slot, 1k)
Improved Sensor Array (1, 1k)

Any suggestions? I'm not quite sure what all to throw into the sensors though...

I think that, at this point, we can eschew weapons emplacements. I feel like if we are in a situation where we need anything more than small arms, we should be running away. That's just me though.

[budoka05]

Most of the mother ships used (say by Somali pirates) are captured freighters.

You, as of yet, don't have that option.

Shall we start with a fast craft, like a Colorado Craft Sylph (Hydrofoil) on page 111 of AR?

[MusicMan]

Check the post before yours.

[Penta]

Keep in mind:

You need to spread out the budget over more than the ship. It also covers any "common equipment", such as dive gear.

[budoka05]

Check the post before yours.

Must have missed it when I hit the reply button... Thanks (IMG:style_emoticons/default/notworthy.gif)

For additions, I would also suggest Chameleon plating. It reduces the ability for the craft to be detected visually. If there is one for radar, I'd suggest that too.

One other thing: I've uploaded my current Char Sheet to SHAREBEE.com. Here is the link: http://sharebee.com/01a1d081

If you have trouble reading, please let me know.

[Penta]

I'm going to make some quick rulings:

The Sylph is a big ship, and needs a separate crew from the Classique. Consider carefully whether you want that.

I'm working in another thread to stat up Zodiac boats for you all...Feel free to jump in and say something.

You would then use grappling line or similar to get aboard (since gecko gloves don't work on wet surfaces) your target.

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Also, please keep in mind that Improved Sensor Array is physically bigger than standard sensors, and comes without installed sensors, per Arsenal pg 138. In other words, it changes the profile of the ship.

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I'm going to very rarely question your choices here. Just keep in mind that with a body 24 yacht, the mechanical grapple only has a length of 2.4 meters.

[Marwynn]

I like the Mothership idea, but I do believe the Sylph might be a tad too personnel-intensive. I also wouldn't mind having the means to haul the Proteus Lamprey (Sea Sled) since we could use some limited underwater capability.

A few SeaDoo Bolts for common use? I like the look of those Zodiac boats too. Are there any submersible SeaDoos? Now those would come in handy...

The Classique is big enough to house us all but are there any faster alternatives? The alternative to the Mothership idea is a Flotilla. Two or three Sylphs, we'll make grabbing a mothership a priority.

The Crest (which I think is pictured as the Vista) seems like a good compromise. Two of these equals the Body of the Classique, so I guess it can house us all rather comfortably. The CO and XO are on different boats, and our rigger will juggle two if he's up for it. We have backup pilots right? The Crest has a top speed of 80, more than twice that of the Classique and only 20 less than the flimsier Sylph.

Perhaps a mix.

Or are you guys all for a mothership?

[budoka05]

A flotilla is not a bad idea! If we get found, we go to ground by each taking a boat and lay low! Plus we the flexibility of different vehicles for different operations.

However, then the problem is that most of us will need to take on some sort of nautical piloting. Plus, if we make away with any big stuff, there may be the problem of transporting it off the ship we raid.

Despite the problems, I vote for flotilla for the flexibility.

[MusicMan]

I have a sniper rifle and a Lockheed Sparrow that I bought with BP for my own PhunTime ™.

I think we really need a base ship, and I like the RIB idea.

[Penta]

I....vote against Flotilla, because I want you guys to start with one ship plus Zodiacs. Not two or twenty.

The ship will become as much a character as any of you guys, remember.

Hence, I want the...whatever it gets named...to be special.

[Knight Saber]

My thought was to have a ship like the Striker (Ar 115), stripped of all its weapons and then sold to my character as surplus, then somewhat rearmed after the fact. Might have some lower stats for its age, have an GM Light Cannon (Ar 124) at most weapon-wise. It's big enough to carry everyone and some cargo/extra vehicles as well.

[MusicMan]

I wanted to get a MiG-67... but meh.

[Penta]

Strikers are way past anybody's budget, either in BP or employer funds. Even demil'd.

[budoka05]

If we're going with mother ships, then the Striker would be a good option. It is more maneuverable than a large cargo ship, it has the capacity to hold us, store our gear, and has potential for storing some of our swag!

Just realized, if we want to sell all or most of the cargo from a big ol cargo ship, we'll have to pilot the thing to sell it or tug it with the Striker.

[MusicMan]

We can get a Classique III for 10k under cost if we take it with middle class amenities rather than luxury. I think that'll be the best option.

[milk ducks]

Right on - CQB specialist Alan "Albatross" Brass has been sent to Penta for final approval. Okay, going to bed now; see you guys in the morning.

