Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Trasvi wrote:The Kroot also hire themselves out as mercenaries. Often they don't even ask for coin: just that they're allowed to eat the bodies of the dead. In one story they demand the bodies of the wounded as well...
Slight issue with this is that Kroot won't eat Necron or Tyranid bodies, and its possible that Demons and Nurgle also fall into that category.

There was a White Dwarf issue that mentioned this, one of the Tau Empire's first contact with a Slaanesh cult. The Kroot that ate any corpses were corrupted, the Kroot make every effort to warn their kin not to repeat this mistake in the future.

I also don't think Kroot eat Tau. Partly out of respect to their allies, but I guess it is mainly because the Tau physiology doesn't offer much that is enticing.

Trasvi wrote:The Kroot also hire themselves out as mercenaries. Often they don't even ask for coin: just that they're allowed to eat the bodies of the dead. In one story they demand the bodies of the wounded as well...
Slight issue with this is that Kroot won't eat Necron or Tyranid bodies, and its possible that Demons and Nurgle also fall into that category.

With the necrons is there even anything to eat?

BaronIveagh wrote:

Melissia wrote:
Most mercs are just thugs with guns, not former IG.

Kinda like real life I suppose.

Mercs, like all professions, come in many grades of skill and professionalism. Please do not confuse groups like Blackwater and DynCorp, who are largely gun happy (but very well supplied and financed) idiots, with groups like Aegis (other than that video stupidity), Sharp End, or Lupo Security.

Well, we've found yet another topic you don't know anything about.

There's some wisdom to be found for you in the famous quote by Twain: "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt."

It is important to note that while in 40K, the Imperial Guard and the various PDFs form the state sponsored military presences, plenty of other people will need guns for hire. Now, the logistics of supporting a mercenary company in an interstellar environment are questionable. I think aside from small potatoes freelancers working for Rogue Traders and other private interests seem likely, as well as simple hired guns on assorted violent worlds, but there are probably very few significantly sized mercenary units. The presence of a single unified governmental entity with its own gigantic army in a universe where space travel may be common, but not the industry of space travel, seems to work against the idea of organized mercenary units. But, I imagine there is plenty of need for the Imperial Guard veteran who wishes to put what he learned to work.

Could be a cool army an all mercenaries, based out of commgraph (sp?) As its in the dark eldar codex alien mercs occupy the lower city , probs being a count-as guard/henchmen army with a rougetrader being a stand in inqusitor I quite like this idea, *starts to ponder*

Veteran Sergeant wrote:Well, we've found yet another topic you don't know anything about.
There's some wisdom to be found for you in the famous quote by Twain: "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt."

No, but we have found yet another one that you'll come in, shoot your mouth off, offer no proof of your position, and insult my intelligence. So, tell me why I, or anyone else for that matter, should respect a single thing you say, at this point?

Veteran Sergeant wrote:
It is important to note that while in 40K, the Imperial Guard and the various PDFs form the state sponsored military presences, plenty of other people will need guns for hire. Now, the logistics of supporting a mercenary company in an interstellar environment are questionable. I think aside from small potatoes freelancers working for Rogue Traders and other private interests seem likely, as well as simple hired guns on assorted violent worlds, but there are probably very few significantly sized mercenary units. The presence of a single unified governmental entity with its own gigantic army in a universe where space travel may be common, but not the industry of space travel, seems to work against the idea of organized mercenary units. But, I imagine there is plenty of need for the Imperial Guard veteran who wishes to put what he learned to work.

Sarge, you might want to read page 129 of Battlefleet Koronus, where it talks about the Brotherhood, a sector wide merc organisation operating in both The Expanse and Calixis Sector.

oldone wrote:Could be a cool army an all mercenaries, based out of commgraph (sp?) As its in the dark eldar codex alien mercs occupy the lower city , probs being a count-as guard/henchmen army with a rougetrader being a stand in inqusitor I quite like this idea, *starts to ponder*

An exquisite idea...ex-Guardsmen/Storm Troopers on the run from the Commissariat sign up as mercs with a Kabal on low fortunes and after proving themselves, are allowed to live and stay in the mercs quarter of the Dark City.

Tadashi wrote:

oldone wrote:Could be a cool army an all mercenaries, based out of commgraph (sp?) As its in the dark eldar codex alien mercs occupy the lower city , probs being a count-as guard/henchmen army with a rougetrader being a stand in inqusitor I quite like this idea, *starts to ponder*

An exquisite idea...ex-Guardsmen/Storm Troopers on the run from the Commissariat sign up as mercs with a Kabal on low fortunes and after proving themselves, are allowed to live and stay in the mercs quarter of the Dark City.

