Middle Earth STGOD concept no.2

[weemadando]

200 people are selected according to the previous system (military experience given preference, followed by the top 200 - or parts thereof).

Each is issued three sets of woodland camo BDUs and slouch hat. Each is also given one set of webbing (empty). No weapons or ammo is issued. NVGs and other standard issue kit may be issued as applicable.

Each is told that they can bring 100kg of materiel with them - this must include personal effects, clothing and any other equipment they wish to bring.

Weapons may NOT be taken back - with the exception of "weapons" such as swiss army knives and gerber tools etc.

Food can be taken back, but falls under the 100kg of personal gear.

The base which people find themselves in is 10 quonset huts in 2 rows of 5. At this point the only defense is a 400m per side perimeter of chainlink fence topped with razorwire.

The base is situated 1km from a river (clean and smooth running) on flat, non-flood plains. There is a good sized forest 2 km away that does not have an elf or ent contingent. The exact location of this base can be decided by consensus.

4 of these are "barracks", 1 is a mess (with 2 months of supplies), 1 is an infirmiary (stocked with roughly a years worth of basic supplies - meaning one month of combat supplies), 1 armoury (with 200 modern rifles and the capacity to fix these - ammo however is limited to 1000 rounds per weapon, grenades and other weapons decided by consensus), 1 "shop", 1 storage and 1 command (containing computers, libraries etc).

The entire base is powered by solar energy drawn from solar panels on the quonset huts. The power is adequate to run the systems in place on the base, but not much more.

There is a pair of Willies jeeps on base with fuel and parts for roughly 3000km of driving.

Fresh water must be brought in manually at this point.

This base is not on a major traderoute and will remain undiscovered for a period of 3 months before being noticed by the rangers.

The affiliation of the base and its occupants is to be decided by the occupants.

Bilbo Baggins 111st birthday is happening as the people begin arriving on the base.


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Comments, criticisms, additions?

[The Duchess of Zeon]

I'd like to go with the larger number of top 400 + those with military experience, but otherwise I like the idea of the reduced resources outlined. Maybe double the size of the facility + an additional hut for officers (whom we can elect). They'll get the same reward as everyone else - which we won't know about until we return home anyhow - but get housed in better quarters whilst there. This will let anyone who feasable wants to participate in the STGOD do so, and, considering the greatly reduced resources, counter slightly with More Bodies. I might suggest half a dozen jeeps then, but no more.

[weemadando]

Doubling the base size and keeping relative resource constraints? I'm happy with that.

Elected officers? Good idea. Seperate bunking? No - Perhaps keep them in the same barracks, but with their teams, maybe give them a nicer bed or a private quarters, quonset huts are pretty versatile.

Half dozen jeeps? Again, no real problems.


I created this because I like the idea of being forced to adapt to the new environment rather than falling back on technology.

[The Duchess of Zeon]

Hrmm.. Is interest still present with the reduced resources?

[Jaded Masses]

I am not sure I understand the person constraint. I doubt you will even recruit even 50 people, unless you ment that a few would be controling the actionss of the many in the game world. I for one would like to be involved in this stgod, and I am pretty sure I don't qualify for even the top 400 posters let alone the top 200. Now as for what my qualifacations are, I am familer with the story, as I am reading it now for the second time. I have a willingness to take orders in such an environment. And I think I have a resonalble grasp of writing merit.

[Typhonis 1]

hmm those with mediacl conditons >AKA Yosimitee Bear, are cured magically before all of this starts

[Setzer]

As for my talents, I can run VERY fast (my best time for the 400m is 61 seconds) so I would make a good runner. That's just for sprinting, however. 61 seconds is about how long I can run at top speed. My walking speed is 4 mph.
I was in ROTC in high school, so I know some basic drill movements, and can take orders well, but that just comes naturally. The kind of person who likes loyal troops who don't act without being specifically ordered (i.e., don't take initiative) would love to conscript me.

[Durandal]

I might actually participate in this STGOD (I was pretty active in the original thread in Other Sci-Fi). I could use something to get my writing up and running again.

But yes, curing ailments, like near-sightedness or allergies, would be a good idea, as would immunizations against any common Middle Earth diseases.

