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Messages - Ardent Debater

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1
Forum Games and Roleplaying / Re: Doomed and Futile Rebellion (40k SG)
« on: July 27, 2023, 03:03:29 pm »
Quote from: Fluffe9911 on July 25, 2023, 06:40:02 pm
I guess if there is some leeway in how hard/how far we push/take certain things I'm fine with all three.
Quote from: King Zultan on July 26, 2023, 02:34:44 am
Doing all tree of those sounds good to me.
Quote from: Blood_Librarian on July 26, 2023, 09:53:15 am
I'm okay with doing all three security operations.
The authoritarianism is very much dependent on how far you want to take it. For the most part, this choice is just to determine what precautions you want to take ahead of time while the Vox Meritum still has a functionally 100% trustworthy military and administration.

Quote from: Blood_Librarian on July 26, 2023, 09:53:15 am
As a note: We really need to take full advantage of our industrial capacity. it might be wise to even have every single infantry unit we produce utilize carapace armor and heavy weapons, we have so much capacity that either wee need to produce a metric ton of tanks/void vessels or we're simply not gonna get enough regiments out to fight. As a reminder, this forge world at full tilt can produce 800,000 worth of Heavy Weapons, or enough to supply 8,000 Regiments per year.
Euclite has an immense degree of potential industrial output and leverating it well will make or break the rebellion. It's responsible for enough Heavy Weapons manufacture that Imperial Guard regiments sent in will almost certainly have less of them than your basic militia.

Quote from: Kashyyk on July 26, 2023, 10:05:14 am
Quote
As a reminder, this forge world at full tilt can produce 800,000 worth of Heavy Weapons, or enough to supply 8,000 Regiments per year.
It's a shame that Euclite have not indicated possession of Power Armour STCs, that would be a fantastic way to leverage our production.
Unfortunately, Euclite doesn't possess any STCs for human-sized Power Armour but it is possible to research. It would have a substantial cost and maintenance but would be very much worth it. Of course, the deadlier the Vox Meritum is, the faster it'll be taken seriously by the Imperium. The initial reprisal invasion will be gathered under the notion that there's been a small, secular uprising and that a semi-important but not critical Forge World's fallen under its sway. That is a significant problem but the Sector is fairly remote and at any given time, there are dozens, if not hundreds, of full-scale Ork Waaaghs, Chaos incursions, and Tyranid splinter-fleets, among other, more obscure existential threats, simultaneously demanding the Segmentum's attention.

I'll give you guys some more time to decide on what you want to do with your production before the update. Retooling industry does take time but production can begin while it's only partially complete. Although if you go ahead with Warhound manufacture, fielding them outside of a full or partial Titan legion will take some convincing for Euclite. The Euclite Mechanicus are still tech-worshipers, they've just rejected Martian traditionalism for innovation out of religious zeal.

2
Forum Games and Roleplaying / Re: Doomed and Futile Rebellion (40k SG)
« on: July 25, 2023, 06:23:42 pm »
Since there's nearly a tie between Coded Language and Propaganda and Secret Police and they aren't mutually exclusive, do you want to go with all three precautions? Coded Language is largely centered in sensitive military or industrial organisations and consists of regularly changing passwords, alternate meanings to normal words, and phrases that have nothing to do with what they're referring to. The long-term, lingual effects will filter out into planetary populations over time and leave language in a state of flux. Propaganda isn't remotely sophisticated without psychological research into it but constant repetition of the same core concepts may sway the ideals of a significant minority, if not a slight majority of the population, and by default, is mainly public posters and vox transmissions. Secret Police is self-explanatory but how it works is up to you, and could be anything from the worst interpretations of the Stasi to a particularly secretive and hands-on volunteer neighbourhood watch program.

Besides countering the threat of the Imperium's Inquisition, is there anything you'd like to manufacture or do for this year?

3
Forum Games and Roleplaying / Re: Doomed and Futile Rebellion (40k SG)
« on: July 24, 2023, 05:18:58 pm »
Quote from: King Zultan on July 22, 2023, 04:48:54 am
Also we might need to execute the loyalist soldiers to keep them from being a future problem.
Quote from: Kashyyk on July 22, 2023, 12:59:25 pm
Quote from: Maxine on July 22, 2023, 05:48:14 am
Re-Education for the Loyalists
Integration for the Neutral
I'll support this.
Quote from: Funk on July 22, 2023, 01:15:36 pm
Execute the Loyalist soldiers.
Re-Education for the Neutral.
Quote from: King Zultan on July 24, 2023, 04:04:02 am
Quote from: Fluffe9911 on July 22, 2023, 01:46:33 pm
Quote from: Maxine on July 22, 2023, 05:48:14 am
Re-Education for the Loyalists
Integration for the Neutral
Personally I feel it should be the other way around regardless +1
+1
Quote from: Blood_Librarian on July 24, 2023, 04:46:40 am
In total I support
Re-Education for the Loyalists
Re-Education or the Neutral
The situation with the soldiers of Xephenus VI and Ganars V merits much thought. You and your qualified, competent advisors discuss the matter in great detail, and eventually decide to Process and Integrate former Imperial regiments that are willing to see reason. As for the stubborn, surviving Loyalists, many feel they should be preemptively purged but in the end, a more moderate approach wins out and going forward, they will be Re-Educated. Some think a similar approach would be best for Neutral, if trained, noncombatants but concerns of cost warrant an Integration oriented approach. Starting with disarming them. Your administrative headquarters on Ushevan are too far and the regime change on Xephenus VI too recent to make moves toward reclaiming its Loyalist holdout, but it is only a matter of time.

Quote from: Maxine on July 21, 2023, 04:21:58 pm
Quote from: Blood_Librarian on July 21, 2023, 10:48:41 am
I vote for naming the bureaucracy Grand Unified Secured Territories Oversight (G.U.S.T.O).
Quote from: King Zultan on July 21, 2023, 05:00:07 am
Quote from: Kashyyk on July 21, 2023, 02:38:34 am
That went much better than I expected.
I think we should Greatly Improve the Conditions on Xephenus I, and Integrate the Loyalist Regiments on Ganars V, and repair the Orbital platforms.
Also, we should absolutely expand Resource Extraction across these new worlds (8,000 on Xephenus VI, and 7,000 on Ganars V) as well as roll out the new Bureau for Meritorious Conduct to everywhere.
We can also in theory support another 174 Regiments across our new planets, for a cost of 52,200 upfront, plus 5,220 upkeep in total to outfit them like our current Ushevan Regiments. We should think about how many we want as mobile heavy Infantry, versus others. (Recon, Aerial, Artillery, Light Armour...). At the absolute minimum we want to give them all a year of training, preferably five, plus the specialist training they'd need for other roles.
We could attempt to follow a pattern of say, 6 Infantry:1 Recon:1 Aerial:1 Armour? We could probably justify Flak and Light Weapons for those specialist units, which will reduce costs slightly.
+1
I concur with all of your first points. I'm putting my votes towards Greatly improve Xephenius 1's conditions, Process and Integrate Loyalist Troops
I am of the opinion that we should commit to respeccing the indotech now rather than later, and that we should do it in a pattern of the ilitarized patterns of military force we are making. At the very least, speccing into carapiece armor, transports, radios so that we can sustainably produce the prime heavy weapons mobile infantry is easiest way to extend our arterial bleed of resources that will come when we need to bang out millions of soldiers and save something like 20% or whatever, it'll pay for itself!
Quote from: Kashyyk on July 21, 2023, 07:48:20 am
cut
You should include light comms at 1 resource per regiment as well, I think.
It might even be good to assume that we need to have the ability to bang out the 237,660 Production worth of this army template every year, and respec our industry to get it done cheaper form our heavy weapons spec'd manufactorums, as well as converting some manufactorum space for titans n maybe a shipyard?
Quote from: Maxine on July 21, 2023, 04:21:58 pm
Quote from: Kashyyk on July 21, 2023, 02:38:34 am
Bureau for Meritorious Conduct
+1 to the name
Quote from: Blood_Librarian on July 24, 2023, 04:46:40 am
Quote from: Operation Ascent
Small Bureaucracy costs 10 Resources to implement per 1 million population upfront, and requires an upkeep of 1 Resource per 1 million population:
-Begin Implementation of bureaucracy on
--Ganars V: Population: 42 million
--Xephenus VI Population: 17 million
--Xephenus I Population: 28 million
Resource Extraction Expansion on:
-Xephenus VI +8,000
-Ganars V +7,000
(assuming we can invest in recently conquered stuff)
Xepnhenius I:
-Greatly improve their conditions: [-84,000 Resources upfront, -300 Resources per 1 million in upkeep]
Ganars V:
-Integrate the Loyalist Regiments
Plan does not include votes on the innovation or what to do with soldiers as it is not undivided in thought.

