Wargaming in the Third Imperium: The Professional Soldier's Group (PSG) on Efate/regina
The Professional Soldier's Group or PSG was created by the government of Efate in 1103 "to coordinate all mercenary activity on Efate. The PSG was able to build up and field a Division equivalent of mercenaries, many equipped with a technology advantage over local forces (rebel, government, or otherwise)." Landgrab: Efate/Regina by Peter Trevor.
The PSG fields the equivalent of about 20 battalions of mercenaries. Going by the description quoted above, not all are equipped the same, implying that the PSG consists of various mercenary units integrated under the single command structure of the PSG. I'm trying to think of an earth analogue, but I'm drawing a blank at the moment. Broadly speaking I can see some similarities to multi-national task forces such as defenders of Peking during the boxer rebellion, UN task forces, Rhodesian forces during the 70s and other similar organisations.
In my last post on the Third Imperium I had to make adjustments to how Efate's tech level was interpreted because of my decision to use GZG's FSE Legionnaires as PSG mercenaries and my interpretation of their equipment in relation to Traveller tech levels. Since we now know that the PSG is not a homogeneous force, and that "many", not all, of the mercenaries are equipped to this high standard, it may be possible to interpret Efate's TL differently depending on what miniature ranges I include in the PSG.
Yesterday I ordered a pack of each of GZG's Mercenary range of figures, along with some of the new aircars.
Having read a little further into Peter Trevor's write-up, I've discovered that the surface of Efate does have areas of human breathable atmosphere, notably around swampy regions. This means that figures without face masks/enclosed helmets or such can be employed in these areas as well as in arcologies.
With this in mind I'm looking at my collection with an eye to forming a bunch of different mercenary units to operate under the PSG umbrella. I'm thinking that these units could represent whole mercenary units recruited offworld, units from other worlds detached and hired out to the PSG to gain combat experience and units formed on Efate by recruiting foreign personnel (like the French Foreign Legion, Spanish Foreign Legion, Rhodesian Light Infantry, etc.).
All of these units can and will be reused and in some cases reorganised to represent other forces within the Traveller universe. Similarities in equipment are easily explained when one considers that the Traveller universe has a number of Mega-corporations who specialise in military equipment and aggressively market their goods on an interstellar scale, so it's not uncommon to find the same equipment being used on worlds sub-sectors or even sectors apart. Much like we find the AK series of rifles being employed in many countries around the world today.
So let's get down to choosing our PSG mercenary units. We've already got GZG's FSE Legionnaires, so let's list my other GZG ranges:
I will list the current crop of non-human forces I have as well, just for completeness, but I don't expect to use them on Efate.
From GZG:
From RAFM:
The PSG fields the equivalent of about 20 battalions of mercenaries. Going by the description quoted above, not all are equipped the same, implying that the PSG consists of various mercenary units integrated under the single command structure of the PSG. I'm trying to think of an earth analogue, but I'm drawing a blank at the moment. Broadly speaking I can see some similarities to multi-national task forces such as defenders of Peking during the boxer rebellion, UN task forces, Rhodesian forces during the 70s and other similar organisations.
In my last post on the Third Imperium I had to make adjustments to how Efate's tech level was interpreted because of my decision to use GZG's FSE Legionnaires as PSG mercenaries and my interpretation of their equipment in relation to Traveller tech levels. Since we now know that the PSG is not a homogeneous force, and that "many", not all, of the mercenaries are equipped to this high standard, it may be possible to interpret Efate's TL differently depending on what miniature ranges I include in the PSG.
Yesterday I ordered a pack of each of GZG's Mercenary range of figures, along with some of the new aircars.
Having read a little further into Peter Trevor's write-up, I've discovered that the surface of Efate does have areas of human breathable atmosphere, notably around swampy regions. This means that figures without face masks/enclosed helmets or such can be employed in these areas as well as in arcologies.
With this in mind I'm looking at my collection with an eye to forming a bunch of different mercenary units to operate under the PSG umbrella. I'm thinking that these units could represent whole mercenary units recruited offworld, units from other worlds detached and hired out to the PSG to gain combat experience and units formed on Efate by recruiting foreign personnel (like the French Foreign Legion, Spanish Foreign Legion, Rhodesian Light Infantry, etc.).
All of these units can and will be reused and in some cases reorganised to represent other forces within the Traveller universe. Similarities in equipment are easily explained when one considers that the Traveller universe has a number of Mega-corporations who specialise in military equipment and aggressively market their goods on an interstellar scale, so it's not uncommon to find the same equipment being used on worlds sub-sectors or even sectors apart. Much like we find the AK series of rifles being employed in many countries around the world today.
So let's get down to choosing our PSG mercenary units. We've already got GZG's FSE Legionnaires, so let's list my other GZG ranges:
- NSL Panzergrenadiers
- NSL Jägers
- ESU Naval Infantry
- ESU Regular Army
- IF Infantry
- Mercenaries (arriving soon)
- NAC Marines
- Neo-Arabs or RPK Infantry
- Neo-Persians or Satrapal Levie (my granddaughter's figures)
- Those Curious Chaps
- Oceanic Republic
- Earth Force
- Neo-Soviet Conscripts
- Neo-Soviet Spetsnaz
- New Vistula Legion
I will list the current crop of non-human forces I have as well, just for completeness, but I don't expect to use them on Efate.
From GZG:
- Crusties
- Kra'Vak
- Phalons
- Greys
- Alien Mercenaries
- Sci-fi Egyptians
- JTFB (my granddaughter's miniatures)
- Felids (Aslan)
- Intruders
- Raug Ceepays (Vargr)
- Kurgen
- Pangalactic Legion
- Valonian Infantry
- Space Worms
From RAFM:
- War Hounds of Sirius (Vargr)
- Car Leonis Warriors (Aslan)
- Dracos Warriors (Droyne)
- Critical Mass Protolene Mercenaries (Vargr?)
- Critical Mass ZAS Infantry Mercs
- Vorq'la Mercenaries
- Ikwen
- Chuhuac
Nice collection there with plenty of options I have allot of those myself waiting in the painting cue !
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure I have more, I just can't recall what they are at the moment, and most of mine are in the painting cue too.
Delete