Yeah this is what I'm thinking maybe a few kroot as assassins? I just thinking I may also include some freebootaz as either grey knights or as something else?

oldone wrote:

Tadashi wrote:

oldone wrote:Could be a cool army an all mercenaries, based out of commgraph (sp?) As its in the dark eldar codex alien mercs occupy the lower city , probs being a count-as guard/henchmen army with a rougetrader being a stand in inqusitor I quite like this idea, *starts to ponder*

An exquisite idea...ex-Guardsmen/Storm Troopers on the run from the Commissariat sign up as mercs with a Kabal on low fortunes and after proving themselves, are allowed to live and stay in the mercs quarter of the Dark City.

Yeah this is what I'm thinking maybe a few kroot as assassins? I just thinking I may also include some freebootaz as either grey knights or as something else?

The Kabal could use the Freebootaz as shock troops; the Orks can loot all the tech they want as long as the captives are handed over.

Shockingly enough, some Rogue Traders hire Ork mercernaries (at least in the FFG RPG)

BaronIveagh wrote:

Veteran Sergeant wrote:Well, we've found yet another topic you don't know anything about.
There's some wisdom to be found for you in the famous quote by Twain: "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt."

No, but we have found yet another one that you'll come in, shoot your mouth off, offer no proof of your position, and insult my intelligence. So, tell me why I, or anyone else for that matter, should respect a single thing you say, at this point?

In Emperor Mercy (Henry Zhou) there are merc's in the employed by the imperials. The book hints at an entire planet/society, not sure how that would work with tithes. IIRC they are genebred and act as shock troops filling in the skills gap which is a role I can see them filling a lot in 40k.

The IG escalation system, build more local regiments, to react to new threats is good but your going to be short on seasoned troops, plus I imagine that merc would be more likely to access to more exotic weapons than the average Infantry man.

I can see them filling the same role merc have through out history, I agree with some other poster though in that I find it difficult to belive that there would be any huge merc organisations certaintly nothing bigger than sector wide at most.

SpankHammer III wrote:In Emperor Mercy (Henry Zhou) there are merc's in the employed by the imperials. The book hints at an entire planet/society, not sure how that would work with tithes. IIRC they are genebred and act as shock troops filling in the skills gap which is a role I can see them filling a lot in 40k.

There's also at least one example of a planet whose IG regiments are more like mercenaries than conscripts. Their planet is ran by corporations, you're deeply in debt by the time you reach adulthood and military service is a fast way to pay off the debt. And seeing as the guys are out to shorten their loans they're not interested in dying for glory. One of those regiments was on Armageddon.

Edit: Jopall Indentured Squadrons.

"I find your military code revolting, your devotion to the Emperor insufficient and your combat morale non-existent, but the accuracy of your marksmen, sir, is the finest I have seen this side of the Galaxy!"
-Captain Kotski of the Krieg Death Korps adressing Marshall Traeg of the 96th Jopall Indentured Squadron

-Background info: The planet of Jopall is controlled by powerful cartels who are responsible for social, educational and medical welfare. As all of these cartels are privately financed every person on the planet owes the government huge amounts of money from the moment they are born. A way to pay off this debt is by serving in the Jopall Indentured Squadrons. Depsite the extreme unbalance in the planet's economy, the Imperium does not intervene as the planet quite naturally supplies massive quantities of troops for the Imperial Guard. Jopall does spend much time and money on marksman training and the men of the Indentured Squadrons are very skilled with a rifle.

http://www.librarium-online.com/forums/imperial-guard/47308-ultimate-imperial-guard-conversion-guide.html

Tadashi wrote:

Spetulhu wrote:

Buttons wrote:

IGdude354 wrote:But aren't most Mercs former IG? So they might garner limited respect, as they have combat experience...

Probably just rouse more ire. Rather than thinking "These guys are pretty tough, I respect them." They think "these bastards are competent soldiers and instead of serving the Imperium they serve whoever is willing to pay them."

Just as our real world mercenaries - just check out the pay grades bigger military contractors offer to people with specops experience etc. Why stay in the US Army when you can get five times the pay elsewhere? It's a far cry from the guy with an AKM who charges you 10 bucks a day to stand outside your African mansion.

I imagine mercs work the same in 40K, ranging from armed thugs to retired stormtroopers.

Although in 40k, working for the wrong people could end worse, such as being burned for working with heretics or looting church property, getting shot for not following orders from the ranking Guard officer in the area, or getting thrown into a Penal Legion by the Inquisition simply because they consider you untrustworthy, or being used as cannon fodder by disdainful Astartes/Sisters/Guardsmen.


