NationStates Jolt Archive

So,I've been a lurker here for a while, and I just now got around to starting up a nation. I was thinking about how to open up, maybe a civil war or something like that, but decided not to go that route just yet. Maybe get a solid history of the nation up first before starting a war or major poitical action. I ended up comming up with the idea for a compition/game/what have you along the same lines as all the ones going around now.

Now, I wanted to do something new, something that hasn't been obviously done to much before. That, and I don't like soccer. So I was thining, how about a Special Ops/Counter Terror style war game/contest for some nations.

So, go ahead and lets see whose interested for this. I would want to start small, maybe four or five other nations, and if it works out well, we can do it again. So whose game?

Decided on five teams, including myself. That would make it run smoothly and such
1. The Patriots (Me)
2. 1st SFGD-D (Imitora)
3.
4.
5.

I'll have up a list of compitions shortly, as well as scoring ideas and all that good stuff.

I'm in assuming this is MT/PMT. I'm about to sling you a tgram, check it out and tell me what you think. I've been wanting to run one of these for a while, so it should be fun.

I'd probably be interested, depending when it gets implemented. OpsTempo is very high for me right now, so I can't really come out and commit to another RP just now, but if the timing works out, I'm in.

If I do decide to do it/can get enough interest, it would most likely start this weekend or early next week. Its going to be MT/PMT.

OOC: I might be interested. I'll admit, though, I haven't RPed specops in a bit.

Well, you wouldn't have to actually RP the ops, perse, as the scoring would be handled by an RNG to find scores. So you could theoretically handle the entire operation in a single post. So I don't think you need to worry to much about actually RPing as special ops, it would be more of a character thing for the players involved.

Oh, and the compitions I was thinking on going with:

Timed Run with an O Course followed by a quick run at the shooting range
Shooting, Pistols and Rifles
Shooting, Snipers
CQC (Hand to Hand) Tourney
Hostage Rescue Scenario
Ambush Scenario
Possibly a final test with a "nightmare scenario"

The scoring, I'm still working that out, but placing in events will be handled by an RNG.

If I do decide to do it/can get enough interest, it would most likely start this weekend or early next week. Its going to be MT/PMT.

Figures this would start just before our next exercise. :( As much as I really want to do this, I'm not sure it's fair of me to take a spot from someone who can be around more. That said, if you find yourself in need of one last team...

Wait ... so it's a spec ops contest but we don't get to actually RP the spec ops themselves? Is this because it would be unfair without an impartial judge? Because it seems to me that what would work best would be allowing us to RP through each section. Of course, with individual events such as 'shooting, sniper' that doesn't work out so well, since then it basically comes down to who posted the best sniper character bio (Maybe I'll make a character that's been hunting since age 3 or something). What this really should be, since spec ops isn't actually something completely independent and based on, say, rankings such as sports are on NS, it seems as if this would just be completely random. It wouldn't really matter whether (for example) I had a spec ops team that had been around since April '03 and that was widely considered one of the best in the world, it would come down to a random number generator?

I think this would work much better if it took longer, had more detailed events (say, a series of half a dozen scenarios in which the spec ops teams go after different missions, like blowing up a bridge, securing a downed helicopter, sabotaging a supply dump, rescuing hostages, etc.) with someone like regular army types playing the roles of 'bad guys' that would take longer than just posting some bios and a one-post strategy plan, and let the contestants RP out their spec ops team against whoever was playing the part of 'every bad guy' - a player that OOC was impartial and willing to let their characters get defeated multiple times. Then an impartial scoring system could be used and the end result of the RPing would judge the winner (i.e. Sabotage the ammo dump in ten minutes or less - 50 points, twenty minutes or less - 40 points, thirty minutes or less - 25 points, 60 minutes or less - 10 points; with different modifiers to the point totals for things like 'going undetected by defending team' or points being deducted for team members getting shot).

Wait ... so it's a spec ops contest but we don't get to actually RP the spec ops themselves? Is this because it would be unfair without an impartial judge? Because it seems to me that what would work best would be allowing us to RP through each section. Of course, with individual events such as 'shooting, sniper' that doesn't work out so well, since then it basically comes down to who posted the best sniper character bio (Maybe I'll make a character that's been hunting since age 3 or something). What this really should be, since spec ops isn't actually something completely independent and based on, say, rankings such as sports are on NS, it seems as if this would just be completely random. It wouldn't really matter whether (for example) I had a spec ops team that had been around since April '03 and that was widely considered one of the best in the world, it would come down to a random number generator?

Basically, sorta kinda. I misspoke. What I was propsing was this. First, we identify the compition. Then, we run the RNG, and whoever has the best score via the RNG wins. Then, you all get the chance to RP how your team specifically handled the event, how they reacted, etc. etc. etc. Example: We do the hostage rescue scenario. You get your team placement. Say you get second. The scoring says you get specific time penalties based on getting shot or leaving a room uncleared or something like that. So, you say you did well, but I dunno, one of your shooters tripped (cuz shit happens), and that delayed the team. Or one of your boys got shot, so theres a time penalty, whatever.

