Sector Rangers [Interest Check/Brainstorm]

[Arcangel]

[5:52:01 PM] Arclight: so just my headthoughts on the idea. I kinda see a slightly overstretched and underfunded detective agency type thing. functioning as a fbi/Interpol/rangers/marshalls type agency that mainly focuses on intergalactic criminals, i.e "ive got the death mark in twelve systems" guy. more coreward they would be more like the fbi, more numerous and organized, better funded and coordinated etc. etc. while the farther rimward you get, they function more like the texas rangers, very few and stretched out, maybe even individual rangers covering multiple systems.
[5:52:05 PM] Arclight: just my two cents

 

[Richie B.]

So would this faction have ships and what kind of ships? Or would we be using the Republic ships.

On that topic is this too be a part of the Republic or a separate entity?

 

[Loco]

Separate entity. I'm thinking sort of an Interpol/FBI cross, where it has its own jurisdictional powers to actually investigate crimes and arrest criminals, but it's supported by a number of member nations and maintains a sort of neutrality whatever the relations between those member nations are.

As for ships, I don't really see the need for anything bigger than the occasional light freighter with a cell or two and a solid tractor beam in it or a handful of fighters. This isn't intended to be a military or pseudo military force- there may be well armed elements, but the goals is to arrest criminals, not blow them up.

 

[Richie B.]

I know just trying to think how it would work like would they work to take down pirates which would have larger ships. Just trying too see what realistically we can arrest

 

[Arcangel]

i think they would more focus on trying to locate the pirates base and then liase with the local miliitary to take it down

 

[Richie B.]

Alright that is all I wanted to know

 

[Loco]

I know just trying to think how it would work like would they work to take down pirates which would have larger ships. Just trying too see what realistically we can arrest

Piracy in the sense you're talking- where the pirates have really big guns and seize ships underway- has traditionally never been tackled by law enforcement, but rather state navies. Take the coast of Somalia for example- sending a bunch of cops to Somalia would have probably just ended up with a bunch of dead cops, but adding security to the ships and increasing naval patrols from multiple countries seemed to help things a bit.

Now, digital piracy and the like- bootleg holovids for example- might well fall under something we'd handle, but it's sort of low priority.

 

[Arcangel]

basically this allows for a lot of cross faction interaction. example: work with a bounty hunter in one thread to find the pirate base. then work with the republic military to clean it out.

EDIT: ninja'd and wrong lol

 

[Richie B.]

Alright thanks

 

[Loco]

I really like Arc's example: "I've got the death mark in twelve systems."

^^^THAT is our kind of criminal. High profile, hard to catch, dangerous. Norby- the Hutt, it'll be a nice sight to see him slither away in handcuffs. Jack Tamblyn- I can't wait to see that mugshot. Whoever engineered that terrorist bombing of the Sith temple on Coruscant- He's going down. We'd be after the big guys- hardcore intergalactic organized crime and the like.

Being a cooperative between member nations that aren't always friendly pretty much ensures it being underfunded and marginalized- which is actually not a bad thing, since we still have to conform to indie faction rules. As far as assets go, I wouldn't dream of asking for any sort of military equipment or large ships, probably just a few regional offices and outposts and a fleet of slightly upgraded personal vehicles to ferry members around wherever they're called to. Overall we'd have sort of an elite but under-funded agency vibe. A relatively small number of highly trained and efficient investigators and a crack support staff, working with whatever resources they can get their hands on. Agents would run the cop trope gamut from Waste Ranger style dusters and cowboy hats to fedora wearing chain smokers, John McClane types, and more, with cameos from the entire casts of Law and Order and CSI: Wherever- Especially David Carusoe.

 

[Arcangel]

@Nor'baal @Ral Aran

 

[Prudence]

I like this idea.

 

[Loco]

Something I've discussed privately with a few, but want to throw out for general opinions:

My current idea for this faction involves a totally flat rank structure. There would be a nominal FL to handle all the administrative stuff, but as far as PC's go everyone is on more or less the same level. Some are more experienced or successful, but no one is more important than anyone else. The goal is not to rank up, the goal is to work together to catch criminals, and I think any gains in prestige or responsibility can be handled entirely IC. There's no real IC or OOC need for separate ranks here. Additionally, with the way I'm thinking of adjusting the "missions" board operation would make even less need of continual leadership, it would be very much member run. Thoughts?