If by reading between the lines you notice something wrong, then you are correct, I HATE mercenaries. My grandfather was a commissioned officer (and a high-ranking one at that) so I grew up with a healthy respect for government troops and dislike for private militaries.

I worked as a govt security contractor and somewhat offended by your comment... Contractors or "mercenaries" (mercenary refers to a person with no national background or ties to a conflict for example contractors have national backgrounds where they go into, Tripple C went into Iraq because the U.S. or a type of allied country wants them are hired as some type of aid not always armed security or armed conflicts) Anyway contractors serve a vital purpose on today's battlefield ranging from security, escort, training, crime investigations and much more where sometimes U.S. servicemen are needed elsewhere. And the fact it is much much cheaper to send in contractors to handle a smaller situation where the military is not needed (Katrina is one that comes to mind). Most are family men trying to make a good living for their families and very respectable people.

Note MOST contractors are former servicemen who have come from very decorated pasts. Also contractors have to abide by all the regular rules of warfare (UCMJ) along with other international laws. Interesting fact If you take troop numbers and ratios into account there are more " criminal incidents" done by US and coalition service members.

Lastly, contractors are "contracted" by law to the countries they are hired by... For example DynCorp, AirScan, Grumman, Triple Canopy (off hand) are "sworn" to the U.S. alike to US servicemen not really the same but alike to it.

To say you hate all private military contractors is a bit ridiculous to me. There are non-private "real" militaries in the world that are commanded by pure evil. There are people contracted to governments that are also evil (Africa hits home on this one). Main point is I am not going to get you to love contractors but they serve a good role, not undisciplined cannables like everyone thinks and do serve like your grandfather did.

Anyway veering way off topic and attempting to get back on topic I believe mercenaries are different in the 40k world. And will fight for just about anyone who has money or will offer them riches or something they want. I read somewhere that the Lost and the Damned are alike to mercs in the way that they want to kill people constantly or something like that so they turn... Ill look it up in a bit.

usmcmidn wrote:
I worked as a govt security contractor and somewhat offended by your comment... Contractors or "mercenaries" (mercenary refers to a person with no national background or ties to a conflict for example contractors have national backgrounds where they go into, Tripple C went into Iraq because the U.S. or a type of allied country wants them are hired as some type of aid not always armed security or armed conflicts) Anyway contractors serve a vital purpose on today's battlefield ranging from security, escort, training, crime investigations and much more where sometimes U.S. servicemen are needed elsewhere. And the fact it is much much cheaper to send in contractors to handle a smaller situation where the military is not needed (Katrina is one that comes to mind). Most are family men trying to make a good living for their families and very respectable people.

Note MOST contractors are former servicemen who have come from very decorated pasts. Also contractors have to abide by all the regular rules of warfare (UCMJ) along with other international laws. Interesting fact If you take troop numbers and ratios into account there are more " criminal incidents" done by US and coalition service members.

Lastly, contractors are "contracted" by law to the countries they are hired by... For example DynCorp, AirScan, Grumman, Triple Canopy (off hand) are "sworn" to the U.S. alike to US servicemen not really the same but alike to it.

To say you hate all private military contractors is a bit ridiculous to me. There are non-private "real" militaries in the world that are commanded by pure evil. There are people contracted to governments that are also evil (Africa hits home on this one). Main point is I am not going to get you to love contractors but they serve a good role, not undisciplined cannables like everyone thinks and do serve like your grandfather did.

I'll pause to point out that some contractors also hire out services to other corporate bodies (DeBeers contracted Executive Outcomes, as an example.) The CIA is also known for contracting mercs in situations where 'plausible deniability' is an issue. (also, do not forget tech specialists, who may or may not be military, in the employ of contractors. I was approached by one group who wanted me to repair robots in the field because I had met the NASA standards for high reliability hand soldering, as well as rework and repair.)

@Tadashi That's nice for your grandfather. But frankly even the mercs that take their denarii from non-governmental military sources are doing 'government troops' a favor. The USMC, for example, is not dying in any number of places because mercs are doing it for them.

My grandfather?

And your proving my point or am I missing something ?


Automatically Appended Next Post:
And again contractors not mercs they are alike but different.

usmcmidn wrote:My grandfather?

And your proving my point or am I missing something ?

And again contractors not mercs they are alike but different.

I messed up the post, I was meaning to point that at tedashi, who was talking about his grandfather.


My point was basically that you were ignoring an entire spectrum of work in making a broad generalization. I know a few guys who have never been in a military and are, in fact, former IRA men, who have been working as contractors. As far as I know, they're still alive and employed, so they must have some talent for it.

BaronIveagh wrote:

usmcmidn wrote:My grandfather?