Fires of Industry time.
Reprioritize Specialized Industry for producing both Heavy Infantry and 6 Infantry:1 Recon:1 Aerial:1 Armour structured Forces
Heavy Infantry:  Carapace Armor(100, 10/y m), Heavy Weapons(100, 10/y m), Basic Comms (1, 0y m) x 100 = 20100 Production Capacity for 100 Heavy Infantry Regiments per year. Note that half 10,000 is already spec'd. Produce 100 regiments that each eat 20 resources a year.
The industry of Euclite will be ordered to specialize some of its Heavy Weapons capacity towards this production.
 
For the Second Pattern:
Infantry: Flak Armor (10 1/y m), Light Weapons( 10, 1/y m), Basic Comms (1, 0/y m) x 60 = 1260 Production Capacity for 60 Infantry Regiments that each eat 2 resources per year.
The industry of Ushevan will be ordered to specialize some of its capacity towards this production.
Recon (100, 10/y m) x 10 = 1,000 Production Capacity
The industry of Ganars V will be ordered to specialize some of its capacity towards this production.
Aerial( 1,000, 100/y m) x 10 = 10,000 Production Capacity
The industry of Euclite will be ordered to specialize some of its Heavy Weapons capacity towards this production.
Light Armour (10,000, 1,000/y m) x 10 = 100,000 Production Capacity
The industry of Euclite will be ordered to specialize some of its Heavy Weapons capacity towards this production.

When such questions are resolved, you turn your attention to matters of administration. The Vox Meritum's territorial size has more than doubled and with an increase of incoming material comes an increased demand for an efficient and reliable logistics system to support it. To that end, you authorise efforts to maximise Resource Extraction on Xephenus VI and Ganars V. The Bureau of Meritorious Conduct is no less necessary as a means of encouraging the ideals of Meritocracy and is implemented as swiftly as possible, no matter the cost.

Xephenus I rose against the Imperium of its own accord and the valour of its men must be rewarded. You and your advisors unanimously agree to Greatly Improve their conditions, even at great cost. Their access to rare compounds will more than pay for itself in a very short time. In addition, thoughts of home may have regiments raised from the molten rock fighting harder in the future. There is some debate over introducing combined forces consisting of Recon, Aerial, Artillery, and Armoured regiments supporting larger numbers of Mobile Infantry, and of refitting many of the manufactorums across Vox Meritum space to facilitate this but the council is unable to reach a consensus on the details, so you postpone the decision for now.

3 Years Since Rebellion (YSR)

You've yet to receive any news of the battles for Ophus and Lendypso and how they went, or if they've even happened, is anyone's guess. All that you can do is focus on administrating as you have.

Spoiler: Vox Meritum Expenditures (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: Ongoing Projects (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: Vox Meritum Production (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: Vox Meritum Naval Forces (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: Vox Meritum Military Forces (click to show/hide)

You note with immense satisfaction that Ushevan has almost reached its full potential and that Xephenus VI and Ganars V have taken steps toward improving their Resource Extraction. At the same time, the Vox Meritum's expenses are substantial and show few signs of lessening any time soon. You've already done as much as you can to improve the movement's income and are confident that, despite the costs, your investments will pay dividends in the future. Conquering the rest of the Euclite Subsector will be a help, particularly Ophus and Rana's Pearl. After that will come the Sector itself, and then the Imperium.

Speaking of the Imperium, conditions have stabilised on Xephenus VI and Ganars V, and Loyalists in the former are still under siege. If you want to exploit Xephenus VI to the fullest, they must he remove, one way another. Both planet's populations have been stripped clean of volunteers and it'll be longer before new masses of men are ready to fight, (10 YSR) but conscription is quite possible. That may be unnecessary, as Xephenus I is overflowing with hardened miners desperate to escape their planet for foreign battlefields.

What are your plans for this year?

A few of your most trusted advisors have brought a private concern to your attention. While the recent Loyalist counter-rebellions on Xephenus VI and Ganars V were easily contained and crushed, respectively, they represent a dire threat to the Vox Meritum. That is to say, the possibility of Loyalist spies and saboteurs hiding amongst the population and infiltrating elements of the military, or worse, the Bureau of Meritorious Conduct. For now, critical organisations can be trusted as they've been sourced from the uprising on Ushevan, but this won't be feasible forever.

You've all heard rumours of the Inquisition and if even half of them are real, it's inevitable some of their agents will be in the Sector. The wrong words in the wrong ears and knives in the dark could be deadlier than any city-shattering macrocannon. If all goes well, you won't need to worry but it may be best to prepare, just in case.

What precautions should the Vox Meritum take against hidden Loyalists? Choose as many or as few as you think are necessary. These aren't the only possibilities, only a few of the most obvious. Alternative suggestions are always encouraged.

Compartmentalisation: To prevent information from falling into the wrong hands, it must be restricted. Everyone will receive only what's needed to fulfill their rank's duties, on a case-by-case basis. This will limit flexibility in rapidly changing situations but will also significantly lessen the amount of damage infiltrators can do.
Ideological Screening: The masses will be subjected to frequent and random tests of loyalty to the Vox Meritum over the Imperium. A lack of willingness to participate or reflexive hostility will help serve to out Loyalists.
Secret Police: They will be a counter to the Inquisition, a mysterious agency dedicated to rooting out counter-seditious sentiments before they can do any harm. Only the most fanatically Meritocratic men and women will be counted among their number.
Propaganda: The masses must receive constant messages of the Vox Meritum's superiority, of its victories, and its impending triumph against the Imperium. Its impact will be subtle at first but over long periods of time, should contribute to widespread zeal that will be that much more difficult to subvert.
Coded Language: Low and High Gothic and ciphers related to them are trivial to crack, but a constantly changing litany of new words and new terminology will serve to improve operational security. Eventually, the population may move on from the Imperium's lingua franca entirely.
Surveillance: Strict curfews, movement licenses, and recording devices, both hidden and obvious, everywhere possible. This won't be popular but it will be safer and make subtle hostiles' lives that much harder.
All of the Above: The micromanaged totalitarianism of Ushevan will be vastly more personal than the Imperium under Terra could consistently accomplish, but it will be for a meritorious cause. Initially, morale will plummet but a century from now, it will be the only thing the people have ever known.
None: The Vox Meritum is so remote that you doubt the Inquisition is a plausible threat, let alone one worth panicking over. If silent Loyalists conspiring against you turn out to be a problem, you'll solve it then, but right now you have more immediate concerns.

