Re: Merc Guild

All points well made.  I can buy the necessity for subsidization.  In
the 
long run, my only real point was that when merc set their prices, they
arte 
going to factor in the risk of loss of equipment as well as loss of
life.  
All of these things will be factors in the mercenary economy, and much
more. 
  I suspect it will be a pretty fluid dynamic, with norms and
expectations 
evolving over time and given circumstances.

Brian B2

>From: John Atkinson <johnmatkinson@yahoo.com>
>Reply-To: gzg-l@csua.berkeley.edu
>To: gzg-l@csua.berkeley.edu
>Subject: Re: Merc Guild
>Date: Fri, 4 Jan 2002 15:53:21 -0800 (PST)
>
>
>--- Brian Bilderback <bbilderback@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Not if there are other customers out there that CAN
> > afford you.  There will
> > definitely be an entire supply/demand dynamic.
> > Mercs won't work for less
> > than $X, customers won't pay more than $Y, in
> > between the two is where
> > you'll find most contracts.
>
>Can the average nation afford enough to make it worth
>the while of an armored unit?	IMNSHO, while the
>various colonies are going to be resource-rich, they
>are going to be capital-poor and hard cash-poor.
>Mercenaries can't be paid in lumber or crops.
>Diamonds are a possibility, but only for highly
>organized units with support assets capable of
>marketing them.
>
> > A) Customer shall supply us with tanks (Least
> > likely)
>
>If customer had tanks, customer would be driving them
>into combat.
>
> > B) Customer shall provide us with replacement
> > vehicles equal to X% of combat
> > losses
>
>Interesting, but if you start loosing tanks you're
>going to face getting your contract terminated so that
>your fee doesn't blow the budget.  They are going to
>have to be paid in cash or barter, since actual tanks
>aren't going to be in the customer's inventory.
>
> > C) Customer shall pay us Ungodly sums as our normal
> > fee, which will likely take into account risk of
> > loss.
>
>It's going to cost a lot more than most people can
>afford.  Think about your average politico's thought
>process:  You can afford a light infantry brigade, or
>a company or two of tanks.  What are you going to
>choose?  Hell, a properly used light infantry brigade
>can throw around a company of tanks.  Oh, and the
>light infantry brigade can recruit from locals and
>produce spare parts for it's weapons in the local
>machine shop.	Every final drive, track shoe, road
>wheel, etc is going to have to come in from
>off-planet.
>
>I see light armor, but the only MBTs for rent are
>going to be subsidized by a real nation.
>
>John
>
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