Dawn of the Republic - Sacred Band of Ziost

[Tsunami]

The announcement also says "enthralled to the will of the Sith Lords" , which to me at least sounds like there's a distinct hierarchy. They're not a legion not anymore, but still no equals to the Force Users of Korriban/Morraband.

I totally agree, regardless of the trials that they have been through, the experiences they have had. They are meant to be a bulk force or tools the Sith order can utilize. The Sith need people with better than average slicing skills, people who can build or repair droids and weaponry and ships.

They don't need Assassins or Warriors. The Sith is teeming with people who fit those roles.

My main issue ICly is, why would anyone send a non-FS assassin who has completed a larger than life assault course in the place of a FS assassin who can shred people to pieces. ICly I can't see the Sith seeing the SBZ as this hyper elite, but as a bulk force of people to use to further their agenda.

 

[Saul]

Don't forget slavers, emotionally scarred smugglers and Sith-groupies. All I see here are assassins with enhanced spinal cords and limbs and not the actual scum of the Galaxy. Where's the pirate whose fleet was destroyed and hoped to form a new fleet from the hardened grunts on Ziost? (Imagine Charles Vane from the Black Sails series losing his crew and forming a new one out of especially brawny slaves).

The SBZ to me don't look like Mandalorians at all. They're privateers and pirates with Ziost as their Nassau who fight the Republic Military for personal profit (whether power, credits or infamy).

The announcement also says "enthralled to the will of the Sith Lords" , which to me at least sounds like there's a distinct hierarchy. They're not a legion not anymore, but still no equals to the Force Users of Korriban/Morraband.

EDIT: It also seems clear to me that in the announcement there's first a description of what the SBZ once was, namely the absolute elite under Sith Rule, and then it states that now it's a shell of its former self and consists of primarily misfits. That it ends with "not less dangerous in a fight" seems added to balance it out. Coming back to the Nassau comparison: Nassau had many pirates who were useless and forgotten in their own time, but it also had Blackbeard, Hornigold, Vane, Rackham etcetera. The SBZ can and will also have such characters, namely the Player Characters (participating in PvP). That doesn't mean the entire sub-faction is elite.

I think you glossed over a lot of characters by just generalizing us all as super-soldiers thus far. My own character, for example, is inspired by a mix of mujahideen (75%) meets Waffen SS (not Wehrmacht - political military not professional) (25%); yes he's designed to be a good fighter, but not for soldierings sake. I am extremely interested in pirate RP's for my character, particularly if it involves questing to recover lost Sith artifacts, and otherwise doings deeds to warrant the favor of the Sith.

That said, I don't see a pirate band or a Mandalorian clan; I see a mercenary/bounty hunter gang under long term contract to the Sith, or a fraternity of proficient assassins, raiders, mercs, cultists; people who've given up a modicum of their sense of freedom for a promise of power in a new galactic order.

 

[Spud]

Well, so far we have a medical scientist, Saul's character, a propaganda/recon droid, a convict with a deft hand, a self proclaimed priestess of the Sith, a warrior that wishes he was sith, an actual assassin that moonlights as a spy and tech, and a Sun Guard mercenary who's in it for the money. We do actually have a variety. Plus the whole 'enthralled' thing came up earlier and GR had this to say.

Enthralled is probably a bit of poetic licence on my behalf there, so maybe I gave the wrong impression there. I think the more important message to take out of the blurb is that, historically, the Sacred Band were Non-Force Sensitives who underwent the cruelest and harshest of Sith crucibles and survived. That's the legacy of the Sacred Band of Ziost - you're non-Force Sensitives who faced down the worst the Sith can throw at you and survived. That makes you the best of the best, the most elite group of specialists remaining in service to the Sith. You're commandos, master hackers, droid savants, and so on. That not only is a source of pride, but it's also a major point of respect - and while the Sacred Band doesn't have the same glory they once had, the name still holds weight that you can throw around, even at your Sith peers, who not only should treat you as equals, but you have every right to demand respect when they don't as well.

 

[Pernicious]

 

[Eccles]

I think you glossed over a lot of characters by just generalizing us all as super-soldiers thus far. My own character, for example, is inspired by a mix of mujahideen (75%) meets Waffen SS (not Wehrmacht - political military not professional) (25%); yes he's designed to be a good fighter, but not for soldierings sake. I am extremely interested in pirate RP's for my character, particularly if it involves questing to recover lost Sith artifacts, and otherwise doings deeds to warrant the favor of the Sith.

