1) Possible Names & Introduction:


A) Names
1) Nam Sphere
2) Planet Vietnam
3) Nam Zone
4) The Nam *Marvel Comic*
5) Battlefield Vietnam *Video Game*
6) Conflict Vietnam *Video Game*
Note: *Possible copyright issue*

(I think we have settled on #1)


B) Introduction:
<Insert name here> is solely owned by the Marine Corps Historical Assoc. This booklet and all logos, names and ideas contained within are also the property of the MCHA. <Insert name here> is a LARP (Live Action Role Playing) game based on the Vietnam conflict, concentrating on the 1965-1972 time frame. Events that actually take place world wide, will have a direct bearing on conflict around you and your future. <Insert name here> uses both melee combat with rubber knives and bayonets as well as airsoft toy guns and foam projectiles. Participants are expected to create a character persona and stay within that persona at all times at events. They may also choose to have more than one character within <Insert name here>, but only one character may be used at each "operation" aka event. Your character will be expected to choose which side of the conflict they will be on as well as what nationality and MOS. The participant will then be able to advance his/her character by participating at operations, Advancements to your character will include rank, medals awarded and pay script, that will be used on buying/selling items within the game. Your character has hit points and can also take on damage and ultimately die during the course of the game. Characters once dead can never be resurrected. <Insert name here> is a game of honor, without honor this game and it's rule set cannot work properly. It is up to each individual participant to adhere to the rule set and call the situation honestly, and to the best of their ability.


2) Map:


Actually all of Vietnam was gridded out by MAC, let's just use it, although the actually topo maps are meaningless. Although the strong points, military bases, roads, cities, etc are not.


http://www.nexus.net/~911gfx/SVNmap.html


A system also needs to be in place to report AAR's and regular maintenance to the map and website.


3) Character Type (Billets):


A) US Forces:
Note: 4 Branches may or may not represent each type.


1) Infantry
2) Reconnaissance
3) Engineer
4) Artillery
5) Medic/Corpsman
6) Military Police
7) Nurse (Female role)


B) South Vietnamese Military:
Note: Same as US Forces


C) ANZAC:
Note: Same as US Forces


D) North Vietnamese Military:


1) Infantry
2) Sapper
3) Artillery (Rockets-Mortars)
4) Medic
5) Political Commisar
6) Nurse (Female role)


E) Viet Cong:
Note: *All billets open to females*
Note: *All VC billets open to civilian counter role, I.e. farmer, barber, etc*


1) Infantry
2) Sapper
3) Medic
4) Spy


4) Character development:


A) History:
1) Name
2) Religion
3) Backstory
4) Place of orgin


B) Hit Points:
1) Hit Points increase with rank.
2) If a character dies, it is never revived.
3) "Wounds" on the battle field must be medically attended to.
4) "Wounds" require


5) Character advancement:


A) Battle Credit:
1) One battle credit for each day in field, verified by unit commander.
2) Battle credits could be assigned for recruiting new players.
3) Battle credits could also be assigned for acting as a combat referee, etc


B) Rank:
1) Rank cap set on the amount of players in unit. (I.e. No Colonel's in a 30 man unit)
2) X amount of battle credits equals E2, E3, E4 and so on.
3) Rank will be observed and respected on the battlefield.


C) Medals:
1) Bravery
2) X amount of wounds
3) non combat achievements

D) Pay Script



6) Combat:


A) Melee:
1) Knives
2) Bayonets


B) Airsoft:
1) Rifles
2) Pistols
3) Claymores
4) Grenades
5) M79 & LAW


C) Foam projectile:
1) M79 & LAW
2) RPG
3) Mortar
4) Artillery


D) Referee directed smoke strikes:
1) Artillery
2) Air strike
3) Naval gun fire


7) Units:


A) Creation:
1) Eight or more participants may create their own unit.
2) A approved unit may create their own unit patch.
3) A unit must have a unit leader that will hold senior rank, and report to <insert name here> command.


B) Operations:
1) Units must check in with OPCOM before the commencement of operations to receive credit as a unit.
2) At least four unit members MUST be present in order to receive credit as a unit for that given operation.
3) Units and their leaders may be placed under a larger units command at certain events.
4) Units are given a TAOR on the <insert name here> in country map.