[Durandal]

Oh, more.
Standard-issue stuff = good idea. Letting everyone bring his own weapon makes drilling and training complicated. Also, a standard-issue kit allows for the cannibalization of supplies. If everyone is issued an AK-47, then when someone is killed, his ammo can be utilized by the rest of the troops. Giving everyone a 3 weapon set consisting of an assault rifle (such as an AK-47), a sub-machine gun and a sidearm would give each person enough diversity in firepower for any type of encounter. Tack on the standard extras, like grenades, flashbangs and all that. Flares would also be a good idea.

[Sea Skimmer]

We really don't need both a rifle and sub machinegun, I wouldn't trust the stopping power of most models against an armored ork anyway. A 5.45 or 5.56mm weapon is likely a better option then 7.62 assault rifles. The stopping power is more then sufficient with the right ammo, while they can actually get worthwhile automatic fire out of them.

[Thirdfain]

How about a whole bunch of tower shields? remember, we have guns, but our enemies don't. They will shoot arrows at us,. and we can stop arrows with shields.

[weemadando]

I still think that the FN-FAL/SLR is a much better standard issue weapon, very accurate and reliable and its got good stopping power.

[Sea Skimmer]

Indeed, however its only useful in semi auto. I'd favor AK-74's.

[weemadando]

Indeed, however its only useful in semi auto. I'd favor AK-74's.

Well, either way we get an insanely easy to look after weapon that most people shouldn't have a problem understanding.

And due to the fact that each weapon has only 1000 rounds I'd say that SLRs in semi-auto is definately the way to go.

[Setzer]

So the only thing standing in our way is deciding which rifle we use?

[Durandal]

1000 rounds is only about 30 clips' worth. We could be there for years. 30 clips would go away in just a few months. For all intents and purposes, we might as well put in a huge amount of ammo. This is a TGOD, so it's not like we're going to have someone be the bean counter and tell us when a character has exhausted his ammo supply ... or will we?

[Sea Skimmer]

This is a TGOD, so it's not like we're going to have someone be the bean counter and tell us when a character has exhausted his ammo supply ... or will we?

Its a STGOD and yes we very well could.

[weemadando]

1000 rounds is only about 30 clips' worth. We could be there for years. 30 clips would go away in just a few months. For all intents and purposes, we might as well put in a huge amount of ammo. This is a TGOD, so it's not like we're going to have someone be the bean counter and tell us when a character has exhausted his ammo supply ... or will we?

GAH! Its the FUCKING POINT that we don't have the abundant resources with which to bunker ourselves indefinately... This concept was created in order to make sure that we couldn't continually rely on technological advantage to carry the day - at least not without putting in the hard yards ourselves.

[Typhonis 1]

what happened to the STGOD of the old Middle Earth threatd?

[Patrick Ogaard]

1000 rounds is only about 30 clips' worth. We could be there for years. 30 clips would go away in just a few months. For all intents and purposes, we might as well put in a huge amount of ammo. This is a TGOD, so it's not like we're going to have someone be the bean counter and tell us when a character has exhausted his ammo supply ... or will we?

Simplest thing might be this:

1. The supply of ammunition is drastically limited, and, yes, the scenario calls for up to 20 years. This means careful, sustainable use of weapons and the eventual development of alternatives and replacements for the weapons that will wear out or run out of ammunition.

2. Everyone starts out with a basic rifle and pistol set, something designed as a compromise that everyone is more or less unhappy with. I'd suggest an AR-15 or Ruger Ranch Rifle, both of which are semiautomatic 5.56mm weapons that can take magazines holding up to 30 rounds apiece. Each one comes with a cleaning kit, a 4x scope, shoulder sling, carrying case, 10 30-round magazines (presumably manufactured before 1994), 1000 rounds of conventional ball ammunition. The pistol is the equally unsatisfying but reasonably practical commercial Beretta 92, with a shoulder holster, 6 15-round magazines, and 300 rounds of ball ammunition (and maybe 50 rounds of shot ammunition just to be playful). The pistol also comes with its own dedicated cleaning kit and a carrying case.

