The Byn - what do you see?

[Sunburned]

The Byn is one of the most consistently active clans in the game, yet they're not frequently scrutinized on the GDB.  I believe that this is due, at least in part, to the fact that their association as a newbie-friendly clan perpetuates the assumption that the Byn lacks complexity.  I believe this is incorrect - in fact, I think they occupy one of the most compelling positions in the game. To say they are the most dominant mercenary organization throughout the known world and stopping there doesn't identify their other important functions in the world.

Besides their basic function as a mercenary group, what political, cultural, and social functions do you see the Byn fulfilling?  Are they merely an army of journeyman killers for hire?

[Marauder Moe]

Are they merely an army of journeyman killers for hire?

Yep, pretty much.

Not that there's anything wrong with that.   I don't see a need to attempt to improve/expand what is already the quintessential Armageddon clan.

[Synthesis]

I think the Byn (functionally, if not thematically) is pretty much whatever the current Sarge(s) say it is.

[Celest]

I think the Byn (functionally, if not thematically) is pretty much whatever the current Sarge(s) say it is.

This is absolutely true. I've met Sargaents who spoke openly about the diversity of the Byn (when it makes sense IC), talking about the elves, dwarves, rinthers, breeds, etc. which hold higher positions in the organization, and then there are others who not only never once mention it, but also refuse to accept elves, breeds, rinthers, etc. into the clan. I've yet to see one turn away dwarves, though. As a result, the "Byn" as a collective group seems really cyclical, largely because we see it through one, two, and rarely three active sections of the clan at a time, each fairly independent of each other but cooperative. The Byn is, IMO, one of the coolest parts of Arm. Whenever I get into a rut (unless the Byn/training routines are part of the cause) I make a Bynner, because the experience is usually pretty fun and you meet a lot of PCs who are diverse and usually represent very compelling parts of the game world. This is also why it's hard to talk about "the Byn" as a whole; while the clan may have a collective identity, in game it lacks that sort of feel, and so people talk instead about the stuff that happened to them under Sargeant X or Y.

[jstorrie]

Sometimes I see the Black Company.

Sometimes I see Rico's Roughnecks.

Sometimes I see the Band of the Hawk.

[Wolfsong]

I usually see a mixture of The Black Company and Malazan Book of the Fallen, with Starship Troopers thrown in for a little variety.

[DustMight]

This thread has me wanting to play Byn again.

[Barsook]

This thread has me wanting to play Byn again.

[Delirium]

Nothing makes me wish harder for more widespread literacy than reading the Black Company.

Ranger/linguist with written sirihish plz thx.

[Dar]

maybe try special apping it? I wonder who is going to be hunted more. A ranger/combat wizard or a ranger with sirihish ReadingWriting.

[Jeshin]

If it can read and write, it must be magick!

[jstorrie]

derail: there definitely needs to be a RW Siri extended subguild.

[Dar]

derail: there definitely needs to be a RW Siri extended subguild.

... No?

Because half the word is going to end up learning to do it via roleplay or trying to. And it would (at least in my opinion) make no sense to be impossible to learn it with proper amount of time put in.


I imagine, one of Serpent's main reasons for choosing to keep that templar alive was to learn it afterall.

[lordcooper]

To me the Byn is, has been and (hopefully) will continue to be 'merely' an army of journeyman killers for hire.  They're the lowest of the legitimate clans and should be treated as such.  Hell, I reckon a lot of them might even be a little proud of how low down and dirty they are.

The only thing I haven't been able to figure out is if they're a step above or below the average indie commoner on the social ladder.

[Zoan]

I see poop.

[Cind]

because of the variety of persons from everywhere that can get into the Byn, with most of them leaving after a year, and the Byn's position as neutral hired muscle, i would be surprised to see a culture of its own develop.

I see poop.

they kind of already have the shit-shoveling bit, too. that's, er, culture.

[AreteX]

The Byn really does revolve around who is the Sergeant at the time because each person/character has their own view on the world and in turn, it changes the views of their runners.

I see the Byn as a place that the lower totem pole fighters might want to go to get paid.  I also see at as a place the non-fighters might go to get fed, and possibly learn to fight, or at least get their ass beat for a year as a runner, but still get fed.

I think the main problem with the Byn from what I have observed is that I don't quite see enough of them.  If you're a runner in say, Allanak, and your direct Sergeant has some contract up north, you're screwed(unless you went).  It always seemed to me like there were always alot of runners and not enough Troopers+ to keep the thing running legit.  Thats one of the reasons I don't join the Byn anymore.  I always felt lonely and then as a player, wanting to do something other than report for empty training duty and receive no contracts other than "gathering some obsidian" or something like that.

I think one of the major flaws is also that players do NOT use the Byn enough.  Perhaps they charge too much?  I'm not sure, but people should be hiring them for escorts between cities more often.  I think a big part of the playerbase goes out into the sands with their characters alone because they as OOC knowledged players know that its really only 30 squares to the other city(i actually dont know the number, really) and that they're likely to make it on their own, while mounted at least...