C) Default
1) A unit that misses six operations in a row is considered in default, and may lose it's unit status.

Here are some alterations you might think about, just basically wording and a little more information break down on billets;

3) Character Type (Billets):

A) US Forces:
Note: 4 Branches may or may not represent each type.

1) Infantry
2) Reconnaissance
3) Engineer
4) Artillery
5) Medic/Corpsman
6) Military Police
7) Nurse (Female role)

B) South Vietnamese Military:
Note: Same as US Forces

C) ANZAC:
Note: Same as US Forces

Combat Arms:
US Army and USMC;
Infantry
Cavalry/Armor
Artillery
Military Police
Engineer

USAF;
Para Rescue/PJ
FCC (Forward Combat Controller)/TACP (Tactical Air Control Personnel)

US Navy;
SEAL
Corpsman
NGFC (Naval Gun Fire Control)
Riverine Forces

Special Operations Forces:
LRRP/LRP
Force Recon
Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha (SF ODA)
SEAL teams
Pathfinders

Clandestine/Deniable Forces:
MAC-V-SOG
CIA/Phoenix

7) Units:

A) Creation: To create a unit requires a minimum of 8 players, with a one player (minimum) to protray the overall unit commander/leader. A military style chain of command appropriate for each unit is an essential part of the game system, as they will be responsible for submission of AARs, ToE, MToE, Judicial Actions, casualty reports, promotions and awards. They may assign sa many people as needed to help with these extra duties, but ultimately the leader is responsible for their submission to higher and all other official communications to higher.
Approved units are authorized to use either the actual unit insignia of the unit they are recreating, or they may create their own. Unofficial unit patches were common in Vietnam, many were actually adopted by their respective units officially.
If, during the course of a game, the leader/CO's character is killed, he may create a character of appropriate rank to continue the chain of command for the next event, HOWEVER, for the remainder of the game in which his character is killed, the next in line for chain of command takes charge or the unit is leaderless.
1) Eight or more participants may create their own unit.
2) A approved unit may create their own unit patch. If they are "reenacting" a real unit, they may adopt that unit's patch or appropriate insignia.
3) A unit must have a unit leader that will hold senior rank, and report to <insert name here> command. Should the unit leader's character "die" during the course of a game, they may create a new character of appropriate rank (ie; Company Commander=Captain or 1st LT. and Platoon Leader=SSG, SFC or 2nd Lt., etc)

B) Operations:
1) Units must check in with OPCOM before the commencement of operations to receive credit as a unit.
2) At least four unit members MUST be present in order to receive credit as a unit for that given operation.
3) Units and their leaders may be placed under a larger units command at certain events.
4) Units are given a TAOR on the <insert name here> in country map.

C) Default
1) A unit that misses six operations in a row is considered in default, and may lose it's unit status and controlled areas of influence on the game map.

4) Character development: A character dossier will be maintained by both individual unit leadership and overall game command, showing a progressive history of the individual character in the game and providing a background for leadership decisions to be made from.

A) History:
1) Name
2) Religion
3) Backstory
4) Place of orgin

B) Hit Points:
1) Hit Points increase with rank.
2) If a character dies, it is never revived.
3) "Wounds" on the battle field must be medically attended to.
4) "Wounds" require

5) Character advancement:

A) Battle Credit:
1) One battle credit for each day in field, verified by unit commander.
2) Battle credits could be assigned for recruiting new players.
3) Battle credits could also be assigned for acting as a combat referee, etc

B) Rank:
1) Rank cap set on the amount of players in unit. (I.e. No Colonel's in a 30 man unit)
2) X amount of battle credits equals E2, E3, E4 and so on.
3) Rank will be observed and respected on the battlefield.

C) Medals:
1) Bravery
2) X amount of wounds
3) non combat achievements

What year is being used as "year zero" to start events in?

EDIT: just re-read. 1965 is Year Zero? Events start set in 1965, and advance forward from there at what rate?

