Probably a reasonable level in computer, but I'm not looking to build a master hacker.

It's halftime in the Arizona-UCLA game so I thought I'd pop in and ask a couple of questions.

I've decided to go the following route for my PC:

James Choi (Korean-American)

1st term undergrad (4 years, switched from pre-med to pre-law)
2nd term law school (3 years; didn't take the bar)
3rd term federal law enforcement [FBI Academy at Quantico, then desk agent] (2 years)*
4th term FBI field agent (4 years)
5th term FBI Hostage Rescue Team (x years)**

*Is it OK to shorten terms? I'm confident that I can justify the shorter terms in his backstory. I'm also thinking that his tenure in HRT is cut short after a shooting incident, at which point your agency steps in and makes him an offer he can't refuse.

I've ended up with a build which gives me a solid investigator type with decent but not exceptional pistol and unarmed martial arts capabilities.

**I'm not sure what to do for skills here. There's no anti-terror/SWAT skills in the BYB- no OD Delta or DEVGRU or GSG-9 or anything like that. The closest equivalency in my mind is Special Forces but the starting skill list includes AUTOGUN, PARACHUTE, and SURVIVAL, none of which really seem to fit the mission of the HRT. May I replace those three skills with more mission appropriate ones?

Thanks.

-

Yep.  As long as it fits the real-world events you're trying to model, I have no problem with adjusting term lengths.



Absolutely.  Alternatively - and this is only an offering, not a mandate:


This message was last edited by the GM at 11:15, Sun 02 Nov 2014.

Ok, in that case I'll go deep on computers and focus on penetration and exploitation.

OK, after trying a few options I've got a build for a former French military non com (Fusiliers Marin Commandos) who's recruited into the DGSE after leaving the service (5 terms, 2 military using Force Recon career path per BYB and 3 Govt agent). Key skill sets are Stealth, Observation, and Intrusion plus decent Small Arms (rifle) and good Ground Vehicle (Wheeled). In addition to excellent English, he has native level French and Good in one other language (either Arabic or Spanish, undecided which at the moment - am leaning towards Arabic as the more likely option although as Spanish and French are in the same group I could get a better proficiency in Spanish for the same point expenditure).

Any thoughts / comments / concerns?  Anywhere that I'm overlapping with anyone else?

Concept looks good.  Arabic is likely to be more useful than Spanish for at least the initial couple of story arcs.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:42, Sun 02 Nov 2014.

Based on current discussion in this thread and PMs, it looks like we have:

• Polish GROM intel operator and team leader
• French DGSE scout
• American FBI investigator
• American TACP/JCU comms and electronics specialist

(Capsule summaries are my interpretation.)

I haven't heard from any of the RL gaming buddies I've invited, nor have I gotten an RTJ from dcoda.  I think this is a solid core, though, so I'm inclined to move forward rather than waiting for additional hypothetical players.  I'll plan on rounding out the team with one or two NPCs for medical support and whatever other skill set you think may be desirable.

(Update: dcoda tossed me an RTJ this evening so now you are five.)
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:45, Mon 03 Nov 2014.

OK, so my DGSE dude is now doing an Undergrad as one of his terms and as I'm not feeling that the character is the sort who would go for a hard science degree I'm looking at psychology as being in character.

Looking at the skill lists, it seems to me most appropriate skills to model a psychology degree would be persuasion and biology (already undergrad skills), and interrogation (not an undergrad skill). Do those seem appropriate and if so can I allocate points from that term to Interrogation? Or are there other skills that would be a better representation?

Completely appropriate. Biology is what this system usually uses for pharmacology, IIRC.

Also, yes on adding Interrogation to the undergrad list.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:43, Tue 04 Nov 2014.

When I stop running ambulance calls today, I'm going to mod Dacovetti's sheet to reflect Spanish language skill and wife to avoid some skill overlap.

Watch out for the ebolas.

In reply to Tegyrius (msg # 21):

Cheers. Oh, BTW, my guy is going to be called Sébastien Durand.

Got it.  Sadly, the system won't take the accented "é" in character name strings.

I wasn't sure if NPC puppeting NPCs was necessary or permitted so I lightly tossed the ball back into your court, sir GM. I hope that was OK.

I'm still working on numbers. I have to write up a turn for Last War tonight and tomorrow is dinner with widowed mom. I might be ready by the weekend but, if not, during the weekend for sure.

-

No rush.  We've had one more join tonight and I really need to start cranking on a freelance assignment, so we'll do a slow rolling start as people's bios get nailed down.

I'm heading to OBX this weekend.  Nice reference!

Enjoy!  My wife and I went there on our honeymoon and the Pelican was one of the culinary high points of the trip.  I'm not above giving places like that a little hat tip when I can work them into my writing.

Due to commitments outside pretendy-fun-time-internet-land, I probably won't have much chance to respond to posts or PMs until Sunday.  Please don't take silence as any sort of GM disapproval or disengagement.

FYI, I have added a note about secondary activities to the character creation thread.

It looks like the five established PCs are it for now.  I'll add an NPC medic to round out the team.

Once bios are finalized, please don't forget to post 'em in the [Meta] Character Profiles thread.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:27, Tue 11 Nov 2014.

Well, shit.

For those who aren't aware, my father's dealing with a couple of different flavors of cancer.  He's not been handling his chemotherapy's side-effects all that well lately.  I just received notification that, based on a couple of events tonight and at his doctor's orders, he's being transported via ambulance to the hospital.  It sounds like just a transport call rather than something requiring immediate intervention, so I don't think this is going to go all rodeo tonight.  However, I wanted to give y'all a heads-up in case I'm wrong and I have to do some unexpected travel in the next few days.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:44, Tue 11 Nov 2014.

Sorry to hear this Teg.  Cancer sucks.  Sending you and your father our very best wishes.
-C&C plus Scout Dog

I second that, GM.  I hope that your father's condition improves.  Do what you need to do RL and come back to us when you can.

Sorry Dude :(

Sorry to hear that Tegyrius. Hope everything goes well for your father.