Author Topic: The Sohei: O5P Warrior Monks  (Read 97388 times)

Takiro

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Re: Order of Five Pillars Mechwarrior Unit
« Reply #30 on: 23 January 2017, 06:28:04 »
Looking good so far 05P_Ghost. The only change I'd make is the Venom to a Spider as in this setting it might not exist yet. I have a few more characters to detail myself when I get some time. Other personalities are welcome!

Ice Hellion

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Re: Order of Five Pillars Mechwarrior Unit
« Reply #31 on: 25 January 2017, 15:58:14 »
Looking good so far 05P_Ghost. The only change I'd make is the Venom to a Spider as in this setting it might not exist yet. I have a few more characters to detail myself when I get some time. Other personalities are welcome!

I will.
In turn they tested each Clan namesake
In trial against the ice hellion's mettle.
Each chased the ice hellion, hunting it down.
All faild to match the predator's speed and grace.
Khan Cage smiled and said. "And that is how we shall be."

The Remembrance, Passage 5, Verse 3, Lines 1-5

Takiro

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Re: Order of Five Pillars Mechwarrior Unit
« Reply #32 on: 25 January 2017, 16:27:04 »
Great Ice! Over on OBT I put up two more high officers of the Sohei and I think I will limit myself to just one more.

Tanaka Nakamora – Called the Shadow this native of Dieron is secretive and very quiet which is common for life long monks of O5P. Approximately 35 years of age this elite MechWarrior who pilots a Warhammer serves as one of the Sohei's battalion commanders. Apparently his skills in a BattleMech are only outdone by his martial arts skill and outstanding physical attributes. His demeanor belies the fact that he is a respected leader in the Sohei as he serves as the unit's second in command.

Iraho Tagai - Recently recalled from mercenary service this former covert agent of O5P served with various mercenary commands since 3043 and gathered quite an impressive resume. An extremely gifted Mechwarrior in his Shadow Hawk many outsiders were shocked to discover his O5P loyalties which were only revealed when he appeared on the Voice of the Dragon as a battalion commander in the Sohei. As the public face of the new unit he brings an impressive amount of cache and outside contacts to the unit.

Sir Chaos

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Re: Order of Five Pillars Mechwarrior Unit
« Reply #33 on: 26 January 2017, 05:52:57 »
Shodan George Hayashi Crab 30

The CRB-30 is introduced in 3061, and it´s a ComStar/WoB model with C3i computer. You´ll probably want a CRB-20 or -27 - or go for the CRB-C with C3 Slave unit.
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O5P_Ghost

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Re: Order of Five Pillars Mechwarrior Unit
« Reply #34 on: 29 January 2017, 13:38:15 »
The CRB-30 is introduced in 3061, and it´s a ComStar/WoB model with C3i computer. You´ll probably want a CRB-20 or -27 - or go for the CRB-C with C3 Slave unit.

You are correct sir, its the 27 I'm thinking of
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Takiro

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Re: Order of Five Pillars Mechwarrior Unit
« Reply #35 on: 29 January 2017, 23:08:57 »
Speaking of the C3 Computer I was just talking with someone about the Sohei and their tendency to embrace high tech innovations that the rest of the DCMS is reluctant to. Despite wanting to duel honorably and beat the Clans at their own game the Sohei realize they have to utilize every new piece of technology they can to achieve victory. Indeed their willingness to use almost any weapon to get the job done such as the Hatchet (physical attacks being viewed as dishonorable to the Clans) and the C3 Computer (which essentially has a lance of Mechs team up which again is dishonorable to the Clans) shows they have their own rules for dueling which while similar to the Clans are very different. Love to hear your comments on the tactics and dueling style that they will adopt and codify.

glitterboy2098

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Re: Order of Five Pillars Mechwarrior Unit
« Reply #36 on: 30 January 2017, 01:29:51 »
having skimmed the thread, a few thoughts.

the O5P warriors we see in Heir to the Dragon come across as a sort of "poor man's DEST". Tomoe for example is not just a Mechwarrior, but also highly skilled in Infiltration, Espionage, Special Operations, Infantry Tactics, and Melee fighting. basically on par with a real world Special Forces type training. (practically a high tech ninja, with how things are shown in the book)

while i doubt that they receive quite the same degree of cross-training the DEST do (it is doubtful they each would be trained to operate ASF's and battle armor as well as mechs), their military training seems to be a cross between the DEST and ISF skill focuses.

