Converted from MS Word of GOA document
The Black Company – The company is hereafter referred to as TBC.
Slogan: “Brotherhood is all”
The company stands independent of its members. Its us against the world. Even if you are an NPC for the day, a member of TBC will feared!
Tactics to accomplish goals are set by event – but who cares!? Seniors decide if TBC is to operate to win, as a spoiler, or if it’s revenge for some slight. A group of seniors can hire out the TBC as well by encounter and/or event. Deception is just as good as direct fighting.
There are no rules to operate under unless we decide ahead of time.
Any senior can take the lead and change the rules if they see an opening.
All members are to watch the seniors for their cues.
Members
EVERYONE is responsible for getting the word out within the group of knowledge that’s important to have for either the encounter, day, or year.
All members
Provide your own eye protection
Buy suitable clothes (basics of style – no need to go overboard) and materials for armor and weapons
Must wear good shoes – please don’t jeopardize chances to gain position advantage with flat or shoddy footwear
Expect to get dirty! You will fall, may twist your ankle, may eat some dirt or even get wet in the Ravenna stream – deal with it!
Defend the company honor! If one of TBC is downed in a lame way, that person or group must be killed thrice over.
Bring change or something to barter. Money is important to get things done in town or in the field – paying for information or assassination is not above us.
Esprit de Corps! We all go out after the scheduled event – we all chip in to make sure we’re all fed and hydrated (don’t exploit this though – chip in something). We all share stories after the events to learn. Kid Valley, hell yea!
You will learn, generally in this order:
What you can expect in a big battle vs. lone combat
Yelling and the rush – get used to the insanity!
Stance and defending
Moving and attacking; step in dammit, not away!
Working in teams and then as a unit
How to take on more than 1 foe
How to use multiple TBC members against 1 foe
How to move over terrain in a coordinated group
When to use a shield wall or unit formation
Senior brothers: There is no qualifying element really. The founders were “seniors” when they started it. Senior brothers are announced to the company by the other senior members after they majority group of seniors has conferred with them and the candidate has accepted. Really it’s just someone who has enough experience to make good decisions in the heat of a fight, or a good plan in response to finding out the encounters at the event.
Create the tactics for the day and encounter; includes who does what and when.
Organize fight practice. Backyards or wherever. We always show up ON TIME to practice, and unless you got a reason, before time (same as game masters) to events (to stretch and practice a little and coordinate with those running the game any help they need from us in setting up).
Help others with making weapons and armor, and guiding GOA character development – make some spares to make sure we can equip NPC’s we hire and replace any members weapons that might break on the field.
Works with game masters to help fill in missing NPC’s from company ranks – always help with the GMs, it keeps the reputation of the company up. Better to have no TBC on the field and enough NPC’s for the game.