Your character's profile reads as a Sith-groupie and his personality is all about battle and being a warrior. Now, I'm not saying your character is bad and that you should change it. I'm saying that so far I've seen very little diversity and especially towards the not-warrior types. Ofcourse I generalize, because I'm not going to go over every character and name names. The general consensus however is brilliant merciless warriors/assassins devoted to the Sith (aka groupies) and not the wretched hive of scum and villainy I've taken it to be after reading the original announcement. That was what my comment was about.

That said, I don't see a pirate band or a Mandalorian clan; I see a mercenary/bounty hunter gang under long term contract to the Sith, or a fraternity of proficient assassins, raiders, mercs, cultists; people who've given up a modicum of their sense of freedom for a promise of power in a new galactic order.

Consistency is all. ;)

Yes. Similar to Mandalorians.

Also there's little difference between privateering (ex-pirates) and being a fraternity of "proficient" raiders/mercenaries under a long term contract to the Sith. The idea of a "promise of power in a new galactic order" is debatable, I'm not sure that's completely realistic. I'm sure the Think Tank will clear all of that up with their accouncement.

 

[Saul]

 

[Tsunami]

You're commandos, master hackers, droid savants, and so on. That not only is a source of pride, but it's also a major point of respect - and while the Sacred Band doesn't have the same glory they once had, the name still holds weight that you can throw around, even at your Sith peers, who not only should treat you as equals, but you have every right to demand respect when they don't as well.

You don't have that diversity though. That has a lot to do with sadly the lack of interest in this group I think. Regardless, this isn't and cannot be gospel.

major point of respect

Why? Half of the Sith don't respect each other. They value power and seek to gain it for the most part.

the name still holds weight that you can throw around

Again, that is if people play that way. If a random SBZ dude was to demand something of my character, it would just be a cool story bro kind of situation. I think a lot of people would feel the same way. That's not to say you might not have a role to play...

but...

ICly I couldn't think of a reason why the SBZ is set apart from a member of the BHG who can provide a range of skills under a banner that isn't drawing attention to the Sith. It is one of the reasons I decided not to invest in a SBZ character, I'm not down to be a follower of the Sith, when I could just be a Sith or an Indie who isn't getting bossed around.

 

[Spud]

Whether or not Sith will actually respect SBZ individuals is different than whether or not they show respect, both of which are ultimately up to the player but one is only to save face with valuable assets the same as they would potential enemies like other Sith; rather than see them as an equal. Plus, the SBZ don't have to follow the Sith, that is a matter of the SBZ players preference. We share many of the same ideals but in the end we can choose whether or not we work for, with, or even behind their back and have the skills to cause pause should they want to act against us for whatever reason.

On a side note the only benefit over SBZ and BHG like you mentioned would be that the SBZ have already been tested by the Sith and shown to have a reliable skill set and some modicum of loyalty, plus they can handle in house issues that the Sith may not want a third party involved in. As for the lack of diversity we currently have I'm not sure I see what you're seeing, sure plenty of us have similarities in various fields but each of us has our own niche where we fit better than the others.

 

[Saul]

@Tsunami it's all about setting. I want to play a bad guy working for the BBEG, I want to conquer and crush people and ruin lives. I want to Allahu Sithbar Jedi padawans and lynch innocents mercilessly. I want to be a nemesis in the main plotline. I can't do that in the BHG, where I'm limited to bounties and kidnappings and assassinations and investigations and the like.

 

[Pilgrim]

We need a logo, badge, crest, what-have-you. Some common identifier that we all wear and serves as an identifier to the Sith, and others, of who we are.

 

[Sapphire Storm]

We need a logo, badge, crest, what-have-you. Some common identifier that we all wear and serves as an identifier to the Sith, and others, of who we are.

If people want to set up some badge or crest or whatever that can be used as some point of honour or identification, then I think that's probably something to happen in-character when the timeline starts, or something chosen by the leader of the group at some point. I personally don't feel the need for it, though. I think my character would much rather have the name be the point that causes fear or recognition, much like the ancient Sacred Band of Carthage, although preferably without the horrible ending they received.