And your proving my point or am I missing something ?

And again contractors not mercs they are alike but different.

I messed up the post, I was meaning to point that at tedashi, who was talking about his grandfather.


My point was basically that you were ignoring an entire spectrum of work in making a broad generalization. I know a few guys who have never been in a military and are, in fact, former IRA men, who have been working as contractors. As far as I know, they're still alive and employed, so they must have some talent for it.

Again you are strengthening my argument. I did not say all were corners... And I am not sure where you are going with the whole ira thing. Not trying to be rude i just am not understanding you.

usmcmidn wrote:
Again you are strengthening my argument. I did not say all were corners... And I am not sure where you are going with the whole ira thing. Not trying to be rude i just am not understanding you.

I was agreeing with you, I should hope it was strengthening your argument.

My only point was that you implied that many were decorated service members. My point was that there are also those of us who are not, and used the IRA guys as an example.

Ah ic well thanks. Appreciated.

usmcmidn wrote:

Tadashi wrote:

Spetulhu wrote:

Buttons wrote:

IGdude354 wrote:But aren't most Mercs former IG? So they might garner limited respect, as they have combat experience...

Probably just rouse more ire. Rather than thinking "These guys are pretty tough, I respect them." They think "these bastards are competent soldiers and instead of serving the Imperium they serve whoever is willing to pay them."

Just as our real world mercenaries - just check out the pay grades bigger military contractors offer to people with specops experience etc. Why stay in the US Army when you can get five times the pay elsewhere? It's a far cry from the guy with an AKM who charges you 10 bucks a day to stand outside your African mansion.

I imagine mercs work the same in 40K, ranging from armed thugs to retired stormtroopers.

Although in 40k, working for the wrong people could end worse, such as being burned for working with heretics or looting church property, getting shot for not following orders from the ranking Guard officer in the area, or getting thrown into a Penal Legion by the Inquisition simply because they consider you untrustworthy, or being used as cannon fodder by disdainful Astartes/Sisters/Guardsmen.


If by reading between the lines you notice something wrong, then you are correct, I HATE mercenaries. My grandfather was a commissioned officer (and a high-ranking one at that) so I grew up with a healthy respect for government troops and dislike for private militaries.

I worked as a govt security contractor and somewhat offended by your comment... Contractors or "mercenaries" (mercenary refers to a person with no national background or ties to a conflict for example contractors have national backgrounds where they go into, Tripple C went into Iraq because the U.S. or a type of allied country wants them are hired as some type of aid not always armed security or armed conflicts) Anyway contractors serve a vital purpose on today's battlefield ranging from security, escort, training, crime investigations and much more where sometimes U.S. servicemen are needed elsewhere. And the fact it is much much cheaper to send in contractors to handle a smaller situation where the military is not needed (Katrina is one that comes to mind). Most are family men trying to make a good living for their families and very respectable people.

Note MOST contractors are former servicemen who have come from very decorated pasts. Also contractors have to abide by all the regular rules of warfare (UCMJ) along with other international laws. Interesting fact If you take troop numbers and ratios into account there are more " criminal incidents" done by US and coalition service members.

Lastly, contractors are "contracted" by law to the countries they are hired by... For example DynCorp, AirScan, Grumman, Triple Canopy (off hand) are "sworn" to the U.S. alike to US servicemen not really the same but alike to it.

To say you hate all private military contractors is a bit ridiculous to me. There are non-private "real" militaries in the world that are commanded by pure evil. There are people contracted to governments that are also evil (Africa hits home on this one). Main point is I am not going to get you to love contractors but they serve a good role, not undisciplined cannables like everyone thinks and do serve like your grandfather did.

Anyway veering way off topic and attempting to get back on topic I believe mercenaries are different in the 40k world. And will fight for just about anyone who has money or will offer them riches or something they want. I read somewhere that the Lost and the Damned are alike to mercs in the way that they want to kill people constantly or something like that so they turn... Ill look it up in a bit.

Sorry if I caused offense, it's just that mercs have a bad reputation here in the Philippines. They didn't exactly endear themselves to government troops fighting insurgents in the jungles and the mountains. My grandfather's (on my mother's side) not exactly very fond of them, and since I pretty much grew up with his stories, well, I'm sure you can see how he made an impression.

BaronIveagh wrote:No, but we have found yet another one that you'll come in, shoot your mouth off, offer no proof of your position, and insult my intelligence. So, tell me why I, or anyone else for that matter, should respect a single thing you say, at this point?

Okay, how about this?
I've worked directly alongside both Blackwater and Dyncorp contractors. Every single one of them were prior military, mostly former infantrymen and special operations troops, every single one of them with combat experience prior. Several of my friends from the military went to work for DynCorp. All of them were prior military with combat experience and highly professional.