if the O5P was to create a dedicated combat force, it seems liekly to me that they would stick to this sort of 'special operations' emphasis, rather than making a conventional combat force. so i would assume they would deploy in smaller units, with integral Combined Arms in the form of Aerospace fighters, Platoons of Battle Armor, Commando Teams, and whatever transport these require for best effect.

i can see Vehicles being used in fact. while not large MBT's, smaller scouting units like the Pegasus Hover Tanks would make sense, as well as APC's for transporting Battle Armor and Infantry.

Archangel

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Re: Order of Five Pillars Mechwarrior Unit
« Reply #37 on: 30 January 2017, 07:54:32 »
The idea of naming the unit after a Japanese Deity is horrible.

I wasn't talking about naming the unit specifically after a Japanese Deity but rather some aspect or virtue they are known for.  For example naming a unit after Thor is doesn't really explain much, but naming a unit Thor's Hammer...

Kannon (aka Guanyin/Guan Yin in Chinese), the Goddess of Mercy, is known for seeing all suffering of the people and being there to help.  To symbolize this one of the ways s/he is depicted is having 1,000 arms and hands each with an eye in the palm (eye sees and hands help).  I was thinking of how this could symbolize the O5P as a whole with the hands and eyes being the members of the O5P while the organization as whole could see itself as a benevolent organization.  While Hands of Kannon doesn't sound like a combat group, Fists or Guardians of Kannon on the other hand....

Seeing as you have already chosen another name for your unit, I think I will keep this name in mind if I ever get around to forming an O5P unit of my own.
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Takiro

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Re: Order of Five Pillars Mechwarrior Unit
« Reply #38 on: 30 January 2017, 16:53:02 »
Yikes, I gotta read what I write more. That is a typo Archangel. Naming the unity after a Japanese Diety IS NOT a horrible idea. My bad. That is an interesting take on an O5P unit or even a Draconis mercenary unit with an A-Team like mission set. If you can find them maybe you can hire the Fists of Kannon!

Thanks for the thoughts glitterboy, I do have to agree with your 'poor man' DEST on the group as they wouldn't be cross trained as such but all O5P martial training begins with the arts they have kept under their purview for so long. I would think that the martial arts are at the core of any warrior academy run by 05P.

Vehicles (btw, Fists of Kannon here sounds awesome) would be any interesting addition but that leaves me with four units of this O5P creation - what would be the fifth?

Daryk

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Re: Order of Five Pillars Mechwarrior Unit
« Reply #39 on: 30 January 2017, 16:56:03 »
Artillery... preferably self propelled.

Takiro

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Re: Order of Five Pillars Mechwarrior Unit
« Reply #40 on: 30 January 2017, 18:30:48 »
Artillery I could see as part of the vehicle component actually. It would be a nice addition to the infantry fighting vehicles and fast strike tanks like the Pegasus. They'd be a nice supporting element if the Sohei got into trouble.

Daryk

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Re: Order of Five Pillars Mechwarrior Unit
« Reply #41 on: 30 January 2017, 18:33:39 »
If you consider artillery part of the vehicle group, where would you put VTOLs?  They could also form a 5th "arm".

Takiro

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Re: Order of Five Pillars Mechwarrior Unit
« Reply #42 on: 30 January 2017, 18:41:01 »
You could place VTOLs and Conventional Aircraft into their own group, yes. Not a bad idea as they aren't necessarily (ground)vehicles or aerospace fighters. Any other ideas?

Daryk

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Re: Order of Five Pillars Mechwarrior Unit
« Reply #43 on: 30 January 2017, 18:43:51 »
I'd generally keep Battle Armor and Conventional Infantry together, but a case could be made for Marines being separate.  How big of a DropShip fleet were you considering?  A Naval arm isn't out of character for the Combine...

Takiro

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Re: Order of Five Pillars Mechwarrior Unit
« Reply #44 on: 30 January 2017, 19:19:36 »
True but aerospace is the purview of the Tennyo and I wasn't going to go for any other naval group. I did consider marines but ultimately the Oniwaka should one day be able to cover that infantry area.