3. As part of their 100kg allotment for personal gear, gun bunnies can also bring their personal weapons. The limit is that it has to be stuff the real life person would reasonably and realistically have legal access to. That is, anything questionable, like military explosives or automatic weapons, would require approval by those monitoring the game. Shotguns, rifles, handguns, ammunition, blackpowder weapons and handloading gear should not require approval, but weights must be accounted for. It will be effectively impossible to bring enough guns and ammo to last the 20 years, even if all of the weight allotment is blown on that stuff.


It's to be hoped that anyone with access to suitable models of guns easily reproducible with the technologies of Middle Earth would bring them. Since most countries have very modest restrictions on muzzleloaders using technologies pre-dating 1900, most everyone should bring along something like a rifle-musket, a percussion or flintlock pistol, a cap-and-ball revolver, or at least some useful books detailing how to produce primitive weapons and ammunition. Even a force equipped just with locally produced single-shot rolling block rifles and pistols would be very dangerous, and if that force had access to cap-and-ball revolvers, so much the better.

[Thirdfain]

Folks, I should point out once again that in a world of mideivel weaponry, armor is REALLY god stuff to have. Imagine, a Roman-style shield wall, were every soldier has an AK47- near immune to enemy counterfire, and capable o laying down incredible firepower on the enemy.

So, perhaps helmets, mail hauberks, and tower shields woul be good to have...

[Patrick Ogaard]

Folks, I should point out once again that in a world of mideivel weaponry, armor is REALLY god stuff to have. Imagine, a Roman-style shield wall, were every soldier has an AK47- near immune to enemy counterfire, and capable o laying down incredible firepower on the enemy.

So, perhaps helmets, mail hauberks, and tower shields woul be good to have...

There's really no reasonable argument against that kind of gear. The thing is, it's something that would be best acquired locally, after arrival. Shields and body armor tend to wear out quickly in combat, even if the wearer lives. Therefore it would be best to concentrate on things that could be produced and repaired by local artisans.

As an example, a knee-length, short-sleeved leather jack, double-breasted and with sewn in mail or lamellar material between two layers of leather would be a good thing to have as standard issue. Two layers of leather, a canvas liner and a layer of metal mesh would be quite adequate protection for most purposes. The double-breasted construction would effectively double the protection offered to the front. Add four slits, for sitting on chairs and riding on horseback, below the waist, and you're in business. Just remember not to make the thing too bulky to fit combat webbing over. An inside pocket or three on the breast might be included to insert steel plates if things should get really hairy.

Ankle to shin demigreaves of steel or even hardened leather, plust forearm protection of the same materials, and all you need is a helmet to complete your ensemble. The demigreaves and forearm protectors would not provide armor coverage to the back of the legs or the insides of the forearms, to prevent excessive weight. Soldiers inevitably "lose" stuff that weighs too much, even food and water.

For less demanding tasks, a flak jacket version of the above jack would work well enough: two layers of leather, buckles down the side, metal mesh sandwiched between the layers of leather, and coverage from collar bone to waist, with no double layer to the front. Much less weight, but enough protection for most purposes if you remember to bring an open-face helmet.

For shields, small bucklers to be worn at the belt could serve in close combat for those that want them, and otherwise a pavise will serve. That would be a large shield about the size of larger modern riot shields. It has no rim and is in effect constructed of plywood made of thin slats of wood and sandwiched between glued-on layers of rawhide varnished to make them waterproof. It resists splitting and provides good protection against arrows, and has a gutter runnning down its middle in the back to allow it to be set on a stake for the archer (primarily crossbowmen) to hide behind and reload in relative safety. Not a good shield to use in close combat, though, since it will quickly get chopped to bits.

[Sea Skimmer]

2. Everyone starts out with a basic rifle and pistol set, something designed as a compromise that everyone is more or less unhappy with. I'd suggest an AR-15 or Ruger Ranch Rifle, both of which are semiautomatic 5.56mm weapons that can take magazines holding up to 30 rounds apiece.

Neither will reliably last under these conditions without a steady supply of cleaning kits and oil.

[The Duchess of Zeon]

Neither will reliably last under these conditions without a steady supply of cleaning kits and oil.

Russian-made AK-74s will probably last the longest, so why don't we just take those?

[The Duchess of Zeon]

Russian-made AK-74s will probably last the longest, so why don't we just take those?

(Well, as long as we get a batch from a good plant.)