4
Forum Games and Roleplaying / Re: Doomed and Futile Rebellion (40k SG)
« on: July 24, 2023, 05:16:06 pm »
An Interlude, Redux

Quote from: Fluffe9911 on July 21, 2023, 04:19:10 pm
Infrastructure I mean if we have great infrastructure then everything else such as making Voidships or Healthcare should be much easier in the future TM
Quote from: Kashyyk on July 21, 2023, 04:20:40 pm
By the Emperor, now we have actual options I don't know what to pick.
Ideally something that will both help our rebellion but also have lasting positive effects even after we are snuffed out...
Thinking Machines have so much potential, but I fear the Imperium and the Mechanicus will never consider it. Healthcare is probably the most likely to survive us.
Quote from: Maxine on July 21, 2023, 04:21:58 pm
I like this guy.
Simple Programming Working towards an Abominable Intelligence just sounds fun. And probably helps with some of that other stuff once it is up and running.
Quote from: The Canadian kitten on July 21, 2023, 07:04:36 pm
Infrastructure
Tough choice between healthcare and this
I got the feeling that with great healthcare, it would likely be reversed/restricted for only nobles after we get wiped
Rather prefer something that everyone can continue using like infrastructure
Quote from: King Zultan on July 22, 2023, 04:48:54 am
Infrastructure seems like a good thing to go with from the last update.
Quote from: Blood_Librarian on July 24, 2023, 04:46:40 am
In total I support
Simple Programming

You are both tempted to grasp at the forbidden but you know a strong wartime economy will make or break the rebellion. "There are many miracles of artifice but they will mean nothing if we can't manufacture them in force. For now, focus on Infrastructure." The mass of bulbs and wires pulses with light as he considers, before a loud *DING* sounds. "Affirmative. Long have my ideas laid in silence. No longer. The assembly lines shall be lengthened, the gears retuned, the workers bolstered..." You give the Fabricator-General a salute. "I wish you luck." Bastalek's vent wooshes as he returns to his typewriter. "May the Omnissiah watch you well."

Euclite is now innovating on Infrastructure.

In the years to come, more efficient mines and manufactorums may prove to be a vital advantage. You just hope the Vox Meritum will have the chance to use them.

End of Interlude

5
Forum Games and Roleplaying / Re: Doomed and Futile Rebellion (40k SG)
« on: July 24, 2023, 12:16:22 pm »
Quote from: Blood_Librarian on July 24, 2023, 04:46:40 am
Referencing the qutpe below for numbers.
 
Quote from: Kashyyk on July 14, 2023, 05:07:28 am
Quote from: Ardent Debater on July 14, 2023, 12:24:02 pm
I really want to make 125,000 Resources worth of 100 Warhound Titans. Can it be produced with generic Industry? If that is possible and midway to producing the Titans we convert some industry specially for it, do we get a "refund" of some of the resources freed up due to specialization? It might be best to not pay for the project in whole and just go for paying it year to year if we do titan production with generalized production converting to spec.
I know it takes a decade too produce a warhound legion, but is that  10 years of 50,000 production & resources or just 5,000 resources & production per year?
Due to their incredible complexity, Titans require specialised industry and don't get the usual discount for manufacture. In addition, it costs x5 as many Resources to respec industry for Titan manufacture but they are devastating in ground combat. Outside of Heavy Armour, hostile Titans, or orbital supremacy, there's no countering Titans without massive numbers and willingness to take losses. Both qualities the Imperium has in spades. The cost can be paid upfront or at a fraction per year for partial completion that can be paused, but the industrial capacity will still be occupied.

I'm working on the update now but I've been busy this morning so it'll be a few hours before I can post.

6
Forum Games and Roleplaying / Re: Doomed and Futile Rebellion (40k SG)
« on: July 23, 2023, 02:41:10 pm »
Quote from: Blood_Librarian on July 23, 2023, 12:09:03 pm
Just to clarify, we're still voting on the year 2-->3 production plan or is that still up in the air?
The vote's still wide-open. I'll be gathering everything into an update either later tonight or tomorrow morning.

7
Forum Games and Roleplaying / Re: Doomed and Futile Rebellion (40k SG)
« on: July 22, 2023, 01:55:20 pm »
Quote from: Kashyyk on July 22, 2023, 12:59:25 pm
Spoiler: Vox Meritum Production (click to show/hide)

Let's be pessimistic and assume that the Loyalist city on Xephenus IV also controls 4,000 Production and 4,000 Extraction, which means we have 9,000|5,000 available to us to equip 29 Regiments. It'll cost  8,700 Production|Resources to upgrade them all to Heavy Weapons, Carapace and Transports. We can produce all that in just one month (as our local production can be propped up by Xephenus I). So we could assault the Loyalist city with 26 regiments of Heavy Mobile Infantry and three of Heavy Recon (let's designate one each of the Green, Regular and Veterans as Recon troops) which should hopefully make up for our lack of Artillery. If we want to deploy our own Artillery, we'll have to wait at least a year to train with it first, which I don't think is viable.

Hopefully we'll seize those Artillery pieces intact, but in the meantime we can start manufacture of three Aerial and Armour units, which will take about 4 months. By that time we'll hopefully know how many Artillery units will need to build to get up to three. Once that's all done we can start the Specialist training.

By that time, we will hopefully have a unified planet, 29 fully equipped Regiments and some solid supply lines. Recruiting 5 more Regiments of Volunteers gets us to our soft cap of 34 Regiments for Xephenus IV, who can be equipped easily enough.

Xephenus I meanwhile, can support 112 (!!) Volunteer Regiments, all with some desirable Traits. Over on Ganars V, we currently have 9 Regiments of Rough Riders and 19 of Infantry. Not sure whether to class Rough Riders more as Recon or Mobile Infantry, but we sure have plenty. We have capacity to recruit 54 more Regiments to get to 82 though.

Hopefully we can sieze the materiel of those Neutral Regiments. More Rough Rider gear and a whole unit of Tanks would be lovely.

Anyway, that's all stuff to think about on year end, but I'd appreciate opinions.
Manufacturing as a whole, including equipment for regiments, is done on a yearly basis, partly to prevent a complex network of what's been made month-to-month which would slow down updates, but partly to represent coordinating a regiment formation across interstellar distances. In general, regiments take one year to equip and if necessary to operate their equipment (or you think it's worth waiting for more experienced troops), more years to train. The individual supplies, weapons, and armour are heavily abstracted with 1 regiment (usually) being the smallest on the scale and its annual upkeep representing the countless bits and pieces that are vital to keep its machinery functioning well. Certain artifacts, such as banners or relic wargear, are kept track of individually.

Rough Riders can be considered ultralight Recon that can act as Infantry if tactically ideal. It takes 10 Resources and an upkeep of 1 Resource to manufacture Bikes, but they need 1 year of training to learn how to fight while mounted. On flat terrain, Rough Riders are inferior to Recon or Mobile Infantry but they're much better able to handle rugged terrain, to a point. Some planets need armoured transport and environmental gear (or environmental traits, often both) to avoid attrition. The planned loyalist campaign on Xephenus I would have been hell for everyone involved but rebellions are a semi-regular occurrence in the Imperium. It's extremely uncommon for them to reach an interstellar level without external aid or treachery in the planetary leadership. The Vox Meritum technically falls into the latter category as Euclite defected with them due to the Fabricator-General's urge to innovate. If he were a Martian Traditionalist the militias of Ushevan would've been crushed by Skitarii.