Daryk

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Re: Order of Five Pillars Mechwarrior Unit
« Reply #45 on: 30 January 2017, 19:32:14 »
Makes sense... speaking of infantry, here's an idea for your conventional organization, splitting the difference between a base 5 organization and standard 7 trooper squads:

5 Intek Laser Rifles and 1 Automatic Grenade Launcher per squad
5 squads per platoon (25 Inteks plus 5 Auto Grenade Launchers)

This gets them 3 points of damage per squad (2.54, rounds up to 3) at range 3/6/9 with no movement penalty.  When lumped together as platoons it's only 13, but that's still not bad.  Inteks are hyper efficient, and can be made more so by applying the custom weapon rules form the AToW Companion (i.e., down to only 1 Power Point per shot; see page 161).  This means the troops can carry truly ridiculous amounts of ammunition, giving them tremendous staying power.

glitterboy2098

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Re: Order of Five Pillars Mechwarrior Unit
« Reply #46 on: 30 January 2017, 21:01:08 »
fifth pillar would be Dropships/space transport.  no point to setting them up as a self-contained force if they don't have transport. this would include whatever aerospace fighters the ships can carry, as an escort.

O5P is a very secretive order despite it's official standing, and is often at odds with the DCMS, ISF, and ruling family. so them having their own dropships and fighters separate from the navy is not much a stretch, particularly since in this scenario they are also setting up mechwarriors, BA troops, infantry, etc separate from the DCMS.

Ice Hellion

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Re: Order of Five Pillars Mechwarrior Unit
« Reply #47 on: 31 January 2017, 01:06:17 »
And here is a pilot.


Born in a ‘MechWarrior traditional Kuritan family, Yoko Kijō was educated in the traditional ways of a samurai family with duty coming first.
When her father ordered her to take a vow and to serve the Draconis Combine as a nun, she obeyed not without much questions and internal debates, leaving her promising career as electrical engineer  together with her interest in glider piloting. She even found some happiness in the peaceful life experienced there and the time she managed to keep on working on a diverse pallet of skills.
When all her brothers were killed during the Clan invasion, her father, eager for his family to keep on serving the Dragon “through steel and blood” made a rather surprising request for such a traditionalist man and asked her to join the DCMS and to fight.
Once again, Yoko hesitated but in the end, the honour of her family requested her that she sacrificed for the second time her personal feelings. When informed of her intentions and seeing potential in her, the Abbess of her order decided to pull a few strings and to request for her a place in the newly formed Tennyo, the Aerospace support the Order of 5 Pillars was gathering to help escort their BattleMech forces into battle.
After going through a crash piloting test (as there was no time for her to master everything needed to pilot a BattleMech),  the now Sandan Yoko Kijō was sent to the Order of the 5 Pillars where she received a brand new Sai christened to “honour one of virtues of any samurai and one that she had displayed during all our life, familial piety.”
Even if she is still progressing in her mastery of her Aerospace Fighter, she has already shown her dedication and concentration in combat where she flies “for all hers” and her tech skills have already been put to good use.
In turn they tested each Clan namesake
In trial against the ice hellion's mettle.
Each chased the ice hellion, hunting it down.
All faild to match the predator's speed and grace.
Khan Cage smiled and said. "And that is how we shall be."

The Remembrance, Passage 5, Verse 3, Lines 1-5

Takiro

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Re: Order of Five Pillars Mechwarrior Unit
« Reply #48 on: 31 January 2017, 06:37:14 »
Welcome to the Tennyo, Yoko Kijō. Nice job Ice, still looking for more potential recruits!

A Black Navy arm is an interesting idea glitterboy. Any name suggestions? That would leave a single Conventional Vehicle arm (hopefully Archangel will allow me to use the Fists of Kannon) along with the Mechwarriors (Sohei), the Aerospace Fighters (Tennyo), and the Infantry (Oniwaka).

That would also see the incorporation of VTOLs to the Fists of Kannon.

