Ok, here's a short lowdown on what was decided last leader meeting, about the organization of the =A=:

We will consist of several groups. Each group will have one officer. After that, the organization of the group is pretty much up to its leader, since the groups do different things, and thereby need a different organization. The groups are formed after their function, and the =A= members join the groups they think correspond to their plans ingame:

Commerce: made up of smugglers, merchants and other people who are interested in the fine arts of gaining as much money as possible in the least time possible! And who is more suited to lead that group, than the one and only Jan Gaarni? :D

Industry: crafters and other productive members. The people who makes stuff. Together, they can help each other with blueprints, raw material and components. This group will slave under the Lidless Eye of Wraith 8.

Supportive: the guys you simply can't live without. Doctors, entertainers, explorers... they all make life so much easier. Lord Helmet will guide their steps without ever flinching an eye.

Diplomatic: since politicians are 'out' for the moment, this group handles PA contacts, the future PA town, and other administative duties. Lord Helmet will look over this section too.

Bounty Hunters: hey, there were so many who wanted to be one, that they make up an entire group! Both their leader Gaalgoth and his minions are, however, welcome to cooperate with the last group, which brings us to...

Combat: which is what it sounds like. And to make it the biggest bunch of badasses around, they'll be led by no other than... the infamous setsuko. Yup, that's me.

And this is where you members come into the picture: I need your help. In several ways.

1: Armed Forces Roster

First of all, I need to know who out there plans to play a character that can handle itself in a fight. Marksmen, commandos, aggressive rangers, combat medics, ewok berzerkers, anything. And I want to know if you want to be in the Combat group or not. It is possible to be a combat oriented character in another group, but be prepared for less action if you hang around with the farmers all the time! :)

2: Name Suggestions

The combat group will also function of a sort of =A= militia. A militia needs a good name. Right now, I have none better than Armed Forces of the Associates. Any suggestions? Then scream them out over the rooftops.

3: Function Suggestions

The group exists for you. That is why you all should affect the groups functions, and let me know what you want the group to focus on. Right now, it's function is based on two categories:

1) group activities. The pure combat missions, it can either be hunting trips, raids, PA wars, dungeon crawling, pretty much any situation that is solved with blunt force. These will either be announced (i.e: "hunting trip, noon CET, thurday. Bring your biggest rifle!"), or spontaneous (i.e: several combat members hanging around, having nothing to do. Solution? Let's search for treasure!)

2) group support. The missions where we help other groups. Bring backup to explorers in dangerous areas, bodyguarding miners mining in rancor nests, that sort of stuff. The other groups will help us with healing, equipment, and other support. The least we can give them back is to protect their necks. These missions will be requested from the other groups, either as planned activities, or as immediate backup (i.e: "all available personell, we need backup outside theed!")

Do you have further ideas? How interested are you in these activities? Perhaps even on a scale 1-10? The more you inform me, the more I can tailor the Armed Forces into a group where you will thrive and prosper.


Other than that, I'm thankful for posts about your general expectations of a combat oriented group. I have still to put some more thoughts into the structure of the combat group, as this is pretty much depending on the size of our group. If we get big, then Lt. Commanders might be needed, etc. It is also important for me to know what kind of combat group I can expect, if we'll be heavily ranged or close combat oriented, etc.


Finally, I hope that we will become, with your help, and Armed Force to reccon with. After all, blasting things can't be as hard as writing this long a post, now can it? :D

[EDIT] Oh, and I guess you can call me Captain setsuko from now on. You know that's why I do it, right, Wraithy? ;)

I'm planning on being a bounty hunter, but I can still be in the armed forces right? Anyway about the name how about the A team. ;) :p

wooo wooo....post too long...captain setsuko :p :D

um the ...supportive group and the combat group coul din alot of areas work seamlessly...doctors/medics healing as you guys..as they protect the industry miners...that kind of tihng..while the politicians talk the enemies out of it :p

I'll join the Armed Forces most likely, I want some fighting and action.

im going to be a squad leader setsuko so maybe i can be of some help but mostly if i get a group i was personally hoping for a sniper group as i will be using a rifle

I'm hoping to become a rifleman, and a pilot later on. I'd be more than willing to serve under you Captain Setsuko.

Same here Captain Setsuko, but how will you set the squad up? Into certain divisions like melee, riflemen, etc. What's the scoop?
(Lol..scoop)

commerce 4 me, but I'll also want to see some action once in a while, so I also want to be a group member of combat. Is this possible?

you can can join my swuadron zendjir if your interested however wed have to check if we could make one first but im sure setsuko will let us because shes so cool :D :cool: ;)

Originally posted by Lord_Vessen
Same here Captain Setsuko, but how will you set the squad up? Into certain divisions like melee, riflemen, etc. What's the scoop?
(Lol..scoop)

Before I can even start thinking of such things, I need to know how many troopers I can count on. After that, we can go two routes:

1: Specialist squads.

