 February 8, 2011 - 9:01pm | I was thinking that the Royal Guard's history would largely start with the SW1- that with the need to erradicate the sathar invaders and attack monsters left behind on Laco and Pale after the sathar fleet was trounced by Admiral Morgaine. Like many states during the ACW, Clarion raised Royal Guard regiments and sent them to help finish the war in Dixon's Star and Truane's Star for the newly formed "federal" government of the UPF. This was where the RG cut its teeth and established some of their traditions. Likely they have their own version of the song, "From the Halls of Montezuma to the..." Except it goes, "From the Tetrarch Pillars to Frozen Pale......" RG like Land Fleet is greatly reduce in size and budget during peace time. it might be that the RG maintains a higher state of readiness that allows it to be deployed off planet at a moments notice, much faster than Land Fleet as the Council of Worlds has to convene and the Military Oversite Commitee must recommend to the Council that Land Fleet be authorized funding for a build up and deployment- naturally the mega-corps have their hands in the pockets of key politicians and this becomes a pork barrel boon-doggle. So when a police action is called for its sometimes easier to activate a Royal Guard regiment under the UPF treaty obligations and deploy it to the hot spot then to wait till the beuracracy can catch up with the emergency Thus the RG history would read like this - 1st Sathar War deployed to both Laco and Pale - Outer Reach police action. - Police action on Laco when the UPF finally stepped in to end the PGC-Streel decade long corporate war. -Occupation of Outer Reach. - 2nd Sathar War I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
 February 10, 2011 - 12:25pm | It sounds like you want a three-layer armed force? - active-duty ready-to-go forces - reserves, able to be called up for Sathar War 2/next - training cadres, for new forces after the reserves are called up. All-volunteer, I presume? |
February 10, 2011 - 8:02pm | @ Putraack I sort of imagine Clarion as a democratic monarchy- if that isn't an oxymoron so yeah the Royal Guard (and Royal Marines) would need to be all volunteer for moral and the stability of the government. The optimal point is that large standing armies cost money- thus Land Fleet and the Royal Guard would likely need to scale back when the worms are not shooting. So I guess you're quite correct that it would be a 3 tier force- though I imagine that in the case of Land Fleet things are much looser- I envision the Royal Guard having high moral, elan and pride. It might be that the Crown actually maintains a higher percentage on active duty when compared to Land Fleet. Plus a tour in the Royal Guard or Marines would likely have a tradition of nobelese oblige - that its expected that members of the royalty will do their service to king and country (before or after college) and with the King being very popular with the commons they also will have a tradition of service but will be more likely that the common person to be your long service veterans- pulling 30 years (no doubt with the lifespans listed in the rule book a career lasts longer than what we currently consider normal) Here's the thing- and this is my personal bias- I believe some militias are probably lower quality, its just the nature of the beast- their small organizations and their quality is up for grabs on a system by system bases. Space Fleet and Land Fleet are not the elite- in the Knight Hawks book is says that space fleet officiers are very highly trained but that the enlisted are often rift raft and dregs swept up to crew the ships on the cheep, I expect that the situation in Land Fleet is similar but with fewer problems with mutiny. Corporate mercenaries, while effective and having the best equipment available, are only loyal to the almighty credit and they dont fight to the death. So while mercs can be very very good they do have their drawbacks That brings us to the militaries in the Clarion system; For me, I perfer to see them as being the elite in the Frontier- and there is a personal rivalry between them and the militaries of the UPF. They know they are the best and they take pride in that and friendly little brawls have been known to happen between when Space Fleet and Royal Marines find themselves in the same bar I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
February 11, 2011 - 9:03am | "That brings us to the militaries in the Clarion system; For me, I perfer
to see them as being the elite in the Frontier- and there is a personal
rivalry between them and the militaries of the UPF." Works for me! I was thinking about some encounters to throw into a future WoWL game, and a stationside barfight with UPF Fleet's "riff-raff" seemed appropriate. As for making the CRM elite, and mixing with the noble things that we have discussed, we could have a tradition of short-service+long reserve time for those in the nobility (minor or otherwise). Some sort of public privileges for those in uniform- discounts at lots of businesses? Free bus/shuttle passes? Also, what can we do about annual maneuvers (more than 2 weeks?)? Maybe that ought to be tied to a public holiday-- one for the send-off and one for the return of the reservists a month later. - That's when lots of families go on vacation? - Fireworks, flyovers, parades and such to end a month of field training. - Schools are closed (since at least some teachers are reservists), businesses slow down (ditto, plus maintenance & upgrades to factories), everyone heads for the beach. - Addresses by the King/Queen, of course, and a dress-uniform ball. - The traditional opening or closing of legislative session within a week of the beginning or end. - Elections, too? What I'm thinking is to have one great blast of public spirit or community, something that everyone looks forward to, adult or child. Do the regulars (some, most, or all) get a long furlough when the reservists are mobilized? |