Sir Chaos

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Re: Order of Five Pillars Mechwarrior Unit
« Reply #49 on: 31 January 2017, 08:04:59 »
The fifth arm could be the support personnel. The O5P, in contrast to those samurai jocks of the DCMS, realizes that in this era of technological warfare, the best warriors are nothing without those who maintain and repair and supply their equipment, right?
"Artillery adds dignity to what would otherwise be a vulgar brawl."
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Takiro

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Re: Order of Five Pillars Mechwarrior Unit
« Reply #50 on: 31 January 2017, 18:39:39 »
I'd actually like to stick to battlefield combatants as the Sohei (the central unit and heck it is O5P so they are all warrior monks) so while valuable support personnel like techs and doctors will not be the fifth arm. I think a Black Naval unit with Dropships and Small Craft escorts to counter the Clan advantage might be the winner. The Combine manufacturers Achilles and the O5P does take its security serious perhaps they could scare up a few. :)

Daryk

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Re: Order of Five Pillars Mechwarrior Unit
« Reply #51 on: 31 January 2017, 19:59:03 »
Achilles are very cool!  Not exactly low profile, though...

Takiro

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Re: Order of Five Pillars Mechwarrior Unit
« Reply #52 on: 31 January 2017, 23:38:35 »
Who said anything about a low profile!

Now all we need is a name for this fifth and final Sohei naval force. Any suggestions??

Daryk

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Re: Order of Five Pillars Mechwarrior Unit
« Reply #53 on: 01 February 2017, 04:04:50 »
How about the "2nd Fleet" (Dai-ni Kantai)?  It's a nod to Admiral Kurita, and a play on the fact they're separate from the DCMS.

Takiro

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Re: Order of Five Pillars Mechwarrior Unit
« Reply #54 on: 01 February 2017, 06:26:17 »
Not bad, anyone else?

Sharpnel

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Re: Order of Five Pillars Mechwarrior Unit
« Reply #55 on: 01 February 2017, 07:44:25 »
They will need a jumphip an PWS or two along with transport for the combat elements. Five droppers should do, plus one for the tech crew and supplies. That means two jumpers of one large one (Monolith or Leviathan[a nice hook])
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Ice Hellion

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Re: Order of Five Pillars Mechwarrior Unit
« Reply #56 on: 01 February 2017, 15:53:51 »
Shuinsen ? ie red-seal ships, like the Japanese armed merchant sailing ships bound for Southeast Asian ports with red-sealed letters patent issued by the early Tokugawa shogunate in the first half of the 17th century (source https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_seal_ships)
In turn they tested each Clan namesake
In trial against the ice hellion's mettle.
Each chased the ice hellion, hunting it down.
All faild to match the predator's speed and grace.
Khan Cage smiled and said. "And that is how we shall be."

The Remembrance, Passage 5, Verse 3, Lines 1-5

Takiro

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Re: Order of Five Pillars Mechwarrior Unit
« Reply #57 on: 01 February 2017, 16:58:37 »
An excellent suggestion Ice! Two good ones so far, anyone else?

Sharpnel this is a wee bit before Pocket Warships but it would be interesting if I militarized a Jumpship. Part of a Combine experiment to develop a pseudo warship that may have existed even prior to the Clans, rushed development afterwards which really didn't work out, and somehow became the center piece of this fleet. See if I can find my old TRO. ;)

Sir Chaos

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Re: Order of Five Pillars Mechwarrior Unit
« Reply #58 on: 01 February 2017, 17:53:20 »
An excellent suggestion Ice! Two good ones so far, anyone else?

Sharpnel this is a wee bit before Pocket Warships but it would be interesting if I militarized a Jumpship. Part of a Combine experiment to develop a pseudo warship that may have existed even prior to the Clans, rushed development afterwards which really didn't work out, and somehow became the center piece of this fleet. See if I can find my old TRO. ;)

I like that idea. Maybe they let the O5P handle this so no enemies spies in the DCA could get wind of it? Such ships could make a nice surprise in the expected next war against the FedCom.
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Kidd

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Re: Order of Five Pillars Mechwarrior Unit
« Reply #59 on: 02 February 2017, 06:55:43 »
^ This is starting to sound more like the kind of heavy assets available to DEST rather than either ISF or O5P. Remember that the latter two are usually less about direct action, and would probably keep those dedicated assets to the minimum, 'borrowing' what is needed from other Combine forces from time to time.

IMHO I thought an ISF/O5P agent-Mechwarrior would more commonly be equipped with a device loaded with codes capable of jacking any DCMS Mech within seconds or hacking non-DCMS Mechs in a handful of hours. Much more spylike.