10 replies to this topic

[AUSSIETROOPER4]

For some reason most people I talk to love mercenaries like they are some sort of ultra cool gods.
The seem to think they are the hardest bunch of units and most practical.

But do mercs have any honour?

In Battletech they seem to have according to the books. But historically they usually work for whoever will pay the highest with no regard for who they hurt or kill in the process.
There employers usually throw them in first to get them killed so they do not have to pay them.
Mercenary captains survive by playing off factions against each other and keeping the casualties and need for them to fight to a minimum.
historically mercenaries change sides easily and have no loyalty. If there is no money they certainly have no cause.
They cannot move their families with them because it is too dangerous and when they settle they ally with the faction they settle in becoming essentially regulars anyway.

My point in the end is to understand why so many people out their like what mercenaries stand for.

Edited by 116th NorskaFresh, 11 June 2014 - 09:38 PM.

[ninjitsu]

Honor is irrelevant. Blow up robots.

[mdmzero0]

Mercenaries are the ultimate warriors. We're here to fight, but only on the terms and conditions we accept. Sure, we do it for the money, but more so we love smashing the enemy to pieces.

We don't have to listen to an arrogant leader, or corrupt politician. We don't like what you stand for? No honor or loyalty to country or ruler ties us down. We take contracts that suit us, not others.

Live for yourself. Be a mercenary.

[Vandul]

Want to understand what 31st century mercs are about? Id strongly suggest reading some of the Hammer Slammers books by David Drake.

[Goose Igaly]

As XO of a Merc unit, I can say it's a careful balance as a Merc. Our unit is set up as Mercenaries whose primary loyalties lay with Steiner, but as we are not a House unit, when the time comes we will be able to take up any contract that we wish. It is difficult to distinguish Mercs that base themselves within a faction from the faction they ally with right now as there is no community warfare for us to operate within.

As far as honor, there are various mentalities within the Merc genre, if you will. Of course there will always be the blood thirsty, honorless maggots that make up the majority of the Merc style. My unit, however, is built upon the principals of honor and integrity, or as much as Mercs can have. I expect my pilots to be respectful to their enemies and play honorably, even if the other team doesn't. This mentality carries over into the stories we have written about our unit.

[Citizen Erased]

Who needs honor if you have ?

[GunnyKintaro 01]

It take's all type's ... I work for C-bills ... That's what keep's the bills paid.. Cut throat yes..... Will I fulfill my contract's yes...
But honor... Honor is a strange thing... Most don't even understand what it means to have honor or to be honorable.. I honor my Unit.. The men that serve under me I honor.. My boss I honor.. Am I going to let some enemy live if he has a price on his head ...no ... Not a chance in hell ... I fulfill my contracts or I die trying .. I may choose to fight for someone paying less if I believe in What their fighting for... Honor is not some glove you slide on and off... If i'm honoring my men you may feel i was dishonorable by killing your men or in the way i killed them... But I think my men will know they are honored when their on there way home. That no sacrifice was to great to show them just what they mean to the unit ! So maybe Honor is something we all see in a different light ...

Edited by AH Osprey 02, 12 June 2014 - 08:54 AM.

[Goose Igaly]

AH Osprey 02, on 12 June 2014 - 08:51 AM, said:

It take's all type's ... I work for C-bills ... That's what keep's the bills paid.. Cut throat yes..... Will I fulfill my contract's yes...
But honor... Honor is a strange thing... Most don't even understand what it means to have honor or to be honorable.. I honor my Unit.. The men that serve under me I honor.. My boss I honor.. Am I going to let some enemy live if he has a price on his head ...no ... Not a chance in hell ... I fulfill my contracts or I die trying .. I may choose to fight for someone paying less if I believe in What their fighting for... Honor is not some glove you slide on and off... If i'm honoring my men you may feel i was dishonorable by killing your men or in the way i killed them... But I think my men will know they are honored when their on there way home. That no sacrifice was to great to show them just what they mean to the unit ! So maybe Honor is something we all see in a different light ...

Honor is in the eye of the beholder. Well put. Prime example: The Klingon Empire.

[Glory in the Highest]

Honor vs winning?


Choose winning. Every time.

[Xavier]

It isn't that we don't have honor or don't believe in something, is more along the lines of we just want to get fairly compensated for the risk level that we choose to assume. Soldiers have no choice they are the real cannon fodder, if the risk is high for a mercenary the potential for reward must also be as equally high. We are not unlike that of a modern day union/contractor! you need someone to do a job, you can't or don't want to use the resources you have to do the job and we agree to do the job but only after fair value has been established. Another group has the potential to come in and underbid us if they choose. Sounds like a union/contractor to me

[Goose Igaly]

SLDF Xavier, on 12 June 2014 - 09:52 AM, said:

It isn't that we don't have honor or don't believe in something, is more along the lines of we just want to get fairly compensated for the risk level that we choose to assume. Soldiers have no choice they are the real cannon fodder, if the risk is high for a mercenary the potential for reward must also be as equally high. We are not unlike that of a modern day union/contractor! you need someone to do a job, you can't or don't want to use the resources you have to do the job and we agree to do the job but only after fair value has been established. Another group has the potential to come in and underbid us if they choose. Sounds like a union/contractor to me

Contractor, yes. Unions is a tough stretch as once a workplace becomes unionized, they are your resources. Good analogy with the contractor!