 February 11, 2011 - 2:05pm | gonna go way off for this one First the Royal Guards who have never been defeated even thought they are a small force scattered between the 12 cities. This points to a highly self motivated group who take the extra step to stay ahead of their competition. I am thinking since they are part of a royal/fuedal system that there is a tradition in many noble and middle class families to serve in the RG. We can picture sons/daughters/buds being disowned for failing to pass the rigourous entrance exams or doing something which disgraces themselves. We can also think that they receive alot of support and donations from alumni that keep them on top. Also competition between the 12 cities like the British Army's Artillery Corp cannon drag race to see who gets the priviledge of escorting the King/Queen for the year. You get the idea. The Clarion Royal Marines are on the other end of the spectrum. They are the best because they are always in action. Look at the list of their duties and you see they just don't get a break. Since they are so small everyone must keep at it all the time. Now since they have to recruit off world beings to staff themselves with the right skills they are thought of as a Foreign Legion/Mercenary group. Even the Commander is only traditionally a member of the Royal family which means sometimes the Commander aint. Yes understaffed, underequipped, underbudgetted, underpaid, overworked and unappreciated they are still the first line of defence who never fail to take up the call of duty. And yes that means I think their dress uniforms are way to nice. Think cheaper for these guys. Sounds like a great job but where did you say we had to go? |
 February 13, 2011 - 1:28pm | When were other races aloud to join the royal guard? |
 February 13, 2011 - 9:58pm | Also, what can we do about annual maneuvers (more than 2 weeks?)? Maybe that ought to be tied to a public holiday-- one for the send-off and one for the return of the reservists a month later. I really like this idea of a tied in public holiday. This gives Gollywog a tradition and feel that no one else really has. Tho some worlds may try to copy it, they are too late to get it ingrained into their society because they didn't start when the colony formed like Clarion did. This also gives a strong reason for the people to traditionally support their military. They get this big holiday perk out of it. -iggy |
 February 15, 2011 - 11:39am | Good stuff. For me, I perfer to see them as being the elite in the Frontier- and there is a personal rivalry between them and the militaries of the UPF. The difference between a militia and fleet officer is the militia officer has a stake in the system he/she is entrusted to protect: he/she LIVES there. A man defending his home possesses far more courage than the mercenary hired to attack it. Ditto for the latter applying to any Fleet operative assigned to investigate said home world...he has no stake in the outcome beyond following orders. When were other races aloud to join the royal guard? I don't find issue with this. Clarion is listed as a human population, but by canon definitions that merely means the dominant species found on the world, rather than the ONLY species found. Dralasites, vrusks, and yazirians are certainly to be found amongst Clarion's populations, just not in large quantities. Note the 38% representation of non-humans amongst the officers listed on the ship rosters: two vrusks on the CMS Wasp, the yaz on the Falcon, and the dral & yaz aboard the frigate Leo. Only the Osprey is "all human" until the (pending) players arrive... This gives Gollywog a tradition and feel that no one else really has.   (one can only imagine the spiel that would come from a RG or RM drill instructor towards any recruit making that mistake) |
February 15, 2011 - 11:09pm | This gives Gollywog a tradition and feel that no one else really has.
I siad that on purpose.  -iggy |
February 15, 2011 - 11:45pm | Ah, keepin' us on our toes, are ya? |
February 20, 2011 - 7:05pm | woot wrote "The difference between a militia and fleet officer is the militia officer has a stake in the system he/she is entrusted to protect: he/she LIVES there." Thank you woot aka Johnny Rico of Rico's Roughnecks for that inspiring bit, now back to the RG. Do we have a small tradition bound but very dedicated group like the Swiss Guards of Vatican City but unlike them are equiped with the latest weapons and ready to take on all comers. OR More like an order of Knighthood which requires years of training to enter and have many ceremonial duties also. OR A popularly supported militia without the budget problems other groups have. Sounds like a great job but where did you say we had to go? |
February 23, 2011 - 1:42pm | Actually I penned that one...it's "Shadow's Shacknecks".  As for the game...we probably can't go with option two (knighthood w/years of training). Page 4 of the WoWW module details induction into the RM lasting a whopping 20 days before players are assigned to the Osprey. Although... This may take into account that the players were hired from offworld and as such were already skilled. The list of applicants might have been short at the time, this probably wasn't the norm for the Royal Marines but rather "desperate measures for desperate times". |
