I'm creating an adventure for ATOW where a Mandriss (Baron) controls a small valley roughly 50 square kms in size. He also owns a successful agricultural business HQ'd in the same valley, which mixes traditional land agriculture with modern high-tech methods. So other than a small town, a large village and an Agri-biz complex, all of the land is dedicated to agriculture. The valley is a flat-bottomed basin surrounded by lime stone karsks, that's bisected by a wide winding river. River canyons at either end of the valley are the only land access points into it - river itself can be transited. The Mandriss has a manor -more of a stronghold really- which is built into the side of a karsk promontory that juts out about 3 kms from the surrounding cliffs - the only such formation and high ground in the valley.
The timeline of the events in the adventure is 3036, so the Late Succession Wars Renaissance era. The party of PCs (7 total) is tasked with conducting surveillance on the Mandriss' Manor, but can only get their Mechs to within 2 km of any good observation point. This Mandriss has historical ties to House Liao, but his estate is on a world outside the Capellan Confederation. He has warm relations with the Viscount that governs the particular continent his estate is situated on, but cool -to- frigid relations with the Duke that governs the planet. And the plot thickens...So with that sort of political dynamic and running a profitable company, I figure he sees the need for a force, but how big?
So far I'm thinking a mixed company of Battlemechs and Armor, with an additional mixed company of infantry and security detail. I imagine him having a Guard lance that patrols his manor, with a Patrol lance that patrols the valley and is joined by a lance of hovercraft Combat vehicles. The signature Mech of the Mandriss' ancestors is the Raven, so I'm thinking at least 2 of those in his Guard. One of my thoughts about the Guard, is that the precarious nature of the geological promontory would necessitate some, if not all, 'Mechs in the lance have jump jets. I envision his personal Infantry company as being on the large side and having 3 full-sized platoons. With at least 1 platoon to provide security to the Agri-biz operations, an infantry platoon split into 2 squads to patrol at the canyon access point and another more specialized, security platoon to provide Manor security.
So far all I have is his Guard Lance which is:
2 x Raven RVN 4X Light
1 x Dervish DV-6M Medium
1 x Catapult CPLT-C4 Heavy
I'm really not sure about the Patrol lance and Armor lance. I just know I probably want some heavier Mechs (can't imagine someone like the Mandriss affording Assaults) and hover Combat Vehicles that were used by House Liao and the CCAF; probably early SWs, but it could as early as Star League. I'm confident about coming up with a mized Infantry company that makes some sense.
If anyone can give any suggestions or feedback, it'd be much appreciated.