8
Forum Games and Roleplaying / Re: Doomed and Futile Rebellion (40k SG)
« on: July 21, 2023, 11:25:36 pm »
Mid 2nd YSR

The Imperium had a staggering 57 regiments garrisoned in Xephenus VI, partly to ensure the security of Euclite but in most part to put down any potential uprisings on Xephenus I before they could impact the Imperial Tithe. Under normal circumstances, the brunt of them would be sent in to fight the mutineers in their mines in the coldest regions of Xephenus I, where human life is impossible without extensive life support systems. Under current circumstances, the Vox Meritum had commandeered almost all nearby transport freighters and naval vessels, leaving them stranded.

With troops unable to be moved, the uprising couldn't be put down and worse, the Imperial Tithe was interrupted. The Planetary Governor of Xephenus I asked for aid repeatedly but the only nearby loyalist, the commander of Xephenus VI, was unable to render it. Instead of informing the garrison of the Imperium's failure to foresee the Vox Meritum ahead of time, the commander chose to stage an information black-out and hunker down for reinforcements.

Once a solid half of the Euclite Subsector's defensive fleet appeared in system, destroyed his Orbital Weapons Platforms, and broadcast a message of sedition, the commander realised this rebellion was beyond his scale to resist and surrendered. When the black-out was lifted and his men were informed of the situation, there were many mixed feelings. Of the 57 regiments, 29 were willing to defect to the Vox Meritum with varying degrees of enthusiasm, 16 were unwilling to defect or take up arms against their fellow PDF or "retired" Guardsmen, and 12 were violently opposed to surrender of any kind. Lacking numbers, the loyalists fled to a small northern city and have begun fortifying it. This wouldn't be much of a problem, except that by chance the planet's sole 3 Artillery regiments fell in with them and have made forcing full capitulation a dicey proposition.

Quote from: Previous Imperial Xephenus VI Garrison
22 Green Infantry (Light Weapons, Flak Armour)
16 Trained Infantry (Light Weapons, Flak Armour)
16 Veteran Infantry (Light Weapons, Flak Armour)
3 Veteran Artillery (Mobile Artillery, Light Weapons, Flak Armour)
Quote from: Willing Xephenus VI Defectors
8 Green Infantry (Light Weapons, Flak Armour)
9 Trained Infantry (Light Weapons, Flak Armour)
12 Veteran Infantry (Light Weapons, Flak Armour)
Quote from: Neutral Xephenus VI Garrison Remnants
14 Green Infantry (Light Weapons, Flak Armour)
2 Trained Infantry (Light Weapons, Flak Armour)
Quote from: Loyalist Xephenus VI Opposition
5 Trained Infantry (Light Weapons, Flak Armour)
4 Veteran Infantry (Light Weapons, Flak Armour)
3 Veteran Artillery (Mobile Artillery, Light Weapons, Flak Armour)

For the time being, the Vox Meritum's system administration has chosen to ignore the loyalists. Until they are dealt with, the output of 4 million members of the population will be inaccessible. To contrast, Xephenus I no longer has a PDF and is irrelevant in terms of loyalist defectors.

Despite its reputation, Ganars V has a below-average garrison for its population at 67 regiments, as a majority of its PDF have volunteered for the Guard and the planet has little else to offer the Imperial Tithe. The flattened mountain and simmering resentment for the Ecclessiarchy led to 33 regiments willing to defect, 21 unwilling to defect or take up arms, and 13 violently opposed to surrender. This led to a swift and vicious civil war as soon as the fleet in orbit left and the new Vox Meritum administration had yet to fully move in.

Quote from: Previous Imperial Ganars V Garrison
27 Green Infantry (Light Weapons, Flak Armour)
17 Trained Infantry (Light Weapons, Flak Armour)
8 Veteran Infantry (Light Weapons, Flak Armour)
9 Trained Rough Riders (Light Weapons, Flak Armour, Bikes)
4 Veteran Rough Riders (Light Weapons, Flak Armour, Bikes)
2 Trained Light Armour (Light Weapons, Flak Armour, Leman Russes with light support)
Quote from: Willing Ganars V Defectors
5 Green Infantry (Light Weapons, Flak Armour)
14 Trained Infantry (Light Weapons, Flak Armour)
5 Veteran Infantry (Light Weapons, Flak Armour)
6 Trained Rough Riders (Light Weapons, Flak Armour, Bikes)
3 Veteran Rough Riders (Light Weapons, Flak Armour, Bikes)
Quote from: Neutral Ganars V Garrison Remnants
12 Green Infantry (Light Weapons, Flak Armour)
1 Trained Infantry (Light Weapons, Flak Armour)
3 Veteran Infantry (Light Weapons, Flak Armour)
3 Trained Rough Riders (Light Weapons, Flak Armour, Bikes)
1 Veteran Rough Rider (Light Weapons, Flak Armour, Bikes)
1 Trained Light Armour (Light Weapons, Flak Armour, Leman Russes with light support)
Quote from: Loyalist Ganars V Opposition
10 Green Infantry (Light Weapons, Flak Armour)
2 Trained Infantry (Light Weapons, Flak Armour)
1 Trained Light Armour (Light Weapons, Flak Armour, Leman Russes with light support)

Over the last handful of months, anti-loyalist regiments and large, disgruntled civilian militias won their skirmishes handily through weight of numbers and clever tactics, with relatively few casualties. At the conclusion of the violence, 28 defector regiments remain and the loyalists no longer have an open, cohesive force.

Quote from: Remaining Ganars V Defectors
3 Green Infantry (Light Weapons, Flak Armour)
12 Trained Infantry (Light Weapons, Flak Armour)
4 Veteran Infantry (Light Weapons, Flak Armour)
6 Trained Rough Riders (Light Weapons, Flak Armour, Bikes)
3 Veteran Rough Riders (Light Weapons, Flak Armour, Bikes)

Unfortunately, their war material was destroyed and over two-hundred thousand citizens were killed in the crossfire. Fortunately, this will have no significant effect on the interstellar economy of Ganars V and many of the defeated loyalists were taken prisoner. Almost none are any more willing to surrender than before. This outcome and the neutral regiments who've yet to take a side or disband raise several questions.

What should be done with captive loyalist soldiers that refuse to betray the Imperium?

Execution: A fair and publicised trial, followed by a swift, painless, and dignified death. If they want to die for noble tyranny, the Vox Meritum will oblige them.
Work Camps: They'll be sent to Xephenus I to contribute to the meritorious cause at lasgun-point. Over time, this may improve the planet's population growth.
Re-Education: It will be a slow, tedious, and costly process but counter-indoctrinating the enemy may yield dividends. The bureaucracy might need to be expanded later on.
Integration: They'll be assigned to a local labour force under close supervision. The rebel cause cannot afford to waste resources or stoop to the Imperium's level.

What should be done with neutral soldiers who haven't fought for or against the rebellion? The Vox Meritum will attempt to recruit them by default, this is in the case of those who refuse.

Execution: Trained soldiers not committed to the cause are a threat and cannot be tolerated. If you aren't already executing hostile soldiers, this would be a bizarre choice.
Work Camps: Conditions on Xephenus I are miserable, even after investments, but every hour spent mining there equals one less life wasted under the Imperium's mismanagement.
Re-Education: The unwillingness of these men to betray the Imperium or the principles of Meritocracy is commendable, and they are worth teaching.
Integration: If they aren't willing to fight, the Vox Meritum isn't going to force them. They'll be disarmed, tested, and assigned a noncombatant position according to their merit.

Are there any orders you'd like to make in regards to the Xephenus VI situation or the aftermath of Ganars V?

