Byakko Squads

[Yoritomo Amano]

So, fellow Byakko dudes, how do we want to assign our two squads?

I'm thinking squad 1 will be the scouts and archers, while squad 2 will be a specialized unit for infiltration and extraction.

Thoughts?

[Seppun Shin]

[Edit: There's an actual division of squads on the third page of this thread. Here will go the listings of who is in which squad]

Chui: Seppun Shin
Genbu Adjunct: Kitsuki Yasuko

Squad 1 (Not Named)
Gunso: Akodo Inuichi
Nikutai:
Yoritomo Amano
Daigotsu Kaori

Squad 2 (Not Named)
Gunso:
Nikutai: Shinjo Shui
Kitsune Hajime
Ujina Kyotsu

[Yoritomo Amano]

Your second suggestion sounds much more excellent, and easier to assign members to.

[Kitsune Hajime]

I totally agree with that second option, as well.

[Seppun Shin]

I think it's four of us for now. I'm not sure if we should make the final decision or wait for some time to see if other characters join. The big disadvantage of the second option that only now occurred to me is that I'm not sure how many people are proficient in Horsemanship (Kyujutsu would be the second most important, with Stealth not at all that important given you'll be on a horse most of the time), so I don't know if we'd have any characters in it.

[Evil Bob]

While I think you got the idea of the company down pat you may find one issue with going with idea 2:
Lack of PC light calvary.
While I give the option to anyone in the game to start with a pony or a horse with a special power, most players are not going with that option.  So you might want to pick option 1.
I hate it when OOC dictates something like that, but sometimes you just have to roll with it.  

[Seppun Shin]

That's precisely the concern I had! The scouts in L5R aren't really scouts in terms of warfare, though. In L5R, scouts seem to be the crafty types who spy on the enemy, set up ambushes and traps, and what not. In the real world, scouts mostly... scout. The cavalry squad would have to perform the actual scouting duties most of the time simply because they're the only ones able to gather intelligence fast enough to matter.

An alternative to that (so that we're not out of job) just occurred to me. Within the mountains of the Dragon, cavalry might find its movement quite restricted. And the hard terrain surrounding us would mean slower movement of armed forces, which would in turn translate into unmounted scouts being actually kind of useful. In that case, horsemanship would give way to athletics. You have to climb high and survey the rocky passes for signs of enemy troops and then be fit enough to run a dozen miles through difficult terrain so that your intelligence is actually worth something. You also have to have enough stealth so that the enemy doesn't notice you.

On the other hand, I don't like the whole "this squad is actually secret ninja police". I'd like the black ops to be something besides the usual military organization. Saves face and whatnot. So I was thinking of this:

The First Squad are those working "close to home". They are responsible for ensuring the camp is set up according to an established plan, both in space and time. They are also in charge of patrols around the camp. Investigation and Kyujutsu are the most important aspects of this job since you would have to see the enemy and shoot him before he can escape with valuable information. The crafting of traps could be a useful secondary skill. Not talking about anything too elaborate, of course, for such things wouldn't be the purpose of honest warriors, yet spear walls, holes with stakes, oil patches and alarm wires should be probably within the expertise of some of the members of this squad. Some might even want to possess a rudimentary knowledge of engineering in case direction is required to set up rudimentary fortifications.

The Second Squad are the ones I mentioned before. Those in charge of gathering intelligence on the enemy. These are the ones whose skill is the most important, for our enemy is gaijin and much more accustomed to the area close to the Empire's border, hence we are at a disadvantage. Fitness and stealth are key to survive on this squad, as well as Investigation in order to actually perform some reconnaissance. Taking messages from one company or squad to another would also fall under this squad's purview in case squads are separated, either during march, camp or combat. Knowledge and experience with mountain terrain is an obvious plus. Actual knowledge of the gaijin military composition and tactics is not officially encouraged but definitely not something to dismiss. Some among this squad might be horsemen as well, but a number low enough so that nobody is forced to get a horse if they don't want to.

As with my second idea, a group of soldiers from both squads will unofficially compose a unit for black operations. Their missions would be covert and include sabotage, extraction and termination of key enemy personnel. Infiltration and counterespionage most probably hadn't been an issue given the enemy is gaijin. These soldiers would be volunteers, gathered by an unofficial leader. Should they fail, their existence would be denied. This message will auto-destruct in five...

So, what do you think? 

[Akodo Inuichi]

I don't think black ops per say is the best term. Perhaps tactical deployments for the tipping of scales in coming combat. This is warfare after all. Not planned assassinations between peaceful coexistence.

Anywho, Inuichi can fill both a sneaky gathering info scout and a kill you dead scout. Therefore I think I could gunso the 2nd group here mentioned.

[Kitsuki Masakaze]

This is all great. Wish I had some of you in 1st company. You all have great ideas and discussion!

[Seppun Shin]

Thanks!

And yeah, black ops is very modern. I just couldn't think of a better term at the moment, and don't think they'd actually even have a military designation. The group might have their own cool assassin name though, like the Crows or the Grass Spiders or whatever they like. It's all up in the air for the moment, and will actually need GM consent before we go forward with it. On the other hand, it's also all up for grabs And you can give your opinion even if you're not in the company. Rule of cool applies!

[Yoritomo Amano]

I prefer 'clandestine'.  Squad 2 (under the first option) would also have members skilled in the arts of insinuating themselves in groups of enemies and gaining their confidence.  This would allow said legionnaire to neutralize leaders or weaken command structures while potentially rescuing hostages.  Sort of like a Rokugani Michael Westen.

[Shosuro Zhelazo]

I prefer 'clandestine'.  Squad 2 (under the first option) would also have members skilled in the arts of insinuating themselves in groups of enemies and gaining their confidence.  This would allow said legionnaire to neutralize leaders or weaken command structures while potentially rescuing hostages.  Sort of like a Rokugani Michael Westen.

Now, this is something I am very good at.

[Yoritomo Amano]

Too bad you're a turtle, not manly tiger.

BE A MAN
We must be swift as the coursing river,
With all the force of a great typhoon,
And all the strength of a raging fire,
Mysterious as the dark side of the moon!

[Kaiu Yosai]

Too bad you're a turtle, not manly tiger.

BE A MAN
We must be swift as the coursing river,
With all the force of a great typhoon,
And all the strength of a raging fire,
Mysterious as the dark side of the moon!

Ok Mulan...

[Yoritomo Amano]

More like Li Shang, thank you very much.

And I'll have you know that "I'll Make a Man Out of You" is the second manliest song ever recorded.

The first, of course, being this.