MERCS is a skirmish game of miniature combat taking place in the future. Games consist of two squads of 5, which have all special equipment and skills. The miniatures act simultanously, using a system of initiative and reaction to determine the exact order of turns.

MERCS uses unique cards as both reference and a means to measure. This streamlined approach means games are faster, with less rule-lawyering, providing a dynamic feel with combat that ebbs and flows. It also means that a game of MERCS is flexible; it can be played just about anywhere with any number of people. All that is needed is 1 fi g, 1 card, and 1d10.

The game board can use 3D terrain, but is equally dynamic with the provided 2D terrain cards.

MegaCon Listing:

CCC
Located: Northeast United States
Intelligence Report: The CCC is a strong MegaCon. They are often targets of covert corporate espionage due to their stranglehold on formed flexible steel. The have strong ties with the GCC, and are constantly in litigation to protect and revise a large library of patents. They also have a non-binding trade pact with sefadu, who supply the CCC with the diamonds used to create ammunition.

KemVar
Located: Brazil and Venezuela
Intelligence Report: Easily one of the smallest MegaCons, Kem-Var none-the-less has controlling interest in 72% of the world’s energy creation and distribution. Their remote location prevents takeovers, and their “friendliness” with the FCC keeps them relatively safe.

USCR (United Soviet Corporate Republic)
Located: Russia and Alaska
Intelligence Report: The largest MegaCon in terms of land possession, the USCR operates more like a government than a business. They are a formidable opponent on the field of combat, but often seem more intent to isolate themselves from the rest of the world than interact.

EUInc. (European Union, Incorporated)
Located: Central and Northern Europe
Intelligence Report: The EUInc is a fading MegaCon. They have old money and lots of it. Their victories cannot be counted easily. They don’t innovate, but possess the best trained and most experienced MERCS in the world. They are under extreme pressure from the FCC on many fronts.

Texico
Located: Panama, Mexico, and Texas
Intelligence Report: Texico is the smallest MegaCon in terms of size and numbers. In fact, the GCC has been pressured from unnamed MegaCons to downgrade Texico, thereby preventing them from taking advantage of the corporate ruleset that governs MegaCons. To their advantage they are in control of the Panama Canal. Nearly 80% of Texico’s MERC resources are dedicated to defending the Canal. Texico is rumored to have very strong FCC ties.

EIC (East India Company)
Located: India, West China, and Southern Russia
Intelligence Report: The manpower resources the EIC can throw at a task is truly staggering. They employ nearly 3x that of the average MegaCon. It would be suicide to risk a large scale takeover of the EIC. However, most MegaCons get around this by supplying the FCC with constant support and “encourage” regular terrorist activities.

sefadu
Located: Central Africa
Intelligence Report: sefadu is a growing MegaCon power. Their recent revolutions in laser technology have enabled them to dictate terms to the world. Able to repel and defend their natural resources for the first time has brought an unforeseen solidarity to the once fracture corporate state. They support the CCC with diamonds for ammunitions, and in return the CCC is quick to defend and support sefadu before the GCC and other MegaCons.

Ios
Located: Mediterranean
Intelligence Report: The true size of Ios is not known, as the corporation resides mostly under the Ionian Sea in the Mediterranean. Ios controls the oceans and by agreement has an embassy in every major port regardless of MegaCon control, except that of the Keizai Waza. In return Ios helps “protect” sea going vessels from all MegaCons. Ios is in an ongoing investigation by the GCC on grounds of corruption, collusion, and corporate blackmail, but nothing has been confirmed.

Keizai Waza (trans. business technique/art)
Located: Japan, Indochina, and Australia
Intelligence Report: Keizai Waza are as ambitious as they are formidable. They are clearly the strongest MegaCon in the eastern hemisphere. They, unlike other MegaCons, have continued to explore Nuclear technologies, including nuclear powered armors and nuclear small armaments. Though unsubstantiated, Keizai Waza has reportedly had outspoken critics and rival corporate leaders assassinated.

Non-aligned factions:

FCC (Free Corporate Control)
Located: Lost Margin
Intelligence Report: The FCC was formed out of the tumultuous events of September 30, 2156. The dissolution of five global systems created the Lost Margin: estranged ex-MegaCon employees, assets, technology, weapons, and territory. The FCC now functions like sectarian franchises that meet collectively twice a year to define success, and determine future strategy. Because they are outside GCC control, many MegaCons take advantage of autonomous nature of individual FCC branches to spy, or combat rival MegaCons. This is done through both monetary support and through physical assets such as techs and black ops MERCS.

GCC (Global Corporate Court)
Located: Great Britain
Intelligence Report: Realizing that complete anarchy is bad for business, the MegaCons got together in 2168 to create the GCC. Originally meant as an arbitrator, the GCC now functions with absolute legal authority and enforce their decisions with their own MERCS force. Fairly small in numbers, the GCC never-the-less remains unhampered through its shrewd use of power balancing. MegaCons would rise up together and declare bankruptcy—completely eliminating the global system—that didn’t abide or support the GCC.

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