Political Map of the Madenhu IslandsOn March 13
th of the year 1903, the Empire of Langen declared war on the Empire of Sarapul over their mistreatment of the Langenese minority within their borders. The Empire of Langen called on their traditional ally, Karliova, for help in their war. In response Sarapul called on their own allies to assist them. On May 1
st, 1904 after much deliberation the Democratic Kingdom of Terralba joined the Great War on the side of Langen and the Northern Alliance, and launched a surprise attack on the Republic Edon. Their assault was successful, but as time goes on their advance slows down further and further, threatening to turn into a stalemate.
The current date is July the 15
th, 1904. The Great War shows no signs of stopping with new soldiers and mechs being sent to the front lines every day. But the generals of Terralba are hopeful for a breakthrough, for the army is the largest it has ever been and the forces of Edon are divided among many different fronts. You are all mech pilots for Terralba, a small and prestigious group, and on this day you arrival at the Front. For some this will be your first time experiencing combat while for others it will be a familiar experience. But regardless of your background or training, you can all be proud in fighting for the honour and glory of your country.
History:
A long time ago a cataclysm shook the world. Those who survived were divided into the Cultured Ones and the Uncultured Ones. The Cultured Ones retained all of the infrastructure and technology from before the cataclysm while the Uncultured Ones descended into a dark age. The people of Madenhu are part of the Uncultured Ones and thus their technology is relatively primitive, with the ability to manufacture vacuum tubes and combustion engines being the limit of their native technology. However like many Uncultured Ones the people of Madenhu have also relearned some advanced technology from before the cataclysm. The most important technology that was recovered was the ability to construct mechs, lumbering war machines that dominate the battlefield. These robots are largely constructed using expensive machinery bought from the Cultured Ones, but despite this restriction they still form the core of the army.
Ages ago the Madenhu Empire was formed on the backs of these mechs, but it quickly collapsed from internal rebellion and was replaced with several squabbling successor states. The largest and most important of these states are the Empires of Langen and Sarapul, but the Republic of Edon and the Confederacy of Karliova also forces to contend with. Below them are the lesser nations of Carnaby, Csengod and Terralba, but they too harbour dreams of grandeur and struggle to achieve those dreams. Beyond the Madenhu Islands lies the lands of the Cultured Ones who will occasionally send equipment, medicine and goods to trade, but generally they ignore the Madenhu Islands and keep to themselves. Since they will accept no people from outside countries into their lands, very little is known about them. Occasionally a Cultured One will visit Madenhu as a tourist, though such an event is very rare. Far to the south is the Great Island Chain, where many more nations of Uncultured Ones squabble and fight. While a vigour trade is conducted with the lands of the Great Island Chain, they are too far away to influence the Great War and the politics of the Madenhu Islands.
Mechs and Combat:
The majority of mechs used in the Madenhu Islands are produced on the islands, though a significant number were purchased from the Cultured Ones. Regardless of where the mechs came from their inner workings are not understood and full of black boxes, some of which are added simply because the robots won’t operate without them. Thus innovation is rare, since the cost of prototyping and developing new kinds of mechs is too prohibitively expensive. A new design or variant can only be tested by building a prototype, which takes far too much time, effort and labour.
All mechs are squat machines, with thick legs to support their weight and bulky arms for balance and close-ranged combat. The arms are also needed to leverage these warmachines back to its feet if it falls, which is sadly common. The average mech tops out around 8 meters tall, though larger types may reach as much as 10 meters. They are powered by a combustion engine hooked up to an electrical generator, which is the only cost efficient way to run their systems. However their engines must consume a lot of biofuel to power themselves, meaning that they can rarely fight for more than 30 minutes without refueling. To compound this problem they are also very slow, with only the smallest and fastest of robots making it over 30 kilometers an hour, and thus the operational range of a mech is pitifully small.
Despite all of these faults mechs are widely used, simply because they are the most cost-efficient way to bring weaponry and armour into a battle, which says more about the industrial capabilities and technical innovations of the Uncultured Ones than anything else. Since mechs are very expensive to produce, most nations rely on fixed gun encampments for defense. These encampments are much cheaper, and usually mount the same kinds of weapons as a mech. The relative cheapness of fixed guns combined with the small range of mechs means that warfare is a very slow affair, and usually gets caught between between two powerful defensive lines which neither side can budge. Despite this situation most casualties suffered in warfare are from disease and accidents, since very few mechs fight at a single time and assaults on fixed positions are rare. Thus very few soldiers are ever in danger of being shot at. Additionally the survival rate among pilots is very high, due mostly to the ease at which a mech can be disabled without harming the person operating it.