-milk.

[CollateralDynamo]

Alot of good stuff has been considered today. I agree, the Classique looks good. I've been looking over mods and I have a few thoughts.

We've been talking about boarding other vessels, this is going to be very difficult to do. Zodiac boats might have the ability to get us in close, but actually getting up the level deck of any real vessel is going to be a serious problem, especially if we are taking enemy fire. As such, here is my proposal for general boarding/defeating of opponents:

1) Have our Classique yacht standing as if stranded out in the ocean near where we know our target is going to be. From here we can either
a) send out an SOS and hope that our fake permits and heir of legitimacy with our classy yacht will get the other ship come to us or
b) we actually have everybody who will be boarding the enemy craft in a zodiac boat some distance away with a fair forced tri-d phantasm
2) get in close to the enemy vessel using STEALTH. We won't be able to get into a real dog fight with pretty much anything we run into. We need to get in close and finish off hostiles quickly. This involves NOT rushing them with jetskis, we want to keep alarms low.
3) As we prepare to hit the deck, fire off every jamming device known to man. Ideally we have spotted this craft far enough away that our resident hacker will already be in their system and could help us a great deal with this.
4) Eliminate hostiles above decks, capture bridge. The capture bridge part may actually be obsolete, if we already have our hacker in place as admin, he should be able to re-route commands through himself.
5) Be damn sure of exactly what it is we are going to find downstairs: how many hostiles, what floorplan, what cargo.
6) Take lower decks quickly, systematically, and with as little bloodshed as possible. Perhaps even give the crew one last time to surrender and get dumped on a life boat.

In my mind, to pull this off well we need a number of things:
- Our yacht needs to look legitimate from a long distance (proper paperwork and the like that we can hopefully shift around after every job)
- Our yacht needs to look legitimate from a short distance (no obvious gun mounts, gun ports, or armor stapled onto our classy yacht)
- Our boarding vessel needs to be small enough to fit in a tri-D phantasm
- We need a mage with tri-D phantasm
- Our boarding vessel needs to be really fast
- We need to have a wide variety of jamming capabilities (likely we can find all sorts of wonderful jammers and buy them up from our group funds)
- We need to be good enough in boat driving and combat to get to where we need to be and down our hostiles

On top of this it would be nice to:
- Have a yacht that can make a good get away
- Have a boarding vessel that is stealthy without the aid of magic
- Have a land vehicle for when we go ashore (mule a la Firefly anyone?)
- Ultrasound is a good vision mode to consider, perhaps even radar domes, it could give us an edge while below decks

With these things in mind I am trying to work up a yacht at a reasonable cost, and even squeeze in another vehicle or two. Does anyone disagree or have an alternative to how we want to get things done? This is just my concept, I'm definitely open to other ideas.

[Knight Saber]

A fancy yacht just doesn't feel right... they're not working vessels, they'll be conspicuous and the price is high for what you get (I missed the 500K limit). What about the Cutlass from the core rules? It sounds like the Coast Guard's Island class. The guns are pintle-mounted... you could take them off and stow them easily, or put them in pop turrets. Throw some nets on the back and it looks like a fishing vessel, or stack some empty cargo containers on the deck and and it's a tramp freighter. It has good speed and good sensors.

Piracy tactics include chasing a vessel and shooting it, harrying it with zodiacs into the path of the ship, where it would open up and demand surrender, putting some mines in the path for the same results... and of course, sneaking on to steal or hijack works too.

[Knight Saber]

Filling in the history and personality... She's an ex-Navy SEAL from the UCAS. Here's a current draft so people can get a better idea of what to work with/shore up. I forgot about Etiquette and swapped out First Aid for it.

[ Spoiler ]

Born 2040 in Boston, daughter of a pair of stockbrokers. Captain of her high school swim team. Fundraised for Dunklezhan. While swimming is not a skill that draws lots of corporate recruiters, the Navy was impressed with her high fitness level and made her a good pitch. Thus, she ended up as a Navy SEAL right out of high school, picking up the team name “blah.� Scout/Sniper platoon. Her first term was challenging but uneventful, so she re-upped... just in time for the Year of the Comet. Comet cults wanting to bring about the apocalypse (often with fertilizer bombs) were the least of the things her team was sent out to deal with.

The Crash 2.0 was even worse, desperate struggles against crazed terrorists while the whole world went mad. And when it was over... her parents were dead... the whole apartment block she grew up in had burned to the ground, the fire surpression computers locking the doors and sucking out the air where people were trapped.