Ranged combatists in one, close combatists in one, etc. Each such squad would be deadly in what they do, but lack capability when it comes to other areas. This is the traditional setup of a large army: by having the squads work together, the squads cover each others weakness. These squads have specific battlefield purposes, and are armed thereafter (compare to traditional shock cavalry, engineering companies, artillery battlements etc)

pro: these squads would be deadly. A marksman squad laying down a barrage of blaster bolts, melкй soldiers hacking entire companies to sushi, etc.

con: requires a lot of members. Also require that all squads are present, or the enemy will easily take advantage of the squads weakness.

2: elite squads.

A squad fitted to be able to react to any threat on a battlefield, this is the standard in smaller forces. SAS, SBS, SEAL, Spetsnaz, Jдgare, Nдrskydd, they all work this way. Consists of a variety of small arms and heavy weapons. These groups have no special role that they perform really well, but they don't have the weaknesses inherited in a specialist squad.

pro: can handle itself without backup from other groups. Can fill any role on a battlefield with a minor bit of improvisations. I have real life experience of leading such groups.

con: in a ranged ambush, the melкй fighters have less to do than the marksman. And the other way when the range is limited, as in sandstorms, caves, thick jungle etc.

Hm. After writing this, it seems like the last alternative should work best for us. Though, I haven't experienced the combat in SWG as of yet, these mixed groups are most often the best in other mmorpgs. And after all, we don't really have the numbers for an army yet, even if everyone should be logged on...

So most likely, we'll have sqads. Each squad being... 5-8 members? Perhaps more, since we should think of the fact that all are not logged in/available at most times. Say Red Squad is short of two members, and Blue Squad is short of five. A quick message, and then there's no members in Blue Squad, but Red Squad is full. After all, this system is more or less for two instances: the Armed Forces should grow like a weed, and get 15+ members, meaning that everyone can't fight in the same group. Or that something Important happens, meaning that everyone will be online at the same times. Smaller groups are easier to command and makes it easier for the medics to keep track of wounds etc.

Right now, I guess there's simply one squad, call it Red Squad, Alpha Squad, Gnort Squad or whatever.

Dream Setup of a Squad, until I see the combat gameplay:

1 Squad leader (boosting effects, ranged)
1 Commando (heavy weapon support, ranged and melкй)
1 Medic (doh!)
2 Marksman professions (ranged)
2 Brawler professions (melкй)

This group could take care of itself, it could handle getting charged by monsters or close combatants, and at the same time giving the brawlers a lot of support. Ideally, the brawlers would have a little ranged skills as well, so they can bust a few caps before getting out their swords, gaffii sticks etc.

Hm. Making up structure wasn't that hard at all! The secret is to start rambling, until your words seems reasonable even to you! :D

you can can join my swuadron zendjir if your interested however wed have to check if we could make one first but im sure setsuko will let us because shes so cool

Why, thank you! ;)

How active will the combat division be?

I'm a pretty aggressive guy in games, so this'll decide whether or not I join up with you guys.

Dream Setup of a Squad, until I see the combat gameplay:

1 Squad leader (boosting effects, ranged)
1 Commando (heavy weapon support, ranged and melкй)
1 Medic (doh!)
2 Marksman professions (ranged)
2 Brawler professions (melкй)

This group could take care of itself, it could handle getting charged by monsters or close combatants, and at the same time giving the brawlers a lot of support. Ideally, the brawlers would have a little ranged skills as well, so they can bust a few caps before getting out their swords, gaffii sticks etc.

Hm. Making up structure wasn't that hard at all! The secret is to start rambling, until your words seems reasonable even to you! :D



Why, thank you! ;) [/B][/QUOTE]

your welcome and its true i think your right about thesese sort of squadrons but what i think is that everyone should be armed with basic blasters so the meelee get a litle more range and in tight spaces the marsksmen get a better suited weapon but im guessing you probably allready thaught about this

Yo setsuko count me in im goin for BH so if ya need im here. :evil5:

Well you can count on me Setsuko, I'll cover all your backs.

This kinda bothers me: Your "ideal" squad.

Reason it bothers me is that it will make people start wanting ONLY those classes in their squads/groups/teams/whatever they are called. The second this PA starts to become exclusionary is the time I have to call it quits...Yes, there are 20 slots, but I know how things have gone in other MMORPG's that I have played, so and so says LFG to his PA, that one has room in group but asks the rest of the group, someone says no, we're good the way we are don't need anybody else...If that happens in this PA, I am gone quicker than you can fire your blaster at that womp rat.