Nations:
Sarapul:
The Empire of Sarapul lies to the eastern edge of the Madenhu islands, with plenty of farmland to support a large population. As such it has always been a prosperous nation, though assailed on all sides by its less wealthy neighbours. On paper the military of Sarapul looks weak for they have few mechs due to their lack of mines and material production. Yet in reality that army is small but elite and backed up by many fixed guns to fend off enemy assaults unsupported. With such a defensively-oriented military it is no surprise that Sarapul is allies with Edon, for the strengths sync up well together. The Sarapulian soldiers keep the enemy in check while the Edo Navy sets up a blockade around their ports and raids coastal cities, allowing those two nations to bleed their foes dry in relative comfort.
The people of Sarapul are held to have a sour disposition with a strong individualistic streak. Yet they are also cultured and metropolitan for many immigrants from other countries are drawn to Sarapul for its bountiful and cheap farmland. Most of these immigrants assimilate quietly in Sarapul, except for the Langenese who keep themselves separate as much as possible.
Langen:
The Empire of Langen is an industrial and militaristic nation, for it contained many surviving pre-cataclysm factories though these have long been replaced by new equipment from the Cultured Ones. As such it has the largest military in the Madenhu islands, and dreams of recreating the Madenhu Empire whose capital was within Langen. As such it has taken steps in the past to keep its neighbours weak earning the nation few friends and allies, except for the Confederacy of Karliova. The Great War is simply a continuation of Langen’s foreign policy, though even its Emperor seems surprised that the conflict has escalated to such heights and engulfed all of the islands.
While strong industrially and powerful internationally, Langen’s government is heavy-handed and oppressive. Thus it is no surprise that many immigrants in Madenhu are Langenese in origin for many seek a better life for themselves. These immigrants are naturally viewed with some suspicion but they generally keep to themselves and work on their farms and thus are tolerated. Except for in Sarapul, which views them with disdain for Langen is their old enemy.
Edon:
The Republic of Edon has long been a major trading and naval power in Madenhu, due to its location and closely guarded secrets to constructing powerful ships. However in recent years its power has been fading, as other nations have been focusing on building up their national shipping industries instead of relying on Edo traders. The Republic is still a force to be reckoned with however, for Edon’s decline in fortunes has not yet affected it’s navy which is the largest of its kind.
Unsurprisingly most people view the Edo as greedy and unscrupulous, though in reality most of them are poor peasants and labourers like everyone else. The average Edo citizen is larger than the average person in Madenhu, due to a hearty and constant diet of seafood. Edon has long competed with Sarapul to be the cultural center of Madenhu, though their rivalry is a friendly one since the two nations have been allies for just as long. As such many musicians, artists and playwrights come from Edon, and even the average citizen seems to have a creative streak to them.
Karliova:
The Confederacy of Karliova is a loose amalgamation of individual states, formed due to an invasion from Sarapul. Centuries ago raiders from Karliova were feared across Madenhu, but the rediscovery of mechs put an end to their warlike ways and they retreated back to their island to fight among themselves. Yet Sarapul never forgot what the Karliovans did and attempted to conquer their island, prompting the Confederacy to form. With the help of Langen and the use of guerilla tactics the Karliovans reclaimed their lost territories, and ever since have opposed Sarapul as much as they can.
The island of Karliova is heavily forested and sparsely populated, so it is no surprise that most people think of its population as superstitious and uncultured. However the forests also hide a treasure cove of metals and minerals, and with the help of Langen the forests are being cleared away and infrastructure built. In Sarapul the Karliovan soldiers are nicknamed ‘spiders’ for their terrible guerilla tactics and ability to strike when least expected. Other countries view the Karliovan army with less fear however, and it is a well known fact that most of their mechs are constructed in Langen and piloted by Langenese soldiers.
Carnaby:
The League of Carnaby is a small nation wedged between two great powers. In olden times Carnaby was a protectorate of either Edon and Langen depending on who was stronger at the moment. Recently a revolution wracked the country, regaining control of the land from foreign interests and since then Carnaby has struck out as an independent nation. Unfortunately their success at overthrowing foreign rule did not extend to other matters, and in recent memory their armies have been chastened by a failed invasion of Csengod.