Therefore what you said about Blackwater and DynCorp employees being "gun happy idiots" is entirely untrue. Of course, the source of your bias, ignorance, and probably intentional misinformation and skewing is that DynCorp and Blackwater are American companies, and Aegis and Sharp End are not, lol.

Look son, if you continue to say stupid stuff, expect to get continually called out on it. It's a pretty simple formula.

Sarge, you might want to read page 129 of Battlefleet Koronus, where it talks about the Brotherhood, a sector wide merc organisation operating in both The Expanse and Calixis Sector.

What one stupid RPG author says when he hasn't considered the viability of such an operation can hardly be considered an authority, lol.

Veteran Sergeant wrote:
Therefore what you said about Blackwater and DynCorp employees being "gun happy idiots" is entirely untrue. Of course, the source of your bias, ignorance, and probably intentional misinformation and skewing is that DynCorp and Blackwater are American companies, and Aegis and Sharp End are not, lol.

I don't give a gak if they're ex god damn Orangemen. I've seen them feth up way too much. I didn't name them 'just because they're American'. I've seen perfectly good mercs from the US. You haven't had some Ecuadoran farmer bitching and showing you his sores because Dyncorp dumped herbicides on his corn field (which, btw: was actually a corn field) and have their mouthpiece tell me that it didn't matter, or hear about them keeping a child prostitute ring from guys coming back from Bosnia. You don't see Sharp End dodging charges for murdering US citizens who were cooperating with Federal Investigators, as well as arms and drug trafficking, in the country they supposedly work for, like you do Blackwater (now Xe, IIRC) nor keeping prostitutes on the payroll.

And, btw: if you want to hear me say nasty things that are (sadly, most likely) untrue about a merc org, it'd be about Aegis and Sandline (though some of one became part of the other).

Veteran Sergeant wrote:
Look son, if you continue to say stupid stuff, expect to get continually called out on it. It's a pretty simple formula.

Ok, listen here you self righteous self propelled sand bag. Judging by the fact that you said in one thread you've served about ten years (IIRC), I'm going to go out on a limb and say that the first time I was in a fire fight, you were between 8 and 10 years old. I've never been in any government's military, but I've met plenty of different ones over the years, and you are quite possibly the most arrogant. And after having seen a marine cook forced to eat his own hat aboard the USS Boxer, that's saying something.

Veteran Sergeant wrote:What one stupid RPG author says when he hasn't considered the viability of such an operation can hardly be considered an authority, lol.

Doesn't matter. The subject of the thread is mercs in 40k. He's a 'canon' source, according to GW. After all, impossible, non-sensical biology happens in 40k, why not improbable organizational logistics.

Oh, and congrats on becoming the 1st and only person on my 'ignore' list. All things considered on this board, that's a hell of an accomplishment. I'm pretty willing to listen to anyone's bs.

Tadashi wrote:
Sorry if I caused offense, it's just that mercs have a bad reputation here in the Philippines. They didn't exactly endear themselves to government troops fighting insurgents in the jungles and the mountains. My grandfather's (on my mother's side) not exactly very fond of them, and since I pretty much grew up with his stories, well, I'm sure you can see how he made an impression.

Well, to be fair, again, not every merc is cut from the same cloth. As you can tell from my 'discussion' with Veteran Sargent, there are those who, sadly, are no credit to the 'uniform', such as it is. Just remember that not all of them ('them' being mercs in general) are the cannibalistic genocidal operators of child slave and prostitution rings.

Veteran Sergeant wrote:

BaronIveagh wrote:No, but we have found yet another one that you'll come in, shoot your mouth off, offer no proof of your position, and insult my intelligence. So, tell me why I, or anyone else for that matter, should respect a single thing you say, at this point?

Okay, how about this?
I've worked directly alongside both Blackwater and Dyncorp contractors. Every single one of them were prior military, mostly former infantrymen and special operations troops, every single one of them with combat experience prior. Several of my friends from the military went to work for DynCorp. All of them were prior military with combat experience and highly professional.

Therefore what you said about Blackwater and DynCorp employees being "gun happy idiots" is entirely untrue. Of course, the source of your bias, ignorance, and probably intentional misinformation and skewing is that DynCorp and Blackwater are American companies, and Aegis and Sharp End are not, lol.

I wouldn't know the first thing about Dyncorp, but Blackwater has a mixed reputation at best. There's been a fair bit of outcry and a couple of investigations into their operations. Military experience is definitely true, but don't make the mistake of assuming that means that they're also professional.