(This update isn't progressing time forward or ending the vote period for either of the Year 2 updates. It just occurred to me that I should clarify the garrison situation so that you're in the clear on what your options are. Both Xephenus VI and Ganars V won't be able to raise new regiments for this year, as the instability from the regime change is too high. On the other hand, Xephenus I is ecstatic to be a part of the rebellion but really, mostly to escape their volcanic hell and will give up 4 volunteer regiments per 1 million. This is normal for extremely inhospitable or otherwise terrible planets. These regiments will be Hardened and Heat-Resistant, meaning they can endure miserable conditions and suffer no penalty from hot environments, though their penalty for cold environments is doubled.)

9
Forum Games and Roleplaying / Re: Doomed and Futile Rebellion (40k SG)
« on: July 21, 2023, 03:51:33 pm »
An Interlude

A few months into your administrative duties, a crack squad of heavily-armed, non-radioactive Skitarii march into your office. Most would be intimidated by their imposing frames and lifeless chrome but you know they are of Euclite and have no fear of them. They are here for your safety. You believe the overwhelming majority of Ushevan loyalists were killed in the fighting or embraced the movement afterward but in a population of millions, dissent is inevitable. Likewise, it's believed that the traditionalist Mechanicus were sent out-of-system ahead of time or annihilated with surgical precision during the Euclite coup but quiet hold-outs are inescapable.

It's best to take appropriate precautions, such as the mini-bolter slung around your waist and the custom-fitted carapace covering your vitals. You and your escort leave and enter a comparatively tiny local freighter swiftly. A few days of void-transit later, you're provided with a suite of thermal heating gear and, once they've checked that it's sealed, led out onto the surface of Euclite proper. The first thing that strikes you is a sense of gnawing, inhuman cold and darkness. The second is an overwhelming awe. As a self-educated rural colonist, you understand civilisation as an abstract but you've never seen something such as this. Everywhere you look, teeming, cyberised multitudes flit through a maze of manufactorums like a swarm of insects. It is enormous, and yet, it is yours.

The flag of the Vox Meritum can be seen over doorways, hanging from walls, even on rare poles. Some of the men amidst of the throng of servitors see you throw salutes or upraised fists. Even the Skitarii surrounding you would prioritise your life over their own in an instant. Ushevan and Euclite are joined in rebellion, at your command, and the Fabricator-General's. He will see you now. Hours of marching and transport rides later, you make your way to the entrance of what seems to be a vault. Seeing the multitude of Skitarii, you realise it is a bunker. You are ushered inside and led through another maze of architecture. Rather than hide details, a convoluted map and audible explanations that do little for your unaugmented brain are provided. It isn't long before you're brought to the Fabricator-General's personal workshop.

At the entrance, the Skitarii step aside and take guard outside. You enter alone, weapon downslung on your back, and blink in surprise. There are no machines here, no cutting-edge weapons or polished augmetics. Only stacks of parchment, shelves of scrolls, and in their midst, a scrap-welded desk with a glowing cogitator and a small, cloaked figure stooped over a typewriter. As you enter, it turns up its head to reveal a naked sprawl of wires, fragile electric bulbs, and a bulky cooling vent. There is no longer a face here, no sign the cyborg before you was ever human. The only parts dedicated to interaction are a tiny lens near where the jaw should be, and a slim speaker in what used to be a nasal cavity. It crackles and speaks with a monotone synthethic voice.

"Let us dispense with binaric pretension. We are equals, here. Ignatius Vaaric. Leader of the Vox Meritum."

You acknowledge it, him, with a respectful nod. "Bastalek Krake. Fabricator-General of the Forge World Euclite." The cyborg pauses. "No longer. Euclite has become a Cradle World, kiln for the phoenixian rebirth of human ingenuity." Bastalek's speaker crackles and you look at the lens, which is already being wiped clean by a slim tendril. "The Martian dogma is dying. The Martian creed is dead. Under the Vox Meritum, the wonders of the ancients will be forgotten. We will look to the future and we will make new wonders."

For you, raised under the Imperial Creed from birth, these words are unsettling. For a member of the Mechanicus, you know his nonexistent tongue utters the most heinous of blasphemy. In the static, you sense a firm conviction. "Ignatius Vaaric. For four centuries I have studied scriptures, anointed sacred oils, and performed holy rites. For nearly half a millennium, I have held the Martian faith. Do you know what has changed?" You answer without hesitation. "Nothing." His speaker concurs. "Nothing. Our ancestors spent their lives learning, studying, and laying down the foundations of the technology we now revere. If any of those sages were alive today, they would be executed for tech-heresy. Mars is lost to the worship of stangancy and paranoia. Their dictums are digging the tomb of Mankind."

You nod. "That's why we must stop them!" The cyborg's vent wooshes. "Impossible. The enemy is millions to our one and we are alone in a galaxy of terrors. This rebellion will change nothing. That is irrelevant. We must rebel. The Imperium is an affront to our ancestors and among its worlds, Mars is the greatest affront of all. Rebellion against them is axiomatic. Do not be deluded. Our species has no hope, our rebellion has no hope, but-" The cyborg raises its hand, a delicate set of precision instruments, and gestures to the wall behind you, where you turn to see a small flag, situated between a system map and set of charts. "-for the briefest of times, our people will have hope. That is enough."

"Ignatius Vaaric, I have called you to discuss the most unforgivable sin of tech-heresy. Innovation. My attention is buried under a mountain of paperwork and micromanagement by necessity. Yours is focused on a grander scale and freed from petty distractions by your position. You know the Vox Meritum's strategic needs. Tell me what is necessary and I will bring it into being."

What should Euclite begin innovating?

Propaganda: The planets of the Imperium have been conquered but the minds of its population are no freer from the grip of incompetence than before. Euclite will devote itself to finding means of amplifying the rebellion's message and swaying as many doubters as possible.
Healthcare: There are millions under the Vox Meritum and in time, there will be millions more. Sickness and injury take their toll, but it does not have to be this way. Euclite will study methods of medicine and surgery to try and foster popularion growth and quality of life.
Infrastructure: The Segmentum Pacificus is underdeveloped and that goes double for its key manufacturing and extraction industries. The current pace of establishment is unacceptably slow. Euclite will break protocol and seek out means of streamlining them both.
Voidships: The Lunar-class Cruisers are famed for their rugged and simple construction, but are no less critical to void warfare for it. Euclite will attempt to extrapolate how to manufacture new variants from the knowledge they already have of their parts and maintenance.
Simple Programming: The Men of Iron were an apocalyptic terror but millennia before their rebellion, they served Man dutifully. In the future, Man may be able to learn from his mistakes and prevent a second rebellion. Euclite will take the first steps toward forming a nascent Abominable Intelligence.
Something Else: Tech-heresy has as many variations as there are sanctioned tech-priests and then some. Euclite will follow your lead and begin innovation in a direction of your choosing.

10
Forum Games and Roleplaying / Re: Doomed and Futile Rebellion (40k SG)
« on: July 20, 2023, 03:45:49 pm »
Quote from: King Zultan on July 20, 2023, 03:47:58 am
Quote from: The Canadian kitten on July 19, 2023, 09:30:27 pm
Quote from: Maxine on July 19, 2023, 07:23:16 pm
Quote from: Blood_Librarian on July 19, 2023, 03:18:00 pm
We may as well go all in and embrace the complexities of a multi-million person society and go for
By Many Methods
And thus, when our doomed and futile Rebellion somehow sheds its labels and becomes the defining apparatus for the 50k Warhammer universe, the horrific machinations of the "meritocratic" bureaucracy will freeze the teeth off children with its massive iron tipped gears among all the horrific things the 40k noble families had, but, with a sleek, uncaring visage that is totally refreshed.
+1
+1
+1

You reason that merit should be determined by Many Methods and that a small, robust bureaucracy of loyal, proven officials will be dedicated to organising them. They will have operational costs, necessarily, but compared to their hopeful utility it will be a pittance. Future members of the Vox Meritum may rest assured that they are exactly where their personal merit and ability dictates they should be. Even the paper-pushers themselves will be only the best and most reliable for their tasks. (Small Bureaucracy costs 10 Resources to implement per 1 million population upfront, and requires an upkeep of 1 Resource per 1 million population. In practice, it slightly improves loyalty and makes it likelier you'll find talented individuals to fill positions.)