Originally posted by Ashmaster
This kinda bothers me: Your "ideal" squad.

Reason it bothers me is that it will make people start wanting ONLY those classes in their squads/groups/teams/whatever they are called. The second this PA starts to become exclusionary is the time I have to call it quits...Yes, there are 20 slots, but I know how things have gone in other MMORPG's that I have played, so and so says LFG to his PA, that one has room in group but asks the rest of the group, someone says no, we're good the way we are don't need anybody else...If that happens in this PA, I am gone quicker than you can fire your blaster at that womp rat.

Remember that my ideal squad is just that, 'the basics of a squad I think would be most successful'. Do not misinterprit this as 'the only squad that will be successful'. One of the joys of mmorpgs, and pretty much any tactical game, is to invent and reinvent the group setups, to test the advantages and disadvantages of new and exiting professions. Who will know if a brawler group with a backup of creature handlers is effective or not, if noone tries it?

If you think that I will make up "templates" for groups and such ****, then you know nothing of me. Sorry, but it is that simple. I love trying out new ideas, new formations, new gear setups. Who is the greatest tactician, I ask; the one who can succeed with one given template group, or the one that can succeed with pretty much anything that she is given? The professions/players that you would like the most to be in the group at the moment will not be online at all times. So you are pretty much screwed if you learn to fight in that formation and none other. It is simply plain stupid. And I am not stupid, right? At least I hope not! ;)

Of course, some combinations will be better. For instance, I haven't tried a mmorpg yet where a group can survive any real combat without a healer/medic/cleric, or a tank. These things, we'll have to live with. But to the extent that some players are left out in the cold and don't get to join? The General Says: Hell No! If such situations turn up where a group is filled with all twenty members, we simply split them if possible. If not, I'll happily leave a group that is so selfish and give my room to the new player. Under a good commander, every player has a role to fulfil. And in a good group, everyone supports each other. That's the way it has to work if the game is going to be enjoyable for everyone. And that, my friend, is my goal.

Also note that the professions given in this "dream setup" is vaguely given: every player with even a slightest bit of combat training can fill one, or more, of these functions. However, the idea with it is that it is propably better to have variety in a group in such a smallscale scenario as SWG, than having specialized squads.

I hope that will calm your fears. Keep up the imput, I need to read these posts from you to avoid bad situations that I might never think of! And yes, in the conflict of happy gamers and roleplay vs powerlevelling, the powerlevellers will have to take the blow if they have joined my group.


your welcome and its true i think your right about thesese sort of squadrons but what i think is that everyone should be armed with basic blasters so the meelee get a litle more range and in tight spaces the marsksmen get a better suited weapon but im guessing you probably allready thaught about this

The individual choises of combat is pretty much up to each member. Sure, if some player is quite inneficient, then the player needs advise, and perhaps a bit of training in how to successfully combat in SWG. Notice that what that player needs the least is a group that kick him/her out because he/she isn't as good as the other players. Hopefully, I'll be able to have some spare time over to guide new players who are a bit unsure about how things work. But will I snoop my nose around and telling people to switch weapons? Nope, don't think so. A player with a bad choise of weaponry learns that fact pretty soon, often by having to respawn every time the combat music begins! ;)

How active will the combat group be? I'm a pretty aggressive guy in games, so this'll decide whether or not I join up with you guys.

This depends on two things: 1), if I'll have to organize all organized events on my own of if I'll get help from my fellow members, and 2), how much time I'll get on my free time, considering that I am working and studying at the university at the same time. And involved in quite a few organizations. The ideal situation (again, I'm going utopia:D), is that the combat group will be able to offer something to do to any combat oriented player that is bored and has nothing to do. This is, however, quite hard, since I can't be logged on 24/7. But I'll do my best, that's the most I can promise right now. And on the aggressiveness issue, I think the level of aggressiveness will wildely range between high and low, depending on the mission. If we are to guard our miners while they set up their devises in faraway lands, the aggressiveness meter will propably be rather low, just dealing with wilderness monsters and other nuisance. However, if we charge of to a battlefield or a PA armed confliced, then all systems are go!

Originally posted by setsuko
However, if we charge of to a battlefield or a PA armed confliced, then all systems are go!
I suppose my question was how frequently will this happen...and for battlefields: what faction?

Originally posted by matt-windu
I suppose my question was how frequently will this happen...and for battlefields: what faction?

