[sglancy12]

Originally Posted by StainlessSteelCynic

The attitude will probably be, "Who the hell can afford to be a mercenary because nobody has anything to pay them with".

Well, everybody needs something. Getting paid as a TW2000 mercenary may be not much more than enough ammo to keep the mags full, enough food to keep the men full, and enough shelter to keep them dry and warm. As for currency... well, there won't be much of that. Even if countries like France, Switzerland and Sweden, which are pretty well set after the Twilight War wanted to pay mercenaries, it wouldn't likely be in currency. It might be in manufactured goods. Machine parts. Tires. Engine lubricants. It might even be in an offer of citizenship. France, Switzerland and Sweden all have an interest in keeping refugees out. Imagine them offering citizenship to any mercenaries willing to camp out just outside their national border for say, four years, and in exchange for food, ammo and medical care, chase any refugees away. National troops might balk at shooting hungry desperate civilians, but tired, desperate mercenaries might not. Do that for a few years and you earn your citizenship in a place that has hot water and electricity.

Drawback to this plan, of course, is that at some point these governments might be bankrolling an army that will invade when they've built up enough manpower and supplies... much like what happened with the Romans allowed some of the German tribes to settle of the frontier in order to keep other waves of barbarians out.

Originally Posted by StainlessSteelCynic

I think in this environment, mercenaries can most definitely exist but in the sense of the Freelance Companies of the medieval era. Aside from the remnants of a nations military, these 'Freelancers' would probably be one of the few organized and competent (probably) military groups left and they just happen to hire themselves out to whoever could pay rather than support any one government/warlord etc. etc.

That's pretty much exactly what I was thinking.

Originally Posted by StainlessSteelCynic

I don't think there'd be any government of significant power to prevent such groups from organizing let alone enforce any edicts about whether mercenaries should be considered marauders or not even if some of those mercenray groups take a few turns at being brigands or are hired by marauders.

I agree to a point, but some areas might have the power and organization to keep an independent organized military unit out. For instance, the MilGov enclave in Colorado. Do you really think that MilGov forces would permit a motorized (or otherwise) military unit of more than platoon strength to wander around MilGov territory, armed up as well as anything MilGov can field, but having no allegiance to MilGov? Unless this group comes with the highest possible recommendations from other MilGov enclaves, such a group is going to be seen as a threat to be neutralized.

Same thing with the Free City of Krakow. They would never let such a group inside the city defenses... but are they going to spend a bunch of blood and treasure going out there to disarm or arrest them. Hell no.

Originally Posted by StainlessSteelCynic

That also leaves open the classic scam by the robber barons and some mercenary companies in the medieval age - disguising themselves as brigands, attacking a town/travellers and then showing up a short time later to offer their services as protectors. Not only do they get some loot, they then get paid for some easy 'protection' duty for a threat that doesn't actually exist anymore.

Oh that is brilliant. It's better than a classic protection scam because the locals don't resent the mercenaries' presence. Hell, they might even be grateful! And if they are particularly sleazy, when a real threat shows up they can just take off and leave the locals in the lurch!

A. Scott Glancy, President TCCorp, dba Pagan Publishing