Personal Weapons Load or Team Gear?

[Matt W]

Background: According to the RP supplement all Morrow Project Teams have the capacity to rebuild. (This justifies the need for all those Degrees). The main TM1-1 rulebook also lists the large amounts of weaponry that can be carried by each individual team-member (the Weapons loads)

However, there is presumably a trade-off between being heavily-armed and being well-equipped with the tools necessary to rebuild a nation - especially since the amount of space in an APC is very finite

Therefore, I'm wondering if anyone has suggestions on "Team" gear loads (to include weaponry and gear) that might replace the individual and vehicle loads

[mikeo80]

Originally Posted by Matt W

Background: According to the RP supplement all Morrow Project Teams have the capacity to rebuild. (This justifies the need for all those Degrees). The main TM1-1 rulebook also lists the large amounts of weaponry that can be carried by each individual team-member (the Weapons loads)

However, there is presumably a trade-off between being heavily-armed and being well-equipped with the tools necessary to rebuild a nation - especially since the amount of space in an APC is very finite

Therefore, I'm wondering if anyone has suggestions on "Team" gear loads (to include weaponry and gear) that might replace the individual and vehicle loads

One of the biggest problems is the "canon" of being 150+ years after "The Big Bang". One of the suppositions of the project was to "come up" after 3-5 years depending on conditions. There would be a huge availability of both raw and finished materials with the Project filling in with knowledge to help the survivors. The arms were to help protect those survivors from the evil doers in the world.

The other thing available were the regional supply depots that would help fill in any gaps of needed materials.

Hence your correct statement of too many weapons not enough stuff to fix things up.

The average Team in a post 150+ scenario has to come up with solutions to problems that might have been simple with a 3-5 year availability.

I know in many of the games I have played and run, helping a family build a farm house can be a MAJOR undertaking for the Team.

[nuke11]

I think Mike08 may be on the right track.

Since the project was susposed to wake up 3-5 years after WWIII, there is going to be large amounts of equipment, salvage and new raw materials to help rebuild the US, not really a big need for the project to pre-place large amounts of materials ahead of time.

The reverse of this also means there are going to be large amounts of firepower out there that is going to be in the hands of persons that are not going to be to freindly to one looking to take there hard won supplies to "help" others and for the good of the nation.

[Matt W]

I disagree.

Nowhere in TM 1-1, can I find a suggestion that Morrow Project teams are supposed to take a "Police" or protective role (except possibly MARS teams). The RP supplement states "Teams were trained to fight because they might have to. It was hoped that most teams would never need to fight"

I grant you that "Magnificent Seven" scenarios have become a stereotypical component of TMP - but I don't think that the original teams were set up to protect helpless farming communities from bandits. This is probably because in the "3-5 years after" period, all surviving communities would be able to defend themselves.

Because if they couldn't feed and defend themselves after 3-5 winters... well... they wouldn't be 'surviving communities'

[mikeo80]

Originally Posted by Matt W

I disagree.

Nowhere in TM 1-1, can I find a suggestion that Morrow Project teams are supposed to take a "Police" or protective role (except possibly MARS teams). The RP supplement states "Teams were trained to fight because they might have to. It was hoped that most teams would never need to fight"

That is all very true, Matt. However, there is another point I want to explore. In any kind of rebuilding scenario, there needs to be some kind of group that can provide security to those who are trying to pick up the pieces.

I refer you to the National Guard during Hurricanes Katrina, Floyd, Hugo and others. I also refer you to the 82nd Airborne following the earthquake in Haiti, American forces in Afghanistan helping the flood victims in Pakistan and others.

During a nuclear war scenario, the US Govt will be helpless, much less the state govts. Morrow Project is probably the only power available to secure the locals from those who would rape, pillage and steal.

Mike

[Matt W]

Originally Posted by mikeo80

T
During a nuclear war scenario, the US Govt will be helpless, much less the state govts. Morrow Project is probably the only power available to secure the locals from those who would rape, pillage and steal.

Mike

If the US and State governments (with hundreds of thousands of personnel) are helpless then ... a few dozen Morrow Project personnel are going to be a 'drop in the bucket'.

Hurricane Katrina showed that it takes THOUSANDS of security personnel to achieve stability over an area the size of a city. Even securing a village would require a platoon and - at least in my vision of the Project - the Morrow Project just doesn't have sufficient people to run security/stability operations