 

[Spud]

Tis possible that we have one on behalf of the think tank. It would be useful in some circumstances, though a physical badge/medal/etc would also be a huge liability. If someone to ever lose one, or an enemy were to see one, it could wind up in the hands of the enemy and they could potentially forge their own and so on. An idea would be to have some sort of 'super secret classified security clearance code' attached to whatever identity thingamabob we might possess and linked to whatever database might exist under Sith control that would basically say 'has Sith authority'.

Again, the use of such a thing would depend heavily on the particular individual, much like Saph's use as a weighted whisper. I'd use it as a security pass when I could, but my character doesn't like to toss names around, it's not very discreet xP

 

[Braden]

I have only really read a bit of this thread. But from the sounds of what I have read the way to get the SBZ to really make a difference is to make sure they are one unit. All PC characters looking in the same direction unlike tw sith who will be playing a all for one game.

Sorry if this has already been brought up and discussed.

 

[Sapphire Storm]

That's definitely the best way for the SBZ to make a real difference. But, player characters being player characters, that might not always go according to plan.

 

[K-97]

(x-post from the Lords of the Sith Thread)

A new update has been posted on the Timeline concerning the applications of FLs; I just want to point out something of Roleplaying relevance for both the Lords of the Sith and the Sacred Band of Ziost and how the Staff sees it playing out (subject to the interpretation of the Faction Leader):

The Sith FL will be the Supreme Leader. They are the ruler of the entire Sith brotherhood, including the Lords of the Sith and the Sacred Band of Ziost. The Supreme Leader can come from either the Lords of the Sith sub-faction or the Sacred Band sub-faction. They are not required to be a Force user.

What this means for the way we roleplay our characters is that as far as the lore (and our IC Society) is concerned the Sith and the SBZ are equals rather than the SBZ being the servants of the Sith. While views may vary amongst the characters, I just felt it's important to acknowledge that in this timeline the Sith Order as a whole doesn't seem to have a societal hierarchy based on your Force Potential (although the Lords of the Sith probably will).

 

[Tsunami]

Indeed, it seems that despite the slight bridge between the two factions that has formed... We are going to be working even closer together than I think both sides had probably expected. By closer together I mean we are going to be pretty much one entity, rather than two seperate ones.

I don't know what this means however, seeing as things that effect you guys will directly effect my guys I would like to state that I will be happy to help any and all SBZ members in endeavours and struggles. I can't say I know how this will work out in the end, I am praying that the infighting that may develop does not ruin the faction, leaving us to be mopped up by the other factions.

Also to any of those going for FL as an SBZ member, good luck!

 

[Braden]

Just throwing it out there, I know this faction is supposed to be a grouping of the best and badest mofo's in the galaxy. But what if as a group, a ranking system for the characters was introduced. Like an army rank. Of course I am not expecting massive ranks like real world equivalents. As this is far to many, but maybe just like four or five ranks allowing all the members to be linked together closely and allow progression as a collective unit.

I know this may be far fetched considering the PC's involved. Again just throwing it out there.

 

[Pilgrim]

Indeed, it seems that despite the slight bridge between the two factions that has formed... We are going to be working even closer together than I think both sides had probably expected. By closer together I mean we are going to be pretty much one entity, rather than two seperate ones.

A most interesting development. Yet I believe that as a Sacred Band, the SBZ would still be closely bonded together, having undergone the trails of Ziost as a group, within the larger Sith Order. Thus the SBZ would operate as an elite unit, but at the highest level. The SBZ, from what I can see, is a much smaller group compared to the Sith, and so as non-FS individuals, we would form a tighter bond, rather than acting as individual agents scattered across multiple systems.

I'm curious to see what our almighty Faction Leader will have to say about our little band of misfits.

 

[Spud]

I'm not sure additional ranks would be good, at least those that actually designate rank. Tis possible to do a different title system to designate specialties though, such as the Sith equivalent of Sorcerer, Assassin, Marauder, Juggernaut, etc. Something like that would let someone know what role they best fit and what advice they might have, though I'd imagine SBZ members themselves would know much of it already as fellow brothers and sisters.

 

[Pernicious]

A flexible class system would be far better, in my opinion, than a rigid rank system.