Dawn of the Republic - Sacred Band of Ziost

[Aleksandr]

I'll join in.

 

[Spud]

Been a little busy lately but I'd be up for something.

 

[Pilgrim]

I could use an RP with my SBZ. It might also be good to showcase the group to people who have thought about joining but haven't decided yet, and also to help us get a feel for non-combat RP with our characters.

Could also be good for us noobs who are still working on our characters and haven't RP'd in the SW galaxy yet.

 

[Tsoibe]

Well, since I was the one to suggest this idea, I will open up a thread later.
With the number of interests in the pre-timeline RP, it might be better to split the group into two parts of four participants. What do you say about that? This would mean we have two groups of four players for each roleplay, so we can see how they interact and have more time to highlight the individual characters. As I said, I would be willing to DM, even if I might be playing Dalrel in one of the two groups (or the big group).
@Sapphire Storm @stsjr @Saul @Necris @Aleksandr @Spud @Pilgrim

On a side note, as a person who has not to many good experiences with freeform PVP, I would be glad if we could have some sample fights or duels to test our characters options there, seeing as we cannot simply throw NPCs at our enemies (as much as I might have liked that :) )

 

[Pernicious]

Lets do it! Drop the link here when the thread is up. I've been drawing a blank on writing up Blake's personality section of his profile. This should help greatly.

 

[Aleksandr]

In an RP for the Czerka Corporation, we did just one big PM thread with a bunch of people.

 

[Saul]

What do you guys think the ranks should be for the SBZ? I was originally going to draw ideas from the Sacred Band of Thebes, but the SBZ doesn't feel Greek to me. So, I combined that inspiration with a demon army or warband.

Here's my ideas:
Warlord - AFL - Tier III
Champion - Tier II
Brother / Sister - Tier I
Neophyte - Tier 0

All SBZ characters have the option to be Brother's or Sister's of the Sacred Band. While I get that the SBZ is a team of miscreants, criminals, fanatics, and mercenaries, it is based off something more noble of concept. The unit of the Sacred Band of Thebes, the most elite fighting force in all of Greece, superior to even the Spartans, was established on the idea that the people fighting alongside you are as close as kin. And so, the members of the SBZ should - in ceremony perhaps more than practice - be your Brothers and Sisters. The exalted elite would be Champions, champions of what is something that you can decide and keep to yourself at a personal level, but Champion seems to be the right word to go with here. It's not complicated or drawn from obscure sources, and its also clearly stronk. My other alternative to Champion would be "Myrmidon," Myrmidons were a legendary ancient Greek people consisting entirely of exceptionally brave and skilled warriors trained by Achilles himself to wage war against Troy. Warlord is the leader of the SBZ and emphasizes that this is a Sacred Band - a Warband. Finally, the Neophyte is an Initiate to the SBZ who has yet to undergo the Trial. This rank is up for grabs, I guess; maybe Supplicant or Initiate is better?

 

[Sapphire Storm]

I thought the idea was that the SBZ doesn't really have any strict ranks to begin with, and is more just a loose gathering of non-FS people working for the Sith.

 

[Tsunami]

gathering of non-FS people working for the Sith.

Work for me >:)

 

[Sapphire Storm]

Maybe, if you're lucky :P

 

[Tsunami]

Wooo!

 

[Saul]

This was more like what the ranks are supposed to be, but that the organization itself has decayed to devaluate such structure. By the same token, I can see the value of an anarchic organization which does what they want to advance the Sith cause, lacking any proper organization.

 

[Pernicious]

I'm worried that if we don't have ranks or an organized structure, our already unpopular faction will fall into inactivity.

 

[Saul]

I'm worried that if we don't have ranks or an organized structure, our already unpopular faction will fall into inactivity.

I considered the ranks more as badges of honor ("Champion" for example) rather than a formal chain of command. We will always have to ultimately obey the AFL in charge of the SBZ, but otherwise I'm fairly sure the faction is avoiding a proper CoC, moreso than the BA are I bet.

 

[Necris]

I like the idea that we are all brothers or sisters of the band and that in itself is not truly a rank but a sign of membership to the most elite fighting force at the disposal of the Sith empire

 

[Necris]

I've updated the character list is there anyone I've missed?

 

[Aleksandr]

@Necris, yes, my character: http://www.thestarwarsrp.com/forum/index.php?threads/ntl-pc-drafting.63212/#post-1220015

Also, while I like the concept of this being a sort of brotherhood, I don't think brother/sister should be ranks. Perhaps something like legionnaire, or legionary, or grenadier, or lancer, or something like that.

 

[Sapphire Storm]

I'm worried that if we don't have ranks or an organized structure, our already unpopular faction will fall into inactivity.

There will of course be some structure, but I think the original idea was that it would be less rigid, as opposed to your usual military structure, and more fluid, since at the beginning they're little more than a collection of mercenaries and criminals. I imagine the structure will follow the same outline detailed in the Faction Training and Ranks thread, and end up as follows:

Leader of SBZ
Veteran/Elite members (probably only a select handful, and likely none to begin with)
Your basic SBZ member

No one knows what will happen after the timeline has started, but in the beginning I'm imagining it'll simply be members and leader, and any higher positions will be earned throughout the course of play, and what those positions are will likely change depending on the course the SBZ takes.

 

[Necris]

I think there are some natural chain of command style structures forming Saul's character for example comes across as being a leader of a band of mercenaries which I can see Ceska having been a member of before becoming a brother in the sacred band

 

[Saul]

Personal relationships and bonds forming the foundation of a chain of command is natural, but the SBZ shouldn't have "clans." Respected leaders is key, though - look at Syria's rebels like Nusra Front, hardly any structure to the units except there's regular mujahid, field commanders, then the leader and his inner circle. Those field commanders normally have backgrounds as leaders, usually in prior military service, but sometimes they're just the most respected guy for the job, and keeping unit morale is essential to preventing defections. Not that the SBZ is JaN, but you get the idea.