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Mercenaries
Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 1:58 am
by TheDrizzit
So I was thinking one day. There used to be merc's who would be hired to fight on a side of a war and they wre usually at least twice as good as a regular foot soldier. Now, are there mercenaries around today??? And also, do you guys think it would be hard to form a group of mercenaries (say for example all of us) and then were so damned good that countries would be shelling out big clams to have them on their side during a war. And also, the other country being fought would see the group and just run in terror. Much like the band of the Hawks, the grim Reapers of the battlefield. But I was just curious on why we (or me) never hear of mercenaries fighting in wars....any thoughts?
Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 3:47 am
by Vicissitude
I think they're called Independant Military Contractors these days, but yes, there are mercenaries. While not often hired by the government or army, they are often employed by private individuals and/or corporations.
Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 5:47 am
by To2fPic
I think the U.N. outlawed mercenaries a while ago. But yea there are alot of independant military contractors out there but they are definitely not armies.
Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 6:19 am
by Malvado
Modern mercs also seem that they will play a lot in MGS4. But like the two before me already said, yeah their are mercs still around just not as much as say, the times of rome.
Re: Mercenaries
Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 1:33 pm
by Khelegond
TheDrizzit wrote:There used to be merc's who would be hired to fight on a side of a war and they wre usually at least twice as good as a regular foot soldier.
That's not exactly truth. Not all mercs were good. In fact, since their allegiance was based on money, they were the last option. Take for example the Battle of Assaye in India. Lord Arthur Wellesley (future Duke of Wellington) fought 100k indian mercs with only 6-7k of well-trained english and scottish soldiers. He won. Tell me now, how could a number less than 10x the other army win? Discipline, training. Mercs don't have that - their lives are still more important than money

Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 2:57 pm
by Shaka Zulu
Your point stands(they routed due severe lack of morale) but the figures are a bit off

They faced at the most around 50 indian merc forces(which was army of Sindhia and Ragojee Bhonsla), and faced around 9 000 brittish troops supported by 5000 allied indian troops. Dont know how many the scottish were, they were the ones who won the battle and turned the tide.
If one wants to know about modern mercs(other the the so called private corps who quite so financially strong and influential), then look no further then the despicable South african boer mercs, bunch of retarded racists employed in various conflicts in africa(Sierra Leone and Liberia to name a few), and who have commited alot of attrocites and genocide in them.
Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 4:57 pm
by TheDrizzit
Well just like the band of the Hawk (as an example, I know this isn't the berserk thread) thwarted many armies twice their size. it's because they had the leader to lead them. So if the group I'm "creating" had a "Griffith" figure to teach them basic formations and discipline, (BTW I know nothing of modern warfare or anything like that so that's why I'm asking questions like these -- to learn) do you think they could make an impact? And I think most gamers now a days would be decent mercs. I played Call of Duty 2 for months and then I went to the gun range (last time I went was like 2 years before that) and I was hitting everything dead on, powdering the clay pigeons. I'm just surprised no one has rose up like girffith and led a band and gianed the reputation and influenced the world. I bet it could happen...why not? A great elven king once said in his sig (i think he still does) that Reality is what you make it, why torture yourself? The world flows as it is now, behind all of the politicians and crap. But we all know that there are larger forces who are just standing idle. Humans are only humans...I bet, like Griffith said, there is someone who can change everything...But I think everyone can, they are just to deep into what the world has become and are under the control of the governments...
Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 5:24 pm
by MrFelony
ya if you're looking to start up a mercenary group i doubt you'd actually feel morally okay with a lot of shit you'd be hired to do...the best mercs are people who are more like spies or rangers who are hired to do small jobs
Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 6:07 pm
by psi29a
Look up Che Guivera, al-Quada, Hezbollah, etc. One man's terrorist is another's freedom fighter. Some people do it for money, political aims, or as a way of life.
Moddern day military contractors are former government military who will fight for money. In Iraq right now, there are many 'contractors' that serve body guards and are not bound by the same laws and rules are government military.
Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 6:31 pm
by TheDrizzit
Hmmm....sounds great!! ^_^ Thanks for the education my friends! If I do start a Band (har har) I will open the invites to you guys first. Cuz I love ya...

Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 6:40 pm
by Shaka Zulu
psi29a wrote:Look up Che Guivera, al-Quada, Hezbollah, etc. One man's terrorist is another's freedom fighter. Some people do it for money, political aims, or as a way of life.
Moddern day military contractors are former government military who will fight for money. In Iraq right now, there are many 'contractors' that serve body guards and are not bound by the same laws and rules are government military.
What does the first part has to do with mercs? Other then Hezbollah that is, first when Hezbollah started out in the 80's the had alot contact and dealings with mercs, or were fighting against them(CIA mercs).
But the second part about the corps/contractors are a scary development(I seen a documentary about how they are growing in the world, and their part in lots of places, like Iraq), they are growing powerful and are used in many different places in the world, excaping the negative and sometimes illegal(by the UN) term and reputation that is mercs, by organising themselves better with big corporations and becoming more sophisticated and "legit".
Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 6:48 pm
by TheDrizzit
i say its only illegal if you follow the UN. Who cares about it anyway...at least I don't. It's just another attempt to govern the world. But those that go against the "grain" shouldn't care about the UN. I say they should do what they want, they can't govern who someone wields their "sword" for, only we can. But I guess no one really has the balls (at least I don't know of any, you guys know more about this than I do) to stand up cuz they are scared. But I doubt they would divert their attention for a single guy or band because they are not following sanction whilest there is a war going on. I wish I could hear of guys that were awesomely good and fought for themselves and what they believed was right. A Hero...but I guess they are a dead race...
Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 8:24 pm
by Malvado
A lot of gamers probably won't make good merc's because "There are no respawn points in RL".
Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 8:50 pm
by TheDrizzit
LMAO true that....true that...I bet if you trained your reflexes and perception well enough you could get to the point to where you may be able to see the bullets in flight and be able to dodge them somewhat. It all comes down to skill and training I guess. Of course put these guys who sit behind the computer all day and just play play play out in the war and they will be mowed because they will piss themselves. But put the gamer who plays maybe only every once in a while and trains the rest of the time out there and he will at least last longer because he will have more under his belt. But then again, just like Guts said, You will never be a master just practicing. You have to get out there on the battlefield. Which is very true. You can train all you want and once you get out there and fight someone who wants to actually kill you it will be a completely different story! ^_^
Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 10:14 pm
by arke
TheDrizzit wrote:I bet if you trained your reflexes and perception well enough you could get to the point to where you may be able to see the bullets in flight and be able to dodge them somewhat.
Sorry, that is just so absurd it's not even funny. An M16 has a muzzle velocity of over 900 m/s. Even if you're able to see each millisecond passing by, it still moves 90 cm during that timespan. You have to a) see this several meters away, b) determine where it's going, and c)
move. There's a reason why body armor exists.
Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 10:27 pm
by MrFelony
the whole idea is a little ludicrous

Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 11:39 pm
by Shaka Zulu
Thedrizzit, get in touch with reality, do you know how much sense you make when you're basing this merc crap on popular culture alone? There's no reason why someone would try to glorify fucking mercenaries(unless they are little children who know shit about what mercs do IRL, like in places like africa).
Seriously, get a fucking grip, you sound like a little random and daft hippie kid with this quote. Beyond clueless, hard to start with anything because every single thing you say here is all bullshit.
say its only illegal if you follow the UN. Who cares about it anyway...at least I don't. It's just another attempt to govern the world. But those that go against the "grain" shouldn't care about the UN. I say they should do what they want, they can't govern who someone wields their "sword" for, only we can. But I guess no one really has the balls (at least I don't know of any, you guys know more about this than I do) to stand up cuz they are scared. But I doubt they would divert their attention for a single guy or band because they are not following sanction whilest there is a war going on. I wish I could hear of guys that were awesomely good and fought for themselves and what they believed was right. A Hero...but I guess they are a dead race...
Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 12:41 am
by Starnum
TheDrizzit wrote:I bet if you trained your reflexes and perception well enough you could get to the point to where you may be able to see the bullets in flight and be able to dodge them somewhat.
LMAO, okay, TheDrizzit is obviously insane.
The only way to dodge a bullet is to anticipate the shooter's action, and dodge before they actually pull the trigger.
Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 12:56 am
by Eldo
Unless you have to ability to freeze time, then yes, you could see the bullets. That is, if you've trained hard enough on freezing time.
Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 1:11 am
by Starnum
Oh yeah, time freezing, I can do that. 
Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 2:08 am
by TheDrizzit
Hehehe you guys are pathetic...^_^ I'm not insane, I'm unsane, and I am in touch with reality. That's how I know such things are possible...you just have to apply yourself and not give up. I guess all of these replies proves my point that humanity is uberly pathetic and not willing to try something new because they are comfortable and therefore stale with their lives. Plus, they love to be governed by others...Hahahhaa....You'll see me some time in the future...trust me. ^_^ Don't believe me? i don't really care...you had your chance. ^_^ **leaves forum to its own** And Shaka Zulu...you're just downright mean...

Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 2:26 am
by psi29a
locked per request, mercs good... dodging bullets, bad.