The RNG serves two purposes. One, it solves the oh shit portion. The murphey's law effect. The RNG forces your to RP the trip listed above, or getting one of your guys shot, or not running the best run to date. Basically, its the random factor that exists in the human world. Take Somalia in '93 for example. Two special operations units that have been said to be some of the best in the world, all it took was one random oh shit moment, and the entire thing went to hell. Thats what the RNG represents.

Second, it gets rid of the cockey factor. Here's basically what would happen. For our example, we will use something other than the hostage rescue scenario. Lets use the timed run:
RPer: My character finishes the 1500m in three minutes and then gets all head shots on the range in under ten seconds
Wait...Your guy just ran a world record pace on a 1500m run, in full gear, and then, totally unphased, shot a perfect set of rounds on a target range?
RPer: Yes, cuz my guys train twenty two hours a day, seven days a week, and are in perfect shape, and never fail.
So in the 100+degree heat of summer, in a load bearing vest loaded with ammo, their rifle, and their side arm, in BDUs and boots, they ran this run perfectly, and then shot two magazines perfectly from their side arm in under ten minutes, scoring head shots on the 10yd, 25yd, and 50yd targets?
RPer: Yes, the train all the time. They are the best, and they never fail, and They wont here.

Now, I don't expect this to happen, but the RNG fixes the problem before hand. In dealing with special ops from their respective nations, every one is going to be cockey and think theirs are the best. No one is going to want to loose. The fact is, someone has to. The RNG forces someone to loose. It also makes the event fair enough, as it isn't up to the individual RPers to determine how well the do. If it was, then everyone will shoot bullseyes, everyone will run at super human speeds, the hostage rescue will go perfectly, etc.

I think this would work much better if it took longer, had more detailed events (say, a series of half a dozen scenarios in which the spec ops teams go after different missions, like blowing up a bridge, securing a downed helicopter, sabotaging a supply dump, rescuing hostages, etc.)
For test purposes, everyone has to have generally the exact same mission, that way they are not judged on a mission by mission basis, but against a general score.

With someone like regular army types playing the roles of 'bad guys' that would take longer than just posting some bios and a one-post strategy plan, and let the contestants RP out their spec ops team against whoever was playing the part of 'every bad guy' - a player that OOC was impartial and willing to let their characters get defeated multiple times.
Imitora is taking care of this with a team seperate from his own entrance team. I'll let him explain it. The one post strategy is for the interest of time, as if you look at any of the numerous 'tactical' RPs floating around out there, it takes to damned long to RP dynamic shooting scenarios in numerous posts. However, a suggestion from Imitora is that for the kill house/ambush/nightmare scenario situation, the contestant and Imitora work it out generally before hand, so it can be handled in no more than three posts.

Then an impartial scoring system could be used and the end result of the RPing would judge the winner (i.e. Sabotage the ammo dump in ten minutes or less - 50 points, twenty minutes or less - 40 points, thirty minutes or less - 25 points, 60 minutes or less - 10 points; with different modifiers to the point totals for things like 'going undetected by defending team' or points being deducted for team members getting shot).
The scoring point system is currently being developed. I was going to originally base it somewhat along the point system of the SSCC, but it is fairly complicated based on the use of an RNG, and needs actually, physical, results. That, and it is damned complicated, the editors themselves admitting so. So, its still a work in process, and should be handled and set up shortly.

So, is this appropiate enough to count your team in (if so, I would just need the team name, we can work on the use of bios, if used at all, later), or do you need more convincing, or are you out?

Figures this would start just before our next exercise. :( As much as I really want to do this, I'm not sure it's fair of me to take a spot from someone who can be around more. That said, if you find yourself in need of one last team...

Gotcha, I'll keep you in reserve in case!

Imitora is taking care of this with a team seperate from his own entrance team. I'll let him explain it. The one post strategy is for the interest of time, as if you look at any of the numerous 'tactical' RPs floating around out there, it takes to damned long to RP dynamic shooting scenarios in numerous posts. However, a suggestion from Imitora is that for the kill house/ambush/nightmare scenario situation, the contestant and Imitora work it out generally before hand, so it can be handled in no more than three posts.

Basically, I volunteered one of my PMCs to handle the specific logistics of the situation. This includes bad guys, medics, etc. I'm about to pass out, so I'll explain some time tommorow. The idea discussed above is in order to ease and smooth out posting dynamic entry and operations. My idea is that I and the poster in the specific operation will work out before hand the specifics of the operation in an attempt to smooth out the situation. That way, we can have three-four posts for each team to actually RP out the operation.

I like the RNG for the reasons mentioned. Especially the oh shit factor. If there are concerns regarding the fairness of me supplying both bad guys and a team to shoot, then I'll back my shooting team out and keep the PMC handling logistics in.

I assume it would be, like

*list of possibilities good*
*list of bad*
*number possibilities*
*roll dice*

yes?

Pretty much, yeah.