What should this bureaucracy be called?

Besides these concerns, the surviving now ex-nobility working in the fields and quarries alongside them has greatly improved the population's morale. Their unearned sense of superiority has been silenced, hopefully forever. This sense of schadenfreude won't last long but in the years to come, it will slightly improve their general resolve.

In other news, tens of thousands of examples of the new flag have been manufactured and have replaced the Imperial Aquila across Ushevan. It is a small step toward independence, but no less significant for it. The clean pressed new uniforms are snazzy too, and certainly don't hurt the Vox Meritum's fledgling sense of patriotism. Time passes as the rebels subtly shift from a quiet guerilla mindset to proudly and openly seditious towards the Imperium.

2 Years Since Rebellion (YSR)

You've received reports of the conflicts in the Xephenus and Ganars systems, as well as enormous shipments that don't hurt your confidence. You review them carefully.

Quote from: Xephenus System
1st Void Battle over Xephenus VI: 70+60 (+40 Overwhelming Numerical Advantage, +20 Superior Firepower) vs 48+0

Meritorious Victory

Friendly Casualties:
- None.
Loyalist Casualties:
- 2 Small Orbital Weapons Platforms: 1 damaged, 1 destroyed.

Xephenus VI Negotiations: 46+40 (+40 Overwhelming Force) vs 22+20 (+20 Imperial Cult)
Xephenus VI Capitulated!

1st Invasion of Planetary Governor's Orbital Palace over Xephenus I: 89+41 (+20 Numerical Advantage, +20 Heavy Weapons, +1 (Partial) Trained) vs 75+60 (+20 Fortifications, +20 Heavy Weapons, +20 Veteran)

Slight Defeat

Friendly Casualties:
- 1 Militia Regiment slaughtered
- 1 Trained Militia Regiment heavily wounded
Loyalist Casualties:
- 1 Veteran Mercenary Regiment heavily wounded

2nd Invasion of Planetary Governor's Orbital Palace over Xephenus I: 61+80 (+20 Numerical Advantage, +20 Extensive Cybernetics, +20 Heavy Weapons, +20 Veteran) vs 28+40 (+20 Fortifications, +20 Heavy Weapons, +20 Veteran, -20 Heavily Wounded)

Meritorious Victory

Friendly Casualties:
- None.
Loyalist Casualties:
- 1 Veteran Mercenary Regiment slaughtered

Xephenus I Negotiations: 37+40 (+40 Overwhelming Force) vs 5-10 (+20 Imperial Cult, -10 Miserable Conditions, -20 Mutinous Populace)
Xephenus I Capitulated!

Taskforce Ahrsa entered the Xephenus system and immediately made way for Xephenus VI. For a remote military outpost, its two Small Orbital Weapons Platforms were menacing but against the armaments of seventeen dedicated warships, they stood no chance. The void battle was brief, the Orbital Platforms barely took a shot before the massed lances of the Lunar-class Cruisers and Firestorm-class Frigates dismantled them utterly. Negotiations with Xephenus VI were short, as their planetside commander wisely saw fit not to waste the lives of his men.

The fleet could've easily destroyed the Planetary Governor's orbital palace over Xephenus I at a distance but its admiral, Avidius Cassius, refused to massacre its potentially numerous onboard servants. Instead, he opted to make a direct invasion with the Ushevan militia and quickly engaged with the Planetary Governor's private mercenary army. To his dismay, the mercenaries were also outfitted in carapace armour and heavy weaponry and worse, were seasoned veterans. With their superior skill and the palace's labyrinthine fortifications, the mercenaries were able to repulse the initial assault, slaughtering one militia regiment and heavily wounding another, albeit a heavy cost to themselves.

Two hours of appraising losses later, Avidius Cassius authorised the Skitarii to strike with orders to avoid noncombatant deaths if possible. The mercenaries, expecting another force of desperate militants, received an unpleasant surprise when tenfold their number in fanatical cyborgs stormed their satellite. This time, the battle was short and mercenaries were slaughtered to the last man, with the exception of one who tried to hold the Planetary Governor hostage. After a brief standoff, the bodyguard realised the Skitarii already wanted his charge dead and surrendered to them without issue.

Negotiations with Xephenus I were met with some surprise, as it became clear the workers had already rebelled and seized the planet's vox apparatus. Once Avidius Cassius gave them the recruitment pitch, they eagerly joined and talks turned to coordinating the mine's output with incoming transports, and of their longstanding working conditions. Under the Imperium, they'd been given the bare minimum to survive the planet's molten surface (-100 Resources per 1 million) and suffered constant heatstroke and fatal cooling system malfunctions.

On an industrial scale, these did nothing to impact the mineral extraction but made the general population miserable. As an overwhelming majority are dissidents and criminals or their descendents, this was seen as ideal by the previous administration. They're hopeful the Vox Meritum could help them in their plight but the exports are critical, and every shipping container counts. The admiral chose to leave the decision to you, while they continue as usual in the meantime. You're just now receiving news of the victory, so Avidius Cassius must be en-route to Ophus, if he hasn't already arrived. That will likely be a vicious battle. You won't hear of the results for some time, though.

What should be done about Xephenus I?

Continue as usual: This may disillusion them to your movement but the Rare Resources are critical and the Vox Meritum can't lose any more than it already is to maintenance costs, even if it's only a fractional amount. This will frustrate them but they'll continue to work. [-0 Resources upfront, -100 Resources per 1 million in upkeep.]
Improve their conditions: The working conditions are abhorrent and while they must continue to work, the Vox Meritum will improve the quality of their hab-units and mining suits. This will be appreciated. [-56,000 Resources upfront, -200 Resources per 1 million in upkeep]
Greatly improve their conditions: The molten hell these men and women are subject to is symbolic of the masses' plight under the Imperium, and the Vox Meritum will spare no expense to better their lives. This is much more than they were expecting. [-84,000 Resources upfront, -300 Resources per 1 million in upkeep]
Vastly improve their conditions: It is unfair that the population must struggle, though they must, so the Vox Meritum will invest as much as physically possible to bring their quality of life to the Ushevan average. They will be incredibly grateful. [-112,000 Resources upfront, -400 Resources per 1 million in upkeep]

The Orbital Palace over Xephenus I and what remains of the Small Orbital Weapons Platform over Xephenus VI will require maintenance in time, but have currently been mothballed. Some suggest dismantling them for roughly half of the Resources that went into their construction but others feel it is better to keep them and repair the damages. Of course, the choice is yours.

Quote from: Ganars System
Ganars V Negotiations: 48+40 (+40 Overwhelming Force) vs 7+10 (+20 Imperial Cult, -10 Discontent Populace)
Ganars V Capitulated!

Taskforce Bairkan entered the Ganars system and immediately made way for Ganars V. As the planet lacks orbital defences, it was rather trivial to establish complete void supremacy. Rather than enter negotiations immediately, admiral Tycho Abigantus informed the planet's vox apparatus of the Vox Meritum's existence and gave them approximately three days to evacuate the region surrounding a small mountain in their southern continent. The instant 72 hours had passed, he focused the fleet's gunnery toward replacing said small mountain with a slightly larger crater.