EDIT2:
So a sample character profile would be something like this? (assuming 1965 is year zero)

Name: Alex Kaeda
Age: 30
Religion: Catholic
MOS: Military Police, US Army
Rank: Captain
Back story: Enlisted 1953, volunteer. Basic Training Fort Jackson SC, AIT Fort Rucker AL. Previous assignments; Fort Riley KS, and Germany. Green-to-gold 1960. Present assignment, 'nam (volunteer). Divorced.
Place of origin: Portland Oregon

I was thinking more of a "mix bag" that would get most Nam impressions a good shot at working within "The Nam Sphere". (minus the guy with the duck hunter camo and his M3 grease gun)

The conflict would then advance at it's own rate, and with it's own outcome.

What do you think?




Looking good besides the rank, although we have talked about giving battle points to people who recruit participants. The rank would need to represent a real world billet. I.e. Squad leader = 10(?) participants at the rank of corporal. The Army and Marines do things different as did other Allied and Communist forces. For the sake of fairness, I think need to come up with a system that works for all. A Captain would be in charge of a company......probably not realistic in the start.



Dwayne looking good so far, except for giving a new character the same rank as a dead character. Wouldn't it be more fair to make everyone start from scratch? (Either a new participant or a older participant with a new character)

I want to thank everyone for getting on here and helping to hash this out. I think it's important that we create something workable, straight forward and all encompassing.

Okay. So there isnt really a linear progression of time through the campaign, it just sort of flows?


I just put in Captain because of age, MOS and based on a 1965 year zero. going with a floating year zero I'd adjust myself down considerably. <3

I think what Dwayne was going for, was to maintain a coherent chain of command. Its all too easy for Squad Leader Joe to get whacked being an aggressive lead from the front type, while Pvt Snuffy sits in the back afraid of incoming, and two or three events later Pvt Snuffy is Sgt Snuffy whos a pussy leader that now pvt Joe II chafes under Sgt Snuffy, and the rest of the squad is unofficially following Pvt Joe II, because hes a natural leader, while command recognizes Snuffy as the leader for administrative reasons. Maybe I'm reading into things too much.

Alex,

A couple of thoughts:

1) Since this isn't a historical reenactment per say, we cannot really determine who is going to win what battles and how each outcome will effect the next. In the Sphere itself, we can start out in 1965, but the war may last til present. Much more like the Korean conflict. Or the Allies may be routed earlier and Tet successfully overthrows the Saigon government.

2) But I think we should attempt to keep it open ended so that participants can join in tommorow or three years down the road.

But I'am willing to hear suggestions on a more rigid and true to light time frame that the Sphere follows as well. Nothing is set in stone right now.



And that is how things are done in reenacting.........yes, understood. But with the Sphere and using rank as a progression award, it get's trickier.



I have a dentist appt. and will post more after it, but I think we can use hitpoints to negate this abit.

Pvt Snuffy = 40 hitpoints
Sgt Joe = 120 hitpoints

Small arms fire hit = -20 hitpoints

I'm just loving this idea Wade.

Going to have to build a hit die system for the ranks then, and word it differently so that people don't know they are LARPing (magic missle, LOL!)!
So, with all this being said, one other thing that might be fun to consider; MELEE COMBAT!!! Fieldwerks sells nice rubber Kabars, not to mention rubber grenades and other fun items, so maybe a melee combat system for this would be cool too? Could put on a "boot camp" to get people up to speed on the rules and combat system, then an advanced course when they reach a certain rank, so they can instruct at a local level as well? Little train the trainer kind of deal?

I'm hoping that those interested in this will take our courses at some point. Learn techniques, etc. We built in courses on planning patrols, leading larger groups, etc. of course, because Namsphere is a game, and MCHA membership is not a requirement I think you're right Dwayne. We need to get it this all easy to figure out and run.

My opinion: Rank should come with game experience. Rank=hit points. As Wade answered your point--we don't want a Pvt Dipshit becoming Sgt Dipshit because he was a coward, staying alive w/o battle.

Of course, I'm down here in Nha Trang. You guys are up there at the DMZ.

Rog,

I think where you are in the sphere should depend on what unit your representing as opposed to any real "north/south" location. If your unit decides to do a USMC unit within the sphere? ( )

Your certainly going to be in I corps. Where in I corps will depend on the unit you choose to represent.