I answered on the "frequently" question. And my answer is that this is so far into the future that I do not know how scheduled I'll be, and therefore don't know how much time I'll personally be able to put down. Promising anything such now is stupid, and only speculations anyway. So I won't. Same goes for everything you hear about how PA's will work ingame: it is speculation. Take everything with a grain of salt.

Battlefields, what factions? Well... if there's enough members working overt in any faction, they will be able to join battles together. My personal plans are to stay neutral at least in the beginning, so I won't likely lead such an operation, unless you'll be able to do so without joining a faction. However, I can help organize it. More likely, I'll be involved in pvp battles with other PA's, and any larger armed conflict not involving factions.

After all, =A= as a group is officially neutral, and as a leader, I'll avoid helping either side more than the other. Pure RP reasons, and because we'll have imperial members who'll get sour if we only organize stormtrooper shootouts, and vice versa. Yes, it is a sticky situation for me as a leader, but I'll do my best not to step on too many toes.

Well, to enter a battlefield you have to temporarily declare a faction (for the duration of the battle). That, and there can't be an faction aligned players in a neutral pa.

Originally posted by matt-windu
Well, to enter a battlefield you have to temporarily declare a faction (for the duration of the battle). That, and there can't be an faction aligned players in a neutral pa.

Are you sure of this? Since, I must admit, I've never seen anything stating that until your post. Please add a link to a dev post about it if you are sure about it, since it is very dire news indeed if so is the case. I don't know one neutral PA that doesn't involve members who wants to join factions but still be in a neutral PA.

[EDIT] After thinking it through, I found it kind of unbelievable, or if it is implemented, unbelievable bad calculated. See it from the community's perspective: so, I stay in a neutral PA for six months. And then want to try out the factions system. *Pow!*, kicked out of my PA and the infrastructure built up the last half a year. I haven't heard anything like it in any mmorpg. And it would be a brutal blow to the freedom of character exploration and roleplaying in the game. To put it blunt: if this is the case, it is at the expense of the community, and noone else.

Battlefields - From the recent chat:
Holocron said: The PvP ones exist mostly at largish fixed locations that have been created to have interesting tactical situations. They tend to be "destroy the other person's power generator" types of things. When you come to the edge of the battlefield, you can choose to join a side, unless you already belong to one of the two sides.[...]

Multifaction PAs - Originally in the faq, removed during the update
I suppose it's presumably up for debate (recently, anyway), but it was in the faq as out. Maybe they changed it, as it was announced back in the day.

Battlefields has nothing to do with PA setups. And what side to assign to is up to the members of the group: if you want to go fight on battlefields, gather your fellow faction members for the task ahead. Aaaaanyway, back to topic (this is my thread, after all :D):

So far, these members have posted interest in the Armed Forces:

Thew Rydur
Lord_Vessen
swediot
DarthLord
Zendjir
Ingrown

Anyone else who think they'll belong in here?

Do you crave action? Or excitement? Then join Setsuko's Armed Forces! We'll have fun events such as sawing off enemy PA members ball sacs, hunting ewoks, and much much more!
Join now! lol:D

Originally posted by Lord_Vessen
sawing off enemy PA members ball sacs...



errr...


ow?

Seriously though, that's really harsh. Why don't you get me to just shoot 'em off?

Originally posted by Lord_Vessen
Do you crave action? Or excitement? Then join Setsuko's Armed Forces! We'll have fun events such as sawing off enemy PA members ball sacs, hunting ewoks, and much much more!
Join now! lol:D

and afterwards drinks are on me =)

I will more than likely join the Armed Forces branch, but will wait further towards release to make a decision, still not sure of the character class that I want to play, but am looking at Ranger most.

we could allways have like a fortnightly spar were we just practice against eachother and like flip a coin to see whos on whos team what do you think setsuko?

Since non-aligned players get to choose which side to fight on at battlefields, yes, we could battle each other now and then, for the fun of it! Oh, and I can always keep on dreaming that they will but the 'Arena' plans back in the game when the PA towns patch arrives...

Since non-aligned players get to choose which side to fight on at battlefields, yes, we could battle each other now and then, for the fun of it!
Just remember not to kill eachother. ;)
Could become rather costly that way, and that's definatly not fun. :D

Anyway, I think you should go with small armed forces setup, like S.E.A.L, S.A.S, Spetsnaz, etc....
Regular army setups are not really doable in my view. Would take far more members than we ever will see. :)
After all, it's a neutral PA with various goals, not a military organisation.

And I like Thews' suggestion: =A= Team :D

if we had a doctor who would give his services for free, there would be no implication..just remmber not to do the
coup de grace

Originally posted by Jan Gaarni

After all, it's a neutral PA with various goals, not a military organisation.