You know what I'm sayin?  So it really isn't the Byn's fault, because they really should be used MUCH more often than they currently are being called upon.

Otherwise, I see poop.

[HavokBlue]

The debate for hiring the Byn or not could constitute a whole other thread (250 sid just in stabling fees for a 5 man unit and division of shares means contracts paying less than 700-800 sid aren't really profitable to do all the time)

For the most part, I agree that the Byn is what it's players make it at the time.

[DustMight]

The debate for hiring the Byn or not could constitute a whole other thread (250 sid just in stabling fees for a 5 man unit and division of shares means contracts paying less than 700-800 sid aren't really profitable to do all the time)

That's a good way to look at it.  It makes their fees far more reasonable, actually.

[Cutthroat]

They're killers for hire, and theoretically supposed to be proud of it - at the least, the people that plan on sticking with the Byn would be. So proud that they don't resort to other work (foraging, hunting, etc.) to make money unless their contract somehow involves it. So, while their place in the world is fairly limited, internally there is a strict, deeper culture, that requires players to tap into it in order to enjoy it.

[Kol]

The debate for hiring the Byn or not could constitute a whole other thread (250 sid just in stabling fees for a 5 man unit and division of shares means contracts paying less than 700-800 sid aren't really profitable to do all the time)

That's a good way to look at it.  It makes their fees far more reasonable, actually.

Running a profitable unit is the hardest part of being a Byn Sargent, it takes time, rep and an established unit, I spent more than I made with my Byn Sarge, I only wish I'd lasted longer, counting on Imm contracts and VNPC contracts you dream up gets old for the unit quick.

I see the Byn as a place that the lower totem pole fighters might want to go to get paid.  I also see at as a place the non-fighters might go to get fed, and possibly learn to fight, or at least get their ass beat for a year as a runner, but still get fed.

I dunno, as a Sargent, I'd kinda keep an eye out for those who join 'for a few hot meals' as they don't generally try as hard as those who have joined to train, get paid, and earn a name. These individuals would be treated with appropriately, and made a public example of to show the Byn isn't a place for free meals, but a serious place for serious mercs. I'd guess displays like that would be well known and often enough that people would think twice about it at least.

Escorting, guarding, and training are the company's three main operations.

I think this is something people tend to overlook, the Byn are not just Mercs for hire, they are a training school too, I'd like to see more leaders sending new, unproven recruits to the Byn for a year, to get that green from their arse, and some skills and gear under their belt, if their good enough.

[musashi]

Escorting, guarding, and training are the company's three main operations.

I think this is something people tend to overlook, the Byn are not just Mercs for hire, they are a training school too, I'd like to see more leaders sending new, unproven recruits to the Byn for a year, to get that green from their arse, and some skills and gear under their belt, if their good enough.

I +1 this idea.

[Kalai]

Heh, pride. Think I became a mercenary for pride? That ain't really it. More of, I'll jump to anything you rub two coins together. That's right - I'm the two-sid whore of stabbing you. But hey I'll take what I can get, make that fifty or a hundred and so much the better. *licks lips* Don't know what to do with all this respect I wind up gettin.

(Sometimes I miss the Byn.)

[Zoltan]

The Byn has by and large always been my favorite clan, whether I'm playing the lowliest runner or at the highest levels of command. It's been a different ride every time I've been through. As people have said repeatedly, the clan culture strongly reflects the PCs that are currently in it. There are some universals to the company (coin, coin, coin) but every leader's "take" on the clan documentation can spin it all a different way. I've seen the Byn treated at different times as almost a tribe, a very strict military group, or even a band of near-criminals.

Procuring PC-related profit and coming up with "things to do" is a subject for another thread, but I'll say it can be sort of tough. Many clans that "do stuff" are already somewhat self-sufficient in combat power and the Byn is more of an extra insurance. My advice to blossoming sergeants: don't pay the runners.   After all, troopers are the "real" Bynners; the runners just work here. But see, that sort of attitude waxes and wanes, itself.

As has been said already, the Byn can be a great kicking off point for a PC's future career, and I think that's reflected well in the clan culture pretty often. "This sucks, but if I hold out and survive, I'll be a shoo-in for Lord Fancypants' personal guard/harem." There can sometimes be a lot of "transient" PCs, which I think is a cool distinction compared to many other clans IG.

Another thing I like to consider when I'm playing a long-term Bynner is the mindset that would come with the fact that your ragtag company of lowly assholes got -property- in the city states. I've always thought of that as quite the distinction for a band of commoners. Whether the company's just barely hanging onto it, or if they're standing strong, well, that all depends on the cultural climate at the time.

Basically, I think there's a flexible, hard-to-define culture to the Byn. You just have to take the docs and put your stamp on them, whether you're fresh meat, an old-balls forevertrooper, or some leader.

[Cind]

What if the Byn had their own stables? It'd save them so much money in the long run, and they'd be more willing to go on cheaper contracts.