Anything else you're willing to share on how we should read the contracts?
I'll copy/paste this over into the Rules thread so it can be used as a reference.
Reading Contract TermsAgainst the Bot pulls its contract generation system largely from Field Manual Mercenaries (Revised), FanPro 10977. The charts which govern most contract terms can be found in the "Running A Mercenary Force" chapter, beginning on page 153.
Contract terms are set by several sliding scales; each contract term is weighted by a combination of contract TYPE (raid, planetary assault, garrison duty, etc), the EMPLOYER (the faction offering the contract), and the DRAGOONS RATING of the mercenary unit in question. Each contract term is randomly generated, and then adjusted by approximately the values listed in Master Contract Terms Table A. Being a computer program, AtB allows for a somewhat finer degree of fidelity than the strictly analog system found in FM Mercs.
As a matter of practice, a C-rated mercenary command can expect the following very rough averages in their contract monetary terms prior to modifiers for things like contract type :
Overhead Compensation: 0-100% (increments of none, half, and full only)
Salvage: 10-40%
Straight Support: 30-60%
Battle Loss Compensation: 25-45%
Transport: 0-55%
These percentages can increase or decrease sharply depending on the employer. While FM Mercs uses a GM-based bidding system to provide variance, and AtB used to allow for a number of rerolls based on your CO skill ratings and administrator skill, AtB after version 0.47 simply seems to add percentage points to the various contract terms, although the specific math remains functionally black-boxed in the Java code. Using the FM Mercs guidelines, then, and discounting the employer, contract type, and whatever bonuses appear as a result of CO/admin skill, an A-rated (not an A*) mercenary command should expect the following
rough averages in their contract monetary terms:
Overhead Compensation: 0-100% (increments of none, half, and full only)
Salvage: 40-60%
Straight Support: 40-70%
Battle Loss Compensation: 30-50%
Transport: 25-75%
(Not all contracts offer both Straight Support AND Battle Loss Compensation; many offer only one or the other, and the roll to determine whether it's one or both is independent of any other modifiers whatsoever.)
Values above this range are less common, and will appear significantly less frequently the further from this range they go. Note that modifiers can affect things greatly. Assuming that the rolls were ported directly across to AtB, for example, simply taking on a Pirate Hunting mission can increase an otherwise average Salvage term result of 40%, to a term of 60%, prior to any bonuses from the CO or Admin which may be present in the system.
Enemy Ratings post 3050As far as I can determine, this is more or less how AtB breaks down the Ally and OPFOR equipment ratings:
A: Mostly brand new, mostly top of the line, or just-released, equipment. A well supplied frontline OmniMech force with few, if any, 2nd line Mechs.
B: Mostly FoundTech, but not necessarily top of the line equipment. Some older machines, with a few IntroTech Mechs and a few just-released Mechs. A lower end frontline OmniMech force, with a few 2nd line Mechs
C: Some FoundTech, little of it top of the line. A typical Clan garrison force, with mostly 2nd line machines and a few Omnis, mostly in command positions
D: FoundTech is mostly only for commanders or aces, and most units are IntroTech. A poorly supplied Clan garrison unit, perhaps with no Omnis at all, and some Star League gear
F: Almost entirely IntroTech, and a greater preponderance of conventional units. A totally rear echelon or sohlama Clan unit, possibly including IntroTech Mechs.
Note that this is not ironclad. It is entirely possible to see a Star of 5 Stormcrows generated in a C-rated Clan force. But it's
much less likely to get generated there than in an A-rated force.
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Topic: April 3059 Contract Market (Read 440 times)