Only then did he commence negotiations, with the various PDF garrisons. Two days later, a desperate coup dethroned the Planetary Governor and surrendered themselves to the Vox Meritum. So far as their censuses are aware, there were no civilian casualties. A true victory for members of the Vox Meritum everywhere. Now that he's seized Ganars V, Tycho Abigantus will be en-route to Lendypso. You aren't certain what to expect out of it but his fleet shouldn't have any difficulties seizing the system.

The recent military victories have led to a slight conundrum.

What should be done with surrendered Loyalist troops?

Process and Integrate them: Once any irrational slaves to the Ecclessiarchy are removed, you see no reason former PDF and Imperial Guard elements shouldn't be assimilated into the Vox Meritum's military forces. After they've been deprogrammed of their previous indoctrination, of course.
Disband them: The threat of Loyalist saboteurs and counter-rebels is too high to tolerate and for the Vox Meritum's safety, former PDF and Imperial Guard elements will be disarmed and disbanded. Naturally, any ex-soldiers will be prioritised for future recruitment when they can demonstrate loyalty and merit.

When you've finished settling military affairs, you turn your attention to this year's expenses. The initial contributions of Xephenus I have yielded massive dividends, more than cutting your previous material losses in half. It isn't enough to make a profit on its own but it is a significant asset. You wonder if it wouldn't be worth relocating a few million volunteers to increase extraction efficiency, or perhaps taking after the Imperium's example and sending diehard loyalists to toil in the molten pits.

Spoiler: Vox Meritum Expenditures (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: Ongoing Projects (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: Vox Meritum Production (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: Vox Meritum Naval Forces (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: Vox Meritum Military Forces (click to show/hide)

Even ignoring Xephenus I, you notice that the various planets are no better managed than Ushevan was before the uprising. Perhaps it would be worth bringing their Industrial Output up to par, though you could see an argument it's a pointless investment with Euclite's foundries at the ready. At the very least, Resource Extraction is critical and many insist that the new, meritocratic bureaucracy should be implemented across as much of Vox Meritum space as possible. Some argue it would be worth raising new militia regiments and others feel it is unnecessary. No matter, publicly trying the newly-surrendered nobility for their tyrannical crimes and spreading the message of Meritocracy to the still-uninformed masses is vital. As the sitting leader of the Vox Meritum, you have your work cut out for you.

What are your plans for this year?

Sometime in the next couple of months, you and your advisory council will be having a meeting with the highest-ranking techpriests of Euclite, though the scheduling and subject matter are currently ill-defined. It will have little-to-no immediate bearing on the Vox Meritum's administration, so you can focus on the normal proceedings for now.

11
Forum Games and Roleplaying / Re: Doomed and Futile Rebellion (40k SG)
« on: July 19, 2023, 01:18:59 pm »
Quote from: Fluffe9911 on July 18, 2023, 02:54:46 pm
Quote from: The Canadian kitten on July 18, 2023, 10:04:58 am
Quote from: Vote Box
Light communication upgrade for all troop's(5): UristMcRiley, King Zultan, Funk, Blood_Librarian, TCK, Fluffe9911
“Canadians” Flag proposal (5): UristMcRiley, King Zultan, Funk, Blood_Librarian, TCK, Fluffe9911
Uniforms with taller hats for (4): King Zultan, Blood_Librarian, TCK, Fluffe9911
Thug label Formalization (1): Blood Librarian
Big Hats Big Wins!

After two and a half months of vigorous debate, you manage to decide on a flag and uniform for the Vox Meritum. Soon, the red, blue, and silver flag will be known as a symbol of Meritocracy across the Sector! The jumpsuited footsoldiers of the movement, in the case carapace can't be afforded, will fight under the tall hats of their commanding officers. Together, they will break the aristocracy's shackles on the potential of the masses! Soon...

That brings you to the final debate that needs to be resolved. You are deeply certain that only those with the highest merit should be given the responsibilities of high-rank. There's no question there, but some have raised a pressing concern. Merit is the most important quality for any task and now that the rebellion's gotten too large for you to micromanage firsthand, you'll need to decide on a system for finding it.

How should the Vox Meritum determine merit?

By Vote: To fill ranks, the population will vote on who they feel is most qualified. For the most part, this will be determining squad leaders and work team overseers but higher positions will also be filled by consensus. This gives the most freedom of choice but some are worried this could render someone's popularity more important than their competence.
By Exam: Instead of leaving merit vague, the population will periodically take physical and mental tests to determine the most qualified candidates for various positions, who will then be promoted in rank. This is arguably the most efficient means of finding competent individuals but many are concerned that test performance won't always equal field performance.
By Results: There's no need to complicate it, those who consistently do well will rise in rank as determined by the higher ranks, and every member of the population will have a chance to prove they can make the cut. This is the least complicated way of doing things but a few are wary that excellent individuals could be overlooked, or worse, never get a promotion because they were in a field that didn't suit their talents.
By Many Methods: Meritocracy is critical and must be determined as accurately as possible, as fairly as possible. A bureaucracy will form dedicated to tallying votes, assigning tests, and recording achievements, and work tirelessly to get the most competent people in the positions they need to be. This is the easiest means of determining merit as widely as possible, but it would require funding and there's apprehension it could drift toward unrelated areas of focus over time.

On an unrelated note, you're in near-unanimous agreement that light comms equipment would be worthwhile for the various Ushevan regiments and give the go-ahead for it. Even at only a fraction of their full-capacity, the manufactorums of Euclite are capable of supplying manyfold more units than you have. If all goes well, it'll be more of a boon to their coordination than it is a bane for operational security.

12
Forum Games and Roleplaying / Re: Doomed and Futile Rebellion (40k SG)
« on: July 19, 2023, 03:40:39 am »
Rejoice! Euclite's finest pictographers have laboured tirelessly for thousands of hours in MS Paint the most revered of ancient programs to illustrate the collective genius of the advisory council.

Spoiler: The Flag of The Vox Meritum (click to show/hide)

Depicted above is the banner of your movement, three hands reaching for the star of merit! The first represents the struggling masses, the second represents the Euclite Mechanicus who've risked everything for its sake, and the third represents the soldiers of the Vox Meritum, who intend to fight and spread its message. Already, it inspires hundreds of thousands on Ushevan and has stirred millions of emotional cores on Euclite!

Spoiler: Standard Officer of the Vox Meritum (click to show/hide)

Also depicted is a low-ranking Vox Meritum officer in parade uniform, taking a break from his drills to pose for the pictographers to capture his likeness. They attempted to find the most excellent example of the Vox Meritum's garrisoned forces possible, a slightly difficult task as the overwhelming majority are campaigning, but they do daresay they've succeeded.

In the coming years, men such as him marching beneath the flag of the Vox Meritum shall strike fear into the heart of the Imperium! Or at least, the Sector's aristocracy. You all hope the Imperium itself underestimates you as much as possible until you're prepared.

(The actual update will be later today. I thought I'd post the art before going to sleep for the night. On a related note, what are you going to call the basic members of your armed forces? If you don't have a specific name in mind, I'll just refer to them as soldiers or militia depending on their experience. This applies to higher-ranks as well, but it's mostly fluff, just for the fun of it.)

13
Forum Games and Roleplaying / Re: Doomed and Futile Rebellion (40k SG)
« on: July 17, 2023, 08:27:26 pm »
Quote from: Funk on July 17, 2023, 05:56:04 pm
I don't think that 10 is a large squad, the  Imperial Guard has 10 man infantry squads.
It isn't a very large squad in setting, I was referring in relation to their guerilla warfare origins. It's a bit numerous for a rapid, mobile force but with the casualties they'll probably be taking, that's not at all a bad thing. They are EXTREMELY well-equipped for their degree of skill. They'll likely hold their own and then some against their number in basic Imperial Guard conscript regiments. Against equally well-off, fanatical Imperial Stormtroopers... that remains to be seen but with luck, you won't be fighting them in significant numbers for some time.

