Rapid Response Team

[Steele1701]

I am putting together a Rapid Response Team series and am need of ideas. What kind of team make-up should I suggest to the players? I know a medic and heavy weapons are a given but what other suggestions do you guys have? Thanks in advance.

[Owen E Oulton]

An 8-10 man infantry section would consist of a pair of rifle teams and a support team. (I'm disregarding the 'Murrican "squad" since it seems to have no real set definition.) The section leader would probably be a Petty Officer.

One of the rifle teams would be led by the section leader. The section communications specialist would accompany the section leader at all times.

The support team would be led by the deputy section leader, and would have one or two heavy weapons, such as Tetrion Pulse Launcher or a Photon Mortar.

Each member of the section would carry a Type 3 Phaser Rifle, except the heavy weapons operators. Each would have a secondary specialisation, such as medic, demolitions, sensors, computers, transporters, et cetera, and equipment to do the job (all man-portable, of course). Each team member should be zero-gee trained, and one or more should be a train shuttle pilot.

Smaller teams will have to forego some of the flexibility of a larger team. Larger teams are no problem - 2-4 sections form a platoon, led by an Ensign or Lieutenant (jg).

[Steele1701]

I have only four players so it sounds like I might have "fill out" the rest of the team with a few NPC's. Thanks for your response Owen, it has been very helpful. If I read your post correctly it sounds like the team would all be NCO's, not officers. I had thought about having the team serve bridge duty on occasion as well, is such a think possible? I know that for at least some of the stations they would have to be officers.

[Owen E Oulton]

It's unlikely that ground forces would serve bridge duty.

As for the ranks, only the section leader and deputy section leader would normally be NCOs - the rest would be crewmen. The lowest officer you'd be likely to find would be the platoon commander, in charge of a platoon made up of 2-4 sections.

You could opt for a more Hollywood style and go for a team of 4 more senior personnel. Some sort of Special Ops "A-Team" made up of a Lieutenant, an Ensign and a pair pf Petty Officers, while not particularly "realistic" is quite playable and reflects the way things tend to be handled on TV. If you wish them to pull bridge duty, it would probably be at the Tactical or Mission Ops station - just make sure they have the appropriate skills and are bridge certified.

Remember, it's a game, so as long as you can make it sound reasonable to your players, run with it.

[Modem]

Seriously though Owen, those are some good analogies…but, if one looks at the R.R.T. the same one views Mar…er, the ‘M’-word (No, NOT ‘MACO’ *HURRRG*...ah, better), then the R.R.T. characters could become a ‘bridge crew’ of sorts…for a ‘Gunship’/‘Gunboat’.

Further more, such a ship/boat like this, with a crew compliment of say between 15-25 would really emphasize role-playing and more of a sense of duty/responsibility.

The ‘CO’ and ‘XO’ (and the rest of the PCs) would take a greater role in the day-to-day of the ship, her crew, and the direct risks involve in the missions. Hmm, sort like serving on a Defiant-Class (which is another possibility, right beside an Akira-Class…though, I can’t remember off the top of my head what ones crew compliment is).

[Steele1701]

I did not realize that most special forces were enlisted, I had always thought that the were officers.

[Owen E Oulton]

Actually, most military and Naval personnel are enlisted. Starfleet vessels have a far higher apparent percentage of officers than real-world naval vessels.

It helps to look at it in civilian terms - Officers are executives, NCOs are managers and enlisted personnel are the people who actually do the work. (This gives rise to the old military joke, "Don't call me 'Sir,' I work for a living!")

[Kronok]

Spacedock has some cool Off-to-Enl ratios for staffing out a ship.

[Steele1701]

I am a little confused, aren't NCO's and enlisted the same? Before you phaser me for asking such a question I will admit my ignorance of enlisted ranks. All those years of watching Star Trek I suppose led me to believe such a team would be officers. I would like to make a little "real world" if possible.

[Sarge]

All NCOs are enlisted personnel, but not all enlisted personnel are officers.

Unlike commissioned officers, nobody begins his career as an NCO. A person who has enlisted, served for several years, proven himself responsible and shown leadership potential, should eventually get promoted to an NCO grade.

An officer's authority comes from his education and training. An NCO's authority comes from his experience.

If you have any other questions about NCOs, by all means, drop and gimme twenty.

[Steele1701]

So NCO's are the highest ranks of the enlisted, like the commander and captain ranks in the officer ranks.

[Modem]

I was going relate my dad's regular and reserve history, but that would mean having to piece at all together.

I know my dad finished as a CWO in the reserves...anyhow.
__________________________________________________ __
GUNBOATS, GET YOUR GUNBOATS HERE:
http://www.shipschematics.net/startr...nboat_orca.jpg
Kinda' another use for a Grissom-Class
http://www.shipschematics.net/startr...boat_river.jpg
Hmmm...Excelsior saucer, pylons from a Sovereign...

Other applicable stuff:
http://www.shipschematics.net/cgi-bi...ion.cgi?Search

(Perimeter Action Vessels, Patrol Ships, and other on the list would be useful in this sort of game)

[Steele1701]

I am grateful for info, guys. Modem, aren't some of those ships from the FASA Star Trek RPG?

[Steele1701]

Now what I really need is a cool name for the team. I see these guys as the Elite in special forces but I can't seem to come up with a good name. The only thing I can think of is Starfleet Rangers but that sounds like I am ripping it off from the Army. Any suggestions, guys?

[Eric R.]

A typical American Special Forces A team consist of 12 men, an officer (Captain), a warrent officer and 10 enlisted men all of whom are senior enlisted personnel (usually at least First Sergeants). A team will be broken down into six areas Command, Operations/Planning, medical, weapons, engineering, and communications. The US Army has anyway tended to prefere more expierenced and seasoned NCO's aged at least in their late 20's in Special FOrces becuase of the maturity factor. In addition many have completed other courses such as Ranger, Sniper training before attempting the Q course.

Six A teams form a Special Fores Company which is led by a B Team which consists of two officers (2x majors) a warrent officer and 8 Enlisted NCOs.



I highly recommend that you get your hands on a copy of Tom Clancy's Special Forces: A guided tour of US Army Special Forces (I have not seen a Walden's without one since it came out two years ago) it is excellent if your trying to figure out how to handle a RRT based series.