Secondly, as an initial concept in combination with the above I was thinking about breaking everyone down into two broad groups of characters types. First would be Agents- the case handlers, the investigators, the mainstay of the faction, the guys who investigate crimes and catch bad guys. Special Skills Officers would cover the broad "everyone else" category of analysts, hackers, lawyers, engineers, administrators, ace pilots, dedicated SWAT guys, or whatever other niche skill set is needed or thought up to support the investigators while they work their cases. I'm hoping for input here as well.

 

[Nor'baal]

I think having all players as "detective inspector" level could work, with IC leadership being done by an NPC "Director". That way players can fill any role they wish to within the group, and still stay on the same rank.


This aside - I'll still be making a character regardless!

 

[Eccles]

I think it would benefit from a strictly investigative (and apprehend) role for PCs with everything else being NPC'd. At the end of the day your cop wanst to go to a planet and beat down on crime and let all the other shenanigans be irrelevant (except when someone wants to write out a trial and stuff).

Edit: having said that, I would love to set up co-op missions packs where the Exchangr meets law enforcements and the other way around.

 

[Nor'baal]

Or one could take inspiration from the DREDD universe and have the PC's as a combination of Officer and Judge + Speciality.

Instead of having thousands of NPC's just do what INTERPOL can do and nab some of the local law enforcement to aid the investigation, saving the factional NPC's for speciality work and elite security.

 

[Law abiding heretic]

Gonna pop in and say that if this gets off the ground i will be making a character for it.

I really like the idea and it sounds like it has a lot of good story potential.

Same.

 

[Loco]

I think it would benefit from a strictly investigative (and apprehend) role for PCs with everything else being NPC'd. At the end of the day your cop wanst to go to a planet and beat down on crime and let all the other shenanigans be irrelevant (except when someone wants to write out a trial and stuff).

Edit: having said that, I would love to set up co-op missions packs where the Exchangr meets law enforcements and the other way around.

Or one could take inspiration from the DREDD universe and have the PC's as a combination of Officer and Judge + Speciality.

Instead of having thousands of NPC's just do what INTERPOL can do and nab some of the local law enforcement to aid the investigation, saving the factional NPC's for speciality work and elite security.

To be clearer, the above separations were strictly for PCs. I imagined virtually all of the factions NPCS being used purely as administrative or support staff, and to crew the various field offices that would support investigators, along with a very small contingent of a dedicated SWAT type team. Most field support would have to come from local authorities or be lent by whatever faction claims the territory the investigation is taking place in, forcing us to actively work with multiple factions.

The SSO position for PCs is meant for people who like the idea and want to contribute, but who's characters don't necessarily fit the investigators role. These would be people with highly specialized technical skills that PCs can provide better than NPCs. There's always hacker prodigy and mad scientist type characters running around, or I would even support a dedicated hyper combat trained takedown specialist who just does raids, surveillance, or transports extremly dangerous criminals.

The intent is to convey, as I may have said before, an elite but under staffed and under supported agency.

As far as Dredd style authority, I'm pretty reluctant on that. It makes the agents sound too much like vigilantes or bounty hunters than elite law enforcement. They want to investigate and arrest, not be judge, jury, and executioner

 

[Richie B.]

I think my character could be such a hyper combat trained takedown specialist, who just so happens to be a force user but without all the mystical stuff behind it only the physical benefits, hopefully that would be allowed don't want to force myself into the faction though I really want to be a part of it. Need to be careful with how many characters I make

 

[Mr.BossMan]

Okay @Loco I am really excited to see someone come up with this idea. I myself was already planning a faction just like this one.

I plan on making a LawMan next Timeline, kind of like a modern day U.S. Marshal. He goes around and hunts down criminals, that is his mission.

So if you are still open to ideas I have plenty, let's bounce them back and forth if you like.

I really hope this gets off the ground cause I surely will be part of this team.

I mean like you said previously, there are so many Damon had guys out their. And it seems like the only good ones are Jedi, so ya we need some cops to tackle those robbers and bring them to justice!

Super excited and I'm lovin it!