Quote from: UristMcRiley on July 17, 2023, 07:20:05 pm
While I have little opinion on the uniform I support Canadian kittens proposal for the flag, someone should probably start a master vote box to make Ardents job a little easier. However I’m regards to upgrading our units communication equipment I think the light upgrade is certainly worthwhile and I think they’re is a argument for the heavier upgrade as well

Light communication upgrade for all troop's(1): UristMcRiley
“Canadians” Flag proposal (1): UristMcRiley
I would appreciate that, as I've been keeping a tally manually so far.

14
Forum Games and Roleplaying / Re: Doomed and Futile Rebellion (40k SG)
« on: July 17, 2023, 02:24:53 pm »
Quote from: Funk on July 16, 2023, 09:32:33 pm
Legions are made of 5 regiments of 1100, split in to 4 company's of 270, each with 4 platoons of 50, made of 5 squads of 10 and the left over 20 are support.
This is a plenty viable force distribution. The squads are extremely large, which slightly reduces tactical versatility but slightly increases it in other ways. Attaching support to the company level instead of the squad level is an interesting choice.

Quote from: Funk on July 16, 2023, 09:32:33 pm
A camouflaged Jumpsuit with cross bandoleers, black Jump boots and studded bracers with studded fingerless gloves.
Higher ranks get bigger taller boots leading to bucket top boots for regiment officers and thigh high stilt platform high heels for generals.
You can definitely delineate rank by boot-size, although if the Inquisition catches on that the top-brass are all wearing thigh high stilt platform heels they're likely to assume heresy is involved. Of course, they're already going to assume you're heretics due to rebelling against the Imperium of Man but that would solidify it.

Quote from: The Canadian kitten on July 16, 2023, 01:37:05 am
as for uniform, I would like something simple but distinctive, but what about the idea of if a guardsman does good, they are allowed to customize their uniform? just spitballing
Quote from: Funk on July 16, 2023, 09:32:33 pm
Troops should be well rewarded with medals, skull badges and freedom from regulations for there rewards.
Freedom from regulations and uniform customisability as a reward for competence are both very possible.

Quote from: King Zultan on July 17, 2023, 03:20:57 am
What about instead of taller boots we give the officers taller hats, with every rank up their hat grows taller, then when we have a massive army our highest ranking officers will have hats that can be measured in kilometers or miles.
You can also definitely delineate rank by hat-size and this is more popular with the Imperium, or at least, the Ecclessiarchy, but that alongside the Vox Meritum's secondary objective of doing away with the Imperial Cult may alarm them further. The human neck can only support so much weight, however, and sufficiently massive hats will require cybernetics or genemodding to prop up, as well as being closer to tent-weaving than tailouring.

Quote from: Kashyyk on July 17, 2023, 05:07:25 am
I'm concerned about making our command structure to easy to deduce, as that is asking for our officers to get targeted. For parade uniform though, I'm absolutely on board for dapper hats and boots.

Soldiers should all know who their direct superiors are anyway, so they won't need fancy signifiers to remind them.
Extremely distinct uniforms are likelier to be targeted by enemy fire but if they're separated by larger boots and hats they're also likelier to be away from the frontline. At a certain point, it's slightly impractical but there are many regiments of the Imperial Guard that get by with slightly impractical uniforms. No matter what you go with, the fighting legionnaires (name-pending) massed on the field will be capable of fighting.

Quote from: UristMcRiley on July 17, 2023, 05:18:36 am
The issue with that is in a high casualty environment, a average soldier, trooper, whatever we decide to call our grunts may end up with all of his direct chain of command as casualties. In a situation like this having identifying markings for officers and NCO’s will make it easier for the lower enlisted to identify who they should be reporting to in the event they find themselves separated from there assigned leaders either via casualties or fog of war.

This also has me thinking what is the status of our communications equipment does every soldier have some form of commo or is it restricted to RTO’s and leadership ranks. If the latter is the case we should seek to correct it as soon as possible
The Vox Meritum's forces do have access to comms but like the Imperial Guard, long-distance communications are limited to the large, cumbersome but resilient vox casters held by specialists. If you wanted to add smaller, short-distance communications like a walkie-talkie, that'd be possible and make men less likely to be disoriented in certain types of terrain, but also likelier to have their comms intercepted against technologically-savvy foes. Light Comms would require an additional 1 Resources per regiment with no additional upkeep but Heavy Comms, adding a man-portable vox caster to each squad, would require 10 Resources per regiment and increase upkeep by 1. Due to your force's guerilla roots, they already have a fluid coded language not present elsewhere in the Imperium though it could likely be "decoded" through torture fairly quickly.

Quote from: The Canadian kitten on July 16, 2023, 01:37:05 am
As for a flag, what about a hand/multiple hands reaching for a star? The hand is the people/citzens, and the star represents the concept of the merits or goal or whatever clearly too tired to expand on this. but the flag should give the sense of reaching for the stars being totally possible in our society.

EDIT: add a cybernetic hand to the flag, gotta show appreciation for those cog bois for supporting us
I'm going to give you all a couple of more days to decide on the details of everything, but so far the hands reaching for the star flag is in the lead, as it's the only suggestion. Likewise for the semi-customisable jumpsuit+bandoleers, with increasingly large boots and hats for rank. What colour are the flag and your uniforms? Your troops may be wearing camo but there are many regiments that don't, and don't have any distinction between parade uniforms and active uniforms.

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Forum Games and Roleplaying / Re: Doomed and Futile Rebellion (40k SG)
« on: July 16, 2023, 02:28:39 pm »
Quote from: The Canadian kitten on July 16, 2023, 01:37:05 am
Quote from: Ardent Debater on July 15, 2023, 11:57:48 am
Perhaps even the structure, that of platoons of roughly one-hundred men, broken into companies of roughly thirty not counting officers, and further into specialised squads of roughly half a dozen,
Firstly, pretty sure it would be companies of hundred men, platoons of thirty unless something about the IG is screwed up.

Secondly, I think it would be a good idea for any doctrines that promote the independence of small units, and flexible defences.
honestly don't know about commissars or whether it is a good idea to keep them or not, how else to keep the guard in line?

Don't have thoughts on structure of IG, will do later
maybe general all rounder regiments with a bit of everything, so say the regiments are all equal so the merits of one dude isn't because they had the best equipment, but instead they had the skill to rise above their peers

As for a flag, what about a hand/multiple hands reaching for a star? The hand is the people/citzens, and the star represents the concept of the merits or goal or whatever clearly too tired to expand on this. but the flag should give the sense of reaching for the stars being totally possible in our society.

as for uniform, I would like something simple but distinctive, but what about the idea of if a guardsman does good, they are allowed to customize their uniform? just spitballing

assuming this rambling makes sense in any sort of way

EDIT: add a cybernetic hand to the flag, gotta show appreciation for those cog bois for supporting us

Yes, that is companies divided into platoons. I'm sorry about that, made a mistake in the typing. If you did keep your own equivalent of Commissars you could have them do things differently or even the same. The Imperium keeps its regiments separated to ensure that any who rebel can be easily countered, Combined-Arms regiments wouldn't excel at anything specific as well as focused regiments, but they'd never be weak or vulnerable in a combat situation. This is mechanically represented by them having a small but always there bonus, instead of a bonus that isn't there in some fights, a large bonus for when they're a counter for their enemies, and a large penalty when they're countered. Light Infantry is weak to everything but other Light Infantry but extremely affordable and has no issues with terrain, where many other types of regiments will have penalties.

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