Despite their strained relationship with Edon, Carnaby is a member of the Southern Powers for they view Langen as a bigger threat to their existence. As such they have allied themselves with Sarapul though such an alliance is not expected to last very long. The people of Carnaby have grown ambitious and seek to improve their nation in any way possible, so it is likely that they may switch sides to pursue a perceived advantage.
Csengod:
The Kingdom of Csengod is a small nation on the edge of the Madenhu islands. Its people are a nation of farmers, for traditionally its desire for finished goods has been supplied by Edon and thus little native industry developed. However that does not imply that Csengod has good relations with Edon for its King has long been trying to make his country self-sufficient and not so reliant on a foreign nation. As such the Republic and Kingdom have been at loggerheads, though until the outbreak of the Great War the two countries have not raised arms and fought each other.
While Csengod is a small nation its citizens are fiercely patriotic. Its poets love to talk about its rugged beauty, and no other leader is so universally loved like its King. When the forces of Carnaby invaded Csengod in a misguided attempt to increase their own territories, the citizens of Csengod peacefully but defiantly opposed the invaders at every turn, contributing to their defeat. This defiance has been recorded in popular songs and shows, and when the Great War started Csengod joined Langen so that they may gain revenge on Carnaby.
Terralba:
Terralba is a Democratic Monarchy, with King Mariano Aquila acting as a figurehead while President Amato Nieddu and the Assembly is in charge of the nation. It occupies a couple of small islands on the edge of Madenhu and is poor in resources and farmland. However its isolated position also means that it has largely been spared the problems of the other nations, for its neighbours were not interested in the lands of Terralba and it has suffered from no invasions. Yet this situation does not sit well with President Nieddu, who wishes for Terralba to have a more prestigious standing as a country. As such he has promoted the arts, invested in new factories and increased the size of Terralban military. While initially Terralba was neutral in the Great War eventually it sided with the Northern Alliance. The forces of Edon were spread out among many fronts. Sensing an excellent opportunity to capitalize on the situation, President Nieddu signed a secret treaty with Langen and launched an amphibious assault on Edo Island. Miraculously the invasion succeeded, and despite the efforts of the Republican defenders the beachhead has been expanded.
Terralba is roughly divided into two regions, north and south. The south is the breadbasket of the country, with plenty of farms that export rice to the cities. But recent growth has not touched the south and it is suffering from obsolete infrastructure and a lack of schools and hospitals. As such its population resents the people in the north for a lack of interest in their problems. In contrast the north is industrialized and urban. Almost all of Terralba's mines and factories lie in the north, and the arts flourish underneath the government and wealthy business. As such the people in the north view the south as idiotic bumpkins due to their lack of development and culture.
- Long ago there was a disaster that divided humanity into those who maintained advanced technology and those who didn’t.
- The people of the Madenhu Islands, and by extension the PCs, lost everything in the disaster.
- Thus their tech level is around the turn of the 19th century, with some splashes of salvaged technology.
- Obviously the ability to create mechs is one of these salvaged technologies.
- The Cultured Ones, or those who have kept their technology, live on a land to the west and are rarely seen in Madenhu
- Very little is known about the Cultured Ones, but they are willing to trade mechs, drugs, equipment, and similar things with the nations of Madenhu.
- The Great War is a massive conflict that is currently wracking the islands of Madenhu.
- Sarapul, Edon and Carnaby form the Southern Powers.
- Langen, Karliova, Csengod and Terralba form the Northern Alliance.
- You are all mech pilots in the Terralba military, which is invading the country of Edon.
- Terralba is one of the poorest countries in Madenhu, and so joined the Northern Alliance to gain prestige and wealth.
- Edon is a fading trading power, and joined the Southern Powers as part of their treaties with Sarapul.
- Most combat is carried out with mechs, who are around 8 meters tall and too well armoured to be damaged by anything besides another mech or fixed guns.
- These mechs are slow and ungainly, more like walking tanks than giant humanoids. They do have arms, but they are for balance and brawling and thus their hands lack fine manipulation.