With nine years under her belt and a chestful of medals. She realized she was tired... tired of being sent to watch friends get killed from above. Getting promoted wouldn't help... struck out on her own. CIA made her an offer, but she turned it down.Used her inheritance and a lot of favors with navy buddies to get a surplus ship.

Human
Age 32

Body 4
Agility 5 (7)
Reaction 4 (6)
Str 4 (6)
Cha 2
Int 3
Logic 3
Will 3
Initiative 7 (9)
Edge 2
Essence 1.46
200 BP

Qualities:
Guts 5 BP
SINner -5 BP

SKILLS: 170 BP
Athletics Group 4
Automatics 5
Blades (knives +2) 1
Diving (cyber-gill +2) 2
Etiquette (Military) +2) 1
Infiltration 5
Leadership (Tactics +2) 2
Outdoors Group 3
Perception (Visual +2) 2
Pilot Watercraft 2
Pistols (Automatics +2) 2

Info Skills 18 points
KS: Maritime Law 2
KS: Smuggler ports 2
PS: Military (Special Forces +2) 3
KS: Matrix Games 2
KS: Maritime history 3

Languages
English (native)
Spanish 3
Russian 2

Gear 41 BP 205K
Bioware (All standard grade):
Muscle Toner (2) 14K .4
Muscle Augment (2) 16K .4
Sleep Regulator 10K .15
Synthcardium (3) 30K .3
.62
Cyberware (all Alphaware):
Wired Reflexes (2) 64K 2.4
Plastic Bone Lacing 10K .4
Cybereyes (3) with Vision Mag, Vision Enhancement (2), Eye Light System, Smartlink, Flare Comp, Low Light 17K .32
Cyberears (1) with Damper 2.5K .16
Cyberfins 7K .24
OXSYS Cybergill 9K .2
Internal Oxygen Tank 1.3K .2
180,800 Cyber and Bioware cost

Contacts 9 BP :
Kevin Roberts, fixer Loyalty 2, Connections 4 free
Leslie Thompkins, CIA officer 2/3
John Gomez, arms dealer 2/2

Gear:

Weapons:
75 Ceramic Knife
300 Survival Knife w/personalized grip x2
1850 Colt M24A3 Water Carbine Smartgun Adaptor Gas Vent 2, Shock Pad, Foregrip, Sling
325 5 clips M24A3 standard SMG ammo
1660 M23 assault rifle w/Smartgun Adaptor, Gas Vent 3, Shock Pad, Foregrip, sling
850 10 clips M23 standard assault rifle ammo
1150 Ares Predator IV, Personalized Grip, Built-in silencer, Quick-draw holster
810 Ingram Smartgun X w/personalized grip, Foregrip, sling
345 5 clips Ingram Smartgun X standard SMG ammo
140 4 clips Predator IV standard heavy pistol ammo
130 2 clips Predator IV subsonic heavy pistol ammo
475 Colt L36 smartgun w/personalized grip, Concealable Holster
145 5 clips 60 rounds L36 standard light pistol ammo
170 2 clips 20 rounds L36 Stick-n-Shock light pistol ammo

900 Armor Jacket
100 Helmet
1750 Dive Armor

8000 Fake SIN (4) x2
800 Fake ship registration (4) x2
400 Fake gun license (4)

100 Survival Kit
200 GPS unit
600 Grapple Gun +200 meters of microwire.
70 Rapelling Gloves
800 Medkit 6 + 4 refills

1700 Renraku Sensei commlink with Renraku Ichi OS & Sim Module
100 2 VR Games – Dawn of Atlantis,
90 3 flash bang grenades
105 3 frag grenades

24,200 gear total

[Penta]

Bits and pieces:

Knight, email me your whole packet - I'll PM my email address. I have the system I put in place for a reason - what you have looks very good, though - as a start.

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As a rule of thumb, passenger/crew capacity for a ship is 1 person for every 2 body (suggested by JM Hardy at yesterday's chat).

[budoka05]

@CollateralDynamo - I think that is very well flushed out!

One additional suggestion: if we get a t-bird or other VTOL aircraft with water landing or with a ship that with a landing port, we can do air drops onto ships we target. The advantage is that a lot of vessels don't account for air defense. Also an aircraft would be much faster to be in and out for situations where we'd have to operate close to support such as Coast Guard, Navy, Corporate Sec, etc.

[Penta]

Um, your employers will not help you get an aircraft or similar. Especially not a LAV.

[Whizbang]

Sorry I haven't gotten my character sent in yet....work's been a bit busy. But after an open to close tommorrow I should be off for the rest of the week (in theory). So plenty of time to get to work on a character then. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)