Moahaha.... ignorant puppets, they have no idea of my true intentions! Bwahahahaha!

Eh, did I post this? On the forum? Dammit!

So no one else is thinking about joining The Armed Forces? Oh well. Anyway I think =A= Team is a cool name, better then my idea....
Vicious Associate Monkeys
:monkey3: :monkey4: :monkey3:

If we are going with the elite squad idea then the =A= Team might work well as a name. Not only is the A Team an old TV show with Mr. T in it but the Green Berets are organized into groups called A teams. :D

So we are dividing The Armed Forces into squads...who will the leaders of the squads Set? I bet that is undicided. I might be a leader, but I'd rather follow.

if we had squads theyd have to be pretty darn small

Yes they would be small squads, don't laugh at me, I'm not up to date on these things. I'm not really sure about the setup with The =A= Team, I thought more people would want to join the military part of The Associates.

Basically, we are setting up the 'skeleton structure' of the PA. So right now, it is simply one squad. The advantage is that the structure is easy to expand, by dividing the forces into new squads every time we've got enough new members to fill a new squad.

Now I kind of get it, well then its just a matter of how many more people join.

Are we allowed to be in more than one group?

If yes, put me in for combat(carbineer) and industry(droid eng.).

It seems like quite a few people wants to be in both the Armed Forces, and another group. And that shouldn't be any problems. But to keep it easy, we could have "full time militia", the pure combat players, and "part time militia", people we know we can ask to join the fray when the **** hits the fan. Sounds ok to you?

Sounds good to me, but where would that put BH's? Full-time or militia?

BH's will most likely be fulltime in the beginning, when they aren't BH's, and part time if they want once they become BH's and can join the BH group. Sounds like a reasonable solution.

Originally posted by setsuko
people we know we can ask to join the fray when the **** hits the fan. Sounds ok to you? Oh, I'll be there, as I'm going to be focusing on combat droids. btw, do we have an industrialist and a miner somewhere? Wanna turn out a lot of combat droids as early as possible.

Great PA assets, they are. Protection for new members and (hopefully) good fighters for 'when the **** hits the fan'

ha you will find that the a team is far superior to a bunch of droids

Well since I plan to be a gunsmith (I sent the e-mail, but it didn't get updated on the site) I suppose I'd want to be on the part-time militia.

Also, might be a good idea to start thinking about what you want the militia's standard equipment to be so us smiths will know what to build you guys.

I didn't get an email from you Talain, and you need to go to the PA section of www.swgalaxies.net) and register to join there. I don't see why we wouldn't let you in, but you'll need to do both of those and stay active. That's a big requirement, particularly once the game comes out.

Originally posted by Talain
Well since I plan to be a gunsmith (I sent the e-mail, but it didn't get updated on the site) I suppose I'd want to be on the part-time militia.

Also, might be a good idea to start thinking about what you want the militia's standard equipment to be so us smiths will know what to build you guys. i will be making wookie bowcasters mostly just making my own though but if anyone else who is strong enough to wield it wants one ill be glad to make some of those for you guys

I will join the part-time armed forces, since I'll be exploring and smuggling alot too.

*leans back her chair in the charred blownout building currently used as temporary headquarters*

Well, yes Talain, I know our weaponsmiths wants the equipment plans ASAP, but no, I can't give them specifics. Just tell them we need a good selections of gear that is not too hard to use, but is a bit better than the pea-shooters they have when they enter my bunker. And yes, that means you tell them to cancel the b-32 blaster, I'm not scraping up the remains of another recruit who fails to grasp the basics of built-in grenade launchers. You get the general idea? Good.

*setsuko turns in her chair, looking at the crude map on her desk*

So, you got me a nice map of the hills, as ordered, Zendjir? Good. As long as you don't try to trade those Kilirit chrystals I guess you found there, you're ok. Oh, you wan't to volounteer to tomorrows expedition there? Hehe, not trying to get a chance to grab more crystals, are you? Nah, it's cool. Just be here at 08:00, sharp. And don't mind to bring that hunter rifle of yours, we might get into armoured enemies here, at this outpost behind the ridge. Don't worry, I'll get you tooled up.

What, still here? Dismissed!....

... and ask swediot to send me a plate of those steamy gnorts he has in his bar. Oh, and some coffee, I will propably have to burn an allnighter here.

Oh, and don't think I'm not working on this; I'm planning a much more detailed and interesting background story for my group, which might even be a springboard for other players characters. I'll put it up as soon as I consider it good enough, it still needs a little bit of fine tuning...