- Most mechs are taken out of combat by being disabled, such as getting their engines shot. Thus the rate of survival among pilots is very high, though many are captured and end up in prisoner of war camps.
- Due to the speed of mechs and the power of fixed guns, warfare is a very slow and plodding affair. The situation between Terralba and Edon is an exception, for the Edo forces are too small to completely stop the Terralban army.
Stats:
Character Stats:
Attack: Increases the damage caused by your mech.
Defence: Decreases the damage that your mech receives.
Accuracy: Increases the chance for your mech to hit with its weapons.
Evasion: Decreases the chance for your mech to be hit by enemy attacks.
Mech Stats:
HP: How much damage this mech can receive before being disabled or destroyed.
Armour: Reduces received damage to this robot.
Armour Skill Bonus (ASB): Increases a mech’s armour depending on its pilot’s defence skill.
Mobility: Reduces the chance for this mech to be hit by enemy attacks.
Movement: How many hexes this mech can move in a turn.
Special: Equipment or abilities that this mech has.
Slots: What weapons or additional equipment this mech can equip. A robot can only equip additional weaponry if it has the slots free for it.
Weapon Stats:
Damage: How much damage this weapon does on a hit.
Damage Skill Bonus (DSB): Increases the damage this weapon does depending on the Attack skill the pilot has.
Accuracy: The chance for this weapon to hit.
Range: How far this weapon can fire, in hexes.
Abilities: Any special effects or abilities this weapon has.
Combat:
Combat alternates between enemy and PC turns. On your turn you may move, attack, or move then attack. However you may not attack then move unless your mech has a special ability that allows that. A mech can move up to as many hexes per turn as its movement stat but certain hexes may reduce that range, and you may move less than your movement if required.
To attack you must have a valid target in range. The chance to hit is (Weapon Accuracy + Pilot’s Accuracy) - (Target’s Mobility + Target Pilot’s Evasion + Terrain Evasion Bonus). Damage dealt is equal to [(Weapon Damage + DSB*Pilot’s Attack) - (Target’s Armour + ASB*Target Pilot’s Defence)]*Terrain Damage Reduction.
Terrain:
Terrain has three stats, evasion bonus, damage reduction and cost to move. Evasion bonus increases the chance for any mechs on top of it to avoid attacks. Damage reduction reduces any damage that mech receives by a percentage amount. Cost to move is how many movement points you have to spend to move onto that terrain. Most hexes costs only 1 point to move onto, but some can cost 2 or even 3.
Open Field: +5% Evasion, 1 Movement Cost.
Forest: +15% Evasion, 5% Damage Reduction, 2 Movement Cost.
Hills: +25% Evasion, 15% Damage Reduction, 3 Movement Cost.
Water: -15% Evasion, 10% Damage Taken, 4 Movement Cost.
Roads: Overrides the effects and stats of whatever terrain it's on. 1 Movement Cost.
Building: Overrides the effects and stats of whatever terrain it's on. +20% Evasion, 10 Damage Reduction. 3 Movement Cost.
Pilot: Everything there is to know about your mech pilot.
Name:
Age:
Gender:
Appearance:
Background:
Note: If you want to include some kind of shocking twist to your character, then PM me and I’ll see if I can work it into the game somehow. It’ll make things more interesting and provide more missions for you all to fight.
Stats: How good your character is at piloting mechs. You initially have 50 points to distribute between the 4 stats. No stat may have more than 25 points in it.
Attack:
Defence:
Accuracy:
Evasion:
Mech: What kind of mech you're piloting, and what weapons they have. Look below in the mech and weapon spoilers for the different types.
Callsign/Name:
Colour/Paintjob:
Mech Type:
Weaponry:
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Pilot:
Name: Renata Manco
Age: 27
Gender: Female
Appearance: Tall, with short brown hair and green eyes. Holds herself in a confident manner.
Background: Renata was a mech pilot before the war broke out, and distinguished herself in several battles. Due to her skill she has been promoted to a non-commissioned officer and commands her own squadron of mechs.
Stats:
Attack: 12
Defence: 12
Accuracy: 14
Evasion: 12
Mech:
Callsign: Blue Robin
Colour/Paintjob: Light Blue
Mech Type: Ishim-D Line Mech
Weaponry: 'Mace' Missile Battery, 60mm Cannon
Author
Topic: 25th Mech Squad